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 the QBCC crack down and Building Certifiers 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.
If there are in- slab conduits, eg Pex Pipes they must be retrievable and caulked at each end.
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.
We also recommend investing in passive fire training for your team to not only improve their confidence when tackling passive fire onsite but to reduce the risk of defects and the associated costs.
For more immediate answers to your onsite passive fire questions, find out what test reports state and if there is a DTS system for your project without having to do the hours of research, call the Plus Hotline on 1800 PASSIV.