Gove gives builders six weeks to sign fire safety upgrade contracts

by Breaking News

Builders in the UK have been given six weeks to sign a Government contract committing them to pay for upgrades of cladding in houses and apartment blocks deemed a fire risk, cabinet minister Michael Gove said.

Hundreds of thousands UK residents were found to be living in buildings that were deemed a fire risk following an investigation in the wake of the Grenfell Tower fire in Kensington, London in 2017.

A subsequent change in Government regulation has banned flammable building cladding, however this left leaseholders on the hook for upgrades and in many cases unable to sell their homes.

The new contract is to be today (Monday 30 January), Gove said in interviews with UK media on Sunday in a move to ensure more building companies pay for necessary repairs.

“Some have already indicated that they will,” he told Sky News. “If they don’t sign the contract, we’re making sure, in effect, that they won’t be able to build anything more in the future.”

Quelfire: Positive changes we are seeing in the industry

by Featured NewsSafety

Rebecca Croton, Content Marketing Executive, Quelfire, looks at some of the positive changes going on in the building safety sector

We often talk about why the industry needs to embrace cultural change and what it can do to facilitate this change. But with this, it is easy to forget to recognise the steps that have already been made in the right direction.

Therefore, we wanted to focus on some of the positive changes that have already taken place in the industry and to celebrate the successes of all parties, from architects to installers, in coming together with a newfound hunger to make a positive change to construction.  

Construction is a tough job. But it’s also a rewarding one. And there is plenty to be proud of!

Although the Building Safety Act got off to a somewhat shaky start with the industry still trying to ‘cut corners’ and ‘game the system’, it is now starting to wake up and welcome the changes in legislation.

The Building Safety Act is bringing much needed change to construction for example, the introduction of the Gateway regime and the Golden Thread of Information. The Gateways (1,2 & 3) work to make sure that fire safety is considered from the design and build stage through to the completion and occupation of a building. They essentially ensure that a building is compliant.

The Gateways also help to form part of the Golden Thread which is both:

  • the information about a building that allows someone to understand a building and keep it safe, and
  • the information management to ensure the information is accurate, easily understandable, can be accessed by those who need it and is up to date.’

In a similar way, the industry is seeing the introduction of schemes such as the Code for Construction Product Information (CCPI) and BSI Identify.

The CCPI will help ‘organisations drive higher standards in the presentation of construction product information, prioritising building safety’. It is built around five acid tests concluding that product information must be accurate, up to date, accurate, accessible, and unambiguous.

Further to this, BSI Identify also works to support the Golden Thread of Information by supporting ‘product identification and traceability in the Built Environment’.

While legislation change, in some cases, forces people into doing the right thing, it has been great to see an increase in authentic talk around competency, trust and collaboration.

For example, at London Build Expo, the UK’s leading construction show that took place in November 2022, most panel discussions on the fire safety stage had an overarching message of compliance and creating a safer future for residents of high-rise and multi-occupancy buildings.  

What is really enthusing is that the industry is not only talking about the need for these values, but taking action too. Firestopping is of a smaller value compared to other packages such as the M&E package. Therefore, historically, it was not considered until months after the start of a project which, as many tragedies have demonstrated, is far too late!  

However, in more recent years, there has been a shift in attitudes and practices when it comes to early engagement in firestopping. It is starting to be common, yet important, knowledge that firestopping needs to be considered as early as the design stage, ensuring that a building is built around the test evidence that is available.

Individuals are now taking a more proactive approach by asking what do we want to build, how do we want to build it and what tested solutions are available.

We have seen this through the influx of design meetings and increased interest in webinars, CPD and toolbox talk training. These are just some of the ways that the industry is showing that it is dedicated to fire safety and to doing it right the first time around.

There has also been an increased demand for more educational content across the industry ranging from new tested detail information to how-to videos to longer, more in depth articles.

We, as manufacturers and suppliers of passive fire protection, feel that with a little push from the Building Safety Act, as well as the strong desire within organisations to do the correct thing, the industry is now starting to actively utilise manufacturer’s guidance and technical support.

The world of construction is changing, and it is time that we all take a closer look at what the future holds for us. This year may have felt challenging for those embracing change, but it has also shown us that the only way to succeed is to work together and collaborate, encouraging compliance and competency across all parties!

By doing this, we are making a difference in the world, one building at a time.

UK Government updates Approved Document B

by Building ManagementFeatured News

Following a review and consultation, the UK Government has introduced regulations to strengthen the ban on combustible materials used in and on the external walls of buildings.

The ban on combustible materials in and on the external walls of buildings, first introduced in 2018, will now apply to hotels, hostels and boarding houses in addition to blocks of flats, hospitals, student accommodation and dormitories in boarding schools.

The Government has also published an update to Approved Document B to introduce new rules for external walls and balconies for new blocks of flats between 11 metres and 18 metres in height.

This new statutory guidance sets clearer standards which will set limits on the combustibility of materials used in the external walls of buildings. This will mean that lower risk developments between 11m and 18m meet necessary safety standards, while allowing designers and developers flexibility to use environmentally friendly materials.

The Institute of Fire Safety Manager said this new guidance balances the need to allow a degree of flexibility for lower risk medium-rise buildings so as not to preclude the use of environmentally friendly materials, such as structural timber, where they are used as part of a robust system.

These latest changes to Approved Document B also build on the changes already introduced to improve building safety, including the provision for sprinklers in all new blocks of flats over 11 metres in height introduced in 2020.

NFCC calls for tightened rules for Modern Methods of Construction

by ConstructionFeatured News

The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) has released a Position Statement on Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) calling on the Government for tightened rules for the testing of MMC.

The Council said that the ambition to build homes quickly and sustainably, should not be prioritised at the expense of building safety. Whilst it welcomed the current reform of building safety, it said that significant cultural change in the system must take place to improve competency levels across the sector and ensure that MMC is promoted and used in a manner which provides safe buildings for all.

The MMC position asks for a range of measures to ensure that new construction products and technologies do not contribute to the risk of fire and that there should not be a conflict between sustainability, improved building standards and fire safety.

Gavin Tomlinson, NFCC Protection and Business Safety Scrutiny Committee Chair said: “NFCC is concerned that MMC buildings are being designed, approved and built despite a lack of understanding about their performance. Given the current regulatory system has already been described and accepted by Government as ‘not fit for purpose’ even for traditional construction techniques, this adds additional uncertainty in the built environment.”

Mark Hardingham, Chair of the NFCC commented: “It is vitally important to make sure that products and technologies are safe for use, including their likely performance in a fire, before they are used in the built environment. Not only is this important for safety but it also helps to protect leaseholders from unnecessary costs that can arise when buildings need remediation, or interim measures, including things like waking watches.”

Ben Brook, NFCC lead on Climate Change added: “We are understandably seeing a focus on sustainable building approaches and materials, including the use of timber and living walls. While these may present useful solutions to help reduce the carbon footprint of buildings, they should also be supported by evidence and testing to demonstrate their long-term suitability and safety to provide reassurance for the lifetime of the building.”

NFCC’s position statement on modern methods of construction can be viewed here.

IFSJ Exclusive: Keeping evacuation protocols up to date with Advanced

by Breaking NewsBuilding Management

Ken Bullock, Business Development Manager at Advanced, speaks to IFSJ about the new requirement for evacuation alert systems in England

Tell me about Advanced – who you are and what you do?

Advanced is a global provider of fire and life safety solutions dedicated to creating a safer future. Established in the UK in 1999, we’ve developed an extensive product range that offers performance, quality and ease of use and Advanced solutions are now used in over 80 countries around the world. In 2013 we joined Halma, a FTSE 100 global group of life-saving technology companies. As part of that group, we’re able to tap into a wide array of expertise, helping us to grow and constantly improve.

What is your role at Advanced?

I’ve worked in fire and security sector for most of my working life, starting off on tools, progressing to commissioning and maintaining systems before moving into tech support and then over to sales 15 years ago. I joined Advanced in 2017 as their Southern Regional Sales Manager.

With the publication of BS 8629, Advanced sought to play a key role in developing a solution and I took the opportunity to be part of this emerging area of fire safety, becoming the Business Development Manager for Evacuation and Alert Systems. Now I spend my time educating end users, trade customers, housing associations and fire and rescue services on the benefits of having these solutions in place to create a safer future for people in high-rise residential blocks today.

What are the impending changes concerning evacuation to the building regulations and why are they happening?

The why comes back to what is the largest fire tragedy the UK has ever seen: Grenfell Tower. The reports that came out of that found that building regulations were lacking in certain areas. One of the things highlighted was that the Stay Put policy needed to have a Plan B: the fire and rescue service had to have a means of doing something beyond running round knocking on doors to alert people to leave the building in an emergency. The response from industry experts and the fire and rescue service was to create BS 8629, a code of practice for an evacuation alert system for use by the fire and rescue service.

Building industry regulations move much faster than Government regulations. The BSI was able to act quickly and published the new code of practice in 2019. Now the building regulations are being updated and the code of practice is being included. The new building regulations call for the evacuation alert systems to be mandatory in all new-build residential blocks over 18m in England. In Scotland, the systems are already included in their technical handbook, and we expect the other devolved nations to follow.

What is the intended impact of these changes?

From our perspective, the installation of evacuation alert systems should give residents in high-rise, residential buildings reassurance that if the fire and rescue service need to tell them to leave the building, the instruction will be communicated clearly and safely, whether by an external alarm or flashing beacons.

With a BS 8629 system, evacuation is controlled and targeted, enabling the fire and rescue service’s main commander to evacuate specific areas of the building effectively using toggle switches on the panel. They can ensure staircases are not overwhelmed, control the evacuation and get firefighters into the building where necessary.

What is Advanced’s view of these changes and the work that has been done around this area?

These are important steps that need to be taken to protect residents’ lives. We are concerned about the height factor and believe solutions should be risk-based because the risk might be just as real at 10m or 11m as it is at 18m. Residential safety should be risk-based.

How involved have you been in the development process?

We were at the forefront of the development of a BS 8629 solution and first to market with an evacuation alert system. My role for the last 18 months has been education – we’ve been working to inform everyone through the buying cycle to ensure they’re buying the right solution for their needs.

We would like to see evacuation alert systems being included in the early phases of the design. Even if a building is being built without a housing association in mind, the electrical design should now have an evacuation alert system built into it, along with other solutions called for within the building regulations.

Have you found people to be responsive to these changes and are there any challenges surrounding them?

The biggest challenge until now has been that these systems have not been mandated This is an area we’ve been trying to address as an industry for some time – it shouldn’t be about a minimum or a bottom line, it should be about risk-based solutions that are going to give residents the right level of protection.

What solutions does Advanced offer for these changes?

We launched EvacGo, the solution to BS 8629, just over two years ago. We brought this to market with partners – the robust tamper-proof enclosure being a specific requirement for evacuation alert control and indicating equipment. We’ve also just produced a handy pocket guide to BS 8629 – with all materials available to be download from our website at www.advancedco.com. You can also email questions to the EvacGo team using evacgo@advancedco.com.

In addition, we run a free one-hour FIA-certified CPD course twice a month which allows you to learn more about BS 8629 and how evacuation alert systems differ from fire detection and alarm systems. We also cover how they are installed differently, as well as some of the key questions that we come across on a day-to-day basis.

What are the key takeaways around the new evacuation regulations?

We don’t want people to miss the fact that this change is coming. It has big implications for the people who will need to design and install these systems so it’s important they understand what they need to do to comply.

Finally, the people who are installing fire alarm systems need to understand that evacuation alert systems must operate entirely independently of them; you cannot integrate any element with a fire system if you are going to fully comply with the standard. These points can cause problems and compromise safety if missed, so we will continue in our quest to create a safer future by making sure that people understand how the actions they take need to meet the new requirements.

Ken Bullock, Business Development Manager at Advanced, speaks to IFSJ about the new requirement for evacuation alert systems in England

Tell me about Advanced – who you are and what you do?

Advanced is a global provider of fire and life safety solutions dedicated to creating a safer future. Established in the UK in 1999, we’ve developed an extensive product range that offers performance, quality and ease of use and Advanced solutions are now used in over 80 countries around the world. In 2013 we joined Halma, a FTSE 100 global group of life-saving technology companies. As part of that group, we’re able to tap into a wide array of expertise, helping us to grow and constantly improve.

What is your role at Advanced?

I’ve worked in fire and security sector for most of my working life, starting off on tools, progressing to commissioning and maintaining systems before moving into tech support and then over to sales 15 years ago. I joined Advanced in 2017 as their Southern Regional Sales Manager.

With the publication of BS 8629, Advanced sought to play a key role in developing a solution and I took the opportunity to be part of this emerging area of fire safety, becoming the Business Development Manager for Evacuation and Alert Systems. Now I spend my time educating end users, trade customers, housing associations and fire and rescue services on the benefits of having these solutions in place to create a safer future for people in high-rise residential blocks today.

What are the impending changes concerning evacuation to the building regulations and why are they happening?

The why comes back to what is the largest fire tragedy the UK has ever seen: Grenfell Tower. The reports that came out of that found that building regulations were lacking in certain areas. One of the things highlighted was that the Stay Put policy needed to have a Plan B: the fire and rescue service had to have a means of doing something beyond running round knocking on doors to alert people to leave the building in an emergency. The response from industry experts and the fire and rescue service was to create BS 8629, a code of practice for an evacuation alert system for use by the fire and rescue service.

Building industry regulations move much faster than Government regulations. The BSI was able to act quickly and published the new code of practice in 2019. Now the building regulations are being updated and the code of practice is being included. The new building regulations call for the evacuation alert systems to be mandatory in all new-build residential blocks over 18m in England. In Scotland, the systems are already included in their technical handbook, and we expect the other devolved nations to follow.

What is the intended impact of these changes?

From our perspective, the installation of evacuation alert systems should give residents in high-rise, residential buildings reassurance that if the fire and rescue service need to tell them to leave the building, the instruction will be communicated clearly and safely, whether by an external alarm or flashing beacons.

With a BS 8629 system, evacuation is controlled and targeted, enabling the fire and rescue service’s main commander to evacuate specific areas of the building effectively using toggle switches on the panel. They can ensure staircases are not overwhelmed, control the evacuation and get firefighters into the building where necessary.

What is Advanced’s view of these changes and the work that has been done around this area?

These are important steps that need to be taken to protect residents’ lives. We are concerned about the height factor and believe solutions should be risk-based because the risk might be just as real at 10m or 11m as it is at 18m. Residential safety should be risk-based.

How involved have you been in the development process?

We were at the forefront of the development of a BS 8629 solution and first to market with an evacuation alert system. My role for the last 18 months has been education – we’ve been working to inform everyone through the buying cycle to ensure they’re buying the right solution for their needs.

We would like to see evacuation alert systems being included in the early phases of the design. Even if a building is being built without a housing association in mind, the electrical design should now have an evacuation alert system built into it, along with other solutions called for within the building regulations.

Have you found people to be responsive to these changes and are there any challenges surrounding them?

The biggest challenge until now has been that these systems have not been mandated This is an area we’ve been trying to address as an industry for some time – it shouldn’t be about a minimum or a bottom line, it should be about risk-based solutions that are going to give residents the right level of protection.

What solutions does Advanced offer for these changes?

We launched EvacGo, the solution to BS 8629, just over two years ago. We brought this to market with partners – the robust tamper-proof enclosure being a specific requirement for evacuation alert control and indicating equipment. We’ve also just produced a handy pocket guide to BS 8629 – with all materials available to be download from our website at www.advancedco.com. You can also email questions to the EvacGo team using evacgo@advancedco.com.

In addition, we run a free one-hour FIA-certified CPD course twice a month which allows you to learn more about BS 8629 and how evacuation alert systems differ from fire detection and alarm systems. We also cover how they are installed differently, as well as some of the key questions that we come across on a day-to-day basis.

What are the key takeaways around the new evacuation regulations?

We don’t want people to miss the fact that this change is coming. It has big implications for the people who will need to design and install these systems so it’s important they understand what they need to do to comply.

Finally, the people who are installing fire alarm systems need to understand that evacuation alert systems must operate entirely independently of them; you cannot integrate any element with a fire system if you are going to fully comply with the standard. These points can cause problems and compromise safety if missed, so we will continue in our quest to create a safer future by making sure that people understand how the actions they take need to meet the new requirements.

This article was originally published in the November edition of IFSJ. To read your FREE digital copy, click here.

IFSJ Exclusive: Building trust in three dimensions with UL Solutions

by Breaking NewsIFSJ ExclusivesPassive
Ghaith Bakir, Lead Regulatory Engineer-MEA, Codes and Regulatory Services, UL Solutions looks benefits and safety considerations of 3D printing in construction

First developed in the 1980s and rising to prominence in the 2000s, 3D printing has become an increasingly valuable tool for design and subsequently for the construction industry. It works by creating a digital model of almost any shape or design that is required which can then be printed to the necessary scale. In the construction industry, it can be used from as little as printing specific components to printing entire buildings, paving the way for reduced waste and lowering labour costs.

Ghaith Bakir, Lead Regulatory Engineer MEA, Codes and Regulatory Services at UL Solutions explains that in construction, 3D printing is an automated process of joining materials to make building elements and systems components from 3D model data, layer upon layer.

“This innovative construction technique is rapidly moving from a conceptual and experimental stage to a viable building construction method,” he tells, suggesting to anyone who has not seen how buildings can be constructed using 3D printing to search the internet for ‘3D Printed Building Videos’ as the results may be eye-opening.

Bakir says there are many benefits of 3D printing for the construction industry: “In construction it offers a significant potential to increase efficiency in the building sector, including time reduction, waste reduction, cost-effective innovative solutions, safety, and sustainability.”

Code compliant

As with any new method of construction so come the safety need for safety and compliance checks. The main challenges for 3D printing in construction, says Bakir, is that building code authorities want assurance that the new construction technique complies with applicable building construction code requirements, many of which are prescriptive in nature.

“Builders need to demonstrate that the 3D-printed structures comply with applicable building or residential codes to gain building code authority approval for 3D-printed construction in jurisdictions,” he explains. “Code compliance presents a challenge for both a builder and code authority because building and residential codes currently lack prescriptive requirements for 3D-printed construction.

“Even code requirements for concrete construction are not directly applicable for cementitious-based 3D-printed construction since the mortar and cement-based fabrication, printed in a layer-upon-layer fashion without forming members, are not specifically covered by the concrete standards referenced in the model codes.”

As it stands, there are no prescriptive code requirements for 3D-printed construction, and so Bakir says that building code authorities must consider each project under the alternate materials and methods provisions in the code for their evaluation and approval.

“This approach allows them to approve 3D-printed building constructions, provided they are shown to comply with the intent of the code provisions and provide the code-prescribed quality, strength, effectiveness, fire resistance, durability, and level of safety,” he says.

Tried and tested

He suggests using testing and evaluation data from standards such as UL 3401, Outline of Investigation for 3D-Printed Building Construction, which can be used to evaluate the printer, fabrication process, and materials used to verify that they consistently produce building elements with the same properties.

Bakir says: “Builders can use the document to create a report of findings, showing AHJs that their building assemblies comply with relevant codes and standards like UL 263, Standard for Fire tests of Building Construction and Materials, and NFPA 275, Standard Method of Fire Tests for the Evaluation of Thermal Barriers.

“This report provides AHJs with the technical information they need to inspect and approve 3D-printed buildings under the alternative materials and methods code provisions and will speed up the approval process.”

The future of construction

One place which has recognised the 3D-printed construction market opportunity, says Bakir, is Dubai: “The United Arab Emirates continues to incorporate innovative solutions and cutting-edge technologies, such as 3D printing, into nearly all aspects of its economy. In 2016, the Dubai government launched the “Dubai 3D Printing Strategy” to transform Dubai into a leading user, producer and exporter of global 3D printing processes, technologies, and associated services.”

Many Dubai organisations have implemented the 3D Printing Strategy, including the Dubai Municipality and Dubai Health Authority . In 2021, the Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, has issued a decree to regulate the use of 3D printing in Dubai’s construction sector and support the region’s target of ensuring 25 percent of its buildings are constructed using 3D printing technology by 2030.

“The legislation will seek to enhance efficiencies in construction projects and improve the competitiveness of Dubai’s local industry while also reducing waste in the sector and attracting leading companies to Dubai’s construction industry,” Bakir adds.

This article was originally published in the November edition of IFSJ. To read your FREE digital copy, click here.

BESA says industry must share responsibility for Grenfell

by Featured NewsSafety

One of the key messages to emerge from the recent Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) National Conference was that the building services industry cannot claim to have learned from the Grenfell Tragedy unless every member of every supply chain takes full responsibility for their safety role. 

Arup transformation director Gill Kernick told the conference she was “appalled” that commercial pressures were still driving poor design decisions and unsafe practices. She said: “Until we take a systemic approach to change, we cannot say that we have learned from Grenfell or honoured those who died. 

“The merry-go-round of buck-passing is our failure. Nobody across the [Grenfell] supply chain did the job the way they were meant to do it,” Kernick told conference delegates. “It’s not helpful to say construction hasn’t changed. We must ask why it hasn’t changed and what needs to be done.” 

Other conference speakers added that too many firms are still waiting to be told what to do rather than getting on with reforming their processes in line with the new Building Safety Act, which has been in force since April. 

CIBSE technical director Hywel Davies said that up to 70% of the industry were doing nothing to prepare for the provisions of the Act, which he described as “the most fundamental reform of building work since World War II”.  

He also said many people were still under the illusion that the Act only applied to high rise residential buildings whereas it covers: “any building work to which the Building Regulations apply”. 

BESA technical committee chair Will Pitt said responsibility for fire safety needed to be shared and the practice of passing risk down the supply chain was undermining efforts to make buildings safer. “This is not entirely on the consultant, but they shouldn’t be throwing it over the fence to the contractors either,” he said, before adding that the way safety critical products were tested also needed to change.  

He added: “We test products, but not how they work in systems. They are tested against a specification, but if that changes on-site, then you face problems of compatibility.” 

Ramtech raises the standards of fire and life safety

by ConstructionFeatured NewsIndustry SectorsSafety
Ramtech’s new white paper raises awareness of fire risk and the life safety solutions available for the US construction industry

Global wireless solutions firm Ramtech recently released an in-depth white paper addressing the US construction fire and life safety challenges that can have devastating consequences including loss of civilian life and millions of dollars in direct property damage annually.

Titled ‘No Site Left Behind: The Modern Fire and Life Safety Solutions for Construction’, the new white paper raises awareness of fire risk and the life safety solutions, including wireless fire evacuation system technology, available across America. It also highlights how more awareness and understanding of National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) guidance, specifically the NFPA 241 (Standard for Safeguarding Construction, Alteration, and Demolition Operations), must be prioritised in order to save lives and protect construction sites.

The challenge

While some factors may appear an obvious hazard, they can often be exacerbated by the way they are currently observed or dealt with but due to the breadth of the US and various conditions and landscapes, there is no one-size-fits-all solution and there are various challenges and threats to fire and life safety on construction sites.

These threats range from extreme weather or temperatures which can have an adverse effect on fires spreading or being put out to highly combustible materials and hot works causing fire by heat, sparks, embers or flame from operating equipment.

Other risks are appliances breakout areas where construction workers go to prepare hot meals and drinks can present a hazard if equipment is overused or left unattended, arson linked to a general lack of site security, electrical distribution, lighting and heating equipment used on site can start a fire and the type of building in particular, a rise in timber frame structures that can catch fire more easily. Essentially, fire risks can be found everywhere on a working or even a vacant construction site.

Following the guidance of the NFPA, specifically the NFPA 241 (Standard for Safeguarding Construction, Alteration, and Demolition Operations) and having the designated Fire Prevention Program Manager (FPPM), is vital to the fire safety of a construction site and having the designated FPPM, is vital to the fire safety of a construction site.

NFPA 241

The NFPA 241 is one of many codes and standards produced by the NFPA to help eliminate death, injury, property and economic loss due to fire, electrical and related hazards. Through regular revisions and amendments, participants in the NFPA standards development process consider the then-current and available information on incidents, materials, technologies, innovations and methods as these develop over time and that NFPA Standards reflect this consideration.

Over the years, the NFPA has continued to improve the clarity of the guidance provided. Within this latest iteration of the NFPA 241, several revisions have been made. Chapter 4 of the code, General Requirements, contains the main elements of what is being discussed in this whitepaper. It includes who is responsible for fire protection and then introduces The Fire Prevention Program.

The NFPA advises that: “The owner shall designate a person who shall be responsible for the fire prevention program and who shall ensure that it is carried out to completion… the fire prevention program manager shall have the authority to enforce the provisions of this and other applicable fire protection standards.”

In short, every construction site needs an FPPM and an alternate to ensure that site safety is maintained and processes are enforced in line with NFPA 241. This includes: Creating the NFPA 241 Plan for the site by identifying all site hazards at all times and providing solutions to overcome safety issues; Ensuring that appropriate fire evacuation and life safety systems are in place and are always working; Serving as the point of contact for any first responders; Conduct fire drills and make evacuation plans.

While every site may have an FPPM, the challenge is to ensure that the FPPM fully understands the gravity of their responsibility and is competent. This ultimately comes down to experience, training and good documentation. A well trained FPPM will know the construction site layout and how efficiently the site can be covered or evacuated, but they will also grasp the finer points of detail that could be the difference between life and death in the event of a fire, such as the turning space and road access available for firefighters, their vehicles and other first responders.

The Solutions

Ultimately, advancing the state of the solutions in the U.S. could play a significant role in adherence to NFPA 241 and therefore reaching a higher standard of fire protection and safety. By leveraging technology, building owners, site managers and fire prevention officers can get a much higher level of protection than with these conventional processes.

In most cases, this can be done cost effectively too, with forward-thinking technology that combines all the necessary elements. Detection, communication, documentation, connectivity alongside your NFPA 241 plan provides a robust life safety system fit for the industry’s current and future challenges.

Talking about the impact of Ramtech’s white paper exploring modern fire and life safety solutions for construction in North America, global marketing and business development manager James Pecz says that Since the release of the white paper, they have been overwhelmed with the positive responses and comments from the industry: “The white paper seems to have hit the spot and encouraged conversations on the current state of the construction industry’s view of fire and evacuation safety.

“The NFPA241 code is designed to encourage the industry to take the best possible steps to protect construction properties, people, and assets – but instead of contractors seeing this as an opportunity to excel and lead with best practices, the code has historically been used as way to do the bare minimum to satisfy requirements.

“We are hoping that the white paper will educate contractors in what solutions are available and encourage them to utilise new technology to enhance safety.  One thing I have learnt during my time in the construction industry is that technology moves much quicker than the regulations change, so this paper helps highlight that there are modern solutions available to help solve age-old issues.”

This article was originally published in the September edition of IFSJ. To read your FREE digital copy, click here.

New research into assessment of sustainable and fire-resilient buildings announced 

by Featured NewsSafety

The SFPE (Society of Fire Protection Engineers) Foundation, a charitable organization focused on enhancing the scientific understanding of fire and its interaction with the natural and built environment, has announced the funding of a research award to prepare for future development of risk-informed performance-based tools for the assessment of sustainable and fire-resilient buildings.

The research will be led by Brian J. Meacham, PhD, PE, CEng, FIFireE, FSFPE, Managing Principal at Meacham Associates, with support from Håkan Frantzich, PhD, FSFPE, Associate Professor, and Margaret McNamee, PhD, Professor, both with the Division of Fire Safety Engineering at Lund University.

It will involve characterizing the problem, researching and identifying appropriate assessment methods, identifying necessary attributes and requirements for input data, and developing a framework to underpin a risk-informed performance-based assessment methodology.

An additional review will focus on consideration of how green attributes and risk factors impact risk assessment, uncertainty treatment, and decision-support methodologies in sustainable and fire resilient buildings.

The findings of the study are expected to be published and presented through SFPE and the SFPE Foundation in 2023.

Leslie Marshall, Ph.D., Director, SFPE Foundation, commented: “To aid in the assessment of sustainable and fire-resilient buildings, the SFPE Foundation’s Board of Governors is pleased to provide funding for another major new research investment in 2022.

“This project aligns with SFPE Research Roadmap priorities and is a foundational step to ultimately provide designers and practitioners with performance-based tools to identify and mitigate fire risk in green buildings.”

Financing for SFPE Foundation-funded research is provided through the support of donors, including SFPE, SFPE chapters, SFPE members, governmental agencies, leading companies and organizations, and others. 

Bristol flats gain approval despite fire safety concerns

by ConstructionFeatured NewsIndustry Sectors

Donard developers now have permission to build 221 apartments in Bristol between York Street and Mead Street despite serious fire safety concerns, including one block featuring a single escape route, leading to official calls for major design changes.

The apartments are a part of the Mead Street development project which plans to construct around 1,500 new homes in the area. The development brief was signed off by the council earlier in August after a long delay.

Both local residents and council planning officers campaigned for the plans to be refused by the development control committee ahead of the decision being made on Wednesday 24 August. However, as Councillors said the need for housing outweighed the issues with the designs.”

The HSE highlighted the need for changes to the current designs, due to fire safety concerns. One block currently will only have a single escape staircase, which is in breach of fire safety standards.

Council officers have said that the current designs could be altered to address the fire safety concerns without making a new application to the council. Building control will also need to sign off the new build’s safety before potential residents could move in.

Residents and councillors are also against the proposed builds due to a lack of windows in the apartments, giving residents a limited amount of natural light, and disruption to the views and character of the area.

John Geater, a councillor for Avonmouth & Lawrence Weston, said: “My concern is if we refuse this, what will happen is we’ll get a reduced height in a planning application that comes back, so that it gets around all the design rules and the places will be bigger.

“But there’ll be 10 percent affordable housing because they’ll knock off all the affordable housing in order to make it compliant and a lovely design.”

Ed Plowden, a Green councillor for Windmill Hill, said: “When you’re reliant on things like shiny paint to get your light levels up, I don’t think that’s great. I really worry about the quality of accommodation for people who will be living here. This has been rushed through and there are loose ends about whether it’s safe to live in.”