Planning, Prevention and Maintenance: Passive Fire Protection and Evacuation Presented by - Peter Barker
Introduction Regulatory Reform Fire Safety Order and Passive Fire Protection and questions being raised Fit for purpose? Competence? Maintenance? Upgrading? Test evidence? Degradation of performance? Planning, prevention and maintenance to ensure effective evacuation.
The Role of Passive Fire Protection Part B of Building Regulations Provide building occupants with sufficient means of escape to reach places of safety before the environment becomes life threatening: - B1 Means of warning and escape - B2 Internal fire spread (linings) - B3 Internal fire spread (structure) - B4 External fire spread - B5 Access and facilities for the fire service
The Role of Passive Fire Protection Section B3 defined as: Compartmentation Passive Fire Protection Built In Fire Protection Image source: PFPF Guide Addition of services/breaching compartment lines Maintenance of fire doors
Proving the Performance of Passive Fire Protection B1B4B2B3
Proving the Performance of Passive Fire Protection Performance products tested as complete systems under standardised test conditions Correct specification and installation is critical in order for the element to be able to provide its full level of fire resistance The element will only provide the full level of fire resistance if it is correctly maintained (fire doors and compartment lines) Hospitals are highly demanding environments with requirements for specialist door designs Introduction of services is common place in hospitals but must not compromise the fire resistance of the compartment lines
Planning, Prevention and Maintenance 1.Planning – Appropriate products? How to ensure correct installation? 2.Prevention – Preventing/reducing damage 3.Maintenance – Ensuring an element can perform its required function
Planning Specialist performance and design requirements – CDTM01, lead lining, switch gear, anti-ligature Installation of products 3 rd Party approved contractors and certified products
Planning – 3 rd party certification
Planning – common problems
Preventing Fire doors subject to constant use and abuse Someone will fix it... NHS culture? Delayed action closers, hold open devices, soft buffers for wheeled equipment
Maintenance PPM – inspections Training of Estates departments 3 rd party certification, identification of products
Maintenance – common problems Replacing glazing systems Basic FD30 detailBasic FD60 detail Steel pins or screws at to the glass No aperture liner Aperture liner Proprietary intumescent detail
Maintenance – common problems
Hardware changed and voids not made good
Maintenance - common problems
Summary Planning -Plan for products and configurations to be appropriate for the location and usage -3 rd party certified personnel and products – traceability, ensure performance Preventing -Preventative solutions such as hold open devices etc -Ideally prevent damage from occurring in the first place (education to prevent misuse?) Maintenance -Maintain – training of estates departments -3 rd party certified personnel and products – traceability, ensure performance All of the above will help to ensure effective evacuation