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Labour bid to amend fire safety bill after “shameful” failure to remove cladding

by Passive

Labour will try to amend the government’s fire safety bill this week, after it emerged that over 80% of private sector accommodation with Grenfell-style flammable cladding has not had the dangerous material removed.

The party will try to amend the legislation due before parliament on Monday and force the government to implement the recommendations of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry’s phase one report, published in October 2019.

The move comes after the latest government figures released in August showed that Grenfell-style cladding had not been removed from over 80% of private sector buildings and nearly 50% of social sector buildings.

The report on the first stage of the inquiry into the Grenfell fire said the programme to withdraw the aluminium composite material – ‘ACM’ – cladding from buildings “should be pursued as vigorously as possible”.

Commenting on the government’s inaction since the fire killed 72 people in 2017, Labour frontbencher Sarah Jones said: “Over three years after Grenfell, it is shameful how little progress has been made.

“The government has continuously broken their promises, while tens of thousands of people across the country are stuck living in unsafe flats. The victims and survivors of Grenfell are still waiting for justice. This is completely unacceptable.”

While the government has claimed its fire safety bill would take it a “step further” to delivering on the inquiry’s recommendations, it does not include direct provisions for any of the measures called for in the report.

The shadow policing and fire minister added: “Every measure necessary should be put in place to prevent a fire like Grenfell from ever happening again. We urge the government to honour their promises and back the amendment and get the work done.”

The fire safety bill is intended to give greater clarity over the responsibility for fire safety in buildings containing more than one home. It passed its second reading in April and the remaining stages are scheduled to take place tomorrow.

Labour’s amendment would create a legal mandate for owners to share information on the design and materials of buildings with the local fire service and to undertake regular inspections of flat entrance doors and lifts.

The proposed changes to the government’s bill would also see owners of buildings required to make sure that all residents are informed of the premises’ evacuation and fire safety procedures.

Commenting on the removal of Grenfell-style cladding in the phase one report, chair of the inquiry Sir Martin Moore-Bick wrote that is is “essential that it be done as quickly as possible”.

He added: “Concern has been voiced publicly, most recently by the House of Commons communities and local government select committee, about the apparently slow rate of progress in carrying out the work.”

New ‘escape hoods’ for fire victims to be deployed by WMFS

by Products

New ‘fire escape hoods’, designed to protect fire victims from smoke and fumes, are set to be carried on all West Midlands Fire Service (WMFS) emergency response vehicles.

The service’s 41 fire engines, 19 Brigade Response Vehicles and a specialist breathing apparatus support unit will be equipped with the hoods from today (7 September 2020).

Station Commander Richard Moore, of WMFS’s Response Team, said: “We aim to get to serious incidents in five minutes, because we know this increases your chances of survival.  
 
“Our new fire escape hoods will provide vital extra protection to people who are unlucky enough to be caught in a fire and who need rescuing or leading to safety by our crews.” 
 
Over the last five years, approaching 700 people were rescued or led to safety by West Midlands firefighters. Many subsequently needed treating with oxygen or taking to hospital after breathing in smoke. It is hoped that the hoods will mean far fewer people need treating for the effects of smoke.  
 
Station Commander Moore added: “The smoke produced by fires contains a lot of harmful toxins. The hoods are designed to filter them out and stop you from breathing them in. 
   
“Now, depending on the particular circumstances and conditions at a fire, our firefighters might ask you to wear one of the hoods so you can pass more safely through a smoke-filled environment. 

“They’ll only ever ask you to wear one for your own safety. They’ll need you to take off a head covering if you wear one, so the hood can fit and work as effectively as possible.

“With your agreement, they’ll help you to put it over your head, check it’s properly fitted and sealed and that you can see, breathe and talk as usual, before getting you to safety.”

The self-contained fire escape hoods, which are fitted with air filters, allow the wearer to breathe safely in a smoke-filled atmosphere for up to 15 minutes.

A recommendation from Phase I of the inquiry into the Grenfell Tower fire required all fire and rescue services to have fire escape hoods for evacuating people through smoke-filled routes.

After conducting a number of trials, West Midlands Fire Service has chosen to carry Dräger PARAT 5550 Fire Escape Hoods on its fire engines, 4×4 Brigade Response Vehicles and its specialist Breathing Apparatus Incident Support Unit (BAISU).

www.wmfs.net/

Fire crews continue to battle California’s Creek Fire

by Americas - Featured News

Firefighters in central California are currently searching for people stranded by a fast-moving fire that has already burned an estimated 45,000 acres. The Creek Fire started Friday evening and, fueled by timber and dry vegetation, quickly jumped the San Joaquin River and blocked evacuation routes.

More than 200 people were rescued overnight as military helicopters plucked the stranded from the Mammoth Pool Reservoir in Sierra National Forest, where they were asked to shelter in place after fire blocked the one road leading out of the area. Most of those rescued had minor or no injuries, but several were transported to local hospitals and at least two were “severely injured,” the Fresno Fire Department said early Sunday.

“We do believe that there are still other people out in the wilderness, and when daylight breaks, we will be continuing those rescue operations to go out and try to find them and get them to safety as well,” Madera County Sheriff Tyson Pogue told CNN on Sunday.

Most of those rescued were flown to the Fresno Yosemite International Airport, where emergency responders had set up a triage center to prioritize treatment. At least six burn victims were admitted to Fresno’s Community Regional Medical Centre.

Authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire, which is located near the San Joaquin River and the communities of Big Creek and Huntington Lake. Fire crews face steep, rugged terrain and high temperatures, which make extinguishing the fire difficult, Sierra National Forest authorities said.

As of Sunday, the fire was zero percent contained, according to Cal Fire, as giant plumes of smoke up to 50,000 feet tall were visible from the air. Several areas in Madera County were under mandatory evacuation orders.

Social media showed videos of people escaping the flames. Smoke from the fire spread throughout the region, filling nearby Yosemite National Park and coloring the sky an eerie orange.

The Creek Fire is just the latest blaze faced by California in a devastating fire season. More than 7,000 wildfires, many sparked by lightning strikes, had already burned over 1.4 million acres by the end of August, Gov. Gavin Newsom said last month.

Schools twice as likely as other buildings to be hit by a blaze, according to Zurich Municipal

by Passive

Schools in England are nearly twice as likely to suffer a blaze as other types of commercial building, according to new research by Zurich Municipal, the insurer of schools in the UK.

In the most comprehensive analysis of its kind to date, Zurich analysed the fire risks posed by 26,866 primary and secondary schools in England. It found the average school posed a fire risk 1.7 times greater than non-residential buildings (with a fire risk score of 0.58 and 0.33 respectively according to Zurich’s model). When compared to 2.9 million non-household properties [1], schools were also three times more likely to fall into the “high” fire risk category (58% vs 20%), as defined by the study.

Data scientists analysed 33,000 fires from the last six years to identify factors that increase the likelihood of a blaze from which they produced a fire risk score.  These factors include listed status, presence of cooking equipment and size of the building itself.

Despite being far riskier than average when it comes to fires, many schools also lack the equipment needed to prevent small fires becoming major disasters. Of more than 1,000 school inspections carried out by Zurich, 66% were rated as having ‘poor’ fixed fire protection systems, such as sprinklers, which are proven to significantly reduce the damage caused by fire. Just 14% were rated ‘good’ or ‘excellent’. A further quarter (24%) were judged ‘poor’ for fire detection measures, such as smoke detectors and fire alarms [2].

Larger schools more at risk

Firefighters have been called to nearly 2,000 school blazes in the last three years [3]. Malfunctioning appliances or equipment, faulty electrics, arson and kitchen blazes are among the leading causes of school fires.  Larger fires in schools cost on average £2.8 million to repair and in some cases over £20 million.

Bigger and older schools, including those with a canteen, and secondary schools – which have more complex and dangerous equipment – were identified as particularly at risk. A correlation between poor OFSTED ratings and greater risk of fire was also identified in the analysis [4].

The findings have led Zurich to launch a parliamentary petition to urge MPs to change the law on sprinklers in schools. Whilst sprinklers are compulsory in all new or major refurbished school buildings in Scotland and Wales this is not the case in England. In fact, they are fitted in fewer than one in six new schools [5].

Tilden Watson, Zurich Municipal’s Head of Education, said:“An alarming number of school buildings pose a high fire risk – yet many are poorly protected against a potential blaze.  Unless Ministers bring England into line with other parts of the UK, where sprinklers are mandatory, large fires will continue to blight schools.  This is harming children’s education and putting lives at risk.

“Burnt out schools and classrooms cause major disruption to children’s education, with repairs leading to months or even years of upheaval. They also result in the loss of spaces which local communities rely on out of school hours.  As well as protecting pupils, sprinklers drastically reduce the extent of damage when there is a blaze, often confining the fire to a single room.  This gets children back into schools and classrooms quicker as well as saving taxpayers’ money.

“Countless young people have already had their schooling upended by the coronavirus pandemic. We cannot allow school fires to further disrupt young people’s education, and jeopardise their futures.”

Nick Coombe, Protection Vice Chair and Building Safety Programme Lead for theNational Fire Chiefs Council, said: “The case for sprinklers is compelling.  Of almost 1,000 fires over five years in buildings where sprinklers were fitted, our research found they controlled or extinguished blazes in 99% of cases.  We want to see a greater inclusion of Automatic Fire Suppression Systems (AFSS), including sprinklers, across the built environment.  Sprinklers can dramatically reduce fire damage, making the reopening of a school much easier. This not only minimises the disruption to a pupil’s education, but also the impact on their family, the community and the wider education establishment.”

According to Zurich’s analysis, seven million (7,036,327) primary and secondary school children are taught in the 58% of buildings that are a high fire risk [6].

In June, Boris Johnson pledged £1bn to fund a decade long school rebuilding and repair programme and a further £560m in early August [7]. Based on large fires alone, Zurich estimates that the repair for school fires could hit £320 million over 10 years – a significant portion of the government’s slated investment [8]. Zurich wants the government to ring-fence some of its promised investment to improve the resilience of schools at high risk of fire.  Insurers work closely with schools to help them manage their fire risks but the installation of sprinklers minimise the dangers from the outset.

Watson added: “It costs far more to repair fire-ravaged schools than it does to install sprinklers. Even so, cash strapped schools cannot be expected to pick up the bill. The government’s COVID-19 investment is a critical opportunity to ensure schools are more resilient to fire. Unless minsters change the law on sprinklers, much of this funding will be wasted on repairing the fire damage that sprinklers could have easily prevented. The government should also gather and disclose more data on school fires to help fully understand the risks they pose and their wider financial and social impacts.”

Footnotes 

  1. 2,920,914 non-residential buildings
  2. Inspections carried out between Jan 2017 and Dec 2019
  3. Home Office: Fire Statistics – 1,916 fires on education premises in England between 2016-2019, of which 34 buildings were completely destroyed
  4. As OFSTED rating improved, average risk score decreased
  5. The Guardian: April, 2019 – Labour party figures show of the 673 schools built under the government’s school building and free school programmes, sprinklers were fitted in 105.
  6. Of the schools analysed, Zurich found 2,446,340 children attend high risk schools – 29.5% of the primary and secondary student population in the school sample
  7. co.uk, 29 June: PM announces transformative school rebuilding programme
  8. Based on current rate of 11.3 schools destroyed a year, and a conservative cost of £2.8m per larger fire (11.3 x 2.8 x 10 = £317m).

HETAS warns thatched roof home owners on chimney fire safety

by ActiveProjects

HETAS, the non-profit independent organisation, is encouraging people to maintain their chimneys properly by having them swept at least twice a year by an approved chimney sweep, ensuring the appliance is correctly installed, and only using wood with 20% or less moisture content to reduce soot build-up.

The reminder comes as part of Chimney Fire Safety Week after England recorded 3,130 chimney fires in 2019/2020. The latest fire statistics show that chimney fires in England have fallen by six per cent but in some counties, the number of incidents has increased.

CEO Bruce Allen said: “Due to Covid-19 pandemic restrictions, people have been at home more than usual and likely using their heating appliances more than they normally would at this time of year, particularly in more rural off-grid locations.

“This sudden increase in prolonged use could be contributing to the rise in incidents we’ve seen in some areas, if appliances and chimneys haven’t been properly looked after.

“Chimney fires might represent less than two of total fires but they can be absolutely devastating. However, the good news is that if people take the appropriate action such incidents are totally avoidable. In fact, overall the number of chimney fires has declined by around 60 per cent over the past decade, despite an increase in appliances being fitted during the same period.

“We believe that informing homeowners about the importance of sweeping and maintenance, is the key to reducing the risk of chimney fires even further. With the weather changing and the nights beginning to draw in, now is the perfect time to have chimneys checked by a HETAS-approved chimney sweep.”

HETAS is reminding wood stove users that ensuring safety and efficiency includes only burning wood that has been properly seasoned and has a moisture content of no more than 20%.

Those buying wood should look out for the Woodsure Ready to Burn logo on bags if buying for immediate use, and those buying in bulk can find a certified Woodsure supplier at, along with advice on storage and use.

www.hetas.co.uk/find-chimney-sweep

London hospital to address fire safety defects after PFI firm’s administration

by Projects

The private finance initiative (PFI) company responsible for the acute care building at London’s Whittington Hospital has filed for administration after being asked to fund remediation work.

The hospital trust has now taken on management of the building and responsibility for the remediation, but it is still unknown how the work will be funded.

Whittington Facilities was set up in 2003 to deliver and maintain a new acute hospital building at the health facility in Archway, north London. The project was completed in 2008 and the PFI contract runs until 2034.

Contractor Jarvis, originally part of the PFI company, ran into financial difficulties during the project, and exited the construction sector as well as the PFI contract.

The Whittington Health NHS Trust has been pursuing Whittington Facilities, whose ultimate parent is finance firm Trinity Investment Capital, to pay for defect remediation since 2018.

In January of that year, a fire broke out in the basement of the building. The premises were evacuated but no one was injured.

Hospital trust board minutes from October 2019 reveal that it had been working on a “major fire safety remediation project” but in the meantime had increased its number of security guards, fire wardens and carried out extra fire drills in a bid to keep patients safe. These measures remain in place as work to fix the defects has not yet been carried out.

In its latest accounts for the year to 31 December 2018, Whittington Facilities said company directors were working to assess whether defects and “performance issues” claimed by the trust really existed. The company warned it might go under if they were found.

“The directors believe there is a reasonable prospect that cash outlays will be required, which casts doubt on its future ability to trade as a going concern,” it said. It added that the company had breached its covenants with Lloyds Bank after the end of 2018 but the bank had not yet called in its debts. The report said: “In the event of a pending or likely insolvency, the company would appoint an administrator to stay any legal action against it and to attempt to negotiate settlements with its clients and creditors to avoid an insolvency event.”

The firm filed for administration last month. It was one of 16 in the construction sector to do so in August.

A spokeswoman for the Whittington Health NHS Trust said: “The trust has worked with the administrators and has now taken over the management of the services that were being delivered by the PFI company.

“We have developed contingency plans to ensure there is no impact on the ongoing management of the PFI building and the continuity of all services. A full survey of the building will be conducted to determine the extent of any construction defects and it is our intention to fully address these deficiencies.”

She added: “The current position with regard to coronavirus makes it difficult to be sure but we certainly mean to address these issues as soon as possible.”

Negotiations about the costs to the taxpayer and how the remediation will be paid for are ongoing with administrator Deloitte.

New aerial ladders to hit London’s streets

by Products

New aerial ladders that are more responsive to drive, faster to set up and with greater rescue capabilities are soon to hit the streets of London as the London Fire Brigade continue to improve its ability to deal with high rise incidents.

Twelve new 32 metre appliances known as turntable ladders are part of the aerial replacement project and have many improvements on the existing fleet, the biggest being that the ladder articulates, allowing for greater maneuverability. The articulating top section means that down London’s narrow streets the turntable ladder can now set up closer to the building than previous aerial appliances. The reach obtained can also means that the machines can be placed further away and overcome obstacles which would have problematic previously.

The new turntable ladders are swift and responsive to drive and can reach their top working height within a minute from the moment of arrival at an incident. Other features include a detachable thermal imaging camera, improved stretcher capabilities all of which will enhance our operations at height. They will also improve our capabilities for lighting and observation of emergencies from above, giving incident commanders greater knowledge from the sky.

Turntable ladders are used by us for a wide range of tasks such as aerial water towers to put water on buildings from height, rescues, high level lighting and as observation platforms. The new engines will be highly visible on London’s streets with its bright yellow ladder, bumpers and fenders. It also has driver aides like pre-emptive braking and lane change technology.

London Fire Commissioner Andy Roe said: “Our new aerial ladders are more responsive, quicker to set up and improve our ability to fight fires and rescue people from height. Our determination to get these working on London’s streets despite the challenges Covid-19 has given us shows our commitment to improve our response, especially at high rise incidents.”

Training has been able to start on the new turntable ladders due to the hard work of our staff and in close liaison with the Fire Brigades Union to make sure it can be done safely during the pandemic. The courses were completely revamped to make sure safe procedures are in place including the wearing of masks during driver training, increased open air training and regular sanitation of delegates hands and the machines. Internal training venues were found quickly to make sure staff didn’t need to travel long distances and the risk to those involved could be reduced.

Firefighters have also been incredibly flexible, attending courses at short notice to make sure the vehicles become operational as soon as possible. The Brigade’s training provider Babcock have made additional machines for training available so that multiple venues can be used, allowing for increased training while maintaining social distancing.

www.london-fire.gov.uk/

Newly developed GLOROS T1 gloves from Rosenbauer

by Americas - ProductsProducts

The newly developed GLOROS T1 glove from Rosenbauer is EN388 certified and offers the best possible protection for technical rescue workers. The gloves protect the wearer against mechanical hazards caused by cuts, punctures, abrasions and similar.

This makes them an indispensable aid for rescue workers working on vehicles involved in accidents and other technical firefighting activities. They also provide a certain degree of basic protection at contact temperatures of up to 250 °C. GLOROS T1 is not designed for use in fire fighting operations or as protection against chemical, electrostatic and thermal hazards.

The special design and optimised finishing details such as finger creases, discontinuous silicone coating and neoprene inserts provide tangible added comfort – for those moments when you need a sensitive touch.

The special silicone coating on the inside palm guarantees that you will always have everythign well in hand – no matter how wet or slippery the surface. Perfect for when you need to keep a tight hold of things.

https://www.everythingforthatmoment.com/

New practice guide launched: ‘Firestopping of service penetrations’

by Projects

To assist in the design, specification and installation of building services penetrations to ensure fire compartmentation is maintained, five organisations have launched a Best Practice Design and Installation Guide, Firestopping of Service Penetrations.

The aim of the guide is to encourage all stakeholders in construction to consider firestopping design earlier in the process in order to avoid problems at a later stage in construction. Those involved in the project would like to highlight that it is not an installation manual, but guidance to a good practice approach.

The guide is broken down to provide information on actions that should be carried out during each of the stages one to seven as defined in the RIBA Plan of Work.

With a foreword by Dame Judith Hackitt, who was the Chair of the Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety, the Best Practice Guide will enable a project team to meet its obligations to deliver a safe and secure project in terms of penetration seals.

The guide was produced collaboratively by the Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP), Building Engineering Services Association (BESA), Building Services Research and Information Association (BSRIA), Finishes and Interiors Sector (FIS) and the Gypsum Products Development Association (GPDA) to address service penetrations in buildings and ensure the spread of fire due to inappropriate or poorly installed service penetrations can be eliminated.

Commenting on the launch of the guide, Dame Judith Hackitt said: “This document is the result of a collaboration between a number of relevant trade bodies and organisations representing the wider construction and fire safety industries, and it is an example of the collaborative working and acceptance of professional responsibility throughout the supply chain that must become a feature of the industry’s culture from now on.”

Commenting on the launch of the guide, Nick Mead, Mei Systems And Assurance Lead – Meica Systems, Laing O’Rourke Europe said: “Service penetrations in fire-separating elements are in part a minor element of a compartment wall or floor, yet in truth they are one of the most important elements when it comes to ensuring the performance of any compartment wall or floor is maintained.”

The guide was produced with the support of stakeholders across the industry including manufacturers, designers, contractors and specialist fire companies. Those who produced the guide would like to thank Rockwool, FSi Ltd, and Warringtonfire in particular.

The Best Practice Design and Installation Guide, Firestopping of Service Penetrations is available to download on each of the association’s websites

https://data.asfp.org.uk/default.php?cmd=210&doc_category=715

Spanish wildfires force thousands to evacuate

by Active

An out-of-control wildfire is raging in Spain’s southern region of Andalusia, forcing more than 3,100 people to evacuate, authorities said Sunday.

The blaze broke out Thursday in the mountains near the town of Almonaster la Real, 120 kilometers (75 miles) northwest of the city of Seville. It has already scorched 100 square kilometers (38.5 square miles).

Sixteen helicopters and eight planes are helping more than 500 workers tackle the blaze, including firefighters and army emergency personnel who worked around the clock this weekend.

“It is very difficult to say when the wildfire will be under control,” said Juan Sanchez of the Andalusia Forest Fire Department, as weather conditions are playing a key role.

The wind dropped overnight, making their task a little easier, but authorities expect the fire will be fueled by strong winds later Sunday. Crews were also struggling to reach all affected areas because of the rugged terrain, officials said.

A further 70 people were evacuated Saturday because of a wildfire in Mula, a small town in Spain’s southeastern region of Murcia, while firefighters are also trying to extinguish two wildfires in the western region of Extremadura.

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