FSPG is not a certification body, though our products are independently certified. Independent installation certification schemes exist in the market place who are UKAS approved such as Warrington FIRAS scheme.

FSPG are able to offer bespoke FSPG awareness product training for the use of our products from theoretical training through to practical installation.

We would recommend that the products are as a minimum have the flowing for the requirement:

• Tested to EN1366 Part 3 or 4 as appropriate.
• A fire Classification report to EN 13501-2 as issued by a UKAS accredited fire test laboratory.
• Independently 3rd Party Accredited by an approved body.
• CE Marked to ETAG 026.

If the products are not tested or certified as above the minimum requirement would to be consider products that:

• As a minimum tested to BS476 by a UKAS accredited fire test laboratory.
• Have an “Assessment” issued by a UKAS accredited fire test laboratory.

The simple answer is NO. While it may be tempting to use e.g. manufacturer A’s mineral fibre batt with manufacturer B’s adhesive, the combination is unlikely to have been tested and therefore may not perform in fire as intended. FSPG provide systems and all our products are tested in conjunction with each other where required.

In the absence of test evidence, the default answer is again NO. FSPG strongly recommend the use of our certificated products. Such products will have a scope of application which will cover their use with other compatible components within the range. FSPG would be able to offer advice directly to your client with this regards to better let them understand the requirements and parameters.

Acoustic testing measures the ability of a building product and/or assembly to reduce the transmission of sound. FSPG give greater assurance for their products through testing with UKAS accredited test laboratories such as Chiltern Dynamic and SRL to demonstrate that their products will perform as expected in these situations, giving clients and users the confidence to use the product. Typically it applies to products that form separating walls and floors, for example between hotel rooms, hospital rooms, school class rooms and office compartments. Sound is measured in decibels, expressed as dB, acoustic test results are expressed as decibels of sound reduction i.e. by how much the tested product reduces the transmission of sound between rooms. Test reports are available for the products.

An airtight building is one which does not lose either heated or cooled air to the outside in an uncontrolled manner. In reality no buildings are entirely airtight and it would not normally be desirable for this to be the case as detailed below. However, high performance levels are preferred to lower ones as this increase the efficient working of the building.

Air tightness of FSPG products is measuring by the extent to which heated or cooled air is lost through leaks in the building. As an example our FSPG Fire & Acoustic Acrylic will assist in achieving a leakage rate of 0m³/h/m² @ 100Pa and 2.8m³/h/m² @ 600Pa as tested. Air tightness sometimes can be referred to as: – Air Leakage, Air Pressure, Air Permeability.

If you are involved in provision of Built-In Fire Protection of any type, at any level, then you share liability for its usefulness and its operation when it’s needed in a fire, and that liability will still be there in the event of a court case. If it is your responsibility to specify the materials and/or appoint the installation contractor, it is also your responsibility to ensure that they can prove competency for the fire protection materials used, or the works to be carried out. It’s no longer simply a duty of care or voluntary – it’s a legal obligation.

If you knowingly ignore advice that leads to a failure in the fire performance of any element of installed fire protection within a building, then you are likely to be found to be just as culpable as the deficient installer. You share liability for the provision of information required under Building Regulation 16B that tells the user of the building about the fire prevention measures provided in the building. Otherwise, the user cannot make an effective risk assessment under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

For more information on how we can help you please contact us.