Quelfire talks enhancing building safety through early engagement in firestopping
Design, then build—this concept is the clear solution to the complexities of construction projects.
Yet, for decades, a building’s technical design has been a mere afterthought, prioritising the firestopping only once the services have been installed.
Traditionally, main contractors would choose a construction package based on its procurement value.
Because the service penetration sealing package is typically of lower value than the M&E package, for example, fire safety was not considered until several months into a project.
A lack of regard for fire safety, perhaps, or maybe just a lack of training, but the implications of these decisions would lead to disasters such as the Lakanal House fire in 2009, the Wharfside fire in 2015, and the most recent tragedy of the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017, where 72 people lost their lives.
The Grenfell Tower fire led to significant changes in the industry, including the introduction of the Building Safety Act 2022.
This act, which significantly enhances fire safety regulations, has marked a clear ‘pre-Grenfell’ and ‘post-Grenfell’ era in the industry.
Early engagement in firestopping is by no means a new phenomenon.
Many have been advocating for its recognition for years, fearing the fire that would cause utter devastation.
With the Building Safety Act, fire safety is now becoming a priority, and the desire to make buildings safer is there, meaning we’re seeing early engagement approaches being adopted across the construction industry.
However, with that in mind, there is still a long way to go.
What is early engagement in firestopping/service penetration sealing?
Firestopping has existed for centuries, dating back to the Great Fire of London in 1666, though the fire safety measures then weren’t quite as robust and complex as they are today.
Simply, service penetration sealing works to retain the fire ratings of walls and floors by closing the gaps left behind by melting services with suitable firestopping systems.
When looking at firestopping systems, it is easy to mistake products like fire batt, sealants, collars, and wraps for what they are: just products.
However, it is crucial to understand that their success relies on the test evidence supporting them and how they are installed.
When correctly installed, they become the unsung hero within the building’s fabric, ensuring effective compartmentation.
Early engagement is the time frame when service penetration sealing should be considered.
In the case of high-rise and multi-occupancy buildings, this would be as early as the design stage, when all the project requirements are known.
Engaging early in firestopping ensures that all key stakeholders, from architects to contractors, are on the same page from the beginning.
This collaborative approach not only improves fire safety but also promotes a sense of shared responsibility for the project’s success.
The Firestopping of Service Penetrations: Best Practices in Design and Installation guide, jointly published by ASFP, BESA, BSRIA, FIS, and GPDA, has nine golden rules.
Seven of these relate to the building’s design.
Golden rule one highlights the need for early engagement and golden rule four requires all parties to follow the design process for penetration seals.
This handy guide emphasises the need for all parties to engage from the project’s early stages, ultimately saving lives by constructing a building around the tested details available.
What does early engagement involve?
When working alongside numerous stakeholders involved in a project, the best practice is to engage early with your team and relevant trades to identify and bring together all the suitable tested details.
This is important from a compliance, commercial liability, and practical perspective.
1. Identifying the project’s requirements
Firstly, it’s essential to understand the project’s fire strategy requirements.
Once these are established and the locations of the walls and floors are determined, how the services will affect the compartment lines can be assessed.
This may even allow for some flexibility in choosing the desired services.
However, the success of early engagement depends on all parties’ flexibility.
So, if no tested solutions are available for the desired insulation, a level of compromise is needed to secure alternative tested details.
Next, decide how the services will penetrate the wall or floor.
At this stage, it’s important to determine how these penetrations will be executed and ensure they are achievable.
2. Engaging with the relevant parties
Once the project’s requirements are identified, the next step is to engage with the manufacturer to determine the available tested solutions.
The designer will then gather and communicate the tested details to the supply chain.
This step ensures the involved trades understand the design and can efficiently build it.
If any untested applications are discovered, the process must restart, identifying necessary changes.
This might involve altering the wall type to accommodate a tested detail.
3. Preparing to build
The design will be finalised at this stage with precise firestopping solutions for each service.
Construction can commence once the details are approved, and all parties are in agreement.
Having a robust design before the build phase ensures that installers can follow the plan onsite, guaranteeing that all installations meet regulatory requirements.
The benefits of early engagement – Chiltern Vale Care Home case study
Chiltern Vale Integrated Health and Care Hub was a prime example of early engagement, and how a project can progress if all stakeholders collaborate.
As the chosen manufacturer, we worked alongside Willmott Dixon and Fire Shield.
The project’s main objective was to design and build around suitably tested details in line with regulatory requirements and best practices.
What was the project’s main challenge?
After initial discussions, it became clear that the proposed wall systems did not have sufficient test evidence for service penetrations.
Therefore, the client’s main challenge was finding fire-tested solutions that met the requirements of the supporting construction types.
What became more of a challenge was that the proposed supporting construction types were fairly uncommon, such as a Porotherm wall and a 60-minute single-skin plasterboard wall.
What solutions were reached to resolve any issues?
Both Willmott Dixon and Fire Shield implemented an early engagement approach, which ensured that any issues could be rectified as early as the design stage and, ultimately, new solutions could be identified.
Because of the effective cross-party communication at these early stages, we had sufficient time to fire test the proposed wall system to ensure there was primary test evidence.
This allowed the project to proceed without substituting the wall system.
What successes did the client achieve by adopting an early engagement approach?
The client successfully addressed various issues with minimal difficulty by following a standardised process.
In instances where a tested solution was unavailable for the application in question, the client explored the possibility of redesigning the services.
Though this was not possible, early engagement ensured we had the time and flexibility to test the application, recognising its frequent occurrence onsite.
As the project entered the build stage, Fire Shield could proceed with minimal hassle and liability.
The compliant design ensured that installations were achievable and met all regulations, avoiding additional costs and delays.
Adopting an early engagement approach is challenging, as it requires a shift in mindsets and a cultural change both within organisations and across the industry.
Equally important is recognising that fire safety must be made a priority.
Fire safety decisions are among the most critical choices ever made.
They are life-critical.
Following a ‘design then build’ approach will not only promote competency, but increase life safety.
Golden Rules for Firestopping Service Penetrations
GOLDEN RULE 1
Ensure an early engagement with firestopping manufacturers and specialist installers.
GOLDEN RULE 2
Review the fire strategy documents and fire strategy plans in conjunction with the M&E specifications.
GOLDEN RULE 3
Identify all of the service types passing through the compartment floor or wall including any insulation products.
Establish the space required to install and firestop the services.
GOLDEN RULE 4
Follow the ‘Design process for penetration seals’.
GOLDEN RULE 5
Only select firestopping products which are third party certified by a UKAS accredited organisation.
Firestopping products should be certified or CE marked and tested using the relevant standards.
GOLDEN RULE 6
Ideally select one firestopping manufacturer throughout the project.
Products from different manufacturers should not be mixed in the same opening unless there is clear test evidence to substantiate their use.
GOLDEN RULE 7
Request copies of the third party certification from the manufacturers.
These should be reviewed by a suitably qualified person to ensure the certification and field of application is relevant for the situation.
GOLDEN RULE 8
Ensure the installers of ALL service penetration seals are third party certified by an organisation such as FIRAS, LPCB, IFC, BM TRADA etc.
GOLDEN RULE 9
Implement a structured inspection plan to include photographic evidence as the work proceeds.
This article was originally published in the July 2024 issue of International Fire & Safety Journal. To read your FREE digital copy, click here.