Industry responds to commencement of Fire Safety Act

by Breaking NewsBuilding ManagementIndustry Sectors

The UK government’s Fire Safety Act 2021 and the Building Safety Act 2022, which have both now come into force, have been met with mixed response from the British fire and safety industry.

The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) welcomed he publication of the government’s White Paper on Fire Reform which focusses on driving forward reform, strengthening governance and improving talent and professionalism.  

According to NFCC, the white paper and subsequent consultation provides a further opportunity to continuously improve what fire and rescue services already do and to reach into new roles and responsibilities to respond to local risk and support partner services. The reforms can build on the fantastic work already carried out every day.  

NFCC Chair Mark Hardingham commented: “I am pleased to see today’s long anticipated publication of the white paper together with the announcements on fire and building safety.  

“The public have great confidence and trust in firefighters and their fire and rescue services. We all carry a collective responsibility to build on that reputation in how we shape the fire and rescue service for the future – with the needs and expectations of the public at the forefront of our thinking. 

“NFCC has a significant role to play in advising and delivering on reform and improvements. However, no one organisation alone holds the key – we want to work with the various fire service bodies to inform and implement further improvements.” 

The Council said it would now respond to the consultations after exploring the recommendations in detail with fire and rescue services.  

A perfect storm

The Fire Industry Association has said the new legislation will create a ‘perfect storm’ for fire risk assessors, as they will now face additional challenges when it comes to satisfying new legal requirements designed to meet fire safety competency standards.

The association raised the issue thattThe legislation requires that a building’s external walls be considered as part of any fire risk assessment, which has been much debated by the industry. The Building Safety Act goes further still, it said, placing a clear duty on ‘Accountable Persons’ and ‘Responsible Persons’ to confirm the competency of any fire risk assessor whom they appoint to assist them in undertaking a building fire risk assessment.

It also noted the lack of detailed definition around the term ‘competent’, which then puts these ‘duty holders’ under considerable pressure to make the correct choices.

Dennis Davis, executive officer at the Fire Sector Federation, said: “Those accountable for building and fire safety, including fire risk assessors operating without clearly demonstrable competency, need to make sure they’re ready now.

“They must fully understand the implications of demonstrating compliance with their obligations under the new legislation. Using existing third party assurance schemes that demonstrate fire risk assessors are competent is a practical way forward for clients. Joining such schemes or engaging with those organisations developing standards will allow qualified professionals to show they’re competent. It’s a way forward for contractors.”

He added: “We need to face up to these challenges if we are to avoid a ‘perfect storm’ in the fire risk assessor sector which could undermine fire safety in our buildings.”

‘An attack on workers’ rights’

The Fire Brigade Union called highlighted the white paper’s review on pay and move to operational independence of Chief Fire Officers. Matt Wrack, FBU general secretary called it ‘an attack on workers’ rights by undermining collective bargaining and a proposal to remove frontline firefighters’ voices.

He said: “The narrative set out in the white paper on the fire service’s response to the pandemic is one firefighters will not recognise. Firefighters, through their union, negotiated a contract which kept them safe and allowed important work to protect the public to take place. Before this agreement, Covid positive firefighters were deployed to doorsteps – not something certain chief fire officers can be proud of.

“We’re proud of how the tripartite agreement was achieved through our long-standing arrangements, and attempts to belittle it are false and insulting.

“The vast bulk of this white paper does not relate directly to Grenfell recommendations. It is unclear why the government is trying to paint this picture. Instead of listening to frontline firefighters, the government appears to have listened only to the anti-union voice of the politically motivated, including outgoing fire inspector Tom Winsor, and fire bosses. We look forward to working with the government to address these proposals and making sure that frontline firefighters are heard.

“The union has never opposed clarifying the role of a firefighter and in some instances, expanding that role, and we have tried to have these discussions with ministers for over a decade. It is ministers who have failed to answer these questions. It is imperative that any changes are properly negotiated and discussed with frontline firefighters – it is their say that should matter most. 

“The proposals on governance suggests that we could see more Police Fire and Crime Commissioners. Throwing fire in with police means fire and rescue services do not receive enough scrutiny. Furthermore police and fire are very different functions and there is a vital need to maintain the neutrality of fire and rescue services in the public perception. If this breaks down it will make the work of fire and rescue services in communities far more difficult.”

UK Government announces fire reform plans in wake of Grenfell

by Breaking News

The UK government has unveiled ‘ambitious’ new plans for fire reform which it claims will strengthen the country’s fire and rescue services. The new regulations put the majority of the Grenfell Tower inquiry recommendation into law and ‘ensure people are safe in their homes and places of work’.

The Home Secretary visited Old Kent Road fire station alongside the Minister of State for Building Safety and Fire to announce the package which will build upon changes following the Grenfell Tower fire and findings from independent inspection reports.

At the centre of the White Paper are plans to deliver:

  • Increased public safety: by improving the professionalism of the fire and rescue service through modern workforce practices and potentially establishing a College of Fire and Rescue.
  • Improved accountability: through the proposals to transfer fire governance to a single elected individual, overseeing delivery by operationally independent Chief Fire Officers.
  • Better engagement with the public: through the 10-week consultation the government will listen to the views of the public and stakeholders, after which it will finalise its reform programme.

Home Secretary Priti Patel said the white paper will be ‘transformative’ in how firefighters are trained and will enable fire and rescue services to build on their strengths and leadership, adding: “The Grenfell tragedy must never happen again and we are continuing to drive forward progress on putting the Grenfell Tower Inquiry recommendations into law.”

Fire Minister Lord Greenhalgh said: he was delighted to be introducing the comprehensive reform plan for fire and rescue services: “The Grenfell Inquiry and independent inspections show reform is needed and we are tackling issues head on with this White Paper. Fire professionals step up to protect and serve their communities and it is only right that they have the right tools to do their jobs effectively.”

The Home Secretary also announced the commencement of the Fire Safety Act, and the launch of the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022. These legislative changes pave the way for meeting many of the remaining Grenfell Tower Inquiry recommendations and will deliver fire safety improvements in multi-occupied residential buildings such as ensuring that fire and rescue services have the information they need to plan their response to a fire in a high-rise building and imposing a minimum frequency for checks on all fire doors in mid and high-rise blocks of flats.

Fire Brigades Union responds

Central to the white paper is a review on pay and a move to operational independence of Chief Fire Officers. Responding to this, Matt Wrack, Fire Brigades Union general secretary called it ‘an attack on workers’ rights’, undermining collective bargaining and a proposal to remove frontline firefighters’ voices.

He said: “We cannot simply leave these vital matters up to the Westminster government and fire employers: frontline firefighters deserve a say. Collective bargaining is a well fought for mechanism by which frontline firefighters have a say on pay, terms and conditions. It is their basic democratic right.

“The narrative set out in the white paper on the fire service’s response to the pandemic is one firefighters will not recognise. Firefighters, through their union, negotiated a contract which kept them safe and allowed important work to protect the public to take place. Before this agreement, Covid positive firefighters were deployed to doorsteps – not something certain chief fire officers can be proud of.

“We’re proud of how the tripartite agreement was achieved through our long-standing arrangements, and attempts to belittle it are false and insulting.

“The vast bulk of this white paper does not relate directly to Grenfell recommendations. It is unclear why the government is trying to paint this picture. Instead of listening to frontline firefighters, the government appears to have listened only to the anti-union voice of the politically motivated, including outgoing fire inspector Tom Winsor, and fire bosses. We look forward to working with the government to address these proposals and making sure that frontline firefighters are heard.

“The union has never opposed clarifying the role of a firefighter and in some instances, expanding that role, and we have tried to have these discussions with ministers for over a decade. It is ministers who have failed to answer these questions. It is imperative that any changes are properly negotiated and discussed with frontline firefighters – it is their say that should matter most. 

“The proposals on governance suggests that we could see more Police Fire and Crime Commissioners. Throwing fire in with police means fire and rescue services do not receive enough scrutiny. Furthermore police and fire are very different functions and there is a vital need to maintain the neutrality of fire and rescue services in the public perception. If this breaks down it will make the work of fire and rescue services in communities far more difficult.”

Quelfire comments on the Building Safety Act

by Breaking NewsConstructionIndustry Sectors

Fire protection system supplier Quelfire has commented on the new Building Safety Act and what it will mean for the fire industry.

After being introduced to parliament in July 2020, the Building Safety Bill was published a year later in July 2021 and was summarised by then-Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick as a “key step in an extensive overhaul to building safety legislation.”

On the 28th of April 2022, the Bill received Royal Assent meaning that now it has passed all the parliamentary stages in the House of Commons and the House of Lords, it will take a more prominent stance in the built industry as The Building Safety Act.

The Act will apply to buildings that are at least 18 metres tall or have seven storeys, with at least two residential units. It will also cover hospitals and care homes if they meet the specification.

Quelfire explained that the government are working to ensure that the Fire Safety Order 2005 (FSO), which places duty on individuals in an organisation – the Responsible Person – to identify, control and reduce the risk of fire, and the new building safety regime work effectively together.

“The Fire Safety Clause in the BSA amends the FSO to further strengthen fire safety measures for non-domestic premises, which include common parts of high-rise residential buildings subject to the BSA,” said Quelfire. “The FSO and BSA will overlap in some respects, but through the cross-work of the government, by aligning these essential regimes it will ultimately work to further protect residents “in high-rise residential buildings.

In a typical safety case report, the Accountable Person will ensure that they have a preventative approach for managing building safety risks. An aspect of this report will cover major fire and structural hazards for example, compartmentation. This includes key areas of passive fire protection: linear gaps and cavity fire stops, service penetrations and fire doors. HSE is urging anyone involved in the design or construction of a building to act now, at the earliest stage, and become proactive in the process of ‘building a safer future.’

“The work the fire industry does now can help comply with this by raising more awareness of what early engagement in firestopping is; conducting CPDS to educate the industry; providing more tested details and technical support and offering on-site support.

“Despite the Building Safety Act being law, many of the requirements will not come into force until 12-18 months after the Royal Assent as the industry prepares for the new regime. The government’s transition plan can be found here.

“The risk of fire has decreased considerably over the years. However, the tragedy of Grenfell has shown that there is too much scope for “poor practice, poor culture, poor accountability and poor management.” The Building Safety Act brings an air of hope to survivors and their family members but ultimately, pays respect to the 72 victims. Without the Act, there would be no push for government reform and the risk of Grenfell happening again would be inevitable.”

On the agenda for day one at FIREX

by Breaking NewsEvents

FIREX International returns to the London’s ExCeL for the first time in three years this week. Here’s a few things on the agenda today for fire safety professionals to check in on.

The main event kicks off at 10AM. Gill Kernick opens up the conference at 10:45 presenting on safety as a driver for change, while Tim Galloway, Deputy Director Building Safety Programme at the HSE, follows at 11:45 with a presentation on the impact the newly formed Building Safety Regulator is set to have on the fire industry.

A panel debate begins at 12:45 as experts including Fiona Perrin, Andrea White, Aman Sharma and Neil Yeomans discuss the pros and cons of digitising building information, exploring digital logbooks and their role in enabling the golden thread of information. Shortly after, Peter Barker from Warringtonfire will provide an exclusive session on the importance of passive fire protection measures, showcasing the dangers of poorly designed firestopping, fire doors and fire resistant glazing.

The Fire Protection Association’s InfoZone theatre will kick presentations off at 10:30 with a presentation by Jonathan O’Neill OBE and Chris Miles entitled: Bringing the Global World of Fire Testing to the UK. Sessions continue throughout the day, with highlights including a debate on sprinklers in schools, and a case study on the catastrophic Notre Dame fire.

The ASFP’s passive fire protection expertise will be on hand, as the team debates topics such as fire resisting ductwork (13:00) and whether we should be treating walls as a system (14:00). Meanwhile, the National Social Housing Fire Safety Group will be working with Aico to put on exclusive sessions in the gallery suites.

ASFP releases new and updated guidance documents

by Breaking NewsIndustrialIndustry SectorsPassive

The Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP) has expanded its range of guidance with the release of three new and three updated documents covering steel beams, firestopping of metal pipes, and planned maintenance.

The first document, Advisory Note 27, provides advice on the structural fire protection of steel beams with corrugated webs which were recently introduced to the market and offer a thinner steel plate than can be used in traditional webs.

The fire-resisting performance of these sections is not fully understood and so the advisory note warns against the use of plain section data in support of a corrugated web section without extra testing.

Advisory Note 28 covers the firestopping of metal pipes where flanges are located close to service penetration seals and encourages earlier involvement of passive fire specialists to prevent the construction of untested service penetration arrangements, particularly in the presence of flanges within the secondary insulation zone.

The guidance says that for the avoidance of issues with certification and installation it is best to keep the flanges more than 500mm away from the wall, pointing out that this detail is not always considered during the spatial coordination of services. 

The final new publication, Advisory Note 29 covers planned maintenance and draws upon advice from within the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order; BS 9999: Code of practice for fire safety in the design, management and use of buildings; and BS 8524: Active fire curtain barrier assemblies to ensure that a competent person conducts that maintenance

Meanwhile, Advisory Note 21 has been updated covering coatback to secondary structural steel, highlighting thatthat this can prevent conduction of heat into a primary structural member and its consequent early failure.

Technical Guidance Documents (TGDs) 15 and 20 have also been revised, with the former giving advice on the installation and inspection of spray-applied passive fire protection. The document has been updated to align the film thickness measurement criteria and to take the implications of Brexit into account and the consequent changes to UK Construction Product regulations.

The changes to UK Construction Product regulations and the introduction of the UKCA mark also prompted the revision of TGD 20, which covers the CE marking of fire-resisting and smoke control duct sections. 

All the documents are available for download from the Publications area of the ASFP website.

The rise of water mist in firefighting

by Breaking NewsFire SuppressionProducts
Bettina McDowell, general manager, International Water Mist Association talks about the latest developments in the growing solution

Over the last couple of years, things have progressed well for the water mist technology. On the one hand, there is a growing market for eco-friendly and sustainable products like water mist. On the other hand, the publication of the European Standard – which has been long overdue – has and will help further advance the technology. What has been growing longer already over the years is the list of applications. And a project which is in the pipeline could become a quite game changer for water mist.  

When it comes to fire protection, water mist is an eco-friendly alternative to other more traditional ways of keeping fires under control or extinguishing them. And here we are talking about sprinkler as well as foam or gaseous systems. Why use chemical additives or gases that incorporate a fear factor when it comes to human lives when you can use a system that combines many advantages and at the same time eliminates many disadvantages? 

The first standards for water mist were developed well over a quarter of a century ago. Factory Mutual published FM 5560 in 1995 and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) published NFPA 750 in 1996. Since then, the list of applications has been getting longer, both vertically as well as horizontally. Water mist – which was an off-shore technology in the very beginning – was further developed, and it has been many years since the first land projects were added to the list of applications. This growing list has most probably got a lot to do with the diversity of water mist systems. Water mist systems produce very smaller droplets. Water mist is thus a suppressant agent that is applicable on a broad range of fire types. In fact, water mist ticks nearly all the boxes, indeed more boxes than other of fire suppression system. This has been proven in an endless number of real-scale fire tests that water mist manufacturers have carried out in fire laboratories over the last three decades.  

When it comes to the protection of the environment, water mist goes back a long way. In the 1980s the world acted to save the ozone layer by signing the Montreal Protocol. One of the substances that was then banned was halon, a chemical used as a fire suppression agent that had caused ozone depletion. Regarding fire protection, the eradication of halon left a gap which was filled by water mist. “There are basically two ways to look at it. You could either say that halon was banned to protect the ozone layer or you could say that water mist was promoted to save the ozone layer”, says Bettina McDowell, general manager of the International Water Mist Association (IWMA). And important factor here was obviously the use of water instead of a chemical substance.  

Water-based fire extinguishing systems make up by far the largest share of the extinguishing technology sector and using a natural resource like water is always a good idea. However, water mist systems use up to 85% less water than traditional sprinkler systems which is an even better idea. Water is a natural resource, but it is also a precious resource especially like places in the Middle East where it is scarce.  

Many ask how less water can do the job. The answer to this is quite simple: a fire triangle consists of three elements, i.e. the combustible material, the heat and the oxygen, and water mist reduces the heat and the oxygen. In fact, water mist also wets the surroundings thus also affects the 3rd side of the triangle although not as much as traditional sprinklers. But there are other benefits: since water mist systems use less water, their components are smaller which means they need less space. Then there is the local inerting effect: Due to the enormous increase in the volume of the evaporating water droplets, the oxygen is displaced at the source of the fire and the fire is extinguished. During this process, the oxygen content around the fire (and only there) is below 21 %. And it is this low oxygen content that suffocates the fire. Further away from the fire the oxygen content is higher which means that there is enough oxygen available for humans. And then there is also the cooling effect that prevents reignition.  

When it comes to the longevity of systems, stainless steel components are often the best choice. Their use is not mandatory, but stainless steel prevents corrosion which is beneficial for the conservation of the systems and also lowers the risk of contamination. Plus: stainless steel can be re-used and thus be re-integrated into the life circle.  

A special challenge is fire protection in hazardous environments. When a fire breaks out in such areas this can result in the release of many different toxins and chemicals from the fuel of the fire or gases. The firewater gathers these substances and has to be picked up and disposed of afterwards which is a difficult job that becomes easier the less water there is. Mentionable is also the reduced water damage. After a fire there is less debris that has to be disposed of, plus in consequence there might well be less down time for businesses. 

All these benefits – some inside, others outside the eco-box – are now backed by the European Standards. EN 14972 is – as mentioned – by no means the first water mist standard, but  manufacturers in Europe have been waiting for it.  

This document specifies requirements and gives recommendations for the design, installation, inspection and maintenance of all types of fixed land-based water mist systems. It is intended to apply to water mist automatic nozzle systems and water mist deluge systems supplied by stand alone or pumped systems. It covers applications and occupancies which are covered by the fire test protocols of the EN 14972 series. What is important to know is that standards are not retrospective so anything in place (planned or contractual) before publication and implementation in any specific country can remain in place. And: The EN 14972 series are voluntary standards so standards like NFPA 750 can of course still be used. 

The work started two decades ago and on 23rd December 2020, EN 14972-1:2020 was finally published. And although it may be a European Standard, it could well have a worldwide impact. Based on the Vienna Agreement – which stipulates the exchange of information and increased transparency – standardization bodies can adopt standards which have been created in other parts of the world which means that the European Standard could be used globally.  

A project that is about to start and which could change the perspective on sprinkler and consequently water mist systems is a research project on the performance of sprinkler systems. IWMA and the Fire Research and Innovation Centre (FRIC) in Norway have agreed to collaborate to take a closer look at this issue. The main aim is to gather information on the performance of sprinklers in order to quantify the consistency of their extinguishing performance. For this purpose, IWMA will collect data which will then be made available to FRIC. FRIC will then organize, process and analyse the data and publish an open report.  

Bettina McDowell explains: “Our aim is to collect data from as many suppliers as possible that have conducted comparison testing between sprinklers and other alternative extinguishing systems. To ensure the quality of the results the tests have to come from accredited laboratories and approved sprinkler nozzles had to be used.” 

As far as the schedule is concerned, IWMA and FRIC are planning to finish the work with a year. The collection of the data will commence during the second quarter of 2022. The report will be published during the first or second quarter of 2023.  

It is no wonder that the list of applications is continuously growing. There are marine-based applications, there are land-based applications. There is a hall of fame which includs buildings like La Scala in Milan, the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg, Windsor Castle, the Clock Tower in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, and the Eurotunnel between Great Britain and the continent. Even the ISS International Space Station carries portable water mist extinguishers.  

Water mist is a performance-based technology, and all systems are bespoke systems based on real-scale fire tests, because water mist is not a one-fits-all concept. So far, not everybody seems to understand this concept, but more and more end customers, insurers and authorities having jurisdiction do. Bettina McDowell adds: “This is – first of all – not about a bigger market share. This is – first of all – about safety, about lives, about jobs, about property. The best fire protection system has to be chosen for any one application so it can actually do the job.”  

Those who want to learn more about this technology can attend the 21st International Water Mist Conference, which in 2022 will take place in Madrid, Spain, on 9th and 10th November. Every year, manufacturers, scientists and other stakeholders come together to network and exchange the latest knowledge.  

Global fire suppression systems Market to reach $26.6 Billion by 2027

by ActiveBreaking News

The global market for Fire Suppression Systems is estimated at US$19 Billion in the year 2020, is projected to reach a revised size of US$26.6 Billion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 4.9% over the analysis period 2020-2027.

Dry Chemical-Based, one of the segments analyzed in the report, is projected to grow at a 5.6% CAGR to reach US$10.8 Billion by the end of the analysis period.

After an early analysis of the business implications of the pandemic and its induced economic crisis, growth in the Water-Based segment is readjusted to a revised 4.6% CAGR for the next 7-year period. This segment currently accounts for a 28.7% share of the global Fire Suppression Systems market.

The U.S. Accounts for Over 29.7% of Global Market Size in 2020, While China is Forecast to Grow at a 6.7% CAGR for the Period of 2020-2027

The Fire Suppression Systems market in the U.S. is estimated at US$5.6 Billion in the year 2020. The country currently accounts for a 29.69% share in the global market. China, the world second largest economy, is forecast to reach an estimated market size of US$3.8 Billion in the year 2027 trailing a CAGR of 6.7% through 2027.

Among the other noteworthy geographic markets are Japan and Canada, each forecast to grow at 3.5% and 4.2% respectively over the 2020-2027 period. Within Europe, Germany is forecast to grow at approximately 4.1% CAGR while Rest of European market (as defined in the study) will reach US$3.8 Billion by the year 2027.

Other Product Types Segment Corners a 32.6% Share in 2020

In the global Other Product Types segment, USA, Canada, Japan, China and Europe will drive the 4.1% CAGR estimated for this segment. These regional markets accounting for a combined market size of US$4.9 Billion in the year 2020 will reach a projected size of US$6.5 Billion by the close of the analysis period.

China will remain among the fastest growing in this cluster of regional markets. Led by countries such as Australia, India, and South Korea, the market in Asia-Pacific is forecast to reach US$3 Billion by the year 2027, while Latin America will expand at a 4.9% CAGR through the analysis period.

Exclusive: Jonathan O’Neill, managing director, Fire Protection Association

by Breaking NewsPeople

Jonathan O’Neill OBE, managing director, FPA is a key figure in the UK’s efforts to keep its residents and buildings safe. In an exclusive chat with IFSJ, O’Neill speaks about the building safety bill, and what more needs to be done

The Fire Protection Association has existed in the UK for several decades, and has strived to identify the dangers of fire and help companies and developers reduce fire-related risks. At the heart of the organization is the FPA’s managing director Jonathan O’Neill OBE who completes three decades within the organization this year.  

“I joined the Loss Prevention Council (LPC) after working in insurance for eight years before that with Lloyd’s,” O’Neill tells International Fire and Safety Journal.  

Prior to it being an independent body, the FPA was a department in the LPC. “I took over the department, which was called the Fire Protection Association, a name which had disappeared over the years but still held a lot of gravitas in the sector. In 1997, the insurers decided to dispose of the LPC but they retained the FPA.” 

O’Neill’s mission was to give the FPA a new persona, away from the LPC as it moved forward with maintaining its aim of safety and fire protection in the country. “It wasn’t a commercial organisation and the early days were quite tough as we relied on levies from the insurers for the first 18 months. Thereafter we took a slight commercial direction. We are a not-for-profit organization and invest everything back into our activities.” 

O’Neill says the firm initially had a turnover of GBP1million in the early days. Last year, the FPA’s turnover was GBP12 million. “There was a surge and uptick of our services in the immediate aftermath of Grenfell.” For the immediate future, O’Neill forecasts a steady growth in revenue as its services continue to be in demand.  

Fire assessments and the Fire Safety Bill 

The Fire Safety Act 2021 was an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which arose out of the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire and relates to fire safety in buildings in England and Wales with two or more domestic residences, making changes to the Regulatory Reform Order (Fire Safety Order) 2005. 

“The Fire Safety Order was piecemeal, and it was rightly accused of being retrospective i.e. after every tragedy we would start to see a change in fire and safety law.”  

O’Neill is satisfied that the act incorporated two major changes. These are: “We have now got a situation where the fire risk assessment can look at the entire building, which is good. Secondly, we will start to see external assessment being part of that. Through the horrors of Grenfell, we have seen if a risk assessment doesn’t look at the entire building structure it can lead to serious problems.” 

 However, the act doesn’t consider third party accreditation of fire assessments. Expressing his concern on the matter, O’Neill says: “There a reluctance to accept that a fire risk assessor needs to have proper accreditation and a third-party accreditation. As it stands, anyone in the industry can set themselves up as a fire risk assessor and get work.  

Based on the barrister’s opinion the FPA suggestion to the government was: “Rather than making it a statutory duty to add third party assessments. What if we made it a statutory defense in law? This means that if you use a third-party assessment, all parties are protected by the full extent of the law, should something go wrong,” O’Neill tells IFSJ. It’s a practice where the assessors are being assessed in a constant loop of following the best practice through legislation.  

 “It boils down to a fundamental issue in safety. The gas industry managed to sort this issue out a few years ago. For instance, you cannot touch a gas appliance in a commercial or residential premise unless you are Gas Safe, which is a third-party accredited scheme.” 

A change in regulation 

Five years on from the Grenfell disaster O’Neill wants a fundamental root and branch review of building regulations in the UK as it’s well over a decade since the last review. “Building methods have evolved dramatically over the last decade, we are using different materials which are combustible. This will not change over the next 20 years because some of it ties into the sustainability agenda. In the years to come, we will continue to build with even more combustible products because they have less impact on the environment. We accept that. At the same time, we need to re-write some of the building rules, which were done keeping old fashioned building materials and techniques.” 

O’Neill recounts a fire that tore through a Cheshire care home a few years back. The largely timber frame of the building decimated the care home as it spread rapidly. Luckily there were no fatalities since the residents were mostly outside on a warm sunny day. “A massive disaster was averted, thanks to vigilant staff and fire rescue personnel, although the residents lost their belongings. 30 years ago, these fires would be inspected by the Inspectorate of Fire with a recommendation to investigate the building regulations.” 

O’Neill points out that the government and various bodies have done a great job in bringing down the number of fatalities caused by fires. “Over three decades ago, when I started in this industry there were approximately 800 fatalities due to fires in the UK every year. The government and the fire and rescue services have done a tremendous job in bringing those numbers down by about 75%.” 

At no point, O’Neill says, can the issue be taken for granted. The Grenfell disaster highlighted several flaws in building regulations and a lack of competent fire assessments.  

“We cannot assume that fire is no longer a problem,” he reiterates.  

Then there’s the Building Safety Bill which aims to reform the safety system for residential properties by appointing a Building Safety Regulator, giving a greater voice to residents, driving industry change, and creating a national framework for increased oversight. 

The Building Safety Bill is a step in the right direction and O’Neill feels despite its limitations it’s a welcome move. “The Building Safety Bill is limited in what it can do, since it looks at high rise buildings. It is at least bringing in a different regime for looking at building regulation. The Building Safety Bill was the absolute need of the hour. But we need a different building regulation that is reviewed on a regular basis because we are changing the way we build.” 

Building safety scandal 

O’Neill has also welcomed the government’s move to address the building safety scandal. In April 2022, Westminster, revealed a wide-ranging agreement that will see industry contribute £5 billion to address and fix various issues in buildings.  

Under the new agreement, which will become legally enforceable, over 35 of the UK’s biggest homebuilders have pledged to fix all buildings 11 metres+ that they have played a role in developing in the last 30 years. 

In what is considered a victory for leaseholders, Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove has agreed a solution with the housing industry that will see developers commit a minimum of £2 billion to fix their own buildings. Industry will also pay up to a further £3 billion through an expansion to the Building Safety Levy. 

“This is a great move because leaseholders shouldn’t pay for these repairs. Those responsible for putting sub-standard fire protection should be held accountable. My concern is the route to getting the payment organized. It is up to the government to ensure that all of this is properly enforced, and the monies are properly paid.” 

O’Neill believes that leaseholders should not be held at ransom and the government can do more to help them. He suggests that the government can fund the repairs immediately, while the authorities chase payments from responsible parties. 

“Looking back at the evidence we have seen from the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, the building regulation system was the responsibility of the government, and they took their eye off the ball. This means leaseholders, through no fault of their own, bought properties that were unsafe, and did not comply with regulation.” 

A unified building code 

O’Neill has long advocated a unified set of building codes that can cover the devolved governments as well. “We can learn a lot from the efforts of the devolved governments (in the UK), and how they move on certain matters pertaining to fire prevention. For instance, mandatory suppression and detection enforced from a legislation standpoint can make a huge difference. When I first started in fire, Scotland had a requirement to put sprinklers in single-storey retail spaces. England followed only two to three years later. 

“Britain has one of the most innovative fire protection systems’ industry in the world. And manufacturers are always pushing the evolution in creating new products and systems. But the industry needs support from the government. It’s not enough to only have the highest manufacturing, testing, and certification standards. We need regulatory backing. We can learn from the devolved governments who are leading the way ever so often.” 

The future 

The future is bright for those working towards fire protection in the UK. “We are going to see a different level of scrutiny on building safety after the Building Safety Bill and the Fire Safety Act (come into full effect). There’s going to be a greater emphasis on compartmentation which is welcome. We are launching a fire compartmentation and door survey tool at FIREX in May 2022.  

“We also have some great developments in our laboratory, we are installing some equipment that allows us to improve fire door penetration tests. It gives some much-needed capacity to the market which now is quite busy.” The FPA plans on continuing its growth efforts over 2022 and into the future with surplus funds invested into ensuring that “we have a safer and more resilient built environment going forward.” 

In conclusion O’Neill feels fire is a great career option and must do everything to attract new talent. “There is a lack of awareness of fire as a lucrative career option. The industry has been slow in terms of adopting professional standards, adopting the right university courses, and national occupational standards to support the industry. For long we have been training people on the job without necessary accreditation. For many years now the new generation has not come through and we have a gap which needs to be filled by competent people. 

Today, the demand is high for passionate and qualified people who can work in the laboratory, or as assessors, trainer, and consultants.  

Steel Family Holdings acquires Fire Detection Devices

by Breaking NewsFire DetectionProducts

Canadian-based Steel Family Holdings (SFH) has acquired Fire Detection Devices Ltd.

Fire Detection Devices Ltd. has offered heat detection solutions for over 50 years, and includes the most reliable spot-type heat detectors on the market today. For many in the fire alarm industry, conventional heat detectors are easily recognized by their distinctive heat collecting disc. This design was the brainchild of Jack Duggan. In 1962, Jack incorporated Fire Devices Manufacturing Limited, and began manufacturing his patented design. The “Thermoflex” brand has been made in Canada, by Canadians ever since.

“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to bring Fire Detection Devices Ltd., a known and trusted Canadian brand, into the SFH group of companies”, said Jason Steel, President. “Our goal with this new venture is to build on the legacy of this industry pioneer, by investing in the original patented heat detector, to make it even more accessible to the market.”

“The past two years have been challenging for those in the manufacturing sector,” said Patricia Duggan, President of Fire Detection Devices. “This shift in the landscape inspired us to find someone who could carry on the work our father, Jack Duggan began over sixty years ago. We feel very fortunate to have met Jason Steel, and we believe SFH will not only continue to produce quality heat detectors but will take Jack’s vision to another level.”

Over the last 5 years SFH has acquired Serva-Lite Sales, SOTA Battery and Battery2000. The company continues to maintain the highest level of service and product quality, growing the business of customers across Canada and throughout North America and other export markets.

NSI Announces Extensive Programme for IFSEC and FIREX International 2022

by Breaking NewsEvents

With less than two weeks to go until the long awaited IFSEC and FIREX International return to ExCeL London, the National Security Inspectorate (NSI) has announced an extensive programme of activity to ensure installers/integrators and those interested in gaining Third Party Certification have plenty of reasons to attend and visit the NSI stand at IFSEC (IF4050).

As the UK’s premier UKAS accredited certification body for the security and fire safety sectors, NSI will once again have a significant presence at IFSEC, the UK’s longest running industry event (this year being its 49th edition) and is encouraging those attending to take full advantage of the expertise on offer to visitors both on and off its stand.

On the first two days of IFSEC (17th and 18th May) at 14:00, NSI will host an informal 30 minute session on-stand for security system and/or fire detection and alarm installers interested in becoming NSI Approved, and finding out about the application process.  Max Linnemann, NSI’s Director of Certification Services will give insight into:

  • Key things you need to know when you apply
  • The due diligence process and eligibility criteria
  • How to ensure your application progresses as quickly as possible (avoid the common mistakes!)

Installers are warmly invited to come along to these sessions. No pre-booking is required.

For companies already holding approval with the Inspectorate, NSI is joining forces with IFSEC to host ‘Boardroom Talks’, an hour long session on Tuesday 17th May at 11:30, behind the show floor, in South Gallery S13, followed by refreshments and lunch for attendees. With an agenda curated specifically for senior leaders the session will cover two specific topical business issues:

Changes in Procurement Rules, Outsourcing Services and Social Value

Jo Kenny, Commercial Lead at the Crown Commercial Service.

Meet the Sustainability Challenge: How to Embed Social Value and Net Zero

Sunil Shah, Founder of Acclaro Advisory

NSI approved companies wishing to attend the ‘Boardroom Talks’ are requested to register in advance via marketing@nsi.org.uk  and places will be confirmed on a first-come, first-served basis.

Visitors attending FIREX on 18th May are invited to join John Davidson, NSI’s Approval Schemes Manager (Systems) who will present “Fire Safety in Your Building: The most common and serious issues fire risk assessors are coming across right now” at 11:15 in the FPA InfoZone Theatre.

The highly-respected Engineers of Tomorrow Competition for security and fire installer apprentices will once again be a key feature at this year’s event. Now part of WorldSkills (the final will be taking place in November this year), apprentices will compete to demonstrate their technical abilities and understanding in front of their peers and industry colleagues to secure a place in the final. NSI auditors will again be part of the adjudicating team, providing independent appraisal of those competing. NSI encourages all visitors to support the industry’s future engineers and watch them in action.

A much anticipated and key attraction on the NSI stand will be ‘Cash’, NSI’s well-loved Turkmenian Eagle Owl who will be at IFSEC on Tuesday 17th and Wednesday 18th May. NSI is encouraging visitors to ‘Swoop in for a Snap’ with Cash – those who share their photos on social media and tag NSI on Twitter or LinkedIn will receive a free gift on the day.

Richard Jenkins, NSI Chief Executive “As the longest running industry event going back nearly 50 years, IFSEC’s presence in the industry calendar is always greatly anticipated.  Despite the pandemic forcing a break since its last in-person event in 2019 we are delighted to see IFSEC return with such a compelling programme to bring the industry together.

 We look forward to welcoming industry colleagues old and new to our stand and to partnering with IFSEC in the ‘Boardroom Talks’ which we are jointly hosting for NSI approved companies.”

Visitors attending IFSEC International are invited to a Reunion Drinks Party taking place at Indigo, The 02, at 18:30 on 17th May 2022, where they can enjoy two complimentary drinks on entry. Access is via the Emirates Air Line cable car.