Fire safety requirements for rail networks operating within airports pose a unique set of challenges for design teams and, indeed, demand specific management protocols given what can be large occupancy numbers combined with 24-hour services. Here, Tony Cash reviews the key factors considered for the Terminal Transit System at Heathrow Airport’s Terminal 5

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With the word ‘smart’ now appearing in front of almost anything, including speakers, cars, heating systems, televisions and even fridges, what are the criteria that dictate or otherwise certify the use of ‘smart’ as a prefix when applied to the built environment? Ray Puttock airs his views on the matter

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Fires impacting refurbishment projects, such as the catastrophic blaze that broke out at the Notre Dame Cathedral in April last year, remain at the forefront of people’s minds as a direct result of the myriad news headlines they generate. Here, Tony Obadipe outlines the key issues to think about in terms of fire safety regimes for building and refurbishment projects

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Flame resistant, flame retardant, fire resistant, fire retardant. Is there a difference? Which is the correct choice of ‘FR’ for your team? Reece Buchner explains some of the standards and regulations today’s organisations need to be aware of when making their decision on Personal Protective Equipment

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QuadCore technology is an insulation core, self-blended and unique to Kingspan, that delivers the highest performance of any closed cell insulation core across four factors: fire, thermal, environmental and longevity. Here, Tony Ryan examines how its application at a key site in Coventry is helping to safeguard the UK’s Industrial Strategy

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Publication of the draft Building Safety Bill signals the biggest changes to fire safety in 40 years through improved regulations designed to aid the construction industry. Here, Mick Hill explores the importance of providing a ‘golden thread’ of building information by specifying components (including bi-directionally fire-tested riser doors) that offer the highest standards in terms of compliance and performance

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On Wednesday 29 July, Fire Safety Matters ran another event in its popular webinar series, this time focused on ‘Ensuring Compliance and Improving Efficiency of Fire Alarm Systems’ and featuring detailed input from solution specialists at LAN Control Systems. Brian Sims reports on proceedings

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BS 8629: Code of Practice for the Design, Installation, Commissioning and Maintenance of Evacuation Alert Systems for Use by Fire and Rescue Services in Buildings Containing Flats was the focus of a recent webinar on evacuation planning run by Fire Safety Matters in conjunction with Advanced. Brian Sims reports on the major points outlined in terms of Best Practice

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Business continuity encompasses a loosely defined set of planning, preparatory and related activities intended to ensure that an organisation’s critical business functions will either continue to operate despite serious incidents or disasters that might otherwise have interrupted them, or will be recovered to an operational state within a reasonably short period. With this in mind, Stephen Adams discusses why the COVID-19 pandemic should be the only thing potentially preventing businesses from trading this year

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THE RECENT publication of the Government’s draft Building Safety Bill confirms its commitment to putting safety at the heart of all future building design and development. Here, Ges Wallace discusses the document and what it could mean for the future of our built environment.

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FIRE SAFETY has always been a well-documented subject, with various experts and regulatory bodies sharing key insights that save lives. Despite this, practical knowledge can sometimes be overshadowed by false information and myths. Here, Karen Trigg investigates some common myths and outlines the correct way in which to handle the discipline of fire safety.

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DESPITE THE easing of some of the restrictions around the Coronavirus, there remains a strong emphasis on keeping workplaces COVID-19 secure, with companies who fail to comply facing criminal prosecution. Ian McKinnon discusses what this means for employers and explains what can be done to promote compliance throughout the supply chain.

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AS THE role of door hardware expands and fire safety continues to make the headlines, Karen Trigg outlines in detail the importance of hardware selection and reminds decision-makers of how routine checks can save lives.

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In an exclusive interview for Fire Safety Matters, Western Business Media’s CEO Mark Sennett chats with Paul Pope (Group business development director at Global Fire Equipment and also a director of the Fire Industry Association) and Mike Tobin (chair of the Independent Fire Engineering and Distributors Association) about the current ‘State of the Nation’ in the UK’s fire industry. The impact of COVID-19, the overriding need for competency and the likely effects of Brexit are very much under the microscope

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FIRE EXTINGUISHERS are full of pressurised chemicals so it follows that they cannot simply be thrown into the rubbish. Rather, certain steps must be taken to ensure safe disposal.

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PUBLICATION OF the draft Building Safety Bill signals the biggest changes to fire safety in 40 years through improved regulations designed to aid the construction industry as a whole.  Here, Mick Hill explores the importance of providing a ‘golden thread’ of building information by specifying components, including bi-directionally fire-tested riser doors, that offer the highest standards in terms of compliance and performance.

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FIRES CAN realise short-term and long-term devastation on data processing operations, but also reach far beyond the Data Centre itself, impacting Data Centre customers, their customers and so on. Here, Richard Taylor examines the key points to consider when formulating a fire safety strategy.

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THE DISPARITIES between Approved Document B (Fire Safety) Volume 1 and the recent revision of Part 6 of BS 5839 present housing providers with varying guidelines on the minimum requirement of fire safety provisions their property portfolio should currently specify. Ian Ballinger outlines why housing providers should consider pairing an LD1 Category specification with the Internet of Things and Artificial Intelligence to future-proof their housing portfolio.

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What are the benefits of today’s beam detection systems for end users? Where are these solutions commonly installed? Importantly, what’s in the pipeline for the next generation of such systems? Fire Safety Matters finds out the answers to these key questions and more in conversation with Nigel Ward.

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Where do we stand with the introduction of new products or innovations to the fire safety market? Are they openly embraced and recognised for their benefits or met with a barrage of naysayers and general scepticism underpinned by comments such as: “It will never work as it doesn’t comply…”? Peter Blandon addresses this issue.

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