The Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP) have announced the winners of the 2020 ASFP Passive Fire Protection Industry Awards.

There are five categories of award, each recognising key achievements within the industry, with the high caliber of nominations received demonstrating how ASFP members can succeed even in times of adversity.

The ASFP Best Installation Project of the Year was awarded to Firesafe Installations Ltd for the Clatterbridge Cancer Centre and Royal Liverpool University Hospital. Firesafe offered an accredited multi-disciplined service including design, installation and management of steelwork fire protection, design and installation of over 17,000 firestopping seals, acoustic sealing, waterproofing, load-bearing seals and walk-on fire floors, in a very complex scheme.

The project required an intense degree of design for fire, acoustic and waterproof seals, many of which required bespoke details to be developed and approved, while poor access resulted in the need for one-sided fire seal solutions in many places. In line with the move to digitising construction, the whole project was logged on Laing O’Rourke’s BIM Fieldview system.

Two other ASFP member installations were highly commended and shortlisted for this highly contested award. These were CLM Fireproofing for their work on One Crown Place, London; and Optimum Drywall Systems for the Grange University Hospital (SCCC) in Llanfrechfa, Wales.

The ASFP Passive Fire Protection Innovation of the Year went to R Lewis & Co Ltd for its INJECTACLAD Retrospective cavity barrier system. This is an injectable cavity barrier that can be installed in existing buildings without the need for removal of the façade. In the post-Grenfell world, such a product is invaluable for the refurbishment of buildings where cavity barriers have not been correctly installed. It can significantly reduce costs and installation times compared to traditional remediation methods.

INJECTACLAD offers up to 120 minutes’ fire resistance in both vertical and horizontal orientation, in gaps up to 150mm containing polyisocyanurate (PIR) insulation. Fully injectable, this patent-pending product requires only small openings at 2m centres, allowing each installation team to inject up to 60m per day. A borescope is used to record, inspect and sign off the works.

SFP Member of the Year was awarded to Clive Miles of CLM Fireproofing. Having established CLM Fireproofing over 30 years ago, Clive is an active ASFP Council member and has long championed change in the industry. He pioneered early engagement with Tier 1 contractors, implementing a 7-stage implementation lifecycle which ensures efficient and effective installations and involves producing a suite of tested solutions for the firestopping of service penetrations.

Passive Fire Protection Advocate of the Year was awarded to Nichola Venables for her tireless work as CEO of the National New Build Database and organiser of the New Build Homes National Fire Safety Issues Facebook group. Nichola bought a new home from a major UK housebuilder only to find it riddled with faults and inadequate firestopping. As a result of her activities, nearly 200 homes from this developer have been independently inspected and errors rectified.

The ASFP Academic Achievement Awards reward those who achieved success in the Level 3 and Level 2 Passive Fire Protection qualifications awarded by the Institution of Fire Engineers. The 2020 Level 2 Award went to Simon Ince of UL UK, while the Level 3 winner was Cathie Wilson of Rider, Levett, Bucknall.

In his final action as ASFP CEO, Niall Rowan announced the award winners and offered his congratulations to those who took part:

“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 every award winner and all those who were shortlisted.

“2020 has been a hugely challenging year for all and we are delighted to be able to reward the innovation, dedication and professionalism of our members and others who work hard to promote and advance the quality of passive fire protection.”

Commenting on the awards, the ASFP’s new CEO Steve Davies added: “The ASFP already has an enviable reputation as a leading authority on passive fire protection and this is thanks to the strength, commitment and enthusiasm of its members. These awards are designed to recognise this hard work and dedication and to reward those that excel.

“I look forward to working with members to further raise the ASFP’s profile and influence in the wider construction industry and ensure the competency and professionalism of all of the Association’s members is universally recognised throughout the sector.”