The UK construction industry is currently undergoing significant change, as a result of the recommendations from the Grenfell fire enquiry. The change not only requires a cultural shift across industry, but also a shift in construction standards, to ensure continuity that the as-built construction aligns with the design intent and fire strategy. This is where Joule Group RIBA Stage 5 Fire Safety monitoring is critical for compliance, bridging the design and delivery.
Why RIBA Stage 5 Fire Safety Monitoring is Critical for Compliance
By Simon Hollington, Associate Surveyor at Joule Group
Joule Group's RIBA Stage 5 fire safety monitoring services provides third-party fire assurance services during the construction stage, to support the fire strategy being implemented on site.
The scope also provides the opportunity to inspect, review and pick up any deviations or non-compliances from the fire strategy, fire tested details, and manufacturer’s installation instructions, which enables the Principal Contractor to remediate at the earliest possible opportunity, to avoid delays in the construction programme.
Picking up deviations and non-compliances early is critical in ensuring that the highest standard of construction is achieved for both life safety and property protection, ultimately meeting the functional requirements of the Part B (B1-B5) Building Regulations 2010 (as amended).
Common examples of deviations and non-compliances
- Automatic fire detection and alarm system electrical cables not segregated from non-life safety cables
- Dry riser outlets incorrectly positioned on half landings, rather than main landings, which deviates from BS 9990 industry guidance.
- Excessive deflection head details
- Incorrect automatic fire detection and alarm system coverage
- Incorrect sprinkler suppression system coverage
- Incorrect screw fixing centres
- Incorrectly installed fire stopping systems
- Incorrect fire doorsets (fire performance) installed
- Incorrectly installed cavity barriers (inadequate compression, junction abutments)
- Incorrectly installed cavity barriers (incorrect fixings, fixing centres)
- Incorrectly positioned cavity barriers
- Incorrectly positioned support to horizontal service penetrations either side of the compartment wall
- Missing fire stopping to the trapezoidal/dovetail junction between the head of the wall system and the steel deck above
- Missing tape and jointing above the ceiling track line
- Missing structural fire encasement to steel members penetrating compartment walls
- Protected hallways missing fire stopping to horizontal service penetrations
- Smoke shaft AOV damper height deviates from the staircase doorset height
Why do deviations and non-compliances occur?
Often on construction projects, there can be a culture of ‘we have always done it this way’, or that it was ‘approved on the last scheme’. Even the best intention, leads to deviations and non-compliances. Post Grenfell, the culture is changing where project managers and site managers are asking more questions and wanting greater understanding of fire safety regulations to meet the functional requirements of Building Regulations 2010 (as amended). The Grenfell fire enquiry has brought fire safety to the forefront of minds across the construction industry.
Furthermore, there can be a disconnect between the tradesperson on site installing the products and the knowledge of the products that are installed, the fire-tested details and the manufacturers installation instructions. This comes back down to the Principal Contractor’s site management employing competent tradespersons and providing the appropriate skills, knowledge and training to ensure that the tradesperson is competent, capable, and knowledgeable of the products and materials that are being installed. Those installing the products often do not understand the reason or rationale for a product being installed, apart from that, it is on the construction drawing. Greater understanding of the products and the reason for the installation leads to more accountability and higher quality installation.
This highlights the importance of employing competent tradespersons and a strong inspection regime and processes by site management.
With greater knowledge sharing comes better understanding, which is a strategy which can only be positive to achieve better standards across the construction sector, and bridging the design and delivery. Ultimately, we all have a role to play in ensuring high standards are achieved, by working together to achieve success.
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Figure 1 - Horizontal service penetration fixing support exceeds typical manufacturers installations recommendations of 400mm.
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Figure 2 - Vertical fixing centres measured at 320mm which exceeds the 300mm maximum allowed which is a non-compliance.
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Figure 3 - There is no evidence of a proprietary fire stopping system applied to the cable penetration, which deviates from typical manufacturers installations instructions and is a non-compliance.
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Figure 4 - There is no evidence of fire stopping plugs installed to the dovetail deck above the deflection head track, which provides a horizontal route for smoke and fire spread between the two compartment zones. This is a non-compliance.
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Figure 5 - There is no evidence of the application of tape and jointing compound system to the plasterboard linings above the ceiling track line, which deviates from typical manufacturers installation instructions. This is a non-compliance.
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Figure 6 - There is no evidence of the steel members passing the compartment wall provided with structural fire protection encapsulation. This is non-compliance.
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How can Joule Group help
At Joule Group, we have a team of skilled, knowledgeable and experienced fire surveyors in the United Kingdom & Ireland who can provide fire assurance surveys during the RIBA Stage 5 phase.
Our RIBA 5 fire safety monitoring services provide with the client the opportunity to check whether the as-built during construction aligns with the fire strategy or whether there are deviations, which require addressing.
The sooner that our RIBA 5 surveying services are appointed, the better opportunity there is to make sure that any deviations or non-compliances are captured early to avoid costly programme delays and provide the opportunity for remediation.
Our RIBA 5 surveys provide an additional level of quality management from industry experts, which is critical to achieving compliance, providing the bridge between design and delivery.
Our team of fire safety surveyors are proud to be Associate ACABE and Chartered MCABE members with the Chartered Association of Building Engineers CABE, which shows our commitment to employing a team of competent and ethical professionals who can be relied upon to strive for the highest possible standards.
Get in Touch
To learn more about how Joule Group's fire safety expertise could help you better protect your project, please get in touch with us at info@joule-group.com.