In his new role, Ramsay will lead the BAFE Group’s operational strategy and execution, ensuring continued excellence and innovation across all BAFE-owned companies.

Commenting on the appointment, Dr Justin Maltby-Smith (Group CEO of BAFE Holdings) said: “We’re delighted to welcome Lewis to the BAFE Group. His extensive operational expertise, leadership experience and knowledge of BAFE, FireQual and the fire safety sector will be invaluable as we continue to strengthen our business and deliver long-term value for our stakeholders.”

Lewis Ramsay responded: “I’m honoured to accept the role of chief operating officer and I look forward to doing all that I can to help the BAFE Group further develop its proven track record of improving standards across the fire safety sector. These are very exciting times and I count myself very fortunate to be taking on this role at a time of change, growth and development.”

The BAFE Group is confident that Ramsay’s appointment will further enhance the Group’s operational effectiveness and support its ongoing growth and sustainability objectives.

*Further information is available online at www.bafe.org.uk

The event schedule is now available on the IWMA website (see below for details). The first important date is 15 December, when the Call for Papers will be issued and sponsors can start booking tabletops for the exhibition, which will run alongside the conference.

The International Water Mist Association is now reflecting on a successful 2025 event, which played host to circa 170 attendees from 25 countries.

Max Lakkonen commented: “We were positively surprised by the number of attendees and sponsors, which clearly demonstrates the strong momentum of our industry.” The aim is now to repeat this success.

The deadline to submit applications for the Ragnar Wighus Award is 31 March. In 2026, this prestigious award will be presented to the author of the best Master’s degree thesis related to water mist technology.

The International Water Mist Association Scientific Council, chaired by Kemal Sarp Arsava (from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology), will evaluate the submissions. The winner will be invited to present the winning thesis in Prague.

*Further information is available online at www.iwma.net

An additional 253 live remediation applications are also being processed, covering an estimated 22,304 housing units.

This news comes amidst a “steady rising pace” in relation to decisions, with determinations reaching an all-time high of 209 across all application types during the month of August.

Innovation Unit progress

The newly established Innovation Unit (IU), itself a dedicated centralised resource, is now managing 27 new build applications (6,192 housing units). The Innovation Unit is already demonstrating progress, with the majority of applications currently meeting or exceeding the 12-week Service Level Agreement for processing applications.

Average working days for key milestones are also currently performing better than targets.

A new batching process was launched during September, acknowledging that the original Multi-Disciplinary Team model wasn’t effective for managing the volume of cases. This new pilot process scales capacity by bundling applications to specialised engineering services suppliers for accelerated assessment. The first mixed-category bundle of 26 cases was dispatched on 30 September.

Aside from recent changes, the Building Safety Regulator’s priority over the remainder of the year is resolving 91 historic new build applications (which contain around 22,000 new housing units) submitted under the previous model.

The Building Safety Regulator’s team is applying a bespoke plan to address individual ‘blockers’ within these cases, projecting the majority of historic cases will be closed by 31 December, with the final three expected to close in January next year.

Regulator acting decisively

Charlie Pugsley, the new CEO of the Building Safety Regulator, said: “The Building Safety Regulator has been learning from the last two years. The operation has listened to industry feedback and acted decisively through these substantial operational changes we are now piloting, which have shown immediate and positive results.”

Pugsley continued: “We’ve already seen early success with our Innovation Unit and we’re now deploying strategic capacity scaling, including the new batching system. However, we recognise there are ongoing challenges including national skills shortages. We’re firmly committed to using agile problem-solving in working constructively with the wider sector and industry applicants.”

In conclusion, Pugsley noted: “Our focus on further improvements will support the pace of essential construction without compromising the key safety standards required under the Building Safety Act 2022 in order to keep people safe in their homes.”

The event series will provide a powerful new platform for security, fire safety and systems integration professionals to connect, collaborate and shape the future of each industry sector.

Across the three shows, organisers expect to welcome over 8,000 visitors and 150 exhibitors, representing the full breadth of the security, fire safety and integration ecosystem: from cutting-edge surveillance and access control solutions to the latest fire prevention technologies and smart building systems.

Each co-located event will deliver a curated programme of expert-led seminars, live product demonstrations and networking opportunities purpose-designed to foster innovation and partnership across the region’s rapidly evolving built environment.

“We’re thrilled to be incorporating TSEAU, FSEAU and PIFAU as part of Melbourne Build, creating what will be South West Australia’s largest event programme dedicated to the built environment,” commented Tristan Norman, Group director at Nineteen Group.

Norman added: “This exciting new platform brings together every stage of the journey, from constructing a building with Melbourne Build, working on the internal fit-out with Installer Melbourne and securing the space through TSEAU, FSEAU and PIFAU. Together, these events form a complete ecosystem that’s centred on the construction and protection of people, places and assets.”

With strong interest already being shown by leading international and local brands, the event series is set to become a must-attend annual destination for professionals working in security, fire safety and AV systems integration throughout the Australian region.

*Further information is available online at https://www.thesecurityevent.co.uk/australia, https://www.firesafetyevent.com/australia and https://www.prointegrationfuture.com/australia

**For more information on Nineteen Group visit https://www.nineteengroup.com/

The huge fire in early September occurred at Eastways Industrial Estate in Witham and required 90 firefighters, 12 appliances and specialist equipment from Essex Country Fire and Rescue Service. Thankfully, there were no reported injuries, but four crews remained in position overnight, using an aerial ladder to monitor for hot spots at the 4,000 m² building.

Essex fire chiefs praised crews’ ‘incredibly hard’ efforts in bringing the blaze under control and protecting surrounding properties. It was also reported that teams would be supporting businesses and community members impacted by the fire. The initial investigation revealed the fire’s cause as being accidental.

The warehouse served as the headquarters and Distribution Centre for Dalebrook, a business that sold food display ware. The company had been in residence at the location for more than 30 years and shared the building with GBL Ltd, the manufacturer of plastic retail displays.

The financial cost to the two businesses has not been reported. However, both companies will need to find alternative premises. Therefore, the interruption to business operations, along with the destruction of stock, is likely to come at a severe cost.

Restricted access

With access to the industrial estate restricted during the firefighting operation and the clean up process, other businesses were also impacted by the blaze. Its effect on the wider community has included residents being advised to keep all doors and windows closed due to harmful smoke, road closures and a number of measures employed with a view towards minimising the impact of pollution on the local environment.  

The combustible nature of the warehouse’s contents is likely to have played a part in the fire’s rapid escalation. The resulting damage and impact to business and the wider community highlights once again the need for sprinkler protection in commercial buildings, particularly so where combustible materials are present.

According to the Business Sprinkler Alliance, fire sprinklers should be at the core of a commercial building’s design and construction. Their installation protects lives and businesses and supports fire crews, providing an initial line of defence by detecting and suppressing a blaze before it takes significant hold.

Long-term operational risk

In serious warehouse fires, damage isn’t restricted to the building itself. Fires pose a significant risk to a business’ long-term operation, jeopardise jobs and employees’ mental well-being and, potentially, can lead to a company owner’s lifelong hopes and dreams literally going up in smoke.

“Sprinklers help to extinguish that threat,” observes the Business Sprinkler Alliance, “and should be a fundamental element of resilience planning.”

*For more information about the Business Sprinkler Alliance visit www.business-sprinkler-alliance.org

In conversation with Brian, Derrick Hall and Kevin Mears turn their attentions towards the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 (ie Martyn’s Law) and examine in detail how the new legislation (which is due to be enforced in April 2027) will impact the fire safety domain.

There’s a focus on the role to be played by fire safety systems in tandem with an assessment of the ways in which Martyn’s Law is likely to inform product development in times ahead.

Spike Armstrong delivers a comprehensive overview of linear heat detection systems with particular reference to protection regimes purpose-designed for solar panel arrays. Thermocable’s recent and in-depth research on this subject is referenced.

As always, Brian and Mark review the latest fire sector news. This time around, there’s an appraisal of the Fire Protection Association’s 2025 Policy Manifesto as well as news of the Fire and Security Matters Awards 2026 now being open for entries and Western Business Media acquiring the Women in Fire Safety Awards.

The London Fire Brigade reports an escalation in the number of e-bike and e-scooter fires across the capital realised due to failing lithium-ion batteries, while the Association for Specialist Fire Protection has just launched a new mental health pack purpose-designed to raise awareness of mental health issues, reduce stigma and provide practical support for dedicated professionals operating in the passive fire protection sector.

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. 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]

Launching its Remediation Position Statement, the NFCC has urged Government ministers to establish a centrally co-ordinated programme designed to tackle compliance, funding, accountability and workforce shortages, in tandem noting that anything less will leave critical safety gaps unaddressed.

The NFCC has welcomed the intent of the Government’s Remediation Acceleration Plan, which aims to complete the remediation of all high-rise buildings (ie those over 18 metres tall) by 2029 and medium-rise buildings (ie those of 11 metres-plus in height) by 2031 (with progress expected by 2029). However, major barriers remain.

The sheer scale of the challenge and significant data gaps continue to hinder progress. Recent Government estimates of the cohort of affected buildings have fluctuated between 5,900 and 12,000, with nearly two-thirds of the 5,554 buildings in the public remediation portfolio still incomplete. The Government currently estimates the number to be circa 9,000.

Funding is “fragmented and inconsistent”. Current schemes often cover only cladding, which the NFCC feels is leaving other serious defects unaddressed. With multiple funding streams and varying eligibility by tenure, height and materials, many buildings remain in limbo.

Fire and Rescue Services face their own pressures. Depending on the final number of buildings within scope, the NFCC estimates that it would cost between £29.86 million (for 5,900 buildings) and £61.77 million (for 12,000 buildings), with a current working estimate of £46.11 million (9,000 buildings), to inspect all buildings that may require remedial work. This comes at a time when many Fire and Rescue Services face real-terms budget cuts. This could impact their ability to oversee other high-risk premises such as hospitals and care homes, for example.

Stalling progress         

Workforce shortages are also stalling progress. Skilled staff are in short supply, with fewer than 30 fully competent fire engineers resident within English Fire and Rescue Services. These roles demand years of training, while capacity has been further reduced by staff moving to the private sector. For clarity, fire safety and building protection staff comprise just 2.7% of the Fire and Rescue Service workforce in England.

The wider construction sector also finds itself under considerable strain, with a shortfall of 250,000 workers (according to the Chartered Institute of Building) coupled with a rising demand for new homes and infrastructure.

Meanwhile, the NFCC’s calls for a cross-departmental Construction Skills Strategy designed to address shortages in key roles “have gone unanswered”.

NFCC chair Phil Garrigan commented: “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.”

Garrigan continued: “Eight years on from Grenfell, progress is not where it should be. We must tackle the root causes: fragmented oversight, weak regulation and chronic gaps in the workforce, funding and data. Fire risk must be embedded into every stage of building safety rather than being left to emergency response.”

Further, Garrigan asserted: “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 Panel’s recommendations in full and strengthen regulation to ensure no community is ever put at such risk again.”

Position Statement

The NFCC’s Remediation Position Statement calls on the Government to:

*Create a centrally-led, risk-based remediation programme, with clear roles, responsibilities and timelines

*Develop a construction skills strategy designed to tackle the shortage of fire engineers, surveyors, risk assessors and related trades

*Keep funding under review to make sure it covers both internal and external defects, without passing costs to leaseholders

*Urgently review Building Regulations guidance such that safety standards are realistic, enforceable, based on risk and don’t result in a future remediation crisis

*Clarify recently introduced enforcement powers so that the Building Safety Regulator can co-ordinate action effectively

*Implement the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Panel’s Phase 2 recommendations through the regulation of relevant professions, a large-scale product testing regime and publicly available compliance data

The Women in Fire Safety (WIFS) Awards has been established since 2021 and honours the outstanding achievements from the exceptional women working within the fire safety industry. The most recent iteration took place in September 2025 at the Leonardo Royal Hotel in London and attracted 400-plus attendees.

The WIFS Awards have now been acquired by Western Business Media from its founders Chloe Antoniuk and Kate Blake, who will remain with the business as non-executive directors. The awards will form an integral part of the Fire Safety Matters portfolio, which includes the UK’s leading fire safety publication.

To expand on the WIFS Awards’ key aims, there will now be a year-round editorial focus in Fire Safety Matters designed to shine a light on the achievements of women in the sector with the aim of further increasing diversity across the industry. This will take the form of a new column interviewing different women in the fire sector in each issue, in-depth articles and research, podcast interviews and seminar sessions at the Fire Safety Matters Live events.

In addition, the WIFS Awards will be hosting workshops to discuss key issues facing women in the sector and what can be done to encourage more women to pursue a career in the industry.

Inspiring community

Speaking about the acquisition the WIFS Awards, co-founders and non-executive directors Chloe Antoniuk and Kate Blake said: “When we started the Women in Fire Safety Awards in 2021, our mission was simple: to shine a light on the incredible women making a difference across our industry. What began as a small idea quickly grew into something truly special, bringing together an inspiring community of passionate and talented individuals.”

Antoniuk and Blake added: “Now, it’s time for the next chapter. We believe the WIFS Awards deserve to grow even bigger and continue to shine that light even brighter. We’re proud to remain part of it, celebrating excellence, inspiring others and ensuring that light continues to shine for years to come.”

Western Business Media’s CEO Mark Sennett stated: “We are delighted to add the Women in Fire Safety Awards to the Fire Safety Matters portfolio. Fire Safety Matters has always shared the vision of the WIFS Awards: to shine a spotlight on the exceptional women in the fire sector with the aim of seeing even more females pursuing a career in this vital industry.”

Sennett continued: “We are excited to take the WIFS Awards to a new level and support the programme with a year-round focus on diversity through editorial, seminars and dedicated women in fire safety-focused workshops. We are also thrilled that both Chloe and Kate will continue to play a key role in the WIFS Awards’ growth by becoming non-executive directors of the WIFS Awards.”

Larger venue

The WIFS Awards will now move to a larger venue in central London in November 2026, with entries opening next year.

Western Business Media is also delighted to announce that Apollo Fire Detectors is the first organisation to show its support for the growth of the WIFS Awards by agreeing to become Headline Sponsor. 

Apollo Fire Detectors’ managing director Kate Clarke observed: “Apollo is proud to support the Women in Fire Safety Awards, which shine a light on the exceptional talent driving our industry forward. Championing diversity and celebrating achievements are vital to the future of fire safety, and we’re very excited to help inspire the next generation of women in the sector.” 

Fire Safety Matters will be creating a Steering Committee for the WIFS Awards. Interested parties who would like to join this Steering Committee should send an e-mail to: [email protected]

Leanne Velez, commercial head of the Fire Safety Matters portfolio at Western Business Media, commented: “The Women in Fire Safety Awards were created by women to celebrate women in the sector. We want to continue to grow this event by developing a Steering Committee whose members can assist in shaping the key focus of the Fire Safety Matters and WIFS Awards campaign in order to bring more diversity into the sector. We are extremely keen to hear from anyone who would like to be part of this exciting opportunity.”

Organised by Western Business Media Ltd, the Fire and Security Matters Awards enjoyed a record number of entries in 2025 for their fourth iteration, while upwards of 800 guests attended the ‘sold out’ awards ceremony itself.

In 2026, the Fire and Security Matters Awards are once again free to enter and duly recognise excellence and innovation in the fire and security sectors.

Our sponsors also include Apollo Fire Detectors, the Association of Security Consultants, EMS, Hyfire, Suprema, The Fire Safety Event and The Security Event.

The winners of the Fire and Security Matters Awards 2026 will be revealed at a gala black-tie dinner and ceremony to be held at the CBS Arena in Coventry on 2 July.

It only takes a few minutes of your time to enter the Fire and Security Matters Awards. This is the perfect way in which to gain much-deserved recognition for either yourself, your team, a colleague, your organisation, a product/service or a specific project.

Enter online NOW!

Watch the highlights video from the Fire and Security Matters Awards 2025...

Categories in 2026

The list of categories for 2026 is as follows:

Fire categories

*Fire Safety Innovation of the Year

*Fire Safety Training Company of the Year (new for 2026!)

*Fire Safety Manufacturer of the Year

*Fire Safety Installation Company of the Year

*Fire Safety Project of the Year

*Fire Safety Manager of the Year

*Fire Safety Team of the Year

*Fire Industry Woman of the Year

*Fire Safety Consultancy of the Year

Security categories

*Security Manufacturer of the Year

*Security Guarding Company of the Year

*Security Installation Company of the Year

*Security/Risk Manager of the Year

*Security Team of the Year

*Security Project of the Year

*Security Industry Woman of the Year

*Security Innovation of the Year

*Security Consultancy of the Year

*Security Training Company of the Year (new for 2026!)

Joint Fire and Security categories

*ESG Company of the Year

*Distributor of the Year

*Commercial Person of the Year

*Customer Service Award

*Unsung Hero of the Year Award (new for 2026!)

*Rising Star of the Year Award (new for 2026!)

As always, there’s also going to be the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award, the recipient of which will be chosen by the members of the independent Judging Panel.

Deadline for entries

*The deadline for entries is 6 March 2026 at 23.55 pm

*Click here to submit your entry/entries!

***Further information about the Fire and Security Matters Awards 2026 is available online

The facilities at Pembroke House are going to serve as the location for the new FPA Training and Education Centre where the Association’s courses will be presented to delegates, with significant investment being fed into the creation of modern training amenities that meet the latter’s needs.

Doubling current classroom provision due to demand, the four newly resourced teaching classrooms will enable the delivery of the FPA’s portfolio of courses and new courses for 2026. The new headquarters will also provide attractive and modern facilities for organisations who would like bespoke training, designed and delivered by FPA professionals.

In addition, there’s going to be a new practical training suite, developed in conjunction with industry partners, to provide learners with an immersive training environment including real-life simulations and break-out content that will enhance learners’ experiences.

Dedicated space

The new facility harbours a dedicated space designed for trainers to support learners in one-to-one sessions. It will also allow for the support of assessment methods which are appropriate to meet the needs of individual learners, providing equal access to fair assessment.

Indeed, the facility in Banbury will provide learners with a range of experiences and support resources, empowering them to achieve their chosen pathways in the fire safety industry.

Speaking about the upcoming move, Dr Gavin Dunn (CEO of the FPA) said: “Alongside our growing state-of-the-art laboratory at Blockley in Gloucestershire, the new Training and Education Centre at Banbury will allow us to continue to offer our high-quality services in modern surroundings.”

Dunn added: “This move demonstrates the FPA’s commitment to supporting the advancement of fire safety across the UK. We look forward to welcoming training delegates to our new premises in January.”

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