Modern Building Services

EDITOR’S COMMENT MODERN BUILDING SERVICES OCTOBER 2021 3 W elcome to the October edition of MBS (Modern Building Services). This issue will focus somewhat on the new fire regulations. This is an area we haven’t covered much recently but never the less, extremely important, particularly with the recent fire at a New Providence Wharf tower block, which used the same cladding as the Grenfell Tower. It means fire safety is once again in the headlines. The acceleration of the Building Safety Bill, which is currently in draft and expected to become law later this year, was announced in the Queen’s Speech on 11th May 2021 in response to the latest incident. The draft bill was described by Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick as “the biggest change to our building safety regime for 40 years.” Turn to page 33 to find out more. In addition, whilst the reduction of indoor virus spreading is in everyone’s thoughts, the risk of rapid vertical spreading of fire is not far behind it, and neither issue can be resolved without affecting the other. Rupert Coggon from Tenmat shares; it is almost unanimously agreed that indoor ventilation has a dramatic effect on the spread of a virus. Government statistics state that the indoor virus spread can be reduced by 70% when ventilation is increased, many reports suggest that the 70% figure is modest. Needless to say, there has already been much written about this topic and it can be concluded that indoor ventilation will be a major weapon in the fight against current and future virus spread. Finally, Riser shafts feature so prominently in high rises, yet when it comes to understanding what they are and why they are needed from a fire protection perspective, there are misconceptions that obscure the truth. There are, for example, problematic misunderstandings in relation to fire protection rules during and post-construction and the difference between intumescent paint and fire encasement. Alex Bardett Managing Director of Ambar Kelly sets these misconceptions straight from page 34. Some networking news – the finalists of the National ACR & Heat Pump Awards have been announced. Over 400 of the industries ‘movers & shakers’ will descend on the Midland Hotel, Manchester on the 20th of October to celebrate excellence within the HVAC industry. MBS are proud to be a sponsor of this event and look forward to seeing you there. As with every issue of MBS, I would be very keen to hear your thoughts and welcome all feedback. Please get in touch by emailing julietl@warnersgroup.co.uk Editorial: Juliet Loiselle MInstR – Editor J ulietl@warnersgroup.co.uk ✆ 01778 391067 Advertising: Robyn Teague – Sales Manage r Robyn.teague@warnersgroup.co.uk ✆ 01778 395029 Production: Sue Ward production@warnersgroup.co.uk ✆ 01778 392405 Circulation & Subscriptions: DavidWade dwade@portico.uk.com ✆ 01438 759000 M BS MODERN BUILDING SERVICES Subs c ription rate for readers not meeting our terms of control. £40 per year UK £50 per year overseas £70 per year overseas, airmail £5 single issue UK Some manufacturers and suppliers have contributed towards the cost of reproducing some photographs in this issue. The views implied or expressed in this journal are not necessarily those of the Editor or Publisher, neither of whom accepts responsibility from errors in articles, or for unsolicited manuscripts, photographs or illustrations. Juliet Loiselle CompCIPHE/MinstR 20/10/2021 THE MIDLAND HOTEL MANCHESTER FINALISTS ANNOUNCED! 2021 10th