MAGB launches Technical Committee and cavity fire barrier construction guidance

by Associations and OrganisationsConstructionFeatured NewsPassive

Construction guidance on cavity fire barriers

The Masonry Association of Great Britain (MAGB) has launched a new Technical Committee and published its first Technical Note on cavity fire barrier installation.

MAGB announced the cross-sector group alongside Technical Note TN-01/26, which addresses cavity fire barriers and raises concerns about increasing use of zero-compression products.

MAGB said the Committee brings together senior technical specialists from across the masonry supply chain, including brick and component manufacturers, fire barrier and insulation suppliers, façade contractors, structural engineers, warranty providers and training bodies.

TN-01/26 marks the first step in a programme intended to raise awareness of long-term fire safety performance within masonry construction.

What TN-01/26 sets out on compression

In Technical Note TN-01/26, MAGB states that zero-compression cavity barriers may achieve compliance in laboratory fire testing, and that buildings change over time.

The guidance outlines structural frame shortening caused by creep and shrinkage, brickwork settlement, mortar movement, thermal expansion and construction tolerances as factors that can increase cavity dimensions.

Barriers installed without positive compression rely on exact geometry at the point of installation.

As movement occurs, gaps of only a few millimetres may allow flame and hot gases to bypass the barrier.

Because these interfaces are concealed once construction is complete, failures are not detectable through routine inspection.

The Note recommends installing horizontal and vertical cavity fire barriers with compression, with a nominal minimum preload of 5mm unless greater compression is justified by manufacturer testing.

Committee remit and next publications

Keith Aldis, chair of the Masonry Association Technical Committee, said: “This Committee has been formed to bring senior technical expertise from across the masonry sector into one forum with a clear purpose – to identify emerging risks and provide practical, evidence-based guidance to the industry.

“Our first Technical Note (TN-01/26) reflects our collective assessment of how buildings behave in reality over time.

“Laboratory fire testing is conducted under controlled conditions, but real structures are subject to settlement, shrinkage and differential movement.

“Positive compression in cavity fire barriers is fundamental to maintaining contact and continuity as that movement occurs.

“Our guidance is intended to support long-term fire integrity and promote durable, movement-tolerant solutions across the sector.

“This publication is the first in a series of Technical Notes intended to support long-term fire integrity and promote movement-tolerant, durable solutions across the sector.”

MAGB confirmed that further Technical Notes and guidance documents will follow as part of its ongoing technical programme.

ASFP publishes independent guidance on active fire curtains

by Projects

The Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP) has published its new Black Book: Active Fire Curtains: Compartmentation and Protected Routes, 1st Edition: Guidance on specification, use and application of product. This is the most up-to-date independent guide to the provision of proprietary active fire curtains.

The new Black Book outlines how to select a suitable fire curtain, as well as best practice considerations for all involved in the specification, installation and maintenance of such products. It also provides details of recognised test methods and the classification system from EN 13501-1 and EN 13501-2 for Operable Fabric Curtains tested to European standards. In addition it features listings of products that have been fully tested to the appropriate British or European standards.

The active fire curtain industry is relatively young and until recently there were no dedicated fire test methods to determine the fire performance of active fire curtain products, or harmonised methods of assessing oversized dimensions. This new guide was developed to provide independent guidance on the advantages and limitations of these products and advice to help stakeholders to evaluate the diverse marketing data and claims made by manufacturers.

With active fire curtains increasingly being considered as an alternative to conventional compartmentation elements as designers seek to create more open plan buildings, the Black Book will be of interest to all involved in the manufacture, specification, purchase, commissioning or maintenance of fire curtains. It also offers useful guidance to inspection authorities, risk assessors, facilities managers and business owners, providing a useful introduction to all the requirements related to maintaining active fire curtains.

The document also references the ASFP’s latest Technical Guidance Document, TGD 21: CE Marking of Operable Fabric Curtains, which explains some of the complexity behind CE marking of active curtains and highlights where BS 8524 (Active Fire Curtain) differs from BS EN 16034 (Operable fire curtain).

The documents were launched in a webinar on Wednesday 9 September, which described the essential factors relating to the design and installation of active fire curtains in accordance with UK and EU legislation.

www.asfp.org.uk