Delhi Fire Service clears building fire safety proposals

by ConstructionFeatured NewsIndustry SectorsSafety

The Delhi Fire Service (DFS) has cleared seven proposals for fire safety systems in buildings being constructed under the Government’s Central Vista Project. The proposals were cleared by the DFS after the building designs were presented for approval by the government as senior official said.

Each of the seven proposals consist of plans for more than two building. These buildings include New Parliament Building, New PMO building, Amenity block, and Common Central secretariat being made under the Central Vista project, and a few other office buildings.

various in-built fire-fighting arrangements are recommended to be installed in the buildings such as a fire exit, a hose reel, a wet riser, hydrants, an automatic sprinkler system, internal hydrants and yard hydrants, pumping arrangements, and captive water storage for fire-fighting, the fire officers said.

Automatic fire detection and alarming system, manual-operated electric fire alarm system and a public address system are also recommended in the National Building Code of India Chapter 4 on fire and fire safety.

“All the recommendations suggested are being followed and implemented in the building designs which had altered,” the officer said. Atul Garg, Director of DFS said.

“The buildings under the Central Vista project have state-of-the-art technology as far as the fire department is considered. We have tried to provide the best infrastructure for the fire safety system. This is going to have in-built fire safety systems with a set up of a huge fire control room as well.”

The fire officials said that initially it was not easy to convince the architects of the project to make certain specific changes in terms of fire safety system as they were of the view that any such changes could affect the beauty of the buildings.

Bangkok pubs temporarily shuttered after fire safety inspections

by Featured NewsSafety

Just over one fifth of the pubs in Bangkok that became the subject of the fire-safety inspections carried out across the capital city following a blaze in Chonburi were temporarily closed last week.

Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt had ordered inspections of entertainment venues in every district of the capital and 83 of the 400 Bangkok venues inspected have been shuttered after inspectors found problems with fire exits and escape routes.

The move follows a blaze at an unlicensed pub in Chonburi’s Sattahip district which left 15 people dead and 37 injured.

Governor Chadchart, who is an engineer by profession, said escape routes should be obvious and clearly signposted to aid victims’ chance of survival in dangerous situations. He ordered further inspections in a bid to weed out Bangkok entertainment venues that are operating illegally.

Chadchart said the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration will ensure thorough inspections across the city. Authorities have ordered inspections of nightspots across the state.

London Fire Brigade raise concerns over deliberate grass fires

by Breaking NewsSafety

London Fire Brigade has raised concerns that the number of deliberate fires could rise over the summer holidays amid a sustained dry spell and following a significant grass fire in Feltham last week believed to have been started deliberately.

The Brigade has said it is concerned that the number of deliberate grass fires could spike particularly given the period of hot weather London has seen which has made the ground tinder dry and is expected to continue.

Firefighters have already attended more than 425 deliberate grass and open land fires this year, including on Hatton Road in Feltham last week, which saw around six hectares of land damaged by the blaze.

Firefighters have taken action by sharing fire safety advice with young people and their families at community events over the summer. They are now asking parents and carers to help by speaking to their children about the dangers of setting fires in a bid to protect the capital’s parks and green spaces.

Assistant Commissioner for Fire Safety, Charlie Pugsley, said the Brigade are seeing too many fires being started deliberately: “The last few years has certainly shown us how important our parks and green spaces are, with many of us spending more time than ever outdoors with friends and loved ones, so we need Londoners to help look after them.

“Whilst the dry and sunny spells of weather will be great for families looking to spend time outside over the summer holidays, it also means that the risk of grass fires is going to increase as the ground becomes dryer. Talk to your children about how dangerous it is to play with fire, keep matches and lighters out of sight and if you’re worried about a child or young person who has set fires get in touch with our Firesetters Intervention Scheme (FIS).”

Amber alert

The MET office has issued an Amber Alert for extreme heat across southern parts of the UK. The hot spell will develop across parts of England and Wales later this week.

On what to expect the alert said:

  • Adverse health effects are likely to be experienced by those vulnerable to extreme heat
  • The wider population are likely to experience some adverse health effects including sunburn or heat exhaustion (dehydration, nausea, fatigue) and other heat related illnesses
  • Some changes in working practices and daily routines likely to be required
  • An increased chance that some heat-sensitive systems and equipment may fail.
  • More people are likely to visit coastal areas, lakes, rivers and other beauty spots leading to an increased risk of water safety and fire-related incidents.
  • Some delays to road, rail and air travel are possible, with potential for welfare issues for those who experience prolonged delays

FIA releases annual Market Conditions Survey for UK fire market

by Featured NewsSafety

The Fire Industry Association has released its annual Market Conditions Survey to assess the current market conditions within the UK fire market.

The survey examines the state of the fire industry from all businesses within and provides insight into the current trends in the levels of skilled to unskilled workers, employment of apprentices, payment periods and changes in supplier costs – plus the opportunity for individuals to voice their opinion on the things that matter to them most within the fire industry.

The FIA is asking businesses working within the fire sector to contribute to the survey, as this will form an essential piece of research and help predict the market trends within the industry. 

Once all the data from the survey has been collected, the responses will be collated to create a report that will be freely available to all.  The results will be anonymised in the report so that individuals can freely have their say.

The members survey can be found here.

The non members survey can be found here.

Maharashtra government sets up panel to review fire safety rules

by Featured NewsSafety

The Bombay High Court has directed the Maharashtra government to set up a committee by 19 August to prepare a report on the implementation of the 2009 draft fire safety rules and regulations for buildings and structures vulnerable to disasters.

The division bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice MS Karnik said the committee should be made up of experts from the field of fire safety who will be given two months to submit its report to the state government.

The bench noted, “The draft rules are of the year 2009. We are now in the year 2022. The committee shall see if we need to improve the rules and our system.”

The move is in response to public interest litigation filed by advocate Abha Singh seeking enforcement of the draft special regulations for fire safety in buildings vulnerable to man-made disasters. The regulations were issued in 2009 in the aftermath of the 26/11 terror attack in Mumbai.

Advocate Hiten Venegaonkar, appearing for the Maharashtra government, told the court during an earlier hearing that the government was in the process of including the rules established in 2009 safety draft in the new Development Control and Planning Regulations (DCPR).

London’s Fire Commissioner calls for ban on disposable BBQs

by Breaking NewsSafety

London’s Fire Commissioner has called for a total ban on disposable barbecues following one of the busiest weeks in London Fire Brigade’s history.

The call comes ahead of a possible second summer heatwave and an unprecedented number of large grassland fires London’s firefighters worked in tough conditions to tackle in recent weeks.

New statistics show that week commencing Monday, 18 July the Brigade received 8,302 calls and attended 3,231 incidents. In addition: Firefighters attended more than 1,000 fires, the number of 999 calls received was more than double taken for the same period last year and thirty-four grass fires required an attendance of four fire engine and above.

London Fire Brigade (LFB) has said that disposable barbecues pose a significant fire risk if they are not put out properly as they can cause grass fires in open spaces and scorch the grassed areas. The recent dry weather has increased the chances of a fire caused by a disposable barbecue.

LFB also noted that people should not barbecue on balconies and during this exceptional dry spell and that Londoners should not have any barbecues or open fires in parks and public spaces.

London’s Fire Commissioner Andy Roe has already written to local authorities asking for a temporary ban on the use of barbecues in all public parks and open spaces. 

Retailers, including Waitrose and Aldi, have announced they will no longer stock disposable barbecues because of the detrimental impact they have on the environment and wildlife.

Marks & Spencer has also stopped selling disposable barbecues in stores over the increased fire risk. Marks & Spencer tweeted: “Given the unusually hot and dry conditions, we’ve taken the precautionary step of removing them from sale across the UK.”

The London Fire Brigade has backed a petition set up by Toby Tyler whose son Will was severely burned by a disposable barbecue. The petition can be found here https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/618664.

Commissioner Roe said: “Despite our grass fire warnings, we’ve still seen some people behaving carelessly and recklessly. On Saturday (23rd July) firefighters prevented a serious blaze at Wanstead Flats caused using a disposable barbecue. We need urgent action now to see a national ban on the sale of disposable barbecues. They can be bought for as little as five pounds and can cause untold damage, especially when the grass is as dry as it has been over the last few weeks.

“Last week is another example of how we are increasingly being challenged by new extremes of weather as our climate changes and we’re developing long-term strategies to deal with more incidents like this in the future.”

Fire safety advice issued following flat blaze in Sussex

by Featured NewsSafety

Crawley Borough Council has teamed up with West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service (WSFRS) to offer safety advice to residents of Milton Mount recently.

The large block of flats was the site of a fire last month. While it was contained to one flat and there were no injuries, the council and WSFRS agreed to join forces to provide fire safety information to tenants and leaseholders.

The visits saw council officers joining Green Watch from Crawley Fire Station, WSFRS’s Community Prevention and Training Team and volunteers to inspect communal areas, offer Safe and Well visits to residents and give general safety advice.

A Safe and Well visit is completely free and focuses on four key areas:

  • Identify and be aware of the potential fire risks within your home
  • Know what to do to reduce or prevent these risks
  • Put together an escape plan in case a fire does break out and ensure you have working smoke alarms
  • General Health and Wellbeing advice

Three visits were undertaken with four booked in by residents for the coming weeks.

Councillor Sandra Buck, Cabinet member for Housing at Crawley Borough Council, said: “While the fire was contained, it will have understandably worried residents. The visit was a great chance to hear from the experts about fire safety and to take simple steps to stay safe, including having a working smoke alarm and testing it regularly.”

Steve Burns, Station Manager at Crawley Fire Station said: “Our collaborative visit to Milton Mount was a great opportunity for all the services and departments involved to share information and engage with the residents at Milton Mount. It gave us the opportunity to reassure residents that the Housing Team at Crawley Borough Council is working hard to make Milton Mount the safest it can be and for them to understand that West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service is not only there to deal with incidents but to offer support and advice after and in the future.”

New informational guidance for flat fire safety published by UK government

by Featured NewsSafety

The UK Government has published a new leaflet for people living in flats, for landlords and for those responsible for residential buildings with advice and tips provided here supplement our main Fire Safety in the Home leaflet.

The leaflet was produced to support fire safety promotion by the national Fire Kills campaign and local fire and rescue services.

It contains guidance information for landlords about the steps they must take to prevent fires breaking out in the communal areas and to protect escape routes, with an overview of The Fire Safety Order and Housing Legislation.

The leaflet advises tenants who are worried that their landlord is not doing enough to ensure your safety, that they can contact their local council or local fire and rescue authority as both have enforcement powers that can be used to bring fire safety standards up to the required level.

It also covers: the responsibilities as a resident, including and tips to reduce the risk of fire, the responsibilities of the leaseholder, information about smoke alarms, what steps to take in the event of a fire and a ‘bed time checklist’.

The leaflet can be found here.

Dubai Aviation City Corporation concludes Fire Safety Campaign

by Featured NewsMiddle East - Featured News ArchivesSafety

The Dubai Aviation City Corporation (DACC) OHSE Department has concluded its 2022 Fire Safety Campaign. The campaign, which took place within Dubai South saw the participation of 51 companies. 

During the campaign, in the presence of Khalifa Al Zaffin, Executive Chairman of DACC, and other senior executives, the OHSE safety team highlighted fire safety hazards and promoted fire safety culture throughout the community in line with the UAE’s Fire and Life Safety Code and with the cooperation of the Dubai Civil Defense. 

The campaign also witnessed the awarding of participating companies, as well as the Dubai Civil Defence Dubai South Fire Station which received a special appreciation award for its outstanding support during this initiative.

Commenting on the campaign’s conclusion, Ali Abdulla- SVP – Licensing and Regulatory Affairs said: “We are pleased with the campaign’s success and the positive response and awareness received from all our partners at Dubai South. We look forward to hosting more events to enhance the safety and health culture within Dubai South”

Dubai South was launched as a Dubai Government project in 2006, representing an emerging 145-square-kilometre, master-planned city based on the happiness of the individual. The city is identified as Dubai’s flagship urban project and is designed to create 500,000 jobs in an integrated economic environment that supports all types of businesses and industries

Fire brigades offer safety advice over UK heat wave

by Featured NewsSafety

London Fire Brigade issued safety advice after the Met Office issued a heat health warning for extreme heat wave this week.

London Fire Brigade’s Assistant Commissioner, Pat Goulbourne, said: “The Met Office has issued a warning for extreme heat on Monday and Tuesday and we’re urging people to continue to take extra care and help us prevent fires on open land.

“Make sure rubbish, especially glass, is safely thrown away and cigarettes are always properly disposed of. Grass will be tinder dry after such hot weather, so please don’t have barbecues in parks and public spaces.

“Disposable barbecues that have been abandoned can still end up causing a fire as hot coals can smoulder and pose a real fire risk for some time after the flames die down – they need to be put right out and cooled before being safely thrown away. 

“We would also ask people not to barbecue on balconies. It’s easier than you might think for a balcony fire to spread to others, which could not only leave you homeless but displace hundreds of your neighbours too.

 “People will want to cool down but don’t dive into open water as it’s colder than it looks. There is the risk of cold water shock, which can cause your body to go into shock no matter how fit you are. It causes panic, anxiety, disorientation and loss of muscular control, which cause you to gasp for air and as a result, inhale water. Rather than struggling, follow the RNLI advice and ‘float to live’.

“In this extreme heat, please keep an eye out for vulnerable neighbours and family members and make sure you keep hydrated.”

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service’s Chief Fire Officere Rob Barber has urged the public to enjoy the summer sunshine responsibly as record-breaking temperatures are set to hit.

Barber said: “Dry land and shrubbery are particularly prone to accelerating wildfires in the hotter temperatures, as many look to head outdoors and enjoy the sunshine.

“Recent incidents in the Moorlands have pulled significant resources from our organisation and have caused widespread issues with our communities.

“This increase in temperature may also see an increase in people swimming in open water – particularly in cold rivers and canals.

“This water is often much colder than people first anticipate and can cause muscle cramps and shock if people decide to swim them.

“Strong currents are often difficult to see before entering and can cause catastrophic issues when people attempt to get out, particularly if slippery banks surround the water.

“We want people to enjoy themselves and have a great time, but also to think about how they can protect one another and ensure they remain safe.”