Upload
others
View
5
Download
1
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Introduction & ASFP Policy Statement
David O’Reilly
Association for Specialist Fire Protection
Ireland
Fire Compartmentation The Who, Why & How of Legislative Compliance
Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
The ASFP was formed
in 1975 as the Association of Structural Fire Protection Contractors and Manufacturers (ASFPCM), and changed its name in 1996 to the Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP).
Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
The ASFP - A brief background history
To reflect the work being undertaken in the fields of fire stopping, fire resisting ducting, fire dampers, fire resisting partitions and other elements used for compartmentation
The Association was formed to bring together passive fire protection (PFP) manufacturers, contractors and testing/certification bodies to encourage, develop and give guidance on essential standards in PFP.
Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
The ASFP - A brief background history
The Association is responsible for or has had a significant input into the vast majority of guidance and standards that exist today across the whole spectrum of the PFP sector.
Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
The ASFP - A brief background history
Industry guidance
ASFP Irelands website provides items of specific Irish interest with links to the comprehensive technical support available to professionals at a number of levels
www.asfpireland.ie
Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
ASFP Ireland - 2010
Passive Protection Systems sold by ASFP members are independently certified and ASFP Contractor members are 3rd Party Certificated as a mandatory membership requirements of the ASFP
Certification
Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
ASFP Members
Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
RED BOOK
Fire stopping & penetration seals for the construction industry 3rd Edition
The Association for Specialist Fire Protection
Fire & smoke resisting dampers
GREY BOOK
The Association for Specialist Fire Protection
Fire retardant coatings for The construction industry
ORANGE BOOK
The Association for Specialist Fire Protection
Fire resisting non load-bearing partitions
PURPLE BOOK
The Association for Specialist Fire Protection
YELLOW BOOK
Fire protection for structural steel in buildings 4th Edition
The Association for Specialist Fire Protection
BLUE BOOK
Fire resisting ductwork 2nd Edition
The Association for Specialist Fire Protection
ASFP Support Services
Ensuring Best Practice for Passive Fire Protection in Buildings
Produced in 1998 to provide guidance to architects, designers, constructors, building occupiers and others, with effective and feasible recommendations and selection criteria for the use of Passive Fire Protection (PFP) systems in buildings.
Fire Compartment Guidance Document
Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
We have had Building Regulations in the current format since 1991
In 2006 this Best Practice Document was incorporated into Technical Guidance B as a principal source for guidance on passive fire protection (PFP).
Specific Relevance in Irish Legislation
Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
TGD B lists the Principal Objectives of Fire Compartments
To prevent rapid fire spread which could trap occupants
To reduce the chance of fires becoming large, on the basis that large fires are more dangerous, not only to occupants but to people within the vicinity of the building
To protect escape routes
Why is Fire Compartmentation Important?
Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
Ireland -Technical Guidance Document B (TGD B) UK - Approved Document B (ADB)
B1: Means of Escape
B2: Internal Fire Spread (Linings)
B3: Internal Fire Spread (Structure)
B4: External Fire Spread
B5: Access & Facilities for the Fire Service
Legislative Guidance Documents Compartmentation
Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
As part of the Planning Process Designers must apply for a Fire Safety Certificate demonstrating how the proposed development will comply with Building Regulations.
Compliance Report which sets out the fire strategy for the proposed design demonstrating compliance with the requirements of B 1 – B 5 in TGD – B.
Drawings that show the locations and specified fire resistance ratings of fire compartments.
Approval - The local authority inspect this design and if satisfied grant a Fire Safety Certificate.
Irish Building Regulations - Planning Stage
Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
It must be understood that 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 to the authority and does not certify the fire safety of the finished building.
Essential Understanding of the Irish System
Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
So is the System Working?
Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
It is probably true to say that if appropriate fire protection measures are correctly installed, in accordance with the guidance of the current Building Regulations, the answer would be Yes – but is this the case ?
Responsibility & Accountability
Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
From a Government perspective, regulations are laid down for implementation at all stages within a building’s design, build, inspection and maintenance processes, throughout the life of the structure.
However experience shows that the Achilles Heel in this process is the installation & maintenance of PFP.
The absence of routine mandatory Inspection & Enforcement procedures is also clearly an issue.
Dublin Apartment Complex
Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
Fire Doors ?
Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
Partitioning Systems
Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
Fire Dampers
Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
Penetration Seals
Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
Fire Resisting Door sets
Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
So is it all Working!
Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
Even when all looks correct......
........Is it?
Responsibility & Accountability How does this happen?
Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
Incredible as it may seem, our Legislation does not provide for a mandatory inspection prior to the occupation of a building.
There is no routine building control by the authorities and typically the developer does not retain the services of the architect or fire consultant during construction.
Legislative Position
Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
The duty of care to comply with Building Regulations rests jointly with the builder/developer and client and not with the Authority.
The Authorities (as under the Fire Services Acts for existing buildings), using their powers of inspection under the Building Control Act, may enforce implementation of the requirements of the Building Regulations on new buildings through the Courts.
What actually happens
Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
Opinions of compliance are written by Architects or Fire Consultants and typically use phrases such as –
‘visual inspection’
‘no opening up’
‘substantial compliance‘
‘providing evidence for title purposes’
‘not a report on the condition’
‘we were not retained to supervise construction’
Concluding Statements
Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
We note however that it is the responsibility of the Building Contractor to ensure that the construction of the works complies with the drawings and specifications and the standards of construction required by the Building Regulations
It should be noted that this opinion is for the purposes of providing evidence for title purposes of substantial compliance with Part B of the Building Regulations 1997 at the date of inspection. It is not a report on the condition of the building nor should it be relied upon as making any such representations.
Fire Services Act 1981 & 2003
Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
Compliance with responsibilities under the Fire Services Act requires that:
The premises must be suitable for its intended use, and certain essential fire safety features appropriate to this use must be provided.
A proactive fire safety management policy must be in place to minimize the risk of a fire occurring and ensure the safety of persons on the premises in an emergency.
Technical Guidance B also assumes effective management
What is Required to Manage Fire Safety? Is the System Working?
Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
It should be
Fire Safety Certificate (including imposed conditions, if any)
Fire Safety Certificate Application – Compliance report and drawings
Information on installed Passive Fire Protection Systems Data sheets
Certificates / fire test reports
Maintenance requirements
Locations
Relevant sign offs by certifying bodies / persons
Other relevant information
Critical Omission
Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
TGD – B provides guidance and then makes assumptions with regard to management & maintenance. Unfortunately, research & experience shows that necessary steps in the chain are missed or simply ignored.
ADB goes further and states that in accordance with Regulation 38 (formerly 16B) of the Building Regulations the passive fire protection provision details will be passed onto the owner of the building as fit for purpose.
Ensuring Best Practice for Passive Fire Protection in Buildings
Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
•Based on an ASFP three-year ‘Partners in Innovation’ project, completed in 1998, which found that the reliability of fire compartment walls and barriers was a real issue and in some complex buildings, detailed drawings were missing and occupants had no knowledge of the location of essential defences such as compartment walls.
Relevant Findings
Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
The research undertaken under this project has shown that many buildings are constructed and operated with Passive Fire Protection either badly installed or missing altogether. This situation is compounded by alterations made to the building by the occupier as changes in occupancy, occupations or systems take place.
Using price competition as the main criteria for selection encourages contractors to submit low tenders to win the contract. Once contractors have secured contracts they strive to increase profitability by applying pressure to their subcontractors to further reduce prices.
----------------------
My experience is that if this research was carried out here in Dublin today it would come to similar conclusions & probably make the same
recommendations.
European Context – Fire Risk Assessment
Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
EC Framework Directive (89/391/EC)
EC Workplace Directive (89/654/EC)
In the UK these directives were incorporated in
the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
(N.I. 2010)
In Ireland they were transposed into Irish law
within the Safety, Health & Welfare at Work
(General Application) Regulations 2007
Manufacturers provide installation instructions - Intumescent Fire Collars
Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
Surface mounting – Secure pipe collar to the structure with 50mm x 8mm masonry screws or minimum 50mm expanding metallic bolts
What can happen - Fire Compound
Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
Worse? – No Fire Protection at all
Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
Who Checked this one?
This building had been occupied for 13 years at the time this photograph was taken. The situation has not been rectified.
What you don’t see from the Boardroom or expensively decorated Apartment?
Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
It is dangerous to make assumptions from outward appearance
Pencil Hole
< 4 minutes
6m x 6m x 3m room
Why is this important? - A Reminder Smoke Kills
Who is Qualified to install Passive Fire Protection? At times it seems the only installer requirements are
Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
Submission – What we would like to see
Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
That all in the chain of the design, build and maintenance process be required to undertake an ‘ownership of responsibility’ and ‘sign off’ their particular element in the process as ‘fit for purpose’ in relation to the design and installation of fire safety measures.
This could take the form of a ‘building logbook’ or as a ‘permit to occupy’, but in any event would be required to form part of relevant legislation whether it is the Building Regulations, the Fire Services Act or Health & Safety Legislation.
Submission
Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
Given the life safety nature of fire, the association aspires to appropriate qualifications in all aspects of the fire industry, to be deemed as essential rather than desirable.
We would like to see 3rd Party Certification become a more mandated requirement at all stages in the process, regulated from within the fire industry to ensure installation of appropriate fire protection systems and inspection in accordance with appropriate legislation.
Submission
Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
We are mindful that the current Building Regulations have been crafted over many years based on a firm foundation that the majority of buildings are constructed utilizing traditional materials and methods of construction.
However with the desire to meet with a more sustainable, reduced carbon agenda, industry has seen the development of more innovative modern methods of construction and fire engineered principles, therefore any future changes to the Building Regulations should reflect the importance of appropriate fire protection measures in these types of construction.
Sustainable ?
Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
In our drive toward modern methods of construction, zero carbon living, sustainable construction and the increasing use of fire engineered solutions.
Remember a sustainable building is NOT ‘sustainable’
if it is razed to the ground by fire!
ASFP Ireland – Aims & Objectives
Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
To facilitate the Training, Education and Competence of those involved in the specification, installation, maintenance and assessment of Installed Specialist Fire Protection Measures.
To make an essential and necessary contribution to a Safe and Sustainable Built Environment in consultation and co-operation with legislators and other compatible Organizations.
To develop and expand the Market for Specialist Fire Protection Measures which can be properly shown to be 'Fit for Their Intended Use'.
To be the leading Fire Industry Association concerned with Specialist Fire Protection Measures installed in a Safe and Sustainable Built Environment.
How?
Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
Our Web Site provides news, information and guidance on items of Specific Irish Interest.
Organising Seminars such as today: We are encouraged by the calibre of those who have chosen to support this initiative, with their presence and look forward to some interesting discussion sessions.
We would like to encourage as many individuals and organisations as possible to join ASFP Ireland so that we can develop the Association and replicate the standing that is enjoyed by our UK colleagues
We would like to organize Task Groups to address specific Irish issues
ASFP Ireland offers Affiliate
membership to those professionals who would like to make a contribution to improved standards and keep abreast of all matters pertinent to passive fire protection technology, regulation, standards and industry guidance
The Importance of Affiliate Membership
Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
Membership isn’t just for Contractors
David O’Reilly
Chairman
Association for Specialist Fire Protection Ireland
North Block The Malt House Grand Canal Quay Dublin 2
Tel: +353 (0) 1 679 1324
E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.asfpireland.ie
Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
This PowerPoint presentation is the copyright of the Association for Specialist Fire Protection