New CPD from Promat to support fire safety regulations compliance

Promat has introduced a new Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programme.

The initiative aims to help professionals specify systems that protect structural steel from fire, supporting compliance with fire safety standards.

The CPD is designed to address the importance of early and accurate specification in line with the UK Building Safety Act.

The training will cover several critical applications of passive fire protection systems for structural steel.

These include issues related to compartmentation and the role of fire protection boards in ensuring the steel retains its integrity during a fire.

Overview of passive fire protection for structural steel

The new CPD also details the challenges faced in designing fire protection systems for structural steel.

Among the areas covered are the implications of various interfaces, the need for tested solutions to safeguard compartmentation, and specific issues like the inclusion of cellular beams.

Promat’s CPD offers guidance on how these factors influence fire safety.

This training highlights the importance of collaboration between architects, specifiers, and engineers in early project stages to ensure passive fire protection systems are accurately integrated into building designs.

Insights from Promat UK leadership

Joshua Slack, Commercial Director at Promat UK, explained the focus of the CPD: “Maintaining the load-bearing capacity of structural steel under fire conditions is crucial to building safety.

“The aim of this CPD is to provide a strong grounding in the testing standards that manufacturers should follow, and give comprehensive insights into the specification of passive fire protection systems that are proven to perform in protecting structural steel, and backed by third-party testing.”

He added: “Getting the specification right at the first stage is essential. Promat advocates collaboration between stakeholders at the earliest stage of a project, involving architects and specifiers to ensure passive fire protection systems adequately support the design.”

Focus on regulatory changes and testing standards

The CPD examines the evolving regulatory landscape, including updates to Part B regulations and the shift from British Standards (BS) to European Norms (EN) standards.

Promat highlights the need for professionals to stay informed on these changes to ensure compliance.

The training also emphasises the importance of third-party testing to ensure that fire protection systems for structural steel are certified and meet the required safety levels.

Various applications, such as the protection of steel beams in compartmentation systems, are also discussed.

Passive fire protection CPD launched by Promat to aid structural steel specification: Summary

Promat has launched a new CPD designed to improve confidence in specifying passive fire protection systems for structural steel.

The training focuses on the need for early and accurate specification in line with the UK Building Safety Act.

It addresses issues such as compartmentation and interfacing, along with the importance of using tested and certified fire protection boards.

Joshua Slack, Commercial Director at Promat UK, emphasised the importance of collaboration in the design stage to ensure fire safety measures are integrated properly.

The CPD also covers regulatory updates and testing standards to support compliance with current fire safety regulations.