Research Projects
The Fire Protection Association has been conducting fire research since 1946 including a variety of milestone projects that have shaped fire safety strategies, improved building resilience, and informed regulatory and insurance practices.
Milestone FPA research projects and publications
Solar Panel Testing
Photovoltaic (PV) solar is one of the fastest growing, most reliable, and most adaptable forms of electricity generating technology available. Whilst the incidence of fires involving PV systems is very low in the UK, the addition of a PV system to a building which is not correctly designed, installed, or maintained could, like any electrical service, add to the overall risk of fire.
This project involved the development of a standardised test method to determine the fire performance of roof mounted solar panels of different varieties and support the risk assessment of solar panel installations. The test method attempts to ignite the solar panels with a 15 kW gas burner. There are three tests that must be conducted with the gas burner mounted in different locations above and below the solar panel. The fire performance of the panel is monitored, and results are recorded. The research project culminated with the creation of RC62: Recommendations for fire safety with PV panel installations.
Cavity Barrier Testing
A cavity barrier is a passive fire protection component that prevents the spread of fire through void spaces within ceilings, walls and floors. Open-state cavity barriers allow air to flow past them during normal operation but will activate and seal the cavity in the event of a fire. Cavity barriers are designed and installed to prevent smoke and/or flames travelling through concealed spaces and extensive cavities by restricting their pathway with fire stopping materials. Cavity barriers are tested for regulatory purposes using fire resistance test furnaces which assesses the insulation and integrity of a cavity barrier post-activation.
Following concerns that the activation performance of an open-state cavity barrier was not being tested, the FPA conducted a research project that focused on the creation of a test rig and a test method to specifically assess the activation of a cavity barrier. The test method involves mounting the cavity barrier between two walls, set to the desired width apart. Flames enter the cavity via ducting connected to a gas burner. The ducting is positioned underneath the cavity barrier so that flames impinge on the barrier and lick past it. Thermocouples are positioned all the way along the cavity barrier, both above and below to monitor the temperature. The difference between the thermocouples above and below the cavity enables analysis of whether the barrier has activated and how quickly the activation spreads along the barrier, closing off the cavity. It also allows analysis of the effectiveness of the barrier once it has activated.
Green and Living Walls as External Cladding - A Joint Guide to Managing Risk
Green or Living Walls are becoming a familiar feature of the built environment and are often incorporated as components of newer and more sustainable construction projects. Many Living Walls are of a scale and location that presents no additional risk to the scenario that would warrant further consideration, but others, applied at larger scale to a building, might have the potential to exert great influence on the safety and insurability of that building – and others around it – if not properly designed and maintained.
In 2024 a comprehensive guide was produced collaboratively between key Living Wall providers and UK insurers via the FPA’s RISCAuthority research scheme to address the potential risks from fire, escape of water (EoW), and weather events that these systems may present if incorrectly designed or managed.
The guidance helps stakeholders—such as designers, architects, insurers, and fire authorities evaluate the risks and requirements of a proposed Living Wall system. It aims to:
- gather essential details about the system
- identify if special risk or insurance considerations are needed
- highlight fire and water-related challenges
- explain how these may conflict with standard risk control principles
- offer practical risk mitigation strategies
- emphasise the importance of ongoing monitoring and maintenance
- clarify that Living Walls are one of many factors in overall building risk assessments
- serve as a basis for informed discussions on risk control.
It supports communication between specifiers and authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs), enabling early identification and resolution of potential concerns.
Primarily aimed at building designers, façade engineers, architects, product suppliers, owners, insurers, fire services, and those directly responsible for the day-to-day upkeep, maintenance, and safety of the building, the guide is freely available to download here.
RISC 501: Fire Test and Assessment Method for External Cladding Systems
Cladding system fires have been increasing globally, with the UK reporting the third most casualties per population since 1990. Combustible cladding systems are approved on high-rise buildings in the UK by the performance-based route to compliance, using the BS 8414 test method and BR 135 assessment criteria. This test involves installing a representative cladding system on a 10m high test rig and subjecting it to a large fire representing a room in flashover venting out a window and attacking the front face of the cladding system. However, serious questions have been raised regarding the appropriateness of the fuel source, test construction, construction detailing, assessment criteria, and availability of test results.
The FPA, through RISCAuthority, conducted a research project with the aim of enhancing the safety of tall buildings by preventing fire spread through external cladding systems.
A database was compiled, analysing a large number of cladding systems over the past 20 years and their subsequent fire performance in existing cladding tests. It highlighted certain tests’ unrealistic construction methods, which aren’t replicated in real buildings. It also identified concerns around thermocouple criteria and placement relative to the fuel load. Test results were analysed to estimate the impact of changing the evaluation criteria.
Small-to-medium scale testing was conducted to analyse a variety of different measurement sensors, including the addition of the gas analysis measurements and the development of material fingerprinting -a method for characterising cladding products using microscale combustion calorimetry and infrared spectroscopy to assess chemical composition and properties relating to fire performance.
Two full scale tests were conducted on a cladding system: one on a cldding system that was expected to spread fire and one on cladding system which was not. The new sensor package was installed and assessed compared to historic sensors. The new sensors demonstrated a clearer performance differentiation between the two different cladding systems. This enabled new performance criteria to be introduced for appropriately assessing the risk of fire damage to a property with an external cladding system.
The project culminated in the development of RISC 501:2023 – Fire Safety Assessment Test for External Cladding Systems, a large scale fire test and assessment method that is designed to be conducted alongside the existing BS 8414 test, so that the results can confer compliance with both BR 135 and RISC 501. You can find out more about RISC 501 here.
The Joint Code of Practice on the Prevention and Management of Escape of Water on Construction Sites and Buildings Undergoing Renovation
Insurer experience shows that the occurrence of water damage is one of the most prevalent cause of claims on construction sites. The FPA, through RISCAuthority and in collaboration with the Construction Insurance Risk Engineers Group (CIREG), published the first edition of Joint Code of Practice (JCoP) for Escape of Water Prevention and Management on Construction sites.
With a focus on permanent and temporary water systems within buildings, the objective of JCoP is to help reduce losses associated with escape of water events and subsequent project delays during both the pre-construction and construction phases. Targeted at all parties in the supply chain, the guidance covers various hot and cold plumbing systems, mains water, waste/effluent, sprinkler systems, mechanical systems, and associated water storage tanks, and provides good industry practice for a broad range of construction, renovation, and refurbishment projects. You can download the guide here.
The Joint Code of Practice on the Protection from Fire on Construction Sites and Buildings Undergoing Renovation
The Joint Code of Practice for Fire Prevention on Construction Sites was first published in 1992 with the objective of preventing fires on construction sites. Currently in its 10th edition, the FPA regularly revises the code in collaboration with the Association of British Insurance (ABI), National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC), London Fire Brigade (LFB), Contractors Legal Group, and Construction Industry Publications Ltd to ensure it reflects changes in working practices, emerging risks, and the more prevalent use of modern materials and construction methods. You can download the guide here.