Features are carefully selected from across the website and magazine, these articles are contributed by a wide range of authors from across the sectors covered by Fire & Security Matters, as well as the editorial team. Addressing the latest topics in terms of technological developments, legislation and industry issues
FROM 30 September, writes Martin Green, every new residential block of flats in England with a top occupied storey of 18 metres or above must be built with a second staircase. The change follows years of scrutiny post-Grenfell and addresses a straightforward problem: a single staircase means residents and firefighters share the same route in an emergency and, if that route is compromised, there’s no alternative.
BULGARIA IS building at a pace that the fire detection sector needs to keep pace with, writes Petia Simeonova. Eurozone entry in January this year has removed currency risk for international investors and European Union (EU) structural funds are accelerating construction across public infrastructure, logistics and commercial real estate.
FOLLOWING THE restructure of the BAFE Group, Dr Justin Maltby-Smith (Group CEO of BAFE Holdings) has spoken exclusively with Fire Safety Matters’ Editor Brian Sims to discuss the thinking behind the new operational model and proceeds to explain how this move will support a broader and more ambitious role for the organisation across the fire and life safety domains.
PROPOSED UPDATES to Approved Document B would increase the required fire resistance of multi-storey open-sided car park structures to 30 minutes (for those structures of between 5 metres and 18 metres in height) and up to one hour for car parks that rise above 18 metres, writes Tom Roche.
BS 9792:2025 provides recommendations and example documentation for undertaking and recording fire risk assessments in housing. Here, Dr Peter Wilkinson considers how the new British Standard succeeds PAS 79-2:2020 and supports a more consistent, proportionate and accountable approach towards assessing fire risk in residential buildings.
