A PLETHORA OF CHANGE IN THE WORLD OF FIRE PROTECTION

摘要

Changes to Approved Document B (Building Regulations), SCI design guidance for the use of intumescent coatings on cellular beams (RT1085) and the ASFP "Yellow Book" (4th edition) are set to be joined by the new legislative requirements of The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order (referred as simply the RRO) which becomes law on 1 October. Furthermore, all the leading European intumescent manufacturers have signed up to new agreements laid down by the new Intumescent Coating Forum (ICF), which has meant reassessing materials to a common set of guidelines in line with European standards. Manufacturers will also have to re-test their materials eventually (by April 2009) either to the forthcoming European test and assessment standard (ENV 13381-8) or carry out interim testing to bring their BS data closer to the ENV data. The ENV testing will ultimately replace BS 476 (Parts 20/21).