Design Ensuring Fire, Health, and Safety Compliance
In the realm of architectural design, striking a balance between fire safety, health, life safety, and sustainability has never been more crucial. The recently enacted Building Safety Act and related industry standards call for an integrated, collaborative, and digitally supported design approach, as highlighted by Sam Harland, Associate Director at Civic Engineers, during a recent presentation.
Fire-resistant mineral materials, while effective in combating fires, tend to be energy-intensive to produce. To address this, architects are encouraged to collaborate early with manufacturers and multidisciplinary teams to select fire-resistant, sustainable materials and systems that comply with rigorous fire safety standards and reduce environmental impact.
Embedding fire safety measures from the design phase is also essential. This includes installing smoke and fire alarms, emergency lighting, fire doors, and escape routes, ensuring they meet the Building Safety Act’s requirements for resilience against ignition sources and fire spread.
Compliance with the Act’s duty holder responsibilities is another key practice. This involves creating a "Golden Thread" of digital safety-critical building data that documents design decisions, fire risk assessments, and material specifications to enhance accountability and traceability across the building’s lifecycle.
Enhanced fire risk assessments, including those for external wall systems and flat entrance doors, are now mandated by the new regulations. These assessments aim to improve occupant safety without compromising sustainability goals.
Digital tools such as Building Information Modeling (BIM) and safety management software are invaluable in this endeavour. They enable architects to simulate fire scenarios, optimise evacuation routes, coordinate between electrical and fire suppression systems, and maintain up-to-date safety documentation that supports compliance audits and enforcement.
Engaging with the Building Safety Regulator’s framework is also crucial. This ensures ongoing inspections, approvals, and management by Accountable Persons and Building Safety Managers, bridging design intent with operational safety and health outcomes.
The refurbishment of four historic residential blocks within Chelsea’s Sutton Estate, by HTA Design and Civic Engineers, serves as a prime example of balancing high-quality retrofit with a strong focus on fire safety.
However, fire safety and sustainability are often perceived as "two opposing forces in the building lifecycle." The challenge lies in how to incorporate fire safety into lifecycle carbon assessments. High-performing insulation materials, often derived from organic, combustible sources, can improve operational carbon but pose a fire risk. The aim is to reduce both operational and embodied carbon while managing low-probability, high-impact risks.
Siderise, a company providing digital tools for passive fire protection specification, can help architects evidence compliance at early stages. They were involved in the design phase of Waterhouse Gardens, a residential development in Manchester, to address passive fire protection and drainage requirements.
Designers are under increasing pressure to get things right the first time, and tools like those provided by Siderise can help select the right systems at early stages. Early manufacturer collaboration can improve detailing, reduce costly rework, and ultimately save lives.
The Grenfell Tower refurbishment serves as a cautionary example of the dangers of unbalanced trade-offs in fire safety and sustainability. It underscores the importance of holistic fire safety coordination, emphasising the need for early-stage fire strategy integration and ongoing collaboration between disciplines.
In conclusion, Sam Harland calls for more research into biogenic, fire-safe alternatives like hempcrete. The future of architectural design lies in embracing a holistic approach that prioritises both occupant safety and wellness, and sustainability targets.
Architects should collaborate with manufacturers and multidisciplinary teams early in the design process to select fire-resistant, sustainable materials that minimize environmental impact, balancing health and wellness with educational pursuits in the realm of science. Furthermore, architectural designs should focus on embedding health and safety measures, such as fire doors and escape routes, while also incorporating sustainable practices to achieve the goals of the Building Safety Act and promote health-and-wellness in high-quality, retrofitted buildings.
