Whilst intumescent systems incorporating flame retardants have been widely available for many years and used broadly across the building and construction industries, the current economic and environmental climates make it more critical than ever to address the sustainability of utilising…
Containment of fire spread within combustible external cavities
Modern Building Methods may have changed but this has driven the change for improved fire protection, particularly in respect of external wall cavity fire barriers, the latest of which have been proven to outperform all of the previous types of…
Exterior wall fires on a global scale
It has been a little over a year since the notable exterior wall fire at The Address Downtown Dubai hotel. This hotel is located in the area of the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest skyscraper, where thousands came to enjoy…
Firestop tape – A new standard in firestopping
Firestop installers are in the life safety business. While firestopping is a key component in the overall protection of the building structure, it is also critical for protecting the lives inside the building. One of the biggest challenges in firestopping…
Fire-resistant glazing: are regulations up to date?
Fire costs the UK economy an estimated £3.5 billion per year. With glass becoming an ever more dominant material in the built environment, manufacturer Pilkington, has released a new report – The Burning Issue – to ask if the glazing…
Know-how & business – a combination that makes a competitive product
Fire-resistant glass is an extremely specialised product which requires both technological knowledge and high investment in research and in the certification process – this is not simple. For years, it has been associated with global brands or sector tycoons but…
The role of the passive fire protection installer
A well designed passive fire protection (PFP) strategy and specification are not the only considerations in adequately protecting built assets from fire. Of equal importance is the workmanship of installers and, thereafter, the maintenance team. PFP is built into the…
Trelleborg Receives UL Certification for DryFoam™
Trelleborg applied technologies operation has received UL certification for DryFoam™, a passive fire protection system designed for vapor suppression and fire prevention. Robert Kelly, General Manager of Trelleborg’s applied technologies operation in Boston comments: “DryFoam™ underwent extensive testing during the…
Membrane penetration firestop systems
What are membrane penetration firestop systems and how has the penetration firestop standard evolved to evaluate them? Recently, the ANSI/UL 1479 Standards Technical Panel (STP) drafted and adopted changes to the fire test standard ANSI/UL 1479, Fire Tests of Penetration…
Designing for passive fire protection in buildings
It is hard to over-emphasize the importance of a passive fire protection (PFP) strategy and its subsequent governance in building design. Comprising some kind of an assessment of the likely fire risks, an evacuation plan, and the means to deal…
The role of stone wool insulation in achieving passive fire protection
Due to its natural basalt rock and recycled slag composition, stone wool exhibits a number of unique and valuable characteristics, including its ability to resist fire, water and mold. With code changes, increased product knowledge and changes in building practices,…
Proactively stopping fire with foam
A fire in a building can be tragic. Even without lives lost, victims may still suffer lost property and sense of security. Also, there is the financial burden and inconvenience that a fire can cause. Protecting from loss critical, which…
The art of applied fireproofing
Electrical power is important part of our day-to-day life that’s sometime taken for granted. Almost everything needs power; we sometimes forget how it is quietly transmitted across thousands of kilometers from generating stations to homes, schools, hospitals, refineries, through essential…
Passive fire protection measures demonstrated in dramatic fashion by Exova Warringtonfire at FIREX International
Exova Warringtonfire will be demonstrating in dramatic fashion, the benefits of effective passive fire protection at FIREX International in June. Using a mix of highly engaging interactive exhibits, including examples of a full size burnt fire door, glass, structural steel…
Demonstrating Installation Competence in Europe
Adopted in 1989, the OSH “Framework Directive” was hailed as a substantial milestone in improving safety and health at work. The Framework Directive, along with associated Directive 89/654/EEC – Workplace Requirements, introduced a range of measures to encourage improvements in…
Isolatek International
Isolatek International is recognized throughout the world as the leader in passive fireproofing technology. With over 60 years of pioneering technical advancements, Isolatek is committed to providing the best life safety materials that will save lives and protect structural assets…
Installation of Passive Fire Protection
We face many challenges as an industry, where we must strive to raise the bar by addressing the practical aspects of installation and maintenance where we most commonly get it wrong. FIRAS currently has over 250 UK members and is…
A passive revolution? Revolutionary change for the passive fire protection industry
I was recently invited to be a guest speaker at an industry conference, and as part of the process I was asked to write a short biography to accompany the programme. From this I learnt a valuable lesson – read…