All fired up

alf-a-million square metres of fire resisting ducts are installed in buildings every year in the UK. They play a vital part in saving lives, but performance is too often adversely affected by poor installation.

Recognising the need for training of installers and third-party accreditation of competence, FIRAS, a division of Warrington Fire Research Certification, has set up a register of accredited installers in conjunction with the Heating and Ventilating Contractors' Association (HVCA).

The FIRAS scheme allows clients and specifiers to have confidence that fire-resisting duct systems will be installed to the highest standards. As Don Wood, head of accreditation and training at FIRAS explains: "Accredited installers are required to maintain a detailed record of every project undertaken. They are subject to surveillance visits to ensure that adequate records are kept and a random sample of all fire-resisting duct and ancillary equipment is inspected during installation."

FIRAS' tie-up with the HVCA is one of a series of competence certification schemes. FIRAS also has partnerships in place in sectors covering glazing, cavity barriers, penetration sealing, structural steelwork and timber and steel fire doors.

FIRAS' register contains details of the product groups in which the installer has received training. "The FIRAS-trained employees of installer companies are required to carry identification cards while working on site," says Don Wood. "This card should be available for inspection on request. The card has a photograph of the employee as well as the relevant product groups."

The FIRAS/HVCA training scheme is designed to ensure an understanding of the role of ducts and dampers in fire safety in buildings. This includes:

• the installation requirements of the specialist materials being used;
  
• the interdependency between materials and components;
  
• the need to apply the correctly determined level of fire-resisting material;
  
• the nature of duct construction necessary for the correct fire-resisting performance to be achieved;
  
• the need for adequate support of ducts;
  
• a basic understanding of the principles of passive fire protection and regulations.

FIRAS is supported by manufacturers and distributors of specialist fire protection materials. The register contains details of suppliers that employ FIRAS-trained staff able to give advice on the materials they sell.

It is clients who will ultimately drive forward competence schemes such as FIRAS. With certification now very much a buzzword and card-based schemes for contractors gaining momentum, the timing couldn't be better. Only by using the FIRAS register can clients be assured that contractors are using skilled operators trained in the application of fire resisting duct and ancillary equipment.

Contractors should seek FIRAS accreditation if considering working with fire-resisting ductwork. If you don't, clients may find you too hot to handle.