Progress on guidance documents outlined by ASFP’s Technical Group 3

During the course of the meeting, there was a detailed update on current priorities, information on progress in relation to guidance documents and an outline of the key actions shaping future industry standards.

Firestopping and cavity barriers are, of course, central to preventing the internal spread of fire and smoke within buildings, duly helping to safeguard both lives and property.

Convened by Dr Andrew Taylor (head of the ASFP’s technical team), a significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to reviewing and updating the ASFP’s suite of Technical Guidance Documents and Advisory Notes.

Technical Guidance Document 19 (Curtain Walling Systems)
A revised draft was presented to address gaps not covered in BS EN 1364-6, helping the UK industry transition smoothly to the new European standard. The group agreed to amended wording in the foreword in order to clarify its role as a transitional document. The ultimate goal is to withdraw Technical Guidance Document 19 by September 2029 once the sector has fully adapted.

Technical Guidance Document 17 (Service Penetrations)
Work is underway to update this document.

Advisory Notes (AN 0.5, AN 1, AN 2 and AN 8)
Following industry feedback, revised drafts are being prepared. Advisory Note 8 (covering Service Support Centres) will require a complete re-write due to ongoing challenges on-site. Engagement with the Building Engineering Services Association is planned to align approaches on supports and fixings.

These publications play a vital role in ensuring that consistent and  practical guidance is available across the supply chain, from designers to installers.

Cavity barrier challenges

Cavity barriers featured prominently in the discussions. Concerns emanating from Fire and Rescue Services about smoke spread in open-state cavity barriers are being addressed through new guidance. An Advisory Note is in development to highlight the risks of cold smoke leakage and outline Best Practice.

In addition, a request was raised for clearer guidance on slab edge details, where external wall systems interface with floor slabs. Current Building Regulations (ie Approved Document B, Diagram 8.1) offer limited clarity. Technical Group 3 agreed that new advisory material, supported by diagrams, should be developed to help practitioners understand when and how firestopping and cavity barriers should be applied at these junctions.

Data sheet project

Technical Group 3 also considered the Government’s request for an industry-led portal to share fire test data. Alongside the ASFP’s Council, Technical Group 3 agreed that, while certification and classification documents should be made publicly available, full fire test reports are not appropriate for general release due to their technical complexity.

Work is now underway to scope the creation of a centralised and publicly accessible portal for certificates, which would support transparency, while also maintaining professional standards.

Wider technical issues

Technical Group 3 is also tackling several related areas that impact firestopping performance. In terms of golden thread checklists, a new template is being drafted, drawing lessons from ducts and dampers guidance, in order to help ensure that service penetrations are properly recorded and managed.

When it comes to flexible walls and shaft walls, further work is required to clarify performance expectations where firestopping interacts with these wall types. In relation to steel sections through compartment lines, Technical Group 3 acknowledged challenges in testing beams that pass through compartment boundaries, given current furnace limitations. Work has begun to illustrate possible configurations and seek practical solutions.

Regulation and competence

With the regulatory landscape evolving rapidly, Technical Group 3’s members discussed recent updates, including the Government’s adoption of recommendations from Phase 2 of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, ongoing reform of the Construction Products Regulation (with new UK terminology shifting from ‘safety critical’ to ‘products critical to safe construction’) and the implications for European Technical Assessments, with ETAG 026-based approvals expiring from January next year.

Technical Group 3 also noted progress on the Competence Framework (SLG12), itself an essential initiative for raising standards across the sector (albeit one requiring careful development due to its complexity).

Key takeaways

Technical Group 3 continues to play a crucial role in shaping the technical and regulatory framework for firestopping and cavity barriers.

Current priorities include:

*updating Technical Guidance Document 17 and Technical Guidance Document 19 to reflect modern practice and standards

*producing Advisory Notes on cavity barrier performance, cold smoke risks and slab edge detailing

*developing industry tools such as the golden thread checklist and a fire test data portal

*engaging with broader issues such as competence, inspection regimes and regulatory change

By addressing these challenges, Technical Group 3 is ensuring that guidance keeps pace with both innovation and lessons learned from past failures. For ASFP members and the wider industry, Technical Group 3’s work represents a vital step towards safer buildings and more reliable fire protection systems.

The next Technical Group meeting is scheduled for 12 November and will be delivered in a hybrid format.

*Further information is available online at www.asfp.org.uk