Safety & Security
Effective smoke ventilation design – compliance is critical
Smoke ventilation is a critical element in fire safety, particularly in multi-storey residential buildings as it not only helps occupants to escape, but also improves the access for fire fighters by keeping corridors and other areas clear of smoke. Will Perkins, group managing director of SE Controls, looks at building design and the legislative framework together with some of the obligations and issues they raise
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sually when talk turns to building design the focus tends to be directed towards aspects such as innova- tive exteriors, construction methods, energy efficiency
and interior space, yet good building design must also ensure that it is safe. Fire safety is a vital component of any building design and
unsurprisingly there is a robust legislative net in place to ensure that every aspect of a building’s design, including fire safety and protection systems, meet the required standards. From a smoke control perspective, this not only covers the design of the products used in the system and their method of operation, but also the installation, commissioning and ongoing maintenance. This clearly places a considerable
burden of responsibility on architects and systems specialists, such as SE Controls, as well as on contractors involved in the specification of smoke ventilation solutions, where a lack of familiarity with regulations could put them at risk of litigation for non-compliance. While the complex matrix of legisla-
and BS EN12101 will take precedence on product construc- tion standards, which forces compliance with the regulations. Leading companies in this field, have been voluntarily comply- ing with this legislation for some time. While these changes will have a powerful and vital influence
on building design and smoke control solutions, The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (RRO) is arguably the most important piece of legislation for architects, designers and contractors working on UK projects. The RRO creates a clear set of procedures and places respon- sibility on the building’s operators to provide a duty of care for fire safety in relation to the building’s occupants, via regular risk assessments and action. Crucially, under the RRO, the designer and installer are contractually obliged in connection with the safety aspects of the building and continually liable, even if the building and systems have been approved by building control. Designers, consulting engineers,
tion for smoke ventilation and safety systems design for buildings includes Building Regulations, par- ticularly Approved Document B (ADB), and the BS9991:2011 Code of Practice for residential fire safety design, these form only part of the story. Other European regulations and UK legislation overlay and augment these documents depending on their individual focus. Also, there are a couple of anomalies within the current reg-
ulatory environment, which can trip-up the unsuspecting designer, such as the Construction Products Directive (CPD), which relates to the compliance of products with European CE marking requirements. Currently, there is no obligation to CE mark products in the UK, yet it is mandatory in parts of Europe, which inevitably creates a ‘grey’ area. As Section 7 of the Building Regulations states that the prod-
ucts used must merely be “fit for purpose”, then there is poten- tial for misinterpretation. In safety critical situations, the best way to ensure the installation is ‘fit for purpose’ is to use CE marked products, which are already certified as compliant. However, on 1 July 2013 this issue will be resolved automat-
ically, when the CPD becomes the Construction Products Regulation and CE marking becomes mandatory in the UK
Effective smoke ventilation in a residential building
QS and building service engineers also have an obligation to comply with the Construction (Design & Management) Regulations 2007 (CDM) and work to
improve construction safety by eliminating hazards. Several recent incidents including the Salamanca Tower fire
in Lambeth in July 2011 are bringing the real implications of the RRO to the fore. When a serious incident occurs, not only will the investigation look at the immediate management regime, it will often assess the original designs, suitability of equipment, fitness of the installation as well as the effectiveness and frequency of maintenance. Importantly, design responsibility resides with everyone that
has been directly involved in the decision process – ranging from product selection criteria, cable selection and routing all the way through to testing and commissioning. The over- arching point that designers involved in smoke control systems and other fire precautions systems, should take from this broad legislative overview, is that compliance is essential as the risks of non-compliance can cost lives. Regulations are necessary, but can be impenetrable. Seeking
advice and input on smoke ventilation systems from companies that are constantly working within this tightly regulated envi- ronment can not only provide effective solutions, but also help avoid playing Russian roulette with compliance and safety.
‘The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (RRO) is arguably the most important piece of legisla- tion for archi- tects, designers and contractors working on UK projects’
Will Perkins, group managing director, SE Controls
www.buildingconstructiondesign.eu
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