news from BRE
published: 9/3/2010
LPCB launches New Fire Standard for Innovative Construction Methods
LPCB's launch of LPS 1501 will provide insurers, fire service and regulatory authorities with the assurance that innovative building systems, such as panelised systems, maintain acceptable levels of fire performance with respect to property protection.
LPS 1501 was developed to cover different building types, so will bridge the gap for innovative buildings that are not wholly covered under current recognised fire performance standards or that have got a limited track record of service in building construction in the UK.
The objective of LPS 1501 is to establish if there are any potential weak links in the system that prevent pre-assembly or modular buildings from achieving their prescribed performance. It provides a fire test, performance and classification system for modern building systems.
Jo Whyman, Principal Risk Analyst at Zurich says "The wider benefits of innovative forms of construction are well understood, but it is vital that these aims are not achieved to the cost of satisfactory fire performance. The scale of disruption following a fire should not be overlooked. Specifying building materials is ever more complex given the increasing array of aspects that have to be considered and satisfied. This is complicated further by innovative systems and materials that may not benefit from comparable levels of understanding and a proven history. The introduction of LPS 1501 assists key stakeholders, including insurance companies in the Commercial Property sector, in providing a credible property based fire performance test for innovative methods of construction. Specification of LPS1501 approved building systems will provide interested parties with a high degree of confidence that the buildings in question achieve satisfactory levels of fire performance, extending beyond the Building Regulations life safety remit."
ENDS
Press enquiries: Helen Ball Tel: 01923 664303, E-mail: ballh@bre.co.uk
Technical enquiries: Tony Baker Tel: 01923 665141, E-mail: bakert@bre.co.uk
Notes for Editors
1 LPS 1501:2009 - Fire test and performance requirements for Innovative Methods of Building Construction.
The Standard is intended to include the following types of building systems:
- Hybrid systems
- Panelised systems
- Volumetric systems
The standard covers all purpose groups which use these systems. For example:
- Residential
- Office
- Hotel
- Retail
- School
2 BRE Global Limited (incorporating LPCB & BREEAM) is an independent third party approvals body offering certification of fire, security and sustainability products and services to an international market. BRE Global's product testing and approvals are carried out by recognised experts in our world renowned testing laboratories. BRE Global Limited is custodian of a number of world leading brands including:
- - LPCB for the approval of fire and security products and services, listed in the Red Books
- - BREEAM the world's leading environmental assessment method for buildings, sets the standard for best practice in sustainable design and has become the de-facto measure of a building's environmental performance
BRE Global's mission is to ‘Protect People, Property and the Planet' and is a trading subsidiary of the BRE Trust, the registered research and education charity which owns the BRE Group. For further information please contact: BRE Global, Garston, Watford, WD25 9XX, Tel: 01923 664100, Fax: 01923 664910, Email: enquiries@breglobal.com or visit http://www.breglobal.com/.
Please contact BRE Global, e-mail marketing@breglobal.com, tel + 44 (0)1923 664100, if you are reading this press release past the issue date for an update on specific product or service content.