Spec Finish

the selection and installation of firestopping products where either inappropriate products are used or they are used outside of their field of application. Often left as a contractor’s design portion, the responsibility for the selection of a product is left to the installer on site, based often on past experience or even worse, assumptions. Everyone who has followed the BBC podcasts on the Grenfell Tower enquiry will appreciate the argument of ‘I assumed’ really does not stand up to scrutiny. In her report following the Grenfell Tower disaster, Dame Judith Hackitt said that industry shouldn’t wait to be told what to do. Armed with this remit FIS and the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA), called others in the field together including the Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP), Building Services Research and Information Association (BSRIA) and the Gypsum Products Development Association (GPDA) to write: ‘Firestopping of service penetrations, best practice in design and installation’. The guide, which was published in September, is freely available from the FIS website and provides guidance to everyone involved in the design and construction of buildings where services pass through compartment walls and floors. The guide uses a series of golden rules which are aligned with the RIBA Plan of Work to demonstrate what should be considered at each stage. It also demystifies the terms used across the sector, for example ‘drylining’ is known as a ‘flexible construction’ in firestopping terms. Fully developed design Any well delivered project needs early collaboration, this includes working with the installers of the drylining and the firestopping, something in fact that will become mandatory in the new Building Safety Bill where the design must be fully developed before planning can be submitted, so the good news is that you can expect calls at the beginning of the project rather than a quick call to close up at the end. To help the team ensure that a compliant solution is designed, the guide includes a list of 34 questions that sit alongside the nine golden rules to ensure that all aspects of the project are considered. They include: • the mixture of services in the hole; • the scheduling of the work to ensure that the drylining can be compliantly installed before the services; and • the issues such as the size of the prepared opening and proximity of the opening must be compliant with the system owner of the drylining system. Remember — don’t assume that if it was OK before it will still be OK this time. We are aware that some suppliers are revaluating what details are being used as common practice based on site-specific projects and have reissued a list of standard details. Dame Judith Hackitt said in a foreword to the guide: ‘Some wait to be regulated before they change, but it is now clear that radical reform is coming. Industry must prepare and should be taking action ahead of legislation coming into force. Initiatives like this help to boost confidence in what to do and show that the industry is capable of taking responsibility rather than waiting for others to produce guidance. It gives me hope that the culture in construction is changing.’ Technical FIND OUTMORE The guide is free to download at: https://www.thefis.org/membership- hub/publications/best-practice-guides/ firestopping-of-service-penetrations/ i ‘Everyone who has followed the BBC podcasts on the Grenfell Tower enquiry will appreciate the argument of ‘I assumed’ really does not stand up to scrutiny.’ www.thefis.org 23 Dame Judith Hackitt dependent and the Golden Rules may not apply until stage 3. The Golden Rules set out the process fromearly engagement with manufacturers at the initial design stages through to installation and inspection of penetration seals. Ensureanearlyengagement withfirestopping manufacturersand specialist installers. GOLDEN RULE 1 Followthe ‘Designprocess forpenetrationseals’. GOLDEN RULE 4 Requestcopiesofthethird partycertificationfrom themanufacturers.These shouldbereviewedbya suitablyqualifiedperson toensurethecertification andfield ofapplication is relevantforthesituation. GOLDEN RULE 7 Reviewthefirestrategy documentsandfirestrategy plans inconjunctionwith theM&Especifications. GOLDEN RULE 2 Onlyselectfirestopping productswhicharethirdparty certifiedbyaUKASaccredited organisation.Firestopping productsshouldbecertified orCEmarkedandtestedusing therelevantstandards. GOLDEN RULE 5 Ensurethe installersofALL servicepenetrationsealsare thirdpartycertifiedbyan organisationsuchasFIRAS, LPCB, IFC,BMTRADAetc. GOLDEN RULE 8 Identifyalloftheservice typespassingthroughthe compartmentfloororwall includingany insulation products.Establishthe spacerequiredto install andfirestoptheservices. GOLDEN RULE 3 Ideallyselectonefirestopping manufacturerthroughout theproject.Productsfrom differentmanufacturers shouldnotbemixed inthe sameopeningunlessthere iscleartestevidenceto substantiatetheiruse. GOLDEN RULE 6 Implementastructured inspectionplanto include photographicevidence astheworkproceeds. GOLDEN RULE 9 5697 FIS - Firestopping guide 2020 numbers.indd 9 14/09/2 THE NINE GOLDEN RULES