fire engineering
SPL Fire Engineering is brought to you by industry specialists with a wealth of experience and expertise, ensuring your building design reaches its maximum potential
SPL Fire Engineering specialise in a number of different services, please see below for more information.
SPL’s fire strategies combine our team’s experience, innovation and industry research to ensure that your building meets the statutory requirements of the Building Regulations. SPLFE have a proven track record in assisting in the development of clients’ concepts, helping them to successfully complete their project.
Each of our fire engineering experts have been fire engineers within a Metropolitan Fire Service, bringing a wealth of knowledge and expertise.
Fire Safety Design
Our combined experience ensures that our clients are able to maximise their design concepts to give the best possible outcome at each stage of any program, from inception right through to a fully operational and in-use building.
timber construction
The use of timber within buildings is increasing due to ecological benefits and as an alternative to traditional design allowing designers construction flexibility.
During the design and construction phases, SPLFE can advise on construction site best practice, business continuity and identify risks such as potential radiation exposure to surround buildings.
SPLFE can advise on UKTFA guidance, their 16 step approach and HSG168 (construction site fire safety).
Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
SPLFE’s experience in Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) allows us to analyse building design and to calculate whether it will meet the statutory requirements of the Building Regulations.
SPLFE CFD specialists use industry-leading computer modelling techniques to assess the fire safety design within a project. CFD can be used for analysing smoke production, ventilation requirements, evacuation simulations and potential risks of radiation emitting from a fire.
Computer modelling is a recognised method of analysing how a building will perform during a simulated fire and helps support theoretical design concepts. Any building changes can be analysed and simulated ensuring the building design optimises the client’s requirements.
Radiation Calculations
Due to the design limitations of a site, it is sometimes necessary to review whether the thermal radiation from a building will pose a risk to surrounding buildings. SPLFE can conduct radiation calculations to:
- Assess whether fire will spread to an adjacent building.
- Ensure a kiosk, display stand or similar would not pose a risk in a shopping centre.
- Review current buildings.
fire strategies on existing buildings
A building’s fire safety design and strategy ensures vendors understand their buildings and can demonstrate compliance with various legislation, including the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. SPLFE have detailed knowledge and understanding of both fire engineering and fire safety requirements and regulations.
When there is no clear fire strategy in place, SPLFE can make a full assessment, reverse-engineer the passive and active measures and develop a fire strategy for any building. This gives a clear breakdown of how the building was designed, how it was designed to be managed, and where improvements can be achieved.
Fire Safety / Risk Management
Our highly skilled staff can assist in the design and development of both passive and active fire safety measures for your building.
The passive fire safety features can restrict fire and smoke spread within the building to ensure that occupants can safely evacuate. They also protect the fabric of the building, reduce structural damage and improve business continuity. Passive fire safety features include fire-resisting floors, walls, ceilings, doors, shafts and duct work.
Active fire safety features alert and assist occupants of the building. They do this by:
- Alerting occupants of a fire in the building
- Improving fire conditions by either removing or restricting smoke movement
- Activating automatic suppression systems to ensure tenable conditions within the building
Active systems also include water mist, oxygen reduction, foam suppression and gas flooding systems.
SPL’s highly competent engineers can assist in the design of both passive and active requirements to all relevant British, European and International Standards.
Research and
Development
SPLFE provide expertise in all areas of fire testing, research and development, and can advise clients how to comply with fire legislation through independent expert advice.
We can provide field reports following fire testing of your product, and give guidance on how it can be used in a particular application. We also review the fire performance criteria within a range of scenarios to ensure the manufacturer, architect, installer and building owner understand product selection and use.
