FOCUS
Engineered approach Case study – 80 Pall Mall, London
WHEN THE 17th century building at 80 Pall Mall was renovated, FDS Consult was brought in to provide guidance on a fire safety strategy. Originally built in the 1690s as the residence of the third Duke of Schomberg, the building was converted into offices in the 1950s. The latest renovation included a plan to introduce glass fronted meeting rooms around the periphery of the ground and first floors, leading to an open atrium with a central open staircase. Other challenges of the building’s original layout included an original
most common approach. This is referred to as a progressive horizontal evacuation (PHE), and it involves subdividing any patient care areas into protected sections that are separated from each other by fire resistant walls and doors. The aim of any PHE plan is to quickly remove
the occupants from immediate danger to an area from which they can then be evacuated without immediate time pressure. Furthermore, if the nature of the building means that the occupants are likely to be relatively unfamiliar with the layout and escape routes, this needs to be accounted for. Included in this are public buildings and those with multiple uses, such as educational organisations whose facilities are also used by the general public. In these situations, it is vital to ensure that the evacuation routes are clear of smoke, and install detection systems that provide early warning when a fire breaks out.
26 OCTOBER 2018
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staircase that was narrower than the regulations stipulate, and a light well on one side of the structure which did not meet current standards. To overcome these challenges, the consultant team recommended introducing fire curtains linked to the smoke detection and fire alarm system to ensure compartmention of the offices in the event of a fire. They also analysed and calculated
the evacuation times in order to demonstrate that the number of occupants could safely leave with minimal delay, despite the narrower staircase
Refurbishing buildings
When refurbishing an existing building, the fire strategy may be complicated by restrictions caused by the original layout or features. This is particularly common in older buildings that were constructed with lesser standards of fire safety. Similarly, the renovation of historical buildings could be further complicated by legal restrictions if the building in question has a listed status. Regardless of the age, any restoration
or updates to the building will probably need to comply with all modern standards, so the design process must consider how the original features and aesthetics can be protected, while also delivering complete safety. Some of the common issues faced with these types of building include fewer, or narrower staircases than recommended, longer travel distances within the building and lack of
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