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ALTHOUGH construction activity is expected to be subdued for at least the next two years as a result of the economic recession – new industrial, office and retail developments in particular are being dented by the downturn – recent years have generally seen a growth in ever-more grand designs for large and complex commercial buildings worldwide.
And not just for the landmark projects often associated with urban skylines – innovative and challenging designs are increasingly being used for all manner of new build offices, shopping centres, airport terminals and hotels.
Going hand-in-hand with the design and construction phases of these buildings is the need to ensure a more safety-conscious approach, especially given the significant number of commercial fires each year – and this is underlined by many of the articles this month.
One issue is the fire risks on construction sites, particularly those that feature high-rise or timber-framed structures, as highlighted by the joint code of practice, Fire Prevention on Construction Sites. The new 7th edition of the code sets out updated guidance on precautions and safe working practices for the design and planning stages, including the risks from acetylene and arson.
Of course, fire risks are not just present at the construction stage; they must be considered holistically through the entire lifetime of a building, from design to use and refurbishment – which is where fire engineering solutions come in.
These performance-based designs are increasingly being used for large and complex projects to ensure a safe and efficient building – the proposed mixed-use development in Gorkogo Park in Ukraine being one example given in this edition. At the same time, standards such as BS 7974 and the new BS 9999 provide guidance on the use of fundamental engineering principles to assess life safety.
Modern construction methods and fire engineering designs can also pose challenges in terms of firefighter safety – they might even make it harder for fire crews to work in buildings.
One argument put forward this month is that current guidance on firefighter access is not sufficient for complex designs with, for instance, extended corridors, atria designs and smoke control systems, while the better insulation and toughened glazing common in these buildings may lead to attending crews facing higher temperatures and denser smoke in a fire. Might this be the ‘flip side’ of fire engineering solutions?
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