ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SAFETY
to buildings designated as HRBs (Higher Risk Buildings), the construction industry is questioning whether it is feasible, both financially and technically, to run two different design criteria simultaneously. Although it is well recognised
that through effective building compartmentation, and the correct implementation of passive fire protection measures, the spread of fire can be contained, a survey by the Royal Town Planning Institute after the Grenfell Tower fire highlighted that most decisions about fire stopping in England were made at the building control phase – where price, the cost of product, and the cost of installation, are the key drivers. Those installing passive fire stopping have little or no knowledge of the design intentions of the electrical designer, or how the cable management pathway has been envisioned to function as the building developed. For example, most IT specifications require the contractor to leave 30% of the installed cable management empty for future expansion, but the traditional passive fire protection products being used to fire stop this cable pathway are designed to offer a permanent solution. This means when the empty part of the tray reaches a fire- rated barrier, the required 30% expansion designed into the tray is not repeated in the barrier itself.
A potential obstacle created Against the backdrop of today’s connected society – where the demand for access to data and mobile services in public buildings means the addition of new cables can be an almost daily occurrence, these permanent fire-rated barriers can create an obstacle. Not being able to easily add additional cabling can hinder not only the desired flexibility of the IT designer/specifier, but may also
62 Health Estate Journal April 2024
Legrand cable management systems post- fire testing.
be putting at risk the effectiveness of the fire strategy, by adding an ongoing non-compliance issue to the workload of the building’s responsible person as these future cables are added. The ongoing repair, re-certification, and processes required to ensure that these breaches are repaired in a timely manner also adds significantly to the annual operating cost of the organisation, reducing the amount of money available for other projects. Technological advances, replacement of obsolete equipment, and increasing data capacity, are common issues within the health sector. These issues are compounded by the fact that older buildings were simply not designed to accommodate today’s cabling and data requirements, while newer ones are often designed and built around traditionally inflexible solutions. This poses a real headache for those responsible for the day-to-day facilities management at healthcare organisations.
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Fire risks during construction / cable installation The healthcare sector is at the cutting edge of new technology and medical advancements; their successful integration is vital to ensuring that patients have access to the latest treatments. The ability to integrate new technology and cabling, while minimising disruption to the operation of the premises, poses a challenge due to the risks associated with retrofitting. Noise, dust, infection control, and the impact of closure, are all major concerns during any works. However, cable installations also present the additional problem of needing to remove fire-stopping materials while the work takes place. Data and telecom requirements can change frequently, and it is very likely that the routes these cables take will pass through a fire-resistant wall or floor. These additional cables are often added to the existing cable management system with oversized holes cut or drilled
Older buildings were simply not designed to accommodate today’s cabling and data requirements, while newer ones are often designed and built around traditionally inflexible solutions
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