One of FIREFLY®’s largest contracting partners has successfully completed the erection of a full height flame and smoke barrier as part of the enablement works for an important new extension to London Dockland’s iconic Excel London which hosts multiple construction shows and events for other sections every year. Coventry based KRASI Fire Protection Limited - a specialist sub-contractor well experienced in all types of commercial construction projects and upgrades - carried out the installation of the well proven and fully certified FIREFLY® Phoenix 120 fire barrier.
Given the sensitivity of the location, with public events in progress throughout much of the contract duration, rigorous precautions had to be taken to avoid disturbance and to contain any construction detritus from reaching other parts of the building: a requirement simplified thanks to the ease of fixing and very low wastage that distinguish the FIREFLY® systems from alternatives on the market.
All work was carried out in full compliance with the latest requirements of Approved Document B and other Building Regulations as well as the recently enacted Building Safety Act. The 800 m2 barrier was created using FIREFLY’s Phoenix system along with Collaroll and the manufacturer’s fire-resistant adhesive and heavy-duty staple guns to secure the specially treated, non-woven material to a framework formed from 50 x 50 mm steel angles.
In achieving this, KRASI had up to half a dozen of its highly trained operatives on site at any time, with the installation taking a total of six weeks. The company’s Contract Manager, Daniel Oldacre, commented: “While FIREFLY® are our favourite fire protection products for any barrier work and we always tend to recommend them, in the case of the work at Excel London Phoenix was actually specified by the client, while FIREFLY’s technical consultant, Dave Allen providing guidance for the flame break and smoke barrier which rose the full three storey height of where the new extension meets the existing exhibition halls.”
“Then as well as our own certification work in line with our IFC accreditation, employing the Bolster system, Dave returned to site several times to carry out inspections. The barrier will offer 120 minutes integrity from either side and could remain in place once the new area is complete. The project went very smoothly and we have moved on now to other sites including a major one on the Oxford University science campus where we are again using FIREFLY products. We also engage with training from the company every January: this year having three groups of eight installers undertaking the course in turn. It is a very good working relationship.”
As a specialist sub-contractor well experienced in all types of new-build and upgrade projects, KRASI Fire Protection Limited is active across the South-East, the Midlands and the rest of the country. Manufactured from woven and non-woven glass, the FIREFLY® range is designed to optimise resistance to flame and smoke as well as offer heat protection in a wide range of scenarios. The barriers are easy to install horizontally or vertically using a full selection of FIREFLY® ancillary products to ensure a fully tested and certified installed system. www.tbafirefly.com
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