In 2023 the Home Office published 3 new guides to help responsible persons and building owners comply with their fire safety duties in small non-domestic premises, guest accommodation and blocks of flats. Following changes to legal requirements introduced by the Building Safety Act 2022, the Home Office has now issued updated versions of those guides. All three guides explain … Read More
E-bike battery safety
A number of concerns have been raised in recent years regarding the safety of lithium-ion batteries, in particular fires involving personal light electric vehicles such as e-bikes. London Fire Brigade alone reported attending 143 e-bike fires along with 36 blazes involving e-scooters in 2023. This concern led the government to commission research and take action to enhance product legislation … Read More
Did lowering the speed limit work?
On 17th September 2023 the Welsh Government introduced a standard 20 mph speed limit on all restricted roads in Wales. The majority of these roads are located in residential and built-up areas, and previously most restricted roads in Wales followed the UK standard speed limit of 30 mph. This change increased the approximate total length of roads in Wales with … Read More
Importance of Tree Risk Management during Winter
During winter storms in the UK, trees pose significant risks, particularly to commercial properties. High winds and heavy snowfall can weaken branches, potentially leading to breakage or entire tree falls that may damage buildings, vehicles, and infrastructure, as well as pose a risk to life. According to the Health and Safety Executive, the combination of severe weather and poor … Read More
Updated Fire Door Hardware Code Of Practice
The Door & Hardware Federation (DHF), together with the Guild of Architectural Ironmongers (GAI), has published an updated code of practice for the selection of building hardware for use on fire-resisting and escape door assemblies and door sets. The term door hardware covers a wide range of door fittings, such as hinges, door-closing devices, locks and latches, door bolts, … Read More
Simplifying Rules For Electric Vans
Currently, drivers hours and other rules apply to work-related driving if the maximum weight of your vehicle or vehicle combination is more than 3.5 tonnes. These rules cover topics such as the maximum time a driver can drive for, what breaks they have to take, the records that drivers and employers must keep, vehicle maintenance, roadworthiness testing, and the fitting … Read More
Security Of Loads On Vehicles Guide Updated
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) produces a code of practice covering the safe loading, unloading, and transportation of goods in heavy goods vehicles, trailers, vans, and cars. This guide is aimed at drivers, vehicle operators, and anyone involved in loading vehicles and is split into 6 key sections, covering a different aspect of load security; these are: … Read More
New Statutory Guidelines For E-Bike Batteries
Official figures show that in 2023, 10 fatalities and almost 200 fires were recorded involving e-bikes and e-scooters. A particular issue is thermal runaway; this happens when the temperature of individual cells within a battery reaches a point where chemical reactions occur, generating heat faster than it can be dissipated. This creates gas within the cell, causing the cell … Read More
New And Updated Compressed Gas Guidance
The British Compressed Gases Association (BCGA) recently published an updated edition of their Code of Practice covering “The Safe Use of Individual Portable or Mobile Cylinder Gas Supply Equipment”. The code covers safe use of gas supplied in either single cylinders or bundles of cylinders, e.g., oxygen, acetylene, helium, nitrogen, LPG, etc. Topics covered include: Cylinder storage, transportation, and … Read More
National Flood Risk Assessment Updated
The Environment Agency recently published updated assessments of the national flood and coastal erosion risks in England. With improvements in data modelling and technology, these represent a significant update from the previous assessments produced in 2018 and 2017, respectively. The new assessments show that 3,500 properties are expected to be in areas at risk of coastal erosion in the … Read More