The Association for Specialist Fire Protection Fire Compartmentation Explained (The Who, Why and How of Legislative Compliance) Wilf Butcher, CEO Association for Specialist Fire Protection Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
The ASFP - A brief background history When Originally known as the Association of Structural Fire Protection Contractors and Manufacturers (ASFPCM), the association was formed in 1975 Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
The ASFP - A brief background history Why In recognition of a need to bring together passive fire protection (PFP) manufacturers, contractors and testing/certification bodies to encourage, develop and give guidance on essential standards in PFP. Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
The ASFP - A brief background history In 1996 the Association changed its name to the Association for Specialist Fire Protection To better reflect the diversity of the work then being undertaken in the fields of fire stopping, fire resisting ducting, fire dampers, fire resisting partitions and other elements used for compartmentation Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
The ASFP - A brief background history In 1996 the Association changed its name to the Association for Specialist Fire Protection The Association is responsible for and/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. Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
The ASFP - A brief background history In 2010 the Association formed the Association for Specialist Fire Protection - Ireland To specifically support those responsible for legislation, specification, inspection and installation of passive fire protection throughout Ireland Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
Who is the Association made up of? Today the ASFP and ASFP Ireland are further broadening our membership and remit to reflect and respond to the significant changes and challenges that are taking place at many levels within the PFP sector Manufacturers Contractors Testing and certification bodies and many other associate members Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
The Reality of Fire 2000 years ago life was simple King Herod (74BC-4AD) introduced a law which stated that: ‘ Should a man construct a building which falls down and kills another then this man should be slain ’ . Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
The Reality of Fire Life is a little more complicated today! So just how important are passive fire protection measures in today’s building design! Other than fire fighters few of us have had to face the reality of fire and smoke spread! Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
The Reality of Fire So just how important are passive fire protection measures in today’s building design! Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
The Reality of Fire The answer of course is quite clear, it’s essential! Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
The Reality of Fire Common Conceptions……. • Wood Burns • Structural steel does not collapse in a fire • Concrete is fireproof • Holes are a general maintenance issue • There is always time! ……… Or are they Misconceptions Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
The Reality of Fire Fire damaged buildings can always be rebuilt Their priceless content however will be lost forever Statistically 40% of businesses will be out of business within 12-18 months following a major fire Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
The Reality of Fire Is designing for or building in an appropriate fire solution simply a matter of determining what is suitable and sufficient? Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
The Reality of Fire Is designing for or building in an appropriate fire solution simply a matter of determining what is suitable and sufficient? Or is the route to construction a little more complex! Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
The Reality of Fire Is designing for or building in an appropriate fire solution simply a matter of determining what is suitable and sufficient? Or is the route to construction a little more complex! Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
The Building Regulations Technical Guidance Document B: 2006 Lists the requirements for fire resistance of compartment walls and floors, including any steel passing through the compartment wall/floor. Fire-Stopping 3.4.5 In addition to any other provisions in this document for fire-stopping: (a) joints between elements which serve as a barrier to the passage of fire should be fire-stopped; and (b) all openings for pipes, ducts, conduits or cables to pass through any part of an element which serves as a barrier to the passage of fire should be - (i) kept as few in number as possible, and (ii) kept as small as practicable, and (iii) fire-stopped (which in the case of a pipe or ducts, should allow thermal movement). Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
The Building Regulations Technical Guidance Document B: 2006 This can be the reality! Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
The Building Regulations The England and Wales Building Regulations also state: 3 rd Party Installation Certification ADB 0.20 ‘ .... provide a means of ensuring that installations have been conducted by knowledgeable contractors to appropriate standards, thereby increasing reliability of the anticipated performance in fire’ Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
The Building Regulations 3 rd Party Certification is not mandatory! Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
The Building Regulations But is it all not just common sense? I think I have made my poin t! Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
How does the dictionary define Competency? Skills or knowledge that lead to superior performance The characteristics of a manager, that lead to the demonstration of skills and abilities, which result in effective performance within an organizational area. Sufficiency of knowledge and skills that enable someone to act in a wide variety of situations Capacity to testify in a court of law Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
How do you define the term Competency? Gynaecological Surgeon Plastic Surgeon Heart Surgeon Veterinary Surgeon Question: Who do you want to carry out your triple heart bypass? Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
How does Wikipedia define Competency? Wikipedia is quite succinct The ability of an individual to do a job properly! Clearly this is not! Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
How does Wikipedia define Competency? But is this? Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
How does Wikipedia define Competency? Or these? Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
How does Wikipedia define Competency? Or these? Just because it may look right does not necessarily make it so! Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
Fire protection is not rocket science It does what it says on the tin Depth Width mm mm 10 20 30 40 50 10 280 140 93 70 56 20 140 70 46 35 28 30 93 46 31 23 18 40 70 35 23 17 14 50 56 28 18 14 11 Up to 4hrs fire rating But only in the right context Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
In reality standards in Passive Fire Protection can vary significantly Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
So what does all this mean in practice? So what does all this mean in practice? Understanding where and how a fire stopping measure can be used is absolutely essential to its performance Time to failure? 9 minutes! Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
So what does all this mean in practice? So what does all this mean in practice? Understanding where and how a fire stopping measure can be used is absolutely essential to its performance Remember this? Time to failure? 4 minutes! Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
The responsibility is yours FIRE AND YOUR LEGAL LIABILITY If you are involved in provision of fire protection, at any level, then you share liability for its usefulness and its operation when it’s needed in fire, and that liability will still be there in the event of a court case. If it is your responsibility to specify the materials and/or appoint the installation contractor, it is also your responsibility to ensure that they can prove competency for the fire protection materials used, or the works to be carried out. It’s no longer simply a duty of care or voluntary – it’s a legal obligation. Pioneering fire protection through innovation and professionalism
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