FPA Commercial Director Chris Miles considers the compliance of construction products and the impact the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 report will have on this sector In the first article in this series, entitled ‘Inquiry Phase 2 Response – Time for change’, Dr Gavin Dunn takes a wide view of the
Promat has appointed a new fire test manager for the UK market, underlining its commitment to the very highest standards in fire testing classification and certification. The introduction of the Building Safety Act has increased demand for clarity on exactly how and where passive fire protection products can be used.
Leading installer of passive fire barriers, Injecta Fire Barrier, are currently delivering a remediation project for a student accommodation building in Nottingham to improve fire safety and meet new legislation. Using the patented Injectaclad system, Injecta Fire Barrier are installing cavity barriers between student’s apartment in compliance with the latest
Yesterday’s publication of the final report of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry is a long-awaited milestone in the response to the tragic loss of 72 lives in June 2017. It is another difficult and traumatic moment for the bereaved, the survivors and relatives of the Grenfell Tower victims and the Construction
Fire safety supplier CheckFire announces the launch of the Commander Wireless Site Alarm, the latest addition to its renowned Commander Site Alarm range. Following the successful release of the original Commander Single Site Alarm last year, this new wireless version, model number EE-AL-002-SIT, represents a significant advancement in fire safety
Mike Brodie, Managing Director of Chemstore UK, outlines the critical differences between fire-rated and fire-resistant storage and emphasises the importance of correctly distinguishing between them. As the UK experiences increasingly extreme weather patterns and record-breaking temperatures, the importance of proper fire safety measures has never been more critical. With rising
The Passive Fire Knowledge Group (PFKG) and The Get It Right Initiative (GIRI) have announced their intention to work together to improve safety and construction practices by sharing knowledge, exchanging ideas, and promoting each other’s aims and objectives. This collaboration brings together the specialised focus of the PFKG on passive
Passive Fire Protection manufacturer FSi Promat has secured Code for Construction Product Information (CCPI) verification for its Silverliner open state cavity barriers, underlining its commitment to supporting the highest standards in the construction industry. The fire stopping and cavity barrier specialist has successfully demonstrated that its Silverliner range of open state
An interlinked fire and carbon monoxide alarm system played a vital role in saving the life of a tenant living in a social housing property in Scotland. Neighbours were alerted to the fire in Dalkeith, near Edinburgh, when home safety specialist Aico’s multi-sensor alarm was activated and began to sound.
A £5 million project to replace cladding and improve fire safety at a 74-home central London development has now been completed. The works at Barrington Court in Victoria form part of A2Dominion’s wider programme to remediate cladding at a total of 65 developments to ensure they meet new government safety
BDC 322 : Nov 2024
FPA Commercial Director Chris Miles considers the compliance of construction products and the impact the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 report will have on this sector In the first article in this series, entitled ‘Inquiry Phase 2 Response – Time for change’, Dr Gavin Dunn takes a wide view of the content and implications of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 report. It is worth (re)reading to enable the following article to be contextualised. One of the key areas that the Inquiry Phase 2 report looks at in some depth is that of the compliance of construction products and systems and how the process can be improved, noting that using relevant, robust standards is essential. This article will look at the current process, some of the issues identified in the report and progress made in improving it, and will then examine ways in which the recommendations made in the Phase 2 report can be implemented. There are multiple elements to the compliance of products and systems, including how the process is governed and regulated, and the report includes a number of recommendations related to this. Some of the elements forming the recommendations in the report include: Current compliance If we look at the various routes to compliance that are currently available to the construction product industry we find multiple options – e.g. testing by the manufacturer/supplier, independent testing by a third party, sampling of products from the market (surveillance), and third party product certification. Whilst the third-party product certification route is often seen as the highest current level, there are variations between the providers offering various qualities such as user-friendliness, locality, project/market needs, costs, and turnaround time. However, the Inquiry report showed that too often the need for quality and thoroughness were a lower consideration when selecting which option was to be used. Analysis of the lead up to the Grenfell Tower fire by the Inquiry showed that examples of poor practice in the compliance processes led to inappropriate products, critical to the safety performance of the system, ended up on the building, namely the use of aluminium composite material (ACM) cladding. The Inquiry report states that: “The choice of combustible materials for the cladding of Grenfell Tower resulted from a series of errors caused by the incompetence of the organisations and individuals involved in the refurbishment… “Everyone involved in the choice of the materials to be used in the external wall thought that responsibility for their suitability and safety lay with someone else.” These issues can be shown to stem from a weak governance of the system that the testing laboratories and certification bodies operated under. This demonstrates that the governance of the compliance process is critical to an effective system. Applying recommendations The Inquiry report provides a clear recommendation that the construction regulator should be responsible for assessing the conformity of construction products with the requirements of legislation, statutory guidance, and industry standards. The regulator would then, perhaps, issue certificates to cover products, as appropriate, with a proposal that these certificates would become pre-eminent in the market. This would, in effect, create a new independent authority to regulate construction product safety (see figure 1), and whoever takes on this task must ensure there are clear responsibilities on product manufacturers and must also set out the consequences of acting outside the required system. To give this system real teeth, it must have the ability to set statutory liabilities and be able to enforce them through criminal proceedings if necessary. To improve the system overall it is important to have this recourse to legal action if a company or individual does not follow the proscribed system. If a serious mechanical failure occurred on an aeroplane, there would be a thorough investigation as a matter of course, and where fault was found there would be statutory implications. However, currently none of that happens routinely with construction products. This needs to change and it will need government and legislative support as part of their response to the Inquiry report recommendations. It should be noted however, that taking on the role of construction products regulator is a huge task and one which should not be undertaken lightly by any organisation, even by government. There are hundreds of certificates produced each month by the various current certification bodies and, as a response to the events at Grenfell and the subsequent Hackitt report, these numbers have grown significantly in the past seven years as the authorities started asking for more proof of compliance. To replace and/or replicate this through a newly founded construction products regulator will be a major undertaking requiring significant investment. If government decide that this is the way forward they wish to take, they will need to ensure this new body has access to sufficient numbers of competent staff in an area where we are all aware of the current lack of this type of resource. Therefore to rush into this could be a major mis-step and cause delay and confusion at a time when the construction sector as a whole is looking for clarity after the Inquiry report’s publication. The Inquiry Phase 2 report recommendations under section 113.23 are: Looking at each of these points individually highlights the difficulties faced when trying to implement a system to meet these recommendations. Recommendation 113.23a recommends that copies of all test reports supporting any certificate issued by the construction regulator are included, however product manufacturers will often go through numerous test cycles during the R&D process of a product or system. Many of these test reports do not represent the final product and are used to prove variations in the design. This will result in a large number of failed results showing on the certificate for prototypes that may bear little resemblance to the final product to be sold on the market. If these R&D results are included in a certificate they could be a red herring, confusing potential product users as to the ultimate safety of a product or system. This may in
Promat has appointed a new fire test manager for the UK market, underlining its commitment to the very highest standards in fire testing classification and certification. The introduction of the Building Safety Act has increased demand for clarity on exactly how and where passive fire protection products can be used. Promat already has the industry’s most extensive testing database and the appointment of Dan Gibson will further strengthen this. His role will see him co-ordinate testing activities across the Promat business to ensure test data is available for an expanded range of applications – in turn acting as a key source of data for those designing and carrying out construction projects. Dan will also offer bespoke support for larger projects, helping to demonstrate that products meet the required safety and compliance standards for the intended application. With a background in fire testing, Dan is looking forward to working with Promat to further demonstrate the capabilities of its systems in a range of applications across construction projects. He said: “Following the introduction of the Building Safety Act the demand for clear, demonstrated fire testing certification is stronger than ever. The commitment to standards at Promat is impressive and I look forward to working closely with the product development teams to fully demonstrate the capabilities of Promat’s products.” Technical Director Nigel Morrey said: “Promat is committed to delivering tested systems that have the transparency, detail and level of performance needed to give architects, specifiers and contractors the confidence they need in a life critical product. “Rigorous testing is essential to demonstrating compliance and performance, and Dan will play an important role in organising fire tests and liaising with testing laboratories and certification bodies.” Promat is a leading manufacturer of passive fire protection systems that are an essential part of building design to help contain the spread of fire to allow occupants time to escape, and protect the integrity of the building and assets within it Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Leading installer of passive fire barriers, Injecta Fire Barrier, are currently delivering a remediation project for a student accommodation building in Nottingham to improve fire safety and meet new legislation. Using the patented Injectaclad system, Injecta Fire Barrier are installing cavity barriers between student’s apartment in compliance with the latest building regulations detailed in the Fire Safety Act (2021) and Building Safety Act (2022). By avoiding replacement of the external façade, Injecta Fire Barrier are significantly reducing both the project costs and the installation time, ensuring the new class of 2024 will be safe. “With project completion expected this November, our team are delivering the Injectaclad system in the high-rise structure with minimal disruption or external amendments. With passive fire barriers installed, the property owner can ensure the future academics of Nottingham are protected with enhanced fire safety in their students digs” says Shaun Tasker, Managing Director at Injecta Fire Barrier. Injectaclad is a fire-retardant sealant that can be seamlessly inserted into a building’s vertical or horizontal cavities to slow the spread of flames and smoke. With its simple installation process, cavity fire barriers like Injectaclad are offering property owners a more cost-effective solution to fire safety in high-rise structures. To install Injectaclad, the Injecta Fire Barrier team pump the solution into mesh socks that are then inserted in horizontal cavities that divide each apartment floor. After installation, Injectaclad will provide passive fire protection for the building for over 25 years. “Injectaclad is an intumescent material, meaning it reacts to heat by expanding approximately 20 times its original volume. This expansion fills any gaps and contains the fire and smoke, meaning the occupants of the Nottingham building will have more time to exit safely in the event of fire” adds Shaun. Following the Grenfell fire disaster, the Fire Safety Act was brought in to place in 2021 and made it compulsory for buildings over 18 metres high to comply with correct fire safety measures. These legislations have led to more building owners, like the student accommodation in Nottingham, to seek regulatory-compliant safety measures to protect their tenants from fire while minimising costs and disruption. Following the Grenfell Inquiry’s final report in September 2024, pressure has mounted with more UK high-rises being investigated for lacklustre or non-existent fire preventions. “With responsibilities for fire safety increasing, we recommend that that property-owners and contractors act before it’s too late. And, when major renovations to the building’s façade aren’t viable, to consider passive fire barriers for a safe and cost-effective alternative” concludes Shaun. Injecta Fire Barrier are the UK’s first independent approved installer of the patented Injectaclad system. With years of experience in passive fire protection, the company are helping property managers and building owners install the Injectaclad solution. More information about Injecta Fire Barrier can be found at: https://injectafirebarrier.com/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Yesterday’s publication of the final report of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry is a long-awaited milestone in the response to the tragic loss of 72 lives in June 2017. It is another difficult and traumatic moment for the bereaved, the survivors and relatives of the Grenfell Tower victims and the Construction Industry Council (CIC) recognises once again all that they have suffered and we extend our sympathy once more to all the victims. Sir Martin Moore Bick has made many recommendations for further action in the report, based on a careful analysis of the evidence presented to the Inquiry by hundreds of witnesses and in hundreds of thousands of documents. CIC and its member organisations are now reviewing the full report and its recommendations and carefully considering the further actions that we will need to take. Whilst much work has already been done through the independent review of building regulations and fire safety undertaken by Dame Judith Hackitt and the consequent programme of regulatory reform that has been introduced and which the industry is working hard to implement, Sir Martin has clearly identified several further matters that require attention and CIC will be working with its members, the wider industry and government to develop appropriate responses to those matters, ensuring that they are given the critical and expedient attention that they demand. It will take time to give the thought and consideration that the report requires and for the action that is needed to address the various recommendations Sir Martin has brought forward. It is essential that government and the construction sector recognise the findings he has reported and that we learn the lessons and continue to respond to create an industry and a culture where safety, competence and compliance with the law is an absolute priority. Only then will public trust in the sector be restored. CIC believes that every construction professional should fully familiarise themselves with the report and its recommendations, and we will work closely with our members to facilitate this process as we develop an appropriate detailed response to the report. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Fire safety supplier CheckFire announces the launch of the Commander Wireless Site Alarm, the latest addition to its renowned Commander Site Alarm range. Following the successful release of the original Commander Single Site Alarm last year, this new wireless version, model number EE-AL-002-SIT, represents a significant advancement in fire safety technology. Building on the reliability and effectiveness of the original push-button Commander Single Site Alarm (EE-AL-001-SIT), the new wireless model offers enhanced connectivity, allowing up to 20 units to be linked within a 100-metre range in open air, depending on the environment in which the alarms are installed. For example, heavy obstruction in between units can cause the signal to weaken. CheckFire recommends that range tests are carried out first to ensure the positioning of the alarms is suitable. Key features of the Commander Wireless Site Alarm include: To complement the new Commander Wireless Site Alarm, CheckFire will offer bundles that include the Flat-Pack Construction Stand range. Additionally, there will be multi-pack bundle options for the wireless alarm, providing cost-effective solutions for large-scale implementations. Toria Jones, head of marketing at CheckFire, commented: ‘We are thrilled to introduce the Commander Wireless Site Alarm. This innovation not only enhances connectivity and coverage but also reinforces our commitment to protecting people and property across diverse industries. It’s a robust, reliable solution tailored to meet the evolving needs of our customers.’” CheckFire remains committed to advancing fire safety technology and providing innovative solutions that protect people, property, and assets. The introduction of the Commander Wireless Site Alarm marks a significant step forward in this mission. For more information about the Commander Wireless Site Alarm, please visit CheckFire’s website. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Mike Brodie, Managing Director of Chemstore UK, outlines the critical differences between fire-rated and fire-resistant storage and emphasises the importance of correctly distinguishing between them. As the UK experiences increasingly extreme weather patterns and record-breaking temperatures, the importance of proper fire safety measures has never been more critical. With rising temperatures and heatwaves becoming more frequent, the risks associated with improper storage of flammable materials are amplified. This makes it imperative to understand the difference between fire rated and fire-resistant storage, as the consequences of getting it wrong can be devastating. When it comes to protecting valuable or hazardous items, the terms “fire-rated” and “fire-resistant” are often used interchangeably. This common misunderstanding can lead to dangerous consequences, especially when products that require fire rated storage are mistakenly placed in less effective fire-resistant units. To avoid these pitfalls, it’s crucial to understand the differences between the two and why choosing fire-rated storage from trusted experts like Chemstore is essential. Understanding Fire Rated vs. Fire Resistant Storage The confusion often starts with the assumption that “fire-rated” and “fire-resistant” are synonymous. Many believe that a fire rating simply means the storage unit can stop the passage of flames. However, the reality is more complex, especially when safety is on the line. Fire-resistant storage typically refers to materials or structures that can physically resist the passage of flames but this falls well short of the rigorous standards required for fire-rated storage. Fire-rated storage, is designed to not only resist passage of flames but also to control the internal temperature of a storage module, preventing thermal heat transfer that could ignite the contents within. According to HS(G)51, an essential guideline on fire safety in the workplace, fire walls (and by extension, fire rated storage units) must be imperforate and provide a minimum of 30 minutes of fire resistance in terms of integrity, insulation, and load-bearing capacity where applicable. This means that a fire-rated storage unit must be capable of maintaining its structural integrity, insulating against heat, and bearing loads even under intense fire conditions. In terms of spotting the difference between a fire-resistant panel and a fire-rated panel, a fire-resistant panel made of single sheet steel is thin, smooth, and solid, often with a shiny or matte finish but lacking visible insulation. Its primary function is to resist flames, but it provides minimal insulation and may warp or fail under intense heat. In contrast, a fire-rated panel featuring non-combustible insulation such as Rockwool is much bulkier, with insulating material encased between protective layers. This panel offers superior structural integrity and high insulation performance, effectively delaying heat transfer and maintaining a barrier against flames for extended periods. The key differences are in thickness and construction, which impact how each panel performs in fire situations. The importance of temperature control in fire-rated units One of the critical benefits of a fire-rated storage unit is its ability to control the temperature inside the unit. This feature is often overlooked but is vital in scenarios where the stored materials are sensitive to heat. In the case of highly flammable substances or lithium-ion batteries, even a slight increase in temperature can lead to disastrous outcomes. The assumption that stopping flames is enough to protect the contents of a storage unit can lead to tragic mistakes. For instance, a single-skin metal box, which many mistakenly believe to be fire-rated, offers minimal insulation. In direct sunlight or during a fire, such a box can act like an oven, leading to the overheating and possible ignition of the materials inside. This risk is especially pronounced during hot weather when ambient temperatures can already push the limits of what stored items can safely endure. It is good practice to maintain lithium-ion batteries at 19°C ±1.5°C to maximise safety yet is not possible for a single skin storage module to provide this level of environmental control as it will consistently overheat and freeze throughout the year. The dangers of mislabelling and the importance of expert advice A significant issue in the UK market is the influx of products labelled as “fire-rated” without meeting the necessary standards. Many of these products are sold based on the misconception that fire rating merely involves preventing flames from passing through. This misunderstanding can lead to businesses and individuals purchasing storage solutions that are woefully inadequate for their needs. The consequences of using improperly rated storage can be severe. In the event of a fire, a unit that does not provide sufficient insulation and temperature control can allow heat to build up inside, potentially causing primary containers to fail and lead to the release of harmful fumes, or the destruction of critical materials. To ensure safety, it’s imperative to purchase fire-rated storage from trusted experts like Chemstore. We are a BSIF Registered Safety Supplier and our products are designed and tested to meet the rigorous requirements set out in HS(G)51, ensuring that you have the highest level of protection. Conclusion Understanding the difference between fire rated and fire-resistant storage is not just a matter of semantics—it’s a matter of safety. In scenarios where the contents of a storage unit are sensitive to heat or flammable, relying on inadequate storage can lead to catastrophic consequences. By choosing fire rated storage solutions from reputable providers like Chemstore, you can ensure that your materials are protected not just from flames, but from the heat that can be just as deadly. Don’t take risks with fire safety; understand what you’re buying and why it matters. For more information, visit www.chemstore.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The Passive Fire Knowledge Group (PFKG) and The Get It Right Initiative (GIRI) have announced their intention to work together to improve safety and construction practices by sharing knowledge, exchanging ideas, and promoting each other’s aims and objectives. This collaboration brings together the specialised focus of the PFKG on passive fire protection with GIRI’s broader based approach to improving construction practices and eliminating errors. PFKG, established in 2022, is a unique non-for-profit collaboration comprising contractors, consultants, and relevant trade associations. Its mission is to improve the delivery of well designed, specified and installed passive fire protection by focusing on three key areas: Process, Testing and Education. Formed in 2015, GIRI is a group of over 100 leading UK construction industry experts, organisations and businesses actively improving productivity, quality, sustainability and safety in the construction sector by eliminating error. Passive fire protection (PFP), also sometimes referred to as ‘built-in’ fire protection, are those components, materials or systems that integrate with the fabric of the building. PFP comprises many different product and system categories including structural steel fire protection, compartment walls and floors, fire doors, fire resisting dampers and ductwork, and firestopping (service penetration seals, linear joint seals, and cavity barriers). It is a critical fire element of fire safety in buildings which continues to place demands on the construction industry. Commenting on the new collaboration, Cliff Smith, Executive Director at the Get It Right Initiative (GIRI), said: “The construction industry is navigating wholesale changes that have come through the Building Safety Act, with more rigorous standards and regulation at every stage of the development lifecycle. “Through the GIRI Design Guide and our Building Safety Act working group, GIRI is working across the industry to meet these requirements and keep people safe through a common culture of getting things right first time. This collaboration with the PFKG will enable us to highlight the critical importance of addressing fire safety, using our collective expertise to increase the focus on this high priority issue.” Will Pitt and Joe Cilia, Joint Chairs of the Passive Fire Knowledge Group (PFKG) said: “Passive Fire Protection is often a key interface between the architecture, structure and building engineering services and getting it right first time requires careful consideration and planning especially at early design stages. “It is clear to us that GIRI shares similar aims and objectives and by working more closely together, we can help amplify each other’s message.” The PFKG and GIRI will collaborate and share best practice guidance including design guidance, quality alerts, knowledge sharing webinars and events. The PFKG continues to produce peer-reviewed knowledge shares covering a wide range of subjects associated with the design, specification and installation of Passive Fire Protection systems. To find out more information about the Passive Fire Knowledge Group (PFKG) visit www.pfkg.org To find out more information about the Get It Right Initiative (GIRI) visit https://getitright.uk.com Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Passive Fire Protection manufacturer FSi Promat has secured Code for Construction Product Information (CCPI) verification for its Silverliner open state cavity barriers, underlining its commitment to supporting the highest standards in the construction industry. The fire stopping and cavity barrier specialist has successfully demonstrated that its Silverliner range of open state cavity barriers is compliant with the code, which aims to improve standards across the construction industry by ensuring that ‘product information is clear, accurate, accessible, up-to-date and unambiguous’. In offering the CCPI-verified product set, FSi Promat can assure specifiers, contractors and installers that all the information around the cavity barriers is clear, transparent and easy to understand. The code further stipulates that technical information and support should be easily accessible, and that information is supplied by a representative who has received adequate training and demonstrates competency in their knowledge of the system. Introduced by the Construction Product Association (CPA) following the recommendations of the Hackitt Review to raise standards across the industry, the CCPI aims to protect the market for certified products and reinstate trust through ensuring construction processes are as safe and robust as possible. FSi Promat’s Silverliner open state cavity barriers are designed to reinstate the lines of compartmentation within an external façade system, when required, yet allow for the free movement of air to satisfy ventilation requirements. In the event of a fire the intumescent edge of the barrier expands to close the air gap to prevent the spread of fire and heat from one area to another. The time frame within which this contains a fire is vital to allow anyone inside the building to move to a place of safety. Liam Blears, Head of Facades at FSi Promat, said: “Life critical safety products by their very nature must meet the highest performance standards. FSi Promat is dedicated to meeting and exceeding the requirements of fire and safety regulations, and very much welcomes the introduction of the CCPI to help to enforce standards and build trust. “We also understand this needs to be supported by clarity in the messaging around appropriate use and installation – and have built this into our systems and the information around them. “All of our products are third party tested and supported by qualified technical advisors, as we have always believed this is the route to sustain best practice. All key members of the FSi Promat team are qualified to, or working towards, IFE Level 3 to demonstrate competency and we offer training across all of our products. “With the CCPI verification of this product set we are delighted to offer a highly regarded level of compliance in addition to the robust testing and certification systems we have in place at FSi Promat.” Find out more about the Silverliner range of cavity barriers online. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
An interlinked fire and carbon monoxide alarm system played a vital role in saving the life of a tenant living in a social housing property in Scotland. Neighbours were alerted to the fire in Dalkeith, near Edinburgh, when home safety specialist Aico’s multi-sensor alarm was activated and began to sound. While the resident was initially unable to respond, neighbours who heard the alarms through the wall were able to wake them so they could get to safety. The fire started in the main bedroom of the property, which is owned by Melville Housing Association, whilst the occupant slept downstairs. The flames moved quickly through to the upstairs hallway and activated alarms which were interlinked and located throughout the property. Due to the AudioLINK+ function on the Aico alarms, the landlord was able to review the data following the incident, which showed a peak temperature within the home of 102C, with carbon monoxide levels of 450ppm (parts per million) – nine times the safe limit. David Todd, Property Manager for Melville Housing Association, said: “After speaking with the fire service, neighbours and the tenants of the property, it’s clear that the smoke and heat detection is very likely to have saved the occupant’s life. “The fire started in the upstairs of the property with all alarms sounding due to being interlinked. “The occupant, who has complex needs, was unable to recognise the dangers, however neighbours alerted him by banging on the door and signalling through the window. “Thankfully, the occupant was ushered away to safety and is now fine. “The neighbours were alerted due to the noise from the alarms themselves. “With us being able to take readings off the smoke alarms, which showed temperatures of over 100C and carbon monoxide being nine times the safe limit, it left us in no doubt that the alarms were working, did their job, and played a significant part in keeping everyone safe. “The law on fire alarms means all Scottish homes need to have interlinked alarms, which this incident has proved is very important.” Neal Hooper, Managing Director at Aico, said: “Lives were saved, which is the most important thing. This really brings home the importance of life safety and of having things in your home which give you peace of mind every time you go to bed. “If the alarms had not alerted the neighbours and, ultimately, the tenants, a tragedy would surely have occurred. Instead, everyone was evacuated from the property and did not come to any lasting harm. “Fire and carbon monoxide alarms are critical life safety devices and this example, along with many others, is testament to the hard work and dedication we give to our products to ensure they perform as expected when they are needed. “Too often people will wait until there is increased legislation and regulation before they are forced into taking life safety seriously. We do need better and clear legislation, but at the same time there are relatively inexpensive options which can be fitted to give you peace of mind.” All Aico alarms are manufactured in-house, and each alarm is individually tested multiple times before it leaves the factory. “This incident illustrates the importance of everyone having working, compliant smoke alarm and CO systems in their home. “People often think nothing like this will happen to them, but it can, and it’s important to stress to regularly test all of their alarms to make sure they’re working and to check their expiry date,” Neal added. Melville Housing Association has been working with Aico for a number of years and about 95 per cent of alarms in its properties have been supplied by the manufacturer. “Aico facilitates a number of roundtable events with housing associations which are very well received and where we are able to share important knowledge about fire safety including smoke alarms and fire doors,” David added. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A £5 million project to replace cladding and improve fire safety at a 74-home central London development has now been completed. The works at Barrington Court in Victoria form part of A2Dominion’s wider programme to remediate cladding at a total of 65 developments to ensure they meet new government safety legislation. Recladding works at Barrington Court Barrington Court, built in 2009, includes a mix of leasehold and social rented homes. A2Dominion invested £5m in replacing the cladding, which includes £1.4m from the government’s building safety fund. No costs have been passed to customers. Saleh Mirza, A2Dominion’s Head of Building Projects, who is responsible for delivering the fire safety remediation programme said: “We first carried out an initial inspection of Barrington Court in 2020 where we found the building used a type of cladding that is now known to be a non-conformant material which is unsuitable for buildings. “Works began in March 2023, and took just over a year to complete ending in June this year. The building now has a new cladding system which is a safe and non-combustible material. Our wider fire safety programme, which involves undertaking fire safety works at 65 schemes, is on track and due to be completed in 2026.” A2Dominion employed contractor Equans to deliver the works with minimal disruption. Solar panels While carrying out safety works, A2Dominion also upgraded the building’s solar panels with the latest technology. The energy supplied through these drastically reduces the amount of power needed from an energy supplier for the communal areas. By introducing the new solar power system, leaseholders in the building will save approximately £6,000 in service charges each year. Continued support offered for customers A team of Resident Liaison Officers and specialist Property and Safety Managers have been supporting customers where fire safety work is taking place. Maaz Khan, A2Dominion’s Senior Property and Safety Manager, who is responsible for managing Barrington Court, said: “One of our key objectives is to improve customer engagement by having a weekly on-site presence. “I have been able to speak to customers face-to-face rather than just over email, which has helped us discuss the building safety works. This collaborative approach has enabled our customers to have their say in decisions about buildings and their homes.” A2Dominion customer Peter spoke about the improvements they had seen in the service they have been receiving and said: “We are seeing results and benefits I never thought we’d see. Residents would appreciate Maaz’s standard and problem solving at A2Dominion moving forward.” Building fire safety programme In 2019, A2Dominion carried out inspections to identify which buildings needed recladding, as part of new safety measures introduced by the government. Although most of its buildings do not need fire safety works, A2Dominion has created a programme to carry out essential recladding to buildings that need it, which included Barrington Court. You can find out more about A2Dominion’s fire safety programme here Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
