22 September ‘Recgonise it, report it’: Fire door safety week 2025 Fire doors are a fundamental component of fire protection in commercial, industrial and many residential and healthcare settings. Designed to contain the spread of fire and smoke, they provide vital time for safe evacuation and emergency response by preventing the spread of fire in an emergency. When is a fire door not a fire door? … Read More
29 July New Restrictions on AFFF Foam Extinguishers Do you have foam fire extinguishers on site? The rules have changed – are you still compliant? From 04 July 2025, the use of some foam extinguishers (AFFF containing C8 chemicals) have been banned due to environmental effects related to the presence of ‘forever chemicals’. Not all foam extinguishers are affected, but those containing PFOA … Read More
25 March Support for you when the The Fire Officer visits No matter how well prepared we are, there is always a little trepidation when the Fire Officer visits. During such a recent visit, it was fantastic to see how well the client was prepared. A copy of the up to date Fire Risk Assessment (FRA) was available for the Fire Officer. This is the first … Read More
30 April The probable future of Fire Safety in Tall Building On 14 June 2017, a fire broke out in the 24-storey Grenfell Tower block of flats in North Kensington, West London, very early in the morning, just before 1:00 am. The fire caused 72 deaths, including those of two victims who later died in hospital. More than 70 others were injured and, fortunately, 223 people … Read More
21 April Phased Return to Work – Fire Safety Once the coronavirus epidemic restrictions (the UK Lockdown) are relaxed and businesses start to return to work (probably in a phased return), there are many things that need to be checked One important area that needs to be reviewed is that of fire safety. It is important to check that your fire alarm system is … Read More
24 January Building Safety Regulator The government have announced that a new regulator, as part of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) will have oversight of the design, construction and occupation of high-risk buildings. Dame Judith Hackitt will chair a board to oversee the transition. The Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick said: The government is committed to bringing about the biggest change … Read More
27 June Fire Risk – “too awful to contemplate” People still put profit before safety. The man who created a fire safety risk that was described as “too awful to contemplate” by massive overcrowding during at an event at York’s Kuda nightclub has been given a suspended prison sentence. The club was rated to a safe capacity of 645, but during a Basshunter event … Read More
10 June Fire Safety – The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005: call for evidence The Government has opened a call for evidence that seeks views and evidence on the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 for England in workplaces and the parts used in common in multi-occupied residential buildings. If you wish to respond, note that this consultation closes at 11:45 pm on 31 July 2019. Consultation description The government is … Read More
4 June Ensuring Effective Fire Safety in Housing – 1-Day Seminars I am chairing a series of 1-day Seminars on “Ensuring Effective Fire Safety in Housing”. These will be taking place mainly in London. In December 2018 the government committed to delivering the recommendations included in the Hackitt report from May 2018, with an emphasis on a more effective regulatory and accountability framework, clearer standards and … Read More
30 May Fire Safety – Emergency Lighting Why have Emergency Lighting? There are three main purposes of emergency lighting: Escape Route lighting: illuminates exit routes & helps occupants find fire fighting equipment in a fire Open Area Lighting: also called ‘Panic Lighting’. Keeps communal areas lit in a fire to reduce panic High-Risk Task Area lighting: provides light to shut down potentially … Read More