INDUSTRY INSIGHT


Updated damper guidance critical to fire safety push


The Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) has published a fully revised version of its long-established industry guidance DW145 ‘Installation of Fire Dampers and Smoke Dampers’.


T


he publication is the latest development in the Association’s campaign to improve building safety standards in the wake of the Grenfell Tower disaster. It also follows the warning it issued last year that annual maintenance inspections were uncovering a significant number of incorrectly installed dampers that did not comply with manufacturers’ instructions. DW 145 covers statutory requirements for the installation, testing and maintenance


of fire dampers and smoke control dampers including clients’ legal obligations to ensure their fire safety systems comply with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 for England and Wales and the Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations 2006. The publication entitled: ‘DW145 – Fire Dampers (E/EI) and Leakage Guide to Good Practice for Installation, Design and Selection, Inspection and Maintenance’, also explains the crucial role played by the penetration seal in ensuring the overall fire stopping integrity of an installation.


It also covers other critical issues including maintenance teams being able to easily find and access dampers for testing and repair, and why designers and installers should seek expert advice from damper manufacturers.


Priority


Revising this guidance was identified as a priority by the Association in the wake of the Grenfell Tower public inquiry because of the important part dampers play in overall building fire safety strategies. “Since the Grenfell Tower disaster the building services industry has, quite rightly, faced


increasingly intensive scrutiny,” said Kevin Morrissey, chair of BESA’s technical committee. “As a result, the Association has been urgently reviewing its technical guidance and supporting this work with the provision of targeted training to ensure everyone involved in the design, installation and maintenance of fire dampers and smoke dampers is aware of what is needed to keep people and property safe. “Unsurprisingly, UK fire authorities are taking an in-depth interest in this aspect of building safety and clients are now more aware of their legal and moral obligations. This, in turn, places greater pressure on damper and ductwork contractors to provide evidence of their competence and ability to comply with legislation,” added Morrissey. As a result, the revisions to DW145 clarify several critical fire safety issues including the importance of systems being designed to allow easy access so maintenance teams can carry out testing, fault finding investigations and repairs. It also highlights the need for care and consideration throughout the specification and installation works, and that, if in doubt, designers and installers should seek expert advice from manufacturers.


Confusion


BESA added that the revised guidance emphasises the importance of following manufacturers’ instructions but also addresses some of the issues associated with those instructions that can cause confusion. For example, some are clearer than others on the best methods for hanging and supporting dampers. The Association said that DW145 provides a quality benchmark for the industry by outlining some examples of typical installations to further ease compliance with safety requirements. It also stresses that the system designer should provide a schedule that includes the specific damper asset reference associated with factors such as the wall type, damper classification, boundary construction, and installation method.


DW145 also advises that each installation should be further supported by photographic evidence of each stage of the install, for example from hanging/supporting the damper to the addition of the firestopping. All these measures will give peace of mind to clients and reduce contractors’ level of risk, according to BESA. “The committee behind the revision, who gave up so much of their valuable time and expertise, have done the industry a great service,” said Morrissey. “This new document delivers a new industry benchmark for the installation, testing, and maintenance of fire and smoke dampers and it can now take its place as a key part of the increasingly rigorous and more professional fire safety regime designed to protect building occupants and minimise future risk to life and property.”


Awareness training


The BESA Academy is also offering a short online Fire and Smoke Damper Awareness training course based on the updated standard. As well as covering the core elements of DW145, including legal obligations under the Fire Safety Order and best practices in damper installation, the course provides clarity on the key compliance standards for safety systems and fire-stopping integrity. www.thebesa.com


Read the latest at: www.bsee.co.uk


The building controls skills shortage


requires a collective drive for quality


With the building controls industry growing all the time and the need for BEMS controls engineers increasing as a


result, business owners and leading industry organisations must look at what can be done to attract and retain


talented professionals to ensure a stronger and brighter future for the building controls sector.


W


ith sustainability and energy efficiency a major focus of the built environment, an increased demand for new buildings will bring with it an increased need for smarter buildings that utilise the very best innovations in technology.


Additionally, with the Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) no longer renewing or issuing cards under industry accreditation after December 2024, identifying ways in which talented professionals can be encouraged to start careers in the sector, and anyone already working in the profession can prove their competence and enhance their knowledge is absolutely vital. With that in mind, the building controls sector, and the construction industry as a whole, needs to provide both apprentices and those more experienced with trusted and certified training and knowledge-sharing.


Ensuring opportunities to prove competence and develop skills


With CSCS card renewals and new applications now requiring competency to be formally certified and assessed, members of the built environment have raised real concerns over the fact that while holding a card isn’t mandatory, it is an expectation of many main contractors to ensure site safety. As an organisation that focuses on ensuring quality throughout the industry, the BCIA worked closely with the ECS, Group Horizon, and the industry to develop the Experienced Worker Assessment (EWA) and crucially meet the stringent requirements of the card scheme. With the EWA assessing and validating the expertise and knowledge of workers who have gained significant experience in the Building Energy Management Systems (BEMS), the individuals receive a provisional card, giving them site access and highlighting that they are working towards EWA certification. Once the EWA is completed, the successful candidates will be able to show formal


recognition of prior learning and experience in order to apply for their ECS BEMS Gold Card. Consequently, gaining certification equivalent to a Level 4 qualification will not only provide an incredible opportunity for candidates to advance their career but it will also enhance quality standards in the industry.


Attracting and nurturing new talent


Conversely, with the skills shortage requiring the building controls industry to look at what can be done to encourage, nurture, and develop talented young professionals and apprentices, the need for trusted and effective training to be given early in their careers is just as important as helping experienced engineers prove their competence. Three years ago, the BCIA partnered with national training provider, Group Horizon Ltd, to introduce the BEMS Controls Engineer Level 4 Apprenticeship, the only focused apprenticeship in the building controls sector.


The scheme, and accompanying End Point Assessment, was devised to ensure talented BEMS Controls Engineers are able to utilise any technical skills they learn on the programme to keep the buildings of tomorrow running efficiently. The result would be a reduction in the built environment’s carbon emissions and a most cost-effective, healthier, and greener construction industry. Following the introduction of the scheme three years ago, the first cohorts are


approaching formal qualification as Level 4 BEMS Controls Engineers in just a few months’ time. Demand for places has been incredibly high, with typically two to three cohorts per year, each featuring around 20 apprentices. This means the rolling number of apprentices sits at around 200. While this increased demand is encouraging news for the industry, it also highlights the


desire across the sector to improve service quality and enhance knowledge. It indicates a potentially bright future ahead and reinforces the need for industry leaders and business owners to truly nurture, encourage, and support talent. The construction industry’s skills shortage increases the importance of giving both young and experienced BEMS engineers the opportunity to learn new skills, enhance their knowledge, and prove their competence. This collective drive for quality and standards throughout career stages can play a vital


role in ensuring that professionals are encouraged to further their understanding of building controls and develop their skills for the betterment of not only their clients but the industry as a whole.


BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER DECEMBER 2024 11


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