29 November 2011
MULTI-MEDIA CAMPAIGN TARGETS VENTILATION FIRE SAFETY
HVCA is urging all members of the supply chain to clarify responsibility for ventilation fire safety, and to work together to minimise the risk of fire and smoke damage in buildings.
This multi-media campaign is being supported by damper manufacturer Ruskin Air Management, and incorporates a webinar, a continuous professional development (CPD) presentation which is currently touring the country, and an online film to be launched in January.
The Association’s Guide to Good Practice: Installation of Fire and Smoke Dampers (DW145) highlights the need for a co-ordinated approach to installation and the responsibilities of all team members – ie, designers, builders, manufacturers and local authorities as well as mechanical services, ductwork and other specialist contractors.
“Everyone working away in isolation will almost inevitably result in a non-compliant installation,” said Peter Rogers, chairman of the HVCA Ductwork Group.
The HVCA publication and the accompanying CPD presentation set out the basic principles for the design and installation process. For example, manufacturers are reminded of the need to provide “dimensionally detailed guidance” on how the damper assembly is to be installed, including any requirements for damper unit expansion, while fire strategy drawings must clearly indicate the type and classification of the fire barrier and its construction.
“Clear lines of communication are essential for successful damper strategies,” said Ruskin managing director Kevin Munson.
“The Guide to Good Practice provides the authoritative guidance on the subject, and is becoming increasingly important as the industry and its clients come under pressure – from fire authorities, regulators, insurance companies and building occupants – to get fire-critical installations right,” Mr Munson explained.
Ruskin has re-published its product installation guides to complement the Guide to Good Practice: Installation of Fire and Smoke Dampers, to allow contractors to refer to both the manufacturer’s instructions and the independent guidance.
Since the implementation in 2006 of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2006, responsibility for fire safety has lain with building owners and operators, according to Peter Jackman of International Fire Consultants.
“Fire risk assessors must continually update their assessments, but very few really understand ventilation issues,” said Mr Jackman.
And he added that air transfer ductwork had always presented a challenge to building designers in relation to the restriction of fire
spread, in which “dampers play a crucial role”.
Many systems fail to meet fire safety guidelines through the use of incompetent design and installation, sub-standard maintenance and/or inadequate communication, according to Peter Rogers.
“Test standards have been in place for many years, but there were no nationally recognised criteria covering damper integration until the publication of our Guide to Good Practice,” he explained.
“In the past, decisions were based merely on individual preference.”
The HVCA Guide to Good Practice: Installation of Fire and Smoke Dampers (DW145) is available from HVCA Publications on 01768 860405 (hvcapublications@welplan.co.uk).
Copies cost £25.00 for HVCA members and £50.00 for non-members.
Note to Editors:
For further information, please contact Gareth Keller on 020 7313
4937 (gkeller@hvca.org.uk) or Mark Oakes on 020 7313 4935 (moakes@hvca.org.uk).
