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FIRE SAFETY


a key escape route for occupants in the event of a fire. As such, walls and fire doors are used to split these corridors in order to slow or prevent the spread of fire and allow horizontal evacuation. However, corridors are also where the majority of cables are run in order for power and data to reach various areas of a hospital.


Current ‘state of play’


Openings are frequently made in fire-rated walls and floors for services which require cables, plastic and metallic pipes, ducts, and busbars. However, once these openings are made, the fire-rated barriers lose their fire resistance. If the resistance is not maintained, fire can quickly spread to other areas.


Too often, ineffective firestopping measures – or a lack of firestopping altogether – are only realised after a fire has occurred and the damage is done. What’s more, with no set legislation providing definitive guidance as to when firestopping compliance inspections should take place, it can be tricky to determine if at any point a healthcare facility has effective measures in place. What’s more, with multiple building services systems being installed and upgraded by various contractors throughout the lifetime of a hospital, it can be extremely difficult to determine with whom the responsibility for firestopping lies. Often, the onus is placed on the fire specialist that comes in at the end of a project, yet with a lack of knowledge on the intricacies of the services installed, and cables often being concealed, there is the potential for breaks in fire protection to go unnoticed, particularly after upgrades and remedial work.


Cementitious mortar


Traditionally, firestopping methods used in buildings have included the application of cementitious mortar or firestop pillows to any openings. However, these approaches allow significant room for error if installed incorrectly, and openings are not entirely sealed.


For example, coated boards, which are cut to accommodate new cables and then sealed again with a sealant, do not allow cable flexibility. As the sealant is applied directly onto any cables, cables are also at risk of being damaged. Furthermore, firestop bricks are very difficult to cut with a knife, so a core drill has to be used to create a circular opening. This is problematic when trying to be precise in sealing any gaps between cables and the fire-rated barrier, while the cables are also at risk of being damaged during any maintenance required. Finally, mortar provides very limited flexibility to accommodate future cable changes. Its application can also take far longer than other methods, as cables cannot be energised until the mortar is cured.


40 Health Estate Journal June 2018


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.


Not designed with efficient cable penetration in kind Ultimately, these traditional firestopping products can only do so much in creating safe hospital environments, as they are not designed with efficient cable penetration in mind. Manufacturers can ensure that their products are compliant and fire-resistant through testing and classifications, such as EN 1366-3 and EN 13501-2, but beyond this they cannot be responsible for guaranteeing that an entire build has been correctly fire stopped, as the onus remains on those undertaking the work or maintaining the site to ensure compliance.


What compounds the issue is that as additional cables are introduced to a hospital build, the firestopping is removed to feed new cables through the fire-resistant barrier. The additional cables are then tested to check that they are working, before the original


firestopping device/method is restored and re-certified by a specialist fire contractor. This process could take several days, depending on the number of cables being installed, and could stretch across various compartments or fire zones in a hospital. This creates a significant gap in fire protection while the work is being undertaken, putting patients, staff, and visitors at risk.


Out of sight, out of mind


What’s more, a cost is also incurred each time that a specialist fire contractor is called to site.


Cabling usually goes overhead in hospitals due to concrete flooring, and in particular above doors. Although this keeps the cables from interfering with the day-to-day activity of a hospital environment, it can mean that they are out of sight and often out of mind when it comes to checking if they have been fire stopped correctly, especially if remedial work has taken place. If work is undertaken, a ladder is usually required in order for someone to closely inspect whether the firestopping is performing as expected, creating a further health and safety risk in itself.


The solution


The EZ-Path assembly is fixed mechanically, and utilises an automatic mechanical cable feed-through solution.


Firestopping devices are categorised as a method of passive fire protection or fire containment, and are integral to maintaining the fire rating of barriers (walls, floors and ceilings) which have lost their fire resistance from construction openings, such as power and data cable runs. Failing to close these openings will allow flames and smoke to quickly spread in the event of a fire from one room to the next, compounding the health and safety risk. The Department of Health’s Firecode document covers fire safety in the design of healthcare premises as part of Health


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