6 minute read
Fire reaches all corners of a building – so should your safety strategy
The dangers of fire in buildings have been well documented in recent years, particularly in the wake of the Grenfell Tower fire
This tragic event and the following enquiry brought about a change in the law, demanding a more rigorous approach to the testing and compliance of fire safety assets.
A robust fire safety strategy was no longer simply a matter of meeting a set of objectives set out by the government; it was now life-critical, the difference between the safeguarding of people, buildings and business and potential disaster.
PTSG Fire Solutions Ltd is the largest independent business division of Premier Technical Services Group Ltd (PTSG), one of Europe’s largest providers of specialist services.
Established in 2016 (nine years after the Group’s founding year of 2007), it was already providing the design, installation, servicing, maintenance and commissioning of dry and wet risers at the time of the Grenfell Tower tragedy in June 2017.
Police confirmed that the fire was caused by an electrical fault in one of the apartments, which soon got out of control largely because of the building’s flammable cladding.
However, as fire safety expert and Managing Director of M&P Fire Protection, Paul Atkins, told BBC London at the time: “If there’d been a sprinkler system the fire would have been deluged before it got to the cladding.
“People would have had plenty of time to leave the building. To date, no one has died in a fire with a sprinkler system in the household.”
The growth and development of PTSG Fire Solutions Ltd
M&P Fire Protection subsequently became part of PTSG Fire Solutions Ltd, as the Group set about building a department of highly experienced engineers delivering a portfolio of services that could meet the complete fire safety requirements of building owners and managers.
By January 2023, when the Fire Safety (England) Regulations were Introduced under Article 24 of the Fire Safety Order, PTSG Fire Solutions Ltd comprised a mechanical fire business including UK Dry Riser Maintenance, UK Dry Riser Installations, UK Sprinklers, M&P Fire Protection and Pure Power; electrical fire and security services provided by Trinity Fire and Security Systems; and a comprehensive portfolio of passive fire services delivered by Neo Property Solutions and Indepth Services.
Fire detection and active fire suppression systems, such as fire alarms, sprinklers, dry risers and fire extinguishers, are highly visible in buildings and their function and effectiveness are well known.
Passive fire systems, including fire compartmentation, fire and smoke dampers, fire curtains and cavity barriers are less visible or even completely concealed. Perhaps as a result, their maintenance is often further down the list of priorities for duty holders.
However, the effectiveness of a building’s fire safety strategy depends on a comprehensive and well-maintained combination of these systems.
The failure of just one of these systems as a result of lapsed testing could be extremely damaging in the event of a fire.
It could also lead to legal consequences: employers who haven’t ensured their buildings meet the required safety standards and regulations could face fines, legal action and suffer reputational damage.
An effective fire safety strategy is a comprehensive one PTSG’s provision of active fire suppression and fire detection services was comprehensive following the acquisition of Trinity Fire and Security Systems in January 2019. PTSG’s Fire Solutions engineers are well established and trusted to design, install, test and inspect, service, maintain and commission sprinklers, dry and wet risers and security systems for clients in all sectors throughout the UK. Since the further acquisition of Neo in 2021 and Indepth in 2023, PTSG has added a full suite of passive fire services to its portfolio. Often less visible or “under the radar”, these services are crucial in creating a robust strategy to ensure people and buildings remain safe.
Fixed Fire Protection Equipment:
The servicing of a building’s sprinkler systems, in partnership with its fire pump, is essential to ensure they remain functional with the ability to save lives, buildings and businesses. PTSG has one of the largest teams of directly-employed field service engineers, which means it can manage all elements of fixed fire protection – covering engines, motors, pumps and controllers. Supported by its in-house remedial works team, PTSG is able to provide competitively priced remedial repairs. Additionally, its team can provide a “turnkey service”, where welding, on-site fabrication and civil works are required to complete the project.
Fire doors: Research conducted in 2022 by the British Woodworking Federation as part their Fire Door Safety Week campaign ‘Close the Door on Fire’ found that over 30% of those asked believed that a fire door that was propped open with a wedge or a fire extinguisher was safe. This is a shocking statistic. PTSG employs LPCB, BM TRADA and Firas certified experts who specialise in the inspection and remediation of internal timber doors and front entrance door-sets. Its certified technicians provide assurance that every aspect of a building’s fire doors are functioning in accordance with fire regulations. PTSG’s comprehensive fire door inspection service has been designed to meet third-party certification standards, providing assurance and evidence to the responsible person that fire doors perform as they should in the event of a fire, protecting lives and properties.
Its certified fire door service provides assurance that fire safety risk is being managed and that its clients’ fire doors and door sets work as intended.
Fire and smoke dampers: Ductwork runs throughout an entire building, providing fresh air and heat. Fire and smoke dampers are located in a building’s ductwork system at any point where the ductwork breaches the fire compartment. Dampers are essential in preventing the spread of fire and smoke, and the law sets out clear rules and guidance for their inspection, testing and maintenance.
PTSG will not only help customers to identify any issues with their fire and smoke dampers, but also help them to find solutions. They will not simply leave a customer with a report stating their system is not compliant.
Once identified, PTSG’s engineers test each damper. A drop test checks that the damper will operate should a fire break out. Both fire dampers and smoke dampers need to be regularly tested and maintained to ensure proper functionality.
Routine inspections are crucial to make sure dampers close as intended and that the associated control systems are in good working order. A visual inspection and complete testing give duty holders reassurance that their system is fully operable, and it is the only way to achieve compliance.
Further passive fire solutions
In addition to the above services, PTSG Fire Solutions Ltd also delivers a number of other services including: fire rated glazing systems, fire compartmentation surveys, fire curtains and cavity barriers, fire stopping and penetration sealing, ductwork cleaning, indoor air quality testing – and for buildings with commercial kitchens, PTSG provides a grease extract and ventilation cleaning service.
Its team is always available to offer expert advice and to give a no-obligation quotation for services. PTSG operates five independent divisions, working from 47 regional locations to serve 20,000 customers and 200,000 assets. www.ptsg.co.uk
01977 668771
