Patrick Ryan’s Post

Ok. Another long train journey down to London and finally got around to reading Part 1 of this bad boy. Decent actually. Something in there for everyone to be fair. Fire, Structure, Management etc. Chapter 2. Adaptive Reuse. Touched on the phrase ‘use it or lose it’ when it comes to traditional buildings stating that most fires (circa 30%) are a result of deliberate action after the initial decline of graffiti and vandalism have taken place. Some interesting stuff in there. Chapter 3. Vulnerability of traditional buildings to fire. Some of that is definately going back in our reports and risk assessment criteria. Skip a bit to… Chapter 7. Fire protection measures in traditional buildings. I liked this chapter, specifically the bits regarding the balance of inserting fire systems between the following requirements; - Essential - Appropriate to risk - Compliant with legislation - Minimally invasive - Sensitively integrated - Reversible (that one surprised me for some reason). Chapter 8 then finishes Part 1 with a discussion on ‘Risk Management and Fire Risk Assessment’ asking the question… Is work being undertaken to; - Prevent fire - Contain fire - Control the spread of smoke - Protect the structure of the building from collapse? (That one lit up a few light bulbs). They talk about adopting the ERIC process in mitigating risk and adopting control hazards. But nothing mentioned on level of risk to be assessed against, just to reduce it down as much as possible. The example at the end had me thinking, it was a chimney for a fire place. They spoke about the risks of non-detection, break of compartment walls etc, the risk of sparks and embers falling from the fire between the floorboards and initiating a fire in the void and spreading. All valid points. But the first recommendation was to not have a fire in there? Granted. This solves the problem, but kinda defeats the point of having a chimney place. It’s packed with examples so I’m hoping Part 2 digs deeper when I get around to reading that. V decent though. I liked it. EDIT. Apologies. Name of document is…Fire Safety Management in Traditional Buildings. Produced by Historic Scotland. Link here… https://lnkd.in/erJ25mQs . . . . #refurbishment #design #london #structures #structuralengineering #construction #building #structuraldesign #structure

Fire and Façades: Navigating the Challenges of Modern Building Safety In November 2018, updates to Regulation 7 of the Building Regulations introduced a ban on combustible materials for certain high-rise buildings in England. This legal requirement, with a few exemptions, mandates that all materials used in the external walls of these buildings must meet a class A2-s1, d0 fire rating or better. Despite the simplicity of the regulation, the complexity of modern building envelopes necessitated additional guidance for its consistent interpretation. The key to understanding this regulation lies in its exemptions. Check out the guidance on this key area and information on designing fire-safe façades in the article by David Metcalfe from CWCT: https://hubs.li/Q02yzQR-0 CIBSE #FireSafety #FacadeEngineering #ConstructionSafety #BuildingRegulations #FaçadeDesign

Clifford Devlin have been successfully appointed onto the ProcurePublic Building Maintenance and Refurbishment Framework. The framework will encompass a wide range of services to transform and revitalise public sector buildings. Services include interior and exterior renovations, structural improvements, energy efficiency upgrades, compliance enhancements and more. This framework simplifies the procurement process, ensuring that public sector clients can access high-quality, regulated building services with ease. Inclusion on this framework is in addition to a number of others we hold a position on, for the contrasting disciplines of asbestos removal, enabling work, soft strip, demolition and fire protection services offered by the company. #framework #building #refurbishment #maintenance #procurepublic #clients

RIBA's recommendations after Grenfell include creating a statutory construction competence body, expanding "higher-risk" building definitions, requiring evacuation plans, and mandating sprinklers and firefighting staircases in high-rises. The proposals emphasize systemic reform to enhance safety and public trust. Read more: https://bit.ly/3Wmb9xY #Grenfell #FireSafety

🚨 Building Regulations Part B: 2025 Updates for Residential Projects 🚨 The updated Building Regulations Part B document has arrived, bringing significant changes to fire safety standards for residential properties. These updates aim to enhance safety and align with modern practices, ensuring a safer built environment for all. This also features color coded amendments set to take effect in 2025, 2026, and 2029. Here are a few key changes to note: ✅ Mandatory evacuation alert systems in specific residential buildings. ✅ Stricter guidance on self-closing devices for fire doors in residential properties. ✅ Clearer specifications for fire-resistant materials in residential construction. These updates reflect the industry’s commitment to improving occupant safety and compliance. #BuildingRegulations #PartB #FireSafety #ResidentialDesign #Architecture #Construction

The government has announced a significant update to fire safety guidance for tall residential buildings. Key Highlights: 🔹 From 30th September 2026, new residential buildings over 18 meters must include a second staircase, enhancing safety measures. 🔹 This update, part of a series of reforms, including the Building Safety Act, aims to improve the safety of residents in both new and existing high-rise buildings. 🔹 The decision, supported by the National Fire Chiefs Council and the Royal Institute of British Architects, follows extensive consultation and aligns with the Grenfell Tower Inquiry recommendations. This pivotal change underscores the importance of safety in design and offers clarity for developers during challenging times. https://lnkd.in/e-nada8E #FacilitiesManagement #FireSafety #BuildingSafety #ConstructionIndustry #ResidentialBuildings

An interesting article and something we are experiencing on our current facade remediation schemes which is at odds with the Governments desire to progress these schemes at pace. The legislation however was needed to avoid making the same mistakes which were made over the last 20 years but the critical stage is monitoring the quality of the works as they are undertaken on site to ensure the works are being completed in accordance with the detailed drawings and information submitted to the Regulator. This is where the change in the industry is needed. https://lnkd.in/eqH_7_mi

I would be interested in my networks view on this? Should roof top gardens be considered as a storey when considering the height and storey criteria under the Higher Risk Buildings Regulations? The Building Safety Regulator are currently considering this. Whatever the outcome, designers should consider construction materials and features to ensure safety for residents isn't compromised. #socialhousing #buildingsafety #riskmanagement

📄An update on cladding remediation in Scotland via PBC Today & BIM Today Michael Conroy, head of construction and engineering at Harper Macleod, discusses the newly passed Scottish Cladding Remediation Act 2024 and its effects on replacing cladding post-Grenfell "The new year has seen tangible steps taken forward by the Scottish Government in its Cladding Remediation Programme for high-rise residential buildings with the Housing (Cladding Remediation) (Scotland) Act 2024 (“the Act”) coming into force. The Act has been underpinned by the publication of statutory “Standards” (“the Standards”) which will apply to those persons carrying out assessments and remedial works for affected buildings, both on 6th January 2025." Read the full article below ⬇️ #ConstructionScotland #Cladding #remediation #housing #buildings #architecture #facades #buildingsafetyact

Residential buildings in the form of single family homes or block of flats where multiple people live require the implementation of holistic fire safety concepts from early design throughout construction and occupation. Key considerations for fire safety engineers are safe means of escape, preventing spread of fire and smoke, and providing suitable provisions for firefighters. At Trigon Fire Safety, our fire safety engineers have an in-depth understanding about the fire safety challenges of residential buildings, this includes the changing landscape of fire safety legislation (for example Building Safety Act 2022) and guidance, inclusive design, evacuation of mobility impaired persons of diverse backgrounds, consideration of fire safety at early stage (planning), throughout design and construction as well as use. We work with a number of different clients, developers, building owners and operators including medium to high-rise building including very tall towers and large masterplan schemes. #residential #BTR #homes #BuildingSafetyAct #BSA #firesafety #fireengineering #performancebaseddesign #builtenvironment #innovation #people #solutions #service #WeAreTrigon