FIRE SAFETY
Why firestopping must not be an afterthought
Fire safety is a huge concern for hospitals, which must safeguard all users, and implement measures that minimise any risk of fire. However, as such facilities continue to evolve, they can face a growing number of new fire safety challenges, with advances in technology and demand for better services placing a heavy reliance on cables to keep equipment and their supporting infrastructure running safely. Paul Gretton, lead marketing manager – Cable Management, at electrical and digital building infrastructure specialist, Legrand UK & Ireland, explains why using effective and future-proof firestopping in healthcare environments is crucial.
There is no denying that hospitals and healthcare facilities are complex working and operating environments. With hundreds of vulnerable patients, as well as staff, visitors, and equipment to consider, along with these facilities’ sheer size, estates managers have a lot to think about when it comes to keeping processes running smoothly, upholding health and safety requirements, and limiting damage to the buildings in the event of, for example, fire or flood. High on the list of considerations is fire safety. It is no surprise that hospitals are at such a high risk of fire given the vast amount of electrical equipment, kitchen facilities, flammable gases, chemicals, bed linen, and paperwork on site, to name but a few. However, there is one major fire risk which may not immediately spring to mind – cabling. Hospitals contain a significant
amount of power and data cabling which regularly changes, whether to meet increasing demand for connectivity, or to accommodate new equipment. Combined with an ever-growing requirement for greater speed, system upgrades, and improved wireless connectivity, the number of cables required in hospitals is only going to increase. As cables can catch fire and spread it throughout a building quickly, it is vital that they are firestopped correctly to ensure compliance and the safety of staff and patients.
Hospital design considerations When you consider the sheer size and complexity of an average UK hospital, it is easy to see why a fire evacuation process can be a significant logistical challenge. From shutting down key areas such as operating theatres, wards, and waiting
Paul Gretton.
rooms, to safely moving vulnerable patients who are likely to lack mobility in an emergency situation, it can be a formidable task.
To help streamline the process, hospitals are built in a compartmentalised structure. According to the Building Regulations Approved Document B, this aims to limit the spread of fire within a building by sub-dividing it into compartments separated from each other by fire-resistant walls and/or floors. It is therefore crucial to maintain these fire- rated barriers to preserve the integrity of compartmentation to ensure effective evacuation of a hospital in the event of a fire.
Progressive horizontal evacuation For example, if a fire breaks out, hospitals tend to lead with a progressive horizontal evacuation (PHE) strategy, whereby patients who are deemed to be in immediate danger are moved away from the fire-affected area yet remain on the same floor in order to minimise disruption. This strategy can, however, only be used effectively if hospitals are built with compartmentation in mind, and the fire resistance of each ‘compartment’ is maintained.
Legrand’s EZ-Path is a mechanical device that the company says ‘provides fully compliant firestopping for power and data cable management pathways’.
One further design consideration for hospitals in relation to fire safety is the typical inclusion of multiple corridors. As well as providing valuable access to different areas of a hospital, corridors are
June 2018 Health Estate Journal 39
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