Still punching above our weight as A1S Invests In a C N C Punch System
Continuing our 2022 production investment, and targeted campaign to maintain the best fire and smoke curtain lead times in the UK.
A1S Invests In a C N C Punch System in Push to Maintain Sparkling Lead Times
Continuing our 2022 production investment, and targeted campaign to maintain the best fire curtain and smoke curtain lead times in the UK, the A1S Group has invested in an Amada Vipros 2510 King. Working in conjunction with Jetcam programming software we are now able to produce millimetre perfect head boxes, end guides, end plates, joining strips and a plethora of bracketry in an unlimited range of batch sizes, all with countersinking options. The state of the art punch system is to be utilised to manufacture metal works for third party certified Flameshield fire curtain and smoke curtains to BS 8524-1, Flameshield fire and smoke curtains to BSEN 1634-1, CE marked fire curtains to BS EN 16034 and our range of Smokeshield smoke curtains to BS EN 12101-1+A1:2005.
For information on our complete range of Flameshield fire curtains, fire and smoke curtains, and Smokeshield smoke curtains please email Paul Caldwell-Jones on paul@a1sgroup.com
A1S Group in Irish Fire Shutter Supermarket Sweep.
It would seem that Ireland’s leading supermarket chains have developed a preference for A1S Group’s Flameshield Fire Shutter range.
A1S Group in Irish Fire Shutter Supermarket Sweep.
It would seem that Ireland’s leading supermarket chains have developed a preference for A1S Group’s Flameshield Fire Shutter range. With secure projects from Tesco, Aldi and Lidl in locations including the €5 million White Pines Store in Rathfarnham, County Dublin, a new store in Killarney and a store in Cahersiveen beginning Aldi’s 30 store roll out in Ireland as well as Lidl Ballymore. The export orders keep rolling in.
A1S Group’s Export manager Mark Dougill said, “I am delighted with securing so many supermarket projects in Ireland. End clients have identified the legal requirement in Ireland for CE marked fire shutters to BS EN 16034 that have been fire tested to multiple substrates, i.e., structural steel, masonry, and timber stud. I think our clients have switched on to the fact that our Flameshield fire shutter range covers the widest range of fire performance by structure and parameters and are ordering on the basis of our Extended Application which gives more design flexibility.”
The A1S Group offer Flameshield fire shutters with a maximum fire performance of four hours. At lower fire performance intervals we can manufacture up to 9000mm wide by 9000mm high. Our end clients always have the comfort that the entire range is CE marked to the harmonised European Standard of BS EN 16034. UKCA marking and UKNI marking is due to be introduced into Great Britain and Northern Ireland by January 2023. For a more in depth understanding of the testing process, required certification and regulatory background for CE marked fire shutters, please see,
https://a1sgroup.com/blog/a1s-group-policy-when-quoting-ce-marked-fire-shutters
For any specific export enquiries, please contact, markdougill@a1shutters.co.uk
For any sales or marketing enquiries, please contact, paul@a1sgroup.com
Fire Curtain Replacement Costs in the UK
If I had to pluck a figure based on company house turnover records for UK fire and smoke curtain manufacturers, I would estimate that there are in excess of £100 million pounds worth of fire curtains in terms of manufacture and installation costs in situ across the UK.
We can get to costs later, but if I had to pluck a figure based on company house turnover records for UK fire and smoke curtain manufacturers, I would estimate that there are in excess of £100 million pounds worth of fire curtains in terms of manufacture and installation costs in situ across the UK. That represents, and again this is an approximation, some 25000 fire curtains. Each and every one of them providing a life critical function, the protection of people and buildings. In theory, every fire and smoke curtain forming part of a building’s fire strategy should be as manufactured and tested, so without rips to the fabric or damage to the smoke seals and ready to descend upon activation of an alarm signal. The question for all responsible parties is, are yours?
Because fire curtains are a relatively new technology, these installations stretch across a 35-year period, and volumes are increasing with the UK supply and installation fire curtain marketplace growing to an estimated 23 million pounds in 2021. With the introduction of the BS 8524 standard in 2014 there has been an increased focus on long term planned preventative maintenance, but it would be fair to say that despite the requirements of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 many sites have failed to maintain fire and smoke curtains in compliant working order, and as logic dictates, the older the installation, the more likely that replacement of fire curtains is now a critical and legal requirement. Certainly, some of the photographs and videos we receive at head office following our initial site surveys would indicate that curtains are often neglected and no longer in compliant working order.
The problem has been further exacerbated by a responsible party’s limited options when it comes to repair of fire curtains which is succinctly explained in the Association for Specialist Fire Protection’s definitive Black Book on fire curtains,
“Where Fire Curtains have been damaged, it is vital to establish the make and type of before repairs can be made. This is to ensure that compatible or ‘like for like’ systems are used in the repair and reinstatement. Mixing of systems even from the same manufacturer must be avoided unless test data is available to demonstrate that the original design fire resistance can be achieved. If this is not possible, it is recommended that replacement of the complete Fire Curtain is undertaken to ensure compliance with fire resistance requirements.”
5.7.2. Page.38 Active Fire Curtains, First edition 2020.
With ageing fire curtain systems which must be tested regularly, increasingly discontinued components, general wear and tear, (particularly in retail, commercial and high footfall environments), and disruption to regular servicing, caused by business failure, change of ownership, personnel changes, and paperwork dead ends, it is not surprising that the A1S Group is currently quoting and winning ever growing numbers of fire and smoke curtain replacement projects. In recognition of our 33-year history and financial strength – (so significant experience and in for the long haul) - many UK organisations are choosing A1S for replacement works and servicing as we can always offer the originally tested compliance regime i.e., BS 476-22, BS EN 1634-1 with BS EN 1634-3 or an upgrade to BS 8524-1 and BS 8524-2. Furthermore, we always offer a competitive and comprehensive long term planned preventative maintenance agreement as standard.
Fire curtain replacement can be a complex area, but generally speaking there is no legal or regulatory requirement to upgrade systems to new standards or legislation without the building undergoing “a change of use.”- (You should always check with your competent professional, fire strategist, architect, or Building Control.) However, many companies are now choosing fire curtain replacement as the time to improve their systems and take advantage of new technologies and testing. We have found interest around our C1 class durability and reliability with the client particularly emphasising the requirement for compliance AND robustness. Often, we are able to deal directly with the end client and so we are better able to take the time to explain our comprehensive operational manuals, with nothing being lost in translation. The key to every project is not just the manufacture, installation, and product commissioning but also a carefully coordinated long-term sharing of responsibilities to ensure functionality of such products through weekly or monthly site tests by the client team and regular servicing by A1S.
An extremely famous store (subject to non-disclosure agreement), in London and their Estates and Procurement team chose to upgrade to our front line Flameshield system, a third-party certified BS 8524, manufactured, installed, and commissioned product with obstruction warnings, and bespoke steel back of house guide protection systems (ideal in busy goods in, goods out environments) to replace their existing BS EN 1634-1 fire curtains. They continue to roll-out these further phases throughout their estate and by commercial necessity, these works have to be carried out of hours, another regular feature of replacement fire curtain projects the A1S Group are involved with.
As for our title, Fire Curtain Replacement Costs, it is easy, to receive a comprehensive and compliant quotation, just send in an email with your sizes and we will contact you within an hour to discuss locations, compliance requirements, fire performance and ancillary costs.
Extremely famous store (subject to non-disclosure agreement), Front of House, Oxford Street after rip out of existing fire curtains and replacement with Flameshield 8524 fire curtains
Out with the old and in with the new. Extremely famous store (subject to non-disclosure agreement), Oxford Street front of house lifts demonstrating discreet guide channels.
For any comments on this blog or a discussion on your latest fire curtain replacement project in the UK please contact:
Paul Caldwell-Jones on paul@a1sgroup.com
Andy Martin on andy@a1sgroup.com
For a discussion on your latest fire curtain replacement project in EMEA please contact:
Mark Dougill on markdougill@a1shutters.co.uk
What is the difference between BS 8524-1 and BS 8524-2 in terms of the certification schemes that underpin the two standards?
What is the difference between BS 8524-1 and BS 8524-2 in terms of the certification schemes that underpin the two standards?
The third-party certification of BS 8524-1 and 8524-2 appears to be causing some confusion with some contractors and design teams. BS 8524-1 consists, (in our case) of 18 distinct physical product tests, including specific fire and spread of flame tests, impact testing, elevated motor testing, ancillary tests, and smoke leakage tests that we carried out with Warrington Fire. We then took the entire testing programme with its distinct test reports and applied for a third-party accreditation through IFC (International Fire Consultants) to cover BS 8524-1 in its entirety. BS 8524-1 falls under IFC’s SDP11-02 scheme. Our certificate looks like the below and is referenced number IFCC 1542. It is certainly worthwhile mentioning that the IFC 3rd party scheme to BS 8524-1 appears to be the only scheme acceptable to the majority of UK building controls for the manufacture of fire curtains.
BS 8524-2 is the practice of application, installation, commissioning, and maintenance. There is no physical fire or other testing involved. (To reiterate, that takes place in part BS 8524-1.) There is no specific scheme that relates to BS 8524-2 only. Instead, the IFC SDI 05 scheme is an umbrella scheme under which all of the following 5 types of products fall, including BS 8524. As a note, Warrington Fire through their FIRAS installer scheme do not currently offer 3rd party certification to BS 8524-2, so unsurprisingly the IFC third party certification scheme for installation, commissioning and servicing to BS 8524-2 is the only scheme that UK building control appear to accept. IFC document the following,
“The IFCC (IFC Certification), ‘Installation, commissioning and servicing of Fire and Smoke Barrier Assemblies (SDI 05) allows registered installation, commissioning and servicing companies to certificate specific projects in respect of the efficacy of the installed product to restrict and contain the spread of smoke in compliance with objectives of a SHEV (smoke and heat exhaust ventilation system) as defined in accordance with BS EN 12101- 1:2005+A1:2006 and to ensure that it remains effective throughout its life expectancy, or to restrict the spread of fire in compliance with the objectives of fire compartmentation.”
There are a number of fabric fire and smoke barriers and these can be identified by their type/function as follows:
Type 1: Active fire curtain barriers in compliance with BS 8524-1,-2:2013
Type 2: Fixed fire barriers satisfying the test criteria of BS476-22:1987 or
BS EN 1364-1:2014+A1:2018. Fire barriers are covered in separate IFCC Scheme Documents ‘Installing Fire Stopping Systems’ (SDI 09) and’ Installing cavity barriers’ (SDI 10). In circumstances where a fixed smoke barrier is required for smoke control in a building, these would be covered by the scope of this document.
Type 3: Active fire barriers satisfying the test criteria of BS 476-22:1987 or BS EN 1634-1:2014+A1:2018
Type 4: Active smoke control curtain barriers in compliance with the requirements of BS476-31.1:1983, or BS EN 1634-3:2004
Type 5: Active smoke control barriers in compliance with BS EN 12101- 1:2005+A1:2006
The certification looks like the below and our reference is IFCC 3425. It covers all five types of fire and smoke barriers including BS 8524 and is awarded following comprehensive office, systems, installation and maintenance auditing by IFC.
Details of third-party certified companies are hosted on IFC’s website.
For any questions about the A1S Group Flameshield 8524 fire curtain range, please contact:
info@a1sgroup.com
A1 Shutters Limited assume no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in the content of this site. The information contained in this site is provided on an "as is" basis with no guarantees of completeness, accuracy, usefulness or timeliness. Analysis of product properties and their suitability for any given application should always be undertaken and confirmed by competent professionals.
A1S Group Delighted to win Four Landmark Projects
In terms of iconic projects, we really are spoilt for choice this month with what is further recognition for our Flameshield fire shutter and fire curtain range.
In terms of iconic projects, we really are spoilt for choice this month with what is further recognition for our Flameshield fire shutter and fire curtain range. We had highlighted London Selfridges’ refurbishment, Edinburgh’s new John Lewis development, the stunning new (subject to NDA) Museum in Stratford and of course the majestic Katara Towers in Doha and hoped to win at least one of the projects.
Paul Caldwell-Jones, A1S Group Head of Sales and Marketing said, “To win all four projects is testament to A1’s growing reputation as a world leading fire shutter and fire curtain manufacturer and installer.“
A1S Group Export Manager Mark Dougill was particularly fulsome in his praise for Al Thuraya our Qatari partners who initially secured the Doha fire shutter package. “The Katara Towers will undoubtedly become one of the world’s most iconic structures,“ he said, “I am delighted to see our Flameshield shutters installed as a pivotal part of the fire strategy.” The imposing structure is an architectural translation of Qatar’s national seal representing traditional scimitar swords.
Flameshield fire shutters, in particular Flameshield FS240 JMs are to be manufactured and installed as part of the fire strategy for the John Lewis £20 million fit out in Edinburgh and Flameshield EW120 fire curtains are required for the (subject to NDA) Museum in London. This product retains the highest radiation performance for a UK fire curtain and is C1 class tested which is why it was selected by the design team at MCLH.
A1S Group Engineered Fire Curtains in the Science Museum
Kensington’s world-famous Science Museum houses more than 300000 objects over seven floors.
Kensington’s world-famous Science Museum houses more than 300000 objects over seven floors. To John Logie Baird’s test subject “Stookie Bill”, the Apollo 10 command module, Charles Babbage’s Difference Engine No 1, Crick and Watson’s DNA model and the first Apple computer, you can now add an A1S Group Flameshield BS 8524 fire curtain. So, congratulations to all the team at A1S, our engineered life critical fire safety equipment has now joined the pantheon of global science history.
On reflection, maybe we are getting a little bit ahead of ourselves. As it turns out that the Flameshield 120 minute integrity curtains aren’t exhibits after all. Following a competitive and detailed compliance process, they were chosen to form a pivotal role in the fire strategy for the museum’s state of the art IMAX cinema. Another great win for the A1S UK fire curtain supply and installation team, backing up our mantra, always compliant, always competitive.
Some Common Sense Guidance For Fire and Smoke Curtain Procurement
Better Safe than Sorry – some common-sense suggestions to cut through the smog of fire and smoke curtain procurement and guidance to avoid expensive and hazardous procurement pitfalls.
Better Safe than Sorry – some common-sense suggestions to cut through the smog of fire and smoke curtain procurement and guidance to avoid expensive and hazardous mistakes.
It’s always great to talk to clients, but in response to the same questions and scenarios coming up time and time again, it is worth hosting a few words on the dos and don’ts of fire curtain procurement, based on our experience as manufacturers and installers of fire and smoke curtains.
I am getting more and more feedback, especially on Design and Build contracts from Tier One Commercial Managers and Quantity Surveyors, that they haven’t budgeted enough, (despite our package being the most competitive) for the product and install package because their estimating team did not understand the permutations of products and British Standard options available and hadn’t understood the governing design of the fire strategy and curtain specification. Estimators are going to market and capturing costs that can sometimes increase dramatically because the products quoted are not in line with the building’s fire strategy. Absolutely no blame there. Fire and smoke curtains are notoriously difficult to get right. Often there are clues within a fire strategy, that unless you are used to them can trip you up. In our experience, a fire and smoke specification does not always align exactly with the fire strategy. There are often ambiguities and inconsistencies that require clarification and in every case before we price any project, we make sure that what is being quoted is going to be signed off by building control.
In recent months, the issue has become almost endemic and we are increasingly being asked to replace recently installed fire curtains from other manufacturers and installers as they did not meet ALL of the specification/British Standard testing requirements. For those who already know this then forgive the statement, but there are potentially hundreds of combinations of British Standard, functionality, integrity, radiation, ancillary, third party accreditation, parameters and related requirements that could be required for your project. Even worse than under-budgeting is if you get this wrong, you as a contractor could well be replacing your recently installed fire curtains, dismantling and rebuilding structures, delaying practical completion and warring with your end client on the legalities of catch all clauses such as “all current and relevant standards” in your previously negotiated JCT/NEC contract. Most worryingly of all, your building may not be as safe as it should be.
As manufacturers and installers, we are not here to devise a fire strategy, nor are we qualified to do so. As such, this article is orientated towards those who are involved in the contractor procurement process, and to those who have to interpret client design requirements and procure on their behalf. Our role is to thoroughly scrutinise any architectural specification, fire strategy, or building control requirements, references and inferences, then marry (if our product range allows, and it almost certainly will), THE CORRECT type of fire curtain, control systems and ancillary devices to your client strategy. To that end, it is imperative that we understand and cover off as a minimum your:
1) British and or European testing standards required i.e. BS 8524 or BS 1634
2) Required fire integrity to BS 1634-1
3) Radiation requirements in kw/m2 (for tenable conditions on the unexposed face of the curtain)
4) Whether smoke control to BS 1634-3 is required
5) Control functionality, i.e. one stage, two stage, time delay, etc.
6) Ancillary requirements, i.e. egress, and access switches, obstruction warnings and beacons
7) Fire curtain parameters and whether horizontal or vertical
8) Substrate we are fixing to
9) Any deflection stipulations
10) Required third-party accreditation hosted on Notified Body websites (so transparency and in the public domain) i.e. IFC certification for BS 8524 or Warrington Certifier for BS EN 1634-1
11) Installation, commissioning and servicing protocols to BS 8524-2 or BS 1634. Any required third party installer scheme.
If we were to get any part of this process wrong, no matter how seemingly minor, things can and unfortunately do, unravel very quickly. We also appreciate that our clients are probably contractually obliged to procure the correct system on behalf of their end client so unless we at the very least discuss all possible permutations with them, we are not doing our jobs properly. Sometimes disparities between the strategy and the specification may be legally the contractor’s responsibility to iron out. Similarly, if any fire curtain manufacturer does not discuss ALL of the above with you, in my personal opinion, they may well be introducing unnecessary commercial and life safety risk to your project.
For pricing and a discussion on your fire and smoke curtain projects email :
info@a1sgroup.com
A1 Shutters Limited assume no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in the content of this site. The information contained in this site is provided on an "as is" basis with no guarantees of completeness, accuracy, usefulness or timeliness. Analysis of product properties and their suitability for any given application should always be undertaken and confirmed by competent professionals.
A1S Group Secures CE Marked Fire Shutter Package for Cairo Opera House
A1S Group Secures CE Marked Fire Shutter Package for Cairo Opera House
The A1S Group has secured a specialist package to provide 7 “3 phase” JM range fire shutters with two to four-hour rating for Cairo’s opera house.
A1S Group Export Manager Mark Dougill was delighted to win A1’s fifth significant package in Egypt this year including the Egypt-Japan University of Alexandria, the Samsung Factory in Beni Suef as well as military bases which are subject to confidential non-disclosure agreements. Yet again the additional comfort of having a CE marked product, fully tested by Warrington Fire with the all-important Certificate of Constancy of Performance reassured the client that A1 had the leading products.
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A1S Group Wins Iconic Crescent Development Flameshield Fire Shutter package in Baku, Azerbaijan.
A1S Group Wins Iconic Crescent Development Flameshield Fire Shutter package in Baku, Azerbaijan.
There is always a commercial and pricing risk if a product exceeds the required specification on any given project. In this case the fact that our package included for CE marked fire shutters against the new harmonised European standard, EN BS 16034 turned out to be the salient winning factor and A1 are now in contract to manufacture 52 Flameshield FS 240 JM three phase fire shutters and 2 direct drive industrial doors for local installers Open Systems of Azerbaijan.
A1S Export manager, Mark Dougill correctly appraised that the end client, Gillan Holding LLC would want the comfort of CE Marking under the new stricter European testing regime, even though Azerbaijan are still in interim stages with mandatory CE marking.
The Crescent Development has its centrepiece as a crescent moon edifice with points on the surface of the Caspian Sea. Hosting a seven-star hotel and residential complex, this dazzling structure with its unique arcuate configuration mirroring the national flag of Azerbaijan is surely set to be Baku’s most iconic building and represents another global success for the A1S Group.
For any enquiries for fire rated shutters, fire curtains or industrial doors in Azerbaijan, please contact markdougill@a1shutters.co.uk
All Guns Aren’t Blazing as A1S Group Wins Fire Curtain Package for London’s Imperial War Museum.
All Guns Aren’t Blazing as A1S Group Wins Fire Curtain Package for London’s Imperial War Museum.
A combination of compliance and price has helped the A1S Group win the fire curtain package for the Imperial War Museum’s new creative hub annex. The main contractor Reds 10 selected A1S after a careful review of compliant submissions.
The requirement was for a fire curtain to BS 8524, specifically with third party accreditation by an external UKAS accreditation body (in this case IFC) and the Flameshield 8524 fire curtain was selected because of its ability to meet the required EW 60 classification of 120 minutes integrity performance and 85 minutes radiation at 15kw/m2. Careful analysis of the required BS 8524 annex testing, particularly C1 class Annex D durability testing, again satisfied the client that the A1s submission was the clear choice.
Winning this prestigious contract is another important contribution to the A1S group’s impressive portfolio of active fire barriers within museum and gallery building structures. Recent successes include, the National Archive, the British Postal Museum, the British Vehicle Museum and necessary replacement works for existing non-compliant fire curtains at Liverpool Museum.