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 PU foam What are the solutions? NEW ASFP On-site guide to fire-stopping ASFP Guide to PFP for Fire s Summary
Originally known as When? Association of Structural Fire Protection Contractors and Manufacturers Formed in 1975
Why? In recognition of a need to bring together: passive fire protection (PFP) manufacturers PFP contractors testing/certification bodies to encourage, develop and give guidance on essential standards in PFP.
In 1996 the Association changed its name to the Association for Specialist Fire Protection To better reflect the diversity of the work being undertaken in the fields of Structural fire protection Fire stopping Fire resisting ducts and dampers Smoke extraction ducts and dampers Fire dampers Fire resisting partitions Active fire barrier curtains and other elements used for compartmentation
ASFP website an information source All ASFP guidance document free to download from: www.asfp.org.uk
Industry guidance ASFP Colour Books (everything you need to know about products) Fire stopping RED BOOK 4th Edit ion The Association for Specialist fire protection GREY BOOK Fire & smoke resisting dampers YELLOW BOOK Fire protection for Structural 5t h Edit ion The Association for Specialist fire protection Fire resisting ductwork BLUE BOOK PURPLE BOOK Fire resisting non load-bearing partitions The Association for Specialist fire protection ORANGE BOOK Fire retardant coatings 3rd Edit ion The Association for Specialist fire protection The Association for Specialist fire protection The Association for Specialist fire protection
ASFP Technical Guidance Documents (Codes of practice) TGD 11 On site sprayed intumescent coatings TGD 15 Non - reactive sprayed coatings TGD 16 Off site sprayed intumescent coatings TGD 17 Code of practice for installation & inspection firestopping TGD 18 Code of practice for installing & Inspecting fire resisting ducts TGD 19 Test method for open state cavity barriers
Today the ASFP is further broadening its membership and remit to reflect and respond to the significant changes and challenges that are taking place at many levels within the PFP sector Manufacturers Contractors Testing and certification bodies Tier 1 contractors and many other associate members.
Passive Fire Protection What is it? Built-in measures that protect the structure of the building and subdivide it into areas to limit the spread of fire and smoke.
Structural Fire Protection To maintain the stability of the structure during the period of the fire and ensure that it does not collapse
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) Sometimes hidden
Reactive coatings Spray or brushed Thin (1-4mm)
The purpose of compartmentation is to: Subdivide buildings into areas of manageable risk Compartmentation
Subdivide buildings into areas of manageable risk Provide adequate means of escape Provide fire separation between adjacent/adjoining buildings Compartmentation The purpose of compartmentation is to: Provide access and protection for fire-fighters
PFP what is it?
PFP Works - 1
PFP Works - 2
PFP Works - 3
PFP Works - 4
PFP works 5 Warehouse near Lutterworth
PFP works 6 Fire doors in Dorset
PFP works 7 Fire doors in Dorset
PFP works 8 Fire glazing in Hollland
PFP works 7 Fire doors in Dorset
The installation Issue
Intumescent pipe wrap installed around a plastic soil pipe in East London
The instructions
2 Case Studies City Tower London Pacific Wharf London
City Tower, Docklands London
City Tower the development Constructed in 2007 17 storey block of 164 Luxury Apartments Prices from 275k to 5.00m Exclusive Docklands location Finished to a high specification
City Tower the development City Tower is a brand new development which is situated within walking distance of Canary Wharf. This property offers stylish high specification extremelyspaciousaccommodation. FrankKnight Properties
City Tower the reality Many of the penetration sealing systems examined at the City Tower Development, would not be expected to achieve up to 120 minutes fire separation if they were subject to a fire resistance test Exova WarringtonCertification
City Tower the reality Fire stopping systems inadequately installed Fire rated wall partitions incomplete above communal area ceilings Expanded polyurethane foam extensively used as an ad hoc remedial solution No records or traceability of installation and products used
City Tower the reality No fire protection around services through compartment walls above ceilings
City Tower the reality Service penetrations through floors not sealed
City Tower the reality Incorrect materials used to seal around services through riser walls
City Tower the reality Incorrect materials used to seal around services through riser floors
City Tower the reality Incorrect and non-tested penetration seal solutions
City Tower the remedy Service penetrations correctly sealed through floors
City Tower the remedy Compartmentation maintained at head of party walls
City Tower the remedy Fire collars installed around services and head of wall sealed against concrete soffit
Pacific Wharf, Rotherhithe, London SE16 Constructed in 2001 71 Luxury Apartments Prices from 275k to 1m Exclusive Riverside location Finished to a high specification City Tower Is this a one off? Pacific Wharf is a fabulous riverside development situated on Rotherhithe Street and as such this property enjoys a peacefullocation with all the modern facilities expected from a developmentof this level Right Move
Pacific Wharf the reality PacificWharf 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 If all else fails
PU Foam 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 50 280 140 93 70 56 40 140 70 46 35 28 30 93 46 31 23 18 20 70 35 23 17 14 10 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? 7 minutes!
Solutions 1. Inspect everything? 2. Competent persons schemes? 3. Third party certification?
+ves: Fool proof Thorough -ves Very expensive Time consuming How much to do? Impossible to do all 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 On-site Guide to Fire-stopping Aimed at site operatives Short document 12 pages in total (A4) 3 pages of text Remainder are images to assist comprehension Links to further information.
ASFP On-site Guide to Fire-stopping Description of each type of Fire-stopping used Practical guidance to site staff of fire-stopping techniques
ASFP On-site Guide to Fire-stopping Description of each type of Fire-stopping used Practical guidance to site staff of fire-stopping techniques
ASFP On-site Guide to Fire-stopping Dos and Don ts Competency requirements of staff
ASFP On-site Guide to Fire-stopping Dos and Don ts Competency requirements of staff
ASFP Guide to Passive Fire Protection for Fire s Aimed at: Fire s Responsible Persons Those responsible for specifying/ purchasing Passive Fire Protection Being revised in 2016
Introduces role of Fire / 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
Summary - 2 Examined potential solutions Total inspection Competent Persons schemes Third Party Certification (TPC) - strongest and ASFP policy NEW ASFP On-site guide to fire-stopping ASFP Guide to PFP for Fire s Passive Fire Protection is for life safety and works well if: Designed, specified and installed correctly Always use a third party certificated installer
PFP You only need to use it once
The Association for Specialist Fire Protection 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