As the construction sector accelerates the transition to lower carbon materials, ensuring that buildings remain safe, resilient and insurable is essential. Two current projects led by the Alliance for Sustainable Building Products and authored by Professor James Glockling are helping to build the evidence and guidance needed to support this shift.
Together they explore how fire safety products and strategies can work alongside the growing use of natural and bio-based construction materials, helping to unlock the full potential of low carbon construction.
Fire sprinklers as an enabler for low carbon construction
ASBP is currently developing an international guide on Fire Sprinklers for Low-Carbon Buildings. The work explores how fire suppression systems can support the safe and resilient use of natural construction materials in modern buildings.
Natural materials such as engineered timber, bio-based insulation and other renewable products are playing an increasingly important role in reducing the embodied carbon of buildings. Substituting high carbon materials such as cement and steel with natural alternatives can significantly reduce emissions associated with construction.
The project examines how automatic fire suppression systems such as sprinklers can complement these materials by controlling fires at an early stage. Rapid suppression can limit fire growth, protect building structures and support safe intervention by the fire and rescue service, while also reducing disruption and damage following a fire event.
Alongside fire safety considerations, the project is also examining the environmental impacts of fire protection systems themselves. In particular, it highlights the growing importance of life cycle assessment (LCA) data and Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) for sprinkler systems so that their global warming potential can be properly accounted for in whole-life carbon assessments. At present such data is scarce. Only one Environmental Product Declaration currently exists for a sprinkler head, highlighting the need for more comprehensive environmental reporting across the fire protection industry.
The guidance is being developed with Input from across the fire protection community, including support from the European Fire Sprinkler Network, the Business Sprinkler Alliance and the International Fire Suppression Alliance.
Research into fixing systems in mass timber buildings
Alongside this work, ASBP is leading a research project investigating the performance of ceiling-mounted services in mass timber buildings.
Funded by the Fire Service Research & Training Trust, the project is examining how mechanical and electrical services fixed to timber ceilings behave during fire conditions. In many modern timber buildings, significant building services including ventilation ductwork, cable trays and pipework are suspended from the structure above. Understanding how these systems perform during fire exposure is therefore important for both occupant safety and fire service operations.
The research is investigating how fixing systems respond when exposed to fire, including the potential for premature failure that could cause suspended services to fall or obstruct escape routes and firefighting access. The project has involved experimental fire testing of commonly used fixing methods alongside the development of improved solutions.
Working with industry partners, the research aims to identify safer design approaches and develop a repeatable test methodology that could inform future standards and guidance for timber buildings. The project brings together ASBP, Glockling Consulting, the Fire Protection Association and the University of Central Lancashire, with support from manufacturers supplying test materials and components.
Enabling safe, sustainable buildings
Both projects reflect ASBP’s commitment to supporting the responsible growth of low-carbon construction. By developing practical evidence and working closely with industry, ASBP aims to help designers, regulators and insurers deliver the next generation of buildings where sustainability, safety and resilience progress together.
To find out more about these projects, please contact Richard Broad, ASBP Director – richard@asbp.org.uk.