The Glovers Court project was under construction on 16 May 2023 when it was visited by officers from the Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service. A number of fire safety issues were identified and the Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service subsequently prohibited the use of the building, meaning that residents already living there had to leave their homes.

As construction work was still ongoing, Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) worked in multi-agency collaboration to deal with the premises. An inspector from the HSE then visited the site, duly finding the company not to be complying with its duty to ensure suitable fire safety precautions were in place during ongoing construction work.

Those failures included the absence of a fire detection system, no means of raising the alarm in the event of a fire and inadequate escape plans. Further, construction work had not been phased to ensure fire compartmentation was maintained throughout the project to prevent fire spreading to all floors.

Prohibition Notice

As a result of the inspection findings, the HSE served a Prohibition Notice against Glovers Court Ltd, stopping all further work on the property until adequate fire precautions were put in place. The HSE also served an Improvement Notice requiring the company to design and implement a fire management plan.

However, during further site visits in June and November 2023, the HSE found construction work had been ongoing, while no action had been taken to comply with either the Prohibition Notice or the Improvement Notice.

HSE legislation requires a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment to be carried out by a designated ‘Responsible Person’. HSE guidance states that, where necessary in the interests of the health or safety of a person on a construction site, suitable and sufficient firefighting equipment and fire detection and alarm systems must be provided and located in suitable places. Further details on this can be found online at https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2015/51/regulation/32/mad and https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/priced/hsg168.pdf. (PDF)

Detail on the breaches

Following a trial held at Preston Magistrates’ Court on 26 June 2025, Glovers Court Ltd of Kingsway, Altrincham in Cheshire (which has now gone into liquidation) was found guilty in its absence. The company was fined £165,000 and ordered to pay £10,512 in costs.

The company was found guilty of breaching:

*Section 33(1)(c) of the Health and Safety at Work Act by virtue of breaching Regulation 11(1) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015. The PD must plan, manage and monitor the pre-construction phase and co-ordinate Health and Safety matters to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the project is carried out without risks to Health and Safety

*Section 33(1)(c) of the Health and Safety at Work Act by virtue of breaching Regulation 13(1) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015. The failures relating to general and process fire precautions can be identified in the failure to plan, manage and monitor the construction phase to ensure it’s carried out without risks and by virtue of Regulation 16 (1) and (2) and Part 4 because construction work is being carried out

*Section 33(1)(g) of the Health and Safety at Work Act x 2. It’s an offence for a person to contravene any requirement or prohibition imposed by an Improvement Notice or a Prohibition Notice (including any such notice as modified on appeal)

Blatant disregard

HSE inspector Christine McGlynn commented: “This company showed a blatant disregard for fire safety and the laws in place to protect both people and places. Each year, there are estimated to be hundreds of fires on construction sites, potentially putting the lives of workers and members of the public at risk. Any outbreak of fire threatens the safety of those on-site and is costly in terms of damage and delay. Many such fires can be avoided by careful planning and control of work activities.”

A spokesperson for the Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service explained: “This prosecution highlights the positive outcomes multi-agency working has for fire safety in Lancashire. It also highlights the critical importance property developers, owners and managers must afford to fire safety. We welcome the court’s recognition of the seriousness of these breaches and hope this serves as a clear message to all about their legal and moral responsibilities.”

The HSE prosecution case was brought by enforcement lawyer Karen Park and paralegal Rebecca Withell.

Designed to build brand momentum, foster industry relationships and educate professionals across the fire and security sectors, the gathering delivered a packed and engaging programme that underlined Protec’s position as a leader in the fields of both life safety and security innovation.

The Event Leeds attracted a diverse mix of professionals from construction, procurement, consultancy and security backgrounds. The format focused on education, engagement and innovation.

A carefully curated agenda of Continuing Professional Development (CPD)-certified sessions, live product demonstrations, a powerful keynote speech and a high-level industry panel offered attendees a valuable and informative experience that encouraged genuine collaboration.

The two-storey venue was thoughtfully arranged to maximise participation and interaction. The ground floor served as the central networking hub, hosting live demonstrations of Protec’s cutting-edge products including the 6500 WODU (Wing Officer Display Unit), Cirrus HYBRID and a range of fire suppression and security systems.

Upstairs, CPD zones and exhibitor stands from industry leaders such as Axis Communications, Checkfire, VID FIREKILL, Hirsch and Bi3 lined the mezzanine walkway, encouraging informal discussions and one-on-one learning.

Hourly CPD sessions

Hourly CPD sessions throughout the day allowed attendees to earn points while expanding their technical knowledge. Protec’s own specialists were on hand to share insights across multiple disciplines, while visitors connected with exhibitors and colleagues in a collaborative and professional setting.

A major highlight of the day was a powerful keynote speech from Figen Murray OBE, who shared her personal journey following the Manchester Arena tragedy and spoke passionately about the introduction and importance of Martyn’s Law. Figen’s powerful message set the tone for a follow-up industry panel discussion featuring prominent voices from the sector, including Bi3’s founder and managing director Glen Higson on the future of public safety and the wider impact of the legislation.

To round off the agenda, the final CPD session delved into the future of Artificial Intelligence in security, offering a forward-thinking perspective that aligns with Protec’s own mission to remain at the cutting edge of the sector.

Showcasing innovation

“Hosting The Event Leeds was a fantastic opportunity to bring together industry professionals from across the construction and security sectors in one dynamic space,” explained Alex Swatman, Group business development manager. “The day was all about education, meaningful conversations and showcasing innovation whether through our CPD sessions, engaging product demonstrations or thought-provoking discussions.”

Swatman continued: “The high level of engagement and genuine connections made throughout the day highlight the value of creating inclusive and focused gatherings that inspire collaboration and growth. We’re proud of what we achieved and excited to continue building on this momentum at our upcoming events.”

With new partnerships now emerging from the conversations held during the The Event Leeds, Protec is already looking ahead to The Event Birmingham in 2026, duly aiming to build on this momentum and continue shaping the future of the fire and security domains in the UK.

*Further information is available online at www.protec.co.uk

However, the ACQP is “deeply concerned” by the Government’s decision to keep the Building Safety Regulator under departmental control rather than establishing it as an independent and standalone regulator.

The announcement from Parliament confirms that the Building Safety Regulator will now move from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to reside within the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). This move represents a “missed opportunity to demonstrate real change and progress in building safety reform”, suggests the ACQP.

The organisation has commented: “Rather than creating a regulator with the operational independence and authority that such a role demands, the Government has simply transferred the oversight from the HSE to another Government department.”

Half-measured approach

The ACQP has consistently called for the creation of a “truly independent” Building Safety Regulator, separate from both the HSE and MHCLG. “Only an independent regulator can provide the impartiality, transparency and public confidence needed in the wake of the Grenfell Tower fire, which claimed 72 lives and exposed the fundamental weaknesses present in the UK’s building safety framework.”

Commenting on the Government’s decision, Gerry Sharpe (CEO at the ACQP) said: “This is not the bold reform we need. It’s a reshuffle. Grenfell demanded a complete rethink of how building safety is governed. Instead, we see a continuation of fragmented leadership under departments that have already been linked to regulatory failure. This approach doesn’t honour the victims of Grenfell, nor does it deliver the robust safety oversight that the public rightly expects and deserves.”

Urgent reform

The ACQP is urging the Government to:

*establish the Building Safety Regulator as a fully independent statutory body

*remove all direct departmental oversight and political influence

*ensure the regulator is fully resourced and empowered to drive cultural and regulatory change across the built environment

In conclusion, the ACQP observed: “Without true independence, the Building Safety Regulator risks becoming yet another bureaucratic entity constrained by political cycles rather than being driven by safety, competence and accountability.”

*Further information is available online at www.acqp.co.uk

Among the most essential elements of passive fire protection are fire doors. Properly specified, installed and maintained fire doors play a pivotal role in containing fire and smoke, protecting escape routes and saving lives.

Passive fire safety refers to the use of building components and materials designed to prevent or slow the spread of fire and smoke. Unlike active systems, passive fire protection doesn’t require manual or automatic activation in the event of a fire. Instead, it’s built into the structure of a building and remains in place at all times.

Fire-resistant doors, walls, floors and ceilings all contribute towards this form of protection, creating compartments within a building that delay the spread of fire and allow occupants time to evacuate on a safe basis. Fire doors are integral to these compartmentation strategies.

Resisting fire and smoke

Fire doors are specifically constructed and tested to resist fire and smoke for a set period of time (usually 30 or 60 minutes). They must be fitted with appropriate fire-rated components such as intumescent seals, smoke seals, fire-rated hinges and certified glazing.

The performance of a fire door is heavily dependent on the integrity of its installation, the compatibility of its hardware and the condition in which it’s maintained. Even a high-quality and certified fire door can be rendered ineffective if it’s wedged open, fitted incorrectly or if incompatible ironmongery has been used.

The main purpose of a fire door is to delay the spread of fire and smoke between compartments. This is crucial in protecting escape routes, such as stairwells and corridors, and in terms of limiting damage. In commercial or multi-occupancy residential buildings, protected routes are often the only viable means of escape. If a fire door fails to perform as intended, smoke and flames can quickly compromise these routes, endangering lives and hindering the work of the Emergency Services.

Property protection

In addition to providing life safety, fire doors also play a key role in property protection and business continuity. By containing the fire to a single compartment, they help to reduce the scale of damage and the costs associated with repairs and downtime. This is particularly important in high-risk environments such as hospitals, care homes and schools where evacuation is more complex and the presence of vulnerable occupants heightens the need for effective fire safety measures.

Compliance with fire safety-related UK legislation further underlines the importance of fire doors. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 places a legal duty on the ‘Responsible Person’, usually the building owner or manager, to take general fire precautions and ensure the safety of occupants. This includes the proper specification, installation and maintenance of fire doors.

Since the Fire Safety Act 2021 came into force, there has been an increased emphasis on the need for fire doors in multi-occupancy residential buildings to be routinely checked and maintained. The Building Safety Act 2022 further supports this by placing additional responsibilities on accountable persons, notably so in higher-risk buildings.

Regular inspection and maintenance are vital for ensuring fire doors remain fit for purpose. Damage, wear and misuse can all compromise their effectiveness. Property managers and duty holders should arrange periodic checks to be carried out by competent individuals. These inspections should assess not just the door leaf, but also the frame, seals, hardware and signage. Clear guidance is available in publications such as BS 8214 and from the Fire Door Inspection Scheme.

Raising awareness

Raising awareness of the role fire doors play in passive fire safety is essential. Despite their importance, fire doors are often overlooked or misunderstood. Too often, they are seen merely as functional barriers or tampered with for convenience. However, their role in a building’s overall fire strategy is non-negotiable. A fully operational fire door can mean the difference between life and death during an incident.

Fire doors are a cornerstone of passive fire protection. When properly designed, installed and maintained, they protect escape routes, limit the spread of fire and help building owners to meet their legal responsibilities.

Their importance cannot be overstated and ongoing education, enforcement and investment are essential for ensuring fire doors fulfil their critical role in safeguarding lives and property.

Paul Smith is Marketing Executive at Door & Joinery Solutions (www.doorandjoinery.co.uk)

These reforms – including a new fast track process, changes to leadership and fresh investment – aim to support the delivery of 1.5 million safe and high-quality homes, while also taking the early steps towards establishing a single construction regulator (one of the key recommendations from the Grenfell Tower Inquiry).

Andy Roe KFSM has been appointed non-executive chair of a new Board of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to take on the functions of the Building Safety Regulator.

Roe brings a wealth of experience in safety regulation and leadership from his previous role as Commissioner of the London Fire Brigade and, going forward, will be supported by a new CEO for the Building Safety Regulator (namely Charlie Pugsley).

Creating a workable system

Alex Norris, the Minister for Building and Fire Safety, said: “The establishment of the Building Safety Regulator has been fundamental to centralising safety in the construction process. It’s now time to take the next steps to build on that precedent and create a system that works for the sector, while always keeping residents and their safety at the heart of the process.”   

Norris continued: “That’s why we’re announcing a package of reforms for the Building Safety Regulator designed to enhance operations, reduce delays and unlock the homes this country desperately needs, in turn delivering on our ‘Plan for Change’.”

This new organisational structure for the Building Safety Regulator reflects the Government’s commitment to prioritising building safety in its drive to construct 1.5 million new homes. It builds on the strong foundations created by the Health and Safety Executive in establishing the Building Safety Regulator, which has played a pivotal role in raising safety standards.

To support industry in achieving the Government’s ambitious housebuilding targets, the Building Safety Regulator is also introducing a new fast track process. which will bring building inspector and engineer capacity directly into the Building Safety Regulator to enhance the processing and review of existing new-build cases and remediation decisions. This will respond to concerns in the sector around delays, while crucially keeping building and residents’ safety at the core of the process.  

Alongside these improvements, long-term investment in the capacity of the Building Safety Regulator is being bolstered with the addition of over 100 new members of staff who’ll add support when it comes to enhancing operations, reducing delays and emboldening progress.

Watershed moment     

Andy Roe KFSM commented: “The creation of the new Building Safety Regulator represented a watershed moment for housing and construction in this country. However, it’s also clear that the Building Safety Regulator’s processes need to continue to evolve and improve in order to ensure that it plays its part in enabling the homes this country desperately needs to be built.”   

Roe concluded: “I look forward to working with colleagues both in industry and at the Building Safety Regulator to tackle the current issues and delays head on and help to ensure those homes are constructed safely.”

Sarah Newton, chair of the Health and Safety Executive, explained: “Setting up an entirely new regulator has been a complex procedure, but huge progress has been made in a short space of time. Protecting residents and making sure there is never another tragedy like Grenfell Tower has been our foremost priority throughout this process. We wish the new Building Safety Regulator team well in this most important mission.”  

Newton added: “We’re very proud of the work we’ve done to establish the Building Safety Regulator. It was always an option that, once the new regulator was up-and-running, it would then move out of the Health and Safety Executive to enable the Government to implement the Grenfell Tower Public Inquiry Panel’s recommendations. We will work diligently to enable the smooth transition to the next stage.”

The fire broke out at the premises on 24 April that year at 6.36 pm, engulfing the 50 metres x 30 metres car parts breakers and workshop building. At the time, the building contained 16 vehicles and a forklift truck.

The blaze, which was intensified by the presence of acetylene and LPG cylinders and an asbestos sheet roof, caused complete devastation to the structure and its contents. Four days later, firefighters found the body of Waqas Qureshi in a collapsed section of the building.

A detailed fire safety investigation launched by officers from the Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service on 30 April 2021 uncovered multiple serious fire safety deficiencies at the premises, including no suitable fire alarm system, blocked and inadequate escape routes, a lack of emergency lighting, an absence of staff fire safety training and no fire risk assessment.

Breaches of the Fire Safety Order

On 22 May this year, Shahzad Syed Haider (director of Smart Auto Parts Ltd), pleaded guilty at Preston Crown Court to several breaches of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

These included:

*Article 8: Failure to ensure general fire precautions for employees

*Article 9: Failure to conduct a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment

*Article 13: Failure to equip the premises with appropriate fire detection and alarm systems

*Article 17: Failure to maintain the fire safety equipment

*Article 21: Failure to provide employees with relevant fire safety training

Tragic incident

Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service area manager Matthew Hamer commented: “This tragic incident highlights the devastating consequences of neglecting fire safety responsibilities. These breaches contributed to the tragic death of Waqas Qureshi and our thoughts are with his family at this time.”

Hamer concluded: “Every business has a duty to protect its staff and members of the public. The outcome of this case should serve as a stark reminder that fire safety isn’t optional. Rather, it is a legal and moral obligation.”

At Preston Crown Court, St Lukes (Preston) Ltd was ordered to pay £60,000 plus costs, while company director Sean Broadhurst was fined £17,000 plus costs. The sentencing follows on from the devastating fire at the premises that broke out on the ground floor in the early hours of 9 January 2020.

The fire, which began in the kitchen of a self-contained flat, rapidly spread throughout the building. The ground floor housed ten general needs flats, while the first floor was a 13-bed House in Multiple Occupation (HMO), primarily occupied by students.

When tenants activated the manual Call Points, and when smoke triggered the smoke detection in the escape routes, the automatic fire system did not sound an audible warning to the tenants. Fortunately, the tenants were able to alert the sleeping occupants in the premises through their own efforts.

Subsequent investigations conducted by officers from the Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service identified serious fire safety deficiencies, including an inadequate fire alarm system, sub-standard fire doors, poor compartmentation, an inadequate fire safety management and the absence of a fire risk assessment.

Guilty pleas

On 19 May this year, both St Lukes (Preston) Ltd and Sean Broadhurst pleaded guilty to breaches of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

The charges included:

*(St Lukes (Preston) Ltd – Breach of Article 8

*Sean Broadhurst – Breaches of Articles 8 and 9

Area manager Matthew Hamer, head of prevention and protection at the Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service, commented: “This case highlights the critical importance of robust fire safety measures and the legal responsibilities of property owners and managers to ensure the safety of occupants.”

Hamer continued: “The absence of a functioning alarm system and other critical protections placed lives at risk. We welcome Preston Crown Court’s recognition of the seriousness of these breaches and hope this serves as a clear message to all property owners and managers about their legal and moral responsibilities.”

Mike’s a proud member of the Institute of Fire Managers and the Institution of Fire Engineers in addition to being an associate member of the National Association of Healthcare Fire Officers.

In conversation with Mark, Mike focuses his attentions on how to protect educational premises from fire.

In addition, Brian and Mark analyse the latest industry news. Topics covered include the eighth anniversary of the Grenfell Tower fire, the Industry and Regulators Committee seeking practitioners’ views on the Building Safety Regulator and the appointment of Dave White FIFSM (Life) MIFireE (chair of the IFSM) and Colin Todd MBE (managing director at C. S. Todd & Associates) to the Board at FireQual.

Brian and Mark also review the Fire and Security Matters Awards 2025 and Fire Safety Matters Live Coventry, reference Western Business Media’s new Ignite digital platform for CPD and look ahead to Fire Safety Matters Live Manchester on 1 October.

Listen to the Fire Safety Matters Podcast

You can listen to the Fire Safety Matters Podcast for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Google Podcasts. To download the Fire Safety Matters Podcast on iTunes or Spotify, all you need to do is enter the term ‘Fire Safety Matters’ into the search box of your chosen platform.

Alternatively, you can listen to the Fire Safety Matters Podcast for free online at fsmpodcast.podbean.com or via the dedicated Western Business Media/Fire Safety Matters YouTube channel by clicking here.

*If there are any specific subjects you would like to see featured in an upcoming Fire Safety Matters Podcast please do contact us. You can do so on X (formerly Twitter) by using the hashtag #FSMPodcast. Alternatively, send an e-mail direct to [email protected]

On 29 May, McCarthy was successfully prosecuted by the West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service for charges brought to the court under the Fire Safety Order.

Birch Residential Homes Limited is deemed responsible for fire safety management at Kings Court, a purpose-built, four-storey block of flats located in East Grinstead. Crawley Magistrates’ Court heard that Birch Residential Homes – absent for the hearing – had failed to respond to the Fire and Rescue Service’s requests for information following an audit where fire safety issues had been identified.

The issues included no fire risk assessment, inadequate fire safety arrangements, an inadequate fire detection system and unsafe means of escape.

Interim Assistant Chief Fire Officer Dave Bray from the West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said: “Fire safety regulations are in place for a reason and businesses with legal responsibility for fire safety management must adhere to these laws. We are extremely pleased with the outcome of this case and believe it serves as a strong reminder to any ‘Responsible Persons’ that they must carry out a suitable and sufficient risk assessment of their premises.”

Bray continued: “The court has agreed that we were prevented from ensuring the fire safety standards in this residential building are being managed effectively. We will not allow companies to attempt to hide from their duties when our fire safety regulators identify that compliance with the Fire Safety Order has not been met.”

In a statement issued to members and the media, the Trade Association has suggested that the current arrangement “risks repeating the very regulatory failures it was designed to prevent”.

Gerry Sharpe, CEO of the ACQP, observed: “The Building Safety Regulator was meant to reset the culture of construction sector safety in the UK, but housing it within the HSE – an organisation whose expertise lies in workplace safety – has led to confusion, weak enforcement and an alarming lack of sector engagement.”

Key concerns

Several key concerns have been raised by the ACQP in relation to the Building Safety Regulator, among them the organisation’s opinion that there’s a “lack of built environment expertise, slow and ineffective enforcement, low visibility and engagement” and “cultural misalignment”.

According to the ACQP: “The HSE is not a construction regulator. Its staff, systems and oversight frameworks are not designed to deal with Building Control, cladding, fire engineering or long-term structural risks.”

Further, the organisation states: “ACQP members report delayed interventions on high-risk buildings, with many unsafe structures still occupied and unresolved years after issues were flagged.”

In addition, the ACQP comments: “There is widespread concern that the Building Safety Regulator is distant, bureaucratic and disconnected from the professionals and residents it’s meant to support.”

When it comes to “cultural misalignment”, the ACQP notes: “The HSE’s long-standing, risk-based and reactive enforcement culture doesn’t align with the proactive, high-stakes demands of modern building safety oversight.”

Requirements to be met

The ACQP is now calling on the Government to address several key requirements:

*immediately begin the process of removing the Building Safety Regulator from the HSE

*establish the Building Safety Regulator as an independent statutory body with its own governance, staffing and powers

*appoint leadership drawn from across the construction, fire safety and resident advocacy sectors

*improve transparency and public accountability of Building Safety Regulator decisions and enforcement actions

*foster stronger integration with local authorities, Fire and Rescue Services, Building Control and planning regulators

The ACQP’s statement concludes: “We believe in a regulator that’s feared by the cowboys, trusted by residents and respected by professionals. That will never be achieved while it remains buried in the wrong institution.”

About the ACQP

The ACQP is a professional membership organisation representing those practitioners responsible for ensuring safety, quality and compliance in the UK’s built environment.

With a growing national network of fire engineers, site managers, Building Control officers and construction quality specialists among its ranks, the ACQP is committed to raising standards and advocating for competent and ethical practice across the sector.

*Further information is available online at www.acqp.co.uk