Covering hospital safety

HD, Feb 2005

The dangers of fires in hospitals can be assuaged by the use of fire retardant wall coatings, says manufacturer Dulux.

According to current statistics, there were 2,700 hospital fires reported during 2002, an average of around 52 fires a week. With these figures in mind it is therefore clear to see why the issue of fire, particularly limiting the spread of fire, is an extremely important one for hospitals. However, flame retardant coatings can help reduce the spread of fire and, more importantly, save lives.

Fire must always be a primary concern for building owners and managers but probably more so for those who are responsible for multi-occupancy buildings such as hospitals. Should a fire break out, it is vital to ensure that occupants are able to vacate the premises safely and not be hampered by the spread of fire. In new buildings this is relatively simple as Approved Document B of the Building Regulations requires that the lining of a building should be able to resist the spread of flame over the surface.

The real problem concerns older buildings where additional layers of paint have been continually added to a wall during redecoration. As a result, these surfaces no longer meet current legislation which stipulates that the internal linings of a multi-occupancy building must be a minimum of Class 1. This is extended to Class O for communal, high risk circulation areas and escape routes.

This problem of multiple layers of paint was demonstrated by a fire at Moston Hospital in Cheshire where, after just three minutes of the alarm being raised, flames had spread an incredible 50 m along the walls and ceilings. A subsequent investigation involving Warrington Fire Research Centre found that a sample of painted plasterboard from a similar corridor had over 18 layers of paint beneath the top surface and showed a very rapid spread of flame.

In order to overcome this problem those responsible for the maintenance of healthcare properties must therefore ensure that surfaces, especially hospital corridors and escape routes, remain at an acceptable level of fire retardancy. Normally this would entail removing the existing coating including any build up of paint, but this is often costly and time consuming and can cause additional health and safety problems if older lead based paint is being removed. Flame retardant barrier coatings such as Dulux Trade's new Pyroshield single pack system provide a solution to this problem by offering an alternative to the removal of older paint layers.

Flame retardant coatings work by providing a thick barrier which insulates the substrate from the heat. Previously these coatings were typically complex, two-pack systems which were difficult to apply and contained hazardous chemicals but the new formulations such as Pyroshield are designed for ease of application while also providing excellent levels of fire retardancy.

For example, by applying three coats of Pyroshield to the plaster substrate and then two coats of an approved finish, the surface can be brought back up to Class 0. Two coats of Pyroshield followed by two coats of an approved finish will achieve Class 1. A wide range of finishes and colours can also be used in conjunction with the system, ensuring that the aesthetics of a hospital need not be compromised for fire safety.

When it comes to limiting the spread of fire, flame retardant coatings are proven to make a considerable difference and can provide valuable time for occupants to evacuate a building safely. When considering the fire safety of high risk areas such as corridors, communal areas and escape routes then really only Class O should be acceptable. Only by applying the correct upgrade coating can those responsible for healthcare buildings bring multi-layered surfaces back to the required safety level and possibly save lives.