PASSIVE FIRE PROTECTION GETTING IT RIGHT Niall Rowan Technical Officer Association for Specialist Fire Protection
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
Structural steel loses about half its strength at about 500 O C.
Non-reactive coatings Spray or troweled on Thick Inert Sometimes hidden
Non-reactive board/casings Mechanically fixed Thick (10-50mm) Sometimess hidden
Reactive coatings Spray or brushed Thin (1-4mm)
Compartmentation Prevent spread of fire and smoke Subdivide buildings into manageable areas of risk Provide adequate Means of Escape Provisions in statutory guidance documents
PFP what is it?
PFP Works - 1
PFP Works - 2
PFP Works - 3
PFP Works - 4
PFP works 5 Warehouse near Lutterworth
The installation Issue
Intumescent pipe wrap installed around a plastic soil pipe in East London
The instructions
2 Case Studies Priory Hall Dublin Pacific Wharf London
Priory Hall
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
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."
Photos of Priory Hall by ASFP Ireland
Pacific Wharf, Rotherhithe, London SE16 Constructed in 2001 71 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
Pacific Wharf the reality Pacific Wharf is the British Leyland Austin Allegro of London Luxury Developments Richard Freeman - RTMco
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.
Pacific Wharf the reality No fire barriers around high voltage cables through compartment wall in basement garage
Pacific Wharf the reality Service penetrations through floors not sealed
Pacific Wharf the reality Incorrect materials used to seal around services through penetrations
It says 4 hours on the tin!
Ensure the correct materials are used for the applications they have been tested against
The devil is in the detail Claimed Fire Resistance to EN 1366-4 Does was it says on the tin actually fit the enduse condition? Depth mm Width mm 10 20 30 40 50 10 280 140 93 70 56 20 140 70 46 35 28 30 93 46 31 23 18 40 70 35 23 17 14 50 56 28 18 14 11
Recent ASFP tests on PU foam based fire stopping Time to failure? 9 minutes!
Recent ASFP tests on PU foam based fire stopping Remember this? Time to failure? 4 minutes!
Pacific Wharf the remedy Compartmentation maintained at head of party walls
Pacific Wharf the remedy Correct materials used to seal service penetrations with unique identification in accordance with third party certification scheme
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
Solutions 1. Inspect everything? 2. Competent persons schemes? 3. Third party certification?
+ves: Fool proof Thorough -ves Very expensive Time consuming How much to inspect? Not needed? 1. Inspect everything
2. Competent persons schemes The certificates My house
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
3. Third Party Certification This will be dealt with by another speaker later today
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.
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
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 ASFP @ 20
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
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)
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
The all important Check List for each type of construction Related to means of escape References to clauses in document with further information
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
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
PFP You only need to use it once
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)1420 471612 ASFP Office Fax: +44 (0)1420 471611 Website: www.asfp.org.uk The Malt House Grand Canal Quay Dublin 2 ASFP Office Tel: +353 (0) 1 6791324 Website: http://www.asfpireland.ie/ This PowerPoint presentation is the copyright of the Association for Specialist Fire Protection