Blaze in Copenhagen shows that time is precious in limiting fire

Denmark’s historic old stock exchange building in Copenhagen was engulfed by fire this week, causing its iconic dragon spire to tumble into the street below.

One the city’s oldest buildings, the 17th Century Børsen was undergoing renovation supported with the use of scaffolding and protective plastic sheeting. As the blaze spread, it took hours to get the fire under control. Some historic paintings were rescued but Culture minister Jakob Engel-Schmidt said that 400 years of Danish cultural heritage had gone up in flames.

Choosing flame-retardant scaffold sheeting can make a big difference in reducing the impact of fire on scaffolded buildings. It’s important to recognise the difference between flame-retardant and flame-resistant/flame-proof. To be considered flame-retardant, a material must self-extinguish within a certain time when flame is taken away; the material does not contribute to the fire and does not produce flaming droplets after flame removal. Self-extinguishing qualities can prevent the spread of flames across the rest of the sheeting.

In the UK, BS 7955: 1999 is often referenced when discussing specification for performance and test methods for containment nets and sheets on construction works. This standard specifies flame retardancy certification as well as requirements for tensile strength and strength of eyelets and attachment fasteners. Compliance with BS 7955 is recognised within the industry and endorsed by the HSE and insurance providers.

BS 7955 is a useful reference, but the Fire Protection Association’s Fire Prevention on Construction Sites (Issue 10 amended, January 2023) is essential reading for any organisation responsible for scaffolding on high-value projects. Clause 2 of the document states that scaffolding must comply with the relevant fire safety standards in any contract valued over £2.5 million or smaller contracts which form part of a large project with a value over £20 million. Clause 10 refers to the use of flexible protective covering materials requiring fire retardancy certification, explaining that it is not acceptable to use non-approved materials in different parts of the building, at different storeys/heights or on different elevations.

UK flame retardancy standards must be independently certified by an approved testing body. ITP’s Powerclad sheeting is independently tested to achieve flame retardancy certification to all relevant standards including BS 7955, TS 62 for external use, TS 63 for internal use and Euroclass B-s1,d0 EN 13501-1.

While flame-retardant sheeting will not prevent the outbreak of fire, it can buy time for firefighters to contain its effects. As the incident in Denmark demonstrated, time is precious when buildings and lives are at risk.

For comprehensive guidance on flame retardancy requirements for scaffold sheeting, please read our article here: https://itpltd.com/scaffold-sheeting-and-fire-retardancy-why-compliance-isnt-always-what-it-seems/

You can also find guidance on our Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDW_FTtcmhI