Climate change is a crisis the UK is unable to ignore. In recent years, the impact of construction on climate change has affected atmospheric temperatures, increased the risk of flooding, and caused the destruction of natural habitat areas through the consumption of resources, poor design, and land degradation. Currently, the housing crisis present in the UK urges the need for new build homes due to the increasing human population, with hundreds of new construction projects scattered across the country delivering residential, commercial, and other buildings. The Construction Industry alone is responsible for over 4% of emissions, contributing to global warming and directly impacting weather conditions. By 2070[1], [i]scientists have predicted that temperatures could rise as high as 1.7oC, and rainfall will increase by 25%, contributing to the increase of ocean temperatures and glaciers melting as well as rising water levels, leading to severe flooding.
These increased risks call for action to be taken now to deliver better legislation and greater understanding of fire and flood protection building systems and products. The number of days which the UK will be considered at a ‘very high danger’ of fire is predicted to quadruple in within the next 40 years with the Southeast England including Kent predicted to be among the areas to be worst affected. These findings were presented in a recent study, published in Environmental Research Letters[ii] highlighting a staggering increased risk of fire and floods which will threaten homes and businesses in the future.
The researchers examined climate scenarios with both low and high emissions of greenhouse gases, using a version of the Met Office Fire Severity Index (MOFSI) model which is used to define how severe a fire could become if one were to break out. Using this model, it was calculated that the Southeast is likely to increase from an average of 20 days recorded in 1981 – 2010 of ‘very high danger’ of fire to 70 days by the 2050s and up to 111 by the 2080s.
In response to the impact of climate change and fire disasters, Derek Ward, Managing Director of Envirograf based in Barfrestone, Dover has invented a new, unique fire-resistant eco-panel for building eco-homes, which offers effective fire protection, thermal insulation and flood defence. He commented, “We have designed, developed, and tested a range of prefabricated panel systems and products to overcome the increasing threats posed by fire and floods. They can be used for a huge variety of new build and retrofit projects and are suitable for commercial and residential properties. I am proud that our products protect buildings and lives by preventing the spread of fire increasing the chances of a safe evacuation and providing valuable time for fire response and rescue services.”
The eco homes are supported by metal beams beneath the structure, which can be built up to 3m high to avoid damage by flooding, protecting the foundations of eco homes. Internally, the panels offer effective thermal properties, able to regulate temperatures during peak summer periods, yet remain thermally insulated during the winter seasons.
The panels are pre-fabricated, and manufactured with sustainable wood and timber materials, offering an efficacious solution to the construction industry and climate change. The panels are also fire-resistant, able to withstand domestic and malicious fires for over 60 minutes, with damage simply sustained on the surface of the boards with no penetration. The boards are removed, replaced, with cables and lighting systems rewired within a few hours, offering a rapid refurbishment of properties ravaged by fires.
Following the Grenfell tragedy, the Government is considering the new ’Building Safety Bill’ which aims to give residents and homeowners more rights, powers, and protections. Derek Ward commented, “This Bill is a step in the right direction offering a much-needed regulatory framework that will put an onus on local authorities, architects, designers and construction companies to ensure that properties meet better flood and fire safety standards that are not only essential now, but will continue to protect lives, homes and businesses in the South East and beyond.”
About Envirograf
The Envirograf ® brand was established in 1983 and it quickly evolved to become a leading force in passive fire products. Its reputation as innovator and developer of passive fire products is widely recognised, and its commitment to product research and development is second to none.
[1] UKPC Climate Change Report published by the Met Office:- (https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/pub/data/weather/uk/ukcp18/science-reports/ukcp-infographic-headline-findings.pdf)
[2] N W Arnell et al 2021 Environ. Res. Lett.16 044027 (https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/abd9f2/meta)
