Different buildings
Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM), launched in 1990, which provides a sustainability assessment and certification scheme for the built environment. One of the outcomes has been the increased use of insulation materials incorporated into the walls, floors and roofs of buildings.
Insulation materials
The insulation materials used for thermal and acoustic solutions range from non combustible to highly combustible. For example, mineral wool is at the non combustible end and expanded polystyrene (EPS) at the other end, with all the other materials, including the regularly seen polyisocyanurate (PIR) and polyurethane (PUR), somewhere in between. Generally in an open fire situation, everything will be a fuel to a greater or lesser degree, unless it is inherently mineral wool based. The Building Regulations define the standards required of the materials in place around and enclosing the insulation materials, so that they are not exposed until sufficient time has elapsed to allow escape or rescue from the building. There are numerous British Standards and European test standards to confirm the required criteria for these materials. There are some PIR or PUR panels which achieve
the Loss Prevention Certification Board (LPCB) standards (or similarly recognised international standards) and which also can be considered not to add to the early stages of a developing fire.
If you are involved in the food production
industry, it’s likely you that you will be familiar with foamed plastic insulated panels. In the 1970s and 1980s extensive use was made of composite panels using EPS as the insulation for cold stores and cool rooms. Although this material is thermally efficient, it quickly and easily supports combustion and, after numerous severe fires, the influence of insurers and the fire and rescue services led to the panels being replaced with less combustible, alternative panels.
Trend for taller
Taller buildings for residential and commercial use, including offices, mixed use and hotels, are becoming more the trend, especially within inner city areas, due to a shortage or the cost of land to build on. The financial district of the City of London is an ideal example but compared to some other countries, the UK is lagging behind in the number of such properties built. High rise buildings in use in London include prestigious designs such as the Shard, the Leadenhall Building (the Cheesegrater), 20 Fenchurch (the Walkie Talkie) and 30 St Mary Axe (the Gherkin) which are unique and more individual than the traditional skyscraper shape. In the pipeline there are also numerous others at various stages of design. These taller complex buildings do and will
provide more challenges for the fire and rescue services (FRSs) and all authorities in achieving
FOCUS
www.frmjournal.com JULY/AUGUST 2018
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