New guide to help developers and specifiers address passive fire protection challenges in change of use and renovation projects
Promat has launched a new guide designed to help developers, architects and specifiers ensure compliant passive fire protection in change of use and renovation projects.
The publication examines the fire safety considerations involved in repurposing existing buildings, including office-to-residential conversions, and outlines how passive fire protection systems can be specified to meet current legislative requirements.
The guide highlights the importance of ensuring adequate structural fire protection to maintain a building’s integrity during a fire, particularly where there is uncertainty over the condition or performance of existing concrete or steel structures.
It also explores a range of common challenges encountered during refurbishment projects, including legacy construction methods, listed building restrictions, hybrid structures and the need to maintain effective compartmentation to limit the spread of fire.
In addition, the guide discusses the challenges of applying fire test data to real-world renovation projects, where existing building conditions can differ significantly from those used in standard testing.
According to Promat, the guide has been developed in response to the growing number of change of use projects, driven by demand for more sustainable construction practices, urban regeneration and the need to create additional housing from existing buildings.
The resource aims to simplify the specification and design of passive fire protection systems by outlining key risks and providing practical guidance on suitable solutions.
Josh Slack, Commercial Director at Promat, said: “Retrofitting buildings is a cost-effective way to deliver new projects while also supporting a more sustainable approach to developing the built environment, especially meeting demand for housing.
“However, this cannot be at the cost of safety. Fire safety must be a key consideration in all building design, and even more so in tall buildings. Renovation projects frequently present challenges in the specification and installation of passive fire protection systems due to the element of the unknown in what existing systems and substrates have been used in the fabric of the building.
“This can be compounded by a need to protect legacy, or even listed, buildings while bringing the passive fire protection up to current standards.
“Promat works closely with developers on change of use projects, including protecting structural material from the threat of fire and we believe this guide will help to raise awareness of best practice as well as provide a go-to resource when considering the passive fire protection requirements of change of use and renovation projects.”
The guide is available to download from Promat’s website and is intended to support the specification of passive fire protection systems across a range of refurbishment and building conversion projects.