Passive Fire Data – What the inspectors are demanding and what that means for Facility Managers
If you have an annual fire inspection coming up, rectification works, or a new fit out planned, you likely would have had to deal with a certifier, or inspector demanding up-to-date passive fire data (this may be fire door schedules or penetration registers).
Even if you don’t, in QLD it may be the fire brigade checking up on your documentation, and you need to be prepared.
This greater focus on compliance and evidence-backed documentation is a direct result of a shift in the construction industry, where greater scrutiny is felt post media attention, court rulings, and legislation changes surrounding defects.
In fact, it was stated in a 2019 Deakin University Study that Fire is the 2nd biggest defect in new buildings and 67% of those are passive fire related.
This may bring to mind a few big news stories where building managers were hit with expensive orders to rectify non-compliant buildings, in 2017 one apartment tower in Sydney ran up an eye-watering $7.5 million bill to rectify fire defects, which outraged residents.
It’s not all doom and gloom however, several changes are being made for the better to shift the tide of public consciousness, making tenants feel safe and owners that their buildings are sound investments, a lot comes down to preplanning and making passive fire compliance a priority.
So where does this leave you?
First to have a working understanding of what passive fire is:
Most are familiar with active fire, the sprinkler systems and fire extinguishers, but passive fire which is mostly hidden can often be forgotten or ignored but is just as, if not more important.
Passive fire protection creates physical barriers that are designed to stop fire from spreading from one compartment or part of a building to another, which may include barriers in the ceiling, walls and floors, referred to as fire rated walls, penetrations, dampers and doors. If installed and maintained correctly it will minimise the spread of fire and smoke from compartment to compartment or even building to building, and maintain structural integrity long enough to allow people to evacuate safely and minimise damage to the asset.
Second, knowing what you should be doing.
Aside from safety, having up-to-date data can result in huge savings, and you will be assured you won’t be hit with future rectification costs.
All too often minimal or no baseline data has meant a building is subject to ‘unknown factors’ that result in fire doors (and other systems) being replaced, just so the critical details to meet compliance can be established.
This is a costly exercise because you not only may need to replace the doors (or other systems), but you still need to get the baseline data recorded.
We recommend, engaging a nominated passive fire expert who can conduct an audit/inspection of all current passive fire systems in your building to ensure compliance, and provide you with the baseline data needed to make legislated annual inspections easier and cheaper.
Further, minimise future fit-out costs, by updating your fit-out guide to include a passive fire plan, that will ensure compliance is maintained and allow time for picking the most cost-effective system.
Tender stage / prior to all new works, these are the steps to add to your fit-out guide.
Proposed marked up drawings of penetrations through fire barriers
Draft penetration register, damper register, and door schedule
Method and system of fire stopping to be used
Submit Test reports or RIR to show compliance to BCA
Draft Form 12 or other certification forms and your Passive Fire Certifiers licence Number (where relevant)
These documents are to be sent to the building engineer / certifier for pre-approval (where relevant)
Pre-handover steps to add to your fit out guide
Completed marked up drawings
Penetration register, door schedule, and damper register including photographic evidence
All penetrations to be labelled (as above)
Completed Form 12 referring to the above
How to make it easier for yourself
In response to the growing focus on compliance and the greater need in the market to make it easier to manage, Certifired was developed with Facility Managers in mind. Our App was designed to simplify asset management and can be used across many facilities, creating a baseline and allowing data to be easily updated for annual inspections, rectification works and fit-outs, so you can be confident your building has evidence-backed compliance.
To see how Certifired can make asset management and annual inspections easier for you, book a demo here.