Two newly printed reviews have referred to as for extra analysis into the fire-safety efficiency of volumetric modular development.
In a report commissioned by the federal government, researchers at Harlow Consulting and Edinburgh Napier College warn that there isn’t any customary fire-test methodology that’s instantly relevant for volumetric development.
It says that the testing that does happen is subsequently prone to be suboptimal.
Volumetric modular development (VMC), often known as class 1 modular, is a kind of contemporary methodology of development (MMC) the place three-dimensional items are manufactured off web site, then transported to and assembled on web site.
The strategy is increasingly being used by Whitehall departments, including the Ministry of Defence, as a way of dashing up the supply of initiatives, in addition to slicing waste and prices.
Two years ago, the Nationwide Fireplace Chiefs Council referred to as for the introduction of particular security rules and laws referring to MMC, and for it to be particularly addressed below the Constructing Security Act.
The federal government didn’t do both of these issues, though it subsequently introduced a brand new customary for houses constructed utilizing MMC.
The Harlow Consulting and Edinburgh Napier report, printed final week, says: “Whereas there may be inadequate proof to recommend whether or not a hearth is kind of possible in a modular constructing in contrast with a historically constructed constructing, the occasion of a critical hearth is prone to end in extra critical penalties in a modular constructing if the selection has been made to make use of flamable components within the voids and cavities via which hearth and smoke can journey rapidly – except these dangers are mitigated by way of applicable design, manufacture and set up.
“Additional analysis is vital to have a clearer understanding of how supplies (and combos of supplies/parts) behave in modular buildings within the occasion of a hearth, to feed into [the] growth of a regular hearth testing methodology for volumetric development.”
In the meantime, the Well being and Security Government/Constructing Security Regulator (HSE/BSR) printed a analysis paper this week, based mostly largely on opinions of different literature and from media reviews, highlighting plenty of potential fire-risk points referring to the strategy.
These embody lacking or incorrectly put in cavity boundaries, defects present in hearth doorways, penetrations via compartment partitions that aren’t appropriately firestopped, and hidden voids.
Nonetheless, it notes: “A few of these points might additionally relate to different (non-VMC) builds and there’s no proof to recommend whether or not the frequency of the problems could be larger or the results of the problems extra extreme in relation to VMC in comparison with different varieties of development.”
Incidents it cites embody a hearth that destroyed the The Moorfield Lodge in Shetland (pictured) in 2020, which was a modular constructing manufactured from timber.
It says that potential future steps might embody hearth and structural testing of modules in a means that higher represents the everyday contexts of those modules than current exams do, ie, stacked or a part of a hybrid construction.
“This could assist determine the results of any constructing issues of safety compared to conventional (non-VMC) builds,” it provides.
“Testing ought to embody timber VMC to find out the character of potential dangers of VMC overlapping with the potential constructing security dangers of timber buildings. Such exams might need implications for current buildings and should inform any pressing considerations about PVMC [prefabricated volumetric modular construction].”
A Nationwide Fireplace Chiefs Council (NFCC) spokesperson stated: “We recognise the function MMC can have in serving to to ship extra houses rapidly and sustainably. Nonetheless, NFCC is worried that MMC buildings are being designed, authorized and constructed regardless of a lack of awareness about their efficiency.
“It’s vitally necessary to make it possible for merchandise and applied sciences are secure to be used, together with their possible efficiency in a hearth, earlier than they’re used within the constructed atmosphere. Not solely is that this necessary for security nevertheless it additionally helps to guard leaseholders from pointless prices that may come up when buildings want remediation, or interim measures, together with provisions like waking watches.”
Last year, Construction News published an in-depth report on whether or not measures introduced by the federal government as much as that time could be sufficient to make MMC buildings safer.
The Harlow Consulting and Edinburgh Napier report examines different points referring to MMC, together with procurement and undertaking administration. It was finalised in July 2022 however solely printed by the federal government final week.
The HSE/BSR report, based mostly on analysis carried out up till October 2023, was additionally printed final week.
