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FIRE & SAFETY BSEE


PASSIVE FIRE PROTECTION IN CONSTRUCTION Creating a safer working environment on‐site


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Passive fire protection can save lives, assets, and the building itself, making it an integral part of any build. However, while completed buildings obtain the standards of fire protection, there is still a lack of awareness when it comes to installing passive fire protection during a build, protecting workers and restricting damage. James Reid, passive fire safety spokesman at Gunfire Limited, outlines the importance of passive fire protection throughout a building project.


here are number of cases where fire safety has been overlooked during a build and the consequences of this have been vast. Despite the construction industry’s improved understanding of passive fire safety over the past decade, thanks to the Approved Document B, Building Regulations (2010), more needs to be done to determine a safer working environment for workers on-site.


The risk


All buildings are vulnerable to fire, even during construction and the risk of fire spreading increases until all passive fire measures are in place. For example, a timber-framed building will be more susceptible to fire before the external finishes are in place. This vulnerability can often lead to the whole structure being compromised and engulfed in a fire, with the added risk of off-site fire spread issues.


In addition to this, buildings may be irreversibly damaged and those at fault could end up in court or worse, jail. The consequences of fire can impact not only site workers but also on members of the general public. It is therefore crucial that a building’s vulnerability to fire is taken into account as early as possible during the design process.


The earlier the better


No doubt about it, if there is no fire protection, then people’s lives are at risk. Passive fire protection allows time for tradesmen to leave the building or even stay in a safe place within the build and await rescue. Even as early as the design stage, a passive fire protection contractor can be sought and a package confirmed ready for the interior fit out.


Fire design, such as escape routes, is part of the initial drawing stages. One way for this to be translated onto site would be for a fire protection contractor to communicate with the designers and specify that permanent


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fire protection, such as stair enclosures, should be constructed as early as possible.


Building integrity


Early installation of fire mitigation methods such as fire detection and suppression systems will also reduce the risk. If the fire is compartmentalised, commercially it may save the integrity of the building and also reduce the cost of recovering the fire-damaged site. A fire protection contractor can develop a fire safety strategy which provides comprehensive protection, as well as ensuring installation is cost effective and time efficient. Early engagement between fire protection contractors and construction site personnel will help improve the communication and awareness of safety aspects on-site, such as the size, number and location of all penetrations through fire rated walls and floors. If workers are aware of this they can then plan work around it. A fire protection contractor will also strive to provide a single and definitive fire protection


package that will complete all works, including mastic lines to the top of block work walls, fire stopping and intumescent wrap and collars. At Gunfire, we manage operatives effectively so that works are productive and consistent, allowing us to move through the project efficiently. Ultimately, a passive fire protection contractor’s job is to provide knowledge in areas such as fire safety that may be overlooked without the relevant education. The contractor will improve the safety of a construction project throughout, by maintaining a consistent level of works. Getting in there early will not only save money but also reduce liability, therefore bringing peace of mind for those in charge of the build but more importantly the workers on-site.


Gunfire is a leading UK passive fire safety contractor whose work is supported by 3rd Party Accreditation with the BRE/LPCB (Loss Prevention Certification Board) LPS: 1531 and is FIRAS accredited.


www.gunite.co.uk/gunfire


If there is no


fire protection, then people’s lives are at risk. Passive fire protection allows time for tradesmen to leave the building or even stay in a safe place within the build and await rescue. Even as early as the design stage, a passive fire protection contractor can be sought and a package confirmed ready for the interior fit out.


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BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER OCTOBER 2016 15


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