The Business Sprinkler Alliance (BSA) is delighted to announce its sponsorship, participation and support for FIREX International Connect 2021, Europe’s leading fire safety event which is taking place virtually from 1-30 June 2021.
Attracting a high calibre of speakers from across the industry, FIREX International connects the global fire and security markets and gives fire and security professionals access to the very latest advances in safety products and guidance.
The BSA is proud to be exhibiting at this virtual event where they will be raising the awareness of the benefits of sprinklers to provide property protection as well as life safety.
“We are looking forward to participating in this year’s virtual event,” said Iain Cox Chair of the Business Sprinkler Alliance. “At an important time of change and focus in fire safety and the built environment, FIREX is an important event which enables us to drive greater awareness of fire sprinklers to effect a culture change for their acceptance and adoption.”
The Business Sprinkler Alliance advocates greater business resilience by enhancing protection against fire through the increased acceptance and use of fire sprinklers in commercial and industrial premises.
The conference programme offers participants access to the latest fire safety technology, product demos, thought-leadership content and offers delegates the opportunity to have 1:1 meetings with leading international suppliers in fire safety.
To find out more or to register for Firex International Connect 2021 from 1-30 June 2021 visit Firex 2021
With Covid-19 proving a universal game changer, how will OSH further prove and reinvent itself against the continuing threats and challenges of today and tomorrow? A new IOSH webinar series is set to explore the possibilities.
The pandemic called on OSH professionals to manage a whole new risk environment, to help employers and workers navigate unprecedented dangers in the workplace.
They’ve had to learn, act and lead quickly to help businesses and organisations find new paths to safety, new ways to prosperity. IOSH helped by providing its members and the OSH profession with a programme of free Covid webinars from the start of the pandemic.
But while, thanks to the onset of mass vaccination, we can now look forward to better times, further storms will be lying in wait. We will see:
A greater threat from the spread of zoonotic, communicable diseases, as highlighted by the World Health Organization
Businesses having to double down on the health and safety practices they’ve been advised to implement during Covid to ensure resilience is maintained in the future.
Infection prevention and control will become an established part of ‘business as usual’, with stopping the spread of pathogens through good hygiene practices and testing being part of the OSH portfolio to steer us to safety through choppier moments
As we continue to work differently, with less travel and more digital and remote working, employers having to work to ensure the mental wellbeing of their staff, factoring people’s mental health in all their risk assessments, manager training, leadership and communication
Significant numbers of workers living with the impact of Long Covid, a still little explained condition which is reported to have around 200 different symptoms. How can OSH professionals get to fully understand their needs? How can employers support them in their return to work? How can the impact of Long Covid on occupational health be best managed?
A new, three-part IOSH free webinar series is about to showcase and address all these issues, sharing best practice, experience and expertise from a wide range of sectors.
The first webinar – What comes next? Dealing with communicable diseases in a world of uncertainty – kicks things off on Thursday 15 July 2021 (12.30-13.30 BST). Keep checking our Event webinar page for booking information from late June.
Today, the conference webpage for the 20th International Water Mist Conference (IWMC) was activated. The event – which is being organized by the International Water Mist Association (IWMA) – will take place in Warsaw, Poland, on 27th and 28th October 2021 at The Regent Warsaw Hotel.
As not all wishing to attend the conference can or are willing to travel, IWMA will ensure that delegates can also join online. Bettina McDowell, IWMA general manager, says: “The 20th International Water Mist Conference is as always and first and foremost a face-to-face event, but we understand that some would rather join us via their computer from wherever they are, and we are happy to offer a service to accommodate them.”
From this point onwards, the schedule for this event will look as follow: The IWMA scientific council is currently evaluating the abstracts. Speakers will be notified about acceptance of their submissions by 30th June. The programme will then be published on 15th July, the early bird period – during which IWMA offers special ticket prices – will end on 30th July.
Day one is again applications day and can be booked separately. Day two will mainly be dedicated to sciences and research. An exhibition will run alongside the conference.
The Institute of Fire Safety Mangers (IFSM) will be holding a Technical Meeting at Silverstone Circuit on Wednesday the 4th of August, it has been confirmed.
A well as many great show stands, the event will also feature a handful of key speakers including: Warren Spencer, Blackhurst Budd Solicitors, who will be discussing potential changes to prosecution as a result of the new fire safety bill. Damien Ward, Checkmate Fire, who will explore the topic of effective compartmentation, using practical solutions. Will Perkins, SE Controls, who will be looking at third party certification and accreditation, products and people, and Stewart Kidd from the British Automatic Fire Sprinkler Association (BAFSA) who will discuss sprinklers and high-rise buildings.
Tickets for the event are £15.00 for IFSM members and £30.00 for non-members. To register your interest visit the IFSM website.
Safety Health and Wellbeing Live (SHW Live) is set to reconnect regional occupational safety and health communities throughout the UK with the launch of two new exhibitions, in 2022.
The first event will take place on 15th-16th February 2022 at Manchester Central and the second event will be hosted at Farnborough International on 28th-29th September 2022 and both will be free-to-attend for visitors.
They are being organised by What Else Events, which is owned by Tim Else who has organised market leading events in the OSH sector for over 20 years. SHW Live is reinventing a regional exhibition and conference platform, which unites and empowers safety and health communities via two live events that provide the UK’s leading manufacturers and suppliers with a truly cost-effective route to market.
The events’ focus is to provide OSH professionals with unique networking opportunities and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) from its high-quality seminar content while enabling demonstration and procurement of the latest products and services in the market.
Supported by the OSH industry
SHW Live has been launched following extensive market research and has already won wide industry support. The events will be shaped by an advisory council that includes 20 of the most experienced and knowledgeable voices in the world of occupational safety, health and wellbeing.
Several major brands are set to be unveiled as Founding Partners and exhibitors in the coming weeks.
The British Safety Council and NEBOSH have pledged their support as Event Partners, alongside other industry leading bodies.
“British Safety Council is pleased to be supporting What Else Events and the exciting new regional Safety, Health and Wellbeing Live events, as an Event Partner. The regional format of the events provides another important opportunity for us to bond, as well as provide education and practical advice around health, safety and wellbeing. We look forward to a mutually fruitful partnership.”, Mike Robinson, CEO British Safety Council.
“NEBOSH is delighted to be an event partner for the new Safety, Health and Wellbeing Live shows. As one of the advisory council members, I look forward to contributing to the 2022 programme and will work to ensure it updates delegates on best practice. These events will provide a great opportunity to meet up with fellow health and safety professionals, something I know we have all missed.”
Dee Arp, Chief Operating Officer – NEBOSH
With the UK still feeling the impacts of both COVID-19 and BREXIT, these events offer exhibitors a level playing field and a more affordable platform than national or international trade exhibitions. Delegates will have direct access to exhibitor’s regional sales teams and technical experts who really understand the needs of customers in key industry verticals.
Regional model
By focusing on a regional model, the events recognise that visitors now face increased pressures on their time, cost of travel and restrictions imposed by their employer because of the pandemic. The events are on the visitors’ doorstep and offer essential educational, networking and procurement opportunities they can enjoy in either one or two days.
Founder and Managing Director of What Else Events Ltd, Tim Else said: “SHW Live has been launched following extensive research with our advisory council and major OSH brands. There is a clear demand for focussed, regional exhibitions in the UK that provide exhibitors with an affordable and accessible platform to access the highest quality buyers across the North and South of England.
“The events are carefully curated to suit different end user demand at either end of the country. So, it’s end user meets manufacturers and suppliers. Both events offer access to buyers who currently don’t have easy access to an exhibition and CPD seminar content without extended travel. SHW Live fills a significant gap in the market.
“Budget, time and travel restrictions are a constant challenge to which SHW Live uniquely responds by being the only truly accessible, affordable and sustainable platform for the industry to meet in person.
“Attending your local SHW Live next year and consuming our online resources in the meantime will not just inspire and empower but will bring you closer to everything you need to improve safety, health and wellbeing standards in your workplace.”
A new Core Code of Ethics for Fire and Rescue Services launched today by the Local Government Association (LGA), the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) and the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC), pledges to be at the heart of everything employees do and ensures communities get the best possible support.
Developed in consultation with the sector, the Core Code of Ethics for Fire and Rescue Services is designed to help employees of the Fire and Rescue Service (FRS) act in the best way towards each other and while serving the public. It will sit alongside the Code of Ethics Fire Standard developed by the Fire Standards Board.
The Core Code of Ethics for Fire and Rescue Services sets out five ethical principles, based on the Seven Principles of Public Life, which provide a basis for promoting good behaviour and challenging inappropriate behaviour.
The Core Code of Ethics for Fire and Rescue Services ethical principls include:
Putting our communities first – we put the interest of the public, the community and service users first
Integrity – we act with integrity including being open, honest and consistent in everything we do
Dignity and respect – making decisions objectively based on evidence, without discrimination or bias
Leadership – we are all positive role models, always demonstrating flexibility and resilient leadership. We are all accountable for everything we do and challenge all behaviour that falls short of the highest standards Equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) – We continually recognise and promote the value of EDI both within the FRSs and the wider communities in which we serve. We stand against all forms of discrimination, create equal opportunities, promote equality foster good relations and celebrate difference
These ethical principles will help to improve organisational culture and workforce diversity of FRSs, ensuring that communities are supported in the best way.
They will be embedded in everything FRSs and their employees do and be at the heart of day-to-day activity, guiding individual behaviours, in particular when faced with difficult, changing and unclear situations.
As a “Core” Code, it recognises there will be differing governance arrangements and is flexible enough to be adapted by every service, where any local values, behaviours and governance models can be added, for example where they are part of a county council and obliged to also comply with the council’s code. It can be added to but not detracted from, thereby ensuring local values and expectations of behaviours can also be reflected.
The Core Code has been developed in response to Sir Tom Winsor’s recommendation in the State of Fire report 2019.
Cllr Nick Chard, LGA Lead Core Code of Ethics, said: “We’re delighted to launch the Core Code of Ethics, outlining the key principles which will be at the heart of everything Fire and Rescue Services do, underpinning and guiding the behaviour and culture of individuals working with and on behalf of FRSs. The sector-led Core Code is designed to be flexible so it can be adopted and reflect any existing codes and governance arrangements local services already have in place.
He continued: “Ultimately, this Core Code aspires to ensure we have a positive and diverse working culture within the fire and rescue service, making it a great place to work for everyone, while also maintaining public trust and confidence in FRSs.”
Chair of the National Fire Chiefs Council, Mark Hardingham said: “I am delighted to see the publication of the first Core Code of Ethics for the Fire and Rescue Service. As NFCC Chair, I have the privilege of working with a dedicated team that is committed to ensuring our fire and rescue services are positive and inclusive environments for all of their staff; this, of course, translates to them being able to provide an excellent service to their local communities.
“The Core Code is explicit in its expectations relating to the behaviours of staff at all levels within fire and rescue services. The detail within it, alongside the supporting guidance and the associated Fire Standard, will help ensure the Core Code becomes fully embedded in everything fire and rescue services do, enhanced by their own locally adopted ethical codes and behaviours.”
PFCC Roger Hirst, Core Code of Ethics Lead at the APCC, said: “I am pleased to join partners in launching the Core Code of Ethics. The Core Code applies to all roles across fire and rescue and today’s launch marks the first steps towards greater consistency across services.
“I am confident effective implementation of the Core Code’s principles will provide existing and future employees, as well as the public, with assurance that inappropriate behaviour will be challenged and that services will continually recognise and promote the value of equality, diversity and inclusion internally and in the wider communities they serve.”
Lord Greenhalgh, Minister for Building Safety and Communities, said: “I am delighted to see the launch of the Core Code of Ethics and the Code of Ethics Fire Standard. The Core Code of Ethics will not only help foster a positive and more diverse working culture so all those brave individuals in our fire and rescue services feel supported, but will also ensure the best possible service for communities by bolstering public trust in our excellent services.”
The Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP) have announced the winners of the 2020 ASFP Passive Fire Protection Industry Awards.
There are five categories of award, each recognising key achievements within the industry, with the high caliber of nominations received demonstrating how ASFP members can succeed even in times of adversity.
The ASFP Best Installation Project of the Year was awarded to Firesafe Installations Ltd for the Clatterbridge Cancer Centre and Royal Liverpool University Hospital. Firesafe offered an accredited multi-disciplined service including design, installation and management of steelwork fire protection, design and installation of over 17,000 firestopping seals, acoustic sealing, waterproofing, load-bearing seals and walk-on fire floors, in a very complex scheme.
The project required an intense degree of design for fire, acoustic and waterproof seals, many of which required bespoke details to be developed and approved, while poor access resulted in the need for one-sided fire seal solutions in many places. In line with the move to digitising construction, the whole project was logged on Laing O’Rourke’s BIM Fieldview system.
Two other ASFP member installations were highly commended and shortlisted for this highly contested award. These were CLM Fireproofing for their work on One Crown Place, London; and Optimum Drywall Systems for the Grange University Hospital (SCCC) in Llanfrechfa, Wales.
The ASFP Passive Fire Protection Innovation of the Year went to R Lewis & Co Ltd for its INJECTACLAD Retrospective cavity barrier system. This is an injectable cavity barrier that can be installed in existing buildings without the need for removal of the façade. In the post-Grenfell world, such a product is invaluable for the refurbishment of buildings where cavity barriers have not been correctly installed. It can significantly reduce costs and installation times compared to traditional remediation methods.
INJECTACLAD offers up to 120 minutes’ fire resistance in both vertical and horizontal orientation, in gaps up to 150mm containing polyisocyanurate (PIR) insulation. Fully injectable, this patent-pending product requires only small openings at 2m centres, allowing each installation team to inject up to 60m per day. A borescope is used to record, inspect and sign off the works.
SFP Member of the Year was awarded to Clive Miles of CLM Fireproofing. Having established CLM Fireproofing over 30 years ago, Clive is an active ASFP Council member and has long championed change in the industry. He pioneered early engagement with Tier 1 contractors, implementing a 7-stage implementation lifecycle which ensures efficient and effective installations and involves producing a suite of tested solutions for the firestopping of service penetrations.
Passive Fire Protection Advocate of the Year was awarded to Nichola Venables for her tireless work as CEO of the National New Build Database and organiser of the New Build Homes National Fire Safety Issues Facebook group. Nichola bought a new home from a major UK housebuilder only to find it riddled with faults and inadequate firestopping. As a result of her activities, nearly 200 homes from this developer have been independently inspected and errors rectified.
The ASFP Academic Achievement Awards reward those who achieved success in the Level 3 and Level 2 Passive Fire Protection qualifications awarded by the Institution of Fire Engineers. The 2020 Level 2 Award went to Simon Ince of UL UK, while the Level 3 winner was Cathie Wilson of Rider, Levett, Bucknall.
In his final action as ASFP CEO, Niall Rowan announced the award winners and offered his congratulations to those who took part:
“The ASFP Passive Fire Protection Awards aim to highlight excellence in passive fire protection and reward those who contribute to the advancement of the sector. I would like to congratulate every award winner and all those who were shortlisted.
“2020 has been a hugely challenging year for all and we are delighted to be able to reward the innovation, dedication and professionalism of our members and others who work hard to promote and advance the quality of passive fire protection.”
Commenting on the awards, the ASFP’s new CEO Steve Davies added: “The ASFP already has an enviable reputation as a leading authority on passive fire protection and this is thanks to the strength, commitment and enthusiasm of its members. These awards are designed to recognise this hard work and dedication and to reward those that excel.
“I look forward to working with members to further raise the ASFP’s profile and influence in the wider construction industry and ensure the competency and professionalism of all of the Association’s members is universally recognised throughout the sector.”
IFSEC 2021 has been postponed and will return in May 2022.
In place of this year’s in-person event in London, which had been scheduled to run from 12-14 July, the IFSEC team will turn its full attention to IFSEC Connect, an immersive, AI-powered, online experience that gives attendees the opportunity to engage with new international suppliers and peers through an online marketplace and tailored meeting recommendations throughout June 2021.
It’s part of a series of online events co-located with FIREX International, Safety & Health Expo, Facilities Show, Workplace Wellbeing Show and Intelligent Building Europe providing networking opportunities to bring our global communities together.
Combined, they will offer delegates the chance to learn from over 70 educational sessions, which feature over 100 speakers, and the opportunity to network with over 300 leading industry suppliers.
Leading industry players including Dahua, HID Global, Motorola Solutions and Texecom will be available for appointments when the platform opens for meetings from June 1st.
This year’s IFSEC International had been scheduled to take place at London’s ExCeL from 12-14 July, however the team is now focused on preparations for the 2022 edition, with leading names such as Hikvision, Paxton Access and Anixter having already booked their space.
Chris Edwards, Group Director at Informa Markets, said: “We’ve worked tremendously hard along with our venue and contractor partners to deliver an event that is both safe and successful for all involved, but it’s become clear that with the ongoing international travel disruption and general uncertainty caused by the pandemic that transitioning to a vibrant online experience that the whole international security community can be part of is the right thing to do.
“Our virtual event, IFSEC Connect, will offer delegates and suppliers the chance to come together online and we look forward to delivering an in-person series of events at a scale our customers are used to seeing in 2022.” Connect begins on June 1st – delegates can register free of charge by visiting our website.
Connect begins on June 1st – delegates can register free of charge by visiting our website. To enquire about participating in IFSEC International 2022, please email Adam.Richmond@informa.com
Building on the success of last year, which saw more than 400 delegates attend virtually, this year’s FIRE Conference returns on the 9 November at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre, London and will allow delegates to attend face to face or online.
The joint initiative between the IFE, NFCC and FPA is heralded as the centre point for sector leaders and stakeholders to come together in a collaborative format to discuss and debate major challenges affecting fire safety.
This year’s themes include collaboration and efficiency, competence and culture in fire and beyond, equality and diversity, and responsibility and accountability.
Diversity amongst firefighters will be a key theme this year
Already confirmed as a plenary speaker is Amanda Blanc, CEO of Aviva. Amanda will discuss the theme of collaboration, giving audiences food for thought on a modern and refreshing approach.
Aasmah Mir, Times Radio presenter will chair the conference for a second year, engaging audiences in person and online.
The decision to deliver a hybrid conference has been welcomed by many and allows for a growing international audience. It also comes after a turbulent year for fire safety conferences and events as a whole and the event will be among the first to safely offer delegates the chance to engage and network face to face.
Mark Hardingham, recently appointed NFCC chair commented: The return of our joint Fire Conference is an important step forward for our three organisations as we continue to collaborate to influence fire safety reform. Hosting this event enables us to engage with, listen to and deliver important content to all stakeholders integral in taking forward vital fire safety improvement and this year’s programme will see a strong focus on key issues including competence and culture.
Jonathan O’Neill, managing director of the FPA added: “With the fourth anniversary of the Grenfell tragedy upon us, the FIRE conference comes at a pivotal moment for the fire sector to come together as we continue to push for change. This year’s themes have been designed to cover the issues we must tackle if we are to improve fire safety for the better – collaboration, accountability and equality. This joint initiative between the IFE, NFCC and FPA is one we are immensely proud of and the exceptional programme we have for delegates is one not to be missed”
Steve Hamm, CEO of the IFE said: “We are delighted to once again work with the FPA and NFCC to deliver the Fire conference. Building on last year’s success, Fire 2021 will tackle the current and future challenges the industry is facing and bring together professionals from all over the world to discuss, debate and exchange knowledge. Our hybrid approach makes the event easily accessible, attracting a wider range of delegates we can learn from. This forum combined with a comprehensive programme and ample networking opportunities, will enable all stakeholders to influence and participate in developing a fire safe future.”
After the final plenary session draws to a close, delegates will be welcomed to a drinks reception held at the House of Lords. Here colleagues and peers will have the opportunity to further discuss the conference topics and enjoy the evening of drinks and canapes.
FIRE Conference is one not to be missed. As with the previous year, delegates from across the fire sector and beyond will be joining us to help improve the world of fire safety.
Full programme details and tickets are available on the booking website here.
Leading life safety manufacturer, Hochiki Europe, has unveiled the latest in its series of expert roundtable discussions, with a session exploring the benefits and challenges that arise when using multi-sensor detectors. The roundtable was held digitally and is now freely available to watch online.
The panel, made up of an installer, engineer and other life safety experts, was completed by Will Lloyd from the Fire Industry Association (FIA). The discussion covered the most pressing issues regarding multi-sensors, including discrepancies with product certification, best practice for testing and maintenance, and current barriers to correct usage and installation. Highlights from the roundtable are available on YouTube, providing some key takeaways for installers, engineers, end users, or anyone interested in the latest life safety trends.
The experts on the roundtable comprised:
Paul Adams, Marketing Manager, Hochiki Europe, (Chair)
Terry Hailes, Managing Director, Cornerstone Fire
Paul Gatens, Technical Sales and Support Specialist, Detectortesters
Will Lloyd, Technical Manager, Fire Industry Association
Martin Green, Regional Sales Manager, Hochiki Europe
Neil Eves, Systems Manager, Hochiki Europe
Some key points from the event included discussions around the importance of false alarm reduction. A key benefit of investing in multi-sensor devices is their ability to reduce such issues and studies have proven that advanced multi-sensors can outperform more basic models in this area. Neil Eves, Systems Manager at Hochiki Europe said: “For facilities managers, investing in intelligent multi-sensor devices provides the long-term benefit of reducing false alarm events and operational costs, which cost the tax payer around £1 billion per year.
“However, ensuring absolute reliability and a completely failproof device is even more critical as there are many elements at play which can result in false alarms. Hochiki Europe’s ACD-EN offers total piece of mind thanks to its highly sophisticated algorithm which continually monitors readings from the environment from the moment of installation.”
The panel also discussed issues around certification of multi-sensor products and the growing requirement for devices to incorporate CO detection into their programming to better calculate the presence of a real fire.
Neil continued: “Hochiki’s ACD-EN devices monitor for levels of CO that are emitted during the early stages of a fire – even before visible smoke and heat are produced, helping reduce false alarms, while providing an early indicator of an emergency situation. Plus, the Reduced False Alarm function (+RFA) means the sensor automatically adjusts the sensitivity of the sensing element over time and continually learns from its environment to further prohibit activation during a non-event. This means the sensor will always be as sensitive as it needs to be, and was an important point of discussion during the roundtable.”
Hochiki Europe’s thought-provoking series of high-level expert conversations aims to support industry peers and promote the highest standards within the fire safety sector, with free-to-view educational resources. The next roundtable is being released in May 2021, and will focus on life safety in care home environments.
Full details on Hochiki’s multi-sensor product can be found here and you can watch the full roundtable using the links below.
