1. According to you, what should bethe approach for a solid fire-safe design considering the materials, design andtechnologies?
Building fire safetyrelies on three key pillars: material, design, and technology. However, codesand standards serve as the connecting link between these three pillars.
Building codecompliance must receive adequate consideration during the design phase fromarchitects and planners. Life safety must not be compromised, particularly at atime when building materials and technology are changing so rapidly. The goalsof facility owners should not be technology at the expense of safety.
2. What are the active and Passivefire protection systems/measures used in projects?
It is most commonlyseen Active fire safety as only fire safety measures for built environment.However Passive fire safety measures also equally critical component of lifesafety.
Modern fire safetymeasures are divided into two categories: active fire protection systems andpassive active fire protection systems as explained below:
Active fireprotection systems include:
➢ Alarm systems,
➢ Smoke control and detectionsystems,
➢ Fire control systems,
➢ Access of externalfirefighting,
➢ Fire management system.
Passive fireprotection systems include:
➢ Appropriate compartmentation,
➢ Control of flammability of thestructure fabric,
➢ Plan of escape routes,
➢ Ensuring adequate structuralperformance etc.
Architecturaldetails in design of tall buildings plays a significant role in the fire safetyof the building. In past many cases like Grenfell Tower in 2017 became adisaster largely because of poor passive fire measures.
3. What are the standard fire testscarried out to understand the behaviour of fire on the façade and fenestrationsystems?
The case of GrenfellTower in 2017 became a disaster largely because of wrong material selection anddetailing on the façade cladding. The panels were preferred aluminium insteadof zinc panels, which had more resistant insulation core in honeycomb shape, only because of economic benefits. Additionally, the cladding system preferredwas installed with a detail to hide fixings. The system was tested in 2005 forthe first time and failed. The tests were reapplied in 2011, 2014 and 2015, and eventually failed everytime and classified E. The lowest fire resistance of European classification is F. However, the same façade material andsystem had another installation with adetail without hiding fixings and passed the tests rather successfully withclassification C
The fire codeapplied in UK requires to use materials in quality of European Class B forbuildings taller than 18 meters, and in quality of European Class C for shorterbuildings. Besides, the material chosen to fill around the new windows wascombustible, whereas the code strictly specified the use of rockwool materialas it is non-combustible.
The fire case inTVCC (Television Cultural Center) on 9th February 2009 was similar to that inGrenfell tower in terms of the exterior cladding material. The tower had 32 storeys and a height of 159meters. A high atrium existed between floors numbered 5th and 26th, in use ashotel and restaurant. The tower had a rectangular shape in plan and two facadeswith metal cladding and strips, two other facades with only glass covering. Asthe fire started because of fireworks flames landed on the roof, it melted the metal panels, which was titanium-zinc alloy, and walkedthrough the insulation layer inside the panels, which was Extruded Polystyrene(XPS) foam. Mainly because of such façade material, the firewas able to cover all the building in nearly 20 minutes. The building was not completed by then, so through thewindow openings, the smoke and heat moved inside the building. The atrium madea stack effect, making it easier to move upwards and downwards inside. One firefighter died andseven workers injured in this case.
4. How do you ensure that theproducts recommended/used on the facades/fenestrations are tested forresistance to fire?
To ensure FireSafety, when a code or a technical regulation prescribes a specific product ora feature, there is a need to ensure that the performance prescribed isdelivered. A stringent certification program to ensure reliable assurancebetween specifiers, buyers, and sellers when implemented correctly.Certification and Listing offers traceability between what is manufactured anddelivered at the construction site, linked to what has been tested in anaccredited laboratory.
This way façade assemblycomponents when followed a stringent method of certification, it assures thatthe manufactured product that carries the certification marking or labels meetsthe same specified requirements as the product tested.
5. Tell us about the latest trends and technologies and materials which make afaçade fire safe?
InternationalStandards ISO 17065 and ISO 17067 give the requirements of how certificationprograms can be designed, implemented and audited. The certification programsget audited by Accreditation Bodies, and they establish trust by consistentlybeing able to provide proof of compliance.
Now few third partylaboratories offers certification of products tested to the following IndianStandards :
IS 16947 Fireresistance tests for doors with glass panes, openable glass windows and slidingglass doors)
IS/ ISO 834-4:Fire-Resistance Tests Elements: Load Bearing Vertical Separating Elements
IS/ ISO 834-5:Fire-Resistance Tests Elements: Load Bearing Horizontal Separating Elements
IS/ ISO 834-8:Fire-Resistance Tests - Elements: Non-load Bearing Vertical Separating Elements
IS/ ISO 834-9 : Fire-Resistance Tests - Elements : Non-load Bearing CeilingElements
IS 16945: Fire Resistance Test for Glass Walls
SeveralCertification and Listing programs are now drivers for building Fire Safety forproducts such as facades in India.
Façade systems can play a very important role infire safety. The trend is now reversed from Identifying combustible vs.non-combustible façade materials. Owners are now considering performance as asystem (panel, framing, firestop, fixing mechanism) Material, intermediate andsystem-level performance. At times it is very difficult to ascribe ‘firerating’ for certain systems however failure mechanism depends on fixingmechanism.
Hemant Khadse
About me:
Hemant Khadse is CEOof East Corp, fire and life safety consultant. He is engineering graduate withwork experience of 30 years in fire and security; He has travelled and workedinternationally. He is also fire safety trainer and conducted many FLS audits andrisk assessments.