How Halspan helps manage safety-critical elements in construction

As a leading provider of fire safety solutions, we fully recognise the need for a rigorous and structured approach to address safety-critical elements in building design, construction, and inspection.

Building failures of recent years culminating in the Grenfell Tower fire, have underscored the importance of prioritising building safety. The Royal Insitute of British Architects (RIBA) and the Chartered Institute of Building’s (CIOB) ‘Guide to managing Safety-Critical Elements in Building Construction’  highlights the significance of adopting standardised protocols and industry-wide compliance practices to ensure the safety and well-being of building occupants. 

Below we explore how Halspan’s fire safety solutions actively align with the report’s recommendations while consistently meeting the needs of the construction industry.

Identifying Safety-Critical Elements: Mitigating Risks

The RIBA and CIOB joint report emphasises several key fire safety concerns in buildings, as these elements play a crucial role in safeguarding the lives of occupants and reducing the risk of fire-related incidents. The report identifies the importance of escape and access routes and addressing flammable cladding and insulation materials, which can contribute to minimising the potential for injuries or fatalities as well as mitigating the rapid spread of fire. 

Effective fire compartmentation, including measures such as smoke control, firestopping, and cavity barriers, helps contain fire and smoke within specified compartments, limiting their spread and allowing for safer evacuation and firefighting operations. Furthermore, ensuring the structural integrity of masonry cladding and the stability of balconies is crucial for maintaining the overall stability and safety of the building, preventing structural failures that could endanger occupants and emergency responders.

Halspan understands the importance of addressing these issues and offers comprehensive solutions to help mitigate the associated risks. Through rigorous testing procedures, adherence to stringent environmental standards, global compliance testing, and a focus on durability, we ensure that our products provide reliable fire safety measures, giving customers peace of mind and contributing to safer built environments.

Addressing Safety-Critical Elements: A Focus on Fire Doors

Among the safety-critical elements outlined above, fire door cores play a pivotal role in safeguarding lives and property. Halspan® Verified, our rigorous certification program, ensures the quality and performance of fire doors from the core and more. 

By subjecting fire doors, such as the Halspan fd60 and Halspan fd90 to comprehensive testing and evaluation, Halspan® Verified guarantees compliance with industry standards for fire resistance, durability, and integrity. This certification program directly addresses the concerns raised in the report, offering peace of mind through a robust verification process. 

Comprehensive Asset Management

Halspan® Tracker enables real-time monitoring of these assets, allowing building owners and facilities managers to track their condition and maintenance status from a handy app.

With access to detailed records of inspections, repairs, and maintenance activities in seconds, Halspan Tracker ensures that fire doors and other passive fire safety assets remain in optimal condition – thereby aiming to prevent fire spread, rapid escalation, potential collapse or compromised structural stability.

To address inadequate maintenance practices highlighted in the report, Halspan offers Halspan® Tracker, an advanced asset management system tailored specifically for passive fire safety assets, including fire doors. 

Professional Inspections for Peace of Mind

Halspan Inspection services provide comprehensive and professional inspections for fire doors and other passive fire safety assets. Certified inspectors conduct thorough assessments to identify any potential defects, damage, or non-compliance with fire safety regulations. By proactively detecting and addressing issues, Halspan® Inspection Services help prevent fire safety risks. Building owners can rely on these services to ensure that fire doors are properly installed, maintained, and fully functional as intended.

Aligning with Best Practices and Standards

The recent RIBA and CIOB joint report highlights the importance of qualified personnel, inspections, evidence collection, and standardised protocols. Halspan’s extensive range of fire safety solutions align with these best practices. 

Halspan’s products and services provide evidence of compliance with design and specifications, incorporating a “golden thread” of information critical to fire safety. By implementing the recommended principles, processes, and protocols outlined in the report, Halspan contributes to improving building safety, restoring public confidence, and delivering high-quality buildings.

By aligning with best practices and standards, Halspan’s diversified range is evidence of compliance with design and specifications, incorporating critical information for fire safety.

Collaboration and Integration: Industry-wide Best Practices

The RIBA and CIOB joint report makes clear that collaboration among stakeholders, including clients, design teams, contractors, and building control bodies, is vital. 

Halspan plays a pivotal role in enhancing building safety and ensuring quality assurance through a proactive approach that emphasises the appointment of highly qualified personnel, rigorous inspections, meticulous evidence collection, and the implementation of robust procedures. These efforts are not merely procedural; they are critical in preventing tragic disasters, preserving lives, and safeguarding communities.

By having competent individuals involved at every stage, from design to construction and inspection, Halspan prevents life-threatening situations and minimises the likelihood of catastrophic incidents. Thorough inspections serve as a critical line of defence, ensuring that safety-critical elements are installed correctly, comply with regulations, and function as intended. This proactive approach mitigates risks, identifies potential weaknesses or non-compliance issues, and averts disasters, ultimately protecting the lives of occupants.

More Information

As a trusted leader in fire safety solutions, Halspan understands the inherent challenges faced by the construction industry and is dedicated to keeping our finger on the pulse of the latest regulations in the industry and tackling challenges head-on. 

By embracing and implementing the recommendations outlined in the joint report by RIBA and CIOB, Halspan significantly enhances building safety, instils renewed public confidence, and upholds the highest standards of construction excellence. Our cutting-edge offerings, including Halspan Verified, Halspan® Tracker, and Halspan® Inspection services, exemplify our unwavering commitment to ensuring the secure and compliant construction of buildings.

Contact Halspan today to learn more about our comprehensive fire safety solutions for your building.