FIRE PROTECTION
LESSONS TO LEARN FROM THE GRENFELL FIRE
The knock-on effect of Grenfell and subsequent enquiry will change how we build and maintain our buildings, Nigel Sill, chairman of Enfield Speciality Doors tells BMJ. But we already know most of what we should be doing..
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s individuals and corporate entities, we’re legally obliged to keep our
vehicles maintained and safe on the road. We’re used to the idea of regular check-ups and policing, and to the idea that we’re liable if we don’t. The idea that people and companies are similarly responsible for the safety of their buildings has not taken hold to the same degree. After Grenfell – and other, similar fires that have occurred since – it’s clear that everyone needs to be better informed about fire. This is both in terms of the products that go through the supply chain (covering manufacturers, specifiers, merchants and the contractors and clients they supply), and the properties we live and work in. The original Grenfell Tower had many fire safety features. Non-combustible concrete walls, ceilings and floors, plus the 30-minute fire doors - as originally fitted. Advice was ‘stay in the flats’ as the fire should have been contained long enough for them to tackle it, but it spread so fast it rendered the guidance completely wrong.
With two staircases rather than one, residents could have evacuated safely and quickly, without impeding firefighters’
access, while a complete sprinkler system would have reduced the fire’s spread. We now know that the wrong cladding was used too, and fitted incorrectly, which accelerated the fire.
Phase 2 of the inquiry begins in January 2020 and we will have to wait for detailed recommendations, but we do know that on the night of the fire it was particularly hot. Many occupants had opened windows; it’s possible that many fire doors were open too, rendering them useless. But some of the fire doors that were closed weren’t effective either – over time some had been replaced, and some of these failed after 15 minutes in tests afterwards, half the time they should have lasted.
What do we need to know about fire protection?
We can’t eliminate the risk of fire, but we can minimise it, looking at three key areas: 1. Install active and passive fire protection: Active systems (sprinklers, fire extinguishers and alarms) operate to alert people and put out the fire. Passive protection uses fire-resistant walls, floors and doors built into the fabric of the building to slow
or contain the spread of fire. It’s essential active and passive measures are used together, both correctly specified, properly manufactured and installed and regularly maintained. Grouping or signposting active and passive fire safety products in-branch and online, for example smoke alarms with fire doors, helps installers and contractors get what they need.
2. Stick to the specifications: What’s specified should be what’s installed – no substitutions. Changes to specifications should have to demonstrate equal or better fire resistance and if a building is modified, restore the specified fire protection. Were any fire doors changed? If so, were new fire certificates provided? Were holes made in floors, walls or ceilings for wiring or plumbing? Were the gaps sealed with fire- resistant filling? Merchants should be aware that any modifications to energy saving, security or appearance can compromise fire safety. So if your customers ask if they can safely switch to a lower spec, the answer should be no without following the right procedures for change.
3. Commit to regular inspections: New buildings should be inspected and signed off as fire-safe and annual reviews will identify problems and provide the opportunity to remedy them before it’s too late. Manufacturers should aim for a comfortable safety margin in fire tests because there will inevitably be variations in manufacturing and installation. Most importantly, I believe we should rethink attitudes to value-engineering and over-engineering. When everything works as specified, we have 30 minutes to escape a burning building. In an ideal world, products and systems
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can be value-engineered to remove ‘excess’ value and cost. In reality, small product variations and numerous modifications in construction and maintenance eat into this time.
Enfield fire doors, for example, are deliberately over-engineered for extra safety. These higher-level fire doors are bespoke products, not made for stock. In recent tests sponsored by MHCLG, Enfield’s doors exceeded the ‘opening in’ time by 19% and ‘opening out’ by an exceptional 70%. Higher level bespoke fire doors are often required for a variety of different projects, from Grand Designs-style self builds and smaller/private housing or renovations, to multi-use buildings or commercial buildings. Think private medical clinics, swimming pools, music studios, cinemas, interview/conference rooms and more.
Enfield Speciality Doors is one of the few manufacturers in the country that can supply doors with high levels of noise reduction and fire resistance (FD30 doors with up to 48dB acoustic performance, for example, or FD60 doors with up to 41dB, and a multitude in between). We have two factories on site – one focusing on larger, phased delivery contracts, the other on smaller contracts (eg under 20 doors) which require delivery within 3-14 days. The lessons learnt from Grenfell must be implemented quickly before another preventable tragedy occurs. If it initiates a lasting change in our thinking as a nation, we’d all sleep a lot safer. Knowing what’s available – and the implications of different specifications – means merchants can advise and supply their customers with products that comfortably meet fire safety requirements. BMJ
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net November 2019
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