Not seeing the wood for the trees.
Dr Jonathan Evans CEng FIMechE
CEO, Ash & Lacy ? Est. 1864 - Innovation, integrity and metal processing technology in Construction, Aerospace & Automotive applications.
Dr Jonathan Evans. CEO and Chairman, Ash and Lacy.
A little reported, but portentous apartment block fire in Manchester on 28th October 2016 (The Cube, Advent Way) illustrates that we could instead be talking about catastrophic loss of life involving no ACM whatsoever.
No lives were lost that day thanks to the outstanding reaction of the Manchester fire crews, however a local resident observed that 'a dark red fireball tore its way up the building'.
High Pressure Laminates have a multi-layer composition, but you would struggle to twist the words in Clause 12.7 (Approved Document B) to apply to that external facing material. We must be observant when considering buildings that may be at risk, and not assume the absence of ACM is an assertion of safety.
Polyethylene ACM is undoubtedly dangerous for buildings of all heights, but the paramount issue is that any combustible material in the fabric of a building represents a potential hazard. At the excellent LABC fire safety conference last week, there was much debate on how to minimize fire risk through improved installer training, sprinkler systems, clearer regulations, tighter building control etc. I found myself repeatedly pointing out that the resolute removal of combustible materials would obviate much argument and dramatically reduce the need for complex and perplexing regulations. Trying to safely accommodate combustible materials in construction consumes an enormous amount of valuable time and effort.
As long as combustible materials are permitted in the fabric of a building, our safety hangs from the tenuous threads of workmanship standards and moral integrity. As such, we are fated to live in a world where the next tragedy awaits us.
Head of Member Support at LABC
7 年I really enjoyed your presentation at the conference, it was interesting to get the manufacturers perspective. We'll have to see what recommendations come out of the inquiry and review. Everyone with an interest should take the time to provide their feedback for consideration. We certainly do not want to see another tragedy
CEO, Ash & Lacy ? Est. 1864 - Innovation, integrity and metal processing technology in Construction, Aerospace & Automotive applications.
7 年Peter, I am guessing that the DCLG will not quickly change regs because it might be seen as an admission that they're inadequate and pass the bill for rectification straight to the government. Within the context of external walls and load bearing components in construction, I am proposing for discussion: An immediate and total cessation of the use of unmodified polymers such as polyethylene, polystyrene and polyurethane. Any building above 18m should have an external wall system of limited combustibility apart from minor components such as thermal breaks, vapour membranes (which should be on the building side of a continuous insulation layer) washers and minor gaskets. This is to apply to the entire building, not just the part of it above 18m. Within two years, this would extend to all load bearing elements and the height reduced to 10m. Within five years, all open block or foiled polymer insulation removed from all construction. This leaves the huge composite panel market open to plastic foam insulation which seems to have a good safety record with thoroughly tested, steel encased, robust products.
CEO, Ash & Lacy ? Est. 1864 - Innovation, integrity and metal processing technology in Construction, Aerospace & Automotive applications.
7 年Rav, I'm sure no stone will be left unturned in this investigation but it will be probably years before we hear anything. Read the posts by Ian Abley regarding fire stops.
Facade Engineer
7 年Curious to see that this article, like so many others, speaks about non-combustible materials, rather than materials of limited combustibility. The main thing that our industry should have learned in the last few weeks is that there are are several classifications and to recognise which are relevant to each case.
Business Development /Specification Consultant. 30 years experience, IFE Level 3 Passive Fire Protection
7 年Couldnt agree more even putting aside the complexity of identifying and training competant installers who may well not be chosen throgh the design and build process. The bigger problem would be enforcing and policing this. Insisting on using non combustible materials where they exist in the short term at least has to be the way forward to try to avoid loss of life.