Choosing and installing the correct passive fire protection system can be confusing – with a range of application requirements, legislation and a host of products to choose from. Here, Ken Francis, Technical Support Manager at Promat, talks us through some of the most frequent questions posed to him and the
The terms under the new Building Safety Act 2022 became enforceable from October 1st this year. Here, Bob Glendenning, Fire Design Engineering Manager of Sherwin-Williams Protective & Marine Coatings, examines why creating a ‘Golden Thread’ of information within the new legislation is so important for those involved in the intumescent
For those that own and manage large-scale commercial, industrial, and residential buildings, effective life safety systems are critical. Aside from legal obligation, compliant systems ensure risk is managed appropriately, particularly mitigating the threat of fire and smoke. The latter is where Colt comes in. A pioneer and market leader in
ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions UK & Ireland is raising awareness of recent changes made to the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (FSO) to improve fire safety in buildings, triggered by Section 156 of the Building Safety Act 2022. These improvements came into effect on 1st October 2023, and form
The correct choice of cabling under the new building safety regime is critical in protecting lives and property, says AEI Cables. The company is highlighting the crucial part played by electrical safety systems including cabling in the development of higher risk buildings under the new Building Safety Act 2022 which
Each year, there are thousands of workplace fires recorded across the UK — many of which could have been avoided if the correct fire safety procedures were followed, and the right passive fire protection products were in place. From faulty electrical equipment to careless handling of hot substances, there are
On Thursday 14th September the forklifts at Hochiki Europe’s new warehouse facility in Gillingham paused as the team welcomed MP for Gillingham and Rainham, Rehman Chishti and Mayoress of Medway Cllr Nina Gurung to cut the ribbon and declare the new part of the Hochiki operation officially open. This state-of-the-art
On the 1st October 2023, further amendments to the Regulatory Reform Order 2005 (otherwise known as the ‘FSO’ or ‘Fire Safety Order’) are due to come into force, affecting businesses and buildings across the UK under the Building Safety Act 2022. As leading fire door and passive fire protection product
Global leaders in life safety manufacturing and design have achieved BOSEC approval for their ESP and Latitude products. BOSEC is the quality benchmark for fire protection in Belgium and is one of Europe’s highest quality marks requiring brands to undergo stringent and lengthy approval process to carry the accreditation. It
Vivalda, the UK’s largest distributor of non-flammable rainscreen facades, has produced a handy guide for contractors and installers unsure of how the 2022 Building Safety Act could affect them. Providing a three-minute read for the trade, the single page explainer highlights the key changes proposed by the act, which was
Choosing and installing the correct passive fire protection system can be confusing – with a range of application requirements, legislation and a host of products to choose from. Here, Ken Francis, Technical Support Manager at Promat, talks us through some of the most frequent questions posed to him and the technical team. 1. Do you need to be an approved or accredited installer to work with fire protection boards? While being approved or accredited is not mandatory, here at Promat, we expect installers to be competent and experienced in all aspects of the installation of passive fire protection systems. Ideally, we would recommend that installers are registered by a third-party certification scheme. These schemes typically carry out site inspections and set out training, competency and standards that must be achieved by the installer. There are a number of these schemes, one of which is FIRAS. The following link will guide you to a list of FIRAS-accredited installers: https://www.warringtoncertification.com/certified-companies/ but other schemes are available. 2. How do I provide compartmentation to a steel structure that sits on a compartment line? There are various methods of providing fire protection to steel sections, these include boards, special coatings or designing steelwork so no protection is needed. However, if the beams or columns are on compartment lines, then there will be a requirement to provide fire insulation through the steel. This needs to be taken into consideration when the method of fire protecting the steel is chosen. For boarded protection, the thickness may need to be increased above that required for the protection of the steel, to a defined limiting temperature, so that fire insulation (compartmentation) is achieved. Fire insulation periods of 60-240 minutes can be achieved with Promat board products. It’s important to note that methods such as intumescent paint are unlikely to meet compartmentation requirements. It’s also important to pay careful attention to any openings or penetrations in the compartment walls, and through the steel fire protection encasement and use appropriate firestopping measures, such as fire-resistant seals, penetration collars, or intumescent materials, to seal the openings and maintain the compartmentation. Whatever fire protection method is put in place, it’s vital they are regularly inspected, maintained, and tested (if required) to ensure their effectiveness as in the Building Regulations. 3. How do I upgrade the fire performance of the existing concrete structure of a building I am refurbishing for change of use? To upgrade the fire performance of concrete structures there is a requirement to know what thickness of concrete, or cover to reinforcement, is needed to achieve the fire performance without additional treatment. Once this is established then the correct Promat product and thickness can be selected according to its “concrete equivalence” which has been derived from test data. Promat can provide thin lightweight board products which can upgrade the fire performance to up to 240 minutes which can be fixed directly to concrete walls, beams, columns and soffits. 4. Is there a ceiling system which provides fire resistance from both above and below? Promat have two types of boarded ceiling system available that can provide fire resistance from above and below. Choosing the correct one depends on the application and location. There are self-supporting systems, which include steel channels that must be fixed to masonry. There is also a system which can be suspended directly from the structure above which must also meet the desired fire performance. In both cases, there are 60 and 120 minute versions available which provide both integrity and insulation from both above and below. 5. Do Promat have systems for load bearing steel joisted mezzanine floors which require 30, 60, 90 or 120 minutes protection? A mezzanine floor system which is protected using a single layer of 15mm thick PROMATECT®-250 to the underside of the steel joists can provide 30 or 60 minutes load bearing capacity, fire integrity and fire insulation (from below). Depending on the section factor (or A/V value) of the steel sections it is likely that the 15mm thick board will also provide fire protection to the hot rolled steel beams and columns supporting the cold rolled joists. For 90 & 120 minute systems, the thickness will need to be increased to two layers of 15mm thick PROMATECT®-250 to the underside of the steel joists. Two layers of 15mm will cater for section factors of up to 140m-1 for 120 minutes, or section factors of up to 350 m-1 for 90 minutes (both assuming a 550oC limiting temperature). Got a technical question for the Promat team? Email today: technical@promat.co.uk or check our website for other frequently asked questions Promat.com/knowledge-base Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The terms under the new Building Safety Act 2022 became enforceable from October 1st this year. Here, Bob Glendenning, Fire Design Engineering Manager of Sherwin-Williams Protective & Marine Coatings, examines why creating a ‘Golden Thread’ of information within the new legislation is so important for those involved in the intumescent coatings industry. The Building Safety Act 2022 (BSA) has been developed as a new framework for the design, construction and occupation of ‘higher risk’ buildings. These buildings are defined as being a minimum of 18 metres or seven storeys in height and comprise of at least two domestic premises. These regulations required that all existing occupied high-risk buildings should be registered with the new Building Safety Regulator (BSR) from April 6, 2023 and no later than October 1, 2023. The BSR is an independent body which forms part of the Health and Safety Executive, which aims to raise building safety standards and the performance of buildings whilst also monitoring the competence of regulators and industry professionals. The reality of this new legislation is that under the terms of the Act, a Principal Accountable Person who fails to register an occupied higher-risk building ‘without a reasonable excuse’ will be liable to either a fine or imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years. The Principal Accountable Person is described as the organisation or person who owns, or has responsibility for, the building. It may also be an organisation or person who is responsible for maintaining the common parts of a building, for example corridors or lobbies. The three Gateways provide evidence The Golden Thread is an information trail that runs through all of the three Gateways from the outset to completion and occupation so that end users can be assured of compliance, quality and safety and have confidence in the products used to provide fire and life safety. For the protection of structural steel with intumescent coatings, those who may need to submit information may include main contractors, architects, designers, specifiers, fabricators and applicators. Indeed, any party who is responsible for fire safety critical elements or components. Importantly, the criteria for the Golden Thread requires all relevant documents and evidence to be stored digitally to prove that adequate steps have been taken in the construction and ongoing maintenance of a building. Gateway 1 – covering the planning stage. This has been in force since August 1, 2021 and sets out the framework for the second and third stages. Applicants need to demonstrate that fire safety matters have been incorporated into the planning stage for all buildings. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), who are now also the BSR, will be part of the consultation. If a fire statement is required to be submitted with a planning application it will be an issue for consideration for the Local Planning Authority (LPA) when reaching its decision on the application. Contractors should take note that if the LPA considers the statement inadequate it can refuse the application. At Sherwin-Williams, our policy of early engagement and collaboration between all parties helps to clarify any points up front before they become a problem with the subsequent knock-on effect on time and cost. It is clear that engaging multiple stakeholders – including designers, fabricators and applicators – early and consistently throughout the process is key to delivering a successful, safe and cost-efficient solution. Working together, we share knowledge and help our clients to reach their goals. After all, we are ALL now part of this renewed responsibility. We encourage and fully support this early engagement, and with the correct information from the project team we can provide information and guidance on a safe and efficient structural fire protection approach. Gateway 2 – submitting building control approval to the Regulator. This should include written declarations covering the competency of the main contractor, designer, a description of works and plans and a planning statement from Gateway 1. Importantly, there should be information about how evidence is being captured to maintain the Golden Thread. The Regulator has a 12-week period to approve or reject these building control applications or to approve subject to fulfilment of certain requirements. Any major changes at this stage will also need approval from the Regulator, and records of the controlled change – including an explanation of compliance with Building Regulations – will also need to be maintained. The categorisation of major and ‘notifiable changes’ are still subject to consultation under the new legislation. Gateway 3 – providing information to ensure the building is safe for occupation. There is a requirement to submit a completion certificate application and provide updated plans. These plans should reflect the scale of the higher-risk building, key building information, a list of mandatory incident reporting and signed declarations from the main contractor and principal designer that the works and building comply with Building Regulations. Finally, confirmation that information for the Golden Thread has been handed over to the accountable person should also be declared. There is then a 12-week period for the Regulator to approve the application for a completion certificate. We all have a role to play Remember – responsibility lies with us all. Nobody in the supply chain can absolve themselves. The Accountable Person must have assessed all building safety risks and taken all reasonable steps to control them, give the safety case report to the Regulator on request and apply for a building assessment certificate. To be clear, the information stored in the Golden Thread needs to be accurate, easily understandable, up to date and readily accessible. In echoing the point made by Dame Judith Hackitt, we at Sherwin-Williams emphasise that the Golden Thread constitutes any relevant package of information which refers specifically to a project or programme of works. This could come in various forms including a product specification, marked-up drawings, CAD data, a BIM model, a product / member DFT schedule, application records or datasheets for example. As long as it provides evidence of good practice and compliance, it is relevant. It is important to
For those that own and manage large-scale commercial, industrial, and residential buildings, effective life safety systems are critical. Aside from legal obligation, compliant systems ensure risk is managed appropriately, particularly mitigating the threat of fire and smoke. The latter is where Colt comes in. A pioneer and market leader in smoke control systems which allow smoke out of a building in the event of a fire. Having a system in place that enables smoke to escape is critical to saving lives. But it can also protect assets and reduce the degree of damage to a building. Crucially, when a fire breaks out, reducing the amount of smoke in the building helps those inside, whether they are awaiting fire services or trying to evacuate, because visibility is improved and toxic gases are reduced. Once onsite, fire services can facilitate evacuation more quickly and, with better visibility, rapidly locate the source of the fire in order to speed up extinguishing. Commonly installed in large single-storey factories and warehouses, shopping centres, multi-storey buildings, car parks, and buildings with atria, customers not only rely on Colt’s smoke control technology, but its holistic project managed approach to designing, installing, and maintaining a solution tailored specifically to each project’s need. That means everything a building needs for smoke control. As well as Automatic Opening Vents (AOVs), this also includes fully certified openable ventilators, natural and mechanical shaft systems, access hatches, smoke control dampers, smoke extract fans, smoke and fire curtains and automatic controls. Its multi-disciplined technical expertise, including in-house CFD capability, and in-house engineers mean Colt provides a full turnkey service. It’s little wonder Colt has worked on some of the most prestigious buildings across the UK as well as the tallest structures in the country. These include the 65-storey 22 Bishopsgate (London’s highest commercial building), the 56-storey 1 Nine Elms, and 68-storey South Quay Plaza. Having pioneered the science of smoke control in 1954 when it designed the UK’s first-ever smoke control system to be installed in a manufacturing plant, Colt has continued to set new benchmarks. Continuous innovation from the market leaders One of its latest innovations is the Defender F2, a smoke control damper. Certified to EN12101-8 and tested to EN1363-1 and BS EN1366 Parts 2 and 10, the Defender F2 provides a fire-rated solution when closed and a reliable smoke extract solution when open. Significantly, it has been designed to be seamlessly integrated into the surface of a wall. From an aesthetic point of view it is unobtrusive, unlike traditional louvre damper systems, providing architects greater design control. It’s an example of the wide spectrum of products and solutions Colt can bring to market. While Colt is the market leader in smoke control, as a turnkey service partner it boasts a number of other strengths from smoke and fire damper systems, pressurisation systems for stairwells, car park smoke, fume and CO extraction systems, and the servicing of solar and photovoltaic arrays, as well as brise soleil. Working in collaboration with clients from conception through to commissioning and ongoing maintenance, Colt enables owners and operators to not only address fire safety but unlock a building’s full potential in terms of energy efficiency and architectural design. Its ability to do so lies in its talented personnel. As well as employing all its own engineers, Colt’s vastly experienced design and technical team can develop bespoke solutions tailored to specific building environments and compliance requirements. It also means architects and consultants can work with Colt to identify the best combination of products and systems to achieve the desired effect and performance. Its experts use in-house computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and other design tools such as CAD and BIM to simulate airflows and heat transfer within buildings to assist with designing effective building conditions. Further peace of mind is gained from the fact Colt manufactures its products at its dedicated facility and extensively tests systems prior to installation to verify performance. Independent accredited test houses carry out fire testing, environmental testing (for wind, rain, snow) and safety testing (for load and impact). And no stone is left unturned when commissioning its systems. In compliance with BS7346-8, which is specific legislation relating to the commissioning process, Colt’s multi-stage process includes thorough static testing, functionality, cause & effect and performance testing. The final stage, System Acceptance, involves witness testing, demonstration, sign-off and client training. This is supported by independent 3rd party certification (IFC Certification) for the installation and maintenance of smoke control systems, including smoke and fire curtains – just another step in the process of demonstrating their competence and compliance processes. Colt are fully certified to ISO 9001, 14001 and 45001. They are also (uniquely for the industry), certified to the demanding ISO 37301 for Compliance Management Systems. For Colt engineers, the training never stops Never standing still, Colt continues to evolve. It has, for example, established its own dedicated Training Centre at its manufacturing plant in Havant. Designed specifically for the initial and ongoing training of its maintenance engineers, the centre is equipped with working examples of all the types of smoke control systems that engineers will encounter in the real world. This includes Colt-produced systems as well as those of other manufacturers to ensure engineers have a broader understanding in order to be able to service any system they may encounter. Ongoing training also features regulatory updates and standards in addition to fault-finding to enable first-fix works wherever possible. It guarantees Colt’s engineers remain competent and knowledgeable; ensuring clients have peace of mind that their systems are working as expected. Colt’s enviable reputation has been built on its multi-disciplined approach and almost 70 years of researching and developing systems that have made buildings safer. Its holistic solution is backed by unrivalled in-house technical expertise and highly trained engineers which ensure clients have confidence in the performance of their building safety systems. If you are working on a project that requires smoke control design expertise or manage a building where smoke control maintenance is required, get
ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions UK & Ireland is raising awareness of recent changes made to the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (FSO) to improve fire safety in buildings, triggered by Section 156 of the Building Safety Act 2022. These improvements came into effect on 1st October 2023, and form Phase 3 of the Home Office’s fire safety reform programme, building on Phase 1 (the Fire Safety Act 2021) and Phase 2 (the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022). This phase 3 further strengthens fire safety in all FSO regulated premises by increasing requirements in relation to the recording and sharing of fire safety information to create a continual record throughout a building’s lifespan. Other updates include improving cooperation and coordination between responsible persons, ensuring residents have access to comprehensive information about fire safety in their building, and making it easier for enforcement authorities to act against non-compliance. The Home Office has published three new fire safety guides that are intended to replace the previous guide to making premises safe from fire. The fire risk assessment checklist has also been updated to enable responsible individuals understand and meet the new requirements. Brian Sofley, Managing Director at ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions, commented: “We fully support the Building Safety Act, and welcome the new updates to the Fire Safety Order. “We are seeing a critical need for the recording and sharing of fire safety information, and a way to record and continuously update vital information about a building throughout its lifespan. “We should be managing buildings as holistic systems and allowing people to use information to design, construct and operate their buildings safely and effectively. “This ‘golden thread’ approach is the key to making buildings safer and keeping them safe for the future, as outlined in the Hackitt report. We now have so many digital tools at our disposal such as Building Information Modelling (BIM), utilising these will help us record and share information, and keep it up to date to enable greater transparency and safer environments.” BIM allows building elements such as doorsets to be managed through a single platform – from specification to installation and ongoing inspection. For example, ASSA ABLOY’s Openings Studio™ BIM application integrates with design software to create and visualise openings for complete door, frame and hardware schedules and specifications. This enables seamless extraction of door design intent and all relevant interfaces to assist fabricators to develop complete door requirements that meet building regulations. Product information, performance data and budget information are captured within the BIM design environment. Through real time, collaborative working, these designs can be validated for compliance, functional performance, and aesthetics plus presented as 3D views that can be fully re-integrated into the overall project design. Ongoing inspections can also be captured based on the specific details of each door included in the schedule. This report validates if a door has remained compliant, or identifies what elements need to be corrected or replaced to return the product to the standard required, providing full traceability and ownership of all changes at all stages. Brian adds: “BIM applications can help to lock in positive behaviours from the very start of a project, and support an increase in trust and confidence that safety is paramount throughout a building’s specification, construction and maintenance. “Only by working collaboratively will we see a step change in the industry to raise standards – not only in the construction of buildings to make them safer, but also ensuring they are continually assessed and maintained to uphold compliance.” To find out more about BIM, Openings Studio™ and how ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions can help your organisation, please call 0845 071 0882, email ukspecification@assaabloy.com or visit www.assaabloyopeningsolutions.co.uk/specification. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The correct choice of cabling under the new building safety regime is critical in protecting lives and property, says AEI Cables. The company is highlighting the crucial part played by electrical safety systems including cabling in the development of higher risk buildings under the new Building Safety Act 2022 which is now in force. For the construction industry and electrical safety systems, it means an overhaul in existing regulations with clear guidelines on the construction and management of higher risk buildings. Stuart Dover, general manager of AEI Cables, said: “We cannot stress enough that the changes under this legislation cover the whole supply chain including electrical safety systems and cabling. “Ensuring the correct selection of cabling has been made will be a fundamental part of safety in the systems installed into high-risk buildings. We are happy to provide guidance on these issues as the wrong choice could compromise whole systems. “This is an opportunity for the electrical safety industry to work together wherever relevant through the supply chains. If these systems fail because the cable is not able to function properly then the consequences are apparent.” The systems powered by electrical cables – including smoke and heat extraction systems – assist fire services in firefighting and a safe evacuation in the case of life safety. The new Building Safety Act 2022 has been developed as a new framework for the design, construction and occupation of higher risk buildings. These buildings are defined as being a minimum of 18 metres or seven storeys in height and comprise of at least two domestic premises. AEI Cables’ Firetec Enhanced cabling has been approved and certified by LPCB to BS8519 (Annex B), Category 3 Control in addition to Category 2 Control.The BS Code of Practice under BS8519 contains six categories of cables, three for power cables and three for control cables each covering survival times of 30, 60 or 120 minutes. All AEI Cables’ products are supplied with approvals from independent bodies including BASEC and LPCB. It also holds approvals from organisations including Lloyds, the MoD, Network Rail and LUL and works to international standards around the world. For more information see the AEI Cables website, tel 0191 410 3111 or email sales@aeicables.co.uk. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Each year, there are thousands of workplace fires recorded across the UK — many of which could have been avoided if the correct fire safety procedures were followed, and the right passive fire protection products were in place. From faulty electrical equipment to careless handling of hot substances, there are plenty of potential causes of workplace fires — but what are the most common outliers? As one of the UK’s leading providers of fire door and passive fire protection products, we were curious to find out exactly what the top causes of workplace fires were. So, we looked at official Government data from 2010 – 2022 showing primary fires in non-residential buildings by cause of fire to find the following results. Here is an even more detailed breakdown of the findings: Deliberate: 82, 268 Other accidental: 70, 612 Faulty appliances and leads: 63,723 Faulty fuel supplies: 50,806 Misuse of equipment or appliances: 49, 008 Careless handling of fire or hot substances: 46,887 Placing articles too close to heat: 41, 433 Chip/ fat pan fires: 37,795 Playing with fire: 27,787 Unspecified cause: 27, 529 Shockingly, the most common cause of fires in buildings not marked as ‘dwellings’ on Government records is ‘deliberate’. After this, there is a large unspecified group of ‘other accidental’ causes of fires. This could be anything from smoking near flammable substances or not correctly extinguishing sources of fire. Regardless of specifics, the sheer number of these accidental causes suggests a greater need for improved fire safety training – and a larger number of fire protection products in workspaces, to reduce the impact of fire-related accidents. The large number of causes relating to faulty appliances, leads, fuel supplies, and misuse of equipment also implies that fire safety audits and routine inspections are not carried out nearly enough. Fore more fire safety guidance, head over to our advice centre or contact us with any questions. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
On Thursday 14th September the forklifts at Hochiki Europe’s new warehouse facility in Gillingham paused as the team welcomed MP for Gillingham and Rainham, Rehman Chishti and Mayoress of Medway Cllr Nina Gurung to cut the ribbon and declare the new part of the Hochiki operation officially open. This state-of-the-art facility situated in the heart of Kent, Apex House as it will be known, will support increased production capability at Hochiki’s other Kent site. Covering an expansive 24,000 square feet and equipped with the latest technology and resources, it will expand Hochiki’s European hub for warehousing and distribution, as well as sales and administrative capability. Along with political dignitaries the grand opening ceremony was attended by senior members of staff, guests from Hochiki including Chairman Akio Yamagata, government officials, industry leaders and journalists. All attendees agreed this investment in the region and indeed the UK was impressive and greatly received. As a world-leading provider of life safety solutions, now in its 30th year of European operations, this milestone marks a significant step in Hochiki’s commitment to investment in the region and the company’s dedication to innovation and excellence in the fire industry. Key features of the new facility include state-of-the-art storage and shipping units with a capacity increase from 480 to 2,450 pallets with picking and packing capability more than doubling from three to seven items a minute. This warehousing excellence ensures the continued and efficient supply of the highest quality production of life safety devices and systems. The facility also includes collaborative spaces designed to foster innovation and encourage partnerships with industry stakeholders. Hochiki Europe aims to create a collaborative ecosystem that will drive advancements in life safety technology. Mr Shinsuke Kubo, Managing Director, Hochiki Europe expressed his excitement about the facility’s grand opening: “The new facility will play a pivotal role in advancing life safety technologies not only here in the UK but across the whole of Hochiki Europe’s regions, thereby contributing to the protection of people and property around the world. We are proud to bring together the finest minds in life safety technology under one roof, driving innovation and setting new standards for safety worldwide.” Hochiki Europe has a rich history of providing cutting-edge fire detection and life safety systems for over three decades. This new facility will enable the company to continue pushing the boundaries of life safety technology, ultimately making the world a safer place. The grand opening of the Kent facility marks a remarkable achievement for Hochiki Europe, reinforcing the company’s status as a global leader in life safety solutions. For more information about Hochiki Europe and its life safety solutions, please visit https://www.hochikieurope.com/news Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
On the 1st October 2023, further amendments to the Regulatory Reform Order 2005 (otherwise known as the ‘FSO’ or ‘Fire Safety Order’) are due to come into force, affecting businesses and buildings across the UK under the Building Safety Act 2022. As leading fire door and passive fire protection product experts, we’ve put together a core summary of the upcoming changes and who they affect. Add any further details and links to other sources that the readers might find relevant. What is the FSO (Fire Safety Order)? The Fire Safety Order is the fire safety legislation that applies to all non-domestic buildings across England and Wales, regulating premises and setting out responsibilities for individuals to improve fire safety.The Fire Safety Order applies to: What are the upcoming FSO changes? As of October 1st, all Responsible Persons must: You can find a more detailed breakdown of these responsibilities and everything mentioned here on the Fire Seals Direct blog. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Global leaders in life safety manufacturing and design have achieved BOSEC approval for their ESP and Latitude products. BOSEC is the quality benchmark for fire protection in Belgium and is one of Europe’s highest quality marks requiring brands to undergo stringent and lengthy approval process to carry the accreditation. It covers products for passive prevention and active prevention, as well as organisations who work within the fire industry, such as installers and system designers. Hochiki’s Enhanced System Protocol Range (ESP) and Latitude system are already EN54 pt13 certified, however with this additional certification in place it provides greater choice of fire detection products and systems to choose from for customers based in the Belgium region as well as bordering countries Luxemburg, the Netherlands and Germany. The Hochiki ESP range is one of the most robust platforms on the market, offering a wide selection of features and benefits for some of the most complex scenarios and are Marine approved, SIL Capable and have built in short-circuit isolators. The EN 54 approved range includes a suite of sensors, including a multi-sensor with CO detection, particularly useful for customers who are looking to reduce false alarms, several I/O units for interfacing to other equipment and a selection of audio/visual alarm devices. Hochiki’s networkable Latitude fire control panel, which the ESP range is compatible with, is also BOSEC approved and combines the very latest hardware and software to produce an approved control and indication system. The flexibility of the Latitude platform is such that it can be re-configured to realise many other control and indication applications, with direct integration into intelligent buildings. Previously, Hochiki products achieved BOSEC approval through a regional third-party but with this brand new certification, Hochiki Europe can now offer its own complete fire detection system as BOSEC approved. Installers within Belgium can rest assured that they can now specify Hochiki in new projects as well as update any existing fire detection systems and know that Hochiki is now one of the best within their market. Max De Vries, regional manager commented on the BOSEC accreditation “We are very proud to have receive this certification. It recognises the quality and thorough processes we go through to ensure our fire detection devices and systems are of the highest standard. We only work with BOSEC approved installers, so customers in Belgium, The Netherlands, Luxemburg and Germany can rest assured that their building is ‘end-to-end safe’”. To find out more about Hochiki’s BOSEC approved ESP Range and Latitude fire safety system please visit: https://web.hochikieurope.com/hochiki-bosec-en Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Vivalda, the UK’s largest distributor of non-flammable rainscreen facades, has produced a handy guide for contractors and installers unsure of how the 2022 Building Safety Act could affect them. Providing a three-minute read for the trade, the single page explainer highlights the key changes proposed by the act, which was instrumental in setting up the new Building Safety Regular last year. The guide also defines some of the key terms used in the act such as The Golden Thread, Duty Holders and High-Rise Buildings. Peter Johnson, founder of Vivalda Group, said: “Over the past five years, we have been committed to improving understanding and spreading best practice regarding cladding within the building sector. The Building Safety Act is a central plank of the UK’s new safety regime, but we are concerned that not enough people working on-site are aware of these changes. “We’ve produced this plain language guide so that everyone within the construction trade can benefit from a basic understanding of the principles of the act. This is important as it will drive many new aspects of safety legislation that will affect us all.” To get a free download of the Building Safety Act explainer, please go to: https://www.vivalda.co.uk/brochures/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
