Stronger together: raising the bar in passive fire protection with the ASFP

We’re proud to be leading specialists in the installation and application of passive fire protection measures across the public and private sectors, working closely with high profile clients including Platform, Midland Heart, Bromford, the University of Manchester, and the University of Wolverhampton to deliver these services. Our dedicated team has built a wealth of experience in the provision of these services, focusing on quality and a correct first-time approach.

We endorse the use of third-party accreditations in order to ensure we can provide our clients with peace of mind and reassurance that buildings will deliver adequate protection for occupants in the event of fire.

All of our colleagues working in the delivery of passive fire protection measures are highly knowledgeable and skilled, and we’re proud to work closely with the Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP) to ensure our team receive the highest standards of ongoing training. In this blog, our Operations Manager – Compliance, David Barnes, and the ASFP’s Head of Training, Adam Shipstone, discuss the importance of passive fire protection, how to protect homes and other buildings, and why collaboration is key.

(Image above, Novus’ David Barnes (left) and the ASFP’s Adam Shipstone (right))

Tell us about your current roles and experience within passive fire protection.

Adam: I’ve worked in the wider industry for 16 years, starting as a labourer before moving into a passive fire protection technician role and then working on surveying and inspections. I then moved into contract management, compliance and SHEA, before joining the ASFP as Head of Training, which is my current role. I’m responsible for managing the ASFP’s training department and introducing new and relevant training courses for the industry.

David: I started my career in passive fire protection in 2005 as an apprentice carpenter and joiner working on fire door maintenance, fire door installations, and fire-stopping projects. After moving into a supervisor role, I progressed to a Site Manager position before becoming a Contracts Manager, where I gained FIRAS and BM Trada accreditations. I took on my current role as Operations Manager in 2020, where I was tasked with creating our dedicated passive fire protection offering, and I’m proud that we now have an established, award-winning and consistent operation with further growth plans in place.

What does the ASFP do?

Adam: Our mission statement is that ‘the ASFP serves and represents the needs of its members and the wider passive fire protection industry by raising standards and competence through training, testing, certification and quality of installation and maintenance.’ Since 1975, we’ve been the UK’s leading trade association dedicated to the advancement of passive fire protection, bringing together manufacturers, contractors and certification bodies. A collaborative approach is key, and we encourage businesses from across the industry to work together to uphold the highest standards in passive fire protection.

We offer members a wealth of training opportunities to enhance their skills and knowledge, as well as hosting a variety of events including networking meetings, prestigious awards ceremonies, and technical engagement sessions.

Why is passive fire protection so important to contractors like Novus?

David: Passive fire protection is critical for Novus as it directly supports our core values. As a business operating within the maintenance sector, we are often within occupied buildings including social housing and other public environments, which makes us passionate about protecting lives. It’s essential that our team ensures the building structure is protected so that in the event of a fire, the spread of flames, smoke and toxic gases are contained long enough for safe evacuation and emergency response.

Adam: As well as being important on a human level, contractors like Novus are required to meet legislation and regulations. This includes the Building Safety Act 2022, which is designed to improve building safety, particularly in high-risk social housing buildings. It puts the onus on contractors, clients, materials manufacturers and even end users – meaning there are more rules for everyone involved, and that it’s increasingly essential for contractors to have a skilled and knowledgeable workforce.

What key steps can be taken to protect homes and other buildings?

Adam: Early engagement between the client and everyone else involved in a maintenance project, particularly the contractor, is essential. While this should be led by the client, early planning stages are key and specialist contractors should be sharing their passive fire protection recommendations to ensure the highest possible level of safety.

David: At Novus, we take a structured, no-compromise approach to delivering passive fire protection services that meet the highest standards of safety, compliance, and quality. We have accredited competence which includes third-party accreditation from leading industry organisations alongside a software-based golden thread of information for full accountability. Our team follows a strict quality assurance process which includes process maps and engaging at the mobilisation stage with clients, consultants and fire engineers to ensure the smooth delivery of works.

How does Novus collaborate with the ASFP to ensure best practice?

David: We’re proud to work closely with the ASFP, from attending its task group meetings to discussing new training opportunities. Our ASFP membership is hugely beneficial for our team in terms of training, participating and engaging in discussions around industry updates and awareness. The organisation has been a key source of our training, which has been built into mandatory competence levels for all of our managers involved in passive fire protection works.

Adam: The ASFP provides technical support for our members, and Novus is a great example of getting back what you put into your membership. Novus is proactive in its involvement with the ASFP, including helping us write information materials and hosting CPD sessions for clients with us.

David: Our proactive and collaborative approach with the ASFP is important in helping us raise awareness and target training topics for our clients. It’s also been hugely beneficial for Novus’ credibility, and we’ve won three ASFP awards to date, ranging from customer service and best project to an individual award for our Assistant Contracts Manager, Nathan Hassall, who was named as a ‘Rising Star’.

For more information about our passive fire protection services, get in touch today.