The role of ASFP Ireland - Association for Specialist Fire Protection

Introduction & ASFP Policy Statement

David O’Reilly

Association for Specialist Fire Protection

Ireland

Fire Compartmentation The Who, Why & How of Legislative Compliance

Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism

The ASFP was formed

in 1975 as the Association of Structural Fire Protection Contractors and Manufacturers (ASFPCM), and changed its name in 1996 to the Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP).


The ASFP - A brief background history

To reflect the work being undertaken in the fields of fire stopping, fire resisting ducting, fire dampers, fire resisting partitions and other elements used for compartmentation

The Association was formed to bring together passive fire protection (PFP) manufacturers, contractors and testing/certification bodies to encourage, develop and give guidance on essential standards in PFP.



The Association is responsible for or has had a significant input into the vast majority of guidance and standards that exist today across the whole spectrum of the PFP sector.



Industry guidance

ASFP Irelands website provides items of specific Irish interest with links to the comprehensive technical support available to professionals at a number of levels

www.asfpireland.ie


ASFP Ireland - 2010

Passive Protection Systems sold by ASFP members are independently certified and ASFP Contractor members are 3rd Party Certificated as a mandatory membership requirements of the ASFP

Certification


ASFP Members


RED BOOK

Fire stopping & penetration seals for the construction industry 3rd Edition

The Association for Specialist Fire Protection

Fire & smoke resisting dampers

GREY BOOK


Fire retardant coatings for The construction industry

ORANGE BOOK


Fire resisting non load-bearing partitions

PURPLE BOOK


YELLOW BOOK

Fire protection for structural steel in buildings 4th Edition


BLUE BOOK

Fire resisting ductwork 2nd Edition


ASFP Support Services

Ensuring Best Practice for Passive Fire Protection in Buildings

Produced in 1998 to provide guidance to architects, designers, constructors, building occupiers and others, with effective and feasible recommendations and selection criteria for the use of Passive Fire Protection (PFP) systems in buildings.

Fire Compartment Guidance Document


We have had Building Regulations in the current format since 1991

In 2006 this Best Practice Document was incorporated into Technical Guidance B as a principal source for guidance on passive fire protection (PFP).

Specific Relevance in Irish Legislation


TGD B lists the Principal Objectives of Fire Compartments

To prevent rapid fire spread which could trap occupants

To reduce the chance of fires becoming large, on the basis that large fires are more dangerous, not only to occupants but to people within the vicinity of the building

To protect escape routes

Why is Fire Compartmentation Important?


Ireland -Technical Guidance Document B (TGD B) UK - Approved Document B (ADB)

B1: Means of Escape

B2: Internal Fire Spread (Linings)

B3: Internal Fire Spread (Structure)

B4: External Fire Spread

B5: Access & Facilities for the Fire Service

Legislative Guidance Documents Compartmentation


As part of the Planning Process Designers must apply for a Fire Safety Certificate demonstrating how the proposed development will comply with Building Regulations.

Compliance Report which sets out the fire strategy for the proposed design demonstrating compliance with the requirements of B 1 – B 5 in TGD – B.

Drawings that show the locations and specified fire resistance ratings of fire compartments.

Approval - The local authority inspect this design and if satisfied grant a Fire Safety Certificate.

Irish Building Regulations - Planning Stage


It must be understood that a fire safety certificate is an approval by a local building control authority of the fire safety design to be incorporated into the overall design of a proposed new building.

It is a certification of the fire safety design, as presented to the authority and does not certify the fire safety of the finished building.

Essential Understanding of the Irish System


So is the System Working?


It is probably true to say that if appropriate fire protection measures are correctly installed, in accordance with the guidance of the current Building Regulations, the answer would be Yes – but is this the case ?

Responsibility & Accountability


From a Government perspective, regulations are laid down for implementation at all stages within a building’s design, build, inspection and maintenance processes, throughout the life of the structure.

However experience shows that the Achilles Heel in this process is the installation & maintenance of PFP.

The absence of routine mandatory Inspection & Enforcement procedures is also clearly an issue.

Dublin Apartment Complex


Fire Doors ?


Partitioning Systems


Fire Dampers


Penetration Seals


Fire Resisting Door sets


So is it all Working!


Even when all looks correct......

........Is it?

Responsibility & Accountability How does this happen?


Incredible as it may seem, our Legislation does not provide for a mandatory inspection prior to the occupation of a building.

There is no routine building control by the authorities and typically the developer does not retain the services of the architect or fire consultant during construction.

Legislative Position


The duty of care to comply with Building Regulations rests jointly with the builder/developer and client and not with the Authority.

The Authorities (as under the Fire Services Acts for existing buildings), using their powers of inspection under the Building Control Act, may enforce implementation of the requirements of the Building Regulations on new buildings through the Courts.

What actually happens


Opinions of compliance are written by Architects or Fire Consultants and typically use phrases such as –

‘visual inspection’

‘no opening up’

‘substantial compliance‘

‘providing evidence for title purposes’

‘not a report on the condition’

‘we were not retained to supervise construction’

Concluding Statements


We note however that it is the responsibility of the Building Contractor to ensure that the construction of the works complies with the drawings and specifications and the standards of construction required by the Building Regulations

It should be noted that this opinion is for the purposes of providing evidence for title purposes of substantial compliance with Part B of the Building Regulations 1997 at the date of inspection. It is not a report on the condition of the building nor should it be relied upon as making any such representations.

Fire Services Act 1981 & 2003


Compliance with responsibilities under the Fire Services Act requires that:

The premises must be suitable for its intended use, and certain essential fire safety features appropriate to this use must be provided.

A proactive fire safety management policy must be in place to minimize the risk of a fire occurring and ensure the safety of persons on the premises in an emergency.

Technical Guidance B also assumes effective management

What is Required to Manage Fire Safety? Is the System Working?


It should be

Fire Safety Certificate (including imposed conditions, if any)

Fire Safety Certificate Application – Compliance report and drawings

Information on installed Passive Fire Protection Systems Data sheets

Certificates / fire test reports

Maintenance requirements

Locations

Relevant sign offs by certifying bodies / persons

Other relevant information

Critical Omission


TGD – B provides guidance and then makes assumptions with regard to management & maintenance. Unfortunately, research & experience shows that necessary steps in the chain are missed or simply ignored.

ADB goes further and states that in accordance with Regulation 38 (formerly 16B) of the Building Regulations the passive fire protection provision details will be passed onto the owner of the building as fit for purpose.

Ensuring Best Practice for Passive Fire Protection in Buildings


•Based on an ASFP three-year ‘Partners in Innovation’ project, completed in 1998, which found that the reliability of fire compartment walls and barriers was a real issue and in some complex buildings, detailed drawings were missing and occupants had no knowledge of the location of essential defences such as compartment walls.

Relevant Findings


The research undertaken under this project has shown that many buildings are constructed and operated with Passive Fire Protection either badly installed or missing altogether. This situation is compounded by alterations made to the building by the occupier as changes in occupancy, occupations or systems take place.

Using price competition as the main criteria for selection encourages contractors to submit low tenders to win the contract. Once contractors have secured contracts they strive to increase profitability by applying pressure to their subcontractors to further reduce prices.

----------------------

My experience is that if this research was carried out here in Dublin today it would come to similar conclusions & probably make the same

recommendations.

European Context – Fire Risk Assessment


EC Framework Directive (89/391/EC)

EC Workplace Directive (89/654/EC)

In the UK these directives were incorporated in

the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005

(N.I. 2010)

In Ireland they were transposed into Irish law

within the Safety, Health & Welfare at Work

(General Application) Regulations 2007

Manufacturers provide installation instructions - Intumescent Fire Collars


Surface mounting – Secure pipe collar to the structure with 50mm x 8mm masonry screws or minimum 50mm expanding metallic bolts

What can happen - Fire Compound


Worse? – No Fire Protection at all


Who Checked this one?

This building had been occupied for 13 years at the time this photograph was taken. The situation has not been rectified.

What you don’t see from the Boardroom or expensively decorated Apartment?


It is dangerous to make assumptions from outward appearance

Pencil Hole

< 4 minutes

6m x 6m x 3m room

Why is this important? - A Reminder Smoke Kills

Who is Qualified to install Passive Fire Protection? At times it seems the only installer requirements are


Submission – What we would like to see


That all in the chain of the design, build and maintenance process be required to undertake an ‘ownership of responsibility’ and ‘sign off’ their particular element in the process as ‘fit for purpose’ in relation to the design and installation of fire safety measures.

This could take the form of a ‘building logbook’ or as a ‘permit to occupy’, but in any event would be required to form part of relevant legislation whether it is the Building Regulations, the Fire Services Act or Health & Safety Legislation.

Submission


Given the life safety nature of fire, the association aspires to appropriate qualifications in all aspects of the fire industry, to be deemed as essential rather than desirable.

We would like to see 3rd Party Certification become a more mandated requirement at all stages in the process, regulated from within the fire industry to ensure installation of appropriate fire protection systems and inspection in accordance with appropriate legislation.

Submission


We are mindful that the current Building Regulations have been crafted over many years based on a firm foundation that the majority of buildings are constructed utilizing traditional materials and methods of construction.

However with the desire to meet with a more sustainable, reduced carbon agenda, industry has seen the development of more innovative modern methods of construction and fire engineered principles, therefore any future changes to the Building Regulations should reflect the importance of appropriate fire protection measures in these types of construction.

Sustainable ?


In our drive toward modern methods of construction, zero carbon living, sustainable construction and the increasing use of fire engineered solutions.

Remember a sustainable building is NOT ‘sustainable’

if it is razed to the ground by fire!

ASFP Ireland – Aims & Objectives


To facilitate the Training, Education and Competence of those involved in the specification, installation, maintenance and assessment of Installed Specialist Fire Protection Measures.

To make an essential and necessary contribution to a Safe and Sustainable Built Environment in consultation and co-operation with legislators and other compatible Organizations.

To develop and expand the Market for Specialist Fire Protection Measures which can be properly shown to be 'Fit for Their Intended Use'.

To be the leading Fire Industry Association concerned with Specialist Fire Protection Measures installed in a Safe and Sustainable Built Environment.

How?


Our Web Site provides news, information and guidance on items of Specific Irish Interest.

Organising Seminars such as today: We are encouraged by the calibre of those who have chosen to support this initiative, with their presence and look forward to some interesting discussion sessions.

We would like to encourage as many individuals and organisations as possible to join ASFP Ireland so that we can develop the Association and replicate the standing that is enjoyed by our UK colleagues

We would like to organize Task Groups to address specific Irish issues

ASFP Ireland offers Affiliate

membership to those professionals who would like to make a contribution to improved standards and keep abreast of all matters pertinent to passive fire protection technology, regulation, standards and industry guidance

The Importance of Affiliate Membership


Membership isn’t just for Contractors

David O’Reilly

Chairman

Association for Specialist Fire Protection Ireland

North Block The Malt House Grand Canal Quay Dublin 2

Tel: +353 (0) 1 679 1324

E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.asfpireland.ie


This PowerPoint presentation is the copyright of the Association for Specialist Fire Protection

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.asfpireland.ie/

The role of ASFP Ireland - Association for Specialist Fire Protection

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