The Big Rebuild: Restoring reputation with innovation

by Safety

Innovation will restore the UK construction sector’s reputation states Ian King, Chief Operating Officer of Zeroignition.

The Grenfell fire tragedy has unquestionably damaged the construction sector’s reputation. Paul Hyett, former RIBA president has even criticised the industry for having a sloppy attitude and “sleep-walking towards serious problems”. However, as the inquiry into the tragic events of 2017 continues, the industry is showing a united front to attempt to recover its good name.

Pioneering progress

Since Grenfell, the regulatory picture has evolved and is becoming much clearer. In recent times, the conversations we at Zeroignition are having with manufacturers, have revealed a very positive shift towards a higher focus on fire protection.

There’s real commitment to improving the safety of products coming to market. Companies are innovating strongly, investing in state-of-the-art technology and facilities, and sourcing the very best manpower, to achieve better fire rated credentials across all of their products

The result? Pioneering products that tick every box – from sustainability to impeccable quality, and crucially, safer choices that are fit for purpose, when it comes to fire.

Supply the demand

One wood panel manufacturer we work with closely uses our product to produce flame retardant OSB, and has seen a spike in enquiries for FR rated product since they launched their expanded FR range last year.

It seems that building in a safe, yet sustainable way is resonating with an increasing number within the industry. Companies now view investing time and money into FR products as a way to position themselves as contributing to a better world.

Slow and steady

While it’s encouraging to see change. I know many of you will be asking why it has taken the construction industry so long to get to this point.

Many of us are frustrated and disappointed in the industry, and rightly so. Change is slow, and this is largely due to timeframes. Building and product development, from initial concept, through testing and into the marketplace, takes a long time and a lot of money. At Zeroignition we’ve experienced the lengthy approval process first-hand.

Construction must also navigate a complex and grindingly slow regulatory system. Legal changes are processed by civil servants and politicians who move slowly. Take the 18m limit discussion for example. This is still being quibbled over now, three years on.

However with perseverance, innovations can begin to help us heal. Identifying and addressing the core problem might be challenging, but it’s where true innovation comes from, and can reap huge rewards.

Rather than focusing on what was lacking before, let’s set our sights firmly on the positive changes we are starting to see emerge, and present them to world in ways that show we really do care.

Ian King, Chief Operations Officer of Zero Ignition

NFCC praise UK FRS as they hit COVID-19 vaccine milestone

by Safety

The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) has praised the UK fire and rescue service as they reach 100,000 COVID–19 vaccinations. 

Throughout the pandemic, fire services across the UK have stepped in to assist with vaccinations, driving ambulances and rapid testing.

Chair of NFCC, Roy Wilsher, said: “Over the last few weeks, we have seen FRSs working tirelessly to set up vaccination sites, assisting with patient care and administering the vaccines. It’s truly incredible to think that in just a matter of weeks since the mass vaccination programme commenced, more than 113,000 vaccines have been administered by FRS staff alone.  

“It seems to me that no matter what the challenge is, FRS staff are ready, willing and able to assist wherever their help is needed. There is no doubt that the public too are very proud of everything their local fire and rescue service continues to achieve.”  

London Fire Brigade warns of potential spike in fires as pubs re-open to public

by Safety

The London Fire Brigade is warning of a possible spike in fires due to concerns that people may drink to excess as pubs, bars and restaurants open their doors to the public for the first time in three months.

Since the lockdown, the amount of fires where alcohol was cited as an impairment has dropped by a quarter. While cooking remains a leading cause of alcohol-related fires, there has been a 37% reduction in the number of fires caused by cooking under the influence, which the Brigade believes could be attributed to the closure of London’s pubs.

With around one-in-three people who died in a fire last year having alcohol in their system, there’s a concern that the long-awaited re-opening of pubs could result in a sudden surge in devastating fires.

Even at the best of times, cooking can be hard to manage and when someone has been drinking alcohol, the risk of having an accident increases as a person’s co-ordination decreases.

Paul Jennings, the London Fire Brigade’s assistant commissioner for fire safety, said: “As the lockdown eases, we understand that people are excited for the re-opening of pubs, bars and restaurants after months of closure, but we urge them to drink responsibly. Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol can seriously impair someone’s judgements and can put them at a very real risk of having an accident. With more fires likely to start in the kitchen than any other room in the home, it’s best for people to stay away from cooking if they’ve had a few drinks.”

The NHS has stated that, after drinking just four-to-six units of alcohol (ie the equivalent of around just two standard glasses of wine), the part of a person’s brain associated with judgement and decision-making is affected, resulting in more reckless behaviour and affecting their reaction time.