Huntingdon Fusion Techniques offers easy valve replacement with CO2 freezing

by PassiveProducts

The Pipestoppers Division at Huntingdon Fusion Techniques HFT provides a cost saving solution to carrying out repairs or modifications on pipes with liquid inside, which also includes valve replacement.

Valve replacement challenges

Replacing valves in pipework can be a challenge, especially when the pipelines have liquids running through them. One option is to completely drain the system to make the repairs, which can prove costly, time consuming and problematical as to where to drain the liquid.

Georgia Gascoyne, CEO for HFT said: “Qwik-Freezer is the industry standard portable CO2 Pipe Freezing System, in use around the world, covering pipe diameters from 3/8” – 8” (9 – 200 mm). The quick and easy to use system requires very little set-up time and is the only CO2 Pipe Freezing System capable of freezing larger pipe diameters.”

HFT’s US Partner, COB Industries said: “When a sprinkler head has to be repaired or replaced in a large system, there are many issues that can arise. Draining large fire systems can create problems with disposal of all the water, more so when it is treated chemically with rust inhibitors and/or anti freeze. Environmental concerns prevent disposing of this water in a normal drainage system, even if it is possible to access one.

“Another issue with draining large systems is trapped air creating an air block in the lines. If there is no way to bleed the air from the system as it fills entire sections can remain empty and unusable. Both Pipe Freezing Systems, namely the Qwik-Freezer and the Accu-Freeze are used for fire sprinkler and valve maintenance. The ease of use makes the Qwik-Freezer System very popular for diameters up to 4” (although Qwik-Freezer is capable of freezing up to 8”).

“Larger pipe diameters and the use of anti-freeze and rust inhibitors can create freeze points that require the liquid nitrogen (LN2) temperatures of the Accu-Freeze System in order to create a pressure bearing freeze plug regardless of the pipe diameter.”

Once liquids have been brought to a standstill, a specially designed flexible jacket is wrapped around the pipe at each point where the freeze is required. A nozzle in the jacket is then coupled to a cylinder of liquid carbon dioxide for the Qwik-Freezer and liquid nitrogen for the Accu-Freeze.

For valve replacement, a second jacket is installed on the other side, creating a double freeze, blocking flow on both sides of the valve.

When the CO2/LN2 is injected into the space between the jacket and the pipe, the pipe contents freeze and a secure ‘ice plug’ is formed, which seals the pipe. The ‘ice plug’ forms only in the section of the pipe covered by the jacket, so the resulting rise in pressure is very small and there is no damage to the pipe itself. The technique can be used safely on iron, steel, lead, stainless steel, copper, brass and plastic pipe.

www.huntingdonfusion.com

Fireco celebrates one millionth sale of Dorgard

by Featured NewsPassive

Fireco is celebrating selling its one millionth Dorgard, a product which holds doors open and then automatically closes when it hears a fire alarm, following 25 years of success and a recent quick reaction to market needs during the pandemic.

The door retainer was designed to replace door wedges, which keep doors open but fail to protect the premises or people inside in case of fire.

Now the invention has found even greater popularity as businesses look to find safe ways to keep doors open so that staff no longer need to touch doorknobs or handles, spreading germs in the process.

Expanding the Fireco range

Fireco Founder, Neil Purssey originally dreamt up Dorgard 25 years ago after watching a ‘dancing daisy’ which would dance when there was a sound near it. This got him thinking – what other items would be useful if they were sound activated?

Since then Fireco has designed and released another eight products in its range, with more to come and what was once a small business born in Brighton has expanded to sell its products worldwide.

Chief Executive Officer, Michelle Bussey said: “The last six months have been challenging for businesses across the country, so we feel extremely grateful that we have something so positive to celebrate. We are proud to say we have supplied our millionth Dorgard unit.

“Over the last 25 years, Fireco has worked tirelessly on the development and manufacture of innovative products that help keep premises fire safe and help save lives. When COVID-19 hit our business we reacted quickly and recognised the huge importance of Dorgard not only as a fire safety product but as a product that can assist with a premises germ control strategy.

“Since then we have shifted our focus on how we can help and have been pleased to have donated products and services to those in most need. Our team has relished the challenge and we have been privileged in supporting the NHS and other organisations in their fight against COVID-19. 

“Manufacturing in our new premises in Sussex, we are proud to continue investing in engineering and manufacturing in the UK and the local area, together with being an active exporter into Europe and the rest of the world.”

Now the company has taken its offering a step further by, in the space of just three months, designing and launching Germgard, a smart sanitising system.

Germgard uses digital signage to alert users to sanitise their hands before gaining entry. This system can be used stand-alone or can be integrated with access control, automatic doors and electronic door locks, making the use of hand sanitiser a requirement before access is allowed.

To find out more about Fireco and their product range, visit www.fireco.uk

Olympia Electronics releases OLYMPUS LED series

by Featured NewsPassive

Olympia Electronics S.A., for 41 years developers and manufacturers of electronic security systems based on state-of-the-art technology, security and innovation. The company, having as its main purpose to satisfy the demands and needs of the consumer public, constantly enriches its range with new products, which have high quality characteristics.

The emergency luminaires of the OLYMPUS LED series were recently developed by the R&D Department of Olympia Electronics S.A. and are distributed in the market, already receiving positive reviews, due to their use, easy installation and reliability. The modern style and the simplicity of the connections make the Olympus LED ideal for any architectural project.

Main technical characteristics

1, 3 & 8 hours switchable by user

Waterproof IP65

Multiple mounting methods

Capability of lighting methods

Hanging marking sign

Supercapacitor and L4Ti5O12 battery technology

For low temperature environment CBS, wireless and addressable system

Produced in accordance with ΕΝ 60598-1, ΕΝ 60598-2-22, ΕΝ 55015, ΕΝ 61547, ΕΝ 61000-3-2, ΕΝ-61000-3-3.

Learn more: https://bit.ly/3kjg1hV

Exclusive: Open plan layout fire protection

by Featured NewsPassive

Managing Director of Coopers Fire, David Cerquella, explains the growing importance of fire curtain specification and which considerations need to be made by architects and building engineers alike.

Offering users flexibility and freedom to alter a space as necessary, it is no wonder that the popularity of open plan layouts has increased. There are multiple benefits to the creation of large open spaces, including significant energy savings due to more natural light and a more social, collaborative environment for offices, due to the lack of dividing walls.

Unfortunately, should a fire break out in an open plan environment, the spread of smoke and flames is much more rapid than in a smaller or compartmented area. The most severe risk to occupants in a fire is excessive inhalation of gas, smoke or toxic fumes which can be reduced by containing the spread of fire and protecting evacuation routes with implementation of fire-resistant barriers into a building’s design.

There are numerous reasons for creating an open plan building design and many examples that use such spaces. Those involved in the events industry, for example, will utilise a range of open spaces, whether it be for exhibitions or networking. In offices, a shift to flexible working patterns and a growing preference for the ability to rearrange office desks and other furniture have contributed to more open plan office environments.

Active and passive fire protection

As mentioned, the spread of fire in these spaces could be increased by the lack of physical barriers. Therefore, active fire protection such as smoke alarms and sprinkler systems should be used in conjunction with passive fire protection like fire doors and fire curtain systems to ensure compliance to fire regulations and offer maximum levels of safety in the event of a fire. The issues highlighted with open plan layouts need to be addressed for a building to adhere to Approved Document B.

The curtain falls

To prevent the spread of fire, a building must be divided into compartments, which are marked by the implementation of fire-resistant barriers, such as fire doors and curtains. Open plan spaces pose specific challenges because it is impossible to utilise fire doors, due to the absence of walls. Where fire doors cannot be implemented, fire curtains may be installed.

The main purpose of a fire-resistant barrier, such as curtains, is to suppress the growth and development of flames and smoke within a building, to protect escape routes and help minimise the risk to human life. Open spaces and critical escape routes can utilise fire curtains to control the spread of smoke and fire, which could spread more rapidly, for example through a lift shaft.

A fire curtain is a highly robust piece of fire-resistant material which is stored discretely in a steel headbox within the ceiling. In the event of a fire, the curtain is released by a trigger from a fire alarm or local detector, causing it to fall vertically via gravity. Once deployed, it obscures the space, acting as a crucial physical barrier between the fire and the escape routes. Fire curtains can be installed in several different locations and can be used to replace a non-load bearing wall and fire rated glazing. In open plan layouts, the installation of a fire curtain enables a building to still meet the relevant regulations.

There is a growing global demand for the ability to see through a fire barrier. Therefore, where a fire curtain is installed in place of a door, a vision panel could be extremely beneficial. In an emergency, first responders are required to evacuate individuals from a building, therefore, fire curtains with a vision panel are likely to be a huge aid to first responders. Adding a window-like panel into the curtain, means that once a fire curtain is deployed, first responders are able to identify flames and smoke and the associated risks on the other side, which could potentially save precious time in an evacuation.

Certification and integrity

With the help of certification and testing, a fire curtain is designed to withstand the heat and effects of a fire for a specific length of time. The required duration of resistance is specified to enable an effective evacuation with enough time to make the necessary checks of the building, in order to minimise the risk to human life.

For the fire curtain industry, BS 8524 is the only fire curtain standard, providing comprehensive guidance on specification and installation. Aimed at specifiers, manufacturers, installers and facilities managers, the standard covers all aspects of the fire curtain performance and functionality, as well as a third party approved installation and ongoing maintenance of the fire curtain, which must be achieved to illustrate competence and quality.

A key part of BS 8524 and one of the essential nine annexes is the fire test, BS EN 1634-1. This is an important test standard to look for in terms of compliance and product fire resistance or integrity (E). With integrity of components used in building construction facing increased scrutiny, there is a higher degree of focus on the integrity of every product when exposed to fire. This certification provides assurance to end users and building occupiers that the product has been subject to, and passed, thorough third-party testing against a set of rigorous criteria.

The benefits of having a vision panel in fire-resistant barriers are clear. However, where they appear in curtains there must be no compromise on compliance, quality and the product’s resistance level. Choosing products that are certified and have undergone thorough testing, provides assurance to specifiers and facilities managers that the fire protection measures in place are of the highest standard to preserve human life.

www.coopersfire.com

This article was published in the latest edition of International Fire and Safety Journal. Pick up your FREE digital copy here

New rapid wildfire detection solution unveiled

by Featured NewsPassive

Environmental IoT startup, Dryad Networks has announced that it is developing a large-scale IoT network for the ultra-early detection of wildfires. Dryad’s digital forest solution will help public and private forest owners monitor, analyse and protect the world’s largest, most remote forests and tackle the devastating impact of wildfires on the environment, wildlife and communities.

Early wildfire detection

Thanks to several ground-breaking innovations, Dryad’s large-scale IoT solution will use a network of sensors for detection of wildfires in under 60 minutes even in remote areas, enabling firefighters to extinguish wildfires before they spread out of control. By contrast, camera and satellite-based solutions can take several hours or even days to identify a fire because they rely on the smoke plume developing enough to be detected from a long distance.

With sustainability and tech for good at its core, Dryad’s vision is to digitise the world’s forests and help protect and regrow the world’s largest carbon sinks. Plans include supporting sustainable forest management by providing forest owners with insights into the health, microclimate and growth of their forests. This will also help them manage their estates more efficiently and profitably.

The idea for a wireless IoT network to connect the natural world was conceived by Brinkschulte and Co-Founder, Marco Bönig when the devastating fires ripped through the Amazon rainforest in 2019. That year, forest fires generated 7.8bn tonnes of CO2 – almost 20% of the annual global emissions from the burning of fossil fuels – while decimating one of the planet’s most important carbon sinks.

The team successfully tested a minimum viable product in a forest in Germany in May 2020 and has since secured ten letters of intent from forest owners in Germany and Africa.

The solution comprises:

·      Solar-powered sensors that use AI to detect gases emitted from wildfires at the smoldering stage as well as temperature, humidity and air pressure.

·       Gateways featuring Dryad’s patent-pending distributed mesh network architecture – an extension to the LoRaWAN open standard for long-range radio IoT networks.

·       A cloud-based dashboard to analyse and monitor a wide range of indicators and alert forest managers.

Dryad’s gateways interconnect in a multi-hop mesh network, making it possible to cover very large forests rather than the 12km range typically supported by existing LoRaWAN gateways. This breakthrough technology makes it economically viable to build a communications network for large forests where there is no mobile network coverage. Dryad border gateways at the edge of the network connect to wireless (LTE/NB-IoT), satellite or wired internet to access the Dryad cloud platform.

Dryad, which secured seed funding of €1.8million in September 2020, is led by Co-Founder, CEO and serial telco entrepreneur, Carsten Brinkschulte, who has a track record in building high-growth businesses.

Carsten Brinkschulte, CEO and Co-Founder of Dryad Networks said: “The notion of the intelligent forest is now coming of age. Our vision is to deliver an effective communications architecture for even the most remote forests and make sub one-hour wildfire detection the new reality. Using a solar-powered, distributed mesh IoT network capable of covering vast expanses of forest where mobile network coverage is lacking will radically transform the way forests can be monitored and managed.”

Hochiki Europe launches Ekho fire detection range

by Featured NewsPassive

Life safety manufacturer, Hochiki Europe has launched a new range of hybrid wireless fire detection and alarm equipment. The Ekho product range is EN54-25 approved, RED compliant and takes hybrid wireless fire detection to new levels of reliability, flexibility and performance.

Using the latest in radio networking technology, the Ekho hybrid wireless system provides a robust ‘always on’ network of devices which can automatically adapt to changing environmental conditions – offering installers an unparalleled level of reliability.

Unlike other systems, Ekho’s wireless devices are not tied to specific expanders, instead, each device instinctively chooses its parent expander based on the strength of the signal pathway back to the translator, with expanders automatically forming a bi-directional mesh network for delivering information to the main control panel. In the event where an expander’s signal is compromised, the wireless field device will automatically find and connect to an alternative expander with the next strongest signal pathway – providing end users with enhanced safety benefits.

The range is extremely versatile, offering a selection of wireless sensor types, as well as I/O units, a sounder, a sensor/voice-sounder/VAD and a manual call point. Its simplified design ensures that products in the series are easy to install. While the faster commissioning process, which can be carried out off-site, saves installers time on projects.

Utilising hybrid wireless systems negates the need to install cables therefore guaranteeing minimum disturbance to surroundings during installation – making the range an ideal choice for historic buildings, remote or temporary sites and any project where the installation of fire cabling is too difficult, overly expensive or prohibited.

Future-proof with Ekho

Mark Jones, Export Manager at Hochiki Europe commented: “The digital age has affected every part of our lives and life safety is no exception. Our Ekho product range offers wireless solutions to a range of what can be complex project challenges. As with all Hochiki Europe products, the range is intelligent and ultra-dependable, offering users a future-proofed life safety system.”

For more information about Hochiki Europe’s Ekho range click here.

Luminite adds heat and smoke detectors for construction sites

by ConstructionIndustry SectorsPassiveProducts

Luminite Electronics, manufacturer of the widely used wireless Genesis PIR detector range has added wireless heat and smoke detectors that, when used with a Genesis IP masthead receiver, will provide a site wide security solution for evolving construction projects.

When triggered, the heat and smoke detectors will send an alert via the masthead receiver informing the end user of the location of the heat/smoke event. The heat and smoke detectors can alternatively be used in conjuction with Nexus Fire Alerts so that the entire site can be alerted both audibly and visually via sounders and strobes.

Any existing system already using Genesis detectors with an IP masthead can add heat and smoke sensors to the system as one of it’s 64 reporting units. With the IP masthead working with a variety of remote monitoring software platforms including Immix, Hikvision and Dahua this added functionality is a powerful tool in the early detection of arson or accidental fires, particularly in timber framed buildings.

The Genesis PIR detectors and Nexus Call Points have a transmission range of 1km and heat and smoke detectors of 100m. The systems are portable and quick and easy to install with no civil works or cabling required.   

Heat and smoke detectors comply with European regulations. The smoke detectors are approved to EN15604:2005 standard and the heat detectors conform to BS5446-2:2003 standard. Genesis detectors are EN505-1 Grade 2 compliant.

For more information contact Laura Grainger at Luminite on 0208 368 7887 or visit www.luminite.co.uk

New survey says landlords ‘need at least two years to comply’ with building safety bill

by Passive

A survey of landlords found that one in three expected to need ‘at least two years to comply’ with the changes outlined in the building safety bill.

In July, the government published the draft bill, which included mention of the new role of the accountable person, who will ‘have to listen and respond’ to concerns and ensure resident are heard, called the accountable person. There will also be resident and leaseholder access to ‘vital’ safety information about buildings, and new complaints handling requirements for ‘effective action’.

The BSR will ‘oversee all this and make sure that accountable persons are carrying out their duties properly’, and ‘ensure that high rise buildings and the people who live in them are being kept safe’, with ‘new powers to raise and enforce higher standards of safety and performance across all buildings’. Resident panels will be appointed to have a voice in developing the regulator’s work.

The government will also be ‘speeding up’ its work with finance and insurance sectors to protect leaseholders from fire safety costs ‘without relying on tax payers’ money’, while a new building safety charge will make it ‘easy for leaseholders to see and know what they are being charged for’. To ensure these costs are affordable, the government has ‘deliberately included powers to limit’ costs that can be re-charged to leaseholders.

‘For the first time’ new build buyers will be able to complain to a new homes ombudsman, and developers will have to be a member of the scheme, with the ombudsman having the power to require they ‘pay compensation’. For construction, the bill will ‘fully establish’ the BSR to ‘enforce new rules and take strong actions against those who break them’, ensuring they are ‘accountable for any mistakes’.

The BSR’s three functions including overseeing safety and standards of all buildings; ‘directly’ assuring safety of higher risk buildings; and improving the competence of those ‘responsible for managing and overseeing’ works. A ‘more stringent’ set of rules for high rises will apply when buildings are ‘designed, constructed and then later occupied’, with each stage making it ‘clear who is responsible for managing the potential risks and what is required to move to the next stage’.

This ties into the “golden thread” of ‘vital information about the building’, and buildings need to be registered with the BSR as well as apply for a building assurance certificate. The accountable person will then need to ‘conduct and maintain’ a safety case risk assessment and appoint a building safety manager ‘to oversee it day to day’, with building inspectors ‘responsible for signing buildings off as safe for people to live in’ also having to follow the rules and register with the regulator.

Additionally, the government will have the power to ‘better regulate’ construction materials and products, and ‘ensure they are safe to use’. Ministers will appoint the UK’s first chief inspector of buildings, who will lead the new regulator ‘to make sure effective action is taken where concerns are raised’.

It was later reported that a survey of 1,000 leaseholders across the UK found that 70% were ‘reluctant and worried’ over the plans for increased responsibility for flat block safety, before leaseholders in Leeds stated the plans had caused them ‘enormous alarm’. In August, more details were provided, including planned new penalties of up to two years in jail for breaching the bill, while other information on fire related elements was provided.

Inside Housing has now reported on a survey of social and private landlords of 1,048 high rise buildings undertaken by software platform TrackMyRisks on behalf of the Building Safety Register. The survey found that a third of landlords believe they ‘will need more than two years to get up to speed’ with the bill’s requirements, with 33% expecting it would take ‘more than 25 months to demonstrate compliance with all parts’ of the bill.

Issues with compliance identified by the respondents included the bill’s ‘complexity’ and ‘absence of clarity’, alongside ‘competing organisational priorities’ and the volume of high rises that some wold ‘need to submit to the new regulator’. Compliance costs were also identified as a problem, with 45% stating that the bill would have a ‘significant negative impact on their organisations’ finances’, and another 33% saying it would have a ‘moderately negative impact’.

Over half, or 56%, of respondents had fewer than 20 high rises in their portfolio, with 33% having 20 to 150 high rises and 11% having over 150; 78% said that their organisations had not yet written any ‘building safety cases’, while 22% said they had written ‘between one and five’, with these cases part of the new building safety regime proposed – no respondents ‘could provide an estimate for the average cost of producing each building safety case.

Matt Hodges-Long, co founder of TrackMyRisks, commented: ‘Much of the media attention relating to [the] building safety bill impacts is understandably written from a resident’s perspective. We felt it was important to understand the scale of impact on the supply side of the equation so we surveyed senior housing execs representing more than 1,000 higher risk buildings.

‘The overwhelming narrative through all of our one-to-one interviews was the absence of guidance, the scale of the implementation challenge and how long it would take to achieve the required level of cultural change.’

Fire Door Safety Week: 60% of local authorities delay fire door programmes

by Passive

Fire Door Safety Week exists to stamp out the legacy of fire door neglect and to educate on the importance of fire door safety. To launch this year’s campaign, the British Woodworking Federation (BWF) have shared research into the state of fire door maintenance, inspection and replacement programmes across local authority owned and managed housing in the UK.

Over half (52%) of UK local authorities responding to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request reported delays to planned fire door maintenance and replacement in the first half of 2020. The number rises to 60% when inspection delays are also factored in.

According to the data obtained from 147 local authorities that own and manage their own housing stock, at least 26,318 fire doors were scheduled for maintenance or replacement between January and June 2020, but 16,580 did not progress – meaning 63% of individual planned works were delayed until at least the second half of the year, affecting a minimum of 9,954 individual properties.

In addition to delays to maintenance and replacement in the first half of the year, 31% of all responding local authorities stated their fire door inspection programmes were delayed, affecting at least 12,596 fire doors.

Not all responding local authorities provided reasons for delay, but over half (53%) of those experiencing delays cited COVID-19-related restrictions, including limited property access and availability of contractors due to social distancing guidelines. However, it was positive that several local authorities proactively mentioned that emergency repair works to fire doors continued throughout the lockdown period to maintain the safety of residents.

Of those local authorities that experienced delays, 65% intend to commence works by the end of the year. This signals that the majority recognise the importance of properly fitted and maintained fire doors. However, worryingly 31% of local authorities stated that they are yet to define a date for recommencing the planned works.

The findings follow an open letter from the London Fire Brigade to all housing providers in the Capital urging them to put plans in place ahead of new fire safety legislation coming into effect. The letter strongly advises building owners to consider the risks of existing fire doors in their fire risk assessments, regardless of the height of the building.

Fire’s don’t stop – it’s time to prioritise fire doors

It’s clear COVID-19 has understandably impacted on service delivery across a variety of sectors, but fires don’t stop. With the UK lockdown period forcing many people to spend more time at home, people without fit for purpose fire doors have been put at risk. There is a need for continued and urgent focus on ensuring the safety of all building occupants whether in local authority or privately-rented accommodation, workplaces or other building types.

Whilst we have focused upon local authority owned and managed housing stock, we strongly suspect that our insight reflects the wider market. We hope that through this years’ Fire Door Safety Week, we can draw attention to these important issues and encourage all with responsibility for fire doors to take urgent action across fire door maintenance, inspection and replacement.

When it comes to fire door inspections, fire doors can become damaged at any time, especially where they are frequently used. If a damaged door goes unidentified it cannot perform its life-saving role. Like previous years, this year’s Fire Door Safety Week campaign will emphasise the importance of regular inspections, carried out by trained and competent professionals.

https://www.bwf.org.uk/

New reports reveal fire safety checks halved in last decade

by Passive

DORSET and Wiltshire firefighters carried out nearly 1,000 fewer safety checks on buildings last year compared with a decade ago, new figures reveal.

Fire services conduct audits on most public buildings and the shared areas of residential properties such as flats to make sure they are in line with safety laws.

But with inspections hitting a record low across England last year, the Fire Brigades Union warns the scale of the building safety crisis – exposed by the Grenfell Tower fire – is “beyond all current comprehension”.

Home Office data shows the Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service completed 1,040 fire safety audits on buildings in 2019-20. This was 958 fewer than the 1,998 inspections recorded in 2010-11, when comparable records began.

Across England, the number of audits completed fell to a record low of 48,400 last year – 43% fewer than in 2010-11. Buildings tested include care homes, hospitals and high-rises, as well as schools and shops.

Local breakdowns on the type of buildings checked were unavailable, but nationally 3,500 were undertaken on blocks of flats. This was a slight decrease on 2018-19 and far fewer than the 6,500 done in 2017-18.

The Home Office said the higher number that year was likely to be in response to the Grenfell Tower disaster, which killed 72 people in June 2017.

Matt Wrack, Fire Brigades Union general secretary, said more than a decade of government cuts had led to preventative work being slashed.

“The Grenfell Tower fire exposed the shameful state of building safety in the UK,” he said.

“The scale of the building safety crisis is beyond all current comprehension – and firefighters have a crucial role to play in tackling it.”

Mr Wrack said the union supports the Government’s new bills on fire safety and building safety, which aim to expand firefighters’ prevention and protection work.

“But to be effective, the fire and rescue service must be properly funded,” he added. “As things stand, the Government is trying to do public safety on the cheap.”

Of the audits undertaken in Dorset and Wiltshire last year, 476 (46 per cent) resulted in an “unsatisfactory” rating.

Crews issued 441 informal notifications to premises that had failed an audit, explaining what action needed to be taken.

If informal notifications fail, they can take tougher action and Dorset and Wiltshire crews handed out eight enforcement notices – formal warnings that a building breaches the law.

Prohibition notices, ordering access to a building to be restricted or for it to be closed altogether, were issued on 11 occasions.

A Home Office spokeswoman said the Government was committed to providing fire services with the resources they need.

She said: “Funding for standalone fire and rescue services has increased by 3.2 per cent in 2020-21.

“We’ve also made more than £20 million of funding available to the sector to support fire protection work – £16 million of which is being invested directly to increase the number of audits and qualified officers.”