The LPC Design Guide for the Fire Protection of Buildings has been prepared to allow architects and designers to take into account business risk management issues in relation to the fire protection of buildings.

The basic principles required to achieve adequate property and business insurance protection are defined within the Loss Prevention Council Board’s ‘Red Book’ and the LPC Design Guide for the Fire Protection of Buildings 2000, which includes the ‘Essential Principles’ document. These documents are principally concerned with reducing the risk to occupants and damage to property and business in the event of a fire, thereby minimising fire and smoke damage, and interruption to the business as a consequence.

Whilst not mandatory, these documents encourage consultation with insurers at the earliest stage to influence insurance terms and are supplementary to the requirements of Building Regulations.

The LPC Design Guide makes specific reference to the use of non-combustible and limited combustible materials. It also introduces the concept of the ‘Protected Zone’, which includes the external roof area each side of a compartment wall. Roofs in this zone require appropriate fire resistance or alternative protection, depending on the use of the building and the associated risk.

Systems achieving an LPS 1181 Part 1 EXT-A grade for roofs, meet the appropriate fire resistance requirements for the ‘Protected Zone’ (as table below). Profiled steel deck roof constructions incorporating ROCKWOOL Hardrock Dual Density insulation have achieved these grades. Please contact ROCKWOOL for specific constructional details.

Key points: 

• Concerned with reducing risk to occupants and preventing damage to property and business
• Makes specific reference to use of non-combustible and limited combustible materials 
• Introduces concept of a 'protected zone' of external roof over a compartment wall to inhibit spread of fire
• Systems achieving LPS 1181 Ext-A meet requirements for 'protected zone'