Between July to October 2020 the government ran a consultation looking at proposals to strengthen the Fire Safety Order, implement Grenfell Tower Inquiry recommendations and strengthen the regulatory framework for how building control bodies consult with Fire and Rescue Authorities. The outcome of this consultation and the plans for the next steps the government intends to take have now been … Read More

The Building Safety Regulator announced as part of Building Safety Bill published in July 2020 is a key component of the Government’s reforms of the building safety system following the Grenfell Tower tragedy and the recommendations made in the subsequent review of building regulation and fire safety The HSE have been given the task of setting up the Building Safety … Read More

Sampling tubes are sometimes used to extend the reach of gas detection devices and/or to allow detection at an increased distance from the user. Following a recent incident where a gas detector failed to detect the presence of a flammable vapour the HSE have released a safety alert highlighting the risk of misleading gas detection readings associated with the use … Read More

For clarity we will start with a quick note that this is not another article about Coronavirus. It is common for properties to be fitted with fire alarm systems to alert people to a fire and to inform them to evacuate the building. There are a number of different types of alarm system that can be installed depending on the … Read More

The Fire Industries Association (FIA) has published a brief guidance document on the fitting of smoke alarms on boats. This guide is aimed at for boats up to 24 metres used for leisure, hire or residential purposes and covers such issues as types, where they should be located and how many should be fitted. The guide can be downloaded from … Read More

Walls, floors and ceilings play an important role in containing and slowing the spread of fire in buildings and are an important factor in managing risk and allowing people to escape safely in an emergency. The compartmentation of buildings provided by properly constructed walls, floors and ceilings helps contain fire for a certain amount of time in the area of … Read More

In July the Government launched a consultation on proposals to enhance the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and implement recommendations from the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 1 Report. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 is concerned with responsibilities for managing fire safety in non-domestic premises in England and Wales, this includes duties to carry out risk assessments, ensure … Read More

An update to Approved Document B of the building regulations has been published including increased fire safety measures in high-rise residential buildings, including the provision of sprinkler systems and consistent signage in all new high-rise blocks of flats over 11 metres tall. The update can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fire-safety-approved-document-b

Fire and rescue statistics released by the Home Office for England the year ending December 2019 show a 10% fall in the number of fire related fatalities from 262 in the previous year to 237 in the latest year. In the same period, Fire and Rescue Services in England attended 157,156 fires, a drop of 12% from the previous year … Read More