Fire hazard is one of the biggest risks that a modern building might face. The reason behind this is how modern buildings are constructed. Almost all buildings nowadays come with in-wall wiring. This is one of the biggest reasons behind fires in contemporary homes.
Apart from that, numerous other reasons can lead to a fire incident. Therefore, having a plan to prevent flash fires in buildings is essential. This is where PAS 9980 comes into play. PAS 9980 is a structural framework that plays a crucial role in the fire risk appraisal of external walls, also known as FRAEW.
It helps assessors understand the metrics and guidelines they must follow. In this article, we will examine PAS 9980 and FRAEW guidelines to provide a clearer understanding of the situation.
Background Of PAS 9980
To understand PAS and FRAEW guidelines, we need to take this ship back in time. On June 14th, 2017, a tragic fire at the Grenfell Tower, North Kensington, claimed the lives of 72 people. The lightning rate of the combustion did not give people enough time to react. As a result, this highlighted the importance of a comprehensive fire appraisal guideline.
Situational reports of the incident suggested that the rapid combustion of the fire was due to the flammable outer cladding of buildings. The external flammable cladding can be seen as one of the primary reasons behind a lot oif other fires across the UK. However, the Grenfell tragedy highlighted the need for improved regulatory measures to ensure safety.
Although the flammable cladding is a primary contributor, other factors are also at play. An inquiry report published by the authorities suggests that several factors contributed to the fire, including construction, combustible insulation inside the wall, and a lack of cavity barriers.
This incident shed light on serious lapses in the UK’s construction regulations. And how those lapses can be detrimental and fatal for some. This is why the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) initiated the long process of framing PAS 9980. The framework’s primary aim is to avert another Grenfell Tragedy.
PAS 9980 Methodology Breakdown
As per current regulatory measures, fire assessment is a necessity. Buildings must have proper fire regulatory measures in place to function effectively. In other words, every building in the UK needs to pass the FRAEW. For this, the assessor would be following the PAS 9980 guideline.
The methodology of PAS 9980 involves assessing the quality of a structure’s exterior wall. It outlines several key points, including the determination of the relationship between fire risk and life safety. In other words, it factors in several markers to determine if a building is fire-prone, and if it is, then how severe the situation can become.
However, there are lapses, something that we will eventually discuss. But one lapse of PAS 9980 is that it is not inclusive. This means that it cannot predict or accommodate all variations of buildings. Especially now, when buildings come in various formats.
PAS 9980 Objective Breakdown
Although the primary objective of PAS 9980 is to guide building safety and fire codes, there are other equally important objectives as well. Here is a look at some of the most important objectives of PAS 9980.
- Providing professionals like construction specialists, fire engineers, etc., with a detailed guideline on how external walls can be engineered to deter fires.
- Allowing fire assessors with the tools to communicate the result of an FRAEW. So that the recipient can understand and accept the result.
- Helping other professionals understand how FRAEW functions, thereby fostering a broader understanding of the phenomenon.
- Helping to create a broader understanding of the pointers that FRAEW can assess and those that it cannot. Therefore, educating about the pros as well as the limitations of these pointers is important.
- Including inclusive language so that the non-technical crowd could also understand what is what.
- Promoting consistency across the construction landscape to prevent further tragedies.
General Structure Of PAS
The structure of Pas is a crucial aspect that people need to be aware of. PAS is primarily meant to address the background and methodology of the FRAEW. Each primary clause is presented in italics. A detailed explanation of the finer points of the clause follows.
The whole outline is segregated into 15 clauses. The first three clauses provide important initial information about the scope of the guideline, including abbreviations and terms and conditions.
Clause 4 outlines the considerations that must be understood before an FRAEW assessment. Clauses 5, 6, and 7 provide a detailed look into the background information, legislative context, and benchmark details, respectively.
Clause 8 talks about the competencies of the assessors. Clauses 9, 10, 11, and 12 outline the key aspects of FRAEW, including preliminary information, materials and components, and considerations for both partial and complete clad buildings.
Finally, clauses 13, 14, and 15 detail the closing details about an FRAEW report. Therefore, this is the basic structure that FRAEW professionals need to understand or follow.
Understanding The Importance In the Current Landscape
Why is PAS important in the current landscape? Following the Grenfell tragedy, the government sought to prevent similar situations. Now, it is not feasible to completely renovate a city and its buildings to fit the fireproof norms.
However, creating a guideline to help people understand the finer details and regulatory measures they need to follow when making new construction. This is important because it addresses the problem even before it presents itself.
Currently, PAS only applies to multi-storey buildings. However, the scope of the regulatory measure can also extend to other types of co-sharing spaces, such as student accommodations, shelters, and governmental structures.
Is It Worth It?
PAS 9980 is a crucial regulatory guideline that can save lives and money. A flash fire is not just dangerous for the residents of the house; it has broken out. It is also quite destructive for the environment and neighboring buildings. Therefore, PAS 9980 and FRAEW guidelines can help build regulations that are safer and less prone to such situations.
