"fire protection"

The recently renovated 'schloss Colditz' in Saxony, Germany is a great example of how to reconcile the often conflicting demands of historic preservation and fire-protection. The renovation has not just fulfilled fire-protection requirements but the planners have used extremely discreet solutions that fit with historic preservation requirements. Many of the passageways have been fitted with Teckentrup T30 all-glass doors, which combine functionality with aesthetics and maximum transparency.

When you design a building that will be used by lots of people, like a tower block, you need to make sure that the building has the correct level of fire prevention and fire protection equipment. In instances where this isn’t the case, tragedies like the Grenfell Fire can happen. The importance of passive and active fire protection methods are vital for the safety of the intended occupants, but how can you ensure they’re going to be safe?

The Isotec is a heavy duty commercial loft ladder offering up to 120 minutes fire protection. It also offers very high thermal insulation (U value 0.33 W/m2K) and an airtight seal (class 4). Available made-to-measure

The Klimatec 160 is a high performance solution for passive and low carbon buildings. Not only does it offer superb thermal insulation and an airtight seal, but it also benefits from 30-minute fire protection. The Klimatec 160 is the latest product in the Premier Loft Ladders range to be certified by the Passivhaus Institut (PHI) for use in passive buildings. It offers very high thermal insulation, achieving a U-value of just 0.34 W/m2K. It also features a class 4 certified airtight seal. As such, it is extremely effective at keeping the warmth in the building.

FIREFLY™ PHOENIX Offers Temporary Fire Protection For Fenchurch Street OfficesThe refurbishment of two complete floors to one of the City’s largest office buildings is making use of the well proven and versatile TBA FIREFLY™ PHOENIX smoke & flame barriers, to create temporary fire barriers while the work is being carried out: protecting people and property across the rest of the five storey structure where business continues as normal.The project at 30 Fenchurch Street, EC3 is being led by Overbury – one of the capital’s most experienced fit-out contractors, while the London office of HLW Architects is leading the design team. T&R Fire Protection meanwhile is the specialist sub-contractor carrying out the installation of the PHOENIX around the atrium, as well as other passive fire protection measures as the scheme evolves.In total T&R has fixed 22 rolls of the lightweight PHOENIX material to create the two hour integrity smoke and flame barriers around the glazed edge of the floor plates at levels Three and Four of 30 Fenchurch Street. The lightweight barrier has been fixed to the bulkhead and at intervals down all of the existing columns, before finally being secured across steel angle sections bolted to the floor slab.IFC Certification duly inspected all 160 metres of the temporary barriers – up to 3,300 mm in height - once installed, on behalf of Overbury and duly issued a certificate of compliance. The permanent works are expected to include creating fire breaks within the ceiling zones at 20 metre intervals, as part of T&R’s overall contract for Fenchurch Street in the region of £250K.The Site Manager for T&R Fire Protection, Tom Port Smith, commented: “We’ve used PHOENIX and other FIREFLY™ products on many hundreds of projects in the past, but in this case it was the insurers for the project who insisted on the installation of the screens to protect the atrium while the sprinkler system was being replaced. The installation though was relatively straightforward and in our work generally, FIREFLY™ is our ‘go to’ manufacturer when it comes to fire compartmentation. We base our recommendations and design drawings on TBA FIREFLY™ standard details and, once they’ve been approved, go in and install the flexible fire barriers.”Tom, like the majority of T&R Fire Protection’s operatives, has attended training sessions at FIREFLY's premises in Rochdale, reinforcing their trade skills and gaining valuable insights into the performance parameters of the different barriers in the range.FIREFLY™ PHOENIX is a lightweight smoke & flame barrier developed to enable compartmentation within buildings to provide up to 120 minutes’ integrity under BS476 Parts 20 & 22. Certified by IFCC, the flexible and straightforward to install material and is suitable for both new-build and retrofit situations.Manufactured from woven and non-woven glass, the FIREFLY™ range is designed to optimise resistance to flame and smoke as well as offer heat protection in a wide range of scenarios. The flexible barriers are easy to install horizontally or vertically using a full selection of ancillary products. Used mainly in the construction industry across the UK and Europe, FIREFLY™ Fire Barriers help to contain fire, giving building occupants extra time to evacuate and the fire service to enter safely.

Assured passive fire protection for a spectacular central atrium in Dublin city centre’s largest and most prestigious new commercial development has been provided by over 300m2 of Promat SYSTEMGLAS® Ferro. The system was selected thanks to its 360 degree ‘wheel of assurance’, which ensures all the fire resistant glazing screens are checked for compliance at every stage from design and specification, through manufacture and installation. The proven butt-jointed, steel framed fire resistant glazing system has been used to create all the glass screens which encapsulate the atrium at the heart of No. 1 Dublin Landings.

Designing, specifying and installing fire rated timber framed butt-jointed glazing is now easier with the assurance of a fully traceable supply chain with the launch of SYSTEMGLAS® Ligna by Promat, one of the country’s leading manufacturers of fire, thermal and acoustic solutions. Ligna gives designers the ideal balance of assured fire protection and maximum light transmission in all kinds of timber framed glazed partitions and screens. Ideal for offices, healthcare, education, retail and public sector applications, it has been tested to provide integrity and insulation (EI) fire protection from 30 minutes up to 60 minutes (EI30 to EI60).

The steel framing system that was introduced in the UK to provide EI fire protection in butt jointed glazing is now available as a complete, safety-assured glazing system with the launch of the SYSTEMGLAS® Ferro range from Promat UK. SYSTEMGLAS® Ferro is a complete glazing system suited to contemporary interiors with the fire glass, steel framing, beading and setting blocks supplied directly by Promat for maximum traceability. It is installed exclusively by a network of approved installers to ensure total peace of mind for specifiers, backed with the confidence of Promat UK’s 360 degree wheel of assurance.

SMARTPLY MAX FR B was specified and installed at a new multi-purpose building to provide both enhanced fire protection and a unique, textured aesthetic.

Our high-performance coatings systems, designed to stand up to the rigors of offshore environments, were chosen to protect the new platform. The two key areas for us were passive fire protection (PFP) and the ability to provide systems that were approved to the NORSOK M-501 standard. The aim of the standard is to obtain a coating system which ensures optimal protection of the installation, with minimum need for maintenance over a fifteen year period. Chartek is the world’s most complete range of epoxy intumescent PFP coatings and the first choice for the oil and gas industry worldwide. With an in-service track record of over 45 years, Chartek provides safety, durability and efficiency through proven, economical and easy-to-apply solutions, successfully meeting project and customer requirements in the most severe environments. Its combination of both corrosion and fire protection is unbeatable and vital for the Valhall BP oilfield. Chartek was the first jet-fire rated epoxy PFP coating that passed the corrosion performance requirements without a topcoat as set out in the NORSOK standard, demonstrating global technical leadership.  

SMARTPLY MAX FR B has been specified and installed to provide enhanced fire protection at a new residential development at School Road, Hove in East Sussex. Built by PMC Construction, the affordable 104-home development is on the site of a former Westerman Industrial Works complex originating from the 1950’s.   The extensive project included the building of 21 town houses, and seven residential blocks. Block A features nine flats in a four to five storey structure, while blocks B, C and D feature 47 flats across four storeys. Blocks E, F and G consists of 17 flats and retail units spanning across three and four storeys. Such a feat required specialist, structural panels with reliable reaction to fire properties.  “The project was to supply and erect timber frames as part of the design and construction of 104 residential dwellings and three commercial units,” said Emma Barry, Project Co Ordinator at Gibbs Timber Frame. “We had worked with SMARTPLY products before, but on smaller projects that required enhanced fire protection.” Around 3,500 sheets of SMARTPLY MAX FR B were used in the project, covering over 8,900m2. “We chose SMARTPLY MAX FR B panels for the Cat B and Cat C buildings and decking because of its flame retardant properties. Crucially, the product is also suitable for EC5 Design and Cat 1 racking, which is just what we needed.” SMARTPLY MAX FR B is a structural, moisture resistant OSB/3 panel, which as well as having outstanding and reliable reaction to fire properties, is ideal for use in a range of applications where strength, moisture resistance and improved flame retardance are paramount. Unlike standard, structural OSB/3 panels, SMARTPLY MAX FR B is treated with a water-based, non-toxic flame retardant solution during the manufacturing process, which provides enhanced fire protection throughout the thickness of the panel. This means that even if it’s cut, the level of protection remains, unlike some post-treated panels.  SMARTPLY MAX FR B is CE certified according to EN 13986 and meets the requirements for load-bearing panels for use in humid conditions (Type OSB/3) as defined in EN 300 and Eurocode 5. The project began in January 2020 and is due to be completed in October 2021. Gibbs Timber Frame are manufacturers of high-quality timber frame structures with over twenty years’ experience in the construction industry. Their expertise ranges from luxury detached homes, specialised structures, bungalows, chalets, terrace housing, apartment blocks, commercial buildings and home extensions.  Find out more and keep up with them here: www.gibbstimberframe.co.uk  Discover more about the benefits of SMARTPLY MAX FR B here:

Completed Works:- Metal Ceiling- FLOOR and more- NORTEC- Plasterboard partition systems- Fire protection doors

A four-storey underground car park needs to meet enormous fire protection requirements. Preventive fire and smoke protection and fully functional escape routes and emergency exits were top of the list when planning the doors and barriers. T90 fire and smoke protection doorsets were used for highly frequented areas with a higher risk of fire and the gallery and escape routes between the individual fire compartments were fitted with single and double-leaf T30 doorsets with round glazing. Access points to the individual levels were equipped with T30 sliding doors and T30 sectional doors.

Promat has played an instrumental part in the fire protection of the latest unit of GLP’s warehouse and logistics facility, G-Park, Northampton - providing a tailored 240-minutes fire resistance solution for Unit 4, a132,000 sq. ft speculative warehouse/distribution unit.  Situated within the popular Moulton Park industrial estate just north of the town and within 10 miles of J15 of the M1, G-Park has exceptional transport links, access to national markets, a locally skilled workforce and is home to a wide range of regional and national companies.   At short notice, the latest and final unit within the park required a solution that provided 4-hour fire resistance for the steel frame construction. Sub-contractor FAA Installation Ltd traditionally uses intumescent paints in its projects, but as this method was unable to meet the 4-hour fire protection required for the steelwork structure it was decided that boarding would be a more suitable alternative.  Promat VERMICULUX®-S and TD Boards® were specified for the project by Encon, a leading Promat distributor, as they knew that these were two of a limited number of products on the market that could meet the project’s requirements.   Promat worked closely with Encon and FAA on the final specification to provide a solution that could not only achieve the 240-minute requirement, but could also overcome the design complexities of the project, including fixing to both the structural steel and cladding rails, which most traditional boards were unable to accommodate. The completed installation demonstrates how VERMICULUX®-S and TD Boards® can interface together to create robust fire protection for warehouse and industrial applications. 

When you design a building that will be used by lots of people, like a tower block, you need to make sure that the building has the correct level of fire prevention and fire protection equipment. In instances where this isn’t the case, tragedies like the Grenfell Fire can happen. The importance of passive and active fire protection methods are vital for the safety of the intended occupants, but how can you ensure they’re going to be safe?

FIREFLY™ Phoenix has been employed at the iconic RAF Manston History Museum, located near Ramsgate in Kent, during the refurbishment of a single storey structure

SMARTPLY MAX FR B panels are being installed as part of a large and exciting regeneration project in the heart of Liverpool.

After carrying out a fire door survey, Warwick Hospital undertook measures to protect and refurbish the fire doors throughout their sterilisation unit with Yeoman Shield door protection products.Catering for the sterilisation requirements for all wards and departments within South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust as well as GP surgeries and clinics, the department is a hub of activity. The movement of heavily laden trolleys and equipment around the unit had caused impact damage to the department’s doors around door edges, glazing beads and the door fronts. Damage to these particular parts of a fire door can render it unfit for purpose.In this instance Yeoman Shield fired rated door protection products were used to refurbish and then protect from further impact damage. Door edge protectors were fitted to the leading and meeting edges of the doors with door protection panels installed to a height that would shield the most vulnerable areas.For additional protection, particularly to ward off blows to the glazing bead section of the doors, Yeoman Shield’s rub rail was fitted to the face of the door just below the vision panels. Colours of Blue and Red were chosen to distinguish between the contaminated and sterile areas within the unit.Yeoman Shield door protection products come with current and relevant fire certificates and do not affect the integrity of a fire door when installed but will continue to protect from detrimental impact damage for many years to come.Malcolm Bloxham Reactive Supervisor commented “We have used Yeoman Shield for many years and find their door protection products perfect for maintaining our fire doors in good working condition, helping to reduce our door maintenance costs by minimising repair and replacement requirements.”

A three year £24 million programme of works to repair and repaint the roof structure to Bristol Temple Meads railway station is featuring the use of the ZEUS Horizontal fire barrier system from FIREFLY™: employed to enclose a series of shallow arch scaffold beams or ‘cassettes’ that span the tracks, thereby protecting the workforce from any potential train fire as they use the access deck above.

Recent Home Office research and analysis of ‘trends in fire false alarms and fire alarm policies’ reported a decline in false fire alarms caused by malicious or accidental activation of manual call points due to the introduction of protective covers.Still every false fire alarm remains costly, disrupting schools and businesses, placing unnecessary strain on our emergency services, and reducing the public’s faith in fire alarms.Continuing to be the largest incident type, false fire alarms accounted for 42% of the incidents attended by fire and rescue services in England year ending September 2023 – fires accounted for 24%.Home Office figures show that there was a total of 3,030 false fire alarms caused by the “malicious activation of [a] fire call point/alarm” in England during the 12-month period, surpassing challenged hoax calls as the largest reason for malicious false alarms.Accidental activation remained a significant contributor, 15,609 false alarms were recorded due to the accidental and careless activation of life safety devices, including manual call points.With similar figures reflected across the UK, over £1 billion is lost every year due to false alarms.To recoup this cost, North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service joined the London Fire Brigade in recovering costs from hospitals, airport and student halls with a poor false alarm record.Dangerously, false fire alarms divert fire crews away from real emergencies; creating unnecessary risk as crews travel at high speed to attend ‘emergency’ calls. The ‘crying wolf’ factor caused by frequent false alarms causes staff to become complacent and less willing to act quickly when an alarm activates.The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service recently changed the way its firefighters respond to automatic fire alarms in commercial premises to reduce unnecessary call outs from unwanted fire alarm signals.However, the reduction of unwanted fire alarm signals to fire and rescue services does not necessarily reduce false fire alarms and therefore may leave fire safety issues unaddressed. This may not only lead to disruption for businesses, but also to alarm fatigue for the occupants – conversely, successfully reducing false alarms will also reduce unwanted fire alarm signals.Repeated false alarms reduce the public’s confidence in fire alarms, contributing to alarm fatigue and a complacent attitude toward evacuations. Alarm fatigue occurs when a person becomes desensitised to an alarm due to repeated false alarms and consequently fails to react appropriately in a real emergency.As recommended in BS 5839-1:2017, manual call points can be fitted with a protective cover to prevent false fire alarms. The British Standard Institute recommends in section 20.2b, that: “All MCPs should be fitted with a protective cover, which is moved to gain access to the frangible element.“It is now recommended that a protective cover is fitted to a Type A manual call point to help prevent false alarms.”Consequently, Home Office research examining the long-term trends in false fire alarms found that the introduction of protective covers was a contributing factor in the decline of false fire alarms caused by malicious or accidental activation of manual call points.As the original call point cover manufacturer, Safety Technology International produce a range of protective covers, specifically designed to prevent false alarms whether accidental or malicious.The STI story began in 1980 with a challenge by a school headteacher who wanted to stop their false fire alarms. Founder, Jack Taylor, used his expertise in security systems to invent the first and original Stopper® polycarbonate protective cover. From low profile covers to outdoor and sounder models, there are variations to suit all applications.The tamper-proof polycarbonate covers ensure call points are protected without restricting legitimate use in a real emergency, a combination of optional warning alarm, flashing beacon and break seal acts as a deterrent against malicious activation.

Keen to provide a safe and comfortable environment for their customers, Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff chose Yeoman Shield fire rated door protection products to help maintain and protect the condition of important fire doors.Owned by Live Nation, the concert and event venue receives over half a million visitors yearly resulting in the doors, situated both back and front of house, experiencing damage and unsightly marking from pedestrians and the movement of trolleys and equipment, etc. Not only can this have a detrimental effect on aesthetics but more importantly on the functioning of the fire door.To help protect from such damage Yeoman Shield’s directly employed fixing operatives installed door edge protectors as well as protective push plates to doors in back of house areas such as workshop, cutting room, and boiler cellars etc.Front of house doors, such as the entrances to the auditorium, which experience a huge amount of pedestrian traffic passing through, also had door edge protectors fitted along with half height door protection panels. Vulnerable glazing beads, were replaced with Yeoman Shield fire rated PVCu clad beads completing a comprehensive and durable door protection system that will withstand impact from hands, feet, bags and equipment well into the future.Manufactured from Yeoman Shield’s HessianEx material, the fire rated door protection products were supplied in black for a striking contrast to the colour schemes already in place within the arena.“I was impressed with the standard of work that was carried out by Yeoman Shield’s fixing operatives.“The doors certainly look cleaner and smarter and with the issuing of fire certificate evidence for all the products installed I am confident we will use Yeoman Shield products again.” Commented Marcus.

Coopers FireMaster Concertina is a great way to offer compartmentation between areas like a kitchen and restaurant and able to divide up these two critical areas in a public building and act as a fire break. By installing the FireMaster Concertina meant it would provide the building with an approved, non-invasive means of fire protection that would satisfy the fire regulations as well as ensuring that the open plan design remained as intended. Compartmentation and Protected Means of Escape were required as part of the fire safety solutions.

Striking the optimum balance between aesthetics and fire safety in glazed partitions is a reality with new additions to the SYSTEMGLAS® range from passive fire protection market leader Promat UK. Utilising the proven fire resistant material PROMATECT® H, two new Promat SYSTEMGLAS® options give designers and contractors the scope to create frameless, butt-jointed glazed screens that maximise light transmission, whilst offering fire integrity and insulation (EI) fire protection for 30 or 60 minutes.

The fire protection of critical movement joints within the main floor slabs of the new Midland Metropolitan University Hospital in Birmingham has consumed some 1,000 linear metres of FIREFLY™ TITAN Lite™ 120/60, as a well proven and widely specified passive fire protection product.

Upgrading the fire protection within potentially vulnerable roof spaces has been a highly important aspect of the wider refurbishment and improvement work being undertaken at a mental health hospital in Nottinghamshire, with TITAN Lite™ being specified to provide both integrity and insulation, in combination with other products from the range of TBA FIREFLY™.As a highly experienced specialist installer and long-term user of FIREFLY™ products, DC Fire Protection Ltd. has installed hundreds of metres of the TITAN Lite™ 120:60, as well as the Collaroll and a total of 13 fire-rated access doors: 10 measuring 1200 x 600mm, plus a further three of the smaller, 600mm square versions, offering a 120 minute fire integrity rating.Established in 2015, DC Fire Protection works right across the country covering multiple sectors of the construction industry, installing active as well as passive fire protection systems.A Director of DC Fire Protection, Daniel Mabbott, commented: “We have been dealing with FIREFLY™ for a number of years, including buying large quantities of the TITAN Lite™ and APOLLO Lite™, which we use for commercial contracts as well as other work. While we often propose the use of FIREFLY™ systems to clients, in this instance the TITAN Lite™ 120:60 had already been agreed by the client – in consultation with FIREFLY’s own consultant and specified by another fire safety specialist for who we are sub-contracted. We have a very good working relationship with FIREFLY™ whose technical team are always ready to come to site to offer advice on issues which arise or to provide a bespoke detail. We also rely on them to give our operatives the training required, up to the appropriate level. In this case the installation work is fairly straightforward, also using the Collaroll to protect penetrations to the main barrier.”Installation work was successfully completed to schedule in September and DC Fire Protection Ltd. is now preparing to begin an even larger installation contract at the Ashfield Hospital also in Mansfield.FIREFLY™ TITAN Lite™ 120:60 has been developed as a flexible fire barrier to provide compartmentation of larger concealed spaces within different types of buildings including factories, warehouses, healthcare facilities and even railway stations.By offering 120 minutes integrity and 60 minutes insulation, TITAN Lite™ 120:60 exceeds the minimum requirements relating to Fire Barriers as detailed in the UK Building Regulations: Approved Document B (Fire Safety). FIREFLY™ is manufactured using specially treated woven glass fibre fabrics.

Marioff provided an efficient and environmentally sustainable fire protection solution.The unique structural requirements and responsibility of protecting more than 2,000 staff members, plus the public, called for a reliable and trustworthy partner in fire protection.The Brent Civic Centre, a council and community space in London, chose Marioff HI-FOG® water mist fire suppression to safeguard their sustainable building. The Centre serves as the headquarters of Brent Council, a London Borough local authority. It is situated in the Wembley Park area of Brent and opened in 2013 and was designed to be the greenest public building in the UK.The Centre needed an efficient and environmentally sustainable fire protection solution for the one-of-a-kind nine-story building. The structure features a five-story atrium, which doubles as an events venue, and a drum-shaped area that hosts a wide range of government functions, community events, and services.Brent Civic Centre chose Marioff HI-FOG as a sustainable solution. The fire suppression system put in place, validated by real fire tests, discharges fine water mist particles to efficiently cool radiant heat. This is accomplished while using significantly less water than a traditional sprinkler system — in keeping with the Centre’s sustainability focus. HI-FOG provides peace of mind to administration while safeguarding lives and ensuring continuity for the critical city hub.

When the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort was planned, the project included a 7-bay fire / ambulance station which featured a garden style theme to enable the buildings to harmonise with the green surrounding and the nearby Theme Park. Bolton Gate were specified to provide fourteen electric folding doors which included a special green powder coating, Lexan vision panels and faux louvres to each door. In addition, the doors had to be designed to resist typhoon loadings of up to 3Kpa, were manufactured in Bolton and shipped to Hong Kong where they were installed by the local agent Deacon.

Coopers installed and commissioned two FireMaster® Plus fire curtains, the first to protect the property from fire and smoke migrating from the kitchen whilst the second to protect the internal balcony from smoke and fire travelling between floors. Both fire curtains provide 2 hours fire and insulation zone protection and were installed into the ceiling to remain hidden from view until deployed by a fire alarm.

Compartmentation, Protected Means of Escape and Boundary Protection were all required as part of the fire safety solutions and therefore Coopers FireMaster fire curtains and Coopers FireMaster Plus2 fire curtains were installed to ensure the fire safety requirements were met. In total, 113 fire curtains were installed, 96 with round headboxes and 17 with square headboxes. Round headboxes were engineered for The British Museum as a request from the architects. The headboxes of the fire curtains were going to be seen by the occupants so Coopers engineered a round headbox that looked in keeping with the design of the building.

Northamptonshire based DC Fire Protection Ltd., a long-term customer of TBA FIREFLY™, has employed the manufacturer’s ZEUS Lite™ system to create a 90:30 minutes’ fire barrier within the first floor ceiling void of a commercial property in London’s Hyde Park area.

The Hackitt Review has brought to the broader public attention the myriad of standards and testing or assessment methods that specifiers and the fire protection sector has had to carefully navigate for many years. And whilst the debate continues about the best way forward in respect of specific applications, one positive step that fire door manufacturers can take right now is to go back to basics and check whether their supply chain for fire resisting components is opening the door to risk.Fire resistant products like fire rated glass, intumescents and core materials are composed to precise specifications.

The high strength Isotec 200 loft ladder offers superb thermal insulation with a U-value of 0.17 W/m2K and a class 4 certified airtight seal. In addition, it offers 60 minutes fire and heat protection (tested according to EN 1634-1, EN1363-1, ÖNORM 3860). The Isotec 200 loft ladder is ideally suited for energy efficient, low-carbon buildings where fire protection is needed.

Park of Poland is one of Europe’s premier holiday centres. Located in Wręcza, around 60 kilometres from Warsaw, the park offers a range of attractions, including an indoor water park, theme parks and other facilities such as hotels, bungalows, office spaces and apartment buildings. Park of Poland was completed at the end of 2019 and is expected to attract millions of visitors each year.Our coatings protect all 4,500 tons of structural steel at Park of Poland and include a high-quality passive fire protection system based on our intumescent coating Hempacore One FD to improve safety for visitors and staff. Applied to the structural steel, Hempacore One FD will expand if exposed to high heat, insulating the steel beneath. In a fire, this will extend the steel’s load-bearing capacity for up to three hours.

Dame Judith Hackitt’s assertion that the building industry routinely puts cost before quality will come as no surprise to architects and contractors who often see their specifications being challenged, and changed, just to save a few pounds. ‘Value engineering’ has become synonymous with an industry obsessed seeking to do everything at the lowest possible cost. Fire rated glass, framing materials and other components must be evaluated and scrutinised at the product specification stage. Once specified, passive fire protection products must stay specified, as the slightest change to the specification can compromise the expected level of fire resistance.

Fire extinguishers are a vital piece of the Active Fire Protection puzzle; often the first line of defence they are integral to preventing costly fire damage and ultimately, loss of life.The importance of fire extinguishers is highlighted in Chapter 4 of the UAE Fire and Life Safety Code of Practice: “Portable Fire Extinguishers are the best available first response to table the fire at its incipient stage.”The Code of Practice adds that to ensure this first aid response, fire extinguishers shall be “kept in their designated places at all times when they are not being used” and “conspicuously located where they will be readily accessible and immediately available in the event of fire.”However, the misuse and neglect of fire extinguishers and their accessories in Dubai’s buildings is not uncommon, rendering them inaccessible or ineffective in a real emergency.As part of the Office of the UAE Attorney General’s ongoing campaign to increase the public’s level of awareness of the law, it was announced that fines and even jail sentences would be handed down for fire extinguisher misuse.The office states in Article 311 of the Federal Penal code, that: “Any person who removes a fire extinguisher or changes its location or renders it unfit for use shall be punished by a jail sentence for no less than one year or a fine of not less than 50,000 AED.”With requirements for extinguishers to be installed near doors or exits, it is all too tempting for fire extinguishers to be used as temporary doorstops.Seeking to improve airflow, the removal of fire extinguishers to wedge open doors threatens to undermine fire safety, making the extinguisher difficult to locate in an emergency.Safety Technology International’s Extinguisher Stopper® is a sturdy, tamperproof, standalone alarm that prevents the misuse or unwanted removal of fire extinguishers. Strong PVC coated metal rope wraps around the neck of the extinguisher and when removed from the unit will activate a piercing 95/106 dB alarm to alert you to any misuse or removal.Acting as a physical safety seal and audible tamper indicator, the Extinguisher Stopper® helps the person responsible for the inspection and maintenance of extinguishers avoid fines or a jail sentence for failing to keep them fit for use.The self-contained unit will leave the extinguisher accessible for emergencies and will not interfere in the event of a real fire; the alarm is also useful in the case of an actual emergency acting as a pre-alarm, helping to alert people in the surrounding areas to the fire before an official alarm has sounded.The compact design of the UV-stabilised polycarbonate unit means it mounts easily next to a vulnerable fire extinguisher, the alarm is easy to install and a deactivation cable is supplied for ease of servicing the protected extinguisher – a requirement of the UAE Fire and Life Safety Code of Practice.Recent updates to the unit include universal sound symbols for global recognition and space for a choice of 21 different language labels that are provided, including Arabic. Wireless options allowing for remote monitoring are also available using STI protocol.

THE PROJECTThe Jackson fire rated project features freestanding mailboxes that conform to the BS476 Part 6 & 7. The small bank of fire rated mailboxes are installed internally in a residential building to securely store mail for residents. The mailboxes have the use of support legs which are secured to the concrete floor with heavy-duty fixings. Support stands are colour coded to match the same finish as the bank of mailboxes.Mailboxes that meet the BS476 Part 6 & 7 will satisfy the demands of fire protection in most cases, and provide an affordable alternative if the surface spread of flame and non-flammable materials are acceptable. The mailboxes feature an inward sprung flap, which is a standard feature across the fire rated mailbox range. An intumescent strip is placed on the internal side of the mail flap, which expands when the temperature increases and ensures that the flap is kept closed – stopping the oxygen flow into the mailbox and reducing the risk of fire spreading through the mailbox.An alternative fire rated solution is that mailboxes are manufactured to meet the BS476 Part 22, this group of products contain a series of features and benefits that result in a ‘one-hour integrity’ rating. As a result of the comprehensive collection of features, this product range is the premium option.PROJECT DETAILSProject Type: Private ResidentialProduct: Fire Rated 2 MailboxInstallation: FreestandingFire Rating: BS476 Part 6 & 7Accessories: Identification Nametabs/Support legs