Industry Alerts

Reaction to fire of wall linings

Collaborative Reporting for Safer Structures UK (CROSS) has published a report relating to reaction to fire classification of wall lining materials, pointing out the importance of understanding the testing regimes required for materials in different applications and how performance will likely be affected by composite panel constructions.  Whilst the technical advice on testing applies to all wall lining products, the reporter here is particularly concerned about the classification of linings in and around freestanding pods which may have been overlooked in the requirements of Building Regulations guidance; Approved Document B due to being considered furniture items, and therefore not assessed for compliance by those responsible for fire safety in the design.

Scope Clarity Essential to Avoid Structural Safety Oversights – Key Lessons from Latest CROSS Report

The latest report published on the CROSS (Collaborative Reporting for Safer Structures) website serves as a timely reminder of the vital importance of clearly defined design responsibilities and scope management on construction projects.

In this case, a scope gap emerged on a residential timber frame project involving houses and apartments. The substructure was designed by a structural engineer, while the superstructure was designed by a specialist timber frame manufacturer. However, no party had assumed design responsibility for the outer leaf brickwork, raising serious safety concerns related to masonry properties, cavity ties, lintels and movement joints.

Addressing Fire Safety: Insights from CROSS Reports on Cladding and Sprinkler Systems

FIS is aware of reports raised through CROSS (Collaborative Reporting for Safer Structures UK) that highlight potential problems that members need to consider regarding passive fire protection implications around cladding and active fire protection implications of sprinklers being deactivated during the construction phase.
The reports can be viewed on the CROSS website using the links below:

Fire barrier requirements in external wall systems | CROSS
Fires involving thermally modified wood | CROSS
Automatic Opening Vents not functional after two cladding remediations | CROSS
Sprinkler system deactivated during construction works | CROSS

CROSS reports potential problems with the application of passive fire protection products

FIS is aware of two recent reports raised through CROSS (Collaborative Reporting for Safer Structures UK) that highlight potential problems with the application of passive fire protection products.

One issue relates to the use on sealants with CPVP pipes (sprinkler pipe) which can apply to fire stopped pipe penetrations whereby the sealant or firestopping product used can cause failures over time which require repair and downtime of the sprinkler system. Additionally, it is possible that these failures could manifest only at such a time where the active fire suppression systems are required, and that the firestopping at the location of the penetration could itself fail in the event of a fire due to a difference between the site condition and the test condition.

FIS has previously published guidance on this which can be found here, and the CROSS report can be found here.

The second report deals with assumptions being made about the fire protection of steel supporting members within fire rated timber joist supporting floors. In these cases steel beams are not being protected with intumescent coating as it is assumed that the fire resistance of the floor encompasses the steel beams despite the absence of test evidence demonstrating this.

The CROSS report can be found here.

CROSS is a confidential reporting system which allows professionals working in the built environment to report on fire and structural safety issues. These are then published anonymously to share lessons learned, create positive change, and improve safety.

CROSS highlights concerns related to supporting constructions under fire doors and screens

FIS is aware of a report raised through CROSS (Collaborative Reporting for Safer Structures UK) that highlights a potential gap in understanding around testing of fire-resistant glazed doors and screens. The particular issue concerns the construction of the threshold in the supporting construction and the incongruence with typical threshold constructions on sites with raised access floors.

The report can be viewed on the CROSS website HERE.

CROSS is a confidential reporting system which allows professionals working in the built environment to report on fire and structural safety issues. These are then published anonymously to share lessons learned, create positive change, and improve safety.