1 FRM in Con/Tall Buildings Network seminr/apf/19.04.17 rev1

Andrew FurnessCFIOSH, DipOSH, GIFireE, MIFSM, MIFPO, MIIRSM, FRSPH

Managing Director

Salvus Consulting

Safety Management & Training

Fire Safety

in

Construction

2 FRM in Con/Tall Buildings Network seminr/apf/19.04.17 rev1

Some of the Problems?

Triangle of fire !

Selection of combustible

or flammable materials

Selection of heat/ignition

producing processes

A lack of planning & management

People cant evacuate – In time !

Ineffective planning of routes

Inadequate prevention of spread

Concentration on completion standards.

3 FRM in Con/Tall Buildings Network seminr/apf/19.04.17 rev1

Biggest Issue!!

Principal Designers –

no/little fire SKET

Designers – focus on

user, not construction phase

Fire Engineers – engineered

building, no concept/interest of

construction phase fire safety

Principal Contractors – pick up

the pieces & costs!

4 FRM in Con/Tall Buildings Network seminr/apf/19.04.17 rev1

Recent Experience

Involved with 20 + projects last 2

years

6 projects - High Rise buildings

Fire Engineers & Designers

considered construction phase fire

safety, MOE on ZERO occasions

No consideration of worker safety

No consideration of Fire-fighter safety

5 FRM in Con/Tall Buildings Network seminr/apf/19.04.17 rev1

Construction guidance

Fire Safety in Construction work

HSG 168 – 2010

Construction Confederation & FPA

Joint Code of Practice (JCoP)

9th edition 2015

STA/UKTFA

Design guides

6 FRM in Con/Tall Buildings Network seminr/apf/19.04.17 rev1

Getting it Right – from the

start!

Planning (appendix 3 HSG168)

“A detailed fire risk assessment and required controls need to be developed from the outset,

identifying the stages and activities which give rise to critical risk points

and which, therefore, will need highest levels of control.”

7 FRM in Con/Tall Buildings Network seminr/apf/19.04.17 rev1

Critical Risk Points

Designer, Principal Designer &

Principal Contractor responsibility

In practice, this means;

Avoiding foreseeable risks

Pre-planning for residual risks

Informing all of the risks

& relevant controls

Introducing controls

at identified CRP’s.

8 FRM in Con/Tall Buildings Network seminr/apf/19.04.17 rev1

Colindale

9 FRM in Con/Tall Buildings Network seminr/apf/19.04.17 rev1

Dead End

10 FRM in Con/Tall Buildings Network seminr/apf/19.04.17 rev1

Dead End !

11 FRM in Con/Tall Buildings Network seminr/apf/19.04.17 rev1

Duty Holders

Designer – Reg 9 CDM

Ensure client is aware of their duties

Design analysis – foreseeable risks

construction, use & maintenance……

Take steps to reduce/control risks

Provide information on residual risks

Co-ordinate their work.

12 FRM in Con/Tall Buildings Network seminr/apf/19.04.17 rev1

Fire Engineering Design

Only look at final compliance!

No thought of fire strategy for

construction phase.

No controls when

Sprinklers designed in

Dry/Wet risers not commissioned

Engineered to single stair core

Smoke controls designed in…….

Not their problem – down to PC !!

WRONG !!

13 FRM in Con/Tall Buildings Network seminr/apf/19.04.17 rev1

14 FRM in Con/Tall Buildings Network seminr/apf/19.04.17 rev1

Designing with fire safety in

mind!

Practicalities;

When deciding on Build type

When specifying materials

When indicating/recommending etc.

sequence of build

Hazardous process eg hot works

Off site pre-construction

Fire Engineered solutions

Site/building access.

15 FRM in Con/Tall Buildings Network seminr/apf/19.04.17 rev1

Example

To maximise available ‘usable space’

for a client a designer designs in a

sprinkler system & designs in a

single staircase

Sprinkler system commissioned in last

few days of construction

Travel distances during

construction exceed

Table 1 HSG 168

16 FRM in Con/Tall Buildings Network seminr/apf/19.04.17 rev1

Travel distances

Fire Hazard

Lower Normal Higher

Enclosed structures

Alternative 60m 45m 25m

Dead-end 18m 18m 12m

Semi-open structures:

Alternative 200m 100m 60m

Dead-end 25m 18m 12m

17 FRM in Con/Tall Buildings Network seminr/apf/19.04.17 rev1

29 Storey Tower

18 FRM in Con/Tall Buildings Network seminr/apf/19.04.17 rev1

Construction Phase?

19 FRM in Con/Tall Buildings Network seminr/apf/19.04.17 rev1

Example - solution

A 14 story building is provided with

2 alternative exits at floors Gr’d – 7th

No scaffold used – mast climbers

for external finish of envelope

Protected staircore from outset

Fire fighting shaft from out set

Dry riser commissioned & available at

3 floor intervals

Dry riser inlet piped to site hording for

fire service connection.

20 FRM in Con/Tall Buildings Network seminr/apf/19.04.17 rev1

Example - solution

A 14 story building is provided with

2 alternative exits at floors Grd – 7th

No scaffold used – mast climbers

for external finish of envelope

Protected staircore from outset

Fire fighting shaft from out set

Dry riser commissioned & available at

3 floor intervals

Dry riser inlet piped to site hording for

fire service connection.

21 FRM in Con/Tall Buildings Network seminr/apf/19.04.17 rev1

Example solution

22 FRM in Con/Tall Buildings Network seminr/apf/19.04.17 rev1

High rise = Higher risk

Considerations

All designers consider Con Phase

CRP’s in programme

Reduce – flammables/combustibles

Fire engineering

Installed & Tested & Commissioned

Water supplies..

MOE Protected

Existing protection

Needs to be maintained!

23 FRM in Con/Tall Buildings Network seminr/apf/19.04.17 rev1

Thank you – Questions?

Andy Furness

Salvus Consulting Ltd.andrewfurness@salvus-consulting.co.uk

http://salvus-consulting.co.uk