This was just one of the relevant questions asked at the Fire Safety Conference in Tromsø on 22-23 March. After the last Jotun fire in 2021, DSB stated in a report that ‘Fire safety failed at Jotun’, but it concerned foam systems that did not work, hydrants without power and a fire engine with a flat battery. However, the fire service confirms that the passive fire protection limited the fire to the room where it started and prevented a new catastrophic fire.
Lack of fire protection still a major problem
The same can be said of the coverage of the devastating fire in the apartment complex in Lone outside Bergen. All the flats were completely burnt out after a fire that started on a veranda. All pictures in the press and reports show a burnt-out block of flats, from the veranda side. It is described as a miracle that all residents made it out safely. But was it really? The other side of the block looks almost undamaged and the passive fire protection in the outer walls towards the hallway and entrance has ensured a good escape route.
These are a couple of examples where the fire protection has worked as intended. Unfortunately, an increasing number of reports show that this is not present as it should be in large parts of the Norwegian building stock. This has been reported for many years, including in a case on TV2 where it is stated that in Oslo alone there are approximately 1,800 apartment blocks and condominiums that lack upgraded fire safety. This is a major risk for residents and tenants, and a responsibility that is not being fulfilled by board members and building owners.
During the Fire Safety Conference, a number of examples were also shown from Tromsø, Kristiansund and Bergen, indicating that the situation is no better elsewhere in the country. Both in terms of a lack of upgrading and a lot of incorrect workmanship.
What is passive fire protection?
These are measures that are designed and built into the building and do not need to be activated manually or automatically. The purpose is to reduce the consequences of a fire by stopping the spread of smoke and preventing a fire from spreading to other fire cells or sections. To save lives and health, the most important thing is to limit the spread of smoke and gases and provide for safe evacuation. It is usually the smoke that kills, which is also the main reason why most fatalities after a fire are elderly and people with limited mobility.
Passive fire protection is not a separate subject today, but an additional skill that most construction trades need. This applies in particular to builders, carpenters, electricians and plumbers. When you build a wall in a fire compartment, there is usually a need for expertise and products to seal around all penetrations in an approved and fireproof way. Often also in relation to sound requirements.
Norwegian-owned Polyseam is one of Europe's largest manufacturers of proven products and system solutions for passive fire protection. With its own factory in the UK and warehouse in Tønsberg, the solutions are sold in Norway under the GRAFT brand. Polyseam AS specialises in passive fire protection for buildings and facilities, and CEO Jørn Davidsen explains. Jørn Davidsen, CEO of Polyseam AS, reports a strong increase in focus on this area from authorities, builders and contractors over the past year.
- ‘We can see that both political authorities and the largest municipal property players have realised that this area has not been satisfactorily addressed in recent decades. At the Fire Safety Conference, Frank Ivar Andersen from the Norwegian Association of Master Builders highlighted the fact that even though the intentions and regulations for good fire protection are in place in the Planning and Building Act, compliance and follow-up have been lacking for a long time. The political authorities have now realised this, and this deficiency in Norwegian buildings will receive increased focus in the future,’ says Davidsen.
- The market is experiencing increased inspection activity from municipalities and we are noticing a great deal of interest in our courses and technical support from both building owners and contractors. It's becoming increasingly important to check that fire safety has been taken care of and possibly upgraded to meet current requirements. One example is fires in terraced houses, where we often find that fire spreads to several residential units due to deficiencies in fire separations, and apartment fires that spread to large attic rooms. This is an enormous amount of damage, especially in older apartment blocks.
It is relatively easy to upgrade fire safety in these buildings using the documented GRAFT solutions. The system has been developed with a small number of products, which have been tested and documented for a large number of solutions. The most important thing a responsible condominium board can do is to get an assessment from a specialist, consulting fire engineer, and start by mapping the need. Preferably before an inspection is carried out, and certainly before a fire with a serious outcome and subsequent liability occurs.
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