Red Book News November 2005

Innovation Park

BRE has launched a new Innovation Park on its Watford site which showcases modern methods of construction (MMC) and the latest innovative technologies for buildings and the built environment. The Park is part of BRE’s Centre of Excellence for Housing, and will provide a major new service for the UK construction sector.

The Innovation Park features full scale demonstration houses built using the latest construction methods. The houses will trial and demonstrate new and emerging technologies for buildings such as renewables and other environmental systems, smart IT and sensor technologies.

For further information or to arrange a visit to the park contact Jaya Skandamoorthy on 1923 664582, email: skandamoorthyj@bre.co.uk

LPCB’s ISO 9001 Manager is saved from fire by an LPCB approved smoke detector

LPCB’s ISO 9001 scheme manager was woken when an LPCB approved smoke alarm sounded after fire broke out in a neighbour’s loft during the early hours of 2 October.

Due to the prompt sounding of the alarm, the manager was able to quickly awaken her two children and safely exit the house.

The LPCB manager said:

“We had three smoke alarms in the house but the LPCB-approved detector was the first to go off despite it not being closest to the smoke.”

New Approvals

Spaceover Group awarded Technical Approval for pre-fabricated building system

The Spaceover Group has been awarded a technical approval for its steel framed components, dry lining and insulation materials which form special pre-fabricated modules.

The approved modules are part of a volumetric method of construction allowing multiple occupancy buildings of up to four storeys to be constructed in an economical fashion.

Two modules, as illustrated above, of both 18m2 and 25m2, have been approved.

Other new approvals:

Trinity Protection Systems Ltd – LPS 1014
Xtratherm UK Ltd – ISO 9001
Lintec (Laminations) Ltd – ISO 9001
DDH Sprinklers (Chesham) – LPS 1048
All Fire (Berkhamsted) – ISO 9001
Ward Insulated Panels Ltd – OHSAS 18001
Excel Industries – Factory Production Control
Soda-Club Ltd – EN3 based Technical Approval of CO2 extinguishers
KPFP Ltd (Croydon) – LPS 1048 and ISO 9001

For more information on new approvals please visit www.redbooklive.com

School with LPS1175 facade shortlisted for RIBA award

A new North West London nursery incorporating an LPCB approved façade was recently nominated for the prestigious annual RIBA Stirling Prize.

Fawood Children’s Centre in Harlesden was short-listed by RIBA for its innovative design which was completed on a limited budget of £2.3 million.

William Alsop Architects used steel mesh for the lower facade which was sourced from Midas Technologies, an LPCB ISO 9001:2000 company. LPCB undertook a series of attack tests on a model of the façade to LPS1175 and, following audits of production and final installation, signed the façade off as complying with LPS1175.

LPS1175 specifies a range of levels of physical attack resistance for building products and enclosures, and lends itself perfectly to the provision of graded security of complete buildings according to the risks faced. LPCB are already in discussions with a number of other architects wishing to increase the resistance to forced entry provided by buildings they are designing, from schools through to research facilities and museums.

For further information on LPS 1175 please contact Reg Grigg at: griggr@bre.co.uk

Loss Prevention Standards lead the way in securing businesses

LPCB is please to report growing recognition of their series of Loss Prevention Standards (LPS) for approval of security products and services.

The Home Office’s recent publication "Your Business, keep crime out of it" makes a number of recommendations to businesses wishing to reduce losses through crime, in particular:

Sites that have a medium or high risk level should use doors, grilles and shutters approved to LPS 1175

Computer physical protection devices should also be approved by LPCB to LPS 1214

Police guidance, issued by Secured by Design, also recommends third party certification schemes such as those offered by LPCB.

For further information on LPCB’s Secured by Design LPS standards please contact Reg Grigg at: griggr@bre.co.uk

Boards

The Construction Board - The Board met on October 27 at BRE Garston . During the meeting the impact of new passive fire and security schemes on construction certification schemes and products was reviewed. There was also a report from a recent meeting of the UK Group of Notified Bodies (UKGNB) for the Construction Products Directive (CPD) which we attend as a Notified Body. An internal group has been set up to review European directives and disseminate information to staff and clients on a monthly basis.

The board received an update on the development of the standard 'LPS 2020 ' Modern Methods of Construction which includes innovative construction products and systems that are manufactured offsite and assembled onsite. These products and systems cut down on construction time and help to overcome the current construction skills shortages. The draft LPS 2020 standard will be submitted to the Board for renewal and approval shortly with a target publication early in 2006.

The next Construction Board will meet on 26 January 2006

Sustainability Board - The Board met on 18 October. It has been formed to oversee all of BRE's guides, publications, standards and certification in the area of “green buildings”. This is to help make sure that not only are they based on strong technical, social and economic evidence but that they meet the needs of all stakeholders in a balanced way.

At the first meeting, the Board was introduced to current schemes such as BREEAM and EcoHomes. The Board will also assume technical responsibility for BRE's Environmental Profiles scheme and materials work (Life Cycle Assessment) which until now has been the responsibility of the Construction Board. The Board will be responsible for certification schemes for renewable technologies such as solar and wind power, as well as ISO 14001

The next Sustainability Board will meet on 13 December 2005

ISO 14001

We offer certification to ISO 14001, (Environmental Management). Certification helps managers meet their legal requirements and demonstrates to their customers that they are taking environmental issues seriously.

For more information please contact Chris Bowser at: bowserc@bre.co.uk

LPS 1277

LPS 1277 Requirements for LPCB Approval and Listing of Alarm Transmission Systems and Equipment has just been published and will appear in the 2006 issue of the Red Book.

LPS 1277 specifies the requirements for alarm transmission equipment intended for use with fire alarm systems and/or intruder alarm systems. Requirements and tests are included in the loss prevention standard that enables the assessment of the performance of those components of the alarm transmission system normally located in the protected premises when used in conjunction with the appropriate transmission networks.

Particular emphasis is placed on the verification of manufacturers’ claims by measuring alarm transmission times over the link between the equipment under test and the corresponding receiving centre. The response to the reporting of fault conditions is measured in a similar way.

LPS 1274

LPS 1274 Testing Procedures for the LPCB Approval and Listing of Carbon Monoxide / Heat Multisensor Fire Detectors Using Electrochemical Cells has also recently been published and uploaded to the RedBookLive website.

The purpose of this standard is to ensure that carbon monoxide (CO) / heat multisensor fire detectors using electrochemical cells have adequate sensitivity and reliability for use in fire detection and fire alarm systems for commercial and industrial premises.

For more information on LPS 1277 or LPS 1274 contact Tony Dodkin at: dodkina@bre.co.uk

Red Book News