Public/complex buildings
through calculations, modelling, statistical data and research information to provide levels of safety acceptable to the client approvers and other key stakeholders, which are comparable or higher than the prescriptive approach. The approaches in BS 7974, the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers’ CIBSE Guide E: Fire Safety Engineering or the International Fire Engineering Guidelines are a recognised structured way to apply fire safety principles, which are used as the base from which to develop a unique strategy. Regular qualitative design reviews are held with the fire safety team on all aspects of the fire strategy – a structured and transparent design approach. For heritage buildings, teams often struggle
to apply design codes. We try to meet the performance requirements of the Building Regulations with thoughtful respect to the heritage status. For example, is it necessary to provide escape signage if there are well trained staff? Most designers try to apply the solution without
understanding the likelihood of fire and the consequences for the people, contents, building, business, heritage and community. The following are useful points when designing fire strategies for unusual buildings.
Clear objectives
Compliance with legislation is a given, but this is usually for life safety. Most unusual buildings have far wider requirements, which will extend to the implications of contents and property protection, brand or image, business continuity and even
competitor advantages. Clearly identifying the project objective in a focused fire engineering brief, as recommended in the International Fire Engineering Guidelines, is important. For example, a clear objective with the design of the indoor theatre at the Globe was that authenticity should be at the heart of all decisions in the auditorium. The date was set at 1666. Balancing modern fire safety requirements with authentic Jacobean architecture became an objective.
Key stakeholders There are obvious stakeholders in the development of the fire strategy such as approvers, insurers and designers, and these usually form early consultations. An objective should be to identify all stakeholders including licensing, end users, facilities managers and possible tenants. Understanding their requirements and getting early input can ensure a more robust fire strategy and a smoother route through approvals. On one high profile project on Crown land, Her Majesty’s Fire Service Inspectors were not consulted until late in the design, which had implications.
Building use Event scenarios should be undertaken to consider all possible uses of the building. Clients always want flexibility, so considering what creative functions the events team may lease the spaces out to will provide a sustainable fire strategy. At one popular public assembly building, almost any space is usable in some way. Keeping routes sterile may not
FOCUS
www.frmjournal.com JULY/AUGUST 2018
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