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The Passive Fire Knowledge Group

Welcome to the Passive Fire Knowledge Group (PFKG) , a new collaborative forum to drive culture change through the design and construction process to improve fire safety in buildings. 

The PFKG is a unique non-for-profit collaboration comprising contractors, specialist installers and relevant trade associations and our mission is to improve the delivery of well designed, specified and installed passive fire protection by focusing on 3 key areas: Process, Testing and Education.

Passive fire protection is a critically important aspect of fire safety which impacts on all aspects of building design and is often a critical interface between the architecture, structure and building services. Getting it right continues to be a major challenge, especially where there is a need to overcome complex and multi-faceted issues to demonstrate compliance

The group aims to investigate, understand, inform and promote best practice in all areas of passive fire protection.

“Leading culture change through collaboration”

Other ongoing issues

LACK OF TEST METHODS AND DATA

The lack of test methods or data for real life installations, for example, multiple penetrations, supporting constructions (walls/floors etc).

The group will investigate the potential for many of the issues above to be designed out or for products to be tested in the appropriate applications if fire performance is considered at an early stage

PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS

Performance requirements of firestopping (insulation v. integrity) not well understood by the community

DEMAND FOR FIRE TESTING

Investigate possibilities for reductions in demands for testing for minor variations from the tested configuration.

EVALUATIONS

Investigate the potential for the acceptance of technical evaluations (asessments), which are often refused due to a risk averse culture.

EDUCATION

Lack of education / competence in those designing, procuring and installing PFP.

A CROSS INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIP