Fire Aware calls for duty of care-led cultural change in fire safety

by Featured NewsIndustry CommentSafety

Fire Aware and duty of care

Fire Aware has called for cultural change in fire safety through a duty of care across multiple sectors.

In the recent commentary piece, Fire Aware says everyone involved in the design, construction, maintenance and letting of the built environment should understand an obligation to fire safety, including businesses outside fire specialisms.

It also references Dame Judith Hackitt, who led the Grenfell Inquiry, and her calls for cultural change through moral and ethical behaviours.

The commentary adds that the new independent Building Safety Regulator has been created to “promote competence and higher standards.”

Fire Aware CEO Gavin Skelly said: “We have many members who are not directly connected to fire safety but still accept they have a duty of care for public safety.

“People can get hurt through a fire incident even if it is by the actions of people way outside of the fire specialisms.

“Committing to the moral and ethical values of being fire safe is more than a job.

“It’s a way of life and a vocation.

“Our members are all of the same mind and we are moving towards raising the bar of standards, competence and commitment to fire safety of the public.

“Ultimately, we are talking about protecting people.”

Sectors highlighted and the proposed approach

The commentary highlights hospitality and healthcare as sectors it describes as particularly vulnerable to fire risk.

It links hospitality risk to the number of bars, restaurants and hotels trusted to protect customers.

It links healthcare risk to protecting vulnerable and elderly people, including those who cannot look after themselves in the event of a real fire.

Fire Aware says it is focusing on the moral responsibility of those working in the fire safety supply chain, including designers, developers, asset owners, managers and other stakeholders.

It says it aims to influence member company behaviour through a moral code of conduct delivered via a series of charters.

Fire Aware describes itself as a recognised membership body serving the built environment and related sectors, with a shared aim to work and trade responsibly to best practice standards in the interests of general public safety.

FPA moves Fire & Risk Management journal to a members-only digital edition

by Associations and OrganisationsFeatured News

FPA journal digitisation for members

The Fire & Risk Management (F&RM) journal has launched in a fully digitised format, available exclusively to members.

The Fire Protection Association (FPA) announced the online version is accessible via its website.

The digital edition includes integrated audio and video content.

It also includes advanced search functionality across all issues.

The FPA said the online edition includes a centralised hub where members can access feature articles, membership spotlights and news items from every issue.

Aisha Farooq, Deputy Editor of F&RM, said: “After over a year of planning, designing, and creating online content, we are thrilled to unveil this new digital experience for our members.

“Our goal was to make the Fire & Risk Management journal more accessible, interactive, and user-friendly, reflecting the way professionals consume information today.

“This is a significant step forward in our commitment to supporting fire safety professionals with the tools and resources they need to stay informed and resilient.”

Website accessibility changes

The FPA said it has added the Recite Me Assistive Toolbar to its website alongside the journal’s digital change.

The release put the figure at an estimated 1 in 4 people facing challenges online due to disabilities, learning differences, visual impairments or language barriers.

The toolbar is available across the whole FPA website, including the digitised F&RM journal.

The FPA said the toolbar includes screen reading support and reading aids.

It also includes customisable styling options for fonts, colours and layouts.

The release said it provides translation and text-to-speech, with on-demand translation into over 100 languages and 65 text-to-speech voices.

Ross Linnett, Founder and CEO of Recite Me, commented: “It’s inspiring to see the FPA leading by example in supporting online visitors.

“The internet should be for everyone, and by providing assistive tools online, the FPA is helping to create a more inclusive digital world where nobody is left behind.”

January 2025 special issue made free to access

The FPA said it has made its January 2025 special issue, Fire Safety Journey of a Building, freely available to access to mark the journal launch.

The release said the issue follows on from the FPA’s year-long Know Your Building campaign in 2021.

The special issue sets out a fire safety journey for a fictional tower called the WRaP building, described as a place for Work, Rest and Play.

The release said it uses the RIBA Plan of Work as a basis.

It is structured around building design and planning, the construction phase and use and ongoing maintenance.

The FPA said each stage is examined by experts from across the built environment.

Simon Brand, the FPA’s Editor and creator of the special issue concept, said: “Our fictional building – the WRaP – was born because we wanted to demonstrate that the journey to a fire safe building is one that begins at the very conception of a building, touches upon multiple roles and professionals, and runs throughout its entire lifespan.

“Each of our contributors helped bring this concept to life within their individual fields of expertise which enabled us to cover the building’s entire fire safety journey and illustrated how interlinked the stages to a fire safe building are.”

The release said upcoming issues of F&RM will cover AI and fire safety, suppression and research and testing.

ABM expands engineering and maintenance services for London Fire Brigade properties

by Building ManagementFeatured NewsProjects

London Fire Brigade expands facilities contract across estate

ABM has expanded its facilities and engineering contract with London Fire Brigade to cover additional operational and support sites across the capital.

ABM confirmed that its existing contract covering the north region of the London Fire Brigade (LFB) estate has been extended from February to include locations in the south region.

The expanded scope includes LFB’s headquarters, operational support centre and 999 call centre.

The original contract began in January 2023 following a competitive tender process and covered 51 stations across the north region.

Services delivered under the agreement include mechanical and engineering work, plumbing, fabric maintenance and specialist trade support.

This also covers heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, critical systems, building management systems and fuel delivery infrastructure.

Scope expansion includes headquarters and emergency call centre

Claire Page, Head of Property at London Fire Brigade, said: “Ensuring our buildings and critical systems are reliable and resilient is essential to supporting our firefighters and teams as they serve Londoners.

“The work delivered to date clearly demonstrates the technical capability, rapid responsiveness and deep understanding of our operational environment required to support the wider estate.”

Richard Sykes, SVP and President of ABM UK and Ireland, said: “We are delighted to be growing our partnership with LFB.

“Expanding this contract reflects the trust built through consistent delivery, strong collaboration and a deep understanding of the critical nature of London Fire Brigade operations.

“This is an important milestone for ABM and creates a strong foundation for a long-term partnership.”

ABM employs 15,000 team members across the UK and Ireland and provides facilities and infrastructure services across public and private sector estates.

SWANA and Fire Rover launch lithium-ion battery safety resource hub

by Americas - Featured NewsFeatured NewsSafety

Fire Rover collaboration with SWANA on battery safety webpage

The Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) has partnered with Fire Rover to launch a webpage focused on battery safety and preventing fires linked to lithium-ion batteries disposed of in waste and recycling streams, as reported by Waste Today.

SWANA said lithium-ion batteries are increasingly common in everyday products and can end up in household trash and recycling bins.

It said batteries can ignite fires in collection vehicles, processing facilities and landfills.

The webpage is described as a resource for fire safety and data collection, with waste and resource management professionals encouraged to report fires that occurred at facilities or in vehicles.

It includes an anonymous reporting feature with fields for incident details, the cause if known and photos.

Webpage tools and reporting fields

Waste Today said the webpage includes a searchable tool to help users find battery drop-off and recycling locations near them.

It also includes educational content and resources focused on battery safety and fire prevention.

The webpage also includes information describing the roles of communities and industry professionals in reducing battery-related fire risks.

SWANA said it will use the reported data and examples to support outreach and advocacy efforts for battery safety.

SWANA CEO Amy Lestition Burke said: “Battery safety has been a top priority for SWANA,

“This new webpage is our latest tool to support our members and the public with preventing battery-related fires.

“We have been hearing from our SWANA Lithium-Ion Battery Workgroup about the need for a centralized database to report battery fires.

“Fire Rover, a corporate partner of SWANA, worked with us to make this a reality.

“We appreciate this productive partnership with Fire Rover.”

Ryan Fogelman of Fire Rover said: “This new webpage reflects the shared mission of SWANA and Fire Rover to protect workers, facilities and the public from the growing risk of fires linked to lithium-ion batteries.

“Preventing battery-caused fires requires education, shared responsibility and access to practical solutions.”

The organisations said the broader partnership also covers data sharing, education and joint programming linked to lithium-ion battery fire hazards.

Brave Minds programme expands support for Ukrainian firefighters across all regions

by Featured NewsHealth and Safety

Ukrainian firefighters and Brave Minds programme

A UK charity is seeking monthly donations to expand mental health support for Ukrainian firefighters and other emergency responders through its in-country programme Brave Minds.

Fire Aid and International Development said Brave Minds was launched a year ago in response to widespread psychological harm among Ukrainian rescuers after years of continuous service with no dedicated independent mental health provision available.

Ukraine’s State Emergency Service (SESU) operates with approximately 60,000 personnel.

Since February 2022, Ukrainian rescuers have worked under conditions described as repeated bombardment of civilian infrastructure, sustained operations in active combat zones and chronic exposure to mass fatality incidents.

Support model and what donors are being asked to do

The programme currently provides one-to-one online therapy, round-the-clock crisis support and self-help resources, delivered by qualified Ukrainian psychologists and offered free of charge.

FIRE AID said it is asking members of the public to contribute £3 a month to support the expansion of the project as it enters its second year and aims to reach every Ukrainian region.

Edward Matthews, Project Manager for Brave Minds, said: “Rescuers are asking for help, often after extremely difficult incidents.

“Small, regular donations allow us to provide stable, long-term care.

“If thousands of people give the price of a coffee each month, we can support rescuers across the entire country.”

Casualties, damage and contact details

FIRE AID said that since 2022 it has delivered 155 fire trucks and over 350,000 items of equipment to SESU, and that direct work with rescuers led it to recognise that physical resources alone were insufficient.

Viktoria Kryvolapchuk, Lead Psychologist for Brave Minds, said: “Since 2022, 113 rescuers have been killed, 577 injured, and 458 fire stations have been destroyed.

“We need to ensure our rescuers are mentally fit to work because the fire service is an essential part of civil defence.

“And whether in war or peace, there is no end in sight to the psychological burden they carry.”

FIRE AID said donors are invited to leave a short message that is shared with rescuers during a therapy session.

Siemens strengthens UK fire safety products sales team

by Featured NewsFire DetectionPeople

Fire safety products appointments across the UK

Siemens has appointed five people within its fire safety products sales team as part of changes it said are intended to support partners promoting the Cerberus PRO IOT-enabled fire detection system.

Ryan Taylor has moved from another Siemens division where he worked with end users from design and supply through to commissioning of fire safety systems.

This work included the Building X digital building platform.

Taylor brings more than 20 years’ experience in the fire industry to his new role as Regional Sales Manager (RSM), Fire, Midlands and West.

John Dunbar has worked for Siemens for around six years on the Comfort side of the business.

In his new role, he will also be responsible for Fire products in Scotland and the North East.

Regional roles and scope

Mark Beaumont will take on responsibility for the North of England.

Beaumont has worked for Siemens for more than 20 years.

His most recent position was in a business development role across the Siemens portfolio, including building management systems, power and fire.

In his new position as RSM, he will focus on fire systems, from detection and alarm to extinguishing and evacuation.

Mark Gutteridge is the Area Sales Manager for Fire and Comfort for the South.

Gutteridge has been in his new role for around six months, having previously been Siemens Solutions Partner Manager for the UK and Ireland for the company’s digital industries business.

Completing the line-up is Marios Malone as RSM for fire in the South.

Malone has more than 20 years of experience in the fire safety industry, including three years with Siemens.

Robert Yates, Head of Building Products Fire Safety in the UK, said: “It is a very exciting time for the business with the use of digitalisation in our offering.

“It was important for us to have a strong team in place to support our partners and to maximise the opportunities this presents in the market.

“We have recruited from within Siemens, drawing not only on the understanding of how the company operates but also from those who have direct experience of working within the fire safety arena.”

Nigeria: NEMA backs ECOWAS entry into disaster-resilient infrastructure coalition

by Featured NewsSearch and Rescue

Nigeria event launches ECOWAS membership in CDRI

ECOWAS has formally launched its membership in the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) at an event in Abuja.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said the Director-General, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, used the launch to reaffirm the agency’s commitment to promoting infrastructure resilience as part of disaster risk reduction, climate adaptation and sustainable development.

Umar described the development as a strategic milestone aimed at strengthening regional and global collaboration on infrastructure systems designed to withstand disaster and climate risks.

She linked the focus on resilience to hazards affecting West Africa, including floods, droughts, coastal erosion and extreme weather events.

Umar said these hazards are increasing in frequency and intensity and create a need for proactive investment in resilient infrastructure, stronger technical cooperation and risk-informed planning.

Stakeholders set out aims for coalition membership

The Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ambassador Abhishek Singh, said the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) was established to promote international cooperation focused on strengthening infrastructure systems to withstand disaster risks and safeguard lives, livelihoods and economic investments.

The ECOWAS Commissioner for Human Development and Social Affairs, Prof. Fatou Sow Sarr, said ECOWAS membership in the coalition is intended to strengthen collective capacity to anticipate, withstand and recover from disasters, while supporting sustainable development.

The source described CDRI as a global partnership of governments, international organisations and stakeholders focused on advancing resilient infrastructure as part of disaster risk reduction, climate adaptation and sustainable development.

The launch in Abuja set out how the three organisations described the purpose of ECOWAS joining CDRI.

Winchester arrests raise construction site fraud concerns, BESA says

by ConstructionFeatured NewsTraining

Fraud allegations linked to CSCS cards

Four men arrested in Winchester last week are suspected of accepting payment to help unqualified people gain Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) cards without completing a genuine training course.

The Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) said the suspected fraudulent test centre should act as a reminder for those responsible for health and safety on construction sites.

Police reported that gaming the system in this way would allow unqualified and inadequately trained people to gain access to construction sites and could put themselves and others at risk of serious harm.

Digital checks and the Engineering Services SKILLcard

Jill Nicholls, Director Of Competence And Compliance at BESA, said: “This incident should remind everyone that we cannot be complacent about health and safety despite all the measures the industry has put in place in recent years.

“We now have an advanced digital system for verifying that card holders are genuine and have completed the appropriate training for their specific work areas, and we would encourage everyone to use the system proactively, especially if they have any suspicions about someone’s qualifications.”

BESA operates the CSCS partner card scheme Engineering Services SKILLcard, which allows card holders and inspectors to access technical and health and safety qualifications in real time via a mobile phone app.

The association said the system also allows cancellation of counterfeit or revoked cards.

It said the SKILLcard has been operating for over 24 years and provides more than 55,000 building services engineers with evidence of the qualifications they need to access sites.

It also said the digital Engineering Services SKILLcard gives users a single continually updated point of access to all their cards and the qualifications they hold.

The system can enable site access via a QR code that can be scanned directly from the card holder’s phone using the CSCS Smart Check App.

BESA said digitisation formed part of the sector’s response to the Building Safety Act, which came into force in 2022, and was intended to increase scrutiny of individual competence and compliance.

It said it provides cards for trade operatives, and also for people with supervisory and managerial responsibilities.

The scheme is also used by self-employed and agency workers, and those seeking employment in the sector.

The association also said it provides a suite of online health and safety training courses and tests.

Fire-based EMS: IAFC outlines new DEA registration pathway

by Americas - Featured NewsEMSFeatured News

Fire-based EMS and the new DEA rule

A final rule from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) implementing the Protecting Patient Access to Emergency Medications Act of 2017 (PPAEMA) was published on February 5, 2026 and takes effect on March 9, 2026.

The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) said the rule aligns federal controlled-substance requirements with operational models that use distributed stations, mobile units and protocol-driven care.

The rule establishes an EMS agency registration framework for handling controlled substances, with multi-state operations generally requiring separate registrations in each state where the agency operates.

DEA also confirmed that government-operated agencies, including most municipal fire departments providing EMS, are exempt from DEA application fees.

Registration and stationhouse delivery

The IAFC set out a “hub-and-spoke” delivery approach, allowing controlled substances to be moved from a registered location to an unregistered location when that site is designated as a stationhouse and DEA is notified at least 30 days before the first delivery.

DEA also clarified that distributors cannot deliver directly to those unregistered locations under this framework.

Related information included by the IAFC from the National Association of EMS Physicians (NAEMSP) described a new “Emergency Medical Services Agency” registration category, with a three year fee equal to other dispenser registrations at $888.

NAEMSP said an EMS agency may choose a single DEA registration per state instead of separate registrations for each station, so long as it is authorised under that state’s law.

NAEMSP also said hospital based EMS agencies may continue to operate under the hospital’s existing practitioner registration and are not required to obtain a separate EMS agency registration.

Standing orders, storage and records

The IAFC said EMS clinicians may administer Schedule II to V medications outside the medical director’s physical presence when authorised by state law and carried out under valid standing orders or verbal orders.

It said standing-order records are expected to be maintained at the registered location.

It also said controlled substances may be carried on-person or in a jump bag during active emergency response, with an expectation that medications return to secure storage when not actively responding.

The IAFC also described limited pathways for hospitals and EMS agencies to transfer controlled substances during shortages, public health emergencies or mass casualty incident situations, with written DEA approval required.

It said recordkeeping expectations cover controlled substances received, administered, transferred and destroyed, with specified information recorded for each dose administered or disposed of.

It also described a hospital restocking pathway for vehicles after an emergency response, with records maintained by the EMS agency and the hospital and additional notification steps when a vehicle is primarily based at a designated location.

LION expands TotalCare with SuperCritical CO2 cleaning technology

by Featured NewsPPE

LION adds CO2 cleaning technology to TotalCare

LION Safety Solutions, a business unit of LION Group, has announced a partnership with Decontex Holding to deliver SuperCritical CO2 personal protective equipment (PPE) cleaning technology through LION TotalCare across the United States.

LION Safety Solutions said the technology will be deployed across its facilities nationwide over the next year, with installations, servicing and ongoing support managed locally through LION TotalCare in partnership with Decontex.

The company said the SuperCritical CO2 process was invented by NASA and developed by Decontex.

It added that the technology exceeds National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1850 cleaning standards, based on verification by an independent US laboratory.

Decontex has refined the process over the past decade with academic partners, according to the announcement.

The company said the system has been used to clean more than one million pieces of PPE across 16 countries to date.

Rollout and customer support details

LION said the partnership is intended to widen access to the cleaning technology through its existing PPE care and maintenance network.

The announcement states that fire departments will be able to access the system through LION TotalCare locations nationwide.

Mark Smith, CEO of LION Safety Solutions, said: “We are always seeking ways to improve how we serve our customers.

“That means developing and delivering the best technologies available and deploying them in ways that make our solutions safer, more sustainable, and more effective.

“This partnership allows us to do exactly that — combining advanced innovation with the trusted expertise and support our fire service customers rely on.”

Tommy Verminck, CEO of Decontex Holding, said: “LION’s operational excellence, deep experience and expertise and commitment to the fire service, makes this partnership truly values-aligned.

“We couldn’t think of a better partner with who to deliver our technology at scale.”

LION said the partnership is the next step in its TotalCare programme and its wider PPE cleaning and maintenance work.