The Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP) has developed a new online passive fire protection (PFP) Design Awareness Course in response to the growing challenges and risks associated with the correct specification and design of passive fire materials and systems within the built environment.
Too often, critical decisions made during the early design stages lead to recurring and costly issues at construction and installation phases.
These include problems at key interfaces, such as service penetrations through fire-resisting compartment walls, or where structural fire protection must integrate seamlessly with compartmentation systems.
This e-learning course enables participants to explore a range of common but often misunderstood design issues, including the lack of sufficient proof of concept, poor coordination of interfaces, and the use of incompatible materials that can compromise fire performance. It also examines the difference between insulation and integrity requirements in passive systems, as well as the risks linked to over-cladding intumescent-coated structural steelwork.
Emphasis is placed on the roles and responsibilities of designers, specifiers, contractors, and building owners in ensuring that passive fire protection is designed, installed, and maintained correctly. The course also reflects on how new regulatory frameworks, such as the Building Safety Act, influence responsibilities and compliance standards.
By the end of the course, participants will gain a clear understanding of both the technical challenges and regulatory drivers behind good PFP design, enabling them to make informed decisions that improve fire safety and long-term performance.
The ASFP Design Awareness Course is now available to book at www.asfp.org.uk/page/DesignAwareness.
