How you can save money on passive fire compliance?

As we move into the new financial year and assess our expenses, it is time to consider not only what we can cut short term, but what can we invest in to save in the long term to benefit our businesses. Within the passive fire industry, one of the greatest expenses faced by contractors is defect rectification, now more than ever with regulators cracking down and Building Certifiers/ Surveyors under scrutiny.

Recently it was estimated 30-40% of construction litigation surrounds passive fire issues which may be preventable by getting it right the first time.

Another key loss that will further affect the financial stability of your business is the loss of reputation, there have been cases where defects have held up hand over with the obvious financial and professional ramifications.

To avoid defects it is crucial to understand the legislation surrounding passive fire and what you need to be conscious of on site to meet compliance standards. The following list can be used as a guide when dealing with just some of the common passive fire defects that are associated with plumbers and contractors:

• Need to understand the building class and required FRL

• Separation distances between services

• Penetrations failing on FRL insulation criteria, for example Unwrapped metal pipes

• That wrong assumption that more caulking will fix everything.

• Fixings not to manufacturers specification - No nylon and alloy anchors they melt!

• Not thoroughly reading plans when setting collars location.

• Ensuring that showers and floor wastes are using correct collars.

• Mixing and matching different manufacturer’s products – This is not a tested system.

• Understanding that once you interfere with an already certified penetration, the liability now on you to have it re certified. “You touch it you own it”

• Stop the use of the words “but can’t we just?”, It must always be a tested system.

• Leaving concrete in trigger points.

• And the list goes on!

All of which can be far more easily tracked on the Certifired App, designed by passive fire professionals to not only assist with producing registers that meet Australian Standards and legislation, but to minimise significant time uploading and matching photos with penetration details.

Want to see more ways ‘Certifired’ can save you and your team time and money, book a demo here.