Current affairs
Graphite Sealant and Continuous Intuwrap. All the products have undergone rigorous testing as a complete system, so contractors avoid having to source different products from multiple suppliers. These products are made in the UK, sourced from a single supplier, and tested and supported with full technical back up.
Compartmentation of buildings was
introduced to contain fires and reduce the risk of them spreading and causing a much larger, more destructive incident. Recent events have highlighted the importance of ensuring effective fire compartmentation of buildings in enabling occupants to evacuate to safety. Larger fires are obviously more dangerous to occupants and fire services, as well as those living and working nearby. Retaining the integrity of fire compartments maximises the amount of time that is available for people to escape from the building. If fire compartments don’t perform as designed in multi storey buildings, in particular, people could be trapped on upper floors. Also, when a fire compartment doesn’t perform as it should, fire and rescue services are prevented from reaching occupants. For modern buildings it is important to document all information relating to fire stopping, wherever possible. Older buildings
may require a detailed fire risk assessment and a structured, reasoned approach – depending on the age of the building – in order to determine the current integrity or otherwise of fire compartments. Even though there exists widespread
awareness of the dangers of fire spread, in a worrying number of cases the firestopping of service apertures is often an afterthought. This results in poor choices of product or incorrect installation. At the earliest possible opportunity, guidance should always be sought from both the manufacturer and the specialist contractor, to ensure that firestopping is carried out effectively. The use of a system approach backed by test evidence, and of accredited installers who can provide certification, will ensure that the compartment performs as intended at the design stage. It is worth bearing in mind the fact that the pencil sized hole in a wall referred to earlier would allow smoke to pass into a compartment to the extent that a person would be unable to see an object half a metre in front of them within only a few minutes. Making sure that fire stopping is effective really is playing for time
Keith Wells is managing director at Quelfire. For more information, view page 5
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www.frmjournal.com SEPTEMBER 2018
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