Fire Safety

Howard Trotter, Business Manager of Birmingham-based window and door manufacturer Shelforce, reacts to the news that three quarters of the fire doors inspected in the UK did not meet the required standard.

The Housing Safety & Wellbeing Taskforce with founding member Aico and in conjunction Cebr are launching a seminal piece of research into the human impact of fire and how the different legislations across the four nations impacts the prevalence of fire.

Watford Community Housing has upgraded two of their 16 storey tower blocks to a Grade D, LD1 fire detection system using Aico’s revolutionary technology. Watford Community Housing own and manage over 5,000 homes and are always striving to implement all the necessary measures to keep their tenants safe.

Recently, their Abbey View and Munden View high rise blocks were chosen for mandated safety audits under Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue supervision. After an initial review of their housing stock, they decided to upgrade these buildings’ safety systems, working closely with Aico they began work to install Multi-Sensor fire alarms giving them complete coverage.

When it comes to fire doors, forget the aesthetics – it’s all about the compliance and technicalities of the product. Since launching its fully compliant Fireshel 30-minure fire, smoke and security resistant door in 2020, Birmingham window and door manufacturer Shelforce has been inundated. Here, the company’s Business Manager Howard Trotter talks to Housing Association Magazine about why the testing behind the product is vital for Local Authorities, why they need to understand what they are specifying – and why the Fireshel is proving so popular.

Fire safety remediation in the external envelope of buildings continues to be a key issue affecting the housing sector. As industry adapts to new regulatory realities post-Grenfell, the need to bring existing multi-occupancy housing stock into compliance remains urgently pressing. We spoke to Richard Izzard from aluminium decking manufacturer AliDeck to learn about a recent major remediation project in Southwark for Wandle Housing Association.

The conversation around fire safety in high rise developments has never been more critical, and much attention is being given to the building materials used across large expanses such as façades and flat roofs. To achieve regulatory compliance, however, it’s crucial to pay attention to each and every detail. Will Wigfield, Product Manager – Building Envelope, ROCKWOOL UK, examines the fire safety implications of external amenities above ground level such as balconies, upstands and terraces, and discusses product certifications which help stakeholders to achieve the required performance.

James Hardie created fibre cement and thanks to our extensive research and development we are now on our seventh generation of fibre cement technology.  We are the world’s leading manufacturer of high-performance Fibre Cement products, which are a composite material made of cement, reinforced with cellulose fibres.

We are a trusted innovator and global industry leader, and our products enable endless possibilities for designing exceptional buildings whilst also delivering protection and long-lasting beauty.