News

Promat to take design responsibility for its passive fire protection systems in UK first

Nigel Morrey, Promat Technical Director.

Passive fire protection board specialist Promat has announced that it will be formally taking design responsibility for its system information and standard details – the first UK manufacturer to do so.

The Bristol-based manufacturer has taken the leading stance to tackle the issue of where responsibility lies in construction projects, but also to help address the financial pressure contractors are facing in relation to liability and risk.

It means that the company assumes responsibility for the passive fire protection systems working as specified where they have been installed in line with standard details and testing.

To support the announcement, Promat, as part of Etex Building Performance Limited along with sister company Siniat, has issued a design liability statement setting out its commitment to taking design responsibility and the scenarios that are covered.

Following the introduction of the Building Safety Act in 2022, the issue of where legal responsibility lies in a project has become an industry focus. While the principal designer takes ultimate responsibility, the commitment to ensuring performance standards runs through the supply chain.

In becoming the first UK passive fire protection manufacturer to pledge to formally accept design responsibility, Promat formalises its commitment to accept design responsibility as set out under the Building Safety Act and the Construction Design and Management Regulations 2015.

Passive fire protection is a life-critical product that provides a level of built-in fire resistance that prevents fire from spreading for a set period of time to allow occupants to escape, and firefighters to tackle the blaze. It is essential to preserve structural integrity in the event of a fire breaking out and will prevent the rapid spread of fire.

Under the Building Safety Act, life-critical products must be designed and specified correctly to pass through Gateway 2 – and this move by Promat supports the commitment to early, accurate specification.

Promat Technical Director Nigel Morrey said: “There can be no compromise on fire safety. As a manufacturer we fully understand our responsibility to create passive fire protection systems that will perform as expected if a fire breaks out.

“In committing to extensive testing, investing heavily in strengthening competency and offering expert technical support, we take this seriously and believe the supply chain should individually take responsibility for the performance of its products in a wider project.

“In taking design responsibility, we are formalising Promat’s commitment to the highest standards. We have carried out extensive testing, we have third-party certification, and we have a committed team in place to offer technical advice when it is needed. We have done the due diligence as a manufacturer.

“This is a time to stand up and start to make a difference, to show that the industry can, and will, meet the highest safety standards – and Promat will continue to push forwards to ensure passive fire protection meets the highest performance standards in building safety and will support the industry in demonstrating that.”