Fire Protection

After months of speculation, new testing and meetings between industry and MHCLG, leading social housing fenestration partner Nationwide Windows Ltd is delighted to be one of the first suppliers back to the market with their next generation, GRP fire door solution.  

John Whalley, MD of Nationwide comments: “It has been a difficult time for many involved in the fire door supply chain, not least because the country has witnessed what can happen when things go wrong.  So, it has taken time, clever product design and testing at levels never previously seen to get us to a position where we can announce that, in partnership with FDS (Fire Door Systems), we are introducing the next generation Nationwide GRP fire door.

Rapierstar’s specialist technical support has played a key role in helping West Port to achieve high performing fire rated door-sets, by eliminating the risk of failure during testing as a result of the incorrect choice and application of fasteners.

Rapierstar, which is the UK’s market-leading supplier of window and door fasteners, is recommending that fire door manufacturers follow West Port’s lead and not overlook the major role that these smallest of components play in a door-set’s structural integrity, durability and long term quality. West Port door-sets offer outstanding performance in either 30-minute or 60-minute options, providing installers with a trusted fire protection solution.

New designs and Class 1 fire rated panels from Fibo UK drew interest from Housing Associations and other providers at the Chartered Institute of Housing’s annual conference and exhibition at Manchester in June.

Visiting customers over the past few weeks, something that has come up in conversation is the problem of residents damaging or disabling fire door closers. This is not only a safety issue, but it also invalidates the insurance and can lead to big fines for non-compliance with fire regulations.

In sheltered housing, many front doors are fire doors and therefore fitted with door closers. This ensures the door will be closed in the event of a fire, and the spread of fire and smoke will be prevented. Residents will then have more time to evacuate safely or can remain in a fire safe compartment until the emergency services arrive.

Increasing pressure on contractors to deliver bigger, quicker and cheaper builds can result in mistakes that can sometimes cost lives. The construction industry shoulders much responsibility, so the importance of making fundamental changes to methods of working is immeasurable. Glyn Coates from Zeroignition looks at the flaws in traditional methods of construction – and the solutions offered by adopting an off-site approach, particularly when concerning fire protection.

Select the right contractor

A finished building should be fully compliant and fit-for-purpose. To accomplish this it is essential projects are designed, specified and constructed by accredited professionals. However, it appears in practice that many contracts are awarded to the lowest bidder rather than to well researched and vetted companies.

Aico will be exhibiting at the Chartered Institute of Housing’s (CIH) ‘Housing 2019 Conference & Exhibition’ in Manchester Central, 25th – 27th June on stand D20.

Tim Vincent, Head of Technical at ROCKWOOL UK, looks at the latest advice for HAs on managing fire safety in connection with the insulation and cladding on existing housing stock.