1. Institution of Fire Engineers
Cardiff - 6th July 2011
Institution of Fire Engineers
IFE AGM and Conference:
"Green Fire Engineering Solutions to Preserve the Built Environment" Mercure Cardiff Holland House Hotel & Spa, Cardiff, UK Wednesday 6th - Thursday 7th July 2011 The findings from the International
President’s year of Fire and
Sustainability workshops
John Woodcock International President of the Institution for the year 2010/11
and
Martin Shipp Technical Development Director, Fire Safety BRE Global

2. Findings from the International President’s year
John Woodcock, International President of the Institution for the year 2010/11, chose the subject of fire and sustainability as his theme of the year. 
A number of events, organised by the IFE or supported by the IFE, have been held during the year. 
This presentation will briefly describe these events, discuss their findings and offer some conclusions on how the IFE might take the subject on into the future.

3. Events IFE AGM and Conference July 2010 BRE Garston, October 2010
BRE Garston, April 2011
UCLAN Preston, April 2011
FIREX Birmingham, May 2011
John – his meetings

4. IFE AGM, Conference & Exhibition - 21st & 22nd July 2010
The Institution's AGM, Conference & Exhibition 2010 was held n the Hotel Russell in London.
The conference and exhibition was a great success with over 150 delegates in attendance over the two days, many of the delegates from far afield.
The theme of the conference was "Fire Engineering to Improve Sustainability of Communities".
The key speakers at the conference delivered strong presentations on this theme which stimulated debate amongst our delegates.

5. AGM, Conference & Exhibition - 21st & 22nd July 2010
1. The Wool Project: Sir Ken Knight CBE QFSM FIFireE, Chief Fire & Rescue Services Advisor
2. CLG Funded Research: Martin Shipp BSc (Physics) CEng FIFireE CPhys MInstP, Technical Development Director, Building Research Establishment
3. The Influence of Risk Factors on Sustainable Development: Dr Chris Wieczorek, Senior Research Specialist, Fire Hazards & Protection, FM Global
4. Timber Framed Buildings: Peter Jackman IEng MIFireE FBEng FIWSc, Technical Director, International Fire Consultants
5. Fire Safety & Fire Fighting in Sustainable Construction: Ron Dobson QFSM MIFireE, Commissioner, London Fire Brigade
6. Environmental Considerations & Fire Retardants: Professor Jose Torero PhD MSc MEng BRE/RAEng, Chair in Fire Safety Engineering, University of Edinburgh

6. AGM, Conference & Exhibition - 21st & 22nd July 2010
7. Fire Safety in Buildings under Construction: Phil Burgess, Health & Safety Executive
8. Impact of Sustainability on Installed Fire Protection: Graham Ellicott, Chief Executive Officer, Fire Industry Association
9. Sustainability in the Asia Pacific Fire Services: Grant Lupton AFSM BGS MIFireE CPMgr FAIM, CFO & CEO South Australian Metropolitan Fire Service
10. Introducing Sustainability to UK Fire Stations: Colin Schofield, Project Manager, North West Fire & Rescue Services PFI Project and Anthony Clarke, Director, Seymour Harris Architecture
11. The Changing Risk to Fire Fighters Tackling Fires in Sustainable Buildings: Sean Tracey PEng MIFireE, Canadian Regional Manager, National Fire Protection Association

7. AGM, Conference & Exhibition - 21st & 22nd July 2010
There was lots of discussion and debate.
There was concern that the fire profession had “missed the boat” with regards to the sustainability/environmental agenda.
It was agreed that the fire community needs to catch up before serious and dangerous fire safety problems arise.
It was agreed that the fire community needs to be more active (or pro-active) in pursuing these issues.

8. IFE/BRE Fire & Sustainability Workshop Thursday 14th October 2010
The IFE 2010 AGM & Conference had highlighted many of the changes in building and material technologies, which have major implications for the fire sector: in design (fire engineering), fire safety management, firefighting and fire investigation.
Sustainability and the protection of the environment are topics which are driving the agendas of many organisations, in particular government departments and the construction industry, but fire safety and fire protection is not yet appearing on these.
This workshop was to discuss the matters surrounding and relating to the future delivery of sustainable buildings and communities and how this can be achieved within the UK and around the world.

9. IFE/BRE Fire & Sustainability Workshop Thursday 14th October 2010
The workshop started with a welcome and introduction from John Woodcock, International President of the IFE
1. A BREEAM perspective by Alan Yates, Technical Director of BRE Global
Sustainable construction has many drivers and is here to stay. It will impact on: building design, construction and operation. The ability to avoid, manage and fight fires in the future.
2. An Architect's perspective by Peter Caplehorn, Technical Director of Scott Brownrigg
We have problems in current construction: timber frame, interpretation, material specification, risk assessments, adequate guidance and supervision. These are amplified when applied to projects where sustainable values are applied.
3. A Structural Fire Engineer's perspective by Tom Lennon, Principal Consultant, Fire Safety, BRE Global
The increasing use of combustible materials within the fabric of modern buildings to improve energy consumption and combustibility gives rise to an increased risk of disproportionate damage in the event of a fire.
4. A Fire Safety Overview by Martin Shipp, Technical Development Director, Fire Safety, BRE Global
We need to ensure that the fire issues are dealt with logically and professionally and not subject to simple commercial pressures.

10. IFE/BRE Fire & Sustainability Workshop Thursday 14th October 2010
Following the presentations the workshop delegates were split into groups of 10 for a detailed two hour tour of the BRE Innovation Park.
The Park features seven of the world's most sustainable houses (built to the Code for sustainable homes), a health centre of the future and over 300 different construction innovations and emerging technologies, as well as a state of the art community landscape design area.
After lunch the workshop recommenced. Each group was given the opportunity to highlight the main issues and problems surrounding "sustainability" concepts in buildings and to come up with possible solutions to these.
The attendees agreed that a further workshop should be scheduled for early February 2011 to review possible suggestions on this important subject and to see how things have progressed.

11. IFE/BRE Fire & Sustainability Workshop Thursday 14th October 2010
52 delegates attended the Workshop
A number of common themes and/or concerns emerged:
Fire Regulations should now reflect the need for sustainability
Innovative designs may be making buildings less safe from fire
There are new risks for fire fighters
Quality of construction is even more important

12. IFE/BRE Fire & Sustainability Workshop Thursday 14th October 2010
BREEAM and other environmental scoring systems should include fire
There is a need for a materials data base for fire products
There are concerns about the toxicity of some new products in fire
Professional bodies need to work together
Need for IFE to take a lead and co-ordinate our response

13. IFE/RIBA/CIAT/BRE Sustainability & Fire Workshop Thursday 14th April 2011
This meeting was a collaboration between IFE, RIBA and CIAT, hosted by BRE.
It indicated the recognition by architects and architectural technologists of the seen and unseen fire risks inherent in innovative design, construction and materials, and the need for us to work together.

14. IFE/RIBA/CIAT/BRE Sustainability & Fire Workshop Thursday 14th April 2011
A BREEAM perspective by Alan Yates. Technical Director, Sustainability, BRE Global
A fire safety overview by Martin Shipp, Technical Development Director, Fire Safety, BRE Global
A structural fire engineer’s perspective by Tom Lennon, Principal Consultant, Fire Safety, BRE Global
An architect’s perspective by Peter Caplehorn, Technical Director, Scott Brownrigg
Group discussion
What are the issues and/or problems for the building professions?
What are the solutions?
Cancelled due to lack of interest

15. UCLAN Sustainability and Fire - 28th April 2011
This cutting-edge conference was to be hosted at the University of Central Lancashire, Harrington Building, Preston, Lancashire, UK.
Key people from the worlds of architecture and design, academia and fire protection would examine the impact of carbon capture and the consequential impact on fires and public safety.
The conference aimed to examine strategy and practice, and assist all parties involved in the modern building techniques to develop consistent safety policies.
The event was to be opened by the Vice Chancellor of the University.

16. UCLAN Sustainability and Fire - 28th April 2011
Speakers were to include:
John Woodcock; the current international president of the Institution of Fire Engineers.
Peter Holland, currently the president of the Chief Fire Officers Association. Peter was to present a paper on timber framed buildings and the associated fire risks evidenced through case studies and research.
Stuart Alexander, a director of King Associates architects. Stuart would explore the sustainable design for buildings from an architectural and design viewpoint.
Martin Shipp, technical development director at BRE Fire & Security. BRE have developed an environmental assessment method BREEAM.

17. UCLAN Sustainability and Fire - 28th April 2011
Dr Andrei Chamchine , the Academic Lead & Principal Lecturer in Fire Safety Engineering at the School of Forensic and Investigative Sciences. He has a diverse research interests covering fire and combustion, sustainability, energy and the environment, life cycle analysis, safety, and risk assessment and management.
Professor Richard Hull, Research Co-ordinator and Professor of Chemistry & Fire Science, School of Forensic and Investigative Science, University Of Central Lancashire. His work is focussed on fire gas toxicity, fire retardants and fire science.
And Dr Jim Marsden, Colin Schofield, Tony Crane, and Elisavet Dimitrokali.

18. UCLAN Sustainability and Fire - 28th April 2011
Cancelled due to lack of interest, probably due to the Royal Wedding (the next day).
From The Mirror

19. International FIREX 2011 LPCB Red Book Pavilion - Tuesday 17 May
Fire performance of engineered timber - Danny Hopkin, BRE Global
The use of engineered timber products such as SIPs and Engineered Floor Joists has accelerated in the last 10 years. Engineered timber systems are not only structurally more efficient than traditional timber buildings, but also offer improved thermal and environmental credentials. Find out more at this session.
Fire and Sustainability - Antonia Crawford BRE Global
This seminar discussed how environmental impacts are assessed, where currently known data exists and highlight areas where future research is required to ensure that fire is given proper consideration as a sustainability issue.
FPA info zone - Tuesday 17 May
Modern Methods of Construction - Dr James Glockling, Technical Director, Fire Protection Association

20. International FIREX 2011 Awards

21. International FIREX 2011 Awards
59 entries were received.
Two mentioned the environment:
BREEAM
Carbon footprint

22. My ‘sustainability’year
Sustainability issues
International dimensions
Example of good practice
General findings
Positive moves

23. Some sustainability Issues
Government ‘Green Construction’ codes - little about fire
Construction materials
Reduce use of conventional materials (steel, brick, concrete, glass)
Modern Methods of Construction (MMC)
Timber frame building issues
Lighter weight materials and buildings
Fire retardants – new replacements less effective
Ventilation and backdraft possibilities
Reduced time to flashover
Solar power – photovoltaic panels

24. Design and construction of buildings:
Combustibility, including timber frame & engineered timber
Exotic materials – phase change and recycled materials
Green roofs and walls
Triple glazing

25. International dimensions
USA, Ireland, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Australia
Fire engineering and safety hard-wired into building codes
Automatic fire sprinkler requirements in standards for most non-residential buildings
Closer linkage between architects and engineers
Heavy involvement by Fire & Rescue Services in building design/approval
(HK, NZ & Australia) More general fire awareness due to high timber content and/or fire experience

26. Example of good practice
39 Hunter Street, Sydney, Australia
Heritage building but not commercially viable
Heritage doesn’t comply and Authorities inconsistent
Needed creativity, ‘thinking’ and engagement
New works shown to meet performance requirements
Sprinklers, detection, evacuation, glazing
Newly restored building very commercially successful
Sprinklers allowed light well throughout
Reference: Dr Marianne Foley, Arup, Sydney

27. General findings
Global increase in lightweight timber domestic buildings
Use of recycled materials:
Timber
SIPS
Engineered timber
Water recycling and conservation
Exposure to other hazards:
Flooding
Forest fire/wildfire

28. Positive moves National Association of Fire Marshals (USA) code
Awareness by fire engineers
‘Some’ high profile refurbishment/new build projects
Residential sprinklers in Wales
LPCB/BREEAM under single management
IFE blog site

29. Thank you John Woodcock BSc(Eng) CEng FIFireE
International President (2010/11)
Institution of Fire Engineers
Tel
Martin Shipp, Technical Development Director, Fire Safety
BRE Global
T:  +44 (0)
E: 
F:  +44 (0)
W: 
BRE, Garston, Watford WD25 9XX, UK