Today is a big win for the construction industry!

As a team of specialist consultants working in the niche area of passive fire, Plus Systems have been banging on for 5 years about how this area of construction deserves more recognition as a ‘new profession’ in the construction industry, through numerous articles, webinars, posts and client presentations. 

Unfortunately, it’s not so niche when it comes to multi residential buildings – and we have long known why. Passive fire defects are reportedly the 2nd biggest defect in these new buildings.  Without the specialist knowledge on board, the corrosive ‘we’ve always done it that way’ mindset continues, with much frustration for all parties involved.  Usually, it’s the builder or the contractor at the very end of the line that bears the cost of the stuff-ups along the way to completed building works. 

Previously we’d never completed a tender as most estimators or project managers don’t understand the passive fire scope required, or it involves many parties peripheral to the works – the builder, fire engineer, structural engineer, building surveyor, architect and passive fire installer (who is usually the last consulted), but not a passive fire specialist. 

Best practice for passive fire elements requires one party oversight, with the most cost effective solutions, considering buildability, sequencing and of course compliance. 

We’re sure most in the industry have experienced pricing variations for a tender, and usually because the scope is inaccurate, so it’s been reissued at least once. So, you need to know what’s involved in the construction that relates to passive fire works, who should be doing said works and when.

Today is a celebration, as it’s the 1st tender document we received for a ‘Passive Fire Consultant’….and it’s very good! (Even if we did help write it!).

Initially works were sent to fire engineers, who all forwarded them to us as specialists in passive fire, and it’s a great step forward – getting the right people to do the job.

With a complete scope, where passive fire is considered from audit to design, to the inspection of rectification works right through to the completion of building rectification works.

SO, who’s responsible for ensuring everything in the initial planning is accurate for passive fire? You can’t just stick in any wall type and hope it works, and not all hardware is compliant on all fire doors. Is it up to the structural engineer to concern themselves with fire protection of structural steel?   Is the fire engineer – as a design practitioner – looking at passive fire, or only the active fire elements?  Who is, or rather should be looking at all the passive fire elements?

In any case, this is an exciting first to consider a different process for the construction industry, and one we believe is best practice.

We are happy to share our full process flow for rectification works, and where we believe the passive fire consultant fits in.

Before you embark on building work that requires expertise around building, firestopping and sequencing to get fire walls, doors and penetrations right, make sure you get an expert in this area. 

Passive fire is way too big to be peripheral to a number of professions and trades. It deserves dedicated attention.

Click here for your free download of our process flow for rectification works