The UK Timber Frame Association (UKTFA) has launched the definitive Guidance to building timber frame safely on sites in high-risk and densely populated areas, developed with the backing of the HSE.

The Guidance will drive the issue of fire risk management right back to the early stages of the specification process and ensure the main contractor has fully managed the fire risk and specified the correct type of timber frame in line with the Guidance.

Critically, this Guidance means that timber frame can be built in any location in the UK relative to the fire risk associated with highly populated or inner city areas. Called 'Design guide to separating distances for timber frame buildings during construction', the Guidance is the result of extensive fire testing and expert input from the fire engineering community and has been developed in co-operation with the HSE, the Fire Protection Association (FPA), the Chief Fire Officers Association (CFOA) and the Fire Brigade Union (FBU).


Dr. Paul Newman, Director of the UKTFA said: "Managing the risk of fire on construction sites is not a consideration for the timber frame community alone, it affects all forms of construction. The UKTFA has paved the way in setting a standard for main contractors to follow when managing site safety. We are delighted that the HSE and CFOA consider our Guidance worthy of their endorsement and pleased that they felt able to commend our proactive approach in setting fire safety standards."

The Guidance, which applies to structures over 600m2, is aimed at architects, designers, developers and contractors, enabling them to fully extract the benefits of timber frame construction and also assess the fire risk to neighboring buildings should a fire occur during construction – this was a requirement of HSG168 'Fire Safety in Construction' published by the HSE in October 2010. This Guidance is confined to the period during construction prior to the completion of fire resistant finishes.

(CD)