ASFPI Fire Compartmentation Seminar › webdocs › FM Ireland 2015 pdfs › 6-ASFPI Fire... · Fire Compartmentation – Sections B1 – B5 B1 Means of escape in case of fire B2

David O’Reilly TIFireE

Operations Officer Association for Specialist Fire Protection in Ireland

Republic of Ireland Branch Council Member

Institution of Fire Engineers

European Association for Passive Fire Protection (EAPFP)

E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.asfpireland.ie

ASFPI Fire Compartmentation Seminar

Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.asfpireland.ie/


Key Objective

Provide Support for FM’s in Managing Fire Safety

Fire Compartmentation

Fire Safety – Legislative Compliance

Fire Safety Management

Fire Safety Risk Assessment

Preventing Costly Mistakes

Legacy Issues – The Way Forward

Construction Industry Overview (Challenges & Opportunities in 2015)


Learning - Financial Industry Failures

“We need invasive scrutiny & effective sanctions if self certification is to work”

Matthew Elderfield - Financial Regulator in 2009


Legacy Issues – The Way Forward

History - Legislation & Practice

Reality – Understanding where are we now?

How the System Works ?

Moving Forward – Challenge in Managing PFP Systems ?


History of Irish Construction Legislation

Local Development (Planning Development) Act 1963

Draft Building Regulations 1969 - 1976

Proposed Building Regulations 1983

Building Control Act 1990

Building Regulations 1991 (1997 -2001)

Building Control Regulations 1991 (1997 – 2014)

2012 DoECLG Statement: ‘In the light of a number of recent high profile failures on the parts of developers/builders and their agents to meet their statutory responsibilities it is considered that sticking with the existing arrangements is no longer tenable’.

Almost 25 Years on: Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2014 (BCAR)

Building Control Act 1990


The Building Control Act 1990 established

A System of Self Certification Clear Legal Standards – Building Regulation & Building Control

Regulation Technical Guidance Documents – TGD B – Fire Safety Statutory responsibility for professionals to design &

Contractors to build in accordance with the building regulations


No Change to Building Regulations - TGD B Review

Fire Compartmentation – Sections B1 – B5

B1 Means of escape in case of fire

B2 Internal fire spread (linings)

B3 Internal fire spread (structure)

B4 External fire spread

B5 Access and facilities for the fire service

Compliance with TGD B is considered ‘Prima Facie’ Compliance with Building Regulations

BCAR Changes Building Control Regulations


DECLG Code of Practice for Inspecting & Certifying Buildings and Works was published in February 2014

Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2014 (BCAR) – 1st March

Mandatory certification of compliance and lodgement of documents demonstrating compliance at both project commencement & on completion

Created new roles for Assigned & Design Certifiers who must be registered professionals and be competent to carryout their design and to co-ordinate the design activities of others for the works concerned.

Semi-formal system of Ancillary Certification


2011

First ASFP Ireland Seminar

Educated & Informed Delegates

Fire Industry Understanding

Frustration

Background – Opinions of Compliance

Lack of Inspection

Prosecutions ?????

Industry Reports & Recommendations


Industry Reports & Recommendations

Common Theme

Mandatory certificates of compliance for Design & Construction underpinned by an Audit Process

Separate Properly Resourced Building Control Section in each Local Authority

Enhanced & Targeted Inspections

ACEI, BRAB, CFOA, IEI, RIAI, SCS and the National Consumer Agency

Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2014


Code of Practice for Inspecting & Certifying Buildings & Works

The purpose of the lodgement of plans, mandatory inspection by registered professionals, statutory certificates of compliance and registration of certificates and accompanying documentation is to ensure a strong culture of compliance with the Building Regulations, and greater transparency in the process

So who is responsible for buildings constructed before BCAR ?

Who Inspected & Certified Buildings before BCAR ?

How significant are the issues and what can be done about them ?

The Fire Services Acts 1987 – 2003 require that a building is managed and maintained in accordance with building regulations.

The Safety, Health & Welfare at Work Act 2005 requires that suitable and sufficient fire safety risk assessments are carried out to ensure continuing compliance.

Legislative Responsibility


Conveyance by way of Opinions of Compliance


Architects / Fire Consultants typically using phrases such as –

‘visual inspection only’

‘no opening up’

‘substantial compliance with building regulations‘

‘providing evidence for title purposes’

‘not a report on the condition of the building’

‘we were not retained to supervise construction’

Irish Government – April 2012 Strengthening the Building Control System


‘In the light of a number of recent high profile failures on the parts of developers/builders and their agents to meet their statutory responsibilities it is considered that sticking with the existing arrangements is no longer tenable’.

Longboat Quay Apartments

Ensuring Best Practice for Passive Fire Protection in Buildings


ASFP Guidance - TGD B 2006 Revision

Based on research which showed that many buildings are constructed and operated with Passive Fire Protection either badly installed or missing altogether.

This situation is compounded by subsequent alterations to the building as changes in occupancy, occupations and systems take place.

An Accurate Description of Buildings Today

Priory Hall


North Dublin Apartments


South County Dublin Apartments


Ceiling Voids - Partitioning Systems


Service Riser Cupboards


Ceiling Voids - Fire Resisting ?


Fit for Purpose ?


Commercial Offices


Dublin Office Block 7th Floor Plant Room – well

built and fire stopped at other floor levels

West Dublin Apartment Complex


Plant Room Compartmentation

Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism

Fire Resisting Door Set?


Service Riser Cupboard


Fire Resisting Doorset ?

A fire safety certificate is an approval by a local building control authority of the fire safety design to be incorporated into the overall design of a proposed new building.

It is a certification of the fire safety design, as presented and does not certify the construction of the finished building.

Prior to BCAR: In many cases nobody actually inspected the construction before issuing an ‘Opinion of Compliance’.

Management needs to Understand the System


TGD B on Fire Safety Management


Guidance contained in this Document has been based on the assumption that there will be an adequate level of fire safety management when the building is in use.

It describes the importance of the management of both Active & Passive Fire Protection Systems to ensure that deterioration over the life of the building will not impair the level of Fire Safety. It draws attention to duties under the Fire Services Acts in relation to certain premises. It also draws attention to duties under the Safety, Health & Welfare at Work Act 2005

•EC Framework Directive (89/391/EC) & EC Workplace Directive (89/654/EC) – Irish Law in the HSA General Applications 2007

Fire Safety Certificate (FSC)- Application Process

Designers Demonstrate Compliance

Compliance Report – sets out the fire strategy for the proposed design demonstrating compliance with the requirements of B 1 – B 5

Drawings – showing locations and specified fire resistance ratings of fire compartment walls & floors.

Approval - The local authority inspect this design and if satisfied grant a Fire Safety Certificate approving the design.

Building Regulations - Planning Stage


Managing Fire Safety – Information


The FSC approves the design.

The FSC doesn’t approve the construction.

The FSC application contains relevant information on the design strategy essential for management

Fire Compartmentation

Active & Passive Systems Work Together


Active Fire Detection Systems provide warning – time to escape.

Passive Fire Protection Systems Protect Escape Routes – time to escape.

Active Systems can be tested – press a button, read a display.

P F P Systems can’t be tested on site.

PFP = Passive in Nature


Total Reliance on Installed Systems.

Certification provided by Manufacturers.

Certification based on Fire Testing.

System Installer Competence & Integrity

Ability to Install in accordance with the Manufacturer’s instructions – Replicate Fire Tested System on site


Understanding the process of PFP


How to interpret fire test

evidence

for

Passive Fire Protection

Products

Understanding Fire Test Data



ASFP Advisory Notice Indicative & Ad-hoc Testing



‘Pecking Order’ 1. Certificate from a Third Party

Certification Body 2. Assessment / Expert Judgment

from an accredited fire test laboratory or qualified fire consultant

3. Fire test report I. Standard test II. Indicative test III. Ad-Hoc test

Third Party Certification bodies




‘Pecking order’ 1. Certificate from a Third Party






‘Pecking order’ 1. Certificate from a Third Party






Standard tests are the best type of test report and are the ideal


• Indicative reports are just that – indicative • They are not a proper test result and should not be use

to confer approval



• Ad-hoc tests are a ‘last resort’ usually if there is no test method

• Always query why an ad-hoc test has been used

• Ad-hoc tests should be supported by an assessment or expert judgment

• The issuing laboratory will give guidance if asked

Problem - Anyone can buy a Fire Collar Manufacturers provide installation instructions


Example: For surface mounting instructions state – Secure pipe collar to the structure with 50mm x 8mm masonry screws or minimum 50mm expanding metallic bolts

Remember the purpose is to protect the hole in the structure after the pvc pipe has melted and fallen away

Intumescent Fire Collars

Manufacturer’s Instruction based on Fire Test Evidence


Fire Compound is Designed to be load bearing


What is Tested – Certified ?



Common Problems








North Dublin 1981 - The Stardust Tragedy

St. Valentines Disco – 14th February

Celebration turned into Tragedy by Fire

48 Young People Died (18 – 25)

214 Seriously Injured


2011 – Priory Hall Apartment Complex

A Lesser Tragedy – No Fire ?

High Court Eviction of 246 residents

DCC Fire Prevention Office - Fire Safety

Wall to Wall Media Focus – Joe Duffy

Financial Loss to Residents & DCC

Human cost – Residents, Architects, Engineers etc.


What happens when things go badly wrong!

The Station “Nightclub” Fire

Rhode Island, USA

February 2003













96 Deaths

115 Injuries

219 Escaped

David O’Reilly TIFireE

Operations Officer Association for Specialist Fire Protection in Ireland

Republic of Ireland Branch Council Member

Institution of Fire Engineers

European Association for Passive Fire Protection (EAPFP)

E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.asfpireland.ie

ASFPI Fire Compartmentation Seminar


mailto:[email protected]

http://www.asfpireland.ie/