by Iain McIlwee | 14 Nov, 2024 | Building Safety Act, Skills, Technical
Two new training courses have been added this week to the FIS e-Learning Hub. The courses aim to support members in managing individual competence associated with key package areas.
The first course is the Firestopping of service penetrations: Best Practice. The aim of this course is to assist in the design, specification and installation of building services penetrations to ensure fire compartmentation is maintained, five leading not-for-profit organisations have been involved in the development of the Guide on which this course is based. The aim of the course is to encourage early consideration of firestopping design in order to avoid problems at a later stage in construction. It is not an installation course but guidance to a good practice approach. The training is broken down to provide information on actions that should be carried out during each of the stages, one to seven, as defined in the RIBA Plan of Work.
The second course is a new interactive Pre-Construction Guide to Drylining. The course has been pulled together from decades of experience and focuses on the lead-up to commencing installation works. It highlights how to check bids and tenders for compliance, understand time requirements and site conditions, and ensure the design information is sufficient and fit for purpose.
Both courses are available freely to FIS members and CPD certificates will be issued on completion.
Speaking on the launch of these courses at the AGM on 7 November, FIS President Ian Strangward said:
“The bank of knowledge which FIS has built is impressive – we now need to make sure that we are not just a font of knowledge, but a modern information provider. It is not good enough to just have information available, we must work smarter to ensure it is used – getting to the right people in the right way. Our e-Learning Hub is going to be key. The first course we put up “an Introduction to the Building Safety Act” has been a great start, several hundred people have already completed the course and feedback has been very positive. In these next courses, “Firestopping of service penetrations: Best Practice” and particularly, our “Pre-construction guide to drylining” you will see progress in the quality of delivery. Now we have a process, you will be seeing a regular flow of new courses targeting vital interventions, job titles and knowledge gaps”
Click here for more information on how to register on these courses
by Iain McIlwee | 13 Nov, 2024 | Building Safety Act, Technical
The Fire Wall Labelling campaign launched in 2023 has had a refresh this month with a new web area established to help promote the campaign. The fire wall labelling initiative aims to help identify fire walls and provide instant guidance on what to do when passing cables and pipes through the compartment.
Last year Finishes and Interior Sector (FIS), Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP), and Gypsum Products Development Association (GPDA) joined forces to create this free to use labelling scheme that warns of the dangers of passing cables and pipes through compartment walls (Fire Walls).
The Fire Wall label is a simple and visual way of ensuring that those that could undermine the fire integrity of a wall to realise that it isn’t just a wall, but it is a Fire Wall. The label provides instant guidance via a QR code on what to do when considering whether and how to pass cables and pipes through compartment walls. It runs through a simple STOP, THINK, PLAN, CHECK and RECORD process and provides links to best practice guidance that will help ensure that safety is not undermined.
The initiative was endorsed by the Construction Leadership Council in their report Creating Safe Buildings Delivering safety, competence and quality as an example of best practice in the sector.
The new web area that includes supporting resources and FREELY downloadable label templates can be accessed here.
by Oscar Venus | 11 Oct, 2024 | Health and Safety, Technical
A recent safety report from Collaborative Reporting for Safer Structures UK (CROSS) has highlighted a consideration for contractors around the design of moment connections in staircase stringers that have be under designed. Mandatory occurrence reporting procedures that are required under the building safety act in higher risk buildings demand that anyone on site report issues whenever and wherever we see them, and this could be crucial where a specialist sub-contractor has any interfacing works or is responsible for elements that conceal or clad these details.
Ensuring that all parties involved in the construction and design process are aware of their responsibilities is essential for maintaining safety standards. This includes conducting thorough inspections and collaborating closely with design engineers to verify that all moment connections are correctly specified and installed. It also emphasises the importance of continuous training and communication among team members to recognise and address potential risks before they escalate into safety hazards.
Moreover, the report underscores the value of fostering a culture of transparency and accountability, where every worker feels empowered to voice concerns without fear of repercussions. By doing so, the industry can work towards a safer built environment, minimising the likelihood of structural failures and ensuring the well-being of all building occupants.
In light of these findings, contractors and subcontractors should prioritise regular audits of design specifications and site practices, ensuring compliance with safety regulations and adapting to emerging challenges with agility and diligence
by Iain McIlwee | 27 Sep, 2024 | Technical
Conducted in the run up to Fire Door Safety Week, a survey of 2,000 adults found that despite an 18% increase in fires across NHS trusts—averaging nearly four fires daily—52% of people still consider hospitals the safest due to their fire prevention measures.[1]
The survey, conducted as part of this year’s Fire Door Safety Week campaign (organised by the British Woodworking Federation), which runs from 23rd – 27th September, focuses on the theme ‘A False Sense of Safety’. The campaign aims to bridge the gap between perceived safety and actual fire risk, encouraging the public to engage in fire safety awareness and report any fire door issues, regardless of location or the assumption that fire safety is someone else’s responsibility.
When asked about fire safety in other buildings, 36% of respondents considered schools to be as safe as hospitals and 26% felt the same about care homes. This contrasts with recent reports from the East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service where two care home directors were fined nearly £125,000 for multiple fire safety violations, which included defective fire doors and a lack of detection equipment and alarms, across four premises.[2]
Helen Hewitt, CEO of the British Woodworking Federation (BWF) that manages and funds Fire Door Safety Week, said, “Our latest research shows that people often have a greater sense of fire safety in buildings like schools and hospitals. Regardless of where you are, it is crucial to be aware of fire safety measures, such as emergency exits and fire doors, because the risk of fire is present in any building.”
When considering building safety, emergency exits were cited as the most important factor in feeling safe by 75% of respondents, followed closely by visible fire safety measures, including alarms and fire doors (70%). Additionally, 46% of respondents said they always or often notice fire doors in the buildings they visit. Regarding the buildings where respondents believed fire doors are well-maintained, 47% felt that fire doors in public buildings, such as hospitals and cafes, are properly maintained.
The survey also found that 29% of people would not report a fire door issue because they would not know who to contact, despite 74% saying they would report a door that appeared damaged. Concerningly, this is a decline from last year’s campaign, ‘Recognise it, Report it’, where 86% said they would report a faulty or propped-open fire door. For unresolved fire safety concerns, 43% would escalate the issue to the Health and Safety Executive, while 5% would not escalate it at all, and 14% did not know who they would escalate it to.
Helen added, “Fire doors are crucial in preventing the spread of fire and smoke. It’s encouraging that more people are noticing fire doors in the buildings they visit, but there’s still work to be done to ensure people feel confident in spotting and reporting fire door issues. Knowing who to report these problems to is key—start with the premises manager or owner, and escalate unresolved issues as needed. With the correct information, we can all contribute to maintaining fire safety.”
Fire doors require expert maintenance to remain effective. However, 29% of respondents would trust management and 27% would trust the building owner to handle fire door issues, while 13% would trust a handyman and 19% a caretaker. For fire doors to function correctly, they must be installed and maintained by a competent, trained professional.
Gavin Tomlinson, Protection and Business Safety Scrutiny Committee Chair of the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC), said: “Fire doors are an essential feature in most buildings, helping to protect both occupants and responding firefighters in the event of a fire. When well-fitted and properly maintained, fire doors provide vital protection against the spread of fire within buildings. While legislation requires those responsible for fire safety to have arrangements for testing and maintaining fire safety measures, people should feel safe in the buildings they visit or work in, and they should feel empowered to report faults and raise concerns, particularly those related to fire doors.”
Discussing the ongoing importance of Fire Door Safety Week, Helen Hewitt commented: “This campaign raises awareness of the critical role fire doors play in saving lives. The support we receive each year from individuals and businesses helps us spread this important message.”
For more information and an amazing set of fire door safety resources visit:
www.firedoorsafetyweek.co.uk
On Fire Door Safety Week 2024, FIS launched the Walls as a System document which has been developed by a collaboration of trade bodies and technical experts and looks at the design and build of wall systems, including integration of doors. To download a copy of the guide click here.
by Clair Mooney | 27 Sep, 2024 | Technical
FIS has launched a new Best Practice Guide – Walls as a System – to help specifiers, designers, installers and building owners ensure compatibility of compliant test evidence across building components assembled into larger supersystems.
The guide addresses a critical issue in modern construction: the tendency to design and specify building components in isolation, without considering how they interact as part of larger systems. By introducing the concept of ‘Walls as a System’, FIS is promoting a more holistic approach to building design and construction, ensuring interfaces, penetrations, glazing and doors have compatible and compliant test evidence.
Developed with input from technical experts and wider group of peer reviewers across the sector, including ASDMA, DHF, GIRI, GAI, GPDA and PFKG, this guide represents a collaborative effort to provide clear, relevant, and concise design guidance. It aligns with the RIBA Plan of Work and the Building Safety Act Gateways for Higher Risk Buildings, emphasising early engagement with manufacturers and contractors.
This new guide highlights the importance of early planning and clear communication in the design process. It introduces the term ‘fire wall’ to emphasise the critical protective function of certain walls, aligning with existing terms like fire doors and fire glass. The guide includes up to date guidance on maintaining the compartment lines below raised access floors and above glazed fire walls with drop bulkheads, as well as addressing how the imposed load from the walls, glazing and doors will be supported. The appendix includes a list of all relevant standards and a list of further reading.
Commenting on the guide, Iain McIlwee, Chief Executive of FIS said: “This new walls as a system guide represents a significant step forward in how we approach wall design and construction. By considering walls as integrated systems, we can enhance building safety, performance and compliance across the industry.
“It shows the sector coming together to provide clear, relevant and concise guidance. The core message being early engagement with manufacturers and contractors to ensure that what is designed can be compliantly delivered.”
The Guide was launched during Fire Door Safety Week 2024 and covers the incorporation of Doors in Dry lining partitioning and fire resistant walls.
You can download the Best Practice Guide – Walls as a System at https://www.thefis.org/membership-hub/publications/best-practice-guides/walls-as-a-system
For further information or for any questions please contact the FIS at info@thefis.org or call 0121 707 0077.
by Clair Mooney | 12 Sep, 2024 | Ceilings & Absorbers, Technical
A recent safety report from Collaborative Reporting for Safer Structures UK (CROSS) has highlighted the importance of considering reaction to fire performance in discontinuous ceiling and baffle products. Often these products may offer excellent sound absorption properties using PET or similar materials which can contribute to the development of a fire and therefore may require a classification in accordance with BS EN 13501-1 that aligns with the guidance in Approved Document B or other specified fire strategy.
Reaction to fire classification is derived from tests against a number of standards that vary in applicability between materials and applications so make sure to check with the manufacturer before specifying that the evidence provided is representative of the product in its installed application.
The full report can be read here.
