Quelfire: Building Safety Act brings ‘air of hope’

by Featured News

Fire Protection System supplier Quelfire looks at The Building Safety Act and what it means for the fire industry

It has been nearly five years since the devastating fire that destroyed Grenfell Tower, which saw the loss of 72 lives. Others lost their homes, possessions and loved ones, which changed the course of their lives forever. Since the tragic event, a public inquiry was conducted into the cause of the fire, leading the construction industry to come under heavy scrutiny.

In May 2018, Dame Judith Hackitt’s Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety found that “the regulatory system for high-rise and complex buildings was not fit for purpose.” 53 recommendations were put forward to change the way the industry works and create a safer living space for residents. But more importantly, Dame Judith Hackitt looks to drive a cultural change to make sure something this catastrophic never happens again.

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

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

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

The Building Safety Act (BSA) has named the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) as the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) to oversee the safety and performance of all buildings. With this, comes the duty to assist and encourage improvements in the built environment industry, holding powers of enforcement and sanctions.

Introduction of Gateways two and three will establish new requirements at key stages of design and construction. They are vital decision points within a project that must be passed before it can progress to the next stage, therefore, enabling a rigorous process where each stage of design and construction is monitored.

The Golden Thread, which is a live digital document that allows someone to understand a building and ensure that all information is up-to-date and accurate, will guarantee that any person responsible for any aspect of a project or building – dutyholders – work and findings are handed to the building’s owner upon completion. This will enable the right person to have the correct information regarding the safety of residents and building; ensuring risks are managed effectively. Failure to comply will see that those who are responsible for the safety of a building – the Accountable Person – are charged by criminal offence.

Finally, the introduction of The New Home Ombudsman, which will offer dispute resolution for buyers of new build homes against developers, enables the creation of a Construction Product Regulator (CPR), who will confront poor practice early on in a project and help guarantee that all construction products on the UK market are safe. They will work closely with the BSR to ensure the system of product testing and certification is being followed.

Both parties will assist in advising The Secretary of State on which products should be considered as safety-critical and consequently, remove products from the market that present any safety risks.

 So, what does this mean for the fire industry?

The government are working to ensure that the Fire Safety Order 2005 (FSO), which places duty on individuals in an organisation – the Responsible Person – to identify, control and reduce the risk of fire, and the new building safety regime work effectively together. The Fire Safety Clause in the BSA amends the FSO to further strengthen fire safety measures for non-domestic premises, which include common parts of high-rise residential buildings subject to the BSA. The FSO and BSA will overlap in some respects, but through the cross-work of the government, by aligning these essential regimes it will ultimately work to further protect residents in high-rise residential buildings.

In a typical safety case report, the Accountable Person will ensure that they have a preventative approach for managing building safety risks. An aspect of this report will cover major fire and structural hazards for example, compartmentation. This includes key areas of passive fire protection: linear gaps and cavity fire stops, service penetrations and fire doors. HSE is urging anyone involved in the design or construction of a building to act now, at the earliest stage, and become proactive in the process of ‘building a safer future.’ The work the fire industry does now can help comply with this by raising more awareness of what early engagement in firestopping is; conducting CPDS to educate the industry; providing more tested details and technical support and offering on-site support.

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

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

Fire protection laws have come into effect across Great Britain

by Building ManagementFeatured NewsIndustry Sectors

The UK has one of the most advanced fire protection markets in the world, despite legislation only catching up now in critical areas. According to FPA managing director Jonathan O’Neill the ingenuity and innovation of various stakeholders, manufacturers, fire training professionals, consultants, and the fire services themselves has contributed to a thriving fire protection and detection market across the UK.

The United Kingdom government spent approximately 3.13 billion British pounds on fire-protection services in 2020-2021, the highest amount spent since 2010/11 when the government spent 3.02 billion pounds.

More statistics

Since the late 90s various government efforts, resulting in orders, bills, and acts have come into effect to protect assets. But more importantly, painstaking efforts have been taken to minimise fatalities. Plenty of movement has taken place in the last five years, in the aftermath of the horrific Grenfell Tower disaster. The incident is considered as one of the UK’s worst modern disasters. As many as 72 people died in the disaster that took plan on June 14, 2017, which made up a staggering 18% of all deaths caused by fires in the UK that year. In 2019-2020 fatalities caused by fire accidents dipped below the 300 figures for the first time in several decades.

There were 311 fire-related fatalities in Great Britain during 20120/21, 22 more than occurred in the previous reporting year when there were 289. In the early 2000s, the annual number of fire fatalities was consistently over 500, with numbers gradually falling throughout that decade. In 2011/12 the number of fatalities related to fire fell below 400 for the first time, and has remained below 400 since that point.

Although there has been a net decrease in the number of incidents attended by fire and rescue services in the United Kingdom since 2010/11 the current trend from 2014/15 onwards has been one of increase. In 2018/19 there were over half a million incidents attended in England, over 92,000 in Scotland and almost 37,000 in Wales. Northern Ireland had the least number of incidents attended at around 24,600.

Since peaking at over 55,600 workers in 2010 there has been a marked decline in the number of fire and rescue workers in England, with the service losing more than 10,000 workers by 2019. In a similar time period, the expenditure on fire-protection services in the United Kingdom fell from 3.1 billion in 2009/10, to around 3 billion in 2019/20.

Building Safety Bill

At the end of April 2022, the UK Government’s Building Safety Bill completed all the parliamentary stages in both houses, ready to receive Royal Assent. The 252-page bill, which began the process of going through the houses of parliament in July 2021, is aimed at improving building standards, ensuring the safety of residents, and protecting leaseholders from the costs of fixing their blocks. 

The Building Safety Bill’s main aims is to reform the safety system for properties higher than 11 metres by appointing a Building Safety Regulator, giving a greater voice to residents, driving industry change, and creating a national framework for increased oversight.

UK Minister for Building Safety Stephen Greenhalgh has branded the Building Safety Bill as the “biggest changes in building safety legislation in our history”. The act will now also include measures to ensure leaseholders avoid footing the bill for remediation costs, known as ‘waterfall’ protections.

Ministers have faced growing pressure over the building safety crisis. Thousands of leaseholders have been hit with crippling costs for fixing their buildings and have been unable to sell their flats.

The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) welcomed the passing of the bill as a ‘positive step’ and acknowledged that it “may not have been what everyone hoped for”. The bill will at the least provide greater protections for leaseholders and delivering a new building safety regime.

“It is critical for RICS and other organisations representing the professions impacted by the Act, to have the opportunity to offer their continued support in finding and shaping the solutions alongside government,” it explained.

According to law firm Clyde and Co, major changes to the Bill include scrapping building safety managers or the need to appoint one. There is now an “accountable person” who takes over day-to-day responsibility for higher risk buildings over 18 metres.

Another amendment that has been enshrined into law is extending the limitation period to 15 years for defective premises claims and 30 years for retrospective claims. The law firm said that this could come into force two months after royal assent.

Sadly, new builds or restored properties opting to use environmentally sustainable materials remain at greater fire risk. Expressing his concern on the matter O’Neill says: “there’s no way to escape the influx of sustainable, albeit combustible, building materials making a mark in our cities and towns. We need a unified code on buildings in the UK that incorporates evolving building techniques and materials.”

The ripples of the Grenfell disaster, and the impact of its subsequent inquiry, have left its mark across Britain’s devolved governments. Since October 2006 the fire safety law in Scotland has differed from that of England and Wales and Northern Ireland. Last month, a legislation by ministers in Scotland proposed ban on use of combustible materials on high-rise buildings.

Since 2005, cladding used on high-rise blocks in Scotland had to feature non-combustible materials or pass a large-scale fire test. The new building standards legislation removes the option of a fire test, completely prohibiting such materials in buildings with floors above 11 metres.

The law on fire alarms has changed in Scotland, requiring all homes to have interlinked alarms. Interlinked means if one goes off, they all go off, so you will always hear an alarm wherever you are in your home. The new law has come about because of the Grenfell fire in London in 2017, and it applies to all Scottish homes. It is the property owner’s responsibility for meeting the new standard. Could we see a similar move coming into effect across the rest of the UK? Watch this space.

Accountability in the amendment

But the amendment to the Building Safety Bill, which removes the requirement for landlords to appoint Building Safety Managers in leasehold buildings seven storeys and over, is being challenged by a leading tall buildings fire safety expert.

Russ Timpson – a former firefighter and Managing Director of the Tall Buildings Fire Safety Network -is urging the government to reconsider its decision to scrap the recommendation first proposed by Dame Judith Hackitt in the wake of the Grenfell Tower fire.

“This latest iteration of the all-important Building Safety Bill states that responsibility for fire safety will now fall squarely on the squarely on the shoulders of an ‘Accountable Person’, such as the freeholder or head lessee or a management company. It is fundamentally important that anyone who is put in charge of tall building fire safety has undergone specialist training, which is backed up by a recognised qualification.”

A similar concern has been raised by several experts and veterans of UK fire safety protection. A logical solution to this conundrum, according to the FPA, is the appointment of independent assessors. It’s a case of assessing the assessor, where there is a constant loop of checks and balances put in place to ensure there are strong grounds of accountability at all times from all parties.

The 5-billion-pound change

In a significant intervention in January 2022, UK housing secretary Michael Gove announced plans to get developers and construction product manufacturers to pay for defective buildings through a multi billion-pound billion levy. In April 2022, following months of negotiations, 35 builders pledged to fix all buildings they had built in the past 30 years that have “life-critical fire safety defects”.

The agreement includes buildings they have developed on behalf of social landlords as part of Section 106 agreements. Leaseholders will also be able to launch retrospective legal action going back 30 years against developers or contractors that have built unsafe properties.

The 35 developers collectively agreed to contribute £2bn towards fixing buildings they had a role in constructing. Under the Gove plan, in addition to the £2bn from developers to fix their own buildings, the industry will commit a further £3bn for the removal of unsafe cladding through an expansion of the building safety levy, a charge on new residential buildings. Firms refusing to contribute to the fund set up to fix dangerous cladding will be warned they could be blocked from selling new homes.

This article was originally published in the May edition of IFSJ. To read your FREE digital copy, click here

Evacuation: a stitch in time saves lives

by Building ManagementFeatured NewsIndustry Sectors

The fire safety order leaves no caveats for evacuation during an emergency, Triple A sheds light on the legislation

There are an estimated 1 billion disabled people worldwide. The purpose of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities, and to promote respects for their inherent dignity. In the UK, there are 14.1 million disabled people whose rights are protected through the Equality Act 2010. 

Disabled and Evacuation in an Emergency The use of technology and social care packages has resulted in many disabled people living fulfilled, independent lives within their communities. There is often a common belief that all disabled people are wheelchair users. 

Access and egress for disabled people

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, covers almost all buildings in England and Wales. The onus for compliance is on the individual Responsible Person who is the owner, employer or person in control of the building. 

The Fire Safety Order specifically states that all relevant people must be able to leave the building as quickly and as safely as possible and processes must be in place for when any relevant person is in immediate danger. There are no caveats excluding either disabled people or residential accommodation from the requirement and non-compliance is a criminal offence.

Building Regulations ensure that multi-storey buildings are accessible to disabled people through the provision of lifts, but the majority of lifts are not fire protected and cannot be used during a fire. This presents a challenge for many Responsible Persons delivering compliance with the Fire Safety Order where it relates to evacuation from residential buildings.

PEEPs and ‘buddies’ in residential buildings

The Fire Safety Order covers the common areas of residential accommodation.  English Heritage state that 54% of housing association tenants are disabled and many of these will be residents in multi-storey buildings, which have no fire-protected lifts and no staff. 

It is important to recognize that the Fire Safety Order does not require evacuation assistance to be provided by an employee, just that the person is competent and trained. In reality, in the vast majority of cases family members, neighbours or friends are the ‘first responders’ in an emergency and are unlikely to abandon the disabled person to save themselves.  There are also considerable advantages in involving them as a buddy:

  • they know the disabled person’s capabilities;
  • the disabled person trusts them;
  • they are aware of any vulnerabilities;
  • they will be used to communicating with the disabled person.

Many Responsible Persons are concerned about potential liabilities resulting from training family members, friends or neighbours to assist a disabled person.

PEEPS in the workplace and public access environments

In secure workplaces, the Responsible Person is aware who is present within the building and able to develop a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP) for each individual disabled person. 

In public access environments, the Responsible Person is unlikely to know who will be present in the building and therefore will need to develop Generic Emergency Evacuation Plans (GEEPs).  It is important that any strategy does not place employees in danger if they are involved in the evacuation of a disabled person as this would breach the Health & Safety Act 1974.

Developing the PEEP

The Fire Safety Order requires that the Responsible Person ensures that employees are provided with training prior to their being required to undertake new activities which includes the development of PEEPs.  Triple A Solutions provides Institute of Fire Engineers accredited training to ensure that the Responsible Person can prove due diligence in meeting the requirements of the Fire Safety Order.

The elements that need to be considered during the development of a PEEP are: he physical environment, the disabled person, and the assistance required.

Conclusion

The Tenants Management Agents of Grenfell Tower failed to develop PEEPs for their disabled residents despite being fully aware that they were unable to evacuate. As a result, 41% of the disabled residents of Grenfell Tower died and there were additional fatalities and injuries occurred due to non-disabled residents refusing to attempt to evacuate without the disabled resident.

Those who manage buildings must comply with the requirements of the Fire Safety Order for both disabled and non-disabled people.  The alternative is to risk a criminal prosecution if injuries or deaths occur.

This article was originally published in the May edition of IFSJ. To read your FREE digital copy, click here

Bronto Skylift to supply Norwegian fire brigades

by Featured NewsProducts

Three municipal fire brigades in Norway have recently signed agreements with Bronto Skylift for future deliveries of new Bronto aerial rescue platforms.

The Bronto F42RLXER aerials will be delivered to the Levanger Brann og Redning and Stjørdal brann- og redningstjeneste fire brigades in the county of Trøndelag, and a new generation F32TLK aerial will be delivered to Follo Brannvesen to serve the municipalities of Enebakk, Frogn, Nesodden, Nordre Follo and Ås.

The Bronto F32TLK for Follo Brannvesen will be its second Bronto aerial platform, joining a Bronto F32RLH which was delivered in 2007. The new F32TLK is built to race against time in narrow city streets and in complex firefighting scenarios.

Both the Levanger and Stjørdal fire brigades were delivered a Bronto F27RLH aerial platform back in 2005 and are now adding the F42RLXERs to serve alongside their predecessors. The RLXER units feature a spacious rescue cage, a stable ladder, greater up-and-over capacity, exceptional horizontal outreach and various options to provide more versatility for rescue and firefighting.

All three units will be delivered by Bronto Skylift’s local distributor, Braco A/S, in 2022 and 2023.

Survitec launches ‘Head Start’ programme for ship fire safety

by Featured NewsSafety

Survival Technology specialist Survitec has introduced a new programme to ensure shipowners are fully equipped to protect crews and assets throughout the entire lifetime of their vessels.

The “Head Start” programme is a complete through-life supply and service initiative. Survitec has been working with shipowners, designers and ship builders from first designs to ensure that vessels are protected with the most advanced safety solutions possible and to ensure they can be operated and maintained efficiently throughout the vessel’s lifetime.

Finn Lende-Harung, Commercial Director – Fire Solutions, Survitec, said: “Being involved from the planning phase onwards, we can help to optimise safety system design, installation and commissioning as well as ensuring shipowners benefit from the most cost-effective means of managing their ongoing system training, servicing, and certification requirements.

“From the very beginning of a project, shipowners have immediate access to our global network of experts through a single point of contact. We’re providing a complete one-stop safety shop from the design phase through to ongoing vessel operations. We’re setting shipowners on course for a lifetime of safety at sea.”

Rafal Kolodziejski, Survitec’s Head of Product Support and Development – Fire Systems, cited the increasing number of newbuilds opting to run on alternative fuels as one of the main reasons why the initiative is becoming so appealing.

He said: “The industry is well advanced in fire extinguishing technologies and mediums for gas and methanol fuelled fires. However, li-ion batteries, ammonia, and hydrogen are relatively new marine fuel and powering options, presenting very different challenges for shipowners and operators.

“The risk of fire from these alternative fuels can be substantial, requiring a higher focus on prevention and the monitoring of gas leakage and temperatures. When we are involved in a newbuild project from the beginning, we can better mitigate any risk further down the line through quick-response fire system solutions.”

Lende-Harung added that as the shipping industry moves towards digital technologies and the possibilities of autonomous shipping – accelerated perhaps by current operational and financial challenges: “Remote monitoring, diagnostics and online maintenance will in the future become a major consideration at the design stage.”

Survitec’s fire system experts can monitor system conditions, support ship crew with trouble shooting and adjustment of equipment shoreside without having to physically attend the ship,” said Lende-Harung. “A remote VPN gateway connects to the fire safety system operator panel via an ethernet cable or Wi-Fi through a secure gateway.

“We can connect at short notice in case of issues threatening normal operation or to provide training to ship crews. For example, we can help a system operator tune-up their inert gas system to reduce fuel consumption, reduce maintenance and increase system stability. Remote diagnostics and the monitoring of fire safety equipment will become a major factor in the swing towards autonomous shipping.”

Rebecca Croton joins Quelfire marketing team

by Featured NewsPeople

Quelfire has further expanded its team with the addition of Rebecca Croton as Content Marketing Executive.

Commenting on her new position, Cronton said: “I have always had a passion for writing and creating content, I studied English and Journalism at university, so I knew it was going to be something I would enjoy. It is great to see how passionate everyone is at Quelfire, it is a fun yet professional atmosphere.

“I have never worked in the passive fire protection industry before, but I feel like I have learnt so much already. Even when you think you are not learning, you are! There has been a lot to take on board, but it has been very interesting as it is relevant to every single one of us. Particularly, I have enjoyed spending time with each member of ‘Team Orange’ to learn about their roles, how they play a part in fire safety and how I can assist them with future content.

“During my first two days, I jumped into fire safety headfirst, at The Fire Safety Event. It was a great opportunity to learn from my colleagues and meet specialists in the industry, to hear about their typical challenges.”

Welcoming Rebecca, Quelfire’s Marketing Manager Timea Popovics said: “As a result of increased scrutiny over the accuracy of construction product information and requests from customers for more regular updates on new tested details, we were keen to focus more on content. We believe that it will be critical in building and maintaining connections and engagement with customers and other partners.

“Rebecca will play a key role in keeping information about our solutions up-to-date and ensure it reaches our customers and all parties involved in firestopping. We are delighted to welcome Rebecca to Quelfire’s ‘Team Orange’ and look forward to encouraging her in the development of this important new role.”

At least 149 buildings in Chennai violate fire safety norms

by Building ManagementFeatured NewsIndustry Sectors

At least 149 buildings in Chennai have been placed under the scanner of Special Task Force (STF) for fire safety norm violations. The State fire services department will soon make checks on these buildings to ensure corrective measures are taken by their owners, said CMDA member-secretary Anshul Mishra.

Tamil Nadu government issued an order on December 17, 2018, to constitute two special task forces to address issues pertaining to encroachments, unauthorised construction, and enforcement of provisions of Second Master Plan in Chennai Metropolitan Area (CMA) and other areas that come under the jurisdiction of Directorate of Town and Country Planning and Composite Local Planning Authority.

The latest drive comes after the fire safety STF conducted a meeting after a gap of 20 months in January this year. The STF also carried out a separate study on fire safety measures needed in congested areas with narrow roads such as George Town, Purasawalkam, Triplicane, and T Nagar.  

The task force was formed after the Centre in 2018, in accordance with a suggestion of the Supreme Court, asked all States to take necessary steps to ensure fire safety measures in buildings.  

Five of 16 buildings in Chennai, where major violations were detected during an enforcement drive carried out against 396 buildings that got approval after May 2021, could also be issued with lock and seal notices, Mishra said.

All five buildings were constructed beyond approved height. While a residential area has been converted into a hospital in one case, there is shortage of car parking space in another one, sources said.

 Enforcement drives will now be carried out regularly as CMDA staff strength has been enhanced through new recruitment drive, Mishra said.

Mishra added that the CMDA is also trying to reduce time taken to clear layout files: “We have come out with a document checklist. This will be helpful in complying with CMDA norms.! Previously, layout files were prepared by the layout division of the CMDA. Now, to reduce time and ensure transparency, applicants have been asked to submit layout drawings themselves.

Tokyo major earthquake death-toll prediction number revised down

by Building ManagementFeatured NewsIndustry Sectors

The Metropolitan government has released a report which as revised down the estimated number of people who would die in the event of a major earthquake in Tokyo by 30% to 6,100.

The report by a panel of earthquake experts attributed the reduction of around 3,500 people as a result of advances in the quake-resistance of buildings and the greater use of non-combustible materials in their construction.

The pane concluded that the largest death toll of up to 6,148 would result if a quake with a magnitude of 7.3 originated in the southern part of central Tokyo, after it simulated significant earthquakes with different epicenters for the latest damage projection.

Of the estimated deaths, 3,209 would be caused by collapsed buildings and 2,482 by fires, the report said.

“Although the number of deaths has been reduced, losses of as many as 6,000 people must not be allowed to happen,” Naoshi Hirata, commented Head of the panel and professor emeritus at the University of Tokyo. “It is necessary to steadily advance measures.”

Exclusive: Evac+Chair discuss best evacuation products for all environment

by Featured NewsProducts

Evac+Chair is the original and global leader in the design, development and manufacture of emergency evacuation chairs. With over 40 years’ experience in the manufacture of life saving solutions Evac+Chair is dedicated to providing the mobility impaired with a safe and quick means of evacuation.

The Evac+Chair was invented by US citizen David Egan following an emergency evacuation in which he and his wife were involved. David’s wife had suffered with polio as a child, which had caused her mobility to be impeded and when they were forced to evacuate from the 38th Floor of a Manhattan building, David had to carry her to safety.  Recognising the need for a product to assist in the quick and safe evacuation of the mobility impaired, David set about designing a solution that would do just that.

Today, the iconic blue and yellow Evac+Chair is recognised worldwide; exported to 70 countries, across 6 continents and has assisted in saving countless lives. The Chair has earned a well-deserved place in the 9/11 memorial museum for assisting in the evacuation of mobility impaired people, during the twin towers attack.

Whilst the fundamental aspects of the design of the Evac+Chair has been unaltered over the past 40 years, customer insight and investment in R&D has led to the product range being expanded and enhanced, providing greater safety and comfort to both the operator and passenger. Independent research carried out by the University of Greenwich concluded that an Evac+Chair provides the safest, quickest means of escape for the mobility impaired, compared with other types of evacuation products.

In 2020, Evac+Chair International moved into a new state-of-the-art headquarters in the West Midlands. The 38,000 square foot purpose-built facility has enabled Evac+Chair to implement enhancements to the productivity and manufacturing processes, however every chair remains hand made.  With ISO 9001 and ISO 13485 accreditations, Evac+Chair prides itself on its superior product quality and every chair undergoes rigorous quality checks, throughout manufacture and before dispatch.

Whilst many consider a mobility impairment to be a permanent disability, it can also be temporary, such as a sporting injury, pregnancy or even panic attack brought about by an emergency evacuation. Therefore, having an evacuation chair is vital for all commercial buildings, to ensure everyone can be safely evacuated in the event of a fire, or other emergency. Evac+Chair products not only provide a safe means of escape for the mobility impaired but protect everyone, as a mobility impaired person evacuating without assistance may impede the whole evacuation process, and as a result put others’ lives along with their own, at risk. 

The Regulatory Form Order for Fire Safety 2005 states, it is no longer the responsibility of the Fire Service to facilitate the evacuation of non-domestic premises.  It is the designated ‘responsible person’ (the person having control of the building, or a degree of control; i.e.  landlords, business owners, employers, facilities managers or risk assessors) who must ensure that everyone can be evacuated quickly and safely in an emergency.

Under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, employers have a duty of care to assess any risks that affect the health and safety of employees and put in place appropriate procedures to be followed ‘in the event of serious and imminent danger’. The responsible person must carry out a regular review of the risk of fire on the premises and identify any issues, following which a plan must be developed to mitigate these risks, this should include the planning for the evacuation of those with disabilities.

Whilst Evac+Chair products are suitable for all environments including offices, hotels, schools, sports stadia, retail outlets, healthcare and factories, each chair has a unique set of features that make it more suitable for certain environments. To help ensure you select the correct product Evac+Chair offer a FREE evacuation assessment. Conducted by one of their nationwide consultants who will visit your site and make recommendations as to the most suitable evacuation chair for the building type and the most effective installation points. In addition, Evac+Chair offer training courses to ensure operators are confident in the deployment and operation of an evacuation chair, providing a safe and smooth emergency evacuation.

For more information or to book a FREE evacuation assessment, contact Evac+Chair: Telephone: +44 (0)121 706 6744 | Email: enquiries@evacchair.co.uk | Website: evacchair.co.uk

This article was originally published in the May edition of IFSJ. To read your FREE digital copy, click here

National Weather Service issues critical fire warning across US south-west

by ActiveAmericas - Featured NewsFeatured News

The National Weather Service has issued critical fire condition warnings across the US South West as wind gusts have been predicted to case fire-jumps across containment lines.

The warning comes as fire crews in New Mexico continue their efforts to stop growth of the country’s biggest wildfire – the result of two fires that merged to create the largest wildfire in the history of New Mexico.

The seven-week fire has burned 491 square miles of forest and rugged terrain east of Santa Fe since the beginning of April after being started by two intentionally-set blazes by authorities.

The National Weather Service has now issued a red flag warning of critical fire conditions for parts of Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Utah with predictions of strong winds, low relative humidity and dry vegetation.

Bruno Rodriguez, the fire management team’s meteorologist, said that forecasts predict wind gusts up to 50mph, with critical fire conditions continuing into Monday, followed by more favourable weather later in the coming week.

John Chest, a fire operations manager, commented: “Imagine traveling in your car and the fire can outpace you. That’s the kind of extreme fire behavior that we’re talking about.”