TBA Firefly’s Apollo Lite provides half hour fire protection at Surrey research building

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A specialist contractor undertaking all of the fireproofing within a new medical research building in Surrey has made use of two flexible fire barrier products from the TBA FIREFLY’s range to provide 30 minutes protection within the majority of the ceiling voids throughout the four-storey structure.

Dartford based CLM Fireproofing has employed APOLLO Lite and the Collaroll product in tandem to protect the ceiling voids. The spaces which typically house pipework, power cables and air conditioning units above the suspended ceiling grid, are provided with 30 minutes integrity and insulation through the installation of the flexible APOLLO Lite barrier.

The Site Agent for CLM Fireproofing, Virginjus Pasvenkas, commented: “We are carrying out all of the fire-proofing work within this new facility on behalf of the main contractor, ISG, employing a wide variety of fully certified products. In the case of the APOLLO Lite, it is one of the systems specified by the fire engineer for the project as part of the fire strategy and FIREFLY provided us with detail drawings in order to suit this application – forming a cavity barrier in the void above the ceiling.

“A number of our operatives have also received training in the past from the manufacturer; though the system is quite straightforward to install. We are also using the Collaroll for protection around where pipes, cable trays and trunking penetrate the barriers. Work is progressing well, and we expect to complete on schedule this December.”

The APOLLO Lite 30/30 has been developed for use in vertical separation or compartmentation situations, offering both 30 minutes integrity and insulation, thereby exceeding the minimum requirements of the Building Regulations. It is widely specified to form fire barriers within roof voids in many different property types, including healthcare, commercial and social housing.

The flexible woven material is easy to cut and fix and is chemically treated to improve its cooling properties, and therefore prevent temperatures rising in adjoining areas. The system has been fully tested to BS 476 Parts 6.7, 20 & 22 and is third party certified by IFCC.

Six metre long rolls of APOLLO Lite 30:30 have a minimum thickness of 6mm and are installed using stainless steel staples as well as high temperature adhesive. Collaroll comes in a roll which unwraps to 10m long x 300mm wide with a sewn in skirt. The skirt can be moulded to shape to seal it neatly to the upright barrier which is usually at 90 degrees to the Collaroll and fixed into place using the high temperature adhesive.

TBA Firefly set to show expanded range to FIREX

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TBA Firefly is set to display a wide array of products at the 2022 FIREX show in London’s Excel Centre. The company is looking to building on its success of 2021 in terms of winning new business and the scale of the contracts the company was involved in delivering.

Among its products the company will display its recent launches such as Penowrap and the FR120 Access Panel, as well as its versatile Athena fire barrier, suited for timber lofts.

The new 600 x 600mm, IFC certified panel has been developed to facilitate regular maintenance access to roof spaces and other fire compartments, created using the Firefly barriers and offers two hours fire resistance.  

Penowrap, meanwhile, is a lightweight and flexible wrap which complements other TBA Firefly flexible fire barrier systems: intended to protect steel or timber structural members up to 300mm beyond the main barrier, giving additional protection.

Simon James, marketing manager, Firefly’s said: “Firex gives us an ideal opportunity to showcase our product range to key players in the industry, including existing clients and those companies not yet familiar with the products we offer. We serve a specialist part of the passive fire protection market, offering some unique solutions, all supported by the relevant accreditations and full technical back-up.”  

UK hospital deploys Titan Lite fire barriers

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A Plymouth-based hospital in the UK has deployed Titan Lite fire barriers in its facility. The 18-month contract being carried out by a leading UK fire contractor involved installing large quantities of the Titan Lite 120:60, manufactured by TBA Firefly, to create fire barriers above ceiling voids throughout many parts of the hospital.

The hospital has 660 beds and provides medical and surgical care to a third of a million people with the building dating back to before the beginning of the Second World War.   

The refurbishment work, concluded at the end of November 2021, was being carried out by Plymouth based Ventro Ltd. whose operatives have had to work in many areas during the evenings and weekends to avoid disruption to the hospital’s everyday activities, including the treatment of patients.

Following early appraisals of the fire protection requirements within the ageing property and considering the large quantities of different mechanical services to be accommodated into the upgrades, the hospital’s estates department decided to raise the specification for the work from 30 minutes integrity rating to a full two hours.  

The Site Agent for Ventro, John Roberts, commented: “As a specialist fire contractor working across the whole of the UK and beyond, we have employed Firefly products on many projects over the years and expect to continue doing so.  In the early stages of this contract, which began on site in May 2020, it was thought Apollo 30 minutes would be appropriate, but the hospital then switched this to Tian Lite 120:60.  We have been installing the Titan Lite in many parts of the hospital, including most recently in the ceiling voids over the kitchens. This has been done by fixing metal angles across the soffits and then using the special tape and staples to secure the fabric to it. Despite the large number of services making the number of penetrations to be deal with quite challenging, our teams find the Firefly relatively easy to install.”