14 minute read
Fire Safety & Security
THE SPECIALISTS IN ACCREDITED TIMBER FIRE DOORS
Sunray Timber Door Division are leading and accredited Specialist Surveyors for Fire Doors and Passive Fire Door Protection. As one of only a few organisations to hold the full FDIS (Fire Door Inspection Scheme) they are expertly placed to provide Fire Door Surveys to determine compliance to Fire and Building Regulations and as a consequence corrective remedial or replacement advice.
The Sunray Fire Door Survey provides a thorough and detailed report on each door within the remit to define compliance or noncompliance to passive fire protection. Each door is meticulously inspected to understand its potential Fire Integrity and rating.
Following the Fire Survey and outside and independently to the Surveyors role, we are able to assess the information from the report on the corrective action required and provide a quote aligned with what is needed in order to obtain conformance. The main objective and focus will be compliance, safety and expert advice on which to act.
Sunray Timber Fire Division manufactures a diverse range of Fire Doors, Screens, Partitions and Fire Breaks as part of the Building fabric.
With ratings from 30 minutes to 2 Hours of Fire Protection, the Sunray Timber Door Division product range is used in a variety of applications including Hotels, Healthcare, Schools and Government and Commercial buildings.
More recently Sunray has introduced a revolutionary new product to its range. FIRE-SECURE® is a pioneering product combining Fire and Security Integrity giving two accreditations in one product, FD30 and LPCB SR2. This is setting new standards for passive Fire Door protection as well as providing the assurance of security against physical attack.
Within the Commercial and Residential sectors, the increased demand on passive Fire protection and Building security has intensified, with a focus on product manufacturers investing into R&D to provide specifiers with accredited, tested and proven products to meet and exceed measured performance criterias.
The FIRE-SECURE® range features are unique in their own right, however combined into one product they provide the specifier with paramount assurance to withstand the most vulnerable of applications and Passive Fire or Security Door solutions.
Without compromise to cost, the testing of the Fire-Secure® range has been the most challenging in order to achieve and exceed the standards outlined using punishing and rigorous testing through renowned UK test facilities.
The result is a Timber Door which provides aesthetics using a wide range of colour or veneer finishes, vision panels, locking options and critically with the underlying assurance of Fire and Security protection.
For more details call our specialised team to discuss your particular project on 01233 639039 or visit our website at www.sunraytimberdoors.co.uk
CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE FOR SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS IS IMPROVED WITH EXCELLENT SECONDARY GLAZING
Set in the area nearby the imposing 600-year-old Chester Cathedral, are two Georgian buildings which have been carefully and sympathetically renovated to become ‘Abbey School for Exceptional Children’. Grade II* Listed and within the surrounding conservation area, Cheshire West and Chester Planning Authority, Chester Cathedral’s Fabric Design Committee and Historic England had to be consulted and approve any changes that were to be made to the buildings.
The townhouses were built on land belonging to the Dean and Chapter of the Cathedral, between 1754 and 1760. Some of the most striking external features are the windows; fine examples including 12-pane Georgian box sashes, as well as a couple of tripartite 4-12-4 pane sashes. Most of the windows were original and single glazed, which provided little thermal insulation for the students who would be occupying the spaces and allowed the noise of passing tourists visiting the historic square to enter the rooms.
Secondary glazing is generally accepted for use in heritage buildings as it is a reversible adaptation; so, appointed architects, Barron Design contacted Fenestral, trusted partner of Selectaglaze, to discuss options, suitable treatments and install the units thereafter.
70 units were installed over three floors in the two buildings, in classrooms, sensory rooms, dining areas and accommodation. Series 46 fixed lights were used below sill level transom coupled to either Series 60, where there are off set sashes, or Series 20 where the sashes are of equal size. For the exceptionally large windows, over 3m, Series 90’s were specified. With their larger balance capacity these heavy-duty sliders can easily cope with the added glass weight.
The Abbey School is now a more sustainable environment, creating a sense of well-being and pride for all.
Founded in 1966, Royal Warrant Holder Selectaglaze has considerable experience of working within Listed and sensitive buildings.
T: 01727 837271 | E: enquiries@selectaglaze.co.uk W: www.selectaglaze.co.uk
Fire rated steel hatch box
(up to 90 minutes protection)
Electrical operation
(low noise electric motor with back-up power supply)
Thermally insulated hatch
(U value from 0.57 W/m K)
High strength & robust concertina ladder
(load rating of 200 kg/tread)
0345 9000 195 | sales@premierloftladders.co.uk
A1 OR A2? IS IT JUST A NUMBERS GAME?
Ecodek’s Technical Manager, Michael Roberts, explores if there’s a need to chase the A1 fire classification for Polyester Powder.
THE A1 OBSESSION “The need to improve on fire classifications has led some companies to uncompromisingly chase the A1 classification of non-combustible paint finishes on metal work. There is no doubt that the development of material technology to prevent any further incidents of fire spread on buildings is a must, but have we reached the limits of what is possible with a powder coating paint finish?”
SETTING STANDARDS “For specifiers and powder coaters of architectural aluminium, the recognised European Standard is BS EN 12206. This standard goes hand-in-hand with Qualicoat, the internationally recognised specification for the production of high-quality coatings on aluminium products for architectural applications. These specifications also determine whether your product can be classified as A1.”
TALKING THICKNESS “According to AkzoNobel, a leading coating supplier, if you are applying a polyester powder coating to a non-combustible metal to Qualicoat certified standards, then it cannot be above 25µm(microns) thick if you are claiming it achieves A1. Qualicoat states that to meet its Class 1 - 2 coating specification the minimum coating thickness should be 60µm and to meet Class 3 is a minimum of 50µm - so reaching A1 is unachievable using their certified coating system.”
EDUCATING THE INDUSTRY “Manufacturers are currently obsessed with achieving A1 status, whilst contractors believe only products achieving such standards are fit for purpose. And this is the problem – a lack of understanding about the difference between the A1 and A2 classifications.
“A2 products are not sub-standard and by better understanding the differences between the A1 and A2 ratings, those involved in the construction industries will find they have a greater choice of products, without having to compromise on safety or quality.”
www.ecodek.co.uk
FIRE DOOR HARDWARE
As important as the door
A fire door is an essential part of a building’s passive fire protection system. A critical component of every fire door is the hardware on it. At ZEROplus we have been independently fire testing door hardware for over 20 years, to be able today to offer an extensive range of tested products.
Seals Hinges Locks Euro Cylinders Lever Handles Door Closers Letter Plates Door Stays Vision Frames Louvres Door Viewers Flush Bolts Panic & Emergency Exit Hardware
FIND OUT MORE AT: WWW.ZEROPLUS.CO.UK ZERO SEAL SYSTEMS LTD: 01785 282910
BULL PRODUCTS PROTECTS RIVERSIDE LANDMARK 80 STRAND
Bull Products, a manufacturer of life-saving fire protection equipment, has installed its Cygnus 1 Wireless Alarm System at 80 Strand in London.
The former Shell-Mex building is currently undergoing a refurbishment project to provide 156,000 sq ft of flexible floorspace featuring stunning art deco features, contemporary spaces and riverside views.
The Cygnus Alarm units have been installed to protect the building during the refurbishment project. Due to the careful restoration of original art deco features, round the clock protection was required to ensure comprehensive safety of the site and its workers.
Working in partnership with Trident Electrical, Bull Products provided Cygnus fire alarms, extinguishers and trolleys across different levels of the 12-storey building. The Cygnus Alarm System was also required to interface with the permanent alarm system on site, ensuring that site workers were alerted to any risk of fire, 24 hours a day.
For more information, contact Bull on 01432 371170, visit www.bullproducts.co.uk or email enquiries@bullproducts.co.uk
THE IMPORTANCE OF ACOUSTIC PERFORMANCE
As offices begin to hum back to life following the conclusion of the government’s official ‘work from home guidance’, Marcus Parnham, Commercial Director for Profab Access, explores the increasing focus being placed on commercial office design, including the passage of sound, to create productive working environments.
COVID-19 has undoubtedly had a radical impact on the expectations and requirements of commercial offices. Creating functional, adaptable and ergonomic environments that are designed around fostering employee productivity, whilst also providing individuals with the privacy and space to work in isolation, is essential.
From group discussions and presentations, to individual research projects, the modern office environment must support a wide range of tasks and working habits, with its interior structure at the centre of achieving this.
Here successful acoustic management is essential, particularly for areas such as boardrooms, interview rooms or meeting areas, where privacy is paramount. Blocking out background noise throughout an entire office will also help to decrease distractions, subsequently enabling employees to concentrate better, as they continue to make the transition back to busy office environments.
Approved Document E, which outlines the Government’s guidance on compliance with the Building Regulations, details a comprehensive set of requirements for building components in a variety of settings, and should be the starting point for architects and specifiers looking to achieve the highest standards of acoustic performance.
As defined within Approved Document E, any corridor wall or door, including riser doors, must have a minimum mass per unit area of 25 kilograms per square metre, or achieve a minimum sound reduction index of 25 decibels. Such components must be tested in laboratory conditions according to BS EN 140-3, by a UKAS accredited third party facility.
By exceeding these minimum requirements through the specification of access solutions that deliver superior performance, architects can not only create efficient working environments, but successfully futureproof the building against potential future legislative changes.
For example, professionals should here consider steel doors, riser doors and access panels that surpass the requirements set out in Approved Document E, whilst also offering a number of additional benefits. This includes the specification of steel doors that are available with an acoustic rating of over 50 dB, in addition to riser doors that are manufactured to over 40 dB and access panels over 30 dB. Photo: Morley von Sternberg
However, achieving a consistent visual appeal is just as important when creating an effective and welcoming workplace. Here, riser doors can be painted or clad in a number of materials to support architects and specifiers in achieving either a discreet or distinctive visual appeal, dependent on the chosen interior design scheme. This includes the specification of riser doors that can be clad in materials such as stone, marble or ceramic tile, to create a unique finish that achieves a visually impacting design for any project.
As the landscape of commercial office environments continues to change in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, architects and specifiers have an opportunity to create effective work spaces that foster productivity and creativity, by achieving the highest standards of acoustic performance and aesthetics.
For further information on Profab Access and its range of riser doors, access panels, and steel doors, call +44(0)1827 718222 or visit www.profabaccess.com.
PPC Aluminium Sheet - tested to BS 8414
ARCHITECTURAL POWDER COATINGS
THE FACTS ABOUT FIRE
By Angus Mackie - QUALICOAT UK & Ireland Chairman
There has been a great deal of discussion that has taken place of late over the combustibility of the external envelope of some of our high-rise dwellings where aluminium composite panels (ACM) containing flammable cores have been used. These panels are in the process of being removed and replaced to meet stringent new standards. Insurance companies, mortgage providers and other property stakeholders have also had their part to play to mitigate risk and have forced building owners to check for ACM and other issues such as areas of timber decking. All this will ensure a safer building stock for our city’s high-rise dwellings.
The surface spread of flame on a high-rise dwelling can cause fire to spread quickly from floor to floor and legislation is now in place to ensure construction designs slow down the spread of a fire through the building envelope, or to stop it altogether, by correctly specifying the materials used in the building project. As a result, new and refurbished buildings deemed to be high-rise, over 18m in England (11m in Scotland), will be considerably safer.
Of late members of QUALICOAT UK & Ireland have seen a rising number of powder coating specifications that request an ‘A1’ classification for combustibility under BS EN 13501-1. When traced back through to the specifier, the origin of this requirement largely stems from property stakeholders who are misguidedly attempting to mitigate their risk by exceeding the current guidance, standards and legislation currently available. This can add both complexity and costs to projects without any benefit or reduction of risk.
When applied at standard industry thicknesses, architectural Polyester Powder Coating (PPC) achieves an ‘A2-s1,d0’ classification. This classification is required for compliance to the amended Building Regulations 2010 (Approved Doc B: Fire Safety) Nov 2018 and accepted as providing the necessary protection from the surface spread of flame on high-rise construction and other legislated buildings.
Ultimately, PPC does not promote combustibility or fire spread when tested to BS EN 13501-1. This is further supported by the testing required for London Underground approval, often lauded as a barometer of fire safety. This requires compliance to EN 45545, where spread of flame is measured objectively (ISO 5658-2) unlike BS EN 13501-1 which involves visual assessment only. Furthermore, PPC smoke production is extremely low or non-existent (s1) with no flaming droplets (d0). On the chart of combustibility, ‘A2-s1,d0’ sits just under the ‘A1’ classification.
It is important to assess the cladding system holistically and not just the performance of the constituent parts under BS EN 13501-1.
The predominant fire test for the whole external cladding system is BS 8414. This provides a route to compliance for buildings over 18m that are outside the scope of Part B regulations. This requires materials to meet the performance criteria given in BRE report BR 135 which measures whether the cladding build up is deemed safe for buildings at elevated height. The test itself involves a 9m high wall with a complete cladding installation, including the fixing of panels and insulation. It is therefore a through-the-wall test
When tested to these stringent fire safety standards, PPC performs as well as anodised and pre-coated aluminium sheet material. The three images for each of the tests show the cladding after the test, then with cladding removed and then with insulation removed to show the membrane.
A blanket specification of ‘A1’ restricts the choices of colour for the facade, also it will no doubt incur increased supply costs and shows a lack understanding of the standards and current best practice. But, irrespective of whether aluminium cladding is ‘A1’ or ‘A2- s1,d0’ classified, the critical aspect is to ensure the
Pre-Coat Aluminium Sheet - tested to BS 8414
full system is specified, configured and installed correctly. This ultimately governs all safe cladding installations.
In closing, QUALICOAT UK & Ireland firmly believe that the ‘perceived’ reduction in risk is not necessarily mitigated by moving from ‘A2-s1,d0’ classification to ‘A1’.
Members of QUALICOAT UK & Ireland believe education on the subject is required and will be approaching the relevant property stakeholders, such as insurance companies, local councils, developers and building funders. QUALICOAT UK & Ireland will make representation to protect the industry, to ensure specification freedom and to negate unnecessary surface finish costs.
A more detailed guidance note is available on the QUALICOAT UK & Ireland website.
The next QUALICOAT UK & Ireland members meeting takes place on 19th October 2021, at the Arden Hotel & Leisure Club, Solihull , please contact the General Secretary, Jan Lukaszewski, via the QUALICOAT UK & Ireland website, should you wish to attend. For details on the availability of various colours and finishes contact any QUALICOAT UK & Ireland member for more information. For updated information about the use and specification of QUALICOAT in the UK and Ireland, please visit the UK & Ireland Association website at www.qualicoatuki.org
