It is important that as building professionals, we understand how fire affects the behaviour of steel structures and its performance at high temperatures. Depending on the severity of the circumstances, a structural fire may reach temperatures of 1000°C or higher. It has been demonstrated, that load-bearing properties of structural steel significantly decrease starting from temperatures of 400°C, and losing almost half of its design strength at 550°C. During a fire event, a steel structure will suffer from material property changes, such as thermal elongation, strength reduction and a reduction in stiffness. The steel would lose the strength of its yield and buckle, causing it to bend, twist and eventually collapse.

For approximately 15 minutes, unprotected steel frames can resist fire, however this period is seen as inadequate to guarantee safe evacuation of most buildings or deployment of fire-fighting actions by a fire brigade. This time of fire resistance must be significantly improved, according to industry fireproofing standards for structural steel. Based on both the size and function of the building, the duration of this time will vary. An office over 30m high with sprinklers, for instance, must have a minimum fire resistance time of at least 120 minutes. Building Regulations Approved Document B provides detailed guidance and specification for the minimum periods of fire resistance (table B.4)

Steel beams were encased in asbestos for fire protection until the 1970s. Asbestos is a hazardous material which is currently banned in most countries around the world. There has been a need for more versatile, lightweight solutions ever since then.

The majority of UK steel structures are covered in the following ways, according to data collected by Tata Steel:

· 70% use intumescent paints

· 25% use fireproof boards

· 3-5% use firestopping sprays

It is possible to roughly categorise these fireproofing approaches in two ways: reactive and non-reactive. Intumescent paints are 'reactive' until exposed to high temperatures as they obtain their fireproofing properties. Board fireproofing and firestopping sprays, by comparison, are non-reactive. This implies that, regardless of temperature, they contain firestopping properties. In this article, we will outline how all these techniques ensure that structural steel is covered in a compliant manner.

TThese coatings, applied by specialist intumescent paint contractors, are the most commonly used structural steel safety system in the United Kingdom. They contain materials which respond to elevated temperatures. The materials dramatically increase in density until exposed to heat. This provides steel with an extra layer of defence. Broadly speaking, there are two types of intumescent coatings:

Thin Film: These coatings are solvent or water-based, and are used in buildings most frequently.

Thick Film: While these coatings can be used for buildings, they appear to be used in industries that need intense temperature operations, such as the oil industry.

Brush, roller, or spray can be applied to intumescent paints. Either on-site or off-site, the application process may take place. On-site application is recommended if aesthetics, as well as short-term costs, are a necessity.

Practical limitations will contribute to intumescent paint becoming less of a practical solution in construction projects. This includes time scales for programmes, environmental conditions, and possible problems with accessibility. Fireproof boards will protect steel columns for up to 240 minutes in these situations, and steel beams for up to 180 minutes.

These boards are made of rigid wood based on minerals and can be mounted to beams, columns, and decking of metal. When the steel structure is being erected, this can be carried out by contractors. Although keeping compliant with industry regulations, this allows for a viable method. It should also be noted that any tarping or ventilation around the construction area is not required for fireproof boards. This will lower increased costs associated with the safety of structural fires.

Firestopping cementitious sprays are a simple and cost-effective structural steel fire safety solution. These sprays can be either mineral-based (a common component being vermiculite) or made using compounds of low-density cement. Firestopping sprays can vary in thickness from 10mm to 70mm and are applied using a spray machine to steel. These sprays provide fire protection for up to 240 minutes, as a rule of thumb.

In cases where aesthetics is not a priority, firestopping sprays are especially useful. For aesthetic purposes, you can apply an additional coating or a primer, but this is not totally important. If you opt for firestopping sprays, it is essential to develop an acrylic copolymer binding film. An additional advantage of fire-stopping sprays is that, between walls and floors, they can enhance sound absorption. Firestopping sprays have a multitude of purposes, suitable not only for steel, but also for products based on wood, fibre, and composite.

Over the last decade, ALERON Fire Protection has worked to develop itself as the UK's market leading firestopping contractors and experts in passive fire protection. We remain passionate about fire protection, implementation of fire safety and fire stopping compliance. ALERON is a team of expert IFC-accredited installers and also maintain accreditations from a number of industry specific professional bodies.

UK fire safety legislation has been created and refined over the past few years so that all duties and responsibilities are delegated to the right people. To ensure the fire security of buildings and the safety of tenants, landlords and building owners must comply with a number of regulations. Having said that, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (or Fire Safety Order, for simplicity) is the key piece of legislation for fire safety in the UK.

Responsibility for fire protection requires having an in-depth, straightforward analysis of their building's condition and whether the appropriate steps have been taken to reduce their building's risk of fire. This article serves as an introductory guide, detailing specifically who in a building is responsible for fire protection. In addition, this article will specify the rights of the appropriate authority.

It is important to notice that the definition of a "responsible person" is given by article 3 of the Fire Safety Order. Furthermore, Building Regulation 38 of The Building Regulations 2010, requires that "The person carrying out the work shall give fire safety information to the responsible person not later than the date of completion of the work, or the date of occupation… whichever is earlier." This regulation sets the statutory requirements that ensures that information critical to the fire safety of people in and around buildings is communicated to the owner, occupier and tenant/user, so that the fire compliance and safety of the building can be operated and managed correctly.

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety Order) 2005 is mainly implemented by the local Fire and Rescue Authority in the region (FRA). In special circumstances, however, other entities can implement fire safety regulations, such as the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) or the fire service of the Secretary of State for Defence. If you are uncertain about where your FRA is located, you can either contact your local fire service (follow this link to National Fire Chief's Council website) or contact your nearest fire service for details.

In order to execute the Regulatory Fire and Safety Order, the FRA employs inspectors who are required to perform the following functions:

A. Physical inspection of premises, identification of those responsible for enforcing the fire safety procedure and obtaining both their cooperation and assistance in carrying out the inspection where appropriate.

B. Evaluating enforcement specific to the Regulatory Fire and Safety Order with all the required requirements. They can request access to any mandatory records and plans, such as documents relating to the most recent fire risk assessment of the building, if required by the Fire Risk Assessment (FRA).

C. To determine their safety/flammability, inspectors would consider taking material samples from the premises for a detailed laboratory analysis. If any products are found to be hazardous by any of these tests, inspectors may order them to be dismantled, destroyed or further examined.

Fire safety in commercial buildings and multi-dwelling residential blocks of flats is the responsibility of those in charge of the premises. For example, in commercial buildings, the responsibility rests with the employer whether that premises comply with the fire safety regulations. Employers must, therefore, conduct a comprehensive Fire Risk Assessment. All applicable procedures for FRAs are clarified by our recent article on fire safety regulations for commercial buildings.

Some property contracts, however, state that it is the landlord's responsibility to be accountable for shared spaces (e.g. stairways, reception areas, and fire protection systems such as alarms and fire doors). Tenants are encouraged to talk to specialist landlord advisors to ensure that they are mindful of their obligations as owners of commercial property.

In multi-dwelling residential blocks, the responsibility for the fire safety would normally rest with either the landlord (the owner of the freehold) or the Management Company established to operate the building. In smaller residential buildings, including Houses of Multiple Occupancy (HMOs) and apartments, landlords are directly responsible for managing the fire safety.

A. Compliant Fire Doors

In apartments, halls, and staircases, landlords must also make sure that fire doors are installed. Although these doors ought to be 'self-closing,' it is vital that these doors do not bang shut as this may result in them being wedged open. In addition, for injury, corrosion, or signs of tampering, any devices used to hold the fire doors closed must be checked.

B. Fitting Smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors

The installation and maintenance of smoke detectors on every floor of a building is the duty of landlords. In addition, a carbon monoxide alarm must be used to regulate any room which contains a solid fuel-burning appliance (such as a wood-burning stove or a coal fire). Although these alarms should be reviewed periodically, at the beginning of each new lease, the minimum requirement is that the alarms be tested.

C. Firestopping and Passive Fire Protection

For walls, floors and cavity barriers, landlords are needed to maintain sufficient firestopping and prevent potential spread of fire through the building. This means being mindful of any possible violations of the compartment by external contractors, such as electricians or plumbers. Any infractions could make ineffective firestopping initiatives, so landlords must be vigilant in detecting signs of harm or wear and tear.

Over the last decade, ALERON Fire Protection has worked to develop itself as the UK's market leading firestopping contractors and experts in passive fire protection. We remain passionate about fire protection, implementation of fire safety and fire stopping compliance. ALERON is a team of expert IFC-accredited installers and also maintain accreditations from a number of industry specific professional bodies.

Hospital buildings are complex structures. They have a substantial number of permanently present staff, occupied by vulnerable patients and enjoy large number of visitors. Activities in hospital buildings present a range of major fire hazards. These threats endanger the safety of patients and staff alike, whether they are wiring issues or storing dangerous chemicals, and can bring a hospital to a standstill. Therefore, we discuss some of the fire hazards applicable to hospital buildings in this article, and how to minimise them by efficient passive fireproofing techniques.

As stipulated by the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, the following hazards should be examined during a frequent risk assessment by the 'responsible person'.

A. Medical and surgical equipment

While constructed with fire protection in mind, there are many combustible materials used in hospitals. In particular, flammable gas cylinders and oxygen canisters should be properly stored and treated, and energy-intensive machinery should meet electrical loading protocols.

B. Hospital kitchens

From cooking with fats to open fires, kitchens have a number of fire hazards. It is essential to regularly clean pans, grills and other appliances, and kitchens are fitted with the appropriate fire protection equipment.

C. Overused sockets and cables

One of the leading causes of hospital fires is defective or overloaded electricity. There are different risks involved due to the vast amount of electrical equipment required in a hospital. Short-circuits, overloaded power points, and defective or worn wiring all pose major fire hazards.

D. Smoking

Despite the fact that vast majority of NHS hospitals are now fully banning smoking within buildings, a major fire risk exists. Ashtray fires can be triggered by non-extinguished cigarette stubs, which can spread rapidly if not handled quickly. Smoking areas in a safe location away from the main buildings of a hospital should be installed.

Although there are numerous ways to minimise hospital fire hazards, below are 3 standard fire proofing strategies to ensure that fires are managed efficiently.

Hospital fire compartmentation

In order to prevent fire from spreading vertically and laterally into various spaces, fire compartmentation in a hospital is important. Hospitals are divided into fire areas, each of which, through fire-resistant walls and flooring, acts as a self-contained unit.

There should be no gaps between the doors, walls or ceilings in the hospital to guarantee the integrity of fire compartmentation within the hospital buildings. If there are holes between the door and its frame, it isn't ideal to have a fire-resistant door. Toxic gases and smoke can certainly flow through ordinary doors, so regulations say that they need to be sealed.

In order to delay, and potentially completely eliminate, the spread of fire, smoke and toxic gases from one part of a hospital building to another, a number of fire stopping techniques are used, involving the installation of suitably tested fire-resistant barriers, boarding, curtains and systems to structures around the shared wall and compartmentation doors.

Fire doors

Not only are fire doors strategically designed for escape, but they also have to be fire-resistant. For NHS fire doors, the minimum security time is 30 minutes, but in some locations where evacuation is estimated to be slower, this can be longer.

The regulation allows for the manufacture of fire doors with a variety of materials (wood, aluminium, steel, gypsum) and also with windows, as long as they comply precisely with their respective degree of time security.

For evacuation purposes, they should also be clearly identified as fire doors and fitted with a self-closing mechanism to ensure the safety of the compartment of the house. In addition, cold smoke seals are needed to seal the area between the door and the frame.

Sprinkler system

The effect of a fire can be minimised by a high pressure sprinkler device, and without providing a lot of water. They are currently reported to decrease accidents by up to 80 percent and minimise damage to property by up to 90 percent.

Hospitals need to complete routine fire risk assessments (FRAs) through an independent partner to fully comply with the current fire safety regulations. A trained assessor can review existing fireproofing measures during a FRA and consider any possible fire hazards to the buildings during a FRA. Their validity test will provide a concise summary of the current state of the building's fire safety, and what needs to be done to strengthen and bring it into line with regulations.

Over the last decade, ALERON Fire Protection has worked to develop itself as the UK's market leading fire stopping contractors and experts in passive fire protection. We remain passionate about fire protection, implementation of fire safety and fire stopping compliance. ALERON is a team of expert IFC-accredited installers and also maintain accreditations from a number of industry specific professional bodies.

This fire safety technical guide discusses the statutory requirements for the Fire Risk Assessments and Fire Compartmentation Surveys in various types of buildings.

Passive fire protection is an important consideration for an effective fire strategy of any building, mostly to contain the spread of fire and smoke in order to allow ample time to allow all occupants of the premises to be safely evacuated. The right implementation of the passive fire protection installations also allows for mitigations strategies such as stay put, and complete, staggered or incremental horizontal evacuation to be efficiently enforced. During the construction phase, fire stopping measures form an integral component of structural fire safety required to achieve adequate protection of life and property. Fire doors, compartment work and fire stopping are main areas of passive fire protection, both of which can be tested through a compartment inspection and a Fire Risk Assessment (FRA).

Often enough, contractors visit a site to repair or fix a door that has been classified as non-compliant by a Fire Risk Assessment carried out by the 'responsible individual' of the building, only to find that remediating that one door would not make much difference. A standard Fire Risk Assessment does not generally thoroughly analyse each aspect of fire safety, but rather a sample of them, suggesting an issue that may or may not be systemic in a facility. It is also evident that the majority of the structure comes under the same banner when observing the building through knowledgeable eyes - and that's where a compartment inspection or survey could be useful in knowing your risks.

A Fire Risk Assessment is a method involving the systematic assessment of a building or premises for the deciding factors such as the fire hazard, the probability of a fire and the consequences if one were to occur. The technical guidance for Fire Risk Assessments in the UK are summarised in a document PAS 79:2000 which is produced by the British Standards Institution. The revised and updated PAS 79:2000 gives recommendations and corresponding examples of documentation for undertaking and recording the significant findings of fire risk assessments in non-domestic premises and parts of non-domestic premises for which fire risk assessments are required by legislation. PAS 79-1:2020 gives recommendations on how to carry out fire risk assessments that will protect the occupants of non-domestic premises, e.g. employees, contractors, visitors and members of the public, while the new PAS 79-2:2020 gives recommendations for domestic premises. Under these guidelines, both qualitative and quantitative risk evaluation approaches can be used.

The latest specifications are a modification of the initial standard and are written in two sections that are available for download from the British Standards Institution (https://shop.bsigroup.com).

The aim of the evaluation is to keep both people and buildings secure by identifying possible risk factors and restricting them. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 dictates that every non-domestic premises always have an up-to-date fire risk assessment, including steps to minimise or eliminate the risk of fire, and recognise people at risk, which implies that the integrity of the building is impaired in any way, at least annually. It is not enough to merely carry out the FRA - you should act on its outcomes.

Buildings must have a periodic fire risk assessment, containing 5 main measures, by statute.

1. Identify people at risk.

2. Identify the fire hazards.

3. Evaluate, remove or reduce the risks.

4. Record your findings, prepare an emergency plan and provide training.

5. Review and update the fire risk assessment regularly.

ALERON work with a range of outstanding Fire Risk assessors who are fully certified, qualified and experienced in this type of surveys and have been in the fire protection industry for many years. Good examples of fire risk evaluations offer a clearer view of the protection of their buildings to contractors, consumers and building owners. Our specialist teams are able to consider more effectively how to make buildings fire-safe by providing the additional knowledge given by the Fire Risk assessors on the practicalities, such as technical complexity, implementation costs and timelines.

The law specifies that the Fire Risk Assessments have to be performed by a 'competent person' and provides a definition in that regard. In case the 'responsible person' of the building does not have a formal fire safety training, apart from the aid of standard guidelines for fire safety risk assessment, this may in some situations lead to inadequate and often hazardous fire risk assessments.

In England, according to the government website, you are liable for fire safety in business or other non-domestic buildings if you are:

· an employer

· the owner

· the landlord

· an occupier

· anyone else with control of the premises, for example a facilities manager, building manager, managing agent or risk assessor

If there's more than one responsible person, you have to work together to meet your responsibilities.

Many organisations and individuals assume that they satisfy their legal responsibilities under the law in the case of a fire if they meet the legal criteria of making an annual Fire Risk Assessment. Unfortunately, that isn't the case. A Fire Risk Assessment just offers you a thumbnail view of your property; it tests the building's sample areas, from which a larger inspection may usually be recommended.

A Fire Risk Assessment is the initial step to fire safety compliance, and it is a perfect way to recognise problems, easily apply a risk rating and a timeline in which a problem should be handled. However, what comes after this is either ample information for instant evaluation or a complete compartmentation and/or door survey follow-up for established PFP concerns.

Once fire-safety concerns are remedied, this valuable work is backed up by a comprehensive maintenance programme for onward protection of the building.

Your Journey to Fire Safety

Therefore, a Fire Risk Assessment is a legal requirement, whereas a survey or inspection is not. Your premises, however, must comply with the law, and one of the only ways to do that is to invest in a more granular inspection of the fire risk. The path to complete compliance begins by compiling a Fire Risk Assessment by an independent and skilled individual/company and we recommend appointing a reputable 3rd party certified contractor to perform the work reported in your Fire Risk Assessment.

Independent Fire Risk Assessments

ALERON have independent team of professionally trained and qualified fire risk assessors,operating UK-wide.

Fire door and compartmentation surveys
ALERON provide a comprehensive examination and report of your existing fire doors and building compartmentation.

Fire stopping
ALERON installs fire-stopping to breaches, returning compartments to the required levels of protection that prevent the spread of fire, smoke and toxic gases throughout the building.

Fire door repair and installation
ALERON specify, supply and install premium quality fire resistant doors and partitions, meeting British and European standards and achieving fire resistances from 20 to 120 minutes.

Planned Maintenance and Compliance
ALERON offer regular inspection and maintenance programmes to ensure full building fire safety compliance.

UK Government establishes new Building Safety Regulator to ensure safety of construction materials

The government announced that it is establishing a national regulator to ensure homes are built from safe materials.

The government announced that it is establishing a national regulator to ensure homes are built from safe materials. The action follows from the Grenfell inquiry, which revealed that manufacturers frequently ignored safety rules and the industry has not got a coherent system to ensure end-to-end fire safety controls. The new Building Safety Regulator, operating independently, will review and examine faults in the system and recommend how safety failures can be prevented.

The Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick recently announced that tenants would be covered by the creation of a national regulator that will ensure that the materials used to build homes are made safer (19 January 2021).

The construction materials regulator would have the power to ban from the market any product that poses a serious safety risk and prosecute any businesses that breach product safety laws.

This follows from witnesses to the Grenfell Inquiry that shed a light on several manufacturers of construction goods' deceptive practises, including intentional attempts to game the system and rig the safety test results.

When investigating complaints, the regulator would have broad regulatory powers, including the right to perform its own substance testing. In addition to checking products against quality requirements, businesses have to ensure that their products are safe before being marketed.

This marks the next significant chapter in the fundamental reform of regulatory frameworks by the government. Progress on regulatory reform includes the release of an ambitious draught Building Safety Bill, which marks the biggest regulatory reforms in 40 years, and a new shadow-shaped Building Safety Regulator that is already in place.

Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP, the Housing Secretary, said: "The Grenfell Inquiry has heard deeply disturbing allegations of malpractice by some construction product manufacturers and their employees, and of the weaknesses of the present product testing regime.We are establishing a national regulator to address these concerns and a review into testing to ensure our national approach is fit for purpose. We will continue to listen to the evidence emerging in the Inquiry, and await the judge's ultimate recommendation - but it is already clear that action is required now and that is what we are doing."

Paul Scully, Business Minister and Minister for London, said: "We all remember the tragic scenes at Grenfell Tower, and the entirely justified anger which so many of us in London and throughout the UK continue to feel at the failings it exposed. This must never happen again, which is why we are launching a new national regulator for construction materials, informed by the expertise that already exists within the Office for Product Safety and Standards."

Dame Judith Hackitt, President of the Independent Review of Building Codes and Fire Safety, stated: "This is another really important step in delivering the new regulatory system for building safety. The evidence of poor practice and lack of enforcement in the past has been laid bare. As the industry itself starts to address its shortcomings I see a real opportunity to make great progress in conjunction with the national regulator."

The new regulator will work within the Office for Food Protection and Standards (OPSS), which will be extended and given up to £ 10 million in funding to set up the new role. To promote and implement enforcement, it will cooperate with the Building Safety Regulator and Trading Standards.

The Building Safety Regulator will also carry out functions at national level, such as:

1. Establishing a register of relevant buildings and other national system

2. Ensuring that residents' complaints about safety issues are dealt with quickly and effective

3. Producing advice to help duty-holders discharge their responsibilities

4. Advising on current and emerging safety risks in relevant buildings

5. Hosting centres of excellence to strengthen enforcement, including specialist expertise to assist with prosecuting complex cases, and to develop best practice on engagement with residents.

An extensive search has also been commissioned by the government to investigate flaws in previous construction product testing regimes and to recommend how to avoid misuse of the testing framework. It will be headed by a panel of experts with expertise in the regulatory, technological and construction industries and will return with recommendations later this year.

Further information

In the Dame Judith Hackitt Study, the announcement follows guidelines that industry and government must ensure that construction materials are correctly checked, licenced, marked and promoted.

In July 2020, the draught Building Safety Bill was released by the government. The Bill set out the largest changes for a century of building safety legislation and contained measures to improve and expand the scope of government powers to control construction goods.

Together, in all facilities, the Fire Protection Bill, Fire Safety Order and the Building Safety Bill would revolutionise security and oversight for citizens.

A summary of the progress and actions being taken since the Grenfell fire has been released by the government.