Insulate Magazine Issue 14

The only independent insulation industry trade magazine
Insulation News
ASFP Endorses Independent Review
of Building Regulations and Fire Safety Findings
The Association for Specialist Fire Protection
(ASFP) endorses the interim findings of the
Independent Review of Building Regulations
and Fire Safety, led by Dame Judith Hackitt, which
recommend a change in culture within the UK construction
industry and significant reform of the UK
fire safety regulatory system.
The Interim report identifies a lack of clarity in the roles
and responsibilities throughout a building’s lifecycle; from
design and construction to maintenance during occupation.
It notes widespread deviation from what is originally
designed to what is actually built and highlights inadequate
means of assessing and ensuring adequate levels
of competency throughout the process. In addition, the
report recognises the vital role of installers, noting that
“the integrity and efficacy of products and systems is
highly dependent on correct installation by competent
and knowledgeable persons’.
The ASFP has long been campaigning for formal competency
requirements for fire professionals, mandatory
third party certification of products and installers and a
system that more clearly sets out the requirements and
responsibilities at each stage of construction.
ASFP COO Niall Rowan states:
“The ASFP welcomes the findings of the review which
highlight many of the inconsistencies within the design
and build process and we support the general direction
of travel outlined in the report.
“I am pleased to see that Dame Judith has recognised
the poor practices surrounding ‘value engineering’, the
lack of proper procedures for handover of fire safety
information on completion, and the need to tighten up
controls on ‘desktop studies’. She also highlights a need
for fire risk assessors to be qualified, and the confusion
surrounding the testing, assessment and certification of
fire protection products. All issues of great concern for
the ASFP.”
“To address the competency issue, the ASFP is working
with the Institution of Fire Engineers to provide training
and competency evaluation for all stakeholders involved
in the design, specification, installation and maintenance
of passive fire protection. The programme in development
will enable trainees to obtain an IFE qualification in
passive fire protection.
“Furthermore, working together with the Royal Institute of
British Architects (RIBA), the ASFP has been developing
a Plan of Works for Fire. This aims to ensure that there
is a detailed specification for fire protection at the design
stage and a schedule for fire throughout the construction
process. The process being developed will include
mandatory sign offs as construction progresses, with all
information reaching the end-user to support adequate
fire risk management.”
“We hope these initiatives will form useful input to phase
two of the review and look forward to working with
Dame Judith and all industry stakeholders to a develop a
regulatory system that more clearly sets out the requirements,
responsibilities and competencies required at
each stage throughout the building lifecycle, including
changes and refurbishments later in the building’s life.”
For further information on the ASFP and advice on
passive fire protection, visit www.asfp.org.uk
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