News of a deadly fire in a Russian shopping centre in March – which I examined here – had a particular resonance for onlookers in the UK. We might once have thought that this kind of thing couldn’t happen here, with stricter safety standards and a system of inspections and
Fire tests have been conducted by Alumasc Roofing Systems on its market leading Derbigum high performance bituminous membrane warm roof system. This decision follows on recent events in the UK that highlighted the importance of being compliant with up to date and relevant fire test standards. Derbigum Mineral and Derbigum
In 2005, the Fire Safety Legislation was implemented. The rules put an emphasis on fire safety and risk management, and the new legislation lays out the responsibilities of an organisation’s management. The legislation lays out the duty to manage fire safety, and describes what Fire Safety elements should be covered
Cabling leader AEI Cables is taking fire performance to new levels with its Total Fire Solutions range of products for the built environment. The development of its Firetec range of cables using the very latest in technology and science offers enhanced fire performance cabling, accessories and technical support from one
There has been a lot of talk in the timber industry about the potential knock-on effects of the Hackitt Review into the Grenfell fire. Now the report is out, we are left in no doubt that regulations will be tightened and enforcement of building standards will move to a higher
Ryan Simmonds, Sales Director for Framing at voestalpine Metsec plc, explores the importance of only specifying framing materials that have been fire tested or assessed and the options available to the industry Fire safety is high on the agenda for all of us in the construction industry – and rightly
Framework Initiative will be made available to public bodies across England and Wales. A London housing association has launched a £2.4bn framework for public bodies to use for fire safety remediation works. Hyde Fire Safety Works and Services Framework, which is being procured by Hyde Housing Association, will cover a range
The Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS), an explorative preview program, has been launched by SimScale, the provider of the world’s first cloud-based engineering simulation solution. The program is a solver developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) of the United States Department of Commerce, in cooperation with VTT
SIDERISE Nexus Fusion has been designed for use with glass spandrel panels in curtain walling and bespoke glazing systems, providing specifiers with a high strength, robust insulation core that offers an unequalled combination of fire, thermal and acoustic performance. It is a robust European Fire Class A1 lamella board that
ceda are proud to announce the launch of their latest catering equipment industry technical document, ‘Interface between fire-fighting systems and other systems in commercial kitchens’, jointly published by the Fire Industry Association (FIA). The document is intended to offer guidance to suppliers of catering equipment who are often required to
News of a deadly fire in a Russian shopping centre in March – which I examined here – had a particular resonance for onlookers in the UK. We might once have thought that this kind of thing couldn’t happen here, with stricter safety standards and a system of inspections and penalties. Unfortunately, events at Grenfell Tower last year showed that we too have improvements to make in our prevention of deadly fires. Grenfell is likely to bring about legislative change when the investigation finally concludes, if not before then; it is wholly unlikely that the cladding used on that tower block will ever be used in the UK again. The unfortunate legacy of fires is that we know more about how they start, spread and consume. The fortunate part is that we can legislate to change things for the better, and prevent such needless death and damage in future. The Great Fire Ask the average person to name a significant fire from history, and they will most likely start with the Great Fire of London. The bookend to a period of strife, Civil War and then plague in England, the Great Fire did immense damage and led to some loss of life, but was also a cleansing for London. It burned out the plague more or less for good, and awoke the city’s populace to the risk of fire in the narrow, ramshackle streets. The layout of the streets didn’t change – their occupants rebuilt the houses too quickly – but the appreciation of fire did. King Charles had been wary of this issue, as had many onlookers. Tower Bridge, the length of which was crammed with houses and shops, had previously been damaged by fire, and Charles had decreed that no house should use thatching. In reality however this was flouted, as was a regulation that tiered houses – which expanded outwards with each layer – should never meet each other at their highest level. The fire even jumped the river at one point When a fire broke out in a bakery on Pudding Lane, the result was unsurprising – wooden and thatched houses, stuffed against each other in winding streets, caught light and spread rapidly. Inaction by the mayor and a refusal to deploy the King’s soldiers led the fire to ravage the city centre; it even jumped the river at one point, thanks in part to basement stores of gunpowder left over from the Civil War. Gunpowder from the Tower of London’s stores was finally used to create breaks in the fire’s path, and it eventually died down. Early legislation The fire had raged for four full days, destroyed some 13,500 houses and many more buildings, and displaced as many as 200,000 people. Action was swift, although not swift enough to realise grand ambitions of rebuilding the city in the baroque style. King Charles decreed that houses in London would hereon be built from stone, that streets would be made wider, and that the river banks should not be obstructed by buildings. Another law followed in 1705, stipulating that no open cooking fires be allowed in the attics of thatched houses countrywide. The Great Fire and smaller incidents in Edinburgh prompted similar laws in Scotland, decreeing that no building should exceed five stories. More substantial change did not follow for over a century, however. The Fires Prevention (Metropolis) Act of 1774 was the first major fire safety act passed by Parliament, and established many of the principles of modern fire safety that we still adhere to today. The act divided buildings into different classes, each with their own required wall thicknesses, and maximum floor areas for warehouses. More important however was the appointment of surveyors, and the requirement for parishes to provide at least three fire ladders for use in emergencies. While this was not the first fire safety equipment – ‘fire hooks’ and rudimentary fire engines were around during the Great Fire – this is one of the first laws pertaining to the mandatory protection of human life. Pre-modern laws This early legislation was far from comprehensive, yet fire safety would go largely unaddressed until the late Victorian era. The rise of ballistic weapons leds to the Explosives Act of 1875, which handed powers for the safe storage, inspection and licensing of explosives to local fire departments. The law was not superceded until 2005, and much of the methodology remains the same to this day. Technology driving safety laws would be a consistent theme. The rise of the personal motorcar would lead to new regulations on petrol storage in 1928, requiring a local license for the first time. Factory owners were legally obliged to have a fire escape plan from 1937 onwards The pre-war period also saw efforts to enforce building bylaws for the first time. Factory owners were legally obliged to have a fire escape plan from 1937 onwards, and other buildings were required to meet certain standards. However, these laws were only enforced in London, and remained optional in other counties. You might think that the bombing raids of World War 2 would have prompted new fire laws. Yet there was little further action until the 60s and 70s, when a spate of deadly incidents shocked the government into action. Two separate acts were passed after nightclub and factory fires in 1961. The acts bolstered safety requirements in public establishments and in factories, which now had to demonstrate fire separation and a fire fighting plan. A safer future It would take another deadly fire at a multistorey hotel in 1969 to prompt more comprehensive fire safety laws. The resulting investigation led to the Fire Precautions Act 1971, requiring most properties with sleeping accommodation to be fire certified. This law would be extended over the coming years to cover most factories, offices, shops and railway premises. In 1987, it was amended to require maintenance of all fire fighting impliments and escape routes – and for the first time, required that employees be trained in
Fire tests have been conducted by Alumasc Roofing Systems on its market leading Derbigum high performance bituminous membrane warm roof system. This decision follows on recent events in the UK that highlighted the importance of being compliant with up to date and relevant fire test standards. Derbigum Mineral and Derbigum Black full warm roof built up systems, such as primer, vapour barrier, adhesive, insulation, underlay and Derbigum cap sheets, all underwent rigorous testing to CEN/TS 1187:2012 and achieved the highest grade in fire safety available in the UK. ENV1187 Test 4 is a test method that determines the performance of flat roofs to external fire exposure by replicating exposure to burning brands, wind and supplementary radiant heat. Conducting the tests were Exova Warringtonfire Gent, who proved the applicability of original Derbigum fire rating tests and also confirmed the compliance of the current warm roof build-up using the latest BBA Certificated Derbigum system. Alumasc has previously received top fire ratings to the previous standard on these products; therefore the company grabbed the initiative to obtain the fire rating of its latest systems, in anticipation of tighter regulations governing the fire resistance of construction products. The certification is the evidence that Alumasc thrives in quality, performance and reliability, as well as helping the company to offer customers unrivalled peace of mind when utilising ist products, taking all the necessary steps to facilitate that. Specifying certificated products, systems and services in support of fire safety and security of any facility demonstrates due diligence and shows consideration for those that invest, develop, design, manage and use Alumasc’s Roofing Systems. Legislation and the requirement for compliance to enter new markets has never been tougher and Alumasc will strive to develop and test their products to guarantee it provides the highest levels of safety to not only customers but inhabitants and users of the buildings its products help to protect.
In 2005, the Fire Safety Legislation was implemented. The rules put an emphasis on fire safety and risk management, and the new legislation lays out the responsibilities of an organisation’s management. The legislation lays out the duty to manage fire safety, and describes what Fire Safety elements should be covered in a risk assessment, as well as who is responsible for them and how regularly they should be updated. Fire risk assessments cover the property that you are in and any potential risk to your employees and to any service users that you may have. They look at the structure of the property, the people who use it, and the equipment that is in the building. For example, the risk assessment may consider: The Size and Layout of The Property In the event of a fire, how easy would it be for people to get out? Would people be able to evacuate quickly or would they get lost? Is there anywhere that could be particularly dangerous if, for example, someone were to get stuck in a specific room and the fire blocked the exit? If the lights went out when the fire broke out, would people be able to safely navigate their way to an exit? Are the fire exits clearly marked? These things are all important. It is not always easy for people to rectify problems identified in this part of the risk assessment, but it is important that there is a plan put in place and that measures are taken to mitigate the risk. Things Stored on the Property The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 covers a lot of topics relating to fire safety, including flammable substances, fire extinguishers, etc. Depending on the nature of your business, you may need to worry about the substances that are stored on the property. If you have petrol, oil or other flammable substances then they must be stored in a way that minimises the fire risk. If you store other goods on the property, then you must make sure that the areas where people walk are kept clutter free and that fire doors are left unobstructed. One of the most common reasons for small businesses to fail fire inspections is that fire exits are used as a storage area, or fire doors are jammed. If you have electrical appliances, then you should make sure that they are in good working order, and tested regularly. Customers should be discouraged from plugging in electrical appliances of their own since their safety cannot always be verified. Things like heaters should be tested regularly and kept free from obstruction. Fire Extinguishers Fire blankets and fire extinguishers are essential and they should be properly installed and then inspected on a regular basis. The number and type of fire safety items that you will need depends on the size and layout of the property and the kind of fire that you have to worry about (e.g. fat, electrical, paper, etc). A good fire safety company will be able to give you advice on that sort of thing. Evacuation Another area that is important to consider when it comes to your fire risk assessment is the evacuation plan. If a fire breaks out, then who will sound the alarm (and what is the alarm). The fire brigade should be called, but are there any other organisations that may need notified, based on the location of the building? Where will staff and service users gather? Do you take registers of attendance or do head counts for the number of people in the building? In some properties it is not feasible to do this but if you run an office or a school then you should know how many people are in the property at that time. You should nominate an assembly point that is outside of the building and that will be safe for people to congregate. The assembly point should not be on a main road or somewhere that is going to put people in danger, and it should be somewhere that will allow you to do a headcount and ensure that people are all safe and unharmed. Educate your users about the importance of leaving the building quickly if the smoke alarms go off. Tell them not to collect their belongings or go back in until the fire brigade has raised the all clear. Fire Alarms Your risk assessment should include smoke alarms. Do you have enough of them? Are they positioned in areas where they will be able to give an early warning about fire? Are they inspected regularly to ensure that they are safe and working properly? Every company will have a risk assessment that looks slightly different. There is no right or wrong way to complete one, as long as it is a realistic and honest assessment of the risks of your property and a good faith effort to make the establishment safe.
Cabling leader AEI Cables is taking fire performance to new levels with its Total Fire Solutions range of products for the built environment. The development of its Firetec range of cables using the very latest in technology and science offers enhanced fire performance cabling, accessories and technical support from one source ensuring critical fire-safety circuits can continue to operate in the event of a real fire from 30 minutes up to 120 minutes. AEI Cables says it has listened to customers – with rising concerns at the number of fires in high-rise buildings in Europe and the Middle East - and developed a range of cabling which is future-proof. Stuart Dover, commercial manager for AEI Cables, said: “This development of this range of cabling supports the initiative to make our buildings safer and ensure systems can continue to operate in the event of a fire including fire alarms, voice alarms and emergency lighting circuits. “In a real fire situation, these cables will enable the fire and rescue services to find and evacuate people and help to protect property. At the same time, there is still evidence of non-approved cabling still coming onto the market, and we simply cannot compromise quality of these products being used in these applications.” The AEI Cables Total Fire Solutions’ package offers Mineral Insulated Cables (MIC), Firetec Enhanced or Firetec Power and the full range of accessories for all fire performance applications. Applications for Firetec include residential and commercial buildings, shopping malls, airports and protected buildings with a heritage ensuring that fire alarms, sprinkler systems, building monitoring and security systems can continue to operate in a fire. Successful installation of Firetec has included the Francis Crick Institute research centre in London, the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, the White City complex in London and Meadowhall shopping complex, Sheffield. Categories of fire performance are made up of Categories 1 and 2 for means of escape for 30 minutes and then 60 minutes respectively, and these cables are tested in accordance with all relevant codes. Category 3 refers to power and control cables meeting the 120-minute test according to the relevant standards. Only Mineral Insulated Cable (MIC) or an enhanced cable meeting the requirements of BS7846 F120 will meet this criteria. AEI Cables serves key markets in the UK and worldwide including construction, industrial, fire protection, defence, mining and rail. For advice about the Total Fire Solutions service tel 0191 410 3111 or email enquiries@aeicables.co.uk. See www.aeicables.co.uk
There has been a lot of talk in the timber industry about the potential knock-on effects of the Hackitt Review into the Grenfell fire. Now the report is out, we are left in no doubt that regulations will be tightened and enforcement of building standards will move to a higher level. Use of combustible cladding in high-rise construction was not banned in the review recommendations, although the government will consult on such a move. In light of the pressure for a ban from multiple groups, including RIBA, building firms and Grenfell survivors, it would not be surprising to see a ban still go ahead. But it is poor building practice and installation work and inadequate enforcement of Building Regulations that are at the heart of the matter. Timber cladding was not involved in the Grenfell fire, and though it has been used on some notable high-rise projects, its use is more commonly low to medium-rise. But as has been warned by Timber Trade Federation president Charles Hopping in his industry talks up and down the country these past months, timber cladding and other wood products are inevitably being pulled into the debate because of the focus on combustibility. The building industry is clearly going to have to up its game to deliver products that are fit for purpose and we can expect a higher level of scrutiny of how products and systems perform and are installed even if they are not high-rise applications. So, close working across the supply chain between timber product suppliers and their customers, enhanced testing and a clear united message from the timber industry will be required in dealing with the fallout from this review. Suppliers will need to be prepared to further their efforts to understand the applications for their products and improve the flow of information and technical advice further down the supply chain to safeguard the continued specification of their products. Because one thing is abundantly clear from Grenfell: you can’t rely on people down the chain to always do the right thing. British Woodworking Federation CEO Iain McIlwee welcomed the review recommendations and said a deeprooted problem existed in the building industry regarding fire safety. He cited the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s new guidance that encouraged an emphatic endorsement of UKAS-accredited third-party certification of product and competence of installation, with inspection picked up as fundamental to fire safety reform. The recommendation of tougher penalties in the Hackitt Review underlines the fact the landscape has been forever changed by Grenfell and it will impact all areas of the construction sector.
Ryan Simmonds, Sales Director for Framing at voestalpine Metsec plc, explores the importance of only specifying framing materials that have been fire tested or assessed and the options available to the industry Fire safety is high on the agenda for all of us in the construction industry – and rightly so. It was reported last month that the number of tenders for fire safety work issued by the public sector has soared 56% in the 12 months since the Grenfell Tower fire. There were 687,476 incidents attended by fire and rescue services in Great Britain in 2016-17, with the recent Hackitt Report on the Grenfell Tower tragedy concluding that indifference and ignorance led to a “race to the bottom” in building safety practices, with cost prioritised over safety. The number of councils tendering for fire safety work has shot up in the year since the Grenfell disaster, according to the latest figures – local government buyers publishing twice as many fire safety tenders in the last 12 months compared to the previous year. With concerns about public safety rising, the Government has called for independent reports to analyse building regulations and fire safety in greater detail. We may well see regulations tightened and enforcement of building standards move to a higher level. The building industry as a whole will need to deliver solutions to the required performance specification, while we can expect a higher level of scrutiny of the installation and performance of products and systems, whether or not it is a high-rise project. Many of us in the construction industry have already turned the microscope on ourselves, examining in detail fire safety provision across product ranges and projects. One issue already emerging from the Grenfell Tower tragedy is that focusing on the performance of one standalone product in a fire is too simplistic and does not address all the risks involved. What is needed is consideration of the myriad of other factors that can allow a fire to spread. For any future building project, full system testing and fire safety are paramount to any organisation within the construction supply chain. End clients are calling for additional reassurance and we in the construction industry are being urged to ensure that all components used have been designed and developed in line with the latest fire and safety guidance. Striking this balance can be a challenge for the industry – but achieving this won’t happen overnight. Having led the market for more than 20 years, we recognised the need to increase the efficiency of steel framing system (SFS) products, which led to the development and launch of the innovative new SFS range. This includes lighter, more cost-efficient and sustainable design options, as well as robust fire solutions, enabling more efficient wall construction performance. Months of research, design and stringent fire testing were invested to develop our new SFS range of sections and, with the introduction of more product options to reduce over-specification, we are putting our stake in the ground with regards to where the industry needs to move to, if it is to evolve. The aim of the new range is to combine best value and quality for installers and end users, as well as have a substantial impact on the green credentials and sustainability of any project where our new SFS solution is implemented. Our SFS range now has more system testing data than ever before, in fact over 200 wall and floor solution combinations. With our fire performance data tested or assessed by the UK’s leading test centre – the BRE, we also calculate acoustic and thermal data to give complete peace of mind. Metsec’s new range provides a greater selection of sections, giving architects the capability to create more efficiently designed projects, using the exact product sizes needed. SFS is available in a variety of options including infill, continuous and high-bay walling and an SFS load-bearing system. The new range is BIM Level 2 compliant, with BSI Kitemarks for both BIM projects and BIM objects. Features include new fire-tested solutions based on British Gypsum, Siniat and Knauf plasterboard; thermal and fire performance solutions using Rockwool insulation; fire performance solutions using RCM Y Wall and Euroform Versaliner sheathing boards. Quality and fire safety do not have to be sacrificed in the name of cost – and should never be. The construction industry should lead the future fire safety debate, and work with regulators to ensure all parties involved – from contractors to building occupants – view the sector as standard bearers for both quality and safety. Visit www.metsec.com/sfsframing for more information and to download our brand new technical manual. Please note: this is a commercial profile voestalpine Metsec plc Tel: +44 (0)121 601 6000 metsec@metsec.com www.metsec.com
Framework Initiative will be made available to public bodies across England and Wales. A London housing association has launched a £2.4bn framework for public bodies to use for fire safety remediation works. Hyde Fire Safety Works and Services Framework, which is being procured by Hyde Housing Association, will cover a range of works, goods and services relating to fire safety. The framework, which is open to public bodies across England and Wales, is divided into 11 lots covering different types of remediation works to help make buildings more fire safe, with each of the lots being worth around £200m. The framework covers everything from supply and repair of fire doors, to the installation of sprinklers, to cladding remediation works. Each lot will run for four years, with between two and 10 bidders expected to be invited to tender. Firms can submit bids for all lots. Companies have until 5 August to register their interest, with shortlisted firms expected to be invited to tender on 18 August. Hyde Fire Safety Works and Services Framework Lots Lot 1 – Supply, installation, removal, and repair of fire doors Lot 2 – Supply, installation, removal, and design of fire safety signage Lot 3 – Supply, installation, removal, and maintenance of fire alarm, detection and suppression systems. (Lot 3 is split in to Lot 3A and Lot 3B to differentiate between fire detection and fire suppression systems) Lot 4 – Supply, installation, removal, and maintenance of emergency lighting Lot 5 – Design, supply, installation, removal, and maintenance of sprinkler systems and dry/wet risers. (Lot 5 is split in to Lot 5A and Lot 5B to differentiate between Dry Risers and Wet / Charged Risers.) Lot 6 – Provision of fire proofing and stopping works and services Lot 7 – Provision of cyclical and reactive electrical testing, servicing, and maintenance services Lot 8 – Remedial Works, upgrades, installations, and testing of electrical systems Lot 9 – Removed from framework Lot 10 – Design, supply, installation, removal, and inspection of cladding Lot 11 – Incident Management and provision of Business Continuity Planning advisory services to mitigate and plan for potential threats Lot 12 – Management Contractor to manage any of Lots 1 to 11 for clients and/or direct delivery
The Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS), an explorative preview program, has been launched by SimScale, the provider of the world’s first cloud-based engineering simulation solution. The program is a solver developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) of the United States Department of Commerce, in cooperation with VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland. The aim of FDS is to solve practical fire problems in fire protection engineering, while at the same time providing a tool to study fundamental fire dynamics and combustion. FDS has been created as a response to many customers requesting a program that combines the maturity and reliability of FDS for modelling fire and smoke with the convenience and scalability of SimScale’s cloud-based simulation infrastructure. Most of these customers include AEC (architecture, engineering and construction) companies that work on projects that require performance-based design, fire reconstruction, test planning, compliance with fire-related codes and standards, dispersion, calculation of smoke venting systems or indoor air quality. “SimScale’s CFD capabilities that are in production today, along with its seamless deployment, collaboration functionality, and scalability, have made it the tool of choice for many AEC companies. SimScale already helps these companies—including ARUP, WSP, Aqseptence Group among others—tackle engineering projects in the space of thermal comfort, industrial ventilation, building wind loads and pedestrian comfort. The request from these customers to extend SimScale’s feature set to also cover fire and smoke scenarios seems like a natural next step for our development,” said David Heiny, CEO and co-founder of SimScale. The FDS preview program will explore and validate an offering of a simple workflow-driven interface for quick and robust modeling and visualization of complex fire scenarios in buildings, particularly parking garages and tunnels. Interested engineers and companies can apply for the program giving them a chance to shape the future workflow and user interface of the FDS integration, while in the meantime having their fire management-related simulation projects solved by SimScale’s engineers.
SIDERISE Nexus Fusion has been designed for use with glass spandrel panels in curtain walling and bespoke glazing systems, providing specifiers with a high strength, robust insulation core that offers an unequalled combination of fire, thermal and acoustic performance. It is a robust European Fire Class A1 lamella board that meets the performance requirements of curtain walling systems replacing the use of compressible or combustible insulating materials. Through precision manufacturing and tight tolerances, Nexus Fusion comprises high strength stonewall lamella with a uniform vertical fibre structure. This unique feature means that Nexus Fusion boards can be fitted avoiding the risk of slippage due to building movement, and without gaps or slumping of the insulation. Moreover, due to it being inherently non-combustible, mechanically strong and dimensionally stable, the insulation provides the best possible consideration for maintaining the systems fire integrity at the junction between the building structure and the curtain wall, with the fire resistance remaining primarily dependent on the curtain wall or frame specification. “Nexus Fusion will ensure the integrity of the interface between the insulation and the firestop is not compromised and effective compartmentation is maintained. Our firesafe solution eliminates the costly option of creating a bespoke metal tray lining system,” said William McDowell Business Development and Product Manager of SIDERISE. Tested as part of a curtain wall assembly to EN 1364-3 in Fire Rated Façades for 30 minutes without failure, Fusion boards tested in their end use application have been rated as European Fire Class A1. Available in a range of standard thicknesses between 20mm and 200mm, the product is foil faced on one side with an open filament net on the other side to facilitate bonding to glass. This negates the need for pins and washers, simplifying installation and reducing costs. SIDERISE Nexus products use a unique patented process to produce a true structural lamella board with optimal fire, thermal and acoustic performance. Specifiers and building owners can then be certain these products will continue to perform after insulation, offering the best environmental conditions for those living and working in buildings, and to reliably protect in the event of fire.
ceda are proud to announce the launch of their latest catering equipment industry technical document, ‘Interface between fire-fighting systems and other systems in commercial kitchens’, jointly published by the Fire Industry Association (FIA). The document is intended to offer guidance to suppliers of catering equipment who are often required to provide fire protection systems and regularly have problems in ensuring that connections are made between the controls of the fire protection system and other systems, such as building management systems, kitchen extract fans and fuel supplies. There is a concern that the suppliers of other systems are reluctant to make the connections for several reasons including, fear of setting off the fire protection system, fear or reluctance to work in another contractor’s control box and communication, resulting in a lack of understanding of the relevance and importance of inter-connections between systems. ceda’s technical support advisor, Peter Kay wanted to provide ceda members with a guidance document that they can incorporate as part of their contracts not only with fire suppression system subcontractors but also their contracts with their clients. He explains, “Fire Suppression Systems are normally supplied with volt free contacts to trigger other systems such as fire alarms, gas interlocks, etc., however, it is not uncommon to find that these are never used simply because it was unclear as to who was responsible for making the connections.” “After some investigation it was felt that we should involve the Fire Industry Association with a view to publishing a jointly branded document. “This is the first time that ceda has worked in partnership with the Fire Industry Association and I find it encouraging that they welcomed our suggestion of a joint document”. Most suppliers of Fire Suppression Systems as well as Fire Alarm Systems and Building Management Systems are members of FIA and therefore will be advised to operate in accordance with the guidelines. The document is available as a download from the “Standard Documents” page on the members’ section of the ceda website, along with a guidance document that has been issued to ceda members which gives guidance on good practice relating to the provision of Fire Suppression Systems and also on the use of the ceda/FIA document. Non-ceda members who wish to view the document can request a copy from the ceda office by emailing fiona@ceda.co.uk.
