Why: To address concerns raised through Collaborative Reporting for Safer Structures UK (CROSS-UK), FIS has developed guidance to highlight compartmentation requirements when specifying raised access floors (RAF).
What: Guidance recognises that fire resistance testing is typically carried out under standardised conditions to assess the performance of building components when exposed to fire. For passive fire protection systems such as glazed fire screens and door sets, these tests are generally conducted with specimens fixed at the base to concrete linings or block. The test relies on a stable, non-combustible substrate that performs predictably under fire exposure as a base, creating limitations when applied to scenarios where the screen or doorset sits on a raised access floor. The guidance also explores sequencing and when to maintain the integrity of a drywall system that interrupts the raised access flooring.
The inability to identify and mitigate risk at the appropriate stage of design, could present a challenge in getting approval through building control and in extreme cases could compromise safety.
Who: This guidance is targeted at specifiers, designers and contractors.
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Prepared by the FIS Partitions & Pods Working Group