Updated FIREPRO Book launched by ROCKWOOL

by Featured NewsPassiveProducts

Insulation manufacturer, ROCKWOOL, has launched an updated version of the ROCKWOOL FIREPRO® Book, its go-to resource for information and guidance on all of the company’s passive fire protection solutions.

The FIREPRO® Book is a comprehensive catalogue of tested and certified ROCKWOOL passive fire protection solutions which contains all the information specifiers and installers need for firestopping and fire resistance in every application, from structural protection to cavity firestops, and building services protection.

The guide contains detailed information for each product in the FIREPRO® range, including application and installation advice, testing data and relevant specification clauses.

Updates within the latest ROCKWOOL FIREPRO® Book include the addition of Silicone X – the new ‘Type X’ silicone sealant added to the ROCKWOOL FIREPRO® range of specialist fire protection products earlier this year.

In addition, the updated ROCKWOOL FIREPRO® Book features improved product datasheets which, where applicable, provide direct access to third party certifications, European Technical Assessments (ETAs) and certificates of constancy of performance.

Speaking about the latest release of the FIREPRO® Book, Paul Barrett, Head of Product Management at ROCKWOOL, commented: “The FIREPRO® Book is an essential resource for any specifier or installer working within passive fire protection.  We are proud of our ongoing testing programme that expands certifications for

“ROCKWOOL products in line with the latest industry legislation. This testing, coupled with our development of new products, means we regularly update the FIREPRO Book to provide all essential technical information in one place, while ensuring that our content remains relevant and accurate.” 

To view or download theFIREPRO® Book,visit the ROCKWOOL FIREPRO® Resource Hubhere or at rockwool.com/uk/firepro.

Exclusive: Dedicated passive protection with ROCKWOOL

by IFSJ ExclusivesPassive
Paul Barrett, Head of Product Management at ROCKWOOL® UK, discusses the FIREPRO® RANGE and how it was used at London’s digital campus, Here East

Since it was established in 1979, ROCKWOOL has served as the UK’s leading manufacturer of non-combustible stone wool insulation, supporting the creation of buildings that feature high levels of passive fire protection by integrating its insulation into the fabric of a building.

Stone wool is manufactured from naturally occurring volcanic rock which is a vastly abundant material.  Being made from volcanic rock means that stone wool is naturally non-combustible and is capable of withstanding temperatures in excess of 1000oC.

Over the years, the fire protection properties of stone wool have helped to protect many lives and its unique thermal properties have improved the indoor climate of many buildings and homes. Our products have been installed in domestic, commercial and industrial buildings of all types, from prestige projects including London’s O2 Arena and Hong Kong Airport to family homes, local hospitals and schools in many countries

However, for the past 43 years, ROCKWOOL has expanded its fire protection solutions with the FIREPRO range – products which provide firestopping and fire resistance throughout an entire building, from service penetrations to compartmentation.  

We wanted to extend our passive fire protection range beyond core stone wool products to offer a complete solution. Our aim was to help architects, contractors and developers conform to current fire regulations, making buildings and their inhabitants safer in the event of fire.

The result was the FIREPRO range. The FIREPRO range provides access to a comprehensive suite of passive fire protection products and certified solutions. Today, the FIREPROsuite of solutions includes over 25 product ranges designed for a variety of applications.

For example, ROCKWOOL Fire Barrier and Fire Barrier Slab were developed to offer easy to install solutions that effectively help to prevent the spread of fire and smoke within unseen roof and ceiling voids. The ROCKWOOL BEAMCLAD System provides a complete ‘tool-box’ of fire protection options for the diversity of modern steel construction. To effectively reinstate compartmentation within fire rated walls and floors, we developed the FIREPRO Ablative Coated Batt which offers a property critical fire stopping protection.

ROCKWOOL in action – Here East Digital Campus, UK

The former Olympic Broadcast and Press Centres on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park – a space that captured and lived many of the most memorable moments of the 2012 London Olympic games – is now a world-class digital campus, Here East.

The dynamic redevelopment of Here East involved the transformation of the former Media Campus and more specifically, the Main Press Centre, Main Media Conference Room and International Broadcasting Centre, to provide a first of its kind location, complete with state-of-the-art infrastructure, for creative and digital industries.

The development is home to BT Sport’s headquarters, incorporating offices, restaurants, studio space and a data centre alongside new facilities for UCL, Loughborough University and Hackney Community College. Main contractor, Laing O’Rourke led the transformation of Here East into this all-round multi-use campus which will deliver a lasting educational and commercial legacy in East London. 

The challenge

With an innovative design which has created a modern, multi-purpose campus, Here East was built to the highest performance and fire safety specifications. The team at Laing O’Rourke were tasked with designing the building’s fire protection scheme that also accommodates building movements such as movement between floors and in services. 

This proved a major challenge, as the fire safety design needed to use air sealing and fire stopping systems that were compatible with the structures of the various buildings on the development. 

The ROCKWOOL solution

The ROCKWOOL FIREPRO SoftSeal System in combination with FIREPRO® SoftSeal Coated Strips was selected and installed by fire protection contractor Roseville to meet the project design specification.

ROCKWOOL FIREPRO SoftSeal System is a flexible, firestopping solution particularly suited to service penetrations and linear joints, where a high degree of movement needs to be accommodated, making it ideal for use in this type of application. The system can accommodate movement of +/- 25% and can be used for both vertical and horizontal applications to reinstate the fire resistance and acoustic performance in the re-purposing of the buildings where voids have been created for the passage of services.

At Here East, approximately 1300 linear metres of FIREPRO SoftSeal System were installed. The area between the slab and exterior cladding was filled with SoftSeal Linear Joint Strips, which are designed and tested to meet the fire resistance standard BS EN 1366-3. The SoftSeal system was also incorporated into the service penetrations, in the form of SoftSeal Coated Strips, which are classified to EN 13501-2 and have been tested to the dedicated fire resistance standard BS EN1366-4.

FIREPRO SoftSeal strips coated on both the top and bottom edges were used in this project to provide a clean, white coated finish. These strips help to extend the fire stopping and acoustic performance of the building where voids have been created for passage of services. 

Speaking about the project, Arthur Nelmes, Divisional Director – Passive Fire Protection, Roseville, said: “Fire protection was a major performance criterion for this project. ROCKWOOL was able to deliver products with the long-lasting firestopping performance we needed to achieve on this type of development whilst also being reliable and easy to install. ROCKWOOL FIREPRO SoftSeal system also simplified the application by providing proven fire and acoustic insulation performance all in one solution.” 

The ROCKWOOL solution has played a major role in meeting the performance standards required for the delivery of Here East. The structural fire protection and firestopping solution will effectively minimise the risk of fire spread and protect the people and property within the buildings.

Exclusive: Passive fire protection set in stone from ROCKWOOL

by Breaking NewsIFSJ ExclusivesPassive
IFSJ spoke to Paul Barrett, Head of Production Management at ROCKWOOL to find out how its line of passive protection products are slowing the spread of fire

A s the UK’s leading manufacturer of non-combustible stone wool insulation, ROCKWOOL has always supported the construction industry in creating buildings that actively contribute to passive fire protection by integrating its insulation into a building’s fabric.

Over the past 43 years, ROCKWOOL has extended its fire protection solutions with the FIREPRO range – products which provide firestopping and fire resistance throughout an entire building, from service penetrations to compartmentation. IFSJ spoke to Head of Product Management, Paul Barrett, to learn more about the ROCKWOOL business, and the solutions the company has developed to improve fire safety in buildings.

What is ROCKWOOL and when was the company established in the UK?

 ROCKWOOL Limited was established in 1979 and is part of the ROCKWOOL Group. With one factory based in South Wales and over 500 employees across the UK, we offer a full range of high-performing and sustainable insulation products for the construction industry and are the world leader in stone wool solutions.

Stone wool is the unique material that lays the foundation of our business. All of our stone wool insulation products possess fire, acoustic and thermal insulation properties, as well as a lifelong durability, making it a sustainable and cost-effective choice.

What is stone wool and how does it offer fire protection?

Stone wool is manufactured from naturally occurring volcanic rock which is a vastly abundant material. Being made from volcanic rock means that stone wool is naturally non-combustible and is capable of withstanding temperatures in excess of 1000o C.

Over the years, the fire protection properties of stone wool have helped to protect many lives and its unique thermal properties have improved the indoor climate of many buildings and homes. Our products have been installed in domestic, commercial and industrial buildings of all types, from prestige projects including London’s O2 Arena and Hong Kong Airport to family homes, local hospitals and schools in many countries.

Why did ROCKWOOL develop the FIREPRO range?

We wanted to extend our passive fire protection range beyond core stone wool products to offer a complete solution. Our aim was to help architects, contractors and developers conform to current fire regulations, making buildings and their inhabitants safer in the event of fire.

The result was the ROCKWOOL FIREPRO range. The FIREPRO range provides access to a comprehensive suite of passive fire protection products and certified solutions offering firestopping and fire resistance performance.

What is the FIREPRO range designed for?

Our comprehensive range of FIREPRO solutions can provide fire protection within a wide range of building applications, including: structural protection, penetration seals, linear joint seals, cavity barriers and building services.

The FIREPRO suite of solutions includes over 25 product ranges designed for a variety of applications. For example, ROCKWOOL Fire Barrier and Fire Barrier Slab were developed to offer easy to install solutions that effectively help to prevent the spread of fire and smoke within unseen roof and ceiling voids.

The ROCKWOOL BEAMCLAD System provides a complete ‘tool-box’ of fire protection options for the diversity of modern steel construction. To effectively reinstate compartmentation within fire rated walls and floors, we developed the FIREPRO Ablative Coated Batt which offers a property critical fire stopping protection.

What is the latest FIREPRO innovation?

We recently launched a new, multi-application fire resistant sealant to the market – Silicone X – which enhances our existing range of fire rated sealants.

Silicone X is a new ‘Type X’ silicone sealant, which is suitable for linear joint seals in walls and floors and for external and internal applications across a range of substrates. As well as providing up to four hours fire integrity in accordance with BS EN 1366-4:2006, FIREPRO Silicone X has been categorised as Type X in accordance with the applicable European Assessment Document (EAD), meaning it is suitable for external applications including those exposed to weathering.

How do you support the fire industry?

For starters, we have a dedicated fire protection team which is on hand to support with solution specification and provide project guidance all the way through to installation. This team is backed up by ‘Technical Solutions’. The technical team provides telephone and email support to assist with technical queries, whether that’s access to relevant test reports and product certification, through to installation advice.

The product management team also has fire protection and HVAC specialists, who lead our testing and certification programme. In addition to bringing new and fully tested firestopping and fire protection solutions to market, this has helped us to create a comprehensive suite of standard details for firestopping.

Where standard details are not available for a specific project requirement, we are able to support with engineering judgments.

Where can people find the latest industry information?

We also have a suite of established passive fire protection resources available which are easily accessible through the FIREPRO Resource Hub. This Hub helps to make specification and compliance simpler by bringing all materials that might be needed into one place, with access to the latest information and guidance always available.

The latest edition of the ROCKWOOL FIREPRO Book can be accessed from the Resource Hub and is a comprehensive catalogue of tested and certified passive fire protection solutions. On the FIREPRO Resource Hub, users will also find the ROCKWOOL Firestopping Standard Details Pack. This guide provides in[1]depth guidance on the performance parameters of our passive fire stopping product solutions, according to certified installations and applications.

Users of the Resource Hub can also view the latest CPD modules as well as the FIREPRO Solutions Finder. Visit the ROCKWOOL FIREPRO Resource Hub now at rockwool.com/uk/firepro  

ROCKWOOL introduces insulation to improve fire resistance in industrial plants

by Featured NewsFire SuppressionProducts

ROCKWOOL Technical Insulation has introduced its ProRox PS 680 with FR-Tech insulation designed for pipework systems of various sizes to improve fire resistance in industrial plants.

The insulation technology provides proven fire resistance to a plant’s piping network, giving additional time to stop the spread of a fire and get to a safe location.

ProRox PS 680 with FR-Tech is the latest offering in ROCKWOOL Technical Insulation’s line of ProRox stone wool insulation products. It works by slowing the transfer of a fire’s heat to steel pipework. The insulation adds critical time to a plant’s fire response and evacuation plans.

ProRox PS 680 was tested to the UL 1709 fire curve for optimized fire performance in 1- and 2-hour ratings on Schedule 40 and 80 pipe sections. It was also certified by internationally recognized organizations such as SWRI, Intertek, and SGH to deliver proven fire resistance for steam and pipe systems operating at high temperatures.

ProRox PS 680 is available as mandrel-wound, stone wool insulation pipe sections. The insulation sections are applied at typically half the thickness of conventional insulation materials and install easily, without the need for sealants or offsite cutting.

The insulation’s thinner application profile makes it easy to install around tight pipe bends and areas with limited clearance space. It is also removable and reusable and so the insulation optimises maintenance costs and allows for cost-effective, simplified inspection.

ProRox 680 with FR-Tech also incorporates ROCKWOOL’s proven WR-Tech technology, a revolutionary binder that coats each individual insulation fiber to combat corrosion under insulation (CUI). This gives the insulation an improved water repellency. The patented WR-Tech makes the insulation five times more water repellent (at 482°F/250°C) than standard EN-compliant stone wool, even after heating and aging.

Daniel Aiken, Business Unit Director of Americas for ROCKWOOL Technical Insulation, said: “When it comes to fires in an industrial plant, even mere seconds are critical to containing localized fire damage and preventing serious injuries.

“While it’s not possible to completely fireproof any plant, ProRox PS 680 with FR-Tech provides a cost-effective, proven solution to significantly increase your plant’s fire resistance. Plant operators are moving quickly to install this insulation solution on their piping systems, in less time, at lower costs, and with less effort than conventional insulation systems. And with the addition of WR-Tech for CUI mitigation, PS 680 helps extend plant operations and protect against two processing risks—fire and water.”

ProRox PS 680 is currently made in North America for North American customers who need proven passive fire protection for their plant piping systems.

Association for Specialist Fire Protection elects new governing Council

by Featured NewsPeople

The Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP) has announced the election of its new Council, following its Annual General Meeting, held at Saddlers Hall, London on 7th July.

Council members are elected each year, while the chair and vice chair remain in place for a two year term. The Council now comprises:

  • Chris Miles – UL (Chair)
  • Clive Miles –  CLM Fireproofing (Vice Chair)
  • Clive Atkins – Fire Protection Coatings Group
  • Carrie Blackshaw   – Minster
  • Sharon McClure – Avesta Scotland
  • Nigel Morrey – Etex Building Performance
  • Robert O’Byrne  – Tennants Building Products
  • Jamie O’Hagan – Structural Fireproofing Systems
  • Ian Outram   – CPG Europe
  • Philip Sargent   – IFC Certification
  • Bob Westcombe – Rockwool

ASFP CEO Steve Davies welcomed the appointment of the new Council: “We are pleased to announce the appointment of our new ASFP Council. While we continue to thank our returning Council members for their continuing support, we particularly welcome those who are newly elected.

“The ASFP Council plays a key role in guiding the strategic direction of the ASFP and we welcome the important input we receive from members who give up their valuable time. As the Association grows and we develop new services, this engagement is vital to ensure we continue to meet the changing needs of members from every category.”

The ASFP is governed via a structure involving an Executive Board and the Council, with day-to-day management and operation, the responsibility of the CEO and Officers.

The ASFP Council sets strategy and structure and delegates management of Association to the Executive Board. This Board is composed of the ASFP Chair and Vice Chair, CEO and Business manager.

Everything you need to know about The Fire Safety Event 2022

by Breaking NewsEventsUncategorized

Dedicated to supporting industry practitioners, professionals, and organisations in achieving and maintaining the very highest standards of fire safety management, it will the first time this year for a major UK exhibition to gather the whole industry all under one roof. 

UK’s largest showcase of exhibitors and supporters 

With over 100 exhibitors participating at the show, some of the industry’s leading brands including Aico, C-TEC, Apollo, Global Fire Equipment, Safety Technology International, SELO, Siemens, Fire Angel, Checkmate, Rockwool, FSI, EMS Limited, Tyco, Hytera, SimPRO, Firemate, Profab and many more, will be showcasing their latest research and development, product and solution launches and live demonstrations. 

A number of key association and industry bodies will be supporting the Fire Safety Event and will be on hand to offer guidance and expert advice to visitors. These include the Association for Specialist Fire Protection, National Association of Healthcare Fire Officers, Fire Protection Association, Smoke Control Association, Institute of Fire Safety Managers, Institution of Fire Engineers, BAFE, NSI and ECA/FSA and more. 

NEW! Passive Fire Arena 

In partnership with the Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP), this brand-new area will feature a collection of ASFP members and specialist suppliers. In the wake of the Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety, passive fire protection has never been more prevalent.  

Helping visitors navigate around the show to source passive fire protection products and services, and provide key guidance on current regulatory changes, this arena will be complimented with a Passive Fire Conference. Each day will be themed with day one on the Golden Thread – looking into the essential requirements for the collation of information and management systems so individuals and organisations can access reliable, accurate and up to date information. Joined by Dan Rossiter, Sector Lead (Built Environment Digital Transformation) from BSI, who will talk about supporting the Golden Thread through product traceability and Russ Timpson, Founder and organiser of the Tall Building Fire Safety Network (TBFSN), Tall Building Fire Safety Network on what you need to know to manage Fire Safety in HRB’s. 

Day two will delve into Passive Fire Protection (PFP), how to protect the structure of a building to safeguard peoples’ lives and limit the financial impact of damage to buildings and contents. David Keeble, Head of Sales from Coopers Fire will present on why specialist fire resistant glass is needed and Global HSE Group’s Managing Director, Andrew Cooper will look at the challenges of firestopping when facing new challenges and circumstances,  

Finally, day three will end on competency – identifying the knowledge, skills, abilities, and mindset, evaluated through demonstrated behaviours, which directly and positively contribute to the success of installing, manufacturing, distributing and designing. 

Unmissable content, thought-provoking discussions and live industry debates 

Education is at the heart of The Fire Safety Event. Boasting three industry-led theatres and offering 45+ hours of free-to-attend CPD content this is the perfect opportunity for visitors to gain direct insight into improving, maintaining, and championing fire safety for all businesses. 

The Fire Safety Theatre (Sponsored by Xtralis) will cover the challenging and critical topics surrounding fire safety management. Discussion and debate driven, these insightful sessions include the fire safety bill update and the formation of the National Construction Products Regulator, protecting large premises from large fire, the diversity of ASD functionality and applications and the hugely popular mock trial recreating a real life trial under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, and much more. 

The Fire and Security Installer Theatre sponsored by Resideo and in partnership with NSI, will return with content tailored specifically to fire and security installers and integrators. Covering the standards, regulations and industry best practice, these sessions will provide all the essential advice and guidance to ensure businesses and professionals are fully complaint. Key sessions not to miss are: 

CROSS – Collaborative Reporting for Safer Structures 

Neil Gibbins, CROSS lead for fire safety 

BS 8418:2021 for Detector-Activated Surveillance Systems – The Game Changer For Police Response 

Matthew Holliday, Director of Approval Schemes – National Security Inspectorate (NSI) 

Fire Detection and Alarm Competence 

Mike Smith, Technical Director – Electrical Contractors’ Association 

Fire system installation quality, takeovers, and verification 

Peter Baxter, Technical Advisor – ECA/FSA 

Face to face meetings and networking opportunities  

To meet the business needs of fire safety professionals, The Fire Safety Event will be introducing a new and specialised matchmaking service CONNECT+ Live. CONNECT+ Live is a free-of-charge personalised matchmaking service that match qualified buyers with hand-picked solution providers. Visitors will be able to save time and money, and be able to make new invaluable contacts to benchmark and gain invaluable insight. 

To facilitate more networking and build new contacts, there will also be two networking receptions (sponsored by Firemate) taking place on day one and two from 16:00. Visitors, exhibitor and partners are invited to unwind and recoup from their day in an informal seeting. 

Part of the largest UK tradeshow dedicated to the protection of people, places and assets. 

The Fire Safety Event is uniquely co-located with The Security Event, The Health & Safety Event, and the newly relaunched The Workplace Event which together form The Safety and Security Series. With only one registration delegates have access to all four events spanning over 30,000 square metres – making these events the biggest of their kind in the UK and providing easy access to four major events, over 600 exhibitors, and one unmissable opportunity. 

In another first, the events will now offer free parking on site at the NEC. This will further enforce that the NEC is the most accessible venue for any event in the fire and security sector with a train station and airport on side and the venue adjacent to the M42 motorway.  

  

For more information or to register for your FREE pass visit www.firesafetyevent.com  

ASFP appoints new governing council

by People

The Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP) has announced the appointment of its new Chair and Vice Chair and elected a new Council, following its Annual General Meeting, held online on the 28 April. The Council now comprises:

  • Chris Miles – UL (Chair)
  • Clive Miles –  CLM Fireproofing (Vice Chair)
  • Clive Atkins – Fire Protection Coatings Group
  • Carl Atkinson –  IDFC Ltd
  • Barry Beavis – Sharpfibre Ltd
  • Sharon McClure – Avesta
  • Nigel Morrey – Etex Building Performance Ltd
  • David Murphy – Fire Protection Specialists (Ireland)
  • Jamie O’Hagan – Structural Fireproofing Systems Ltd
  • Bob Westcombe – Rockwool
  • Ian Woodhouse – IFC

Chris Miles of UL was appointed as Chair, taking over from Roger Williams of Sherwin-Williams who stood down following the completion of his two-year term. Clive Miles of CLM Fireproofing was elected as Vice Chair.

Chris has more than 30 years of experience in the passive fire protection industry. He started his career setting up fire resistance tests in the laboratory, moving on to the certification of products and systems and latterly as head of UL, an EU Notified Body.  He is currently Regional Business Director for UL’s built environment business in Europe, Middle East and Africa.

asfp
Chris Miles

Commenting on his appointment, Chris stated: “The ASFP has gone through a period of rapid growth and, in the last year, has implemented a number of major changes, including the appointment of a new secretariat and CEO, as well as the further development of its training offering, including its revolutionary new E-Learning platform; all alongside a global pandemic.

“The ASFP is recognised and respected as a leading authority on passive fire protection and I am confident that these changes will work to its benefit, enabling it to further expand its influence and importance in the construction sector.

“The Association now has the resources to better support the needs of the passive fire protection sector and to influence the safety of buildings as we embrace upcoming regulatory change in the UK.”