NEWS


Fire Sector Summit 2019


Construction workshop The first of the three speakers, Mark Redding of MS Amin, began by addressing water risks, highlighting common problems in the mid 2000s when water risks were the ‘poor cousin’ in construction safety: insufficient risk management from design to operation; lack of on site management and responsibility; inconsistent workmanship, quality management and testing regimes; and inadequate planning and mitigation. A new edition of the Construction Insurance Risk Engineers Guide covering the whole process of managing escape of water risk on construction sites, from design to emergency response, also adds a water system management section and plan template. Turning to fire risks, he flagged up concerns with our ‘sustainable’ estate including variable or unchecked standards; poor coordination of trades; lack of installer competency; absence of drawings and specifications; standardised design details; and unsuitable, uncertified or hazardous construction products. The use of PIR, temporary measures in ducts and shafts, and evacuation doors leading nowhere show that the Joint Code of Practice (s.23) is not being followed. Also, basic principles such as which walls are important (all are), 60 minute fire compartmentation, the sacredness of the cavity and the impact of site manager changes are often not understood. So, is innate resilience achievable? Mr Redding had doubts about our ability to improve the existing estate and maintain timber frame buildings in the long term. Next up, Multiplex Construction’s


Peter Waxman looked at the need for robust changes in Construction (Design and Management) Regulations [CDM] systems and the role of principal designer. Dame Judith recommended that the principal designer identify how to meet core building safety requirements in the pre construction phase, control foreseeable risks and ensure that contractual relationships are appropriately funded. Those who


support the principal designer must be suitably competent; compile documentation showing key safety risks have been considered and managed as far practicable; ensure information management systems are updated and change control mechanisms used; and co-sign that the work meets building regulations. However, she didn’t specify who


will take the role of principal designer and one view is that architects must take the initiative, as they are key in balancing all complicated aspects of design in high rises. Generally, comments from colleagues on design and build (D&B) impacts have been positive, he relayed, although some apprehension exists over potential delays, disruptions and costs falling on the client. Contrasting the existing CDM D&B


process with one showing post Hackitt impacts, he showed that design is now developed ahead of (rather than alongside) the construction phase, with a new standalone regulator approval process between the two. Some questions remain: will principal contractors be competent to take on the new principal designer role? Will a robust change control system be implemented? And will clients favour maintaining the architect’s appointment as principal designer throughout Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Stages 1-5, to ensure the golden thread continues? Finally, Niall Rowan of the Association for Specialist Fire


18 DECEMBER 2019/JANUARY 2020 www.frmjournal.com


Protection spoke, confirming that passive fire protection (PFP) ‘does work’, although ‘its successes don’t make headline news’. London fire commissioner Dany Cotton called for research on stay put advice because it is no longer viable in buildings that fail, he said, but she also pointed out that stay put advice was effective in most of over 5,000 high rise fires occurring since 2014. Many issues cause poor PFP


installation: no entry bar to installers; lack of inspection/enforcement for products; fixation on price not value; multiple subcontracting; poor work sequencing; and action by follow on trades. Third party certification is essential for ensuring quality product and installation, he stressed. While waiting for legislation,


Mr Rowan advised that the industry should heed the Raising the Bar report’s proposals on developing national competence standards for principal designers, principal contractors and building safety managers. A combination of third party certification, construction skills certification, Level 2 or 3 qualifications and CPD is required for installers, and fire risk assessments must be undertaken by accredited third party certificated assessors. From 2020 onwards, RIBA’s


recently devised Plan of Work for fire safety will require completion of all fire work before design rather than later, while also, project and statutory gateways, fire safety design and


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