The importance of passive fire protection

The Middle East, particularly Dubai, has seen a huge growth in fire protection firms and accreditation standards in line with the rapid pace of structural development over the past decade. Calls for tougher enforcement of regulations on building sites and products is the next step for authorities.

“One of the key achievements of the fire industry over recent years is the development of third party certification schemes ”

Passive fire protection (PFP) is an integral component of structural fire protection and fire safety in a building. Through the use of fire resistant walls, floors and doors PFP attempts to slow or contain the spread of fire, limiting building damage. PFP is built into the fabric of the building, creating a physical barrier that cannot be turned off and requires no power or water to work, it simply remains passive until it is called upon to provide fire protection.

With the rapid pace of construction all over the Middle East building techniques have been developed to include more intricate designs and modern materials. But while building techniques have changed, one thing that has not is the danger that fire can and will destroy any building if the design does not accept risk and minimise the potential dangers. And with high-rise buildings and novel building designs being constructed at a faster pace than ever before, they present unique fire safety requirements. 

The Risk Insight, Strategy and Control (RISC) Authority has published an enhanced version of Approved Document B: Fire Safety (Volume 2) – Buildings Other Than Dwellinghouses. Including insurers’ requirements for property protection with technical guidance for construction professionals the new document includes additional text, tables and diagrams covering relevant property protection and business interruption issues.

Mike Wood, Deputy Chair of the Passive Fire Protection Federation, says that the guide is much needed and fully supported by the industry. “Fire safety has to work harder than ever before. Losses due to fire are too high and more can be done. But as developments have become more complex, with a mix of different functions, design is often influenced by several competing objectives so fire protection can be found pushed down the priority list as a less immediate requirement. Modular construction is also more common, with increasing use of innovative materials and techniques leading to lighter, less robust structures against the threat of fire.”

But the RISC guide is just that, a guide to providing better fire protection for a building and its contents, what the industry needs is further regulations. There has recently been an up-turn in the number of firms looking for certification of their products, which demonstrates that the message of quality is being met. “There has been a growing awareness in the industry for the need for more certification standards,” says Amal Tamim, Business Development Manager at materials testing firm, Bodycote Warrington Fire. “It has mainly been for things such as doors, but there is also an increasing number of people looking to certify coatings, steel and other major products.”

While there are no enforced regulatory controls to ensure that the minimum appropriate standards are monitored and maintained, it falls to individual companies to ensure that the fire protection they install is fit for purpose. One of the key achievements of the fire industry over recent years is the development of third party certification scheme as opposed to a self-certification scheme, because it provides an effective means to provide the fullest possible assurances, offering a level of quality, safety and reliability.

So while regulations governing fire protection in the Middle East have been far less stringent than in Europe it is changing, with more and more firms coming on board to make sure that they are certified to a third party standard. International architectural practices and construction standards are playing a larger role in the region these days and the high value of new projects has also raised awareness about the importance of fire safety.