Wednesday, 30th September 2020

CPD Online Seminar

Fire & Safety Division Annual CPD Seminar 2020

Attendance at today’s event will be uploaded to My CPD automatically for members within 48 hours
Technical Guidance
Document B in 2020
Eoin O’Dowd
Building Standards Advisor
Built Environment Advisory
Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government
 Overview

Supplementary Guidance

Additional Guidance

TGD B

3 Rialtas na hÉireann | Government of Ireland

 TGD B

B
Building
Regulations
202x

4 Rialtas na hÉireann | Government of Ireland

 TGD B

5 Rialtas na hÉireann | Government of Ireland

 TGD B
Supplementary Guidance
Tests

TGD B, 2017

Structural elements

6 Rialtas na hÉireann | Government of Ireland

 TGD B

7 Rialtas na hÉireann | Government of Ireland

 TGD B
Additional Guidance
- Builds on BS 5588-1 provisions

- Changing trends in layouts of

flats

- Consistent approach

- Prima Facie provisions

- Transitional Arrangements
8 Rialtas na hÉireann | Government of Ireland
 TGD B

- Definitions

- Fire Detection and Alarm

Systems

- Refuges

- Firefighting Lobbies
9 Rialtas na hÉireann | Government of Ireland
 TGD B

- Definitions

- Fire Detection and Alarm

Systems

- Refuges

- Firefighting Lobbies
10 Rialtas na hÉireann | Government of Ireland
 TGD B

- Definitions

- Fire Detection and Alarm

Systems

- Refuges

- Firefighting Lobbies
11 Rialtas na hÉireann | Government of Ireland
 TGD B

- Open Plan Flats

- Extended Corridors

- Smoke Control Systems

- Sprinklers

12 Rialtas na hÉireann | Government of Ireland

 TGD B

- Open Plan Flats

- Extended Corridors

- Smoke Control Systems

- Sprinklers

13 Rialtas na hÉireann | Government of Ireland

 TGD B
Where it’s going

B
Building
Regulations
202x

14 Rialtas na hÉireann | Government of Ireland

 Summary

Supplementary Guidance

Additional Guidance

TGD B

15 Rialtas na hÉireann | Government of Ireland

POST BREXIT – INSURING FIRE SAFETY PROFESSIONALS

Graeme Tinney, 30th September 2020

CONSTRUCTION PI - ISSUES OF THE DAY

CAPACITY Fees
DESIGN Value Cladding
Engineering RISK
& BUILD Contracts BREXIT
RESOURCE Digital Engineering CLAIMS
Fire Safety PEOPLE
EXCESS

Grenfell Contractor Failure

COVID RATING
AGENDA

• PI Insurance Market
• Fire Safety & local liability
landscape
• Looking ahead to 2021
THE PI INSURANCE MARKET
INSURANCE MARKET CYCLE
INITIAL CATALYST FOR CHANGE

• Lloyds Gross written premium 2017 - £33.6BN

• Lloyds underwriting loss for 2017 - £3.4BN
• Worst year on record for natural catastrophes
• Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, Maria combined insurance market loss
of US$90BN

• Market challenge to ‘close the performance gap’

• Natural catastrophe losses ‘not the whole story’
LLOYDS’ NON-US PI ACCOUNT

• Non-US PI is second worst performing class - £435M over the last 6 years

• 52% of syndicates unprofitable

• Abundance of capital ‘has influenced underwriting discipline’

• Retention and pricing
• Exposure evaluation
• Broadening of coverage
• Line size balancing
• Delegated Authority

‘Perennially unprofitable areas must demonstrate realistic route to sustainable profit’

(Source: Closing the Performance Gap – Lloyds’ Performance Management Division 11th July 2018)
CHALLENGE TO RETAIN AND ATTRACT CAPACITY -
LEGACY RISK AND CLAIMS MADE COVER

Start of Case settled

provision of Awareness of
potential claim and closed
services

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Negligence Notification to Formal letter

occurs Insurers of claim
received

• Insurers withdrawing from the market can avoid any future claims arising from
historic work
• Any Insurer stepping into the market (and providing retroactive cover) is taking on
the exposure to legacy risk
BREXIT – POSSIBLE IMPACT

• The removal of passporting rights from UK Insurers

• Historic reliance on UK market

• How covers in Ireland and UK differ to mainland Europe

• Are UK Insurers ‘Brexit ready’?

• Impact and decisions to date
• Uncertainty on future EU/UK relationship

• UK exposures under an EU policy?

• Capacity, capacity, capacity!

WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN FOR YOU?
RECENT EXPERIENCE

• Significant reduction in PI market capacity leading to

issues on:
• Availability of PI insurance
• Premium
• Limits
• Coverage / Excess
• Further restrictions on fire safety?
• Difficult discussions with your clients?
FIRE SAFETY AND LOCAL LIABILITY
LANDSCAPE
FIRE SAFETY

• Legacy projects and limitation periods

• Local issues

• Fee levels and risk -v- reward

• Severity
• Catastrophic potential
• Personal injury
• Consequential losses

• Frequency…for Insurers
• Aggregation in a small market

• Grenfell
• How the discussion has developed
FIRE SAFETY

• Insurers struggling to understand exposure

• Grenfell largely an unforeseen and ‘un-priced’ risk
• They don’t have the raw data
• Do they know what questions to ask?
• Cases yet to work their way through Courts
• Focus on existing clients
• Future risks
• Increasing demands relating to remediation / certification
• Continued uncertainty on ‘combustibility’ of materials
• Increased exposure as others fail to secure cover
LOCAL LIABILITY LANDSCAPE

• Joint & Several liability

• Irish legal system
• Labour intensive and costly
• Lengthy process
• Courts seemingly reluctant to strike-out claims
• Scatter gun approach
• Notifications developing into actual claims
• Litigation culture
• Exposure to personal injury losses
• Contractual liability / higher PI levels
• The Economy
LOOKING AHEAD TO 2021
FUTURE CHALLENGES

Likely position in 2021

• Capacity problems will continue

• More firms will struggle to source insurance protection
• Further restrictions will apply under policies

Need for positive engagement with

• Government / Procurement bodies

• The Insurance market
AND IN RELATION TO YOUR RENEWAL…

• Commence the process early

• Positive engagement with brokers/insurers

• Detailed presentation of your risk….evidence why you’re different

• Focus on sustainability

• Assisting on management of claims

• Making good decisions

THANK YOU
ANY QUESTIONS?

Graeme Tinney BA (Hons) FCII

CEO, Griffiths & Armour Europe DAC
Email: gtinney@griffithsandarmour.com
DISCLAIMER
Griffiths & Armour Europe Designated Activity Company is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. This presentation does not provide legal advice and is not a substitute for
obtaining specific legal advice in order to protect the interest of your business. Should you require legal advice on any of these matters, please contact your legal adviser. It is
intended only to highlight issues that might be of interest to Griffiths & Armour Europe Designated Activity Company clients. The contents of this presentation are based
primarily on the legal position under Irish law and may be subject to change. Further, more detailed advice may be appropriate in relation to other jurisdictions in which you
work. Where links to third party websites are provided, we accept no responsibility for their content. © Griffiths & Armour.
Reform of the
Dangerous
Substances Regime
Engineers Ireland Online Seminar
30th September 2020
Why Reform The
Regulations?
• Issues with the Previous Regulations

• The legislation hadn’t been updated significantly since 1979

• The Regulations were overly prescriptive and out of date

• Industry good practice had evolved over time

• The Regulations did not cover all fuels in current or future use

• Kerbside stations could not fully comply with the Regulations and had to receive

derogations
 The Review Process - 2018
• August 2018 –Arup appointed to review the legislation and draft new Regs

• October 2018 – Steering Group convened

• November 2018 – Stakeholder consultation workshop

• December 2018 – Arup provided a draft Summary Report and draft Regs

• January-March 2019 – draft Summary Report Recommendations and

Draft Regulations reviewed by DBEI and the H.S.A.

• May-July 2019 – consultation with public and private bodies in the petroleum industry

• July/August 2019 – finalisation of draft Regulations and legal scrutiny and settlement
The New Dangerous Substances Regulations for Petrol
Stations and Bulk Stores

S.I. 630 and S.I. 631 of 2019

Published in December 2019
Came into effect on 1st April 2020
Existing Licences
• Under the new Regulations, all existing licences for retail stores and bulk stores will

be valid until their expiry date.

• All stores with existing licences will need to apply for their new licence under these

Regulations no later than 90 days before expiry.

 Changes Common to both
Regulations

Scope:

• Expanded to cover all flammable liquids as defined by the CLP Regulation, including diesel

(the Dangerous Substances Act is amended to facilitate this by S.I.147 of 2020)

• It is specified that the Regulations cover fuels for use in vehicle engines

• Forthcoming alternative fuels are included in the definitions for future proofing

• Private stores have been moved into the bulk stores Regulations
 Changes Common to both
Regulations

Risk Assessment:

• All first licences under the new Regulations will require a risk assessment prepared by

a competent person.

• Kerbsides Service Stations will require a risk assessment

• Subsequent Licence renewals/transfers will only require a new risk assessment if

major/emergency works have taken place at the store

 Changes Common to both
Regulations
Standards for Licensing:

• All prescriptive elements have been replaced with a Schedule of Documents reflecting

industry good practice

• Part 1 of the Schedule is made up of The Blue Book and The Red Guide, which must be

adhered to by all stores (for some, as far as is reasonably practicable)

• Part 2 is a longer list of guidance documents which must be referred to if the risk

assessment is based on any of them

 Changes Common to both
Regulations
Timelines:

• Timelines for reviewing licence applications, lodging appeals, judging appeals and

making changes have been provided for clarity and transparency

Example:

For L.A.’s - Assess an application for a licence/certificate of operation 60 days –

this can be extended if necessary, but the LA must inform the applicant of the new deadline

For applicant - Application for a licence/transfer of licence when a store has been transferred

Within 30 days of the transfer of the store

 Changes Common to both
Regulations

Enforcement:

• The new Regulations provide clarity as to who is responsible for enforcement:

• The Local Authority/Fire Services are responsible for licensing and enforcement

• The HSA is responsible for appeals for all stores except kerbsides

• The District Court is responsible for appeals for kerbsides

 Changes Common to both
Regulations

Changes to site:
- The new Regulations provide definitions for minor, major and emergency works
- Minor works will require the licensee to let the licensing authority know they have taken
place
- Major works will require a revised risk assessment and an application for an amended
licence to be submitted
- There is a provision that emergency works can be carried out as needed. If they also
constitute major works, a licensee may apply for an amended licence retroactively
 Retail and Private Petroleum
Stores Changes

• The Regulations have been renamed “The Dangerous Substances

(Flammable Liquids and Fuels Retail Stores) Regulations 2019” (FLFRS)

• Private Petroleum Stores have been moved over to the Bulk Stores Regs

• The Red Guide in Schedule 1 will allow for the licensing of unmanned stations

• A new regime for kerbsides has been created

 New Kerbside Regime
• The current derogation for kerbsides will not be renewed once it expires in December 2020

• Kerbsides will be required to submit a risk assessment along with a licence application

• Kerbsides will be entitled to a type of conditional licence called a Certificate of Operation,

provided they make their site as safe as is reasonably practicable

• Appeals for kerbsides will be directed to the District Court, so that their socioeconomic

benefits can be assessed alongside safety issues

 Petroleum Bulk Stores Changes
• The Regulations have been renamed

“The Dangerous Substances (Flammable Liquids and Fuels Distribution and Commercial

Supply Stores) Regulations 2019” (FLFDCSS)

• The upper limit for FLFDCSS for any fuel is the lowest COMAH limit for that fuel (this

will eliminate double licensing)

• The lower limit for Category 1 flammable liquids is 2000 Lts

• The lower limit for Category 2 and Category 3 flammable liquids is 5000 Lts
Risk Assessment

• For S.I. 630, the risk assessment should be in accordance with

Regulation 17 and must include the items listed in Schedule 1 Part 1 and
Part 2 if applicable
• Schedule 5 sets out the matters to be included in the risk assessment
• Schedule 6 sets out the information regarding maps and drawings that is
to accompany the risk assessment
• The electrical inspection report should be based on the model set out in
Annex T of the “Blue Book” in accordance with ISEN 60079
 Planning and Implementation –
Next Steps

• The Business Case has been approved by PSROG in June 2020

• A new regime for licensing petrol stations and bulk stores based on a four region

approach

• The closing date for expressions of interest from fire authorities was 11/09/20

• Work will begin to implement the new regime

• A new fee system which is modern, fair, proportional and standardised across the country
 Proposed Structure of Regional Office

• Each Regional Dangerous Substances Team would be led by a Regional

Coordinator (Senior Executive Engineer or equivalent).
• Other team members would consist of an Executive Engineer/District Officer (or
equivalent) and an Assistant Engineer (or equivalent) and Administration (Grade
5) or analogous grades, as appropriate.
• Staff would be based in existing Local Authority offices within each region.
• A Regional Dangerous Substances Steering Committee, chaired by a Local
Authority Director of Services from the region, would have oversight of regional
priorities and work programs.
 Protecting People, Property and the Planet

The role of testing and third party

approval in Fire Safety

Nigel Firkins, Fire Engineer

BRE Global - Fire Suppression

Engineers Ireland
Fire & Safety Division Annual CPD Seminar 2020

30th September 2020

Part of the BRE Trust

Content

• Background to the development of codes and standards

• Test reports and manufacturers claims
• The benefits of 3rd Party Certification

• Questions
 Protecting People, Property and the Planet

Codes and Standards

Background to the development of codes and

standards
Great Fire of London – 2nd to 5th September 1666

• Only a few direct reported deaths…..

• 13,000 homes destroyed and 100,000 made homeless
• 400 acres of land almost 80% of the city

• Buildings to be made of stone

• Space separation between buildings
• Controls on hearths and cooking equipment
 1860’s formation of Rules of
the FOC
1869

Est. 1680
Insurers set up
Fire Office’ to look
at risks from fire &
introduce fire
‘marks’ and fire
1666 Great fire of London brigades & FOC list of approved products
17/1800’s fire pumps 1885 1st FOC Sprinkler Rules

1666 1700’s 1800’s 1900’s

Insurers and LPS Standards

1950’s

ABI sells
Today LPCB is a LPC/LPCB to
FOC List of Approved
Products rebranded the
Brand of BRE BRE Trust
Red Book
2018 2000 1980’s
Building Regulations

Building Regulations
and Approved
Documents

Design, Installation &

Maintenance
Standards

Product Standards
Standards (Design & Installation)

– Aim to be compatible with the regulatory and insurance

requirements
– Detail requirements and specifications for:
– material, product arrangements, product selections,
assurance (by commissioning and maintenance)
– Assume competency levels for those using the
standard
– Example standards
– Sprinklers - EN 12845, BS 9251, EN 16925, LPS
1048

– Watermist – BS 8489, BS 8458, EN 14972

Standards (Components)

– Support design & installation standards to meeting

regulatory and/or insurance requirements
– Detail requirements and specifications for the component
– Detail test methods, pass/fail criteria and essential safety
requirements
– Deliver test reports
– Assume competency levels for those using the standard
– Example standards
– Sprinkler - EN 12259, BS 9252, (EN 12259-14), LPS
1039
– Watermist – BS 8663, prEN 17450, LPS 1283,
 Protecting People, Property and the Planet

Test Reports

Supporting Standards
Test Reports

A test report is a statement of fact

a snapshot in time
related to the product presented at
the time of testing
and reports the information detailed in
the Standard.
Test Report - Checks
• Was the sample representative?
• ‘Golden’ Sample

• Fully compliant with the standard?

• Was the testing Independent?

• INAB, UKAS or ILAC recognised (International
Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation)

• Will future products be the same?

• What if materials, designs or processes change?
Test Report Should be Complete

• Common claims:
• “Complies with …”
• “Designed to …”
• “Tested by …”
• These claims are no guarantee that products will
continue to meet the standards or that they fully
comply.
 Always ask for the test report (all pages) and check
 Tested and Approved by LPCB to LPS XXXX
 Protecting People, Property and the Planet

3rd Party Certification

What are the benefits of 3rd Party

Certification?
Key benefits of 3rd Party Certification Schemes

– A robust standard

– Expertise in the product being certified

– Consistent processes and procedures

– Confirmation that the product/service has met and

should continue to meet the requirements of specified
published standards
Standards used for 3rd Party Certification

• Loss Prevention Standards (LPS)

developed in collaboration with
industry, clients, insurers, regulators
and other stakeholders

• Consensus documents
developed by stakeholders

• Based on National, European or

International standards
• (https://www.redbooklive.com/)
Expertise

• A conformity assessment process is

• carried out by a body that is independent of both supplier and
customer organisations
• The approval process is governed and controlled through
• Production testing, audit, ISO standards and Factory
Production Control (FPC) audits
• Certification/approval bodies are overseen by accreditation
bodies such as
• the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) in our case INAB
and UKAS
On-going processes

Surveillance
(Factory
Product
Production
Control)

Performance
Listing Assessment
(Testing)

Certification
Review
Decision
Confirmation by listing in the
Red Book
• All LPCB approved fire and security
products and services are listed on
web-based live database;
www.redbooklive.com
• Updated daily

• Suspensions/withdrawals

• Counterfeit
Role of Certification in Fire Safety

• Benefits apply to Manufacturers, Regulators,

Insurers/underwriters, Clients, Specifiers,
Contractors:

• For specifiers/end users/regulators etc:

• Risk reduction
• Avoidance of costly mistakes
• Visibility of certified product
• Time
• Traceability of product

• For manufacturers/installers:
• Supports acceptance by Regulators
• Added value of the product or service
• Increased visibility of product
• Reduced liability
 Protecting People, Property and the Planet

Summary
Summary – Testing and 3rd Party Certification

– Holistic approach
– Addresses life safety / property protection / both
– Based on an understanding of the relationship
between Regulation / design & installation /
components
– Uses declared performance requirements
– Confirms through testing, independent 3rd party
certification and on going audit
Periodic Inspections of In-Service Product

– Remove and test

– 20 or 1% of sprinklers/nozzles and pipework
– Tests = function, water flow (K factor), operating temperature and
thermal response
– Test report provides information about the fitness for service of the
installed product
Frequency
– Sprinkler - 25 yearly (some 5 yearly), EN 12845
– Watermist - 3 yearly maintenance cycle, EN 8489-1 Clause
11.4.5.4, dependent on site/nozzle
Any Questions?

Nigel Firkins

BRE Global
Bucknalls Lane
Watford
WD25 9XX
GB

+44 (0)1923 664880

Nigel.Firkins@bregroup.com

www.redbooklive.com
THE IMPORTANCE OF APPROPRIATE FIRE-TESTING
FOR CONSTRUCTION PRODUCTS AND MODERN
METHODS OF CONSTRUCTION

BY

DECLAN WALLACE
EVOLUSION INNOVATION CEO
WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO
 ONE-STOP- > €2.5
IRISH-OWNED SHOP FOR UNRIVALLED BILLION
INTERNATIONAL MULTI- CLIENTS TEAM OF PROJECTS
MMC/OFFSITE DISCIPLINARY QUALIFIED VALUE BUILDING
CONSTRUCTION MMC/OFFSITE EXPERTS REGULATIONS
CONSULTANCY SPECIALISTS EXPERTS
 Modular Modular

We are world
experts in
Modular and
Panellised Offsite
Construction

Panellised Modular 79
  MMC/Offsite Construction & Manufacturing experts
Structural  Light Gauge Steel (LGS) design and framing experts
 2D panellised & 3D volumetric MMC experts
Engineering  BIM design + manufacturing detailing design
 Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DFMA)

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Building 
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DEAP, SAP, SBEM, BERs, EPCs
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Engineering  Concrete and asphalt material experts
and Auditing  EN 1090 steel fabrication certification
 CE Marking experts 80
  The foremost experts in the Project
Management of testing for construction
performance characteristics (fire, acoustic,
durability, impact, weather resistance etc.)
 Third-party certification of building products
Product and systems (NSAI Agrément, BBA, SCI etc)
Development  R & D and development of building products
and systems
 Project managed over 250 fire tests
 Structural wall, floor, column and passive
fire protection testing

81
 COMPLIANCE – WHY AND HOW?

DRIVERS OF COMPLIANCE DEMONSTRATING COMPLIANCE

Building Regulations Offsite systems and the
Building Control legislation importance of appropriate
System Specific testing.
Standards and Codes of Practice
Has the offsite product got the
Grenfell and the Hackitt Review system specific testing?

82
FIRE RESISTANCE
TESTING OF CAT 1
AND CAT 2
STRUCTURES

83
FIRE TESTING
• Structural wall Internal
• Structural wall External in to Out
• Structural wall Out to in.
• Intermediate Floor
• Separating Floor
• Loaded Column Tests
• Passive Fire Protection Product
Testing
• BS 8414 Testing
• Field of Direct Application

84
85
MODERN METHODS OF CONSTRUCTION DEFINITIONS
Graphics courtesy of Vision Built

CATEGORY 1
PRE-MANUFACTURING 3D PRIMARY
STRUCTURAL SYSTEMS

CATEGORY 2
PRE-MANUFACTURING 2D
STRUCTURAL SYSTEMS

86
RECENTLY PUBLISHED

• Supplementary Guidance to TGD B

87
TIMBER FRAME WALL TYPES
LOADED WALLS TO EN 1365

89
INTERMEDIATE FLOORS
TIMBER ROOF TRUSSES
ROOF TRUSSES THAT REQUIRE FIRE RESISTANCE

92
SERVICE PENETRATION REQUIREMENTS IN INTERMEDIATE
FLOORS & FIRE RESISTANCE OF ROOF TRUSSES

93
94
95
FIRE
• Gypsum boarded protection
• EN 520:2004+A1:2009 Gypsum
plasterboards - Definitions,
requirements and test
methods.
• Reference 4.2.2 Resistance to fire
• “Resistance to fire is a
characteristic dependent on
an assembled system and not
on the product in isolation”

96
CAT 1 UNIFORMLY LOADED MODULAR STRUCTURE

97
Category 2
Pre-manufactured 2D Structural
Systems

98
FIRE TESTING:
LOADED WALLS (INTERNAL)
• Loaded walls tested to EN 1365-1/BS 476-
21:1987
• Internal load bearing walls and external load
bearing walls
• NB
• Adequate detailing of services in walls
• The importance of appropriate Fire load
• Temperature of steel for the duration
• All testing is generally with Type F plasterboard.

99
SCI ED006

The limiting temperature of cold formed steel

sections is 550 degrees for a load ratio of 0.4.
Load ratio is only applicable to Limiting
temperature design

101
 WHY IS LOADED FIRE
TESTING SO IMPORTANT?
• It is recommended (SCI P129) that studs should
not be designed for more than 80% of their axial
capacity under normal conditions, unless we
have fire tests which prove otherwise.
• Load Ratio greater than 0.4 would result in
Ultimate Limit State = Approx. 120%
• Boarding combinations need to be tested to
ensure steel is protected i.e. temp of steel
remains as low as possible, plus maintain
integrity & insulation.
• Steel is tested to approximately 50% load i.e.
Fire Limit State load equates to 50% of the
Ultimate Limit State load.

102
SERVICES IN
SEPARATING &
EXTERNAL WALLS
- IRL APPROACH

Graphics courtesy of MHI

103
CORNER SUPPORTED
MODULAR
STRUCTURE
LOADED COLUMN TESTS TO EN 13381-4:2013

• EN 13381-4:2013 Test Methods for determining the contribution to the

fire resistance of structural members.
Part 4: Applied passive protection to steel members.

105
LOADED COLUMN TESTS TO EN 13381-4:2013

106
FIRE TESTING:
LOADED FLOORS EN 1365-2

STRUCTURAL
FLOORS/COMPARTMENT
FLOORS

IMPORTANT NOT TO BREACH PLASTER

BOARD PROTECTION IN COMPARTMENT
FLOORS UNLESS FULLY FIRE STOPPED WITH
APPROPRIATE TESTED PRODUCT

107
IMPORTANCE OF KEEPING
PROTECTIVE BOARDING IN PLACE
• Services strategy Critical.
• Importance of keeping boarding in place as
gravity comes into play.
• Strategy for keeping boarding in place is
critical.
• Failure is generally caused by boarding falling
off which results in deflection failure followed
very quickly by integrity & Insulation failure.
• Modular joist floors generally perform better
as fire resistance protection is provided from
unloaded lower ceiling.

108
109
SERVICES IN INTERMEDIATE FLOORS

Graphics courtesy of Carlow Concrete

110
MODULE SEPARATING
FLOOR DETAIL &
SERVICES STRATEGY

111
 PASSIVE FIRE
PROTECTION
TESTING TO
EN 1366-3
• Service penetrations
through walls and
floors
• Ensure the products
are suitable for the
configurations in
which they are being
incorporated

112
CONCEALED CAVITY
PROTECTED CORRIDOR
DETAIL WITH PASSIVE
FIRE PROTECTION
PRODUCTS

113
BS 8414 TESTING ON
EXTERNAL FACADES NOW
REALLY ONLY APPLIES TO
BUILDINGS UNDER 18M
• If your system is not minimum class
A2-s1, d0 rating to EN 13501-1:
2007 + A1: 2009 then you must
have a system specific test

114
115
COMBUSTIBILITY CLASSIFICATIONS OF TYPICAL CLADDING AND
LINING MATERIALS

116
NON-COMBUSTIBLE
WALL SOLUTIONS
FOR
BUILDINGS OVER 18M

117
FIRE TESTING:
OUT TO IN (EXTERNAL WALL)
• Loaded walls tested to EN 1363-2 Fire
exposure curve
• For external fires for lightweight façade
• Less intensity fire than a standard fire curve used
for internal compartment fire tests
• To provide fire resistance from cavity side
• External fire curve reaches maximum 680 C and is
maintained at this level for test duration
• Fire resistance (R)for a period commensurate with
the fire resistance period of the external wall

118
CHARACTERISTICS IN FIELD OF DIRECT APPLICATION

120
 FIRE PERFORMANCE OF OFFSITE BUILDING
SYSTEMS
 Tested loadbearing wall panels with service penetrations to
appropriate load EN 1365 – Part 1
 Is the product fit for purpose for the Purpose Class of
Building Use.
 Meet with local Fire officer and Building Control at Design
stage to answer and questions that they may have.
 Field of Direct Application is very limited.
 Fire Test assessments can be done EN 15725:2010
Extended applications reports on the fire performance of
construction products and building elements, as appropriate.
 Service Penetrations in External walls must be appropriately
cavity closed & Fire protected.
 It is too late at construction stage.
 Quality management system for sign off of all fire stopping
and cavity barriers is critical at construction stage.
 What Third Party Certification is available.
IMPORTANCE OF INDEPENDENT THIRD-PARTY
CERTIFICATION

• It is very important to
make sure that the
Offsite System Certified
covers the details in your
project
• Third-party Certification
does not guarantee
project compliance

123
NSAI CERTIFIED CAT 1 & CAT 2
SYSTEMS IN IRELAND FOR 10
STOREYS IN HEIGHT

124
IMPORTANCE OF FIRE PERFORMANCE TABLE IN NSAI CERTIFICATE

125
CAT 1 WORLD CLASS
PROJECTS
126
127
128
TALLEST MODULAR BUILDING IN
THE WORLD
GEORGE ST, CROYDON, BY VISION MODULAR

44-STOREY AND 38-STOREY

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Storage Centres – TGD-
B, Fire, Explosion and
Normal Hazard Storage
– Risk Assessments
Eamonn O’Sullivan, BSc(Eng), MIEI
Risk Engineering Solutions
E-Mail riskengser@gmail.com
+ 353 (0)86 8252838
Appendix - E

In this presentation
• Distinction between hazard and risk
• In the context of Appendix E, I will discuss the most common combustible
hazardous materials used in both
• Industrial Processing
• Storage Locations
• Discuss the nature of Fires and Explosions in these materials
• Discuss how to control these risks
Risk Assessments

In any • Identify the hazard

analysis of • Identify if that hazard is considered a
quantifiable risk
risk it is • Communicate the nature of the risk
important • Identify what mitigation/protection
solutions can be recommended.
to;
Hazard v’s Risk

• Hazards exist throughout everyday life however they become risks when their severity can
be quantified.
• It is common to judge that severity as a combination of the likelihood of occurrence with
the extent of the event
• Within the property insurance industry we tended to measure risk as a combination of
the likelihood of the event re-occurrence together with the value of damage done by that
event. The difficulty is predicting the likelihood of an occurrence so the potential size of
the event took precedence.
Appendix E - Normal Risk v’s High Risk

Appendix E relates to the storage and use of hazardous materials which includes combustibles, explosives,
corrosives, oxidisers etc
This presentation concentrates on the more common combustible materials in use such as:
• Ignitable liquids and gases
• Combustible Dusts
• Storage arrangements and packaging materials
Industrial facilities - Ignitable Liquids

These liquids are used throughout industry

Note: Flash Point is a common measure as to the severity of the risk created by an ignitable
liquid. Flash point is only a measure of how easy it is to ignite a liquid and does not measure the
heat release rate from the material once it burns.
Note: Once burning there is little difference in the heat release rate from a low flash point liquid
fire and a high flash point liquid fire.
• Examples of low Flash Point Ignitable Liquids: Alcoholic Spirits, Solvents for use in
pharmaceutical industries, paint manufacturing and paint spraying.
• Examples of high Flash Point Ignitable Liquids: pressurised lubricating oil system, hydraulic oils,
thermal oil heating systems. oil filled transformers.
• However the Flash Point does has an impact on the effectiveness of the control or
extinguishing method used.
Control of fires in Ignitable liquids

• The application of water on a low flash point liquid fire cools the building, the equipment
and its contents cool while the fire burns its self out. Sprinkler, deluge protection and
hydrant systems are effective in cooling building and equipment, but are not designed to
extinguish a fire.
• For High Flash point liquids water can be an effective extinguishing medium as it cools the
material below the temperature it will sustain a fire.
• Foam Systems are effective on two dimensional fires where the liquid is contained and its
surface is no broken. Three dimension fires are more difficult to control and need the
prolonged application of the fire controlling medium.
• Be aware the burning liquid can flow on the surface of the fire water therefore it is
important to direct the fire water flows to ensure they do not aid in the spread of a fire.
Many plants have fire water retention systems.
Control of fires in Ignitable liquids

Control of ignition sources

• Is Electrical Equipment appropriate for the risk
• Procedures in relation to control of hot work including welding, grinding
etc.
• Earthing and bonding of equipment handling ignitable liquids
• Maintenance of equipment, repair of leaks
• Good Housekeeping
• Good management systems
Explosion Risks and Ignitable liquids

When the proper conditions exist vapours from ignitable liquids can also create explosions, these conditions must include
containment of the vapour.
NOTE: The fire following the explosion spreads the damage.
FM Global Guidance on explosion risks
• A room/building explosion hazard exists when
a) An ignitable liquid is handled/processed/used at or above its atmospheric boiling point, and has a closed-cup flash point at
or below 218°C. (Example distillation operations)
b) The process uses an ignitable liquid with a boiling point below 100°F (38°C).
c) A piece of equipment with a defined equipment explosion hazard occupies more than 10% of the room/building’s volume
and is not adequately vented.
• An equipment explosion hazard exists when
a) An ignitable liquid is handled/processed/used at or above its closed-cup flash point and there is a vapour space within the
equipment. (Exothermic reactions)
b) An ignitable liquid exists as a mist within the equipment due to a mechanical process (e.g., spraying, mixing, etc.)
Explosion Risks and Ignitable liquids

Protection against Explosion Risks

• Control of ignition sources
• Constant low level ventilation minimum required 0.3 cum/min/sqm floor area – Intake with 150mm
of the floor
For Room Explosion hazard
• Adequate venting of vessel to outside
• Provide Damage Limiting construction
For Equipment Explosion Hazard
• Adequate venting of the vessel
• Inert the vessel vapour space.
• Install Explosion Suppression system
Ignitable Gases

Primary Exposure: Explosion in gas which has accumulated a confined space.

Controls are similar to explosion hazards from ignitable liquids.
• Control Ignition sources
• Ventilation of the area (Generally high level)
• Use of explosion venting.
• Beware of exposure fires on compressed cylinders can cause rupture and
missiles
• Segregation of gases.
Buildings - Construction

• Damage Limiting Construction consist of the construction of pressure

resisting walls together with venting walls.
NOTE: Ordinary block walls do not provide adequate pressure resistance.
• In prolonged fires with high exposure temperatures on the exposed walls,
wall stability can become an issue.
It is possible to construct fire walls to provide resistance for long duration
high heat release fires.
Combustible dusts and solids

Feature of Combustible Dust Explosions is the progressive nature of the

event, it is generally the third or fourth explosion in the sequence that does
the damage.
If it is known that the material is a potential dust explosive hazard, which can
be identified from laboratory tests, then the housekeeping in the area is very
important.
Accumulations of dust on horizontal surfaces and particular vertical surfaces
is a good indicator of potentially destructive pressures.
Combustible dusts
Many of the features previously described for ignitable liquids and gases are also needed for
combustible dusts.
• Control of ignition sources
• Electrical Equipment appropriate for the risk
• Procedures in relation to control of hot work including welding grinding etc.
• Earthing and bonding of equipment handling combustible ducts (Static created by friction)
• Venting of equipment
• Maintenance of equipment, repair of leaks
• Good Housekeeping
• Good management systems
Storages of High Hazard Materials

Clause E3 of Appendix E provides a list of Hazardous Materials.

In many industries where these materials are used the hazards presented by
these materials are well known, the volumes used are relatively small,
controlled and segregation is provided.
Table 3.1 in TGB B limits the size of a High Hazard storage area to 1000 sqm,
which for many facilities handling these material this storage limitation is not
difficult to comply with.
High Hazard Storage

However there are many consumer products being distributed from large
distribution warehouses with areas far in excess of 1000sqm, where the
product on its own does not present a significant hazard but when stored in
bulk create a greatly increased hazard.
These materials present high challenge fires which are difficult to control
even with adequate fire protection such as sprinklers, foam/water systems
or foam systems.
Examples of High Hazard Consumer Products

Perfumes and personal care products

The products can contain high volumes (65 to 70% alcohol) and contained in plastic or glass containers and
stored in cardboard containers on pallets in racking.
Factors that influence fire growth
• Rack Storage
• Large volume of material
• Ease with which material ignites
• Rapid Failure of the glass or plastic container
• Failure to provide adequate drainage to safely remove the burning liquids allowing burning liquid to flow
under adjacent racks. Depends on container size and the nature of the material contained in the product.
Examples of High Hazard Consumer Products

High Flash Point ignitable liquids in 5 or 20 litre plastic containers in cardboard containers stored on pallets in storage
racking.
Examples:
• Cooking Oils
• Motor Oils
• Lubricating Oils
• Paint Thinners

Factors that influence fire growth are as described previously with emphasis on the failure of the plastic container.
Note: Plastic containers melt and fails at around 100oC
Examples of High Hazard Consumer Products

Aerosols
Can contain low or high flash point ignitable liquids, the container are small weak
pressurised metal or plastic containers in cardboard containers
Factors that influence fire growth
• Storage arrangement
• Large volume of material
• Ease with which packaging ignites
• Rapid Failure of the glass or plastic container creating rockets which spread fire rapidly.
• Failure to control rocketing cans using either wire cages or walls.
Control Features for these Risks

Suggested Control features

• Adequate sprinkler
• Reliable alarm system
• Containment of the risk within fire rated construction, cages
• Drainage of the storage space where necessary
• Control of ignition sources, electrical equipment, hot work procedures etc.
• In this presentation
• I have created a distinction between hazard
and risk
• Discussed the most common combustible
hazardous materials used in both
• Industrial Processing Review
• Storage Locations
• Discussed the nature of Fires and Explosions in
these materials
• Discussed how to control these risks
Thank You for your Time
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