British Safety Council launches 2026 safety awards recognising global excellence

by EventsFeatured NewsSafety

Applications open for 2026 International Safety Awards

The British Safety Council has announced that applications are now open for the 2026 International Safety Awards.

The awards recognise organisations that demonstrate outstanding management of health, safety and wellbeing across the workplace.

Now in their 68th year, the International Safety Awards are among the longest-running global programmes of their kind.

Chief Executive of the British Safety Council, Mike Robinson, said: “British Safety Council’s International Safety Awards have long been seen by leaders and practitioners as a pinnacle of achievement and recognition in protecting and ensuring the health, safety and wellbeing of workers.

“It is our vision at British Safety Council that no-one should be injured or made ill through their work – anywhere in the world.

“I would encourage all organisations and leaders around the world who are proud of their track record to put themselves forward for an award.”

In 2025, 789 organisations received awards across 45 countries, representing sectors including construction, manufacturing, oil, gas, mining, power and utilities.

The closing date for 2026 applications is 2 February 2026, with results due to be announced on 17 March 2026.

Award categories and entry details

According to the British Safety Council, the 2026 awards will recognise excellence across four main categories.

Sector Awards will identify the top-performing submissions by industry.

Best in Country Awards will highlight the highest-scoring applications within nations that have sufficient participation.

The Best in Company Award will recognise sites demonstrating exceptional performance within organisations that have 50 or more participating locations.

The Chief Adjudicator’s Award will honour applications judged to be the most outstanding overall.

Eleven free-to-enter awards available

The British Safety Council confirmed that eleven categories remain free to enter, regardless of participation in the main International Safety Awards.

These include the Environmental Award, which recognises organisations using climate change risk assessment and vulnerability modelling to plan adaptation strategies.

The Rising Female Star Award, held in collaboration with SOWSHE-A, celebrates women shaping future leadership in health, safety, wellbeing and environmental management.

The David Parr Medal honours a public venue initiative with a measurable impact on health, safety or wellbeing, named after the late Technical Director whose industry involvement was inspired by the Hillsborough disaster.

The Lifetime Achievement Award will be voted for by the British Safety Council’s Trustees and celebrates outstanding contributions to workplace health and safety.

Further categories include the Seize the Opportunity Award, CEO Award, Health and Safety Transformation Award, Health, Safety and Wellbeing Ambassador of the Year, Team of the Year Award, the James Tye Award, and the Wellbeing Initiative Award.

Global participation and recognition

The British Safety Council said the 2025 awards drew winners from across 45 countries, illustrating the international reach of the programme.

Each award, the organisation explained, provides a benchmark for organisations to measure and improve their approach to occupational health and safety.

Robinson added that the Council’s mission remains focused on protecting workers globally through continuous learning and recognition of excellence.

Relevance for fire and safety professionals

For fire and safety professionals, the International Safety Awards offer a framework for benchmarking organisational performance against recognised standards of health, safety and wellbeing management.

Those involved in operational risk management, compliance or corporate safety leadership can use the awards process to evaluate safety systems and identify areas for development.

Senior safety officers, training leads and health and safety consultants can also review past winners’ approaches to identify transferable strategies applicable to emergency services, industrial safety, and high-risk sectors such as oil, gas and construction.

Grenfell Inquiry updates include new construction oversight and resident evacuation plans

by Breaking NewsSafety

Government updates progress on Grenfell recommendations

The UK Government has published its second quarterly progress report on implementing the recommendations from the Grenfell Tower Inquiry.

The report confirms completion of two further Phase 1 recommendations concerning Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs) for high-rise residential buildings.

According to the Government, all 58 Phase 2 recommendations have been accepted, with full implementation expected to take at least four years due to legislative requirements.

Officials said the new progress report includes an implementation timeline outlining expected completion dates for each recommendation.

The Government plans to update both the timeline and report quarterly until all recommendations are delivered.

Four-year delivery plan and new building reforms

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) stated that consultation will begin this year on Approved Document B and on a licensing scheme for Principal Contractors working on Higher-Risk Buildings (HRBs).

Further details are expected on the design of a single construction regulator and on the review of the HRB definition.

In June, MHCLG confirmed reforms to the Building Safety Regulator as the first step toward creating a single construction regulator.

Changes include appointing Andy Roe, former London Fire Brigade Commissioner, as non-executive chair of a new shadow board and introducing a Fast Track Process for decision-making.

The Building Safety Regulator will recruit more than 100 new staff by the end of the year to expand capacity.

Appointment of interim Chief Construction Adviser

In September, the Minister for Building Safety appointed Thouria Istephan as interim Chief Construction Adviser (CCA) for a 12-month term.

Istephan previously served on the Grenfell Tower Inquiry panel from 2019 to 2024.

Her role includes advising the MHCLG Secretary of State on construction policy and monitoring progress on the Government’s response to the Inquiry’s Phase 2 recommendations.

She will also support design and implementation work for the single construction regulator.

Social housing reforms and remediation measures

In July, the Government updated its Remediation Acceleration Plan (RAP), which aims to speed up the removal of unsafe cladding and improve accountability across the housing sector.

The update announced more than £1 billion of new investment to accelerate remediation in social housing and a new Remediation Bill to establish enforcement powers.

The RAP includes funding for buildings under 11 metres where no alternative financial support is available, as well as measures to replace Waking Watch patrols with more sustainable fire-safety solutions.

The Government also introduced wider reforms to the social housing sector, including the Plan for a decade of social and affordable housing renewal.

This plan will deliver 300,000 homes through a £39 billion programme, with at least 60% designated for social rent.

Regulations under Awaab’s Law, addressing damp and mould hazards, will come into force from October 2025, with full implementation by 2027.

New electrical safety regulations will apply to new tenancies from November 2025 and existing tenancies from May 2026.

Competence, transparency and inquiry oversight

The Government confirmed its commitment to legislate for mandatory accreditation of fire risk assessors, requiring certification through a UKAS-accredited body.

BSI published BS 8674:2025 in August, setting out competence criteria for fire risk assessors, which MHCLG described as a step toward professionalising the field.

In July, the Government also launched public dashboards to record recommendations from inquiries such as Grenfell Tower and the Infected Blood Inquiry.

These dashboards track progress on accepted recommendations and will be expanded to include future inquiries.

NFCC action plan and emergency response updates

The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) continues to coordinate delivery of Inquiry recommendations across fire and rescue services.

Its action plan includes reviews of regulations on lift fire controls, the creation of an Organisational Learning Library and new guidance on site-specific risk information.

The NFCC has re-established its Operational Training and Education Group, with the first meeting held in June, and completed a review of national guidance on the provision of water for firefighting.

In July, the Cabinet Office published the UK Government Resilience Action Plan outlining a ‘whole of society’ approach to national resilience, influenced by lessons from the Grenfell Inquiry.

A public consultation on partnerships between emergency responders and voluntary or faith groups closed in September and is under review.

New evacuation requirements for high-rise residents

The Fire Safety (Residential Evacuation Plans) (England) Regulations 2025, laid in July, now make Residential Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans mandatory in high-rise and higher-risk residential buildings.

These regulations complete two Phase 1 recommendations, requiring building managers to provide evacuation plans to fire services and maintain them in on-site information boxes.

Residents with disabilities or impairments must receive person-centred fire risk assessments and documented evacuation procedures.

The Government is also considering primary legislation to address the final Phase 1 evacuation recommendation.

Funding has been allocated this year to support social housing providers in implementing Residential PEEPs.

Relevance for fire and safety professionals

The progress report holds practical relevance for fire engineers, building safety managers and fire and rescue service leaders responsible for compliance with Grenfell Inquiry recommendations.

Mandatory Residential Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans introduce direct responsibilities for high-rise building owners and fire services in maintaining and acting on individual evacuation data.

Developments in fire risk assessor competence and forthcoming legislation will affect independent assessors and consultancy firms seeking UKAS-accredited certification.

Fire and rescue services will also be impacted by the National Fire Chiefs Council’s expanded guidance on operational learning, training and site-specific risk information.

Construction professionals and contractors working on Higher-Risk Buildings will need to follow new licensing and regulatory frameworks emerging under MHCLG’s reforms.

Inside the debate on EV indoor parking and charging fires

by Featured NewsSafetyTrainingVehicles

Fire safety for EV indoor parking facilities

Euralarm has published the recording of its recent webinar on fire safety for electric vehicles (EVs) in indoor parking and charging facilities.

The session aimed to clarify common misconceptions about EV fire risks and present practical approaches to fire protection in mixed-vehicle parking environments.

The European association said the webinar, hosted by its Extinguishing Section, provided factual comparisons between electric and combustion vehicle fire behaviour.

Speakers discussed the fire load of modern vehicles, thermal runaway in battery cells, and specific risks associated with charging infrastructure.

The event featured contributions from Kurt Hilen, Vice Chair of Euralarm’s Extinguishing Section, who helped develop the association’s guidance paper on EV fire safety in parking and charging facilities.

Myths and facts on EV fire risk

According to Euralarm, public perception often overstates the likelihood of EV fires compared with traditional vehicles.

The association presented data showing hybrid vehicles experience the highest fire frequency, while battery electric vehicles have a lower fire incident rate than combustion-engine vehicles.

Euralarm explained that total vehicle fire load depends largely on plastics and tyres rather than power source, with both electric and conventional vehicles presenting comparable fire loads.

Hilen said: “Battery electric vehicles do not catch fire more often than vehicles with internal combustion engines.”

He added that EV fires are extinguishable but require adapted methods due to battery design and positioning.

Fire safety challenges in parking environments

Euralarm highlighted that increasing vehicle size, plastic content and limited access in multi-storey or underground car parks complicate firefighting operations.

The association noted that confined ventilation and closely parked vehicles can accelerate fire spread and obstruct evacuation.

It described phenomena such as thermal runaway, toxic gas release and stranded energy as unique challenges that demand longer firefighting efforts and higher water volumes.

During charging, faulty installations, damaged cables or inadequate maintenance can act as ignition sources.

Euralarm said charging zones should therefore be prioritised for proactive fire protection and regular inspection.

Recommended protection measures and design priorities

The webinar outlined that the primary objectives in parking facility fire safety remain life protection, safe evacuation and structural stability.

A holistic strategy combining preventive, technical and organisational measures was presented.

These include correct installation and maintenance of charging systems, automatic fire detection, water-based suppression, emergency shut-offs and smoke extraction systems.

Hilen explained that automatic detection and suppression systems, when integrated, can prevent spread between vehicles and support firefighter access.

He said: “Each of these elements plays an important role, but only their integration provides truly effective fire protection.”

Focus areas for future implementation

Euralarm concluded that fire protection requirements for parking areas are evolving as vehicle technology advances.

The organisation advised that automatic fire detection should be considered a basic standard in every parking garage.

Resources, it said, should be prioritised for charging areas where vehicle density and electrical risk are greatest.

The full webinar recording and Euralarm’s guidance paper on fire safety for electric vehicles in parking and charging facilities are now available online.

Relevance for fire and safety professionals

This development is relevant for fire engineers, building designers, facility managers, fire protection contractors and regulatory authorities.

The findings address design and operational issues specific to mixed-vehicle parking environments, particularly in enclosed or multi-storey structures.

The guidance supports updated risk assessments, system integration and compliance planning for facilities incorporating EV charging infrastructure.

It also reinforces the need for regular maintenance and inspection of charging installations to prevent electrical faults.

For system specifiers and installers, the emphasis on early detection, water-based suppression and integrated safety controls provides actionable reference points for upgrading protection systems.

This article was informed by information from the following sou

What NFCC’s new remediation warning means for safety reform

by Breaking NewsConstructionPassiveSafety

Building remediation hindered by broken safety system

The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) has warned that building remediation is being delayed by deep-rooted problems in the UK’s building safety regime.

Launching its Remediation Position Statement, the NFCC said that relying on fire and rescue services to enforce a system that is not functioning properly is unsustainable.

The organisation urged ministers to create a centrally coordinated programme to address compliance, funding, accountability and workforce shortages.

It said that without such an approach, serious safety gaps would remain unresolved.

NFCC warns of barriers to government remediation targets

According to the NFCC, the Government’s Remediation Acceleration Plan is a step forward but faces major obstacles.

The plan aims to complete remediation of all high-rise buildings over 18 metres by 2029 and medium-rise buildings over 11 metres by 2031.

NFCC said that fluctuating government estimates of affected buildings, ranging from 5,900 to 12,000, have made it difficult to plan.

Of the 5,554 buildings within the public remediation programme, almost two-thirds remain incomplete.

The Government’s current working estimate is around 9,000 buildings.

Funding inconsistencies have also limited progress, NFCC said, with existing schemes often covering cladding but excluding other major defects.

The organisation added that fragmented funding arrangements, based on factors such as tenure, height and materials, have left many buildings stalled in uncertainty.

Financial and workforce pressures strain fire services

NFCC highlighted the financial pressure on fire and rescue services if they are required to inspect all buildings that may need remediation.

Depending on the final number of buildings within scope, the council estimated costs between £29.86 million and £61.77 million, with a working figure of £46.11 million based on 9,000 buildings.

NFCC said that this financial demand comes as many services face real-terms budget cuts, reducing their ability to oversee other high-risk sites such as hospitals and care homes.

Workforce shortages are also compounding delays, with fewer than 30 fully competent fire engineers currently working within English fire and rescue services.

The council said that training for such roles takes years and that recruitment has been made harder by experienced staff moving into the private sector.

Fire safety and building protection staff currently make up just 2.7% of the total fire and rescue service workforce in England.

The wider construction sector faces similar challenges, with the Chartered Institute of Building reporting a 250,000-person shortfall at a time of rising demand for new homes and infrastructure.

NFCC said its calls for a cross-departmental Construction Skills Strategy to address these shortages have not yet been acted upon.

NFCC chair calls for stronger regulation and accountability

Phil Garrigan, Chair of the National Fire Chiefs Council, said: “The Grenfell Tower fire was a national tragedy that exposed fundamental flaws in how we design, build, manage and regulate our homes.

“Fire and rescue services have played a vital role in making buildings safer, but enforcement alone cannot fix a broken system.

“Eight years on, progress is not where it should be. We must tackle the root causes – fragmented oversight, weak regulation, and chronic gaps in workforce, funding and data.

“Fire risk must be embedded into every stage of building safety, not left to emergency response.

“Underpinning all of this must be tougher regulation. The Grenfell Tower fire showed us, in the most devastating way, what happens when building regulations are too weak to protect people.

“We cannot allow that lesson to be ignored. The Government must implement the Grenfell Tower Inquiry recommendations in full and strengthen regulation to ensure no community is ever put at such risk again.”

NFCC outlines six priority actions for reform

The council’s position statement calls for six core actions.

It has urged the Government to establish a centrally led, risk-based remediation programme with defined roles, responsibilities and timelines.

It also wants a construction skills strategy to address shortages of fire engineers, surveyors, risk assessors and related trades.

Funding should be kept under review to ensure both internal and external defects are covered without costs being passed to leaseholders.

NFCC called for an urgent review of building regulations guidance to make sure safety standards are enforceable, risk-based and realistic.

It said that recently introduced enforcement powers must be clarified so that the Building Safety Regulator can coordinate action effectively.

Finally, NFCC said that the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 recommendations should be implemented through regulation of relevant professions, a large-scale product testing regime and publicly available compliance data.

Relevance for fire and safety professionals

This development affects several key groups within the fire and building safety sectors.

Fire and rescue services are directly impacted, as NFCC’s estimate shows potential inspection costs exceeding £46 million depending on the final scope of remediation.

Building control professionals, fire engineers and risk assessors face growing demand for skilled expertise amid workforce shortages and increased regulatory expectations.

For construction and facilities managers, the NFCC’s call for a risk-based remediation programme highlights the operational challenges of coordinating funding, timelines and compliance under fragmented schemes.

The proposed reforms also have implications for policymakers, regulators and those responsible for enforcing the Building Safety Act, particularly where responsibilities overlap with the Building Safety Regulator.

Blackline Safety celebrates eighth award for EXO 8 device in 2025

by Featured NewsFire DetectionGas DetectionSafety

Blackline Safety’s EXO 8 earns Firehouse Innovation Award

Blackline Safety has announced that its EXO 8 area monitor has been named a 2025 Firehouse Innovation Award winner.

The company said this recognition marks the eighth major industry award for the device in 2025.

The Firehouse Innovation Awards highlight advances that improve firefighter and emergency response operations.

Firehouse Magazine described EXO 8 as “the only area monitor that detects eight different gases and gamma radiation in a single, rugged, portable device.”

It called the model “a game changer for firefighters who operate in high-stakes environments.”

Cody Slater, Chief Executive Officer and Chair at Blackline Safety, said: “Earning our eighth award this year is a powerful testament to EXO 8’s impact.”

“It’s redefining what teams expect from area monitoring – connecting responders and industrial crews to the critical data they need to make faster, safer decisions when it matters most.”

Portable monitoring with cloud connectivity

According to the company, EXO 8 is the only portable area monitor that combines gas and gamma radiation detection in a single connected unit.

The system streams data live to the cloud, giving emergency response teams real-time visibility in hazardous environments.

This approach supports decision-making in situations where conditions and substances may be unknown.

The manufacturer explained that the platform enables responders and industrial users to view gas readings and radiation levels instantly from remote locations.

Multiple awards recognise EXO 8 innovation

In addition to the Firehouse award, EXO 8 has earned seven other major honours during 2025.

These include two Occupational Health & Safety (OH&S) New Product of the Year Awards, a Red Dot Design Award, a Préventica Paris Innovation Award and three OH&S Industrial Hygiene Awards.

The company said the recognition reflects the device’s design, innovation and contribution to worker and public safety.

Platform update expands data insight

Blackline Safety confirmed that it has also refreshed its EXO 8 analytics report within the Blackline Live platform.

The update introduces features that allow users to view gas readings by location and track gamma radiation trends over time.

According to the company, these functions make it easier to visualise activity timelines and simplify audits and reporting.

Slater added: “Firefighters and first responders put everything on the line to protect others.

“At Blackline, we’re driven by the belief that they deserve that same level of protection in return.

“With EXO’s real-time monitoring and data, we can give them the visibility, confidence and connection they need to get home safe at the end of the day.”

Relevance for fire and safety professionals

The recognition of EXO 8 will be of interest to fire chiefs, emergency response managers and industrial safety officers who rely on area monitoring technology for operational safety.

The system’s ability to detect eight gases and gamma radiation in a single device reduces the need for multiple instruments during hazardous response operations.

Its integration with cloud-based analytics provides command centres and incident managers with real-time situational awareness across complex or remote environments.

The updated analytics within Blackline Live enable safety teams to review exposure patterns, support post-incident reporting and improve risk analysis procedures.

These developments highlight how connected detection tools can enhance both field safety and data-driven decision-making in firefighting and emergency management.

BGF completes exit from BB7 following growth in fire safety sector

by ConstructionFeatured NewsFire EngineeringPassiveSafety

Fire safety leader BB7 enters new phase under Certania after BGF exit

BGF has announced the completion of its exit from London-based fire safety consultancy BB7.

During its partnership with BGF, BB7 expanded into the UK’s largest specialist consultancy in fire and façade engineering.

The growth capital investment supported BB7’s buy-and-build strategy, including the acquisitions of Omega Fire in Manchester and Goldsmith Engineering in Ireland.

According to BGF, the exit generated a three-times money multiple return and a 21% internal rate of return (IRR).

Expansion, leadership and certification achievements

BGF said its funding enabled BB7 to expand its senior leadership team, introduce new systems and adopt a data-led approach to decision making.

The company added that BB7 became a certified B-Corp and achieved recognition from Best Companies during the investment period.

BB7 now operates from ten offices and employs nearly 200 staff across the UK and Ireland.

Post-exit, BB7’s founder and Chief Executive Officer, Ben Bradford, will become CEO of the Buildings and Infrastructure Division of Certania Group.

The division will continue a buy-and-build strategy to establish an inter-disciplinary platform within the engineering and consultancy sector.

Leadership reflections on partnership outcomes

Ben Bradford, CEO of BB7, said: “With BGF, we set out an ambitious plan to build the UK’s leading fire and façade engineering consultancy.

“I would like to thank the entire BB7 team.

“I’m hugely proud of what we have achieved together and excited for BB7’s next chapter with Certania.”

Jane Gilbert Boot, Investor at BGF, said: “This is a fantastic result for BGF and for Ben and his team.

“The business has grown significantly under our partnership and is now well positioned for its next phase of growth with Certania.”

Andy Gregory, CEO of BGF, said: “These recent exits are a testament to the quality of the founders and management teams we back.

“The strength of our portfolio reflects the fact that we continue to attract high-quality businesses, and that’s what’s enabling us to deliver strong returns.”

Sell-side advisors on the transaction were Clearwater and Squire Patton Boggs, with additional support from Eight Advisory, CIL Management Consultants and DSA Advisory.

Fire Aware urges shared beyond legal compliance

by ConstructionFeatured NewsPeopleSafety

Fire Aware calls for moral responsibility across the fire safety supply chain

Organisation urges shift from compliance to culture

In a recent post, Fire Aware Chief Executive Officer Gavin Skelly called for greater moral responsibility across the fire safety supply chain.

He said the organisation is seeking behavioural change from everyone involved in the industry.

Skelly explained that while the sector has faced a wave of new legislation and guidance, lasting improvement requires a cultural shift.

He stated that moral responsibility must underpin compliance efforts, warning that there is a danger of “compliance for compliance sake.”

Moving beyond regulation and silos

According to Fire Aware, the Building Safety Act 2022 represents a wide-reaching challenge for professionals across design, construction, and management.

Skelly said the scale of new obligations means businesses at all levels of the supply chain must cooperate and support one another.

He added that Fire Aware includes itself in this responsibility as a body offering advice and technical guidance.

The organisation said there is an opportunity to bring together expertise from across the fire sector to promote consistent standards of behaviour.

Skelly said: “We see an opportunity to unite the fire safety industry beyond its own silos.

“It is expertise that drives best practice, and consistency in behaviour is what will create lasting change.”

Code of conduct and charters introduced

To support this aim, Fire Aware has created a Code of Conduct alongside a series of charters for contractors, developers, designers, and local authorities.

The organisation said these documents are designed to complement, not replace, existing laws or professional obligations.

According to Fire Aware, its charters ask members to prioritise the safety of end users and to exceed minimum standards where possible.

The organisation said members are encouraged to identify as businesses that “care” about the wider community and safety outcomes.

Fire Aware described its initiative as a call to collective moral action within and beyond the fire safety sector.

Skelly concluded: “We are a community of businesses and organisations taking a stand in the name of moral responsibility.”

Relevance for fire and safety professionals

Fire Aware’s emphasis on moral responsibility is directly relevant to building designers, contractors, and fire-protection specialists working under the Building Safety Act 2022.

The organisation’s code and charters provide a framework for companies aiming to align internal practices with higher ethical and technical standards.

For compliance managers and building owners, these documents could help clarify expectations around duty of care beyond statutory obligations.

By linking moral accountability with practical safety outcomes, Fire Aware’s initiative highlights the growing role of professional culture in ensuring effective building safety governance.

This article was informed by information from the following source: Fire Aware

UL Solutions and TS Co. expand partnership to strengthen fire safety in Saudi Arabia

by Breaking NewsFire EngineeringMiddle East - Breaking NewsResearchSafety

Strengthened partnership expands fire safety testing in Gulf

UL Solutions and GCC Technical Services Company (TS Co.) have announced an expanded partnership aimed at advancing fire safety in the Gulf region.

According to UL Solutions, the collaboration now includes TS Co., a GCC Labs affiliate, as part of the UL Witness Test Data Program (WTDP) for fire safety.

Under this arrangement, TS Co. will conduct fire safety tests at its Dammam laboratories under direct supervision from UL Solutions engineers.

UL Solutions will review the data and grant certification based on test results, authorising the use of the UL Mark for compliant products.

The company explained that this localised approach removes the need for manufacturers to ship product samples abroad, helping shorten certification timelines and accelerate market entry.

Patrick Abgrall, Director and Regional General Manager of the Built Environment group at UL Solutions, said: “This important step in the evolution of our collaboration with TS Co. will allow UL Solutions to effectively utilise their Dammam facility, strengthening fire safety and conformity services throughout Saudi Arabia and the greater Gulf region.”

Local facilities to serve regional manufacturers

UL Solutions said the enhanced partnership enables local testing for manufacturers across Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Based in Dammam, TS Co. provides testing, inspection and certification services across industrial sectors to assess equipment safety, reliability and efficiency.

The company said the new arrangement supports its role in enabling Gulf-based manufacturing by providing internationally recognised fire safety certification within the region.

TS Co. Chief Executive Officer Khalaf Masaeed said: “By combining UL Solutions’ global leadership in safety science with our deep regional expertise, we are creating an unparalleled value proposition for the market.

“It also streamlines product evaluation and certification, ensuring that the ambitious construction projects in our region are built with materials and systems that meet the highest international safety standards.”

Supporting Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 development

UL Solutions noted that the partnership aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 strategy, which is driving major national infrastructure and development projects.

These include NEOM, the Red Sea development, THE RIG offshore tourism destination and the New Murabba project in Riyadh.

Preparations are also underway for new World Cup stadiums and Expo venues, bringing the combined investment of these giga-projects to more than $1.5 trillion, according to the KSA Construction Cost Benchmarking Report 2025.

UL Solutions stated that the collaboration with TS Co. will help meet fire and life safety demands across these large-scale developments by providing advanced testing and certification within Saudi Arabia.

Relevance for fire and safety professionals

The partnership between UL Solutions and TS Co. introduces regional access to UL-certified fire safety testing for manufacturers, contractors and specification professionals operating in the Gulf.

For construction, infrastructure and industrial project stakeholders, the development allows fire-rated materials and systems to be evaluated within Saudi Arabia, reducing both cost and lead times.

Fire engineers, consultants and project managers working on Vision 2030 projects may benefit from faster certification cycles and closer oversight of product conformity to international standards.

By localising the testing process, the partnership also supports consistent quality assurance and reduces logistical challenges linked to global supply chains.

UK manufacturers lose 800 hours yearly to downtime from wiring faults

by Featured NewsIndustrialResearchSafety

Faulty wiring linked to costly UK manufacturing downtime

UK manufacturers lose around 800 hours of production time each year due to equipment downtime, according to precision tooling distributor Heamar.

The company said the delays amount to more than 15 hours per week, often blamed on mechanical or software failures.

David Martin, Managing Director at Heamar, said: “Every second counts in the manufacturing sector; even minor delays caused by unforeseen issues can result in major disruption.

“According to The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, downtime costs UK manufacturers around £180 billion each year.

“There have been numerous high-profile incidents of downtime affecting major manufacturing sites. For example, in 2023, Toyota’s Japanese manufacturing plant was knocked offline for 24 hours due to a single software glitch.

“In the UK, Jaguar Land Rover experienced a major shutdown in August/September 2025 due to a cyber-attack, halting production and disrupting the supply chain.”

Martin added: “Whilst modern manufacturing continues to advance, particularly with the integration of AI, these examples show how software can be unreliable sometimes.

“Combine that with faulty wiring, which can be responsible for a significant share of disruptions, downtime can become a costly mistake.”

Hidden electrical faults undermine production efficiency

Heamar explained that electrical preparation errors are often invisible until they cause system failure.

Martin said: “Failures and faulty wiring can trigger serious operational problems with knock-on effects across the supply chain.

“From poor crimps and nicked wire conductors, to damaged insulation, seemingly minor electrical prep errors can have serious consequences.

“These issues can lead to control panel failures, sensor dropouts, or even motor stoppages and emergency shutdowns caused by short circuits.

“The real problem is that these faults are often invisible to the naked eye and only become apparent once they cause a full production halt, costing manufacturers valuable hours or even days in lost output.”

Tooling quality and technician training key to prevention

Martin noted that the root causes of downtime often lie in outdated tools and limited training for electrical technicians.

He said: “One major contributing factor of software issues caused by faulty wiring is the continued use of worn or inappropriate tools for stripping and crimping connections.

“Even a slightly inconsistent crimp or a wire that has been nicked when stripping its insulation can introduce resistance, heat, or circuit instability, all of which degrade system reliability over time.

“What’s interesting is that while manufacturers invest heavily in automation and digital monitoring, the quality of the electrical work behind it is often overlooked.”

Martin continued: “That’s why a combination of training, tooling, and process discipline is essential. While some managers may view this as an avoidable expense, the cost of inaction is far greater; one wiring mistake can lead to hours of costly disruption.

“To prevent avoidable downtime, workshops, and production teams must ensure technicians are properly trained and equipped with precision-calibrated tools; including wire strippers, crimping tools and wire connectors designed for modern control systems.

“Quality assurance at the wiring stage is one of the simplest and most cost-effective ways to improve uptime. With the right tools and standards in place, factories can dramatically reduce avoidable stoppages and extend equipment life.

“When paired with ongoing skills’ development, technicians are better able to spot issues before they escalate, shifting maintenance from reactive to proactive. In a sector where every minute of uptime counts, that level of preparedness is critical.”

Relevance for fire and safety professionals

Electrical and mechanical engineers working in industrial and manufacturing settings can draw parallels between Heamar’s findings and safety-critical environments.

Faulty wiring and poor electrical preparation have direct implications for fire risk, as resistance and heat build-up in mis-crimped or damaged connections can increase the chance of ignition.

Maintenance supervisors, risk assessors and safety auditors can use this insight to strengthen preventive maintenance strategies by integrating regular wiring inspections and staff training into equipment safety programmes.

Procurement officers responsible for specifying tools and testing devices can also ensure equipment meets precision standards to reduce both downtime and electrical fire hazards.

Safety and compliance gaps persist in 98% of sites, Schneider Electric warns

by Featured NewsResearchSafety

Schneider Electric warns of hidden risks to safety and compliance

Schneider Electric has called on organisations to take immediate action against what it describes as the “Silent Saboteur” – a set of overlooked operational risks that quietly undermine safety, compliance and efficiency.

According to the company, findings from audits of more than 400 customer sites worldwide show that most organisations face vulnerabilities that could lead to serious financial and reputational damage.

The data forms part of Schneider Electric’s latest Industry Insight Report, which outlines common safety and operational weaknesses identified across global facilities.

Report finds widespread electrical safety gaps

Schneider Electric said that 98% of audited sites showed electrical safety risks, while 93% had not completed a recent protection coordination study.

The company explained that these lapses could leave organisations open to electrical incidents and breaches of regulatory compliance.

The report also found that 79% of sites were operating with obsolete electrical equipment, increasing the likelihood of unplanned downtime and expensive repair cycles.

According to Schneider Electric, 71% of facilities lacked access to essential spare parts, raising concerns about resilience during failures or maintenance periods.

Maintenance and visibility issues compound risk

The company noted that nearly a third of audited sites had damaged or poorly maintained capacitor banks.

These conditions can lead to unstable power quality and performance issues that further erode system reliability.

Schneider Electric said that many organisations still rely on manual monitoring and disconnected data systems, limiting their ability to detect faults before they escalate.

Kas Mohammed, Vice President for Services UK&I at Schneider Electric, said: “Too often, organisations focus on headline investments while overlooking the operational fundamentals that keep their business running.

“The real risk lies in the hidden faults – those silent saboteurs – that quietly erode efficiency and resilience.

“The good news is increased monitoring and digitalisation of assets stops the saboteur lurking in the shadows, and organisations can be on the front foot when it comes to managing their operations.”

Digital tools key to preventing compliance failures

Schneider Electric stated that increased use of digital asset management and condition monitoring can help businesses reduce unplanned downtime and prevent safety incidents.

The company said that by modernising electrical infrastructure and improving visibility of equipment health, operators can reduce exposure to compliance breaches and operational losses.

It added that the findings underline the value of proactive maintenance strategies and data integration across industrial systems.

Relevance for fire and safety professionals

For electrical engineers, facility managers and compliance officers, the findings highlight how deficiencies in equipment maintenance and protection studies can directly affect workplace safety.

Fire-safety professionals responsible for industrial or commercial sites may find the data relevant when assessing electrical fire risk linked to outdated or poorly maintained systems.

The report’s evidence on missing spare parts and limited operational monitoring is also pertinent for those managing business continuity and emergency response planning.

Increased asset digitalisation and predictive maintenance may support improved resilience, ensuring that faults are detected before they lead to electrical failures or safety incidents.