Fire safety upgrade targets discreet VESDA pipework in leisure and tourism venues

by EvacuationFeatured NewsFire DetectionFire SuppressionProducts

Fire safety pipework options for customer-facing venues

Fire Suppression Ltd is offering a new generation of fire safety systems designed to integrate more discreetly into customer-facing environments.

The UK supplier specialises in aspirating smoke detection systems based on VESDA (Very Early Smoke Detection Apparatus) technology.

These systems provide early warning by continuously sampling air throughout a structure, often detecting fire before visible smoke or flames appear.

Fire Suppression manufactures its VESDA pipework at its UK facility.

The pipework is available in a range of colours, allowing installations to blend into ceilings and walls.

This design approach is intended for environments such as leisure and tourism venues where visual impact is a consideration.

VESDA use case in large, high-ceiling spaces

According to Fire Suppression, leisure and tourism venues often occupy large, high-ceiling spaces where traditional smoke detectors can struggle to operate effectively.

These environments may also be occupied by large numbers of people, which can extend evacuation times in the event of a fire.

Aspirating smoke detection systems such as VESDA are therefore increasingly used in these sectors to provide early and accurate detection while maximising available evacuation time.

John Martin-Chicharro, Wholesale Manager at Fire Suppression, said: “VESDA represents a significant innovation in early-warning fire safety. However, these systems traditionally use bright pipework that can be visually intrusive in customer-facing environments.

“With our in-house manufacturing capabilities, we can configure systems using alternative pipe colours, enabling leisure and tourism venues to maintain the highest levels of fire safety without compromising visual aesthetics or customer experience”

Martin-Chicharro added: “Early detection is absolutely critical in crowded public environments.

“Aspirating systems give venue operators the confidence to protect people from fire and, with our in-house manufactured pipes, we can also ensure the system’s pipes complement the property’s surroundings too!”

Fire Suppression supports sectors including retail, commercial, industrial, leisure and tourism.

The company works with property managers and fire system installers, providing bespoke system design services and customer support.

The blackout scenario: Kappetijn Safety Specialists on 72 hours without power

by EvacuationFeatured NewsSafety

Kappetijn Safety Specialists outline why prolonged blackouts are no longer a remote risk and how 72 hours without power could paralyse operations, safety and continuity

It is not the potential occurrence of a regional blackout that should raise the greatest concern, but rather the often-limited awareness and preparedness of companies for such an event.

A total and prolonged power outage directly impacts a company’s core interests: its brand reputation, product quality, the safety of personnel and the environment, integration within supply chains, the ability to support neighbouring communities and the financial costs of disrupted operations.

The continuity of operations is abruptly and indefinitely disrupted. All the more reason to clearly define the phases of such a scenario and focus on the planning, equipment and knowledge needed to respond effectively.

How do we safely shut down operations while minimising product loss and damage to installations? At what minimal ‘pilot light’ level can we keep critical processes running? And how do we prepare for a fast and efficient restart?

A blackout scenario has a significant impact on both the site and its personnel. Imagine an entire industrial facility shutting down – along with everything in a 50-kilometre radius. Total darkness. In the first few hours, only emergency power keeps essential systems running in parts of the region. Difficult to picture, perhaps, but not impossible to prepare for.

A blackout situation

Severe weather hits part of Western Europe. Electricity demand is high – too high. Wind, solar and battery sources fall short of supplementing conventional power plants. A large portion of the power grid collapses, including sections in the Netherlands. Much of the public infrastructure powered by electricity grinds to a halt. Transport systems and infrastructure support services fail. Cities come to a standstill.

Traffic lights, street lighting, access control systems and parking garages go dark. Homes lose power. Inside office buildings, lighting, climate control systems and elevators stop functioning. Healthcare institutions and hospitals must scale up their operations, yet their capabilities rapidly diminish. Facilities without emergency power are paralysed. For those with emergency generators, only the most essential functions continue – while the clock starts ticking on fuel reserves.

Bad weather intensifies societal tension. Instability may tip into chaos and civil unrest. The demand for assistance quickly outpaces the capacity of police and emergency services. Employees try to contact their families, but communication networks have failed. There is no information on when power might return. Plans from the government stipulate that non-essential companies will be last to come back online.

Impact on a large industrial company

Now, imagine a company producing capital-intensive goods through complex manufacturing processes. Raw materials, production stages and end products are all high-valuable. The company is part of a tightly integrated supply chain – each link critical to the final product of its predecessor.

Chemical substances play a major role in both production and storage. When operations stop, intermediate products become unusable and unique installations may be damaged. The company is subject to strict GMP and legal standards for safety and continuity, requiring a high level of operational control. The sewer system is disrupted, fire safety systems shut down, overflow and emergency storage of chemical substances is uncontrolled.

Process control via IT is disrupted. Data from the last 24 hours is inaccessible. Several hundred employees work on site, operating in a continuous 24/7 shift system.

All operations run on electricity. In the event of a blackout, emergency power enables a phased shutdown and can support up to 20% of operations. A complete power failure essentially forces all processes to shut down. Emergency generators are primarily designed to power control systems, allowing for a safe and controlled shutdown.

Dilemmas and risks

What risks and dilemmas does a company face during a power outage? Is your organisation equipped with emergency power – and if so, what will remain operational (and more importantly, what won’t)? How long can those systems be sustained? What are the implications for your employees and contractors and how will communication be maintained?

Due to increased strain and instability on the power grid, as well as the growing frequency of extreme weather events, the likelihood of long-term power outages is rising. A large-scale blackout – even across the Netherlands – is no longer unthinkable. In fact, the probability of a widespread power failure across a broad geographic area is increasing significantly. Government already communicates to society to prepare for blackout that can take up to 72 hours and get water, food, battery-radio and dyno torch in stock.

For Seveso/COMAH-classified companies, the consequences of a power outage can be severe – disrupting operations and potentially compromising the safety of personnel, production assets, site infrastructure, the environment and neighbouring businesses. This makes robust risk management practices critical for companies working with hazardous substances.

By implementing the right safety protocols, ensuring reliable (and enduring) emergency power systems and regularly training crisis teams, organisations can significantly reduce the impact of power outages.

Key considerations

A sudden, rapid and potentially prolonged power failure falls into the category of “low probability, high impact” events – requiring proactive preparation through planning, provisioning and training. According to research institutions, it is not a matter of if, but when this scenario will occur.

Every organisation is unique, with its own products, processes, materials, workforce and safety and continuity strategies. However, certain elements are universally important for all businesses to consider in advance.

There are ten essential questions every continuity manager should be asking. Does the installed emergency power system provide sufficient capacity to maintain essential primary and supporting processes that cannot be interrupted without causing unacceptable damage? Is there a sufficient reserve of fuel for the emergency power system and are there secured agreements in place to replenish this supply within a few hours?

Are other strategic facilities also connected to emergency power, such as the security control room, crisis management centre, cafeteria and the emergency response/fire station? Can a minimum level of security – including cybersecurity – be maintained in the event of a total power outage, even with emergency power support?

Is there a plan in place to manage the inbound and outbound flow of personnel on-site without access to power? Has it been determined which critical roles must be staffed on-site to manage shut-down processes and uphold essential safety functions?

Have the strategic areas within the site been identified and is access to these areas guaranteed during a total power outage? Can communication within the site and with external stakeholders continue during a blackout?

Reality check and training

To ensure thoughtful and well-informed preparation for a long-term blackout scenario and its potential consequences, a dedicated blackout training is a highly effective tool.

Ideally conducted over the course of a full working day, this simulation immerses participants in real-time scenarios that expose the critical dilemmas organisations may face. Crisis team members begin their day with initial briefings that signal the onset of a metaphorical “tsunami” of challenges. As the day progresses, new layers of complexity and decisions are introduced.

The training is tailored to each specific organisation, drawing on existing plans and crisis procedures to reflect the specific risks relevant to the site. During the exercise, participants will engage in activating the crisis team and taking specific roles, using the crisis room, structuring internal meetings, supporting personnel, managing internal and external communication, executing a safe site shutdown and preparing for restart production processes.

This experience enables the crisis team to practice prioritisation, collaborate using the structured FADCM decision-making model and expand their situational awareness beyond the physical boundaries of the site. FADCM: get Facts, Analyse, Decide, Communicate & Monitor.

The result is a significant increase in awareness of what truly matters when preparing a facility for a worst-case scenario – and a stronger, more resilient organisation.

This was originally published in the December 2025 Edition of International Fire & Safety Journal. To read your FREE copy, click here.

Inclusive, compliant evacuation planning: Evac+Chair on what “responsible persons” must do

by Breaking NewsEvacuation

Evac+Chair outlines the regulatory framework guiding responsible persons through maintenance, training and inclusive evacuation duties across UK workplaces

In the event of an emergency, the safe evacuation of all building occupants is a non-negotiable responsibility.

For people with mobility impairments, whether permanent, temporary or invisible, evacuation readiness can mean the difference between safety and disaster.

There are 5.5 million people with a disability in employment in the UK and this figure is growing, reinforcing the urgent need for inclusive evacuation strategies.

And yet, despite legislation and increased scrutiny, many organisations continue to fall short in their planning, training and maintenance obligations.

Inclusive evacuation is not a future ambition; it is a current and critical requirement.

In all premises, ensuring that everyone can escape safely is not only a legal duty but a moral one.

Navigating a complex legal framework

UK fire safety law sets out clear responsibilities.

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, as amended by the Fire Safety Act 2021, defines the role of the “responsible person”, typically an employer, building owner or facilities manager.

This individual is legally obligated to ensure that appropriate fire safety measures, including evacuation procedures and provisions, are in place for the safety of all individuals on the premises.

As part of their legal duties, the responsible person must ensure that evacuation equipment is properly maintained and that designated individuals are trained and competent in its use.

This is essential to safeguard everyone on the premises in the event of a fire or other emergency.

Articles 17, 18 and 21 of the Order respectively address equipment upkeep, competent person appointment and staff training.

Other frameworks further support and reinforce this.

The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 outlines a broad duty of care employers have towards their employees and visitors, while the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER) 1998 requires that workplace equipment, be maintained in a safe condition and inspected regularly by competent individuals.

The Equality Act 2010 also plays a role, ensuring that reasonable adjustments are made for disabled people.

This includes ensuring safe and equal access, covering entry and exit, including in emergencies if a route is inaccessible for a disabled person, this could be classed as disability discrimination.

Despite these legislations, recent enforcement data suggests a distinct lack of compliance.

In the 2023/24 financial year, fire and rescue services in the UK issued 2,823 enforcement notices following fire safety audits, a 24% increase on the previous year.

Alarmingly, prosecutions under Article 32, which penalises the failure to maintain essential life-saving equipment, rose by 79%.

The lack of readiness

Having evacuation equipment is a great first step to preparedness and readiness.

However, without trained employees, regular practice and robust maintenance protocols, equipment may not be effectively deployed in a time critical emergency.

Research by Evac+Chair, the UK’s leading manufacturer of evacuation chairs and with more than four decades of experience, reveals the extent of this readiness gap.

In 2023, the company commissioned the ‘Risky Business’ report, surveying key decision-makers across a range of sectors.

The findings were concerning.

Nearly 1 in 4 respondents admitted to having only a partial understanding of their legal responsibilities around evacuation.

Almost 1 in 5 respondents said their emergency plans did not account for individuals with temporary mobility impairments, such as those recovering from injury or in late-stage pregnancy.

Most worryingly, 1 in 10 businesses had no plan at all for evacuating people with permanent disabilities.

Company culture is just as important as having the right information, yet recklessness when it comes to safety exists.

Evac+Chair’s results illustrate that the problem is rooted in irresponsible workplace culture, finding just over two-thirds of decision makers think there is a culture of fire safety non-compliance or looking for loopholes in the business community.

These statistics suggest a widespread failure to plan effectively for inclusion.

The risks are not hypothetical.

In a high-pressure emergency, untrained staff and unmaintained equipment can contribute to confusion, delay and potentially fatal outcomes.

To protect life, evacuation procedures must be well-documented, regularly tested and supported by training and servicing regimes that ensure equipment and personnel are always ready to respond.

Building confidence through training

Training is critical for turning evacuation plans into effective, life-saving action.

Staff must be able to confidently and safely operate evacuation chairs, as real-life scenarios often present challenges, such as crowded stairwells or time pressure.

Without adequate training, evacuation efforts may be delayed – leading to confusion, hesitation and potentially dangerous bottlenecks on staircases.

In an emergency, speed is vital; every second counts when it comes to evacuating a building and protecting lives.

Effective, hands-on training not only reduces the risk of injury to both the operator and the passenger, but also ensures that staff are competent, prepared and ready to respond swiftly and efficiently when it matters most.

The most effective training combines essential theory with hands-on experience.

 Training offer operators the confidence and competence to use an evacuation chair.

Refresher training is equally important.

Over time, skills fade and confidence diminishes.

Regular training helps ensure that, in the event of a real emergency, staff are ready to act swiftly and correctly.

Official guidance supports this approach.

The Fire Safety Risk Assessment: Supplementary Guide recommends organisations take out evacuation drills at least twice per year, with additional training for anyone responsible for operating evacuation equipment.

Maintenance: a non-negotiable priority

Just as critical as training is the ongoing maintenance of evacuation chairs and related devices.

Under Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER) 1998, organisations have a legal duty to maintain and inspect all workplace equipment regularly.

Visual checks by in-house teams on a quarterly basis can also help identify issues such as worn belts, damaged wheels or loose buckles before they compromise safety.

The consequences of poor maintenance are not merely theoretical.

A malfunctioning evacuation chair during a real evacuation could lead to injury, delay or loss of life.

Proactive servicing not only ensures equipment reliability but also extends product life and demonstrates due diligence.

In an era of increasing risk, from extreme weather to terrorism, being prepared is no longer optional.

The human cost of inaction

While the legal framework sets out clear obligations, there is also a powerful ethical case to act.

Failing to provide adequate evacuation procedures for those with reduced mobility amounts to a denial of fundamental rights.

Accessibility is about more than just entering a building; it’s about being able to leave safely when it matters most.

Inclusive evacuation must become the standard, not the exception.

Buildings should not be considered truly accessible unless they include safe, viable routes of egress for everyone.

That includes people using mobility aids, wheelchair users and those with hidden or temporary impairments.

The fire safety community has a vital role to play in raising awareness and closing the compliance gap.

Fire risk assessors, consultants and enforcers must continue to champion inclusive evacuation planning, not only at the point of inspection but throughout the design, construction and operational phases of buildings.

Policymakers too should consider introducing clearer, more enforceable mandates for evacuation planning, especially in complex buildings or those with public access.

No time for complacency

Evacuation is not just about ticking boxes.

It is about responsibility, readiness and respect for human life.

As Nathaniel Thomas-Hall, Head of Export and Innovation at Evac+Chair, puts it: “Failure to prepare is preparing to fail.

We have the tools, technology and training to make inclusive fire safety a reality – what’s missing in many cases is the will to act before it’s too late.”

The time is now for that to take shape.

In today’s regulatory climate, organisations can no longer afford to be complacent.

Evacuation planning must be inclusive, comprehensive and proactive.

Only then can we truly guarantee that when the alarm sounds, every person will have a clear and safe path to escape – no hesitation, no confusion.

This was originally published in the December 2025 Edition of International Fire & Safety Journal. To read your FREE copy, click here.

Advancing fire safety in spas and leisure with Call Systems Technology

by Breaking NewsEvacuationFire DetectionSafety

Bruce McNair, Commercial Director, Call Systems Technology Ltd. (CST), explains how innovation is transforming fire safety and emergency response in leisure facilities

From saunas to pools, modern leisure facilities are embracing intelligent, integrated safety systems to protect guests, staff, and assets without compromising the guest experience.

Wellness and leisure spaces have evolved far beyond simple relaxation zones.

Today’s spas, steam rooms, and pools are high-tech environments that demand cutting-edge safety solutions.

Behind the calm and luxury, these facilities face unique challenges, heat, humidity, flammable materials, and heavy footfall that push traditional fire and emergency systems to their limits.

Fortunately, innovations in integrated safety, wireless communication, and intelligent fire messaging are helping operators worldwide create environments that are safer, smarter, and more connected, giving both guests and staff confidence that help is never far away.

A unique environment with unique risks

Few areas within a leisure facility test the limits of safety technology quite like those requiring cable runs across large spaces.

Beyond the challenges of lengthy installations and the disruption caused by cabled systems, these environments often combine high temperatures, humidity, and continuous operation conditions that can rapidly corrode traditional electrical components and undermine the reliability of standard emergency call systems.

To address these challenges, many facility operators are adopting wireless emergency call systems.

These fully monitored systems are supported by intelligent software that records activations and daily testing routines, enabling automatic report generation for Health and Safety audits.

This not only demonstrates the facility’s commitment to maintaining a high standard of safety but also provides clear evidence of system performance and response times during incidents.

Beyond the spa: integrated safety and rapid response

While specialist equipment like air-operated call buttons and waterproof switches remains essential, the future of leisure safety lies in integration.

Modern wireless systems now link panic alarms, pool alerts, disabled toilet alarms and first aider call points into a cohesive network, eliminating the need for disruptive cabling, simplifying installation, and ensuring critical alerts reach key responders instantly.

A compelling example can be seen at the University of Surrey’s Sports Park, where Call Systems Technology (CST) partnered with the university to enhance safety across spa, pool, and leisure areas.

Twelve wireless First Aider Call Points and two Sauna Call Points were strategically installed throughout key leisure zones, including spa treatment areas, poolside locations, and changing facilities, to ensure immediate access to assistance when needed.

Each call point messages thirty-eight intelligent IP68 Rated Waterproof Radios, enabling real-time communication with trained first aiders.

The results speak for themselves: emergency response times improved by up to 75%, with assistance reaching guests in under 60 seconds.

According to Luigi Mansi, Health, Safety and Quality Manager at the University of Surrey: “Since moving over to the new radio-based and alarm system with CST, we have found their service to be very professional with quick response times.

The alarm system that connects to the software has helped to improve response times to emergencies, and the radios have helped with communications, being clearer and able to remove feedback, which helps in emergencies.”

The success of this approach is also reflected at the Britannia Leisure Centre, a multi-level community hub in London combining gym, pool, and wellness facilities under one roof.

With its wide range of high-traffic zones and specialist environments, Britannia required a far more complex, fully integrated Gen2 Queue monitoring software.

This system includes gym, changing room, poolside, sauna, and disabled toilet emergency buttons, alongside underwater camera alerts, all routed through CST’s Gen2 Queue platform.

Alerts appear instantly on display screens with accompanying audio and beacon notifications and are simultaneously transmitted to pager devices carried by staff.

This ensures a consistent, multi-channel response mechanism that minimises downtime and guarantees rapid assistance, regardless of where an incident occurs.

The result is a unified alert ecosystem capable of managing a diverse range of emergency inputs across an extensive facility, a benchmark for how intelligent integration can deliver resilience and real-time visibility in modern leisure environments.

Together, these installations demonstrate how wireless, software-driven integration and intelligent system design can transform emergency response capabilities across leisure and wellness environments.

Whether in a university sports complex or a large public leisure centre, CST’s connected approach ensures that every call for assistance is detected, prioritised, and acted upon without delay, elevating safety standards, enhancing guest confidence, and ensuring that help is never more than a moment away.

Fire safety in the modern leisure environment

Fire safety within spas and leisure facilities presents a unique set of challenges.

Heat sources, electrical systems, flammable oils, wooden structures, and limited visibility due to steam all demand a precise, layered approach to risk management.

A robust fire safety strategy integrates multiple layers of protection:

  • Automatic water mist systems: designed for saunas and steam rooms, these systems cool, suppress and prevent the spread of fire and smoke while minimising water damage.
  • Wireless fire detection: adaptable and easy to install, ideal for wet zones or refurbishment projects where traditional cabling is impractical.
  • Scheduled maintenance: regular inspection and servicing of alarms, emergency lighting, and extinguishers form the cornerstone of reliable fire protection.
  • Comprehensive fire risk assessments: identifying hazards across treatment rooms, pool areas, and adjoining facilities ensures all risks are effectively managed.
  • Staff training and drills: ensuring teams know how to respond when alarms sound is as vital as the technology itself.

Together, these measures create a resilient and responsive fire safety framework, protecting guests, staff, and assets while maintaining the calm, welcoming atmosphere of modern leisure environments.

Looking ahead: the next wave of innovation

The future of safety in leisure facilities is being shaped by a powerful combination of regulatory evolution and technological advancement, transforming how spas, pools, and leisure facilities are managed globally.

For example, the recent update to British Standard 5839-1:2025, a widely recognised fire detection and alarm standard, emphasises competence, documentation, and system integration, ensuring installations are not only compliant but optimised for long-term reliability.

While standards vary worldwide, the principles of rigorous maintenance, clear accountability, and integrated system design are universally relevant.

Many facilities are also transitioning from legacy analogue systems to IP-based or wireless alternatives, offering faster alerting, remote diagnostics, and improved resilience, providing real-time assurance in critical spa and pool environments.

Supporting this shift, our Fire Alarm Messaging System (AlarmCall Pro+) equips operators with a powerful transmitter capable of delivering addressable fire alarm notifications across their site to both two-way messaging pagers and radios.

Complementing this, our Gen2 Queue Software continuously monitors and displays Fire Alarms, Security Alerts, Wireless Call Points, DDA Toilet Alarms, Pool-View Cameras, and Wireless Pool Alarms.

The system provides live monitoring, instant notifications to connected devices, integration with wireless flashing beacons and sounders, and comprehensive performance reporting.

This real-time visibility not only streamlines communication but also ensures that every alert is prioritised and actioned without delay, a vital feature in large or multi-zone leisure facilities.

At sites such as Britannia Leisure Centre, this next-generation technology is already redefining what integrated safety looks like in practice.

Here, a complex Gen2 Queue configuration seamlessly links poolside, gym, sauna, and disabled toilet alerts with underwater camera notifications, all displayed on central monitoring screens and instantly transmitted to staff pagers.

This unified, data-driven approach illustrates how connected safety ecosystems can operate effectively across expansive and diverse environments, setting a new benchmark for responsiveness and resilience.

Cloud-based asset management is revolutionising maintenance, allowing equipment such as extinguishers, detectors, and call points to be logged, monitored, and updated online.

This provides full visibility of compliance and maintenance cycles, especially valuable in facilities with frequent refurbishment or high staff turnover.

Finally, integrated safety platforms combine fire detection, emergency communication, and building management systems, enabling operators to oversee all aspects of safety from a single interface.

This improves response times, operational efficiency, and overall safety oversight.

The result is a new era of proactive, connected safety management: smarter, more resilient, and ready to meet the evolving expectations of leisure facilities worldwide.

Creating safer, more sustainable leisure spaces

For operators and safety professionals, the challenge remains clear: achieving full compliance and operational resilience without compromising the guest experience.

The convergence of wireless communication, mechanical reliability, and intelligent fire suppression is redefining how leisure facilities are protected.

Today’s leading sites are adopting connected safety networks, systems that communicate, self-monitor, and provide real-time visibility across every corner of the property.

Whether through advanced wireless technology, intelligent suppression systems, or robust solutions like air-operated emergency buttons, the direction is clear: safer, smarter, and more connected environments.

Ultimately, the goal is to create leisure spaces where safety is built in from the ground up, seamless, intelligent, and ready when it matters most.

As the sector evolves, collaboration between fire safety specialists, facility managers, and system designers will ensure that innovation enhances, rather than complicates, the guest experience.

In the future, the safest spas and leisure facilities will not only meet regulatory standards, but they will also be responsive, seamlessly connected, and proactively designed to protect both people and assets.

Find out more

For more information visit: call-systems.com, or email us to schedule a free consultation: Bruce.McNair@call-systems.com

This was originally published in the November 2025 Edition of International Fire & Safety Journal. To read your FREE copy, click here.

Fire safety knowledge gaps persist in Chinese high-rise residential buildings, study finds

by EvacuationFeatured NewsResearch

Fire safety knowledge gaps in high-rise residential China

Dianchi College researchers have reported that around half of residents in Chinese high-rise homes lack adequate fire safety knowledge and preparedness, based on a nationwide survey of 606 people living in multi-storey residential buildings.

The study, published in Scientific Reports, sets these findings against rising high-rise fire incidents reported by the National Fire and Rescue Administration, with 17,000 high-rise fires recorded in 2022 compared with 8,348 in 2020 and over 80% of cases occurring in residential buildings.

The authors note that high-rise fires account for only a small share of overall incidents but have caused more than 2 billion RMB in direct economic losses between 2008 and 2023.

They argue that resident behaviour, awareness and evacuation decisions are central to managing these risks alongside structural and systems-based fire protection.

The research focuses on high-rise homes, which the study describes as presenting more obstacles to timely evacuation than offices, hotels or other tall building uses.

Survey of fire safety knowledge across 606 residents

According to the paper, the research team used a structured online questionnaire in February 2025 targeting adults living in high-rise residential buildings across multiple Chinese provinces.

The instrument covered four areas, namely demographic information, residents’ awareness and preparedness, knowledge of building fire safety features and the status of building fire safety management.

All 606 responses were judged valid and included in the analysis after checks for completeness.

Women made up 66.34% of respondents, and 65.35% were aged between 30 and 39 years.

Most participants were highly educated, with 65.35% reporting a bachelor’s degree, 18.81% a master’s degree and 5.94% a doctorate, while 9.9% had completed high school.

Residents were spread across height bands, with 35.65% living on floors one to six, 25.74% on floors ten to seventeen, 18.81% on floors eighteen to twenty nine and 12.87% on floor thirty or above.

The study reports that 69.3% had lived in high-rise buildings for five years or longer, and 40.6% for between nine and fifteen years.

Ethical approval was granted by the SEGi Research Ethics Committee, and participation was anonymous with informed consent recorded for all respondents.

Awareness, behaviour and building safety features

The questionnaire results show that 29.70% of residents believed their building definitely faced fire risk, 48.51% saw possible risk and 21.78% did not perceive any risk.

Only 5.94% reported a past fire incident in their own building, although 23.76% said there had been fires elsewhere in their residential complex and 33.66% had indirect exposure through neighbouring fires or reports from contacts.

On everyday behaviour, 69.31% said they routinely switched off unused electrical appliances before leaving home, and 93.07% reported that fire extinguishers were available in their building.

Despite this, just 47.52% had an evacuation plan for themselves and their families in case of a building fire, leaving 52.48% without a pre-arranged plan.

Attendance at drills was low, with only 10.89% having taken part in a fire drill in their own building and 32.67% having done so in other buildings.

Figures in the paper show that residents aged 30 to 39 accounted for more than four fifths of participants in drills held in their own buildings, while younger adults and older groups had much lower participation.

Drill participation in other buildings was also higher among those on lower and mid floors than among residents on the highest floors.

Regarding fire safety features, 95.05% of respondents knew the location of escape stairs and 82.18% knew where those stairs led, but 64.36% said the doors to emergency staircases were usually left open.

Just 55.45% believed that corridors were wide enough for all occupants on a floor to evacuate during a fire, 20.79% thought they were not, and 23.76% were unsure.

Analysis by floor height indicated that awareness of stair locations and exits was slightly lower among residents on higher floors, which the authors relate to heavier reliance on lifts and less routine use of stairs.

Fire safety management and regression findings

For building fire safety management, 46.53% of residents said their building underwent regular fire safety inspections, 18.81% said inspections did not happen and 34.65% did not know.

Only 9.9% reported regular fire drills in their own building, and 25.74% said their wider community conducted drills, while 63.37% and 45.54% respectively said these activities did not take place.

Fire safety appeared in the agenda of residents’ meetings for 30.69% of respondents, whereas 27.72% said such issues were not raised and 41.58% were unsure, but 62.38% recalled receiving fire safety notices or leaflets from building management.

To examine influences on knowledge and awareness, the researchers constructed an index from selected questions and applied hierarchical multiple regression with gender and years of high-rise living as control variables.

The full model, which also included age group, education level, floor band, direct fire incident experience, indirect fire exposure and participation in drills, explained 19.4% of the variance in knowledge and awareness scores, with a Durbin–Watson value of 1.990 reported.

Gender, age, education level and fire drill participation showed clear positive associations with higher knowledge and awareness scores after controlling for other variables, while residential floor, previous fire incidents, indirect exposure and years of residence did not.

Further analysis by gender suggested that for women, age and education were the strongest predictors of higher scores, whereas for men, drill participation had the largest effect.

When residents were grouped by years of living in high-rise buildings, newer occupants with one to four years of experience appeared to benefit from both higher education and participation in drills, while those with five to eight years of experience mainly gained from drills alone.

For residents with more than eight years in high-rise housing, neither education nor drills showed a clear additional effect on knowledge scores within the model.

Recommendations and study limitations

In their discussion, the authors state that low levels of evacuation planning, limited participation in fire drills and inconsistent building inspections point to ongoing weaknesses in the way high-rise fire safety is managed in Chinese residential settings.

They argue that building management committees should organise regular drills, keep escape route doors closed, improve communication of fire safety information and ensure that inspections and maintenance are carried out in line with national codes.

The study highlights younger women and residents with lower educational attainment as groups with relatively low awareness, and proposes stratified education programmes that target these demographics directly.

At the same time, the consistent association between drill participation and higher knowledge scores leads the authors to recommend structured drill programmes for new and mid-term residents, with refresher activities for longer-term occupants.

The authors acknowledge that the sample of 606 respondents, although spread across several provinces, may not fully represent residents in less developed cities or smaller towns where high-rise construction is still emerging.

They suggest that future work should enlarge the sample, include socio-economic indicators such as income and occupation, and capture views from designers, regulators and other stakeholders to deepen understanding of human factors in high-rise fire safety.

Fire safety knowledge research and practice for high-rise housing

The findings provide data that fire and rescue chiefs can use when planning high-rise risk reduction strategies, particularly around public education, drill design and liaison with building management committees in dense urban areas.

For building services engineers, architects and fire engineering consultants, the reported gaps between code requirements for protected staircases, corridor widths and door closure and the conditions perceived by residents highlight areas where design, specification and supervision may need closer attention in Chinese projects.

Facility managers and property management companies can compare their own drill schedules, inspection routines and communication practices with the patterns described in the study, using the results to justify investment in more regular training and clearer resident information.

Training officers and instructors involved in community fire safety programmes may also draw on the regression analysis when tailoring materials, for example placing extra emphasis on drill-based learning for male residents and combining drills with more formal instruction for new residents with shorter tenures in high-rise housing.

The safety specialists helping duty holders face new rules

by EvacuationFeatured NewsSafetyTraining

Safety specialists become Fire Aware educators

Fire Aware has brought together safety specialists as Fire Aware Educators to support organisations across the supply chain as they respond to recent and upcoming fire safety legislation.

The organisation said these educators are drawn from members with expertise across different aspects of fire safety practice.

They are intended to help those with duties under fire safety law understand their responsibilities in a period of extensive regulatory change.

According to Fire Aware, the new educator role is aimed at designers, main contractors, domestic trades, material suppliers, building management, hotel and leisure operators, commercial and private landlords and local authorities.

Gavin Skelly, Fire Aware CEO, said: “At a time of increasing concern for the safety of the public who use our buildings and spaces, the fire safety industry is under increasing scrutiny and those with a duty of care should understand this is more than a job, it is a vocation.

“We believe there is enough legislation to ensure safety if they are understood and followed.

“We have specialists who can help guide anyone in the supply chain around some of this new legislation because it can be challenging given its complexity and scale.”

Legislative changes driving demand for guidance

Fire Aware highlighted that key changes under the Building Safety Act require data collection for information at defined stages of construction projects.

The organisation also noted recent amendments to Approved Document B.

It pointed to new regulations for Residential Evacuation Plans that are due to come into effect in 2026.

Fire Aware said its specialist members act as technical guidance experts for organisations needing support with these requirements.

The educators are expected to provide training on fire safety and management tailored to the roles and contexts of different duty holders.

Training is designed to reflect the needs of those working in design, construction, product supply, building management and property ownership.

Moral responsibility and culture in the supply chain

Fire Aware described itself as an expanding fire safety industry body with a focus on the moral responsibilities of those working in the fire safety supply chain.

The organisation said this focus covers designers, developers, asset owners, managers and other stakeholders involved in building projects and occupied premises.

It aims to influence culture in the built environment by linking technical compliance with a declared duty of care towards building users.

Fire Aware plans to do this through a series of charters that set out how member companies commit to behave in their work.

The charters are intended to frame how members approach safety decisions, interactions with partners and service delivery.

Fire Aware described itself as a recognised membership body serving the built environment and related sectors with a shared aim of working and trading to best practice standards in the interests of public safety.

Practical relevance for duty holders and specifiers

The introduction of Fire Aware Educators is directly aimed at designers, main contractors, domestic trades and material suppliers who need support in interpreting current fire safety legislation.

These educators may provide training and technical guidance at key points in the design and construction process, helping duty holders understand data collection duties under the Building Safety Act and changes to Approved Document B.

Building management teams, hotel and leisure operators and commercial and private landlords are identified as further groups that can access guidance on Residential Evacuation Plans ahead of the new regulations taking effect in 2026.

Asset owners and managers within the built environment can use the Fire Aware charters as a framework when commissioning work or selecting partners, aligning contractual expectations with declared duty of care commitments.

Local authorities and other public bodies engaging with Fire Aware members will be able to reference the same charters when assessing how suppliers intend to meet best practice standards.

What C-TEC is taking to London Build and why it matters in the UK

by EvacuationEventsFeatured NewsFire Detection

C-TEC confirms London Build exhibition presence

C-TEC said it will exhibit at London Build, described by the company as the UK’s biggest construction show.

The company confirmed it will present a range of CAST powered open-protocol life-safety system solutions at the event.

The exhibition will take place in London, UK, according to the company.

Product line-up features compliance-focused launches

C-TEC said it will debut a brand-new range of Lockdown Solutions designed as monitored, battery-backed, multi-message systems to help organisations comply with Martyn’s Law – the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025.

The company stated that HUSH-PRO is a fully monitored BS 5839-6 Grade C residential fire alarm system intended to minimise false alarms and increase fire protection in flats, apartments and other domestic settings.

C-TEC said EVAC-ALERT is a BS 8629:2019+A1:2023 compliant evacuation alert system to assist the fire and rescue service in evacuating part or all of a building in an emergency.

The firm added that ZFP CAST is a touchscreen-controlled one to eight loop fire alarm system fully compatible with CAST-PRO, which was recently named Fire Innovation of the Year.

C-TEC said ENVISION is a cloud-based Fire IoT remote access, data management, commissioning and maintenance solution compatible with the company’s CAST-powered systems.

Additional systems to be displayed in London

C-TEC confirmed it will also exhibit its SigTEL disabled refuge system at London Build.

The company said it will show its AlertBuddy deaf person’s alert system at the event.

C-TEC added that Quantec-Pro, described as its next-generation addressable call system, will be on the stand in London, UK.

Company comment on London Build showcase

Andy Turner, Business Development Manager at C-TEC, said: “All our latest UK-manufactured innovations including our award-winning CAST-PRO combined fire detection and alarm device will be at London Build.

“We’re looking forward to showing how our systems can help protect people and property and reduce ongoing operational and lifetime ownership costs.”

Event registration information

C-TEC directed readers to the London Build website for registration information.

According to the company, further event details are available at londonbuildexpo.com.

Relevance for fire and safety professionals

System installers and fire-protection contractors may note that HUSH-PRO is described as a fully monitored BS 5839-6 Grade C residential fire alarm system intended to reduce false alarms in domestic settings.

Architects and building services engineers working on high-rise or complex residential schemes may look at EVAC-ALERT, which the company states is compliant with BS 8629:2019+A1:2023 for evacuation alert systems.

Facility managers and procurement officers assessing integration and lifecycle support may be interested in ENVISION, which C-TEC describes as a cloud-based Fire IoT platform for remote access, data management, commissioning and maintenance across CAST-powered systems.

Venue security and estates teams evaluating preparedness measures may review the Lockdown Solutions range, which C-TEC positions as monitored, battery-backed, multi-message systems to help organisations comply with Martyn’s Law in the UK.

New Hochiki system eliminates waking watch costs at residential sites

by EvacuationFeatured NewsFire DetectionProjects

Reliable fire detection replaces waking watch monitoring

Cornerstone Group has partnered with Hochiki Europe to replace waking watch systems with a fully compliant fire detection solution across three luxury apartment blocks in Gravesend, North Kent.

The new installation follows the removal of temporary waking watch arrangements that were introduced after fire risks were identified in high-rise buildings across the UK following the Grenfell Tower disaster.

Hochiki Europe said the new setup combines its ESP addressable devices, Latitude control panels and Ekho hybrid wireless units to deliver a flexible, open protocol solution suitable for long-term safety compliance.

Upgrading systems to meet modern safety standards

The company explained that the combination of hard wired and wireless devices provided full coverage with minimal disruption to residents.

ESP addressable detectors were installed in common corridors, while wireless Ekho devices were fitted within apartment hallways where cabling would have been impractical.

Latitude EN54 compliant control panels manage both device types within a single system, providing consistent event reporting and enabling future integration with other building safety technologies.

According to Hochiki Europe, this approach ensures both flexibility and scalability for evolving building requirements.

Installation challenges and project delivery

Cornerstone Group said that gaining access to individual flats presented challenges during installation, as appointments often needed to be rearranged to suit residents’ schedules.

The team maintained clear communication and worked around tenant availability to complete the works efficiently while ensuring every property was properly protected.

A representative from Cornerstone Group said: “We chose Hochiki because their product reliability is proven and the support in sales was very responsive.

“If we ever needed it, technical help was always first class and helped keep the project on schedule.”

Hochiki Europe confirmed that the final system now provides consistent and high performance detection across all three residential blocks, removing the need for manual monitoring and reducing long-term costs for building owners.

Relevance for fire and safety professionals

This project demonstrates how hybrid fire detection technologies can support the transition away from manual waking watch arrangements toward fully compliant systems that meet evolving safety regulations.

It provides a practical example for fire engineers, system installers and building services managers involved in high-rise residential safety upgrades.

The use of open protocol systems also highlights the value of flexibility and future scalability in addressing long-term fire risk management.

The case may inform future retrofit decisions in multi-occupancy residential settings where wiring constraints and access limitations are common.

Evac+Chair win at 10th Birmingham Business Awards

by Breaking NewsEvacuation

Evac+Chair, has been named the winner of the ‘Accessibility in Action’ category at the 10th Birmingham Business Awards.

This award acts as recognition of its life-saving work and expertise in evacuation of the mobility impaired during emergencies.

The awards, held on Friday 17th October at The Eastside Rooms, celebrate the businesses and individuals driving positive change across Birmingham and the West Midlands.

`Accessibility in Action’

The ‘Accessibility in Action’ category highlights those who are breaking down barriers for disabled people in everyday life, work and culture – where accessibility is not an afterthought, but built into design, policy and practice.

Based in Solihull, Evac+Chair has spent over 40 years pioneering and manufacturing life-saving evacuation solutions that enable people with reduced mobility to evacuate safely and with dignity during an emergency.

Its products are trusted in workplaces, healthcare facilities, educational institutions and public spaces across more than 70 countries.

Managing Director, Evac+Chair, Claire Blakemore’s statement

Claire Blakemore, Managing Director at Evac+Chair, said: “From product design and manufacturing to training and maintenance support, ensuring safe evacuation for all – across the UK and beyond – is at the heart of everything we do.

“We’re incredibly proud to receive this recognition here in our home city.

“True accessibility means ensuring everyone, regardless of mobility, can be evacuated safely in an emergency.

“This award is a testament to the dedication of our team and our shared belief that inclusive safety should be a fundamental standard, not an exception.”

A focus on inclusive fire safety

The award comes at a time of growing focus on inclusive fire safety, with forthcoming Residential Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans [RPEEPs] regulations due to come into force in 2026.

Evac+Chair continues to play a leading role in helping organisations meet their legal and ethical obligations under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, amended by the Fire Safety Act 2021 and the Equality Act 2010, ensuring no one is left behind in the event of an emergency.

Since 1982, Evac+Chair has combined innovation and engineering excellence with a mission to make every building evacuation ready.

Its solutions are designed to help employers, building owners and duty holders meet compliance requirements while supporting accessibility and inclusion for all occupants.

Evac+Chair win at 10th Birmingham Business Awards: Summary

Evac+Chair, has been named the winner of the ‘Accessibility in Action’ category at the 10th Birmingham Business Awards.

Rescue, health and evacuation: What rising bariatric rescue incidents mean for planning

by Breaking NewsEvacuationHealth and Safety

Specialist equipment in greater use as bariatric rescue call-outs rise in Avon

Avon Fire and Rescue Service has reported a marked rise in bariatric rescues in Bristol, Bath, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire, moving from an average of six a month in 2022 to about nine a month in 2025, as reported by the BBC.

That pattern sits inside a wider uptick in special service calls, where crews attend non-fire incidents and often support ambulance colleagues with specialist movement and evacuation.

Taken together, the figures point to a practical question for all services and dutyholders: how does the physical health and mobility of the public shape rescue and what needs to be in place so that people can evacuate safely and crews can work efficiently and with dignity for everyone involved.

What do the numbers tell services about workload?

The BBC report sets out three snapshots for Avon: 50 bariatric rescues between August 2022 and April 2023, 72 between April and December 2024 and 73 between January and August 2025.

For managers, a steady month-on-month demand is usually more instructive than a single headline percentage, because it drives decisions on crewing, equipment availability and training schedules.

It also matters that these incidents sit within special service calls, which overtook false alarms for the first time in 2024/25 in Avon.

That shift has operational consequences, from how often specialist vehicles are mobilised to how crews rotate to manage longer, more resource-intensive jobs.

Peaks coinciding with very hot weather were also noted in the report to the fire authority, which is a reminder that seasonal conditions can compound existing health and mobility challenges.

How does physical health shape evacuation and rescue?

Physical health influences speed, stamina, grip strength, balance and the ability to navigate stairs or tight spaces, all of which are central to self-evacuation and assisted rescue.

In real terms, that can mean longer time to move a person to safety, more personnel needed to handle loads safely and increased reliance on powered or mechanical aids.

For incident commanders, it affects sectorisation, the choice of egress route, where to position crews and how to manage manual handling risks alongside fire and smoke hazards.

For the person being assisted, comfort, dignity and communication need to be maintained, including clear explanation of what will happen and how.

What are PEEPs and GEEPs and when are they needed?

Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs) set out how an individual who may not be able to evacuate unaided will leave a building or reach a place of safety.

They are tailored plans, often used for employees, residents or regular building users who have mobility, sensory or cognitive barriers to unaided evacuation.

General Emergency Evacuation Plans (GEEPs) describe the arrangements a building has in place for visitors or members of the public who may need assistance but do not have a personal plan.

Both approaches cover routes, equipment, assistance roles and communication and they should be tested in drills to check feasibility and timing.

Where a building has changing risk profiles across the day, GEEPs should make clear how help is summoned and who is tasked to assist at any given time.

What planning and kit make bariatric rescues safer?

Bariatric rescues involve moving people who are heavier or who cannot be moved with standard equipment, often in confined residential settings or buildings with limited lift access.

Planning starts with early information sharing between fire control and ambulance control so the right assets are mobilised on the first call.

On scene, crews may require wider access routes, removal of fixtures, temporary edge protection and careful floor load assessment, especially when using powered devices.

Equipment typically includes high-capacity evacuation chairs, bariatric stretchers, friction-reducing slides, inflatable lifting cushions, patient positioning devices and, in some cases, specialist vehicles designed to accommodate larger stretchers and lifting systems.

Crew welfare needs are part of the plan, with rotations, hydration and time for safe manual handling.

A debrief that captures timings, bottlenecks and any equipment limitations helps improve the next response.

How should building owners and managers prepare?

Dutyholders should review whether their current evacuation strategy anticipates assisted movement for people who cannot use stairs quickly or at all.

That means confirming refuge points, checking communications from refuges to the control point, validating evacuation chair types and weight ratings and ensuring routes are free of pinch points that would block wider equipment.

Lift policies should be explicit about non-fire lifts, evacuation lifts where present and contingencies if a lift is unavailable.

Cleaning and maintenance teams should be briefed to keep turning circles, lobbies and stairwells clear, because small obstructions can become major delays when using larger equipment.

Training for staff who may assist should include practical handling on the actual kit in the building, not just classroom instruction.

What can individuals with reduced mobility or poorer health do in advance?

If you are a regular user of a building, ask the manager or employer how a PEEP can be set up for you.

Note your usual arrival and departure routes and identify the closest refuges, alarms and call points on each floor you visit.

Check whether an evacuation chair is present on your floor and who is trained to use it.

Carry essential medication or medical information in a pocket or bag that you can keep with you during an evacuation.

If stairs are difficult, try the route with a colleague during a quiet period to estimate how long you need and whether resting points are available.

If hearing or vision is impaired, ask about visual alarms, tactile indicators or buddy arrangements that fit your routine.

How can services keep language respectful while focusing on safety?

Talking about a person’s weight or health in the context of rescue can feel personal, so services should centre conversations on equipment limits, safe systems of work and the person’s preferences.

Use person-first language, avoid assumptions about ability and explain actions step by step.

When plans are written, keep them factual, specify roles and timings and avoid labels that are not necessary for safety.

In debriefs and training, describe tasks in terms of loads, access and method rather than personal attributes.

Bariatric rescues explained: what they are and why they take time

A bariatric rescue is an incident where crews use specialist equipment and techniques to move a person who cannot be moved safely with standard kit or methods.

The trigger can be body weight, body shape, posture, location, medical condition or a combination of these that makes usual handling unsafe.

Common scenarios include movement from a bedroom to an ambulance when stairs are narrow, extraction from a bathroom with limited turning space or transfer from the floor to a stretcher without causing pain or pressure injuries.

Why they take time is simple: more planning, more equipment setup, more personnel and sometimes building alterations such as removing a window or banister.

The BBC report notes that Avon has seen these incidents rise over the past three years and that they can be resource intensive and costly.

That reality argues for realistic attendance times, clear inter-agency tasking and honest communication with family or carers on scene.

Do evacuation chairs and refuges solve everything?

No single measure addresses every situation.

Evacuation chairs vary in capacity, braking performance and suitability for different stair materials and users need practice on the exact model installed.

Refuges are only as effective as their communication link and the plan to reach the refuge promptly.

Buildings with complex layouts may still require additional staff to guide routes, manage doors and keep stairs clear of bystanders.

For some individuals, a horizontal evacuation to a place of relative safety on the same floor may be safer than immediate stair descent, depending on the incident.

What about costs, training time and availability?

The BBC report quotes Avon’s Community Risk Management Planning Manager describing bariatric rescues as protracted and resource intensive, which has budget and rostering implications.

Services will weigh the availability of specialist vehicles against the frequency of need, aiming to position assets so travel time to likely hotspots is reasonable.

Training time can be reduced by integrating manual handling and bariatric modules into existing programmes and by running joint exercises with ambulance crews who bring complementary skills and equipment.

For building operators, the most cost-effective step is often to verify that current equipment is fit for purpose, maintained and accessible, rather than purchasing more devices that staff are not confident to use.

Where does this leave evacuation strategy and community messaging?

For services, the trend data justifies maintaining a cadre of crews trained and equipped for complex movement and extraction, with call-out protocols that bring the right capability first time.

For dutyholders, PEEPs and GEEPs should be treated as living documents, updated when building layouts change or when regular users’ needs change.

For individuals, simple preparation such as sharing information with a manager, identifying routes and keeping essentials to hand can make assisted evacuation faster and safer.

Across all groups, respectful communication and realistic time estimates help keep incidents orderly and reduce stress for the person being assisted.

Practical steps at a glance

Map where specialist equipment is stored on each floor and who can access it at any time of day.

Audit door widths, stair pitches and landing sizes against the equipment you actually have, including evacuation chair dimensions and turning needs.

Run a timed drill for a representative scenario and record set-up time, transfer time and route time to validate your plan.

Confirm how you will communicate with a refuge if the main panel fails and who monitors and records that traffic.

Agree a handover script between fire and ambulance teams so the person being assisted hears consistent, calm instructions.

A considered approach without blame

Rising bariatric rescues do not assign blame to individuals or communities.

They describe a workload pattern that can be planned for with the right kit, training and building arrangements.

The aim is straightforward: preserve dignity, reduce risk to the person and to crews and make evacuation and transfer as smooth as possible when someone cannot move unaided.

Clear PEEPs and GEEPs, competent staff, suitable equipment and joined-up mobilisation are the parts that make that possible.