Quelfire - Experts & Thought Leaders

Once again, looking forward to heading to Olympia London, where will be exhibiting at London Build on November 15th and 16th. This show is a great opportunity for to reconnect, face to face, with valued customers and engage with the wider construction industry. London Build has earned its reputation as the "festival of construction," recognized for its mix of DJs, musicians, entertainment, and competitions. It offers the perfect informal setting to meet with the UK’s construction professionals. Topic of the panel discussion With an impressive lineup of over 350 exhibitors, an expected 30,000 registered attendees, 500 speakers across eight conference stages, and 200 hours dedicated to CPD training and education, there is a lot to be excited about this year. Each year spins also angles on it with the case of a panel talk and the theme of the show stand This marks the fourth year of involvement with London Build. While the core message of protecting people and property remains constant, each year spins a different angle on it with the topic of panel discussion and the theme of the exhibition stand. Let’s take a moment to look back at some of these from previous years. 2019 was the first year exhibiting at London Build, initially testing the waters, and never looked back since! 2020 In 2020, the year of the pandemic held a virtual panel discussion focussing on the importance of early engagement in firestopping and how current practices and mentality within the construction industry can and need to be improved further. With other industry experts, answered some key questions: How early is early enough? Who needs to be engaged? How can manufacturers help and what can they do to facilitate the process? Who should liability sit with? What training is needed to ensure fire-stopping contractors are compliant? 2022 Last year the theme of the stand delved into fire-stopping compliance and how can support all parties Last year the theme of the stand delved into fire-stopping compliance and how can support all parties, from design to installation, to achieve this. As part of the journey, touched on themes such as cross-party communication, competency, and cultural change and how these can be achieved through manufacturer training and support. Hosted a panel discussion in line with this messaging titled, The Journey to Achieving Firestopping Compliance. Joined by other industry experts, offering different perspectives, the panel discussion centered around the nine golden rules laid out in the Firestopping of Service Penetrations: Best Practice in Design and Installation guide. The key takeaways highlighted the crucial need for early engagement and tested fire-stopping solutions when designing and constructing a building. 2023 That leads to this year. While commitment to supporting all parties on their fire-stopping journey remains the same, understand that the responsibility for selecting and designing the right fire-stopping solutions lies with the main contractor. Accordingly, hope to start a more detailed conversation about standardized processes for main contractors, and how the implementation of these processes can significantly enhance building safety. Responsible for ensuring the chosen solutions are compliant and installed appropriately Typically, tested fire-stopping solutions are selected by the main contractor as part of the ‘design and build contract’. Therefore, they are responsible for ensuring the chosen solutions are compliant and installed appropriately. To achieve the ultimate objective of protecting people and property, different stakeholders must be engaged, making it a complex process. Because of this, highly recommend the creation and adoption of a standardized process for every project. Potential challenges On the 16th of November (11 a.m., the Fire Safety Stage), will be hosting a panel discussion. This will bring together key players responsible for driving change in the industry to discuss what is involved in creating a standardized process, the organizational benefits, and potential challenges when implementing these. Craig Wells, Sales Director, said: “Decisions related to fire stopping are among the most important choices we’ll ever make. They are life-critical. The implementation of standardized processes encourages competency, ultimately, enhancing building safety. The team looks forward to another year exhibiting at London Build and discussing this subject more with like-minded industry professionals.”

Fire-stopping solutions are typically selected by the main contractor as part of a ‘design and build’ contract. Because of this, they have the responsibility to ensure the chosen solutions are compliant and installed accordingly. To achieve the end goal of protecting people and property, many external trades need to be involved, making it a complex process. That is why, Quelfire strongly recommends that a standardized process is achieved and implemented for each project. What does a recommended standardized process involve? Like all processes, some steps and measures need to be thoroughly followed to achieve the desired outcome. Processes are there for a reason. And for high-rise and multi-occupancy buildings, the need for these has never been more glaringly obvious. They save lives. But also limit the damage caused by fire to a building and its contents. Consequently, when a compliant process has been established within the organization and for any current projects, it makes sense that this should then be standardized and applied to any future projects. This gives the organization the chance to optimize how it works, making the process more robust. early engagement The best practice for creating a standardized process will always be to engage early with the team In Quelfire's experience working with various parties involved in construction projects, the best practice for creating a standardized process will always be to engage early with the team and relevant trades to identify and bring together all the suitable tested details. This is important from a compliance perspective, but also from a commercial liability and practical perspective. Identifying the project’s requirements The starting point is to understand the project’s wants and needs. What comes under that, and is non-negotiable, are the fire strategy requirements of the project. Once these have been established and the location of the walls and floors have been situated, how the compartment lines are going to be compromised can be determined. In other words, the services that are going to be installed and maybe even a choice of services you want to be installed. Penetration of services It’s important to have an idea of how the organization intends to execute the penetrations However, the success of early engagement does depend on the flexibility of all parties. For instance, if there are no available tested solutions for the type of insulation desired, a level of compromise is crucial to identify alternative tested solutions. The next step is to decide how the services should penetrate the wall or floor. Are they going to drill a hole and use a direct-to-wall seal, or create a letterbox opening and use a fire batt or compound to seal the gap left behind? At this stage, it’s important to have an idea of how the organization intends to execute the penetrations while ensuring they’re achievable. Engaging with the relevant parties Only when an organization has identified the project’s requirements should it begin to engage with the relevant fire-stopping manufacturer, like Quelfire, to identify the available tested solutions for requirements. Once there is a portfolio of details, the designer can then gather all the information and communicate it to the supply chain. This part of the process is paramount in ensuring that all the relevant, competent trades are not only happy with the design but can also efficiently build it.  If any grey areas or untested applications come to light, it becomes necessary to start the process from the beginning, identifying any changes that need to be made. For instance, this could involve modifying the wall type to be able to utilize a tested, compliant detail. It’s time to build Installers onsite to adhere to the provided design, guaranteeing that installations meet compliance At this point, the organization will possess a finalized design. This will clearly outline the precise fire-stopping solutions for each service, including spacing requirements, dimensions of the letterbox, and the necessary space between each seal, among other aspects. Once the details have been approved, and everyone is in agreement, construction can commence. This enables installers onsite to adhere to the provided design, guaranteeing that installations meet compliance requirements. Cultural change: industry vs organization As Quelfire is well aware, establishing a standardized process isn’t as straightforward as it sounds. It demands not only a shift in the broader industry’s culture but also a cultural shift within your organization. Important departments must work together effectively. This entails not only the design, technical, and project management departments but also those departments and individuals responsible for driving change. In some cases, other processes indirectly affected may need adjustment to accommodate standardized project planning. Every member of the organization must align with the same end goal. Role of influencers With cultural change, it’s possible that once new processes are implemented, issues from past projects may arise However, as history has shown, cultural change does not happen overnight. Therefore, employers must take on the role of influencers in the development of their organization. As well as employees being committed to doing what’s right and compliant. With cultural change, it’s possible that once new processes are implemented, issues from past projects may arise. Instances, where firestopping installations were non-compliant, may come to light, such as improperly fixed fire collars, wraps used in oversized holes, or incorrect use of PU foam around services. Challenges with adhering to guidelines Quelfire understands that the challenges of construction projects can sometimes lead to unintentional deviations from plans and regulations.  And, at times, adhering to guidelines might be hindered by tight deadlines, changing requirements, or even a lack of clarity in terms of industry best practices. While an organization may have been working to the best of its knowledge at that time, these issues must be addressed. This involves areas of non-compliance and changing internal processes to ensure any future projects are in line with regulations. Implementing an internal standardized process Construction industry software can support accountable persons in maintaining the golden thread Implementing an internal standardized process may involve ensuring the team adopts an approach that addresses the project’s needs from an early stage. It also involves creating the golden thread of information to gather, store, and maintain key information about a building’s lifecycle. And realizing that it doesn’t have to go it alone. Construction industry software can support accountable persons in maintaining the golden thread of information. This ensures transparency and traceability, thus, reducing any potential future vulnerabilities. The cost of not getting it right the first time around Standardized processes also play an important role in minimizing commercial liability. Both internally and externally. Externally, they guarantee commitment from the supply chain to make sure the design is achievable, therefore, reducing any risk of complications during the installation stage. Internally, they prevent the likelihood of legacy issues emerging later down the line, as compliance is the end goal for all parties within the organization. Optimizing internal processes Issues that come to light late in the design stage and during installation inevitably lead to extra costs The cost of having to correct errors once the building is occupied far outweighs the initial effort of optimizing internal processes and adhering to regulations. Yes, it may take longer to establish and implement new processes, but it is more beneficial in the long run. Issues that come to light late in the design stage and during installation inevitably lead to extra costs and delays. For instance, if there is no tested solution at the design stage, the application will need to be redesigned; if products are installed incorrectly, they will have to be rectified; and if issues are discovered during inspections, this will not only require the reconsideration of the fire-stopping products used, but the design of them too. Checking the errors during the final inspection Ultimately, if errors are not identified during the final inspection and a fire breaks out when the building is already occupied, putting lives at risk and legal implications will be the price of cutting corners and compromising fire safety measures. Standardizing processes within the construction industry is undeniably challenging. It requires not only an industry-wide cultural change but also an organizational one. Collaboration, standardization, and optimization Collaboration, standardization, and optimization. The key takeaways. Equally important is to recognize that fire safety must be at the forefront of any project-based decision. These decisions, while they seem small at the moment, are some of the most important choices we will ever make. They are life-critical. That is why ensuring you have a compliant standardized process in place will encourage competency and, ultimately, enhance building safety.

Are familiar with instances where firestopping installations may not have been entirely compliant? Maybe a fire collar was not mechanically fixed, a wrap was used in an oversized hole, or PU foam was used to seal around services? If so, it’s okay, give the benefit of the doubt were working to the best of knowledge at the time! Acknowledging how worked in the past is the first step towards improvement. Fire-stopping guidelines Understand that the challenges of construction projects can sometimes lead to unintentional deviations from plans and regulations. And, at times, following fire-stopping guidelines may be hindered by tight deadlines, changing applications, or even just a lack of clarity on industry best practices. There are two steps to this. One, facing the current situation and identifying areas of non-compliance But here to tell that it’s never too late to change the way work and ensure fire safety is at the forefront of the projects. There are two steps to this. One, facing the current situation and identifying areas of non-compliance. Two, once they are aware of the areas that require improvement, rethinking internal processes to ensure future installations are in line with regulations. Retrofit projects The cost of not doing it right the first time around Like fixing anything that goes wrong, legacy issues are no stranger to a hefty price. As the industry knows, retrofit projects are not only more costly, but tremendous hassle. July 2023 saw Barratt Development spend/allocate £180m on “making legacy buildings safe (…) this is in addition to the £434.6m provision it made in 2022.” For retrofit work, there is less test evidence available and, therefore, maybe little-to-no choice when it comes to fire stopping. This is because many legacy projects will have limited access, usually single-side only, and require the removal of kitchens, bathrooms, walls, and ceilings. Initial stages of a project Opting for tested products from a competent manufacturer during the initial stages of a project will prove far more cost-effective than having to fix any defects in the building later on.  Uprooting reputation, legacy issues will ensure to pay the price for not doing it right the first time around. No matter what, there will inevitably be consequences for any unwise choices made in the past. Installation of fire-stopping systems How can legacy issues be avoided? Do it right, do it once By taking an early engagement approach, may feel as if they are slowing the project down to evaluate its wants and needs instead of getting on with the job. However, this provides the opportunity to engage all the responsible parties overseeing the design and installation of fire-stopping systems. The opportunity to engage all the responsible parties overseeing the design and installation  By doing so, any potential problems or untested applications can be identified at an early stage, and appropriate solutions can be implemented, aligning with the manufacturers’ guidelines. Early engagement saves lives. But it also helps to avoid extra costs and delays, ensures compliant and achievable installations, protects, and even improves the reputation. Creating the golden thread of information Following Hackitt’s Building Safety Review, the concept of the golden thread of information was created to ensure that key information about a building’s lifecycle is gathered, stored, and maintained. It needs to be created before any building work starts and kept up to date throughout the design and construction phase. This shows that the building is compliant and meets regulation requirements. Because of this thorough process, potential legacy issues are less likely to get missed and anyone can understand the building and keep both the building and occupants safe. Embracing industry software Many industry software companies help liable persons create and keep the golden thread Don’t have to go it alone. Many industry software companies help accountable persons create and maintain the golden thread of information. Keeping up-to-date documentation on what is installed in the building provides complete transparency and traceability, thus, eliminating any future vulnerabilities. If are facing challenges from legacy issues, rest assured that are not alone. There are effective measures that can be implemented to address these concerns and prioritize fire safety. But first, it’s crucial to move beyond past practices, learn from mistakes, and take a proactive approach in constructing buildings going forward. Evidence-based support This involves early engagement, fostering cross-party communication and collaboration, and paying close attention to detail. Sometimes, it may even require a cultural change. These steps are essential to safeguarding both people and property. If continue with the same old methods, legacy issues will continue to surface, and buildings will never truly be secure. Ultimately, must consider: what is the true value of life? Engage with relevant parties and manufacturers, like ourselves, who are always ready to offer evidence-based support and solutions. Help is out there, be sure to utilize it.