Posts in category: Safety

People with disabilities are being put at risk by the lack of clarity over where responsibility lies for escaping from a building in an emergency – safety experts and evacuation specialists have warned.

Evac+Chair International is urging lawmakers to close the legislative gap to encourage more accountability and transparency on the evacuation equipment needed, in order to save lives.

At the same time, it is looking to educate businesses, building managers and those responsible for fire safety on their safety-related duty in emergency situations.

The call has been launched in the wake of discussion around the topic during Business Safety Week 2021, Disability Awareness Day 2021 and Fire Door Safety Week 2021 – all of which raise awareness on safety in the workplace and those living with disabilities or mobility impairments.

In total, there are 14.1 million disabled people in the UK and more than 4.4 million of them are in work and should be adequately protected in case of an emergency.

Currently, fire safety regulations do not specify evacuation systems or equipment for people with disabilities or temporary mobility issues, as a legal requirement in buildings. And while there is a legal responsibility for the person responsible for fire safety to have in place a risk assessment and measures to support the safe evacuation of people from the building, this does not state what should be in place to support people with disabilities.

Now, Birmingham-based Evac+Chair International wants a rethink of the law and is calling on businesses to make sure they have the right risk assessments and measures in place to keep everyone safe in an emergency situation.

Gerard Wallace, Managing Director of Evac+Chair International, said: “It is vital that businesses know their responsibilities and people with disabilities – whether lifelong or temporary – know their rights around safely getting out of a building in an emergency.

“There is great confusion and a  legislative gap and lack of clarity around what business owners and building managers responsible for fire safety need to have in place to properly protect staff, visitors and the public.”

Under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, businesses must undertake assessments to identify injury and illness risk, taking action to eliminate, or control that risk. For those with more than five employees, results should be recorded, while considering groups particularly at risk such as older, younger, pregnant or disabled employees.

Wallace added: “The emphasis has always been on giving disabled people access into buildings, but little thought and planning is paid on how to support people to get out in an emergency.

“We also see a lack of awareness amongst building owners and managers around their responsibilities for people with temporary disabilities or impairments – such as a broken leg or pregnancy. The fact is, they are responsible and could be liable in a worst-case scenario.

“We need to make sure that everyone, whether able-bodied or not, can escape from a building in an emergency situation.”

Evac+Chair International is joining forces with other businesses, national advocacy groups and charities to highlight the issue with the Government.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) and BAFE have already shown their support for the call.

Nathan Davies, RoSPA’s Executive Head of Policy and Portfolio, said: “The efficiency of an emergency evacuation can be the difference between protecting lives and serious injury or death.

“Therefore, we support any initiative that encourages organisations to put correct measures in place to create workplace environments that are safe for all.”

Lewis Ramsay, Board Member – BAFE Fire Safety Register/former Assistant Chief Officer for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, said: “The BAFE Fire Safety Register believes that risk to life safety can be mitigated in many ways. A safe evacuation strategy for all people is one of these, which can greatly benefit firefighters (and other responders) in an emergency. “BAFE would welcome greater clarification (and promotion) where responsibilities lie for fire safety and emergency evacuation actions, especially for more vulnerable people. This will aid in getting the appropriate systems and provisions in place for a safer built environment.”

For more information, contact the team at Evac+Chair:

Tel:                     +44 (0)121 706 6744 

Website:             evacchair.co.uk   

Email:                 enquiries@evacchair.co.uk

Door closers are essential in protecting people and property, but are left useless without the appropriate adjustments. Kirk Smith of Allegion UK explains the key elements of door closer adjustments and how to correctly approach each type.

Whether surface mounted or concealed within the frame of a fire door, door closers play an integral role in a building’s operational safety.

Described as mechanically or electronically controlled closing devices, closers are designed to open a door safely and close slowly but firmly enough to latch into place. When working as intended, this enables a user to operate a door in a way that doesn’t harm themselves or damage the building. More importantly, a working door closer will keep fire doors closed in the event of a fire, thus aiding in the compartmentalisation of fire and smoke.

In fact, the UK Government, as part of their building safety advice published in 2020, recognised the significance of ‘compulsary closers’ and urged decision makers and residents to recognise the importance of a working self-closing device. But despite their significance, a lack of sufficient maintenance and installation know-how means not all door closers function as required.

Essential Safeguarding

The Door Hardware Federation (DHF) state in their best practice guide that a minimum power size 3 door closer must be used on fire doors. In addition, to comply with UK Construction Products Regulations, controlled closing devices must be CE marked, and tested under BS EN 1154 standard and fire rated to BS EN 1634.

Aside from using non-compliant hardware, problems appear when a door closer isn’t adjusted correctly. Whether a door is opened manually, mechanically or electronically an incorrectly adjusted door closer can leave doors slamming open and shut and in some cases, failing to close completely. This compromises fire safety and building security – but it can be fixed.­

Door closers operate by using spring tension, controlled by hydraulic fluid which passes from one section to the next as a door is opened. As the spring pushes the door closed again, the fluid passes back to the previous section through a series of valves that control the speed of the mechanism. The valves can be adjusted at the installation stage or at regular maintenance periods, and assist in controlling the speed of the door operation.

Adjustments Explained

When it comes to adjusting a door closer, it’s important to understand what type of correction the closer needs to operate in its desired way. Most adjustements can be implemented by opening and closing the various hydraulic valves found on the body of the door closer – turning them with an allen key or screwdriver to increase or decrease until the door closes in a safe and controlled manner. Kirk Smith of Allegion UK explains more:

Adjustable Closer Speed

“In the first instance, if a door is closing with too little or too much speed, users are in danger of leaving the door ajar, or when slamming shut, damaging the surrounding walls or the door and hardware itself. This can lead to fire safety concerns and increased maintenance periods. With this in mind, it’s commonly recommended to locate and adjust the valves so that the fire door closes within a 5-7 second period from a 90 degree angle.”

Adjustable Closer Power

“A PowerAdjust mechanism provides a visual guide on the EN power level at which the closer has been adjusted. This visual guide is useful in showing what strength a door is currently closing at and can detail how many valve turns are required to increase or decrease the power. This helps to avoid overtightening which endangers breaking the regulator oil seal. It’s also key to remember that a minimum power size 3 is required on any fire door.”

Adjustable Latch Action

“At it’s most crucial stage of the closing cycle, a door must often overcome seals and latches to close effectively. An unlatched door can facilitate the spread of smoke and fire and renders a fire door useless. Adjustable latch action allows you to control the speed of the door in the final 15 degrees of the closing cycle, ensuring the door completes closing and isn’t left unlatched. In the event a door is closing too hard at the final stage, a closer can also be adjusted to soften the final 15 degrees, which helps avoid damage to the lock strike and frame.”

Adjustable Backcheck

“In some cases, a fire door may be opening too quickly and violently and when poorly adjusted, this can leave the door to jam on the closing cycle. To prevent damage to the door or injury to persons standing behind it, we recommend adjusting the backcheck. Doing so will provide a cushioning effect, slowing the door down which is optimal for active building environments such as schools. Even after adjusting the closer, it’s always worth using doorstops.”

Adjustable Delayed Action

“A prolonged closing action is useful for busy environments such as schools, hospitals and care homes – helping users pass through in adequate time. By adjusting the delayed action, the speed of which the door closes can be set slower, giving people extra time to pass through the doorway. Adjustable timing is set between 70 degrees and 120 degrees. However, maximum delay permissible on a a fire door should take no longer than 25 seconds to complete its closing cycle.”

Adjustable Hold-open

“Although mechanical hold open door closers are for use on non-fire doors only, electromagnetic doors can safely implement hold-open door closers under fire safety standards.

A fully functional fire door closer is a prerequisite for comprehensive fire safety. And so, when it comes to the installation and maintenance of fire door closers, it’s never right to risk building safety or non-compliance.

To take the first step is to understand where fire safety may be compromised and what door closer adjustments are required to remedy those issues. Because only when a closer is operating at optimal speed and strength is a fire door able to offer essential protection against the elements.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has set out how it is working to protect communities from new risks linked to climate change as it prepares to help support a safe COP26.

The major event, which is taking place in Glasgow between October 31 and November 12, is expected to be attended by dozens of world leaders to discuss climate change action. 

Assistant Chief Officer Stuart Stevens says firefighters are increasingly responding to severe weather-related incidents such as wildfires and flooding – and outlined steps being taken to ensure communities are protected.  

ACO Stevens, who is the SFRS Director of Service Delivery, said: “Scotland will not be shielded from the impacts of climate change so we must adapt to meet the predicted rise in weather extremes in the years to come.  

“We are in the process of introducing a National Wildfire Strategy, which considers the latest developments in wildfire management, training and operational procedures, as well as advances in PPE and equipment technologies.  

“The strategy will help reduce the impact of wildfires on our local communities and the environment.  

“Increased flooding risks will also place greater demand on our rescue boats and supporting equipment.  

“We have 66 flood response stations strategically placed around Scotland and the Service has this year bolstered its water rescue capabilities with twenty new boats positioned throughout the country.

“It is imperative that our firefighters are trained and equipped to respond safely and effectively to assist communities when required.”  

SFRS has pledged to reduce its own carbon footprint and has set out a climate change response plan which aims to reduce emissions by six percent each year until 2030. The goal is to be carbon neutral by 2045.  

During the climate change conference, firefighters will be based at the main COP26 event sites adjacent to the SEC and Glasgow Science Centre. 

Trained water rescue teams will also be on the River Clyde, near to the event, with rope rescue and other specialist crews available if required. 

The Service has also been participating in a number of multi-agency testing and exercising events with key delivery partners. 

Prevention and Protection teams have been working closely with the hospitality sector to ensure fire safety measures are in place including at hotels.  

Those planning to rent a room or property are being reminded that they must comply with the law to keep guests safe from fire.

Meanwhile, plans are in place to ensure firefighters can continue to respond to emergencies including on the Service’s traditionally busiest night of the year, November 5. 

ACO Stevens said: “COP26 is a major summit and this will be an extraordinary occasion for Scotland so it is vital that we work with partners, the business and hospitality sectors and communities to keep people safe.

“We also recognise that Bonfire Night coincides with COP26 but we have been planning and preparing for some time now and we have robust measures in place to ensure we can continue to respond to emergencies. 

“There is no doubt that we welcome the continuing support of our communities – by following all available safety guidance from ourselves and our partners, they can help reduce the risk of harm wherever possible.”

He added: “We want those who have guests sleeping on their premises to carefully consider the fire safety arrangements and measures that need to be put in place. These standards apply at all times – not just for COP26.  

“Guests will be in a new environment so it’s important to safeguard them by having adequate fire detection in place and ensuring they are aware of their emergency escape plan.”  

SFRS has launched a one-stop-shop for all safety advice which can be found here SFRS website alongside information on SFRS Carbon Management Projects.

Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) has been awarded ServiceMark accreditation by the Institute of Customer Service (ICS), following record feedback from customers and colleagues.

It’s the first time a fire and rescue service has achieved this recognition, and it’s a national standard, independently recognising an organisation’s customer service excellence.

The ServiceMark assessment report noted that, KFRS has ‘turned customer culture completely on its head in the most positive way’, and that ‘all teams, from first responders to volunteers to education specialists, look at the whole customer journey and identify where support can be offered beyond an incident, or how an incident can be prevented.’

The report also highlighted that KFRS has a ‘commitment to delivering great service’ with passion and determination to ‘build a world that is safer, more inclusive and more involved’.

Following the assessment, which included interviews with employees, the ICS assessor reported: “All those I met were friendly, professional and very open in their approach. The passion for helping people and looking after each other came through in every conversation.

“Caring about customers is at the heart of what draws people to join Kent Fire and Rescue Service. Employees really do put themselves in their customers’ shoes and go above and beyond to ensure a positive outcome and a good experience – they genuinely care.”

KFRS has earned the ServiceMark as a result of colleague feedback, blended with customer survey results from earlier this year, in which KFRS achieved an exceptionally positive outcome. 

Ann Millington, Chief Executive at KFRS, said: “I am immensely proud that we have achieved ServiceMark accreditation. We have strived to shift our culture whole heartedly towards customers and their needs, and this is testament to the hard work of all my colleagues. We aren’t complacent though, and we will continue to work hard and improve further. 

“Some people challenge our use of the word ‘customer’ when we talk about the people we serve – but we aren’t just responding to emergencies. We’re constantly interacting with people in their homes, in places of work, in education settings, and online, to help prevent emergencies happening in the first place. 

“The breadth of our work is much larger than some people realise, and every person that accesses our services deserves to be treated as a valued customer.”

Jo Causon, CEO of The Institute of Customer Service added: “I would like to congratulate everyone at KFRS in achieving ServiceMark in recognition of their commitment to excellent customer service for all of their customers. 

“By acting on the insights gained from customer feedback as part of the ServiceMark accreditation, KFRS will be in a stronger position to offer customers what they want, when they want and how they want it.”

A company has been fined after a worker was paralysed after falling 11 metres down a stairwell at a football stadium when the concrete floor he was working on collapsed.

Peterborough Magistrates’ Court heard that on 14 June 2016, workers were constructing a new hospitality and seating stand at the stadium of Watford Football Club. The concrete floor and associated formwork collapsed causing a number of workers to fall. Most of the workers were able to cling to the structure to escape serious injury. However, Ashley Grealish fell approximately 11 metres down the mouth of a stairwell to the basement below sustaining multiple injuries including spinal damage, which caused permanent paralysis from the waist down.

An investigation by Health & Safety Executive (HSE) found that the company’s temporary works management system was lacking. The contractor should have had a suitable design for the temporary works, which are part of a construction project needed to enable the permanent structure to be built, taking proper account of the vertical load and the need for horizontal stability. There should also have been a robust system to check the temporary works were properly installed and thoroughly assessed before starting to load it with the wet concrete to form the floor slab.

ECS Groundwork Ltd of Warren Farm, Colney Heath, St Albans pleaded guilty to breaching Regulations 19 (1), 19(2) and 19(3) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015. The company was fined £40,000 and ordered to pay costs of £14,505.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Rauf Ahmed said: “The injuries suffered by Mr Grealish are life changing and the incident could easily have been fatal. This serious incident and devastation could have been avoided if the company had planned a safe system of work to prevent the support system used to cast the concrete floor from collapsing.”

Electric vehicle battery packs have increasing requirements concerning their thermal runaway mitigation strategy. Meanwhile, the aerogel industry is overly dependent on oil & gas and in need of diversification. Could this be the perfect match between a problem looking for a solution and a solution looking for a problem?

Despite the space tech reputation, silica aerogel is not a new discovery; in fact, the complicated history dates back almost 100-years. In that time there have been significant technical developments and headline applications, but the commercial journey only really gained traction in the 21st century. In the past 20-years the industry has grown, finding key applications in the oil & gas and petrochemical sectors, however, it is difficult to call the market a success. Growth has somewhat plateaued, the process means prices remain high, there have been prominent lawsuits, promising innovations have not propelled the adoption, and the attempts to diversify into other sectors achieving minimal success. That is until now.

IDTechEx has provided the leading market intelligence report on this industry for many years. Their latest version, “Aerogels 2021-2031: Technologies, Markets and Players”, provides the reader with key player, material, and application information. In addition, IDTechEx has also extensively studied the topic of thermal management for electric vehicles and a detailed assessment of the market can be found in “Thermal Management for Electric Vehicles 2021-2031”.

The lithium-ion battery market is booming, primarily driven by the transformation in the automotive sector. Of course, there are numerous considerations including the cell chemistry, cell format, price, supply chain, and more, but one essential piece of the puzzle is the strategy being adopted for thermal management and fire safety. Presently, there is a distinct lack of consolidation in pack design, and when coupled with an unknown regulatory outlook, charging expectations, price considerations, and rapidly developing battery technology it is unlikely to converge soon. The one thing that can be said with confidence is that longevity and safety will remain critical.

There are 4 main ways to cool current lithium-ion batteries: air, liquid, refrigerant, and immersion. IDTechEx analysis shows an increasing trend to active liquid cooling with each process having distinct strengths and weaknesses. Of course, cooling a battery is just part of the problem and warming the battery up is also a critical role. A further key consideration is what goes in between these cells and modules to not only facilitate the heat transfer, but also play roles in structure, energy absorption, space-filling for corrosion considerations, and more. T

hen there is the question of what happens in the event of a cell entering thermal runaway and do you want to try and contain that at the cell, module, or pack level. Per mile-driven EVs are currently safer than their ICE counterparts, but that does not mean that fires don’t happen, costly recalls have been forced upon notable OEMs, and damaging headlines are regularly seen. IDTechEx has identified numerous strategies that are all outlined in detail within their market report.

This is where silica aerogel blankets and sheets enter the picture with their superb thermal insulation and fire-retardant properties. Like all solutions they have their criticisms, ceramic players will say that that max temperature is not high enough (<1,000 C), foam players may criticize their compression properties, and both will point to price. However, all incumbents and emerging solutions have notable weaknesses, and it will depend on the OEMs pack design and safety tolerances; the reality is that the beneficial combination of aerogel properties means that they are starting to gain more of a market share.

Dedicated products are being launched, with the appropriate balance of properties and thickness, and solutions being found as to how to integrate this into a high-throughput automated manufacturing line. The key area is specifically between pouch and prismatic cells, the first adoption was seen in China with both local aerogel manufacturers and end-users, but it is expanding beyond this to other East Asian markets and North America; key aerogel manufacturers are making significant announcements of orders and engagement.

This is certainly not the end of the story as the evolution of the battery pack continues at pace, there is the upcoming jump to cell-to-pack architectures, the rise of solid-state batteries, a shifting regulatory landscape, vehicle price, and consumer expectations all to contend with. The same is true for aerogels with capacity expansions to be realized and innovations for both silica and polymer (which are also being considered for an inter-cell role) variants continuing to emerge.

IDTechEx do not expect one solution to emerge anytime soon, in fact, these thermal runaway mitigation strategies will be combined for maximum effectiveness and to serve multifunctional needs. The electrification of the automotive sector is completely re-writing the supplier landscape and as new challenges emerge this will continue to develop, but silica aerogels will certainly play a role in providing a critical and potentially highly lucrative growth opportunity for the industry.

Please see the IDTechEx report, “Aerogels 2021-2031: Technologies, Markets and Players”, for the most comprehensive overview of the aerogel market, including benchmarking studies, case studies, and granular market forecasts. As well as detailed manufacturer analysis is provided including their capacity, revenue, products, production processes, planned expansions, and more.

For more information on the specific application emerging as well as more information and forecasts of the electric vehicle industry, please see “Thermal Management for Electric Vehicles 2021-2031”.

A construction contractor has been fined after multiple health and safety issues were identified during a proactive Covid spot check at a site in Manchester.

Manchester Magistrates’ Court heard that on 9 July 2020, a HSE inspector performed a proactive Covid-19 spot check at a construction site in the city.

During the inspection, a host of safety issues were identified including working at height, welfare, Covid-19, site security, and electricity. The principal contractor was served with a Prohibition Notice and two Improvement Notices.

A return inspection was made on the 17 August 2020, after very little communication from the principal contractor. Little or no improvements had been made regarding the issues and additional enforcement action was required, including a further Prohibition Notice regarding an unsupported excavation.

It was subsequently established that the contractor had failed to comply with any of the Improvement Notices HSE had served.

Principal contractor Umar Akram Khatab, now resident in Hollingwood Lane, Bradford, pleaded guilty to breaches of Section 21 of the Health & Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and Regulation 13(1) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015. He was sentenced to a 12-month community order. He was also ordered to pay £3,000 towards costs and a victim surcharge of £95.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Rebecca Vaudrey said: “HSE prides itself on being a proportionate and evidence-based regulator. Since the beginning of the pandemic HSE has carried out more than 316,000 Covid spot checks, with the priority to urgently make workplaces safe from transmission risks, rather than heavy-handed enforcement.

“These checks have demonstrated that the majority of employers want to do the right thing to ensure their workers go home safe and well.

“This is the first prosecution to arise from the Spot Check programme. We’ve repeatedly stressed that prosecution is a last resort, but this case clearly illustrates that where there is consistent disregard to Covid or other risks to employees’ health and safety, HSE will use its powers to take action.”

To mark the start of Fire Door Safety Week 2021, Abloy UK has called for greater awareness and education of fire door compliance, highlighting the additional challenges that the adoption of flexible working has placed on managing access control and occupant life-safety in commercial buildings.

Pat Jefferies, Commercial Director at Abloy UK, explains: “The commercial working environment has changed drastically over the last year, with many organisations adopting a more flexible way of working with a mix of on-site and working from home.

“This means many commercial buildings will potentially have significantly reduced occupancy, but just because a building has fewer people in it, doesn’t mean fire safety can be overlooked or underestimated.

“In the event of an emergency such as a fire, there needs to be a reliable exit route that allows a quick and easy escape, so it’s vital the correct locking solutions are installed at access points. As well as the importance from a life-safety perspective, this will also help to control the flow of people.”

It’s positive news that UK fire statistics show a reduction in incidents, with 153,314 fires in the 2019/2020 period[1] – a six per cent decrease compared with the previous year – but one fire or fatality is one too many.

With this is mind, the Abloy Academy has been educating delegates on fire door compliance for over a decade, offering a free-of-charge Electrical Locking Fire and Escape Doors CPD course.

This RIBA Approved CPD covers the fundamental requirements when incorporating access control systems in commercial buildings, including the electric locking options available, and how to design standard compliant access control systems.

It also explains how to ensure that electric locking specifications meet the requirements of both fire door and escape door legislation. This includes BS EN 179 Emergency Escape (for when the building occupants are aware of the building environment), BS EN 1125 Panic Escape (for environments used by the general public) and BS EN 13637 Electronically Controlled Escape Systems (for use on escape routes). 

These standards state that even if a door is electronically controlled for access there must be a compliant mechanical means of escape in an emergency. In the case of fire doors this is essential to provide fire protection, compartmentalise a building and protect the escape routes.

As well as providing free courses on fire door compliance, Abloy UK also offers a range of compliant security product packages that are specifically designed for panic and escape doors. Its range of electric locks includes motor and solenoid locks, which are the most effective forms of electric locking and adhere to the mandatory fire and escape standards.

Pat adds: “When it comes to access control in public and commercial buildings, there is no greater responsibility than specifying and installing the correct locking solution on emergency escape and fire doors.

“Although Fire Door Safety Week gives us a relevant platform to highlight these issues, fire door safety should be front of mind all year round – especially when the ultimate cost from non-compliance can be the loss of life.”

To view the full range of training options available and book your place, go to https://www.abloy.co.uk/en/abloy/abloy-co-uk/academy/.

For further information on products and services available from Abloy visit www.abloy.co.uk, call 01902 364 500, or email info@abloy.co.uk.

[1] https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/959838/fire-and-rescue-incident-sep20-hosb0521.pdf