It was reported in this part of the website last year that IFSA had been invited by the Electrical Safety Council to assist in the drafting of a guide/code of practice dealing with the impact of electrical installations on the fire performance of buildings. IFSA took an active role in the drawing-up of the guide which was published by the Electrical Safety Council in the Autumn of 2008.

The guide quickly became the definitive code on the subject, dealing as it does with downlighters; back-to-back switch boxes; plug sockets; kitchen and bathroom extract fans and other electrical components that compromise the permeability of plasterboard linings. IFSA particularly contributed in the generation of a robustness test for downlighter covers which may be used when it is not possible to fit downlights which incorporate their own integral fire protection sealing system.

The principle of the guide is that, whenever electrical components are installed in plasterboard lined walls and floors that require to be fire resisting, then the lights/switches/sockets need to be protected within a fire resistant membrane, of which intumescent materials can make a major contribution. As a consequence, a number of IFSA members now make materials for incorporating in, or over electrical components.

In November this year, IFSA were delighted to attend the ABE's Fire Safety Award dinner in Norfolk in the company of representatives of the Electrical Safety Council, whose guide had been nominated for the fire safety award. There was great excitement when it was announced that the ESC guide had, indeed, won the 2009 award and IFSA are delighted to have been associated with this award-winning guide. Paul Baxter, a member of the IFSA Technical Committee and Chair of the BS Committee responsible for generating tests on penetration seals, is to be seen in the attached photograph (3rd from the right) in the successful team photograph.