Background to Regulatory Requirements

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Planning, Prevention and Maintenance Passive
Fire Protection and Evacuation
Presented by - Peter Barker
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Introduction

• Regulatory Reform Fire Safety Order and Passive
  Fire Protection
• and questions being raised........
• Fit for purpose?
• Competence?
• Maintenance?
• Upgrading?
• Test evidence?
• Degradation of performance?

Planning, prevention and maintenance....
...to ensure effective evacuation.
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The Role of Passive Fire Protection

• Part B of Building Regulations
• Provide building occupants with sufficient means
  of escape to
• reach places of safety before the environment
  becomes life
• threatening
• - B1 Means of warning and escape
• - B2 Internal fire spread (linings)
• - B3 Internal fire spread (structure)
• - B4 External fire spread
• - B5 Access and facilities for the fire service

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The Role of Passive Fire Protection

• Section B3 defined as
• Compartmentation
• Passive Fire Protection
• Built In Fire Protection

Addition of services/breaching compartment lines
Maintenance of fire doors
Image source PFPF Guide http//pfpf.org
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Proving the Performance of Passive Fire Protection
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Proving the Performance of Passive Fire Protection

• Performance products tested as complete systems
  under standardised test conditions
• Correct specification and installation is
  critical in order for the element to be able to
  provide its full level of fire resistance
• The element will only provide the full level of
  fire resistance if it is correctly maintained
  (fire doors and compartment lines)
• Hospitals are highly demanding environments with
  requirements for specialist door designs
• Introduction of services is common place in
  hospitals but must not compromise the fire
  resistance of the compartment lines

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Planning, Prevention and Maintenance

• Planning Appropriate products? How to ensure
  correct installation?
• Prevention Preventing/reducing damage
• Maintenance Ensuring an element can perform its
  required function

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Planning

• Specialist performance and design requirements
  CDTM01, lead lining, switch gear, anti-ligature
• Installation of products
• 3rd Party approved contractors and certified
  products

9
Planning 3rd party certification
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Planning 3rd party certification
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Planning common problems
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Planning common problems
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Preventing

• Fire doors subject to constant use and abuse
• Someone will fix it... NHS culture?
• Delayed action closers, hold open devices, soft
  buffers for wheeled equipment

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Maintenance

• PPM inspections
• Training of Estates departments
• 3rd party certification, identification of
  products

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Maintenance common problems

• Replacing glazing systems

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Maintenance common problems
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Maintenance common problems

• Hardware changed and voids not made good

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Maintenance - common problems
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Summary

• Planning
• Plan for products and configurations to be
  appropriate for the location and usage
• 3rd party certified personnel and products
  traceability, ensure performance
• Preventing
• Preventative solutions such as hold open devices
  etc
• Ideally prevent damage from occurring in the
  first place (education to prevent misuse?)
• Maintenance
• Maintain training of estates departments
• 3rd party certified personnel and products
  traceability, ensure performance
• All of the above will help to ensure effective
  evacuation