Feature
Ensuring Fire Safety In Commercial And Industrial Buildings: The Role Of Access Panels
In the dynamic environment of commercial and industrial buildings, facilities managers are tasked with the responsibility of maintaining a safe environment for building occupants and crucial to that is minimising fire risks.
Phil Hewitt, Engineering Manager at Profab Access, a leading manufacturer of Certifire‑accredited access panels, highlights the vital role which extensively fire tested access panels can play in fire safety, and how the accurate documentation of such testing for facilities managers can ensure the integrity of their building.
Following the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017, The Golden Thread concept was introduced as part of the Building Safety Act, which highlights the need for better documentation, transparency and accountability in the context of building safety and management. Naturally, facilities management professionals are some of those with the greatest responsibility for ensuring that the Golden Thread of building safety information is maintained, accessible and up-to-date.
This requires the accurate documentation of any changes, upgrades or maintenance work carried out, which contributes to recording the overall building safety and regulatory compliance.
Commercial and industrial buildings will house numerous complex systems, including fire suppression systems, electrical installations and HVAC infrastructure; all
of which require
routine inspections and maintenance to ensure their efficiency and compliance with safety regulations.
One critical component that facilitates this maintenance is access panels. Beyond their functional purpose of providing access for maintenance personnel to inspect, service and repair systems, access panels play a significant yet often overlooked role when it comes to fire safety.
32 fmuk
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44
