Composite panel specialists ISD Solutions has further boosted its industry leading fire safety expertise with a second member of staff achieving a new qualification in passive fire protection.

Early this year Adrian Smith, managing director of the Gloucester-based firm, became one of the first people worldwide to have passed the brand new qualification.

He is now joined in passing the Level 3 Certificate in Passive Fire Protection from the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) by Brett Harrington, manager of ISD Solutions' firewall division.

The combined expertise means ISD Solutions has two of the 50 leading worldwide experts in passive fire protection - both are also now technician members of the IFE - under the same company roof.

And at a time when fire safety in construction has never been under greater scrutiny, ISD Solutions anticipates adopting a pivotal role in driving up standards across the industry.

The new qualification was developed in partnership with the Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP) and involved an in-depth seven-day course followed by an arduous examination.

The course contained modules on regulation, fire strategy, active and passive protection, testing and certification, building performance, human behaviour and fire science.

Mr Harrington said: "I am delighted to have completed the Level 3 Certificate and to have set us even further apart from our competitors in terms of the expertise we can offer our clients.

"It's great for our clients to have such expertise to call on and, as the only composite panel installation company to hold this qualification, we can offer qualified, professional and - very importantly - independent consideration to an extensive range of passive fire protection solutions.

"In light of the recent Hackitt Review following the tragedy at Grenfell Tower and with changes in legislation shifting the onus of responsibility for fire safety on building projects, the construction industry needs to be aware of the broad spectrum of factors which create a truly safe end project.

"What we are also seeing is that businesses internationally are looking to the UK for a lead on how standards in construction can be elevated.

"If we at ISD Solutions can help lead the way in raising standards, while offering a service which is of benefit to architects, specifiers, building consultants and designers, then we are happy to do so."

Founded in 1946, ISD Solutions has grown to be the UK's leading contractor in the design, installation, and maintenance of composite panel-based structures.

From cold stores to data centres, through specialist cladding and roofing solutions as well as firewalls, the company has been leading the way for competence and excellence for over 70 years.

Mr Harrington said: "ISD has installed composite firewalls and associated fire protection systems for almost 20 years.

"We recognise the importance of fire safety and the challenge the construction industry faces in ensuring a consistent and thorough approach to maintaining standards.

"Our breadth of experience, along with our continued professional training and qualifications, means we can offer a broad spectrum of fire protection expertise - from advice and consultation to large multi-million pound firewall and data centre installations.

"The course was extremely thorough and gives us some great knowledge which we can apply to passive fire protection measures for things like structural building frames, fire retardant coatings, walls, floors, ceilings and fire-retardant glazing, fire stopping, penetrations seals, cavity barriers, ductwork and dampers, fire resisting doors, industrial shutters and hardware.

"I'm looking forward to applying this knowledge and, with our project managers set to further their qualifications, we are excited about this enhanced offering."

Vicki Ball, head of education at the IFE said: "The IFE Level 3 Certificate in Passive Fire Protection is a new qualification which was developed in partnership with the Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP) and which is offered on an international basis.

"We are delighted with the support the qualification has received from the industry and we would like to congratulate Brett on his achievement."

ISD Solutions is a trading division of The P&M Group Ltd which was founded in 1947 by Edgar Moon and is now chaired by his grandson, Andy Moon.

For more on ISD Solutions visit https://isd-solutions.co.uk/divisions/firewall/.