Fire Protection

Latitude 52, located in Plymouth, is a residential development with a maritime heritage. Originally serving as a sailor’s rest centre, the building was transformed in 2004 into 102 modern apartments, including the addition of two extra storeys. While the conversion brought new life to the structure, evolving fire safety regulations and performance standards necessitated a comprehensive refurbishment to ensure long-term compliance and resident safety.

The construction of two apartment buildings within the ground-breaking Climate Innovation District urban regeneration project in Leeds demonstrates how the EJOT CROSSFIX® system can be used to incorporate rainscreen facades into highly sustainable buildings, without the need to vastly increase insulation depth. 
Developed by Citu in partnership with one of Scandinavia’s leading architectural practices, White Arkitekter, and civil and structural engineers Civic, the Climate Innovation District is creating an entire new sustainable neighbourhood with high quality urban housing. Over 500 low energy homes with integrated amenities have been created to a design that has been PHPP (Passive House Planning Package) assessed.

Lorient, a leading manufacturer of high-performance sealing systems for fire safety, is delighted to announce the launch of its latest RIBA-approved CPD, created in collaboration with Douglas Masterson, Technical & Training Director at the Guild of Architectural Ironmongers (GAI). Entitled “The Design & Specification of Intumescent Air Transfer Grilles”, the CPD provides in-depth technical insights into this vital component of fire safety.

The construction project at Gregorys Court in Bodmin, Cornwall, was part of a £79 Million upgrade to council houses across the region. The refurbishment led by Cornwall Housing began early in 2024, included several architectural changes to modernise and improve the two blocks of flats which were originally constructed in the 1970s. These changes included replacing roofs, windows and guttering, removing the old insulation and installing new rainscreen cladding to the facades.

In the wake of the Grenfell Tower tragedy in 2017, stringent regulations have been put in place to ensure the safety of outdoor areas, particularly in relation to fire.  

While the requirement for the use of non-combustible components on specified attachments such as balconies is clear and unequivocal, areas that fall in the category of flat roof systems represent a different challenge.

Unlike balconies, the requirements for roof systems leave room for interpretation that can potentially lead to the installation of non-compliant build-ups.  To avoid falling on the wrong side of compliance, specifiers often resort to non-combustible options which can have a negative impact on their budget.

Having been involved for many years in fire rated products, gaining invaluable knowledge and insight into the composite fire door industry, Astraseal could see the requirement for a comprehensive fire safety door package. A start to finish solution backed up by extensive testing to the most onerous standards and certified by industry leading experts.

The latest generation of fire resistant glazing is expanding the potential to increase daylighting within the communal areas of social housing, as well as other forms of shared accommodation, without compromising the safety of residents.

This light transmission and fire safety balance can be achieved using the range of certified fire resistant glazing and door systems from Promat. In the past 12 months, the company has seen a noticeable increase in the number of enquiries it has received relating to residential projects, which reflects a growing awareness of the benefits of designing spaces with maximum natural light in mind, coupled with the need to meet strict fire safety obligations following the implementation of the Building Safety Act.