IFSEC Global reports back from the Passive Fire Protection Awards, organised and hosted by the Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP), at the Tower of London. The year’s award winners were revealed, with all those shortlisted working hard to advance the importance of passive fire protection throughout the UK. The winners of the 2019 Passive Fire Protection Industry Awards were announced by the ASFP on Thursday, 5th December at an Awards Lunch held in the Pavilion at the Tower of London. The awards were presented by ITV’s Good Morning Britain presenter Charlotte Hawkins to companies and individuals judged to have contributed to the advancement of the passive fire protection sector.
Winner: R Lewis & Co Ltd, for its Deflection Head Repair Detail
The detail was developed to address a problem in a 29-storey residential block, in which the standard deflection head detail within a two-hour fire wall was missing. To avoid having to take down and rebuild the wall, R Lewis developed the new detail, which could be installed to the face of the wall from one side only, minimising damage and disruption. R Lewis then commissioned a fire resistance test to show that the modification would work; something that is usually the preserve of manufacturers.
The detail has since been installed across many projects. The judges commended the product for directly addressing a nationwide industry problem and praised the contractor for designing and testing a novel solution.
Winner: Sharpfibre Ltd, for its work on the on the Newfoundland building in London’s Canary Wharf
The project presented unique challenges, with the structural steels of the 220m tower’s fire protection needing protecting from the elements. Sharpfibre’s solution was to apply a self-sticking, breathable, water-resisting membrane – Wraptite. The judges were impressed with the innovative and cost effective solution for this live project which involved work at height in very exposed conditions, including applying Wraptite outside the boundary of the building at great height.
Passive Fire Protection Advocate of the Year Winner: Neville Tomblin of Southampton City Council
Neville won the award for his outstanding professionalism in upgrading fire safety, especially passive protection, in the Council’s high rise residential blocks.
With his 45 years’ experience in domestic construction, refurbishment and repairs, Neville motivates staff and colleagues and takes a pro-active approach to his duties, working with his team to expand their skills and experience. Neville’s work is helping to deliver a safer environment for residents, as well as protecting the value of the Council’s housing stock.
Winner: Aidan O’Connor, Estate Manager, Fire Safety at Ireland’s Health Service Executive
Aidan has played an active role in raising awareness of passive fire and working to improve installation quality by promoting third party certification of sub-contractors. Aidan insists on excellence in passive fire protection in all hospitals and medical facilities and promotes the ASFP and its members to government projects in the Republic of Ireland. He is a very active member of the ASFP Technical Task Group in Ireland and regularly attends Council and other ASFP meetings and events.
The new ASFP Academic Achievement Awards rewarded those who achieved success in the Level 3 and Level 2 Passive Fire Protection qualifications awarded by the Institution of Fire Engineers. The Level 2 Award went to Duncan Brickhill from BM TRADA, while the Level 3 winners were Sem Kneeshaw from Fire Delay Contractors Ltd and James McClavy from Saint-Gobain Isover.
ASFP CEO Niall Rowan offered his congratulations to all the winners and shortlisted projects: “The ASFP Passive Fire Protection Awards aim to highlight excellence in passive fire protection and reward those who contribute to the advancement of the sector. I would like to congratulate all those who were shortlisted for these awards and of course applaud the very worthy winners. Every entry was of a very high standard and the variety served to demonstrate the excellent work, expertise, professionalism and commitment of our members.
“2019 has been a hugely successful year for the ASFP, in which we have seen significant growth in membership and very strong interest in our Level 3 and Level 2 training programmes. Close to 300 people have now completed the courses, with most of these going on to sit the associated Institution of Fire Engineers examinations. We are delighted to recognise this success through our new Academic Achievement Awards.”
Runners up in the awards were Sherwin Williams, for its FIRETEX FX6002 intumescent coating; Coopers Fire, for its fire curtain installation project at One Creechurch Place, London; CLC Contractors, for its work upgrading fire precautions in high rise flats Southampton City Council; and R Lewis & Co Ltd, for its work on the University of West England, Frenchay Campus.
New Business Manager appointedThe ASFP has also recently appointed Mike Ward as its Business Manager. The new role has been created to ensure the Association can further develop, building on recent successes including rising interest in membership and in the ASFP’s training programme.
Mike brings with him a range of comprehensive business and marketing skills and experience from a broad range of different industries. He joins the ASFP from fire and smoke curtain manufacturer Coopers Fire, where he has been Director of Sales (UK & Export) for over 11 years.
As ASFP Business Manager, Mike’s role will be to further advance the Association, ensuring it continues to operate efficiently, supporting its members’ needs and building yet stronger links across the wider construction supply chain.
On joining the Association, Mike stated: “I am delighted to be joining the ASFP team at this pivotal time in the Association’s development. The ASFP has experienced significant growth in recent years and I am excited at the prospect of helping it to further develop, by building on the success of the recently launched training programme, supporting existing members, while identifying potential new markets.”
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