Cities in the sky - challenging their safetyPassive Fire Protection – Getting It Right
Wilf ButcherCEO
Association for Specialist Fire Protection
The Association for Specialist Fire Protection
Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
When
Originally known as the Association of Structural Fire Protection Contractors and Manufacturers (ASFPCM), the association was formed in 1975
Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
The ASFP - A brief background history
Why
In recognition of a need 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
To better reflect the diversity of the work then being undertaken in the fields of fire stopping, fire resisting ducting, fire dampers, fire resisting partitions and other elements used for compartmentation
In 1996 the Association changed its name to the Association for Specialist Fire Protection
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The ASFP - A brief background history
The Association is responsible for and/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.
In 1996 the Association changed its name to the Association for Specialist Fire Protection
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The ASFP - A brief background history
ManufacturersContractorsTesting and certification bodiesand many other associate members
Today the ASFP is further broadening its membership and remit to reflectand respond to the significant changes and challenges that are taking placeat many levels within the PFP sector
Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
Who is the Association made up of?
ASFP now offers Affiliate membership to those professionals that have a need to keep abreast of all matters pertinent to passive fire protection technology, regulation, standards and industry guidance
Today the ASFP is further broadening its membership and remit to reflectand respond to the significant changes and challenges that are taking placeat many levels within the PFP sector
Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
Who is the Association made up of?
Industry guidance
The ASFPs website offers comprehensive technical support to the professional at a number of levels
www.asfp.org.uk
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ASFP’s support services What are they designed to achieve?
Industry guidance
Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
ASFP’s support services What are they designed to achieve?
• ‘Indicative’ or ‘Ad-hoc’ Testing
• Understanding the term ‘Competent Person’
• Awareness Guidance for the Responsible Person
• Using Polyurethane Foams
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RED BOOK
Fire stopping & penetration seals for the construction industry
3rd EditionThe 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 forstructural steel in buildings
4th EditionThe Association for Specialist Fire Protection
BLUE BOOK
Fire resisting ductwork
2nd Edition
The Association for Specialist Fire Protection
ASFP’s support services What are they designed to achieve?
The ASFP ‘Red Book’ is referenced in the Building Regulations. It acts as anon commercial guidance document to the specifier covering all aspects offire stopping and penetration seals for the construction industry
Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
ASFP’s support services What are they designed to achieve?
The ASFP ‘Red Book’ is referenced in the Building Regulations. It acts as anon commercial guidance document to the specifier covering all aspects offire stopping and penetration seals for the construction industry
Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
ASFP’s support services What are they designed to achieve?
Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
ASFP’s support services What are they designed to achieve?
Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
ASFP’s support services What are they designed to achieve?
As well as offering guidance on many of the issues you will face in the
specification of structural fire protection
q Approved Documents
q CDM Regulations
q Building Regulations such as Regulation 38 (formally 16B)
q Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
q 3rd Party Certification
q The Construction Products Regulation
q Misrepresentation of inappropriate test data
Either via downloadable information or by contact directly with the ASFP
Technical Officer, Niall RowanPioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
ASFP’s support services What are they designed to achieve?
Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
The Reality of Fire
2000 years ago life was simple
King Herod (74BC-4AD) introduced a lawwhich stated that:
‘Should a man construct a building whichfalls down and kills another then this manshould be slain ’.
Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
Life is a little more complicated today!
• Approved Documents
• Building Regulations such as 7 & 38 (formally 16B)
• CDM Regulations
• BS 9999
• Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
• The Construction Products Regulation
Etc, etc.....................
The Reality of Fire
Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
So just how important are passive fire protection measures in today’s building design!
Other than fire fighters few of us have had to face the reality of fire and smoke spread!
The Reality of Fire
Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
The Reality of Fire
So just how important are passive fire protection measures in today’s building design!
Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
The answer of course is quite clear, it’s essential!
The Reality of Fire
Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
Fire damaged buildings canalways be rebuilt
Their priceless content howeverwill be lost forever
Statistically 40% of businesses will be out of business within 12-18 months following a major fire
The Reality of Fire
Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
Fire in Tall Buildings Are they a special case?
Polat Tower Fire, Istanbul July 2012
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Fire in Tall Buildings Are they a special case?
Torre Windsor
Madrid 2005
Built in 1970’s
No slab edge firestops
Basement floors were not affected, proving that the deficiency was in the slab edge fire protection, not fire stopping around services
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Fire in Tall Buildings Are they a special case?
Fire started 21st
floor
Spread to all 30 above ground
floors
Burning droplets
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Fire in Tall Buildings Are they a special case?
The answer starts with the specification
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Fire in Tall Buildings In reality ALL buildings are a special case?
Which is why 3rd Party Certification is important
For the last decade all ASFP Contractors are required to gain 3rd Party Certification from a UKAS accredited Certification Body as a mandatory requirement of entry to and membership of the ASFP
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Fire in Tall Buildings In reality ALL buildings are a special case?
Why is 3rd Party Certification Important?
Product Certification Requires
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Fire in Tall Buildings In reality ALL buildings are a special case?
o Independent type testing of independently selected product
o Definition of an approved field of application
o Manufacture under an independently inspected and audited factory
production control system
o ISO 9001 Quality Management System
o Independent audit testing on independently selected product
o Permanent labelling
o Installation and maintenance instructions
Why is 3rd Party Certification Important?
Product Certification Affords
Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
Fire in Tall Buildings In reality ALL buildings are a special case?
o Proper’ validation of the product or system
o Products are used correctly and hence provide required safety
o Assurance of on-going consistent quality
o Labelled to provide identification and traceability
o Confidence for the Specifier, Client, Regulator and Enforcer
o Mitigates the liability of architect, contractor etc.
o End user gets what he pays for
Why is 3rd Party Certification Important?
Installer Certification
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Fire in Tall Buildings In reality ALL buildings are a special case?
A means of independently
verifying the competency and
quality of workmanship of
companies installing fire
protection products and systems
Why is 3rd Party Certification Important?
Installer Certification Affords
Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
Fire in Tall Buildings In reality ALL buildings are a special case?
o Initial and annual inspection of office based activities
o Quality systems, traceability
o Competence assessment of workforce
o High proportion of direct employed labour
o Adequate supervision
o Random inspection of works
o Issue of Certificate of Conformity per job
Why is 3rd Party Certification Important?
If you wish to avoid this!
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Fire in Tall Buildings In reality ALL buildings are a special case?
Why is 3rd Party Certification Important?
When the installed materials are expected to do this!
Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
Fire in Tall Buildings In reality ALL buildings are a special case?
Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
The Three Essential Stages In the Life of a Building
Building Design Construction Building Maintenance
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Stage Three In the Life of a Building
Question: Who do you want to carry out your triple heart bypass?
Plastic Surgeon
Heart Surgeon
Gynaecologic Surgeon
Veterinary Surgeon
The competency of any follow-on trade is essential
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Stage Three In the Life of a Building
At the turn of last decade the ASFP completed a detailed three-year‘Partners in Innovation’ project, partly funded by the then Office of theDeputy Prime Minister and the Department of Trade & Industry, whereindependent research on fire safety provisions in a wide variety ofnominated types of buildings was collected.
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Stage Three In the Life of a Building
A high percentage of compartment walls were either defective, throughpoorly installed fire stopping of penetrating service systems, or invalidated byincompetent maintenance
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Stage Three In the Life of a Building
Or worse either no fireprotection measures at all
Or a totally inappropriate and ineffective solution
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Stage Three In the Life of a Building
If you wish to gain moreinformation regarding appropriatefire risk assessment then refer toa new ASFP Guidance Documentcalled:ASFP Guide to Inspecting PassiveFire Protection for the Fire RiskAssessor
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To Sum Up
What conclusions can we draw from this short presentation?
Where possible specify appropriate 3rd
party Certificated products
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To Sum Up
What conclusions can we draw from this short presentation?
Appoint 3rd Party Certificated installers
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To Sum Up
What conclusions can we draw from this short presentation?
Ensure that any follow-on trades are competent to repair any breaches they need to make to the compartmentation to ensure that appropriate fire performance is maintained.
Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
To Sum Up
What conclusions can we draw from this short presentation?
There’s nothing wrong with thinking outside of the box.
Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
To Sum Up
What conclusions can we draw from this short presentation?
There’s nothing wrong with thinking outside of the box.
Provided you understand the consequences of getting it wrong!
Questions
www.asfp.org.uk
