Fire Safety Compliance - Testing Times

SE Controls has launched ‘SE Tested Solutions’ as part of their on-going commitment to ensure critical life safety systems are designed, installed, certified and maintained to mandatory legislative standards. They are committed to communicating the message of compliance throughout the construction industry to improve awareness and best practice methodology.

With over 35 years’ experience within the façade automation industry, SE Controls is a leading international specialist in the design and delivery of intelligent smoke and environmental ventilation systems using façade automation as an integral part of the building envelope.

SE Tested Solutions is a range of documents accessed on a new website portal to provide guidance on products and best practice. SE Controls have collaborated with leading façade system companies to independently test their popular window systems to the European smoke ventilator standard EN12101-2. Added to an audited fabrication and installation process, a CE marked solution is provided, with a Declaration of Performance (DoP) to prove compliance. Solutions for environmental applications are also included.

Smoke control systems are among the most highly regulated parts of a building’s design, and façade automation using actuators on vents is a critical element of a life safety ventilation solution, to enable escape routes to be tenable. However, many façade contractors are blissfully unaware of their legal and contractual responsibilities, due to the array of regulations and processes that govern and control smoke ventilation solutions.

Under the mandated UK Construction Product Regulations, products that have a harmonised European standard (hEN), must be CE certified against that standard. Windows automated for smoke ventilation fall into the smoke and heat exhaust ventilator (SHEV) standard EN12101-2.

EN 12101-2 dictates that actuators and vent profiles must be tested together as a single system, at an accredited facility, to all test annexes of the prescriptive standard. There are also strict audited procedures to fabricate and install the components, to ensure they are manufactured as tested. Failure to follow this procedure means that the required Declaration of Performance (DoP) certificate cannot be issued, therefore the solution is not compliant. This of course creates risk to the façade contractor.

Martin Oates, Director of Global Sales, with SE Controls, explained; "Recent tragic events have placed compliance, especially for life safety systems at the forefront of our industry, and we are seeing awareness within the façade and construction community increase. The recently published government report on this subject has highlighted the need for increased policing of compliance, allied with increased powers of prosecution for non-compliance.

SE Controls has produced a fully tested and certified process to deliver this to the façade industry, and uniquely takes the certification responsibility. The façade Contractor is therefore protected, and provided with a full service from design to installation, accompanied with the proof of compliance in the form of the DoP. I urge all façade companies to register for SE Tested Solutions and share the initiative within their businesses. Let us take responsibility for your compliance."

SE Controls is committed to improve standards and awareness throughout the industry, and will continually update all registered parties of regulation changes via the portal.

For further information please email [email protected], tel +44 (0) 1543 44 30 60.