The Association for Specialist Fire Protection Ireland (AFSPI) is providing a guidance document titled ‘Ensuring Best Practice for Passive Fire Protection in Buildings’ ahead of the introduction of the new Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2012, in Ireland.
The guide – originally published in 2005 by the ASFP in the UK – is designed to support designers, contractors, fire protection officers and legislators better understand the requirements of the new regulations.
The proposals were set out in a document issued by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government (DECLG) titled ‘Strengthening the Building Control System’. Among the proposals are the introduction of mandatory certificates of compliance by builders and designers and improved inspection arrangements.
The AFSPI is publishing the guidance promoting solutions to assist in improving the standard of installed passive fire protection (PFP) in response to the Government proposals.
AFSPI chairman David O’Reilly, speaking at a recent Chief Fire Officers’ conference in Dundalk, said: “The Association promotes third party certification schemes for Passive Fire Protection products and installers as a means of ensuring that installations are conducted by knowledgeable contractors to appropriate standards, thereby increasing the reliability of anticipated performance in fire, while at the same time providing contractors with a means of demonstrating their competence.”
The AFSPI is also promoting passive fire protection training courses in PFP installation and risk assessment, supported by Exova Warringtonfire.
Irish minister for health Jim Curran, responding to a question asked in the House of Representatives, said: “The Health Service Executive is at present delivering a pilot course on Passive Fire Protection, this course is run in conjunction with Exova Warringtonfire Safety UK and the Association for Specialist Fire Protection in Ireland (ASFPI). This is the first such course being run in Ireland and the HSE have organised a further three courses in May and June of this year.”
The CPD accredited courses will provide installers with “essential knowledge and understanding and enable them to demonstrate that they have the expertise and commitment to undertake the professional installation of passive fire protection products,” according the the AFSPI.
Mr O’Reilly added: “Third party certification is a principal recommendation in the ASFP publication ‘Ensuring Best Practice for Passive Fire Protection in Buildings’. This guidance is referred to in Ireland’s Building Control Technical Guidance B (TGDB) and, if followed, would go a long way to provide safer buildings and achieve the legislative aspirations of DECLG.”
Ensuring Best Practice for Passive Fire Protection in Buildings is available on the ASFPI website www.asfpireland.ie