CROSS-UK Newsletter 71 has been published and includes expert comment on fire safety and structural safety reports.
Newsletter content
Fire performance of timber cladding
This report relays a concern that guidance to The Building Regulations 2010 regarding the use of timber cladding may be the result of a misinterpretation.
Collapse of folded plate timber roof at a school
This report is about a critical safety issue concerning folded timber roofs, in various settings, including over school halls.
Serious inconsistencies when installing passive fire protection
An onsite fire engineer, engaged on behalf of the end client during the construction of a new residential development, reports a significant amount of inadequately installed passive fire protection elements.
Understanding finite element analysis for pile caps
A reporter questions the validity of using two-dimensional finite element (2D FE) shells to model structural elements such as pile caps.
The stack effect and considerations for smoke control
A reporter believes real-world tests demonstrate that existing smoke control systems may not suitably account for typical winter stack effect conditions.
Painted faying surfaces leads to connections with insufficient load capacity
Painted, rather than the required unpainted connection faying surfaces, were identified by the Resident Engineer of a reporter's firm during the erection of a primary frame for a large project. The painted surfaces resulted in the connections not having sufficient load carrying capacity and necessitated remedial works.
Provision of water for firefighting
A reporter suggests that there is inadequate guidance on firefighting water provision for more complex and larger buildings.
Combination load cases in proprietary software cause concern
A reporter is concerned about a widely used software package that does not, in their opinion, generate load combinations in accordance with the Eurocodes being followed.
Failure of Firefighters lift to operate
The reporter tells of an instance when a Firefighters lift switch, located on the Fire Service Access Level (FSAL) in a multi-storey building failed to operate. After an investigation the switch was found not to have been connected.
Fire protection to structure by cavity barriers
A reporter is concerned about a potential misconception in the construction industry regarding the role of cavity barriers and the impact their design and installation can have on the structural performance of a building.
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