PASSIVE FIRE PROTECTION GETTING IT RIGHT

Transcription

1 PASSIVE FIRE PROTECTION GETTING IT RIGHT Niall Rowan Technical Officer Association for Specialist Fire Protection

2 Contents Who is the ASFP? Passive Fire Protection What is it? How does it work? The installation issue What are the problems? 2 case studies What are the solutions? ASFP Best Practice Guide on Passive Fire Protection ASFP Guide to PFP for Fire Risk Assessors

3 Structural steel loses about half its strength at about 500 O C.

4 Non-reactive coatings Spray or troweled on Thick Inert Sometimes hidden

5 Non-reactive board/casings Mechanically fixed Thick (10-50mm) Sometimess hidden

6 Reactive coatings Spray or brushed Thin (1-4mm)

7 Compartmentation Prevent spread of fire and smoke Subdivide buildings into manageable areas of risk Provide adequate Means of Escape Provisions in statutory guidance documents

8 PFP what is it?

9 PFP Works - 1

10 PFP Works - 2

11 PFP Works - 3

12 PFP Works - 4

13 PFP works 5 Warehouse near Lutterworth

14 The installation Issue

15 Intumescent pipe wrap installed around a plastic soil pipe in East London

16 The instructions

17 2 Case Studies Priory Hall Dublin Pacific Wharf London

18 Priory Hall

19 Priory Hall October 2011 High Court Eviction of 246 residents because the building was unsafe Media Focus RTE programme Financial Loss to Residents & DCC 1.5m Euros DCC on security 500k on surveys 1.5m temporary accommodation 100k legal fees

20 Priory Hall Blocks to be refurbished at 10m from the public purse Political fallout included involvement of Taoiseach Led to major changes in Building Regulations (Building Control) Now tougher regime than UK I don't think it's a shoddy building, you see. I don't think it is any different than most of the other buildings in Dublin."

21 Photos of Priory Hall by ASFP Ireland

22 Pacific Wharf, Rotherhithe, London SE16 Constructed in Luxury Apartments Prices from 275k to 1m Exclusive Riverside location Finished to a high specification Pacific Wharf is a fabulous riverside development situated on Rotherhithe Street and as such this property enjoys a peaceful location with all the modern facilities expected from a development of this level Right Move

23 Pacific Wharf the reality Pacific Wharf is the British Leyland Austin Allegro of London Luxury Developments Richard Freeman - RTMco

24 Pacific Wharf the reality Missing Damp proof membrane Missing lintels to upper floor windows Sewage leakage in basement garage No compartmentation between properties Vertical risers without fire barriers No fire protection to structural steel Roof leaking.

25 Pacific Wharf the reality No fire barriers around high voltage cables through compartment wall in basement garage

26 Pacific Wharf the reality Service penetrations through floors not sealed

27 Pacific Wharf the reality Incorrect materials used to seal around services through penetrations

28 It says 4 hours on the tin!

29 Ensure the correct materials are used for the applications they have been tested against

30 The devil is in the detail Claimed Fire Resistance to EN Does was it says on the tin actually fit the enduse condition? Depth mm Width mm

31 Recent ASFP tests on PU foam based fire stopping Time to failure? 9 minutes!

32 Recent ASFP tests on PU foam based fire stopping Remember this? Time to failure? 4 minutes!

33 Pacific Wharf the remedy Compartmentation maintained at head of party walls

34 Pacific Wharf the remedy Correct materials used to seal service penetrations with unique identification in accordance with third party certification scheme

35 Pacific Wharf Summary Many mistakes were made during construction For other reasons the mistakes were discovered The whole building was progressively decanted Repairs and remedial works carried out 4.5m & 24 months later the building was re-occupied

36 Solutions 1. Inspect everything? 2. Competent persons schemes? 3. Third party certification?

37 +ves: Fool proof Thorough -ves Very expensive Time consuming How much to inspect? Not needed? 1. Inspect everything

38 2. Competent persons schemes The certificates My house

39 FENSA 2. My competent persons schemes 3 windows installed Part P One or more electrical circuits, alteration or addition in kitchen/ special location. Electric floor or ceiling heating system, ELV lighting CORGI (pre Gassafe) Gas boiler installed

40 3. Third Party Certification This will be dealt with by another speaker later today

41 ASFP Position on third party certification Third party certification adds value Installer certification MANDATORY for installer members ASFP always recommends the use of third party certificated products for fire protection ASFP always recommends to use of third party certificated specialist contractors for installing Passive Fire Protection.

42 ASFP Ensuring Best Practice for Passive Fire Protection in Buildings (2004) Pii project (ODPM/BRE/WFRCASFP) Inspection of real buildings & defects Why so much systemic failure? Design and Build (Bodge?) Breaking of spec by main contractors Pressure on price/sole criteria Poorly planned work Poor/non-maintenance Follow on trades/activities Weak enforcement/inspection No/not enough TPC

43 Need for a new guide published in 2014 RRO(FS)O (& national equivalents) Regulation 38 More emphasis on installer certification Rely more on PFP in engineered buildings MMC & BIM Free download from ASFP website Printed versions from 20

44 ASFP Guide to Passive Fire Protection for Fire Risk Assessors Aimed at: Fire Risk Assessors Responsible Persons Those responsible for specifying/ purchasing Passive Fire Protection

45 Introduces role of Fire Risk Assessor/ Assessment Need to evaluate PFP associated with Means of escape NOT a full survey of compliance with statutory documents (ADs)

46 ½ to 3 pages on each type of Passive Fire Protection Pictures of what to look for (good & bad) Annexes with info, further reading, links to third party orgnanisations

47 The all important Check List for each type of construction Related to means of escape References to clauses in document with further information

48 What is PFP is and why needed Structural fire protection Summary - 1 Compartmentation & Means of escape Issues that cause poor installation No bar to entry to become a PFP installer Not enough inspection, enforcement or TPC for products that are invisible as installed Fixation of price and not value breaking of specification Culture of confrontation and not cooperation Poorly designed and planned work Maintenance (lack of & follow on trades) Fire stopper tools

49 Examined potential solutions Total inspection Competent Persons schemes Summary - 2 Third Party Certification (TPC) TPC is strongest and ASFP policy and supported by vast majority of stakeholders ASFP Ensuring Best Practice in Passive Fire Protection ASFP Guide to PFP for Fire Risk Assessors Passive Fire Protection is for life safety and works well if: Designed, specified and installed correctly

50 PFP You only need to use it once

51 Niall Rowan - Technical Officer Association for Specialist Fire Protection niall.rowan@asfp.org.uk Kingsley House, Ganders Business Park, Kingsley, Bordon, Hampshire GU35 9LU ASFP Office Tel: +44 (0) ASFP Office Fax: +44 (0) Website: The Malt House Grand Canal Quay Dublin 2 ASFP Office Tel: +353 (0) Website: This PowerPoint presentation is the copyright of the Association for Specialist Fire Protection