Fire Risk Management Post Grenfell

Transcription

1 Fire Risk Management Post Grenfell Martin Arnold Ltd 4 Gunnery Terrace The Royal Arsenal London SE18 6SW T: F: E: general@martinarnold.co.uk W: martinarnold.co.uk

2 Introduction #MAFRM2018 Welcome Hosts and running order for this evening: Jim Martin BSc Dip Proj Man FRICS Martin Arnold Limited Ben Davis BSc (Hons) AIFireE MRICS Martin Arnold Limited Alan Stokes BSc (Hons) FRICS FBEng MIFireE London Building Control Andrew Fisher Project Fire Products Question Time Join in on and Twitter using #MAFRM2018

3 Grenfell - Tragedy The Facts #MAFRM storeys Built residential units Recently refurbished and over clad using aluminium panels with a polyethylene core Fire broke out on 4 th floor on 14 th June in a kitchen 71 fatalities

4 What appears to have gone wrong? #MAFRM2018 Public Inquiry Cause and spread of fire Design and construction of the building and the recent works The scope and adequacy of regulations governing the works Compliance with such regulations Action on information received about fire risk in the block The Fire Prevention and Safety measures in place on 14 June Chair, Sir Martin Moore-Bick: very disappointed if we couldn t get a preliminary report out in under a year.

5 Grenfell Tragedy #MAFRM2018 Building Regulations Review Dame Judith Hackitt s report into Building Regulations and Fire Safety Not fit for purpose. Interim Report - 18th December 2017 Final Report - May 2018 Change is going to come!

6 Post Grenfell - Fire Risk Management #MAFRM2018 Contents 1. What happened immediately after Grenfell 2. Our experience; what we are doing now Roger Arnold BSc (Hons) IMaPS FRICS Ben Davis BSc (Hons) AIFireE MRICS

7 What happened immediately after Grenfell? #MAFRM2018 Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government Formally DCLG established the Building Safety Programme Government appointed an independent expert advisory panel, chaired by Sir Ken Knight MHCLG write to Local Authorities and Housing Associations advising them on Safety checks following Grenfell Tower fire An independent review of building regulations and fire safety - Is being led by Dame Judith Hackitt

8 What happened immediately after Grenfell? #MAFRM2018 The Interim Hackitt Report The Interim report found that the current regulatory system for ensuring fire safety in high-rise and complex buildings is not fit for purpose. The report highlights 6 key areas for review:- 1. Current regulations and guidance are too complex and unclear 2. Clarity of roles and responsibilities is poor 3. Competency 4. Compliance and enforcement 5. Communication 6. Quality

9 What happened immediately after Grenfell? #MAFRM2018 Safety checks following Grenfell Tower fire The simple things! 1. Check that the FRA has been carried out 2. Ensure residents fully understand the emergency fire procedures

10 What happened immediately after Grenfell? #MAFRM2018 Safety checks following Grenfell Tower fire The simple things! 3. Check that there are no combustible materials

11 What happened immediately after Grenfell? #MAFRM2018 Safety checks following Grenfell Tower fire The simple things! 4. Check all doors that open onto escape corridors and stairways

12 What happened immediately after Grenfell? #MAFRM2018 Safety checks following Grenfell Tower fire The simple things! 5. Check all compartment walls

13 What happened immediately after Grenfell? #MAFRM2018 Safety checks following Grenfell Tower fire The simple things! 6. Check any AOVs and smoke control systems 7. Check fire-fighting facilities such as wet and dry risers/access control 8. Ensure that there is sufficient roadway access 9. Residents to be advised to check their alarms Not so simple 10. Closure of car parks 11. Check that façade meets all relevant standards 12. Provision of a temporary communal fire alarm system 13. Provision of a fire watch 14. Decant all residents

14 Stock Review Surveys Type 1-4 Fire Risk Assessments Surveys of façade materials to High Rise blocks Co-ordination of ACM testing Reports Independent design reviews Feasibility reports Design and Specification and full Contract Administration services Issues found Missing fire breaks Poor workmanship Breaches in compartmentation between flats Our experience immediately after Grenfell #MAFRM2018

15 Introduction #MAFRM2018 Welcome Alan Stokes BSc (Hons) FRICS FBEng MIFireE London Building Control Ltd Fire Safety: Cladding for High Rise Buildings and The Building Regulations

16 Technical Briefing paper Fire Safety- Cladding For High Rise Buildings London Building Control, International House, 1-6 Yarmouth Place, Mayfair, London, W1J 7BU Tel: +44 (0)

17 Available Guidance Reference Approved Document B Volume 2 Building Control Alliance TGN 18 NHBC Guidance Note BS 135 Test Technical Note 98 LABC guidance on External Fire spread

18 App Doc B Vol 2 Concealed Spaces (cavities) B3- Section 9 Diagram 33 Construction of external walls B4- Section 12 Para 12.7 Where do these provisions apply? What are the exemptions? How are suitable materials defined?

19 Section 9 AD B Vol 2

20 Section 9 AD B Vol 2- Cavity barriers

21 Buildings over 18 metres

22 AD B Vol 2 Table 7- Definitions

23 AD B Vol 2 -Cavity Barrier exclusions

24 BCA TGN 18 Where the building has a storey 18m or more above ground level, the BCA recommends four options for showing compliance with paragraph 12.7 of AD B2 -

25 Option 1 The use of materials of limited combustibility for all elements of the cladding system both above and below 18m. This includes the insulation, internal lining board and the external facing material. Smaller gasket parts and similar low-risk items can be excluded from this requirement. The definition of a MOLC is stated in Table A7 of App Doc B Vol 2.

26 Option 2 An acceptable alternative approach (see AD B2 paragraph 12.5) is for the client to submit evidence to the Building Control Body that the complete proposed external cladding system has been assessed according to the acceptance criteria in BR135. The preferred method of demonstrating compliance is via a fire test carried out in accordance with BS8414:1 The test should be carried out by an independent UKAS accredited testing body. The BS8414 tests do not give a PASS / FAIL answer because the data obtained is used by different bodies with different minimum requirements. Hence, for Building Regulation purposes, any test using this method needs to be supported with a Classification Report for the proposed specification confirming that the acceptance criteria of BR135 have been met. These acceptance criteria are listed in Annex A or Annex B of BR135

27 Option 3 If no actual fire test data exists for a particular system, the client may instead submit a desktop study report from a suitably qualified fire specialist stating whether, in their opinion, BR135 criteria would be met with the proposed system. The report should be supported by test data from a suitable independent UKAS accredited testing body (BRE, Chiltern Fire or Warrington Fire) and so this option may not be of benefit if the products have not already been tested in multiple situations / arrangements. The report should also specifically reference the tests which have been carried out on the product.

28 Option 4 If none of the above options are suitable, the client may consider addressing this issue via a holistic fire engineered approach taking into account the building geometry, ignition risk, factors restricting fire spread etc. Such an approach would be expected to follow a recognised design code such as the BS 7974 Application of fire safety engineering principles to the design of buildings suite of documents and be supported with quantitative analyses where appropriate.

29 Key notes in BCA TGN 18 Surface Spread of Flame Classification does not infer any resistance to combustibility, it is solely a measure of the spread of a flame across the surface. Thermosetting insulants (rigid polyurethane foam boards) do not meet the limited combustibility requirements of AD B2 Table A7 and so should not be accepted as meeting AD B2 paragraph However, if they are included as part of a cladding system being tested to BR135 & BS8414, the complete assembly may ultimately prove to be acceptable The BR135 / BS8414 tests deal solely with the spread of fire once it has entered the cavity. Hence, the requirements for cavity barriers in accordance with Section 9 of AD B2 are required in all cases including around openings in the façade

30 Technical Note 98

31 LABC Guide

32 Future Regulatory Changes Complete review under way

33 Introduction #MAFRM2018 Welcome Andrew Fisher Product Manager Project Fire Products

34 RESIDENTIAL FIRE SPRINKLER SYSTEMS Key Points Reputation of sprinkler protection System overview A word on mist systems Possible improvements

35 Statistics RECENT REPORT USING DATA FROM ACROSS 47 FIRE & RESCUE SERVICES 945 fires where sprinkler activation occurred. Sprinkler effective in containing, controlling or extinguishing fires in 99% of cases across all building types (contained or controlled fire in 62% of all cases, extinguished fires in 37%). Sprinklers reduced impact area (fire/water) by average of 75% in Residential and 50% in non-residential. In 65% of cases, a only a single sprinkler head activated. In 95% of cases no more than five heads operated. Operational reliability in residential was 97%-98% Operational reliability in non-residential was 93%

36 Statistics Number of heads that operated in Domestic/Residential Properties Fire Damage Area for activations in Domestic/Residential Properties

37 Design Categories Based on Table 1 BS9251:2014 Category 1 Category 2 Category 3 Individual dwelling house Blocks of flats Residential care homes Individual flat Residential care homes b Dormitories HMOs Sheltered housing Hostels Bed & Breakfast Boarding Houses Blocks of flats a a 18m or less in height and with maximum floor area of 2400m b 10 residents or fewer Considerations for increasing category (possibly into BSEN 12845) - Extra large size (floor area or height) - Introduction of commercial lettings - Large car parking, bin stores, plant rooms etc. - Vulnerability of residents - Fire strategy includes sprinkler protecting common areas

38 Design Categories Category of system Minimum design discharge density (mm/min) Based on Table 2 BS9251:2014 Number of design sprinklers Minimum duration of supply (min) or or to 4 30 Where sprinkler system is installed as a compensatory feature, design density is increased.

39 Typical setup Typical Pump and Tank Sprinkler System (based on figure A.2) 1. Mains water supply 2. Water provider s stop valve 3. Lockable tank isolation valve 4. Float valve with suitable backflow prevention device 5. Tank overflow 6. Water storage tank 7. Tank lid 8. Lockable tank suction stop valve 9. Lockable pump isolation valves 10. Pump 11. Non-return valve 12. Pump controller 13. Electrical water flow switch 14. Test and drain valve 15. Installation pressure gauge 16. Sprinkler head

40 Sizing Pump & Tank Most hydraulically unfavourable point Most hydraulically favourable point Typical storage capacities Category 1 1m 3 to 1.5m 3 Category 2 3m 3 to 4.5m 3 Category 3 6m 3 to 9m 3 Pump Water Storage Tank

41 Extent of Protection Extent of sprinkler protection (5.4 of BS9251) Sprinkler protection should be provided in all parts of the premises. However, unless required by a fire strategy or risk assessment, the following may be excluded. Bathrooms (less than 5 sqm) Cupboards (less than 2 sqm) Attached buildings such as garages (without direct access from the protected building) Crawl spaces Ceiling voids External balconies Uninhabited loft/roof voids

42 Sprinkler Heads

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49 What we think might happen post Grenfell? #MAFRM2018 Changes in the Building Regulations Change from Passive to Active Fire Prevention Introduction of sprinkler systems More emphasis on management Stay-Put Policy reviews Fire Documentation to be reviewed and updated New emphasis to ensure systems are operational and effective Inform, upskill and educate tradesmen Inform and educate residents and housing professionals

50 Question Time Join in on and Twitter using #MAFRM2018 Martin Arnold Ltd 4 Gunnery Terrace The Royal Arsenal London SE18 6SW T: F: E: general@martinarnold.co.uk W: martinarnold.co.uk