Each year, there are thousands of workplace fires recorded across the UK — many of which could have been avoided if the correct fire safety procedures were followed, and the right passive fire protection products were in place. From faulty electrical equipment to careless handling of hot substances, there are
On Thursday 14th September the forklifts at Hochiki Europe’s new warehouse facility in Gillingham paused as the team welcomed MP for Gillingham and Rainham, Rehman Chishti and Mayoress of Medway Cllr Nina Gurung to cut the ribbon and declare the new part of the Hochiki operation officially open. This state-of-the-art
On the 1st October 2023, further amendments to the Regulatory Reform Order 2005 (otherwise known as the ‘FSO’ or ‘Fire Safety Order’) are due to come into force, affecting businesses and buildings across the UK under the Building Safety Act 2022. As leading fire door and passive fire protection product
Global leaders in life safety manufacturing and design have achieved BOSEC approval for their ESP and Latitude products. BOSEC is the quality benchmark for fire protection in Belgium and is one of Europe’s highest quality marks requiring brands to undergo stringent and lengthy approval process to carry the accreditation. It
Vivalda, the UK’s largest distributor of non-flammable rainscreen facades, has produced a handy guide for contractors and installers unsure of how the 2022 Building Safety Act could affect them. Providing a three-minute read for the trade, the single page explainer highlights the key changes proposed by the act, which was
Where school groups are faced with budgetary constraints, decision makers can’t afford to neglect fire safety. Sue Corrick of Allegion UK explains how responsible persons can use the summer break to extend the service life of fire doors in school buildings. By the time August arrives, it’s official – school
Siderise has launched the first in the series of its new Technical Deep Dives— short free e-learning modules designed to help construction professionals get to grips with key areas of passive fire protection and noise control in the built environment. Edition 1 explores the challenges imposed upon perimeter firestops
Faithful+Gould (member of the SNC-Lavalin Group), is working in partnership with the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC), to launch a first-of-its-kind national decarbonisation programme – to include organisations from across the emergency services sector. The world-leading project and programme management consultancy will become the key team to lead on the
Leading the future of fire safety Date: 17 October 2023 Location: Savoy Place, London and online BOOK NOW Planning for the annual FIRE Conference is well underway for 2023! We look forward to bringing the fire sector together once again to network with peers, share knowledge, and learn about the
Yesterday, Monday 24 July 2023, the Government confirmed that they will adopt an 18-metre height threshold for second staircases in all new residential buildings. In a huge win for RIBA’s cross-sector campaign on this issue, the Government noted that the new fire safety measure comes in response to expert bodies’ united calls. Since March, a RIBA-led coalition spanning the built environment, fire
BDC 322 : Nov 2024
Each year, there are thousands of workplace fires recorded across the UK — many of which could have been avoided if the correct fire safety procedures were followed, and the right passive fire protection products were in place. From faulty electrical equipment to careless handling of hot substances, there are plenty of potential causes of workplace fires — but what are the most common outliers? As one of the UK’s leading providers of fire door and passive fire protection products, we were curious to find out exactly what the top causes of workplace fires were. So, we looked at official Government data from 2010 – 2022 showing primary fires in non-residential buildings by cause of fire to find the following results. Here is an even more detailed breakdown of the findings: Deliberate: 82, 268 Other accidental: 70, 612 Faulty appliances and leads: 63,723 Faulty fuel supplies: 50,806 Misuse of equipment or appliances: 49, 008 Careless handling of fire or hot substances: 46,887 Placing articles too close to heat: 41, 433 Chip/ fat pan fires: 37,795 Playing with fire: 27,787 Unspecified cause: 27, 529 Shockingly, the most common cause of fires in buildings not marked as ‘dwellings’ on Government records is ‘deliberate’. After this, there is a large unspecified group of ‘other accidental’ causes of fires. This could be anything from smoking near flammable substances or not correctly extinguishing sources of fire. Regardless of specifics, the sheer number of these accidental causes suggests a greater need for improved fire safety training – and a larger number of fire protection products in workspaces, to reduce the impact of fire-related accidents. The large number of causes relating to faulty appliances, leads, fuel supplies, and misuse of equipment also implies that fire safety audits and routine inspections are not carried out nearly enough. Fore more fire safety guidance, head over to our advice centre or contact us with any questions. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
On Thursday 14th September the forklifts at Hochiki Europe’s new warehouse facility in Gillingham paused as the team welcomed MP for Gillingham and Rainham, Rehman Chishti and Mayoress of Medway Cllr Nina Gurung to cut the ribbon and declare the new part of the Hochiki operation officially open. This state-of-the-art facility situated in the heart of Kent, Apex House as it will be known, will support increased production capability at Hochiki’s other Kent site. Covering an expansive 24,000 square feet and equipped with the latest technology and resources, it will expand Hochiki’s European hub for warehousing and distribution, as well as sales and administrative capability. Along with political dignitaries the grand opening ceremony was attended by senior members of staff, guests from Hochiki including Chairman Akio Yamagata, government officials, industry leaders and journalists. All attendees agreed this investment in the region and indeed the UK was impressive and greatly received. As a world-leading provider of life safety solutions, now in its 30th year of European operations, this milestone marks a significant step in Hochiki’s commitment to investment in the region and the company’s dedication to innovation and excellence in the fire industry. Key features of the new facility include state-of-the-art storage and shipping units with a capacity increase from 480 to 2,450 pallets with picking and packing capability more than doubling from three to seven items a minute. This warehousing excellence ensures the continued and efficient supply of the highest quality production of life safety devices and systems. The facility also includes collaborative spaces designed to foster innovation and encourage partnerships with industry stakeholders. Hochiki Europe aims to create a collaborative ecosystem that will drive advancements in life safety technology. Mr Shinsuke Kubo, Managing Director, Hochiki Europe expressed his excitement about the facility’s grand opening: “The new facility will play a pivotal role in advancing life safety technologies not only here in the UK but across the whole of Hochiki Europe’s regions, thereby contributing to the protection of people and property around the world. We are proud to bring together the finest minds in life safety technology under one roof, driving innovation and setting new standards for safety worldwide.” Hochiki Europe has a rich history of providing cutting-edge fire detection and life safety systems for over three decades. This new facility will enable the company to continue pushing the boundaries of life safety technology, ultimately making the world a safer place. The grand opening of the Kent facility marks a remarkable achievement for Hochiki Europe, reinforcing the company’s status as a global leader in life safety solutions. For more information about Hochiki Europe and its life safety solutions, please visit https://www.hochikieurope.com/news Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
On the 1st October 2023, further amendments to the Regulatory Reform Order 2005 (otherwise known as the ‘FSO’ or ‘Fire Safety Order’) are due to come into force, affecting businesses and buildings across the UK under the Building Safety Act 2022. As leading fire door and passive fire protection product experts, we’ve put together a core summary of the upcoming changes and who they affect. Add any further details and links to other sources that the readers might find relevant. What is the FSO (Fire Safety Order)? The Fire Safety Order is the fire safety legislation that applies to all non-domestic buildings across England and Wales, regulating premises and setting out responsibilities for individuals to improve fire safety.The Fire Safety Order applies to: What are the upcoming FSO changes? As of October 1st, all Responsible Persons must: You can find a more detailed breakdown of these responsibilities and everything mentioned here on the Fire Seals Direct blog. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Global leaders in life safety manufacturing and design have achieved BOSEC approval for their ESP and Latitude products. BOSEC is the quality benchmark for fire protection in Belgium and is one of Europe’s highest quality marks requiring brands to undergo stringent and lengthy approval process to carry the accreditation. It covers products for passive prevention and active prevention, as well as organisations who work within the fire industry, such as installers and system designers. Hochiki’s Enhanced System Protocol Range (ESP) and Latitude system are already EN54 pt13 certified, however with this additional certification in place it provides greater choice of fire detection products and systems to choose from for customers based in the Belgium region as well as bordering countries Luxemburg, the Netherlands and Germany. The Hochiki ESP range is one of the most robust platforms on the market, offering a wide selection of features and benefits for some of the most complex scenarios and are Marine approved, SIL Capable and have built in short-circuit isolators. The EN 54 approved range includes a suite of sensors, including a multi-sensor with CO detection, particularly useful for customers who are looking to reduce false alarms, several I/O units for interfacing to other equipment and a selection of audio/visual alarm devices. Hochiki’s networkable Latitude fire control panel, which the ESP range is compatible with, is also BOSEC approved and combines the very latest hardware and software to produce an approved control and indication system. The flexibility of the Latitude platform is such that it can be re-configured to realise many other control and indication applications, with direct integration into intelligent buildings. Previously, Hochiki products achieved BOSEC approval through a regional third-party but with this brand new certification, Hochiki Europe can now offer its own complete fire detection system as BOSEC approved. Installers within Belgium can rest assured that they can now specify Hochiki in new projects as well as update any existing fire detection systems and know that Hochiki is now one of the best within their market. Max De Vries, regional manager commented on the BOSEC accreditation “We are very proud to have receive this certification. It recognises the quality and thorough processes we go through to ensure our fire detection devices and systems are of the highest standard. We only work with BOSEC approved installers, so customers in Belgium, The Netherlands, Luxemburg and Germany can rest assured that their building is ‘end-to-end safe’”. To find out more about Hochiki’s BOSEC approved ESP Range and Latitude fire safety system please visit: https://web.hochikieurope.com/hochiki-bosec-en Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Vivalda, the UK’s largest distributor of non-flammable rainscreen facades, has produced a handy guide for contractors and installers unsure of how the 2022 Building Safety Act could affect them. Providing a three-minute read for the trade, the single page explainer highlights the key changes proposed by the act, which was instrumental in setting up the new Building Safety Regular last year. The guide also defines some of the key terms used in the act such as The Golden Thread, Duty Holders and High-Rise Buildings. Peter Johnson, founder of Vivalda Group, said: “Over the past five years, we have been committed to improving understanding and spreading best practice regarding cladding within the building sector. The Building Safety Act is a central plank of the UK’s new safety regime, but we are concerned that not enough people working on-site are aware of these changes. “We’ve produced this plain language guide so that everyone within the construction trade can benefit from a basic understanding of the principles of the act. This is important as it will drive many new aspects of safety legislation that will affect us all.” To get a free download of the Building Safety Act explainer, please go to: https://www.vivalda.co.uk/brochures/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Where school groups are faced with budgetary constraints, decision makers can’t afford to neglect fire safety. Sue Corrick of Allegion UK explains how responsible persons can use the summer break to extend the service life of fire doors in school buildings. By the time August arrives, it’s official – school is out for summer. For students and staff alike, the summer holiday is a precious period of recreation and recuperation, but for most education facilities, the annual break presents an opportune time to complete much needed refurbishment and remedial work. Fire safety is a core area for concern in particular, where according to the Fire Industry Association (FIA), one in 20 schools experience fire in their buildings. Fires can cause school buildings immeasurable damage, and in response – and as stated under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 – designated responsible persons must conduct ongoing risk assessments to help identify potential hazards within their premises. Yet, in 2022, research conducted by Allegion UK into the impact of fire doors in education facilities found that almost half of decision makers had encountered issues with fire doors in their buildings, with over half of respondents also revealing they were not aware of fire door maintenance procedures. As such, responsible persons are urged to make the most of their allotted time and budgets this summer, extending the service life of fire door hardware to help ensure students, staff and visitors are safe and secure when doors once again open for the new term. School Life School buildings are inherently diverse environments. While no two facilities may be the same, it is a legal requirement under British and European law for all academic settings to possess operational fire door sets. New regulation continues to draw focus on fire safety in school buildings too, with guidance from the Building Safety Act shining the light on higher-risk buildings of 18 metres in height (or at least 7 storeys tall), with certain education facilities meeting the criteria and thus required to register as high-risk by 1st October 2023. Naturally, school classrooms and corridors are often bustling with movement and during term time, in high traffic areas, fire doors can be used anywhere between 100’s to 1000’s of times each day. Over time, daily use inevitably leads to wear and tear on fittings and in some cases, fire doors may even experience levels of misuse and abuse. Take the end of each school day for example, where fire doors and their hardware are frequently put to the test as students (and staff) aim to leave the premises quickly. When doors are opened and closed with force, hardware elements can become tired, with poorer quality or incorrectly specified door hardware more prone to damage. To help prevent excessive wear and damage in busier areas, schools may benefit from electromagnetic hold-open devices, which combine wall magnets with existing door closers to aid ease of access and reduce any unnecessary roughness. Similarly, door closers with backcheck control will slow the motion of a door, preventing or minimising contact damage. In the circumstance of a fire, it’s critical that a fire door closes independently and to completion. Damaged door hardware compromises the performance of a fire door, and as such, designated responsible persons, as part of their responsibilities, must ensure escape routes are clear and fire door sets are operating as intended, making note of and replacing any damaged door hardware in the process Protection on a budget While school buildings are closed, decision makers are gifted a period of low foot traffic and a sufficient amount of time to undertake compulsory maintenance periods without interruption. Whereas maintenance is key, research from the Guild of Architectural Ironmongers (GAI) has previously revealed education buildings to have the highest average maintenance spend attributed to door hardware. Furthermore, after reviewing school spending as a whole, the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) estimated that school costs would increase by 6% across 2022/23. To support schools, the government continues to invest in projects for new and refurbished buildings through its School Rebuilding Programme. Retrofit projects for example, when approached professionally, can make a considerable difference to a building’s operation – improving its efficiency and fire protection and all without needing to replace the existing fire safety infrastructure. Although, when completing retrofit projects, decision makers must consider high quality, like for like alternatives as using sub-standard components may have the adverse effect – further raising replacement costs later down the line and potentially breaching fire safety regulations in the process. With many academic groups already fearing budget cuts may affect their ability to run facilities as planned, responsible persons are also urged to review their maintenance programmes. Primarily, decision makers can look to decrease their total maintenance spend by choosing more durable products at the product selection stage. The use of higher quality, correctly specified and installed door hardware products will help to lower the rate of sustained wear and damage and thus reduce the costs associated with repair and replacements. The Code for Construction Product Information (CCPI) is an accredited programme designed to present clear, accurate and up-to-date product information, and can assist decision makers in education by helping them to select trusted hardware that conforms to UKCA and CE certifications. Above all, responsible persons must ensure fire doors and their hardware are routinely checked throughout the entirety of the school year, adjusting components where necessary to preserve the operation of fire doors. But while schools are closed, there’s truly no better time to get a head start on preparations and updated regulations – responsible persons must only seek professional advice where unsure. How Allegion UK can Help Allegion UK has a wealth of resources to help responsible persons undertake product selection, installation and maintenance checks on fire doors and hardware. For information on product selection and installation, please speak to our experts or head to our download centre for technical fitting instructions. For post-installation support, Allegion’s simple toolkit provides information and tips on detecting
Siderise has launched the first in the series of its new Technical Deep Dives— short free e-learning modules designed to help construction professionals get to grips with key areas of passive fire protection and noise control in the built environment. Edition 1 explores the challenges imposed upon perimeter firestops resulting from curtain wall façade and building movement, and the consequential performance requirements for providing effective compartmentation. This includes examining the test standards to look out for when specifying these products. With one set to be released bi-monthly, these Technical Deep Dives break down key application issues in an easy-to-understand and visual way. They have been created to share the knowledge, experience and insights of the manufacturer’s Technical Experts who have worked on all kinds of projects all over the world helping designers and contractors to understand how they can deliver best practice passive fire safety and noise control. Explore the first edition: https://knowledge.siderise.com Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Faithful+Gould (member of the SNC-Lavalin Group), is working in partnership with the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC), to launch a first-of-its-kind national decarbonisation programme – to include organisations from across the emergency services sector. The world-leading project and programme management consultancy will become the key team to lead on the decarbonisation of the blue-light estate, by reducing energy consumption, changing user behaviours and improving sustainability measures. The programme has already seen some major successes, with several organisations within the programme securing funding through Salix’s Low Carbon Skills Fund (LCSF); the majority of the funding applications led, authored and co-authored by Faithful+Gould. Daniel Jermin, Regional Director and programme lead for Faithful+Gould, said: “The world experienced its hottest day ever recorded in July 2023, breaking the global average temperature record previously set in 2016. It comes as a timely reminder, if one is needed, that the time for taking action on climate change is now. “As such, we are extremely proud to have supported the design of this decarbonisation programme’s operating model and to lead the project in collaboration with NFCC, Fire and Rescue Services and wider blue-light organisations. “We are able to deliver a programme of real change, based on our wide experience of working with clients to decarbonise buildings at estate level, in order to make carbon visible, change behaviours and accelerate the journey towards Net Zero targets.” Elli Nikolaou, NFCC National Category Lead for FM and Construction, said: “We are making a significant positive impact to decarbonisation by focussing on what is on our doorstep. With buildings responsible for 40% of global carbon emissions, our national decarbonisation programme demonstrates how we can tackle such a global challenge. “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts, which our programme has already demonstrated by partnering with Faithful+Gould under our National Decarbonisation Consultancy Services Contract.” The aim of the appointment is to provide expert advice and guidance, as well as the structure and governance in the planning and delivery of professional consultancy services. The programme will see the provision of services that include Programme Advisory, Programme Management and Sustainability Advisory, structured across these three tiers: Tier 1. Energy data and carbon emissions analysis, decarbonisation planning, feasibility assessments, and modelling of decarbonisation and energy efficiency opportunities; Tier 2. End-to-end consultancy support in the preparation and submission of funding applications; and Tier 3. End-to-end consultancy support in the design and delivery of decarbonisation and energy efficiency projects. The programme sits squarely in what Faithful+Gould strive to do as an organisation, which is directly delivering against the NFCC Procurement Hub’s targets that are aligned to the joint NFCC and Home Office Strategy, as well as the Home Office Fire Priorities. The creation and the success of the programme’s roll-out to date has been built from its mechanical parts, to include: scoping collaborative commercial activities and opportunities, increased commercial capability across the sector and demand and spend aggregation. For more information visit NFCC Programme: NFCC Programme – Home Page (nfcc-procurementhub.org.uk) Read about F+G’s Sustainability Services here: Sustainability – Faithful Gould (fgould.com)
Leading the future of fire safety Date: 17 October 2023 Location: Savoy Place, London and online BOOK NOW Planning for the annual FIRE Conference is well underway for 2023! We look forward to bringing the fire sector together once again to network with peers, share knowledge, and learn about the latest best practices in fire safety. With the day’s programme featuring a series of informative plenaries and panel discussions covering the adoption of a human-centred approach to tragedy – lessons from Grenfell, Building Safety Regulator updates, a ministerial plenary (subject to confirmation), enforcement – who is responsible now?, and the future of fire risk assessors, we are pleased to share further details of the afternoon’s breakout workshop sessions ahead of the full programme being released. Workshops Legal and contractual responsibilities This workshop will look to provide an overview of legal support to practitioners, particularly focusing on liability and contractual law. It is widely acknowledged that many older buildings have a complex history which provides challenges when it comes to the responsibility of remedial work, refurbishments or even their original construction – who is responsible and where do you turn to for further support? The long-term health of firefighters Anna Stec, Professor in Fire Chemistry and Toxicity, UCLan | Riccardo la Torre, National Officer, FBU Recent research has found that toxic contaminants in fires are directly linked to increased rates of cancer and mental health issues among firefighters. The impact of this has far reaching implications on not only firefighters’ physical health, but their mental health too. This workshop will provide an overview of the latest research and a response from the NFCC. New technologies – the opportunities and challenges for fire safety The rapid introduction and evolution of artificial intelligence, machine learning, remote sensing and augmented reality/virtual reality (AR/VR) technologies present promises and pitfalls for fire safety. This workshop will explore the opportunities and challenges new technologies present for fire engineering and fire safety, including advanced modeling and simulation, cybernetic building integrations, wildland fire behavior forecasting, improved fire detection, enhanced incident command decision support and other applications not yet imagined. Participants in this session will join the discussion of how new technologies can help us and where we need to exercise more caution and discretion. National regulator for construction products and the future of fire testing Chris Miles, Commercial Director, Fire Protection Association | Peter Caplehorn, CEO, Construction Products Association | Simon Lewis, Head of Building Safety Working Group, Womble Bond Dickson The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) takes on responsibility for the national regulation of construction products. The OPSS started work to establish the new Regulator in April 2021 and has begun to lead and coordinate work that will set a new regulatory approach for construction products with safety being placed at the core. This workshop will provide delegates with an overview of the types of work that will be undertaken by the new regulator to restore confidence in the safe design, construction, and occupation of high-rise residential buildings. Tackling fire safety in batteries This workshop will examine the different battery applications including micro mobility, electric cars and the wider transport sector. It will explore the technology used, the issues surrounding fire safety and identifying solutions. Carefully considered measures are required to address the hazards these batteries pose and the options available to manage such risks. BOOK NOW Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Yesterday, Monday 24 July 2023, the Government confirmed that they will adopt an 18-metre height threshold for second staircases in all new residential buildings. In a huge win for RIBA’s cross-sector campaign on this issue, the Government noted that the new fire safety measure comes in response to expert bodies’ united calls. Since March, a RIBA-led coalition spanning the built environment, fire safety and disability rights groups have been strongly advocating an 18-metre threshold. RIBA and its Expert Advisory Group have been calling for second staircases in new residential buildings for a long time. RIBA President Simon Allford said: “This is a significant moment. Over six years on from the Grenfell Tower tragedy, it is hugely positive and reassuring to see the Government listening to the united call of experts on fire safety, bringing greater coherence and certainty for industry. Mandating second staircases in new homes over 18 metres is a vital step towards a safer built environment for all. We are pleased to have played our part in this.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
