The two-day “Fire risk solutions for timber structures: The future of UK timber frame construction” on December 3-4 at the RICS building in Parliament Square is being billed as the first time all these major players have come together in a formal conference.
It is designed to update and inform architects, contractors and other construction professionals on the work being done to address timber frame fire safety concerns.
Keynote speakers will include Chris Williamson, shadow minister for communities and local government and Bob Neill, parliamentary under-secretary of state for London, local government and planning.
Dave Curry, director of the Chief Fire Officers Association and Nick Starling of the Association of British Insurers will also speak, while UKTFA chief executive Andrew Carpenter will “Dispel the Myths”.
FERMI (Fire Engineering Risk Management International) has been the driving force behind creating the conference and has been heavily involved in research and testing work in the UKTFA’s guidance on timber frame fire safety during construction.
“There is a lot of architects and principal contractors that have turned away from timber frame because of the project risks [rather than fire risk] to developers,” said Paul Scott, director of FERMI.
“Since those concerns about timber frame during construction were aired, certain quarters started suggesting that completed timber frame buildings in service were not as safe as those constructed from traditional construction methods.”
Mr Scott said the conference would detail the latest updates to the UKTFA guidance, including results of its Series 2 fire tests on timber frame systems/component parts, and show how the industry is addressing the concerns to ensure that timber frame remain an important build method in the future.
For more information visit www.frts2012.com
