Based in East Grinstead, West Sussex (also the home of Western Business Media), the Queen Victoria Hospital is internationally recognised for its specialist reconstructive surgery, advanced burns treatment and expert therapy and rehabilitation services.

Importantly, the Queen Victoria Hospital – which was founded back in 1996 – actively supports children and adults who have experienced damage or disfigurement as a result of cancer, trauma, burns, major surgery, disease or congenital conditions.

Leading consultant teams at the facility deliver vital life-changing care services not only at the main hospital site in East Grinstead, but also across a wide network of clinics throughout the South East region, thereby ensuring that essential expertise is accessible for those most in need.

The Queen Victoria Hospital Charity (Registered Charity Number 1056120) proudly supports members of staff and patients, continually funding a range of initiatives including assistance towards cutting-edge medical equipment, improvements to wards and waiting areas in order to enhance the patient experience and the organisation of support for the health, well-being and professional development of all staff members.

In addition, the charity helps to fund ongoing research and educational work, enabling Queen Victoria Hospital to continue to develop new and innovative treatments for its patient cohort.

There are various ways in which to donate towards or otherwise support the Queen Victoria Hospital Charity. Contact the fundraising team via e-mail at [email protected], telephone 01342 414392 or send correspondence to Queen Victoria Hospital Charity, Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Holtye Road, East Grinstead, West Sussex RH19 3DZ.

Further information is available online at www.supportqvh.org

Special moment

The charity partnership forged with Western Business Media and the Women in Fire Safety Awards comes at a special moment as the Queen Victoria Hospital celebrates its 30th Anniversary of providing the aforementioned life‑changing care and support to patients across the South of England.

Speaking about the partnership, Leanne Velez (head of commercial for the Fire Safety Matters portfolio at Western Business Media) stated: “We are honoured to welcome the Queen Victoria Hospital Charity as our 2026 charity partner and look forward to working together with the team to raise awareness and support for the incredible work they do in rebuilding lives.”

Free to enter, the Women in Fire Safety Awards 2026 – for which Apollo Fire Detectors is kindly serving as Headline Sponsor – purposefully shine a light on excellence, while in parallel helping to increase diversity and representation within the fire safety profession.

This year’s Women in Fire Safety Awards recognise excellence across a wide range of categories including:

*Administrator of the Year

*Diversity Champion Award

*Excellence Award (Business)

*Excellence Award (Fire Consultant)

*Excellence Award (Fire Engineering)

*Excellence Award (Social Housing)

*Global Research Award

*Inclusive Company Award

*International Rising Star Award

*International Woman of the Year

*Rising Star Award

*Woman of the Year

Full criteria for all of the above categories can be viewed online.

*Entries for the Women in Fire Safety Awards are free. The deadline by which to submit any given entry is 31 July. Enter online NOW!

According to the latest CROSS-UK Topic Paper, ‘Mind the Gap: Bridging the Gaps Between Structural and Fire Engineering’, some of the greatest risks in modern building design arise not within disciplines, but at the interfaces between them.

Drawing on the expertise of CROSS-UK’s Fire Safety Expert Panel, published research, industry guidance and reports from built environment professionals, the Topic Paper examines where ‘disconnects’ emerge between structural and fire engineering and how they affect building safety. While focused on the Building Regulations 2010 and Approved Documents in England, the findings are relevant across the UK’s construction sector and beyond.

Its central message is simple: safer buildings require closer collaboration, clearer accountability and a better understanding of how structural and fire safety interact throughout a building’s lifecycle.

Critical interface

Structural and fire engineering have traditionally evolved as separate disciplines. Structural engineers ensure buildings remain stable under normal and accidental loads, while fire engineers focus on fire behaviour, smoke movement, fire resistance periods and evacuation.

In practice, however, the disciplines are closely interconnected. Structural decisions influence fire safety strategies, while fire performance depends on how a building’s structure behaves under fire conditions.

As buildings become taller and more complex, and performance-based design becomes more common, unclear responsibilities at this interface increase the risk that important issues remain unresolved.

Post-Grenfell challenge

The Topic Paper comes at a time of significant change for the construction industry. Since the Grenfell Tower fire, reforms have placed greater emphasis on competence, accountability and managing safety risks, shifting the focus from demonstrating compliance towards demonstrating that risks have been properly identified and managed.

Against this backdrop, the Topic Paper asks whether current approaches to structural and fire engineering consistently deliver the outcomes intended by the Building Regulations. It concludes that important gaps remain, particularly so where responsibilities overlap.

Gaps to be bridged

The Topic Paper identifies six areas where disconnects commonly occur:

*Legislation: Regulations establish separate safety objectives for ‘structure’ and ‘fire safety’, potentially reinforcing a siloed approach between structural and fire engineering disciplines

*Guidance: Standards are often developed from individual disciplinary perspectives, in turn leading to fragmented approaches where structural and fire assumptions may not align

*Scope of services: Project teams may assume another consultant is addressing an issue, leaving responsibilities between disciplines undefined and critical tasks overlooked

*Insurance: Professional Indemnity Insurance arrangements can discourage consultants from engaging with issues perceived to sit outside their formal remit

*Competence and knowledge: Engineers need sufficient understanding of each other’s disciplines to recognise interfaces, identify conflicts and seek specialist input when required

*Industry co-ordination: Poor communication between consultants, contractors and specialists allows assumptions to go unchallenged and risks to remain hidden

Collectively, these gaps show that structural fire safety is as much about communication, co-ordination and accountability as technical design.

Limits of prescriptive design

The Topic Paper also examines the growing use of performance-based design. Traditional prescriptive requirements, such as minimum fire resistance periods, provide a clear route to compliance, but complex buildings increasingly require more flexible and performance-based solutions.

These approaches depend on assumptions about fire scenarios, structural behaviour and performance criteria. If those assumptions are not shared and understood across disciplines, significant risks can arise. A fire engineer may develop a strategy based on one set of assumptions while a structural engineer designs to another, with the mismatch only becoming apparent late in the project or after occupation.

The Topic Paper therefore argues that Parts A and B of the Building Regulations should be treated as complementary, with fire recognised as an accidental action and structural performance assessed under realistic fire scenarios rather than relying solely on prescribed fire resistance periods. This is particularly important for complex or high-consequence buildings.

Many assumptions about structural and fire performance are made during design, but lose value if they’re not properly recorded and communicated. Years later, building owners or refurbishment teams may not understand the rationale behind key decisions, increasing the risk that alterations compromise safety.

Maintaining clear records of assumptions, responsibilities and design decisions is a fundamental part of building safety, not simply an administrative task.

From compliance to confidence

Ultimately, the Topic Paper is less a technical guide than a call for a more integrated and risk-based approach to structural fire safety. It advocates earlier collaboration, clearly defined responsibilities and better communication throughout a building’s lifecycle, duly encouraging engineers to apply informed judgement and seek specialist expertise where needed.

The message is clear: compliance alone is not enough. Safer buildings depend on structural and fire engineers working together to ensure that critical issues don’t fall between disciplines. By closing these gaps, the industry can move beyond compliance towards greater confidence in the safety and resilience of the built environment.

*Collaborative Reporting for Safer Structures UK (CROSS-UK) is a confidential reporting system which allows professionals working in the built environment to report on fire and structural safety-related issues. These reports are then published anonymously to share lessons learned, create positive change and improve safety. Further information is available online at www.cross-safety.org/uk

Fire Safety Matters Live Manchester is underpinned by an excellent conference programme accredited for Continuing Professional Development through the Institute of Fire Safety Managers (IFSM). The day features eleven presentations followed by a Fire Safety Mock Trial delivered thanks to regulatory lawyers James Muller and Elliot Kenton from leading law firm Weightmans.

The first session of the day begins at 9.15 am and features Iain Ronaldson (head of fire safety at the Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust) outlining critical fire safety risks within a live healthcare environment undergoing complex remediation. The 30-minute session will observe the challenges of maintaining safe evacuation strategies, compartmentation and compliance while works are ongoing and patients remain in situ.

At 9.45 am, Adil Sardardeen (sustainability manager at Headline Sponsor Apollo Fire Detectors) reviews the subject of ‘Understanding Fire Safety Sustainability Compliance’. The core of this discussion elaborates on how circular economy principles can reduce waste and improve material decisions in both a credible and proportionate way.

Dr Karthik Govarthanam (technical director at Firefly) joins conference at 10.10 am to examine ways in which to overcome compartmentation challenges in existing buildings. This session highlights what Approved Document B requires from compartment walls, fire stopping and concealed spaces before considering how single-sided systems can provide practical and evidence-supported solutions.

Prior to the first coffee and networking break of the day at 10.50 am, Aico’s relationship manager Robert Avery is scheduled to spend 20 minutes concentrating on Best Practice when it comes to meeting recognised industry standards across training, competency and systems installation.

Risks posed by lithium-ion batteries

One of the most popular subjects for debate and discussion in the sector at present is the risk of fire posed by lithium-ion batteries. With this in mind, Fire Safety Matters Live includes a presentation on the topic courtesy of Chris Dunne (UK sales engineer) and Tom Codd (product manager) of FFE. From 11.20 am, conference will hear how flame detection can support such higher-risk applications, looking at fire behaviour, environmental factors, detector selection and the important process of false alarm management.

11.45 am sees the start of a three-way discussion involving Rob Bullen (senior solutions consultant at HSI HandsHQ), Paul Jenkinson (founder and director of Accredex) and James Knott (Health and Safety manager for SJ Eastern). ‘Building Fire Safety Competence for Tomorrow’ explores how competence in the fire safety domain is evolving in order to meet the demands of modern buildings, emerging technology and evolving regulations alike.

Keith Plowman (fire engineering and fire safety consultant at the Global HSE Group) joins conference at 12.10 pm to detail how practitioners can effectively manage risk, maximise limited budgets and maintain high standards of resident safety through practical decision-making, targeted investment and adopting a balanced approach towards service delivery.

Immediately prior to lunch is a session from Simpro, the details for which are still to be confirmed.

Everyday obstacles

‘Everyday Obstacles Encountered by Fire Safety Risk Assessors’ kick-starts the afternoon session at conference, with Lukasz Lakomiec (specialist Health and Safety and fire safety consultant at Howden) assessing how organisational culture can either support or obstruct compliance. This session begins at 1.50 pm.

2.10 pm realises a presentation on fire safety at the John Lewis Partnership. Lee Goupillot (fire safety advisor for the business) looks at waste electrical and electronic equipment in the retail and distribution environments.

The penultimate presentation of the day outlines how one of the UK’s biggest fire safety prosecution cases – involving the Beechmere retirement village in Crewe – eventually collapsed. James Muller from Weightmans is the speaker.

Accompanying exhibition

No fewer than 60 of the leading fire safety systems and solution providers are taking part in the accompanying exhibition. Delegates attending conference and the exhibition will leave the venue at circa 4.30 pm armed with a host of practical ideas, details of innovative approaches, news on the latest products and solutions and valuable industry connections all designed to help drive real improvements within their host organisations.

In addition to Headline Sponsor Apollo Fire Detectors, Fire Safety Matters Live Manchester 2026 is sponsored by Aico, FFE, Firefly, the Global HSE Group, HSI HandsHQ, Simpro, the Security Systems and Alarms Inspection Board and the IFSM.

Indeed, the IFSM will be running its Annual General Meeting and Technical Conference at the same venue on the same day, while the National Association of Healthcare Fire Officers is once again delivering its ever-popular Training and Partnership Event.

Industry supporters of Fire Safety Matters Live Manchester 2026 also include the Association for Specialist Fire Protection, BAFE, FireQual and, of course, the Fire Industry Association.

*Registration for Fire Safety Matters Live 2026 is free of charge. Visit the event’s dedicated website for further information and register online now to join 600-plus of your peers for a day of first-class education and networking

The Single Construction Regulator is intended to address the fragmentation identified by the Grenfell Tower Inquiry. Rather than regarding buildings, construction products and the people working on them as separate regulatory concerns, the Government intends to bring these three areas together as part of a more coherent system.

The proposal is not simply to create a larger regulator by transferring existing functions into one organisation. Rather, the stated ambition is to improve the way in which risks are identified, information is shared, responsibilities are understood and standards are enforced across the whole building lifecycle.

For the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE), the response presents both an opportunity and a responsibility for itself and its members to take a leading role.

Regulation of professions

The Government’s response confirms that the regulation of professions will form one of the three principal elements of the future system alongside buildings and construction products. It also acknowledges that the present arrangements for skills, behaviour, accountability and professional regulation are fragmented and inconsistent.

An overarching strategy for built environment professions, trades and occupations is expected in the Spring of 2027. This will consider regulatory and non-regulatory measures addressing skills, knowledge, experience, conduct, culture and accountability.

An expert Working Group has also been commissioned to examine the relationship between professional activities and risks posed to the public. Its work may inform decisions about whether additional professions should be subject to statutory regulation and whether particular building functions should be reserved for appropriately qualified or regulated people. These are matters of direct relevance to the IFE and its members.

The Government has already identified fire engineering as a profession in which there’s a clear case for reform. The Fire Engineers Advisory Panel’s Authoritative Statement, published last December, describes the knowledge and skills expected of a competent fire engineer. A Transitional Board has since begun work on the approach to professional reform.

In parallel, the Government has consulted on strengthening and professionalising the fire risk assessor sector, including the Grenfell Tower Inquiry’s recommendation for mandatory certification. Its formal response is expected in the latter stages of this year.

These workstreams are related, but they’re not interchangeable. Fire engineering and fire risk assessment involve different functions, competence requirements and routes to assurance even though some practitioners operate in both areas. A coherent regulatory system will need to recognise where they overlap, while also preserving the distinctions between them.

Stronger role for professional institutions

The Government has not yet settled the precise relationship between the Single Construction Regulator and professional institutions. Nevertheless, the response suggests several areas in which institutions such as the IFE can deliver an important contribution.

Professional institutions maintain competence frameworks, assess individuals, support Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and establish expectations for ethical and professional conduct. The IFE also provides communities through which learning, emerging risks and changes in practice can be communicated.

These functions could complement statutory regulation, but only if the relationship is clearly defined. Membership of a professional institution, registration with a professional register, certification for a particular activity and legal authorisation to perform a reserved function are different forms of recognition. Future arrangements must make clear what each demonstrates and who remains accountable for it.

For the IFE, this means continuing to ensure that its professional standards and registration processes are rigorous, transparent and capable of being understood by regulators, clients, duty holders and the public. It also means being ready to demonstrate how competence is maintained after initial assessment, particularly so where an individual undertakes safety-critical work.

From individual competence to system competence

One of the strongest messages in the Government’s response is that competence cannot be considered in isolation from the environment in which people work.

A competent individual may still be undermined by poor procurement, inadequate time or resources, unclear appointments, unreliable product information or organisational pressure to accept an unsafe compromise. Conversely, organisational systems cannot compensate for people working outside the limits of their competence.

The IFE therefore has an interest not only in the recognition of individual fire engineers, but also in the conditions necessary for competent professional practice. These include clearly defined functions, appropriate authority, access to reliable information, effective quality assurance and a professional obligation to identify and communicate uncertainty.

The future framework must also distinguish between competence to hold a professional title and competence to undertake a particular function on a particular project. Fire engineering covers a wide field. Registration provides important assurance of an individual’s underlying professional competence, but project-specific competence will also depend on experience, technical specialism, resources and the complexity and risk profile of the work.

Evidence, intelligence and emerging risk

The proposed Single Construction Regulator is expected to adopt a risk-based approach supported by horizon scanning, better data and improved information sharing. This is another area in which the fire engineering profession can contribute.

Fire engineers encounter weaknesses, unusual conditions and emerging hazards across the building lifecycle. Much of this intelligence is dispersed between individual projects, fire risk assessments, research, professional networks, regulators and confidential reporting systems. A more connected system should be better able to identify recurring patterns before they result in widespread harm.

The IFE can help by supporting structured professional learning, disseminating safety information and working with regulators and reporting bodies alike to turn experience from incidents, near misses and technical concerns into system-wide improvement. This will require suitable arrangements for confidentiality, data quality and fair treatment of those who report concerns in good faith.

Digital competence records may also become more important. The Government has identified the absence of a consistent digital method for verifying competence as a weakness in the current system. The IFE should therefore expect increasing interest in how professional registration, current competence, specialist capability and CPD can be verified reliably and, where appropriate, shared digitally.

Proportionate regulation with credible enforcement

The Government intends the Single Construction Regulator to use proportionate and risk-based regulation supported by decisive enforcement against those who fail to meet expected standards.

That balance matters. A system focused excessively on procedural compliance could increase cost without improving safety. Equally, professional standards will not command public confidence unless serious incompetence, misconduct and misrepresentation have meaningful consequences.

Professional institutions will need effective disciplinary processes and appropriate information sharing arrangements with statutory regulators. 

These arrangements must protect the public, while in tandem ensuring procedural fairness and avoiding unnecessary duplication.

What happens next?

Legislation will be introduced when time in the Houses of Parliament allows, with implementation of the Single Construction Regulator expected to begin from 2028. Before then, several important decisions will be taken.

The Government’s response on fire risk assessor reform is expected later this year. The overarching strategy for built environment professions, trades and occupations is expected next Spring.

Further, the fire engineering Transitional Board will continue developing the model for reform and the functions, powers and institutional relationships of the new Single Construction Regulator will be refined before legislation is introduced.

The Government has committed to continued engagement as this work progresses. The IFE and its members should play an active part in that process.

The essential question is no longer whether professional competence will feature in the new regulatory system. It’s how competence will be defined, demonstrated, maintained and connected to accountability. The IFE has considerable experience to offer, but it must also be prepared to examine how its own systems will operate within a more transparent and somewhat more demanding regulatory environment.

If the reform succeeds, professional recognition will not simply identify achievement. It will also form part of a connected system through which building users, clients and regulators can have justified confidence in those undertaking safety-critical fire engineering work.

Dr Peter Wilkinson CEng CFIFireE is Fire Engineering Advisor at the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) (www.ife.org.uk)

The NFCC has consistently called for a modern, inclusive and accountable building safety system, warning that parts of the current guidance have not kept pace with modern construction methods, changes in building use or the needs of what is a diverse and ageing population.

Reiterating the recommendations made in its Building Regulations and Guidance Position Statement issued last December, the NFCC has welcomed a number of measures set out in the recent Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) consultation on proposed changes to Approved Document B, the statutory guidance that supports fire safety requirements within the Building Regulations.

In its response to the consultation, a number of measures aimed at improving clarity and strengthening fire safety standards were welcomed by NFCC, but the organisation urges further reform designed to address longstanding issues identified in its Position Statement.

The NFCC believes the consultation proposals represent progress in some areas, particularly so through the introduction of guidance on evacuation lifts (an issue the organisation has consistently raised). However, the NFCC believes the changes fall short of the more fundamental reforms needed to ensure buildings are designed around the needs of occupants and actively support the Government’s ambition for everyone to reach a place of safety in an emergency without external assistance.

The NFCC is urging the Government to use the consultation as part of a wider programme of reform that delivers on the broader ambitions for building safety established following the Grenfell Tower fire and Dame Judith Hackitt’s subsequent Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety.

Evacuation lifts and sprinklers

Alongside welcoming a number of the Government’s proposals, the NFCC is calling for wider provision of evacuation lifts to support residents who are unable to use stairs, thereby ensuring everyone can reach a place of safety without external assistance.

While the consultation proposes evacuation lifts in new residential buildings over 18 metres in height, the NFCC firmly believes safe evacuation should be based on people’s needs rather than the height of a building.

Further, the NFCC would like to see an increased use of sprinklers in specialised housing (encompassing premises with and without care provision) and a further review of fire safety requirements for car parks, including consideration of sprinkler systems and the risks associated with modern vehicles and electric vehicle infrastructure.

In addition, the NFCC is calling for greater clarity, research and testing around the use of modern methods of construction and combustible structural materials as well as completion of the wider Approved Document B review programme originally announced following the aforementioned 2018 Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety.

Buildings and people

Dave Russel, the NFCC’s lead on protection, observed: “It’s encouraging to see progress in a number of areas, particularly in terms of the introduction of guidance on evacuation lifts, which is something the NFCC has been calling for over many years.”

Russel continued: “However, this is about more than individual changes to guidance. Last year, we set out a vision for a building safety system that reflects how people live today, supports those who may need help to evacuate and keeps pace with modern buildings and modern risks. At its heart, this is about people. Buildings should be suitable for the people who live in them rather than people having to be suitable for the buildings they occupy. When someone needs to escape a fire, their safety should not depend on whether a building was designed with their needs in mind.”

In conclusion, Russell noted: “The Grenfell Tower fire showed why we must put residents at the centre of every decision. We do welcome the progress being made and very much look forward to working with central Government and industry to ensure the wider programme of reform delivers safer and more inclusive buildings for everyone.”

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

The case was brought forward by Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service having arisen in the wake of a report from a guest who stayed at the five-bedroom property. The individual raised several concerns in relation to fire safety at the location, which then prompted a visit by fire safety inspectors in May last year.

Inspectors from the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service found a range of issues as follows:

*no fire risk assessment had been conducted for the premises

*the fire alarm system wasn’t working and showed no fewer than nine faults

*there was an absence of regular maintenance for the fire alarm system, the emergency lighting and firefighting equipment

*several fire doors, themselves essential for preventing the spread of fire and smoke, were found to be defective

Such was the severity of the fire safety deficiencies in the guest house that the inspectors from the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service served two legal notices to prohibit any sleeping at the premises until such time that remedial work had been carried out and completed.

Sentencing process

Prestleigh Inn B&B Limited pleaded guilty to four offences under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005:

*Article 9: Failure to make a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks to which relevant persons were exposed for the purpose of identifying the general fire precautions
*Article 13: Failure to ensure that the premises were (to the appropriate extent) equipped with working fire detectors and alarms
*Article 14: Failure to ensure there was an adequate means of escape in the event of a fire owing to defective fire doors and emergency lighting
*Article 17: Failure to ensure that fire precautions were subject to a suitable system of maintenance and repair

The company was fined £16,000 for the Article 9 offence and £10,000 for the Article 13 offence. There was no separate penalty for the other two offences.

Appropriate measures

Fire safety manager Darren Bridges from the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, whose team investigated the offences, stated: “I hope this case serves as a reminder to anyone managing guest accommodation that they must take fire safety seriously. Failure to do so not only endangers occupants, but can also result in prosecution. I cannot emphasise enough the importance of carrying out a thorough fire risk assessment and having appropriate fire safety measures in place.”

Counsel Jack Barry said the company accepted that its lack of knowledge was not a defence. Since the offences came to light, the company’s director has undertaken an Institution of Occupational Safety and Health risk management course and is fully confident that the business will not appear in court again.

*Further information is available online at www.dsfire.gov.uk

Sponsored by Bob Blackman CBE MP (pictured, above left)  in his capacity as chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Fire Safety Group, the gathering brought together representatives from a diverse range of organisations including the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Qualifications Scotland, UKAS, fire sector associations, certification bodies and industry stakeholders.

Fire Safety Matters was represented by Leanne Velez, commercial head of the Fire Safety Matters portfolio at Western Business Media.

This prestigious event marks the relaunch of what’s widely recognised as the benchmark scheme for demonstrating competence in life safety fire risk assessment. The SP205 Scheme has been updated to ensure that it remains aligned with current legislation, Best Practice and the expectations placed on those responsible for fire safety.

Addressing guests, BAFE Group’s CEO Dr Justin Maltby-Smith (pictured, above right) paid tribute to the technical experts, authors and representatives from across the industry whose collaboration helped shape the new SP205 Scheme. Maltby-Smith described it as an important step forward in affording ‘Responsible Persons’ the confidence they need that fire risk assessments are being undertaken by competent organisations and individuals.

Wider reforms

BAFE Group’s chief operating officer Lewis Ramsay skilfully set the launch event in the context of the wider reforms that have reshaped the fire safety landscape post-Grenfell. He acknowledged the significant progress made through legislative change, new competence standards and greater collaboration across the sector, but also argued that public confidence ultimately depends on competence being independently demonstrated rather than simply claimed.

The SP205 Scheme assesses not only the technical capability to carry out life safety fire risk assessments, but also the quality management systems, governance and assurance processes that underpin the work of organisations and their employees.

In total, upwards of 130 representatives from across Government and the fire safety sector attended the reception, reflecting the broad support for raising professional standards through independent certification and accreditation.

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

With effect from 14 July, the members’ interests – including the guarantor interests – in the FPA have now transferred to Certek Group Holdings Ltd as part of a strategic transaction. As a direct result, the FPA has now become part of the wider Certek Group of companies.

Headquartered in London, Certek is an independent company that delivers a range of mission-critical compliance services to an international client base.

The FPA will continue to operate under its established name and brand, while the organisation’s registered and trading address, phone number, web address and e-mail address all remain unchanged. Head office is located at Pembroke House, Banbury Business Park, Aynho Road, Banbury OX17 3NS.

The FPA’s Fire Testing Laboratory continues to be located at the Northcot Business Park, Station Road, Blockley, Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire GL56 9LH.

Having been established back in 1946, the FPA has been at the heart of UK fire safety for almost 80 years, setting the highest industry standards, influencing policy and supporting a community of over 4,000 members. The organisation trains circa 7,500 individuals and completes some 650 risk assessments every year.

Through the RISCAuthority scheme and its wider research programme, the FPA also delivers market-leading research that shapes fire safety practice, guidance and policy across the built environment.

Transformational moment

Dr Gavin Dunn, CEO of the FPA, commented: “This is a transformational moment for the FPA. Our partnership with Certek secures the organisation’s future, while preserving everything that makes the FPA unique. It provides the investment and scale to accelerate innovation, expand our services and strengthen our role as the UK’s leading fire safety organisation. Most importantly, it enables us to continue delivering independent expertise, research and professional development that supports a safer built environment for generations to come.”

David Harrison, CEO of Certek, stated: “We are delighted to welcome the FPA into the Certek family. The FPA is the trusted voice of fire safety in the UK. Its reputation for independence, technical excellence and market-leading research is second to none.”

Harrison continued: “The FPA is an excellent strategic fit for our Built Environment division and augments our fire services capability with a superb testing facility and a highly experienced team joining Certek. For fire Testing, Inspection, Certification and Compliance services, Certek is now the market leader in the UK, offering the broadest range of capability across research, testing, assessment, certification, training, inspection and engineering.”

Further, Harrison observed: “Our partnership with the FPA will deliver investment into new research and educational projects and also enhanced testing and certification services in order to better serve client and assessor requirements, all while safeguarding the FPA’s vital research into fire safety and the independence, rigour and commitment to the highest standards that have defined the organisation throughout its history.”

Dr Gavin Dunn concluded: “We have secured our future and protected everything that makes this organisation special by maintaining the independence, integrity and public benefit role that has always defined the FPA. With the ability to create opportunities that simply were not available to us before, I genuinely believe this move marks the beginning of a very exciting new chapter for the FPA.”

Strong heritage

Established by the Association of British Insurers (ABI) to be the core voice of fire safety for the Fire Offices’ Committee, the FPA’s heritage resides in sharing fire safety messages and information to Government, businesses, its membership and the wider public.

Over the years, the FPA has remained the centre point of fire safety expertise and guidance for the ABI.

All of the FPA’s training and consultancy services are approved by the Lloyds Register and certified to BS EN ISO 9001:2015, while the organisation has attained the prestigious Investors in People Award.

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

The Labour MP for Chester North and Neston observed: “It’s hugely important to correct the mistakes of the past so that residents can move on with their lives. Further, I’m of the view that good regulation supports growth as well as safety.”

Dixon proceeded to announce the next stage in terms of development for the wider building safety system. In line with determined calls from industry, residents and campaigners alike, the Government is now enabling new applications to the Cladding Safety Scheme to be prioritised according to risk to life rather than solely by building height. “This will ensure,” said Dixon, “that those buildings assessed as presenting the highest risk to life are then prioritised for remediation.”

As part of this risk-based approach, the Government is also focusing on targeted action designed to address fire safety risks in buildings below 11 metres in height where serious and life-critical cladding defects fall outside the scope of statutory protections, often leaving leaseholders facing significant cladding remediation costs.

“We’ve investigated all buildings under 11 metres tall brought to our attention since 2022,” noted Dixon. “The clear majority have not required cladding remediation, with fire risks often addressed through proportionate and lower-cost mitigation measures. Only a limited number of buildings have been found to require cladding remediation.”

Prolonged uncertainty

Dixon continued: “We acknowledge that leaseholders in buildings under 11 metres have faced prolonged uncertainty. New and targeted funding will support the remediation of unsafe cladding on a small number of multi-occupancy residential buildings under 11 metres in England.”

In practice, this will be delivered through an extension of the Cladding Safety Scheme and administered by Homes England, duly delivering on the commitment set out in the Remediation Acceleration Plan Update that was issued in July last year.

Funding will prioritise high‑risk buildings with the most serious cladding fire safety defects. Following support for these cases, any remaining funding may be directed to other buildings where intervention would deliver the greatest benefit in terms of reducing risk and supporting residents. Dixon outlined that applications for funding are expected to open in August.

National Remediation Database

In the final part of the year, the National Remediation Database (delivered by Homes England) will provide a single view of remediation activity in relation to relevant buildings, improving information sharing and supporting oversight across partner organisations.

Importantly, the Government has just published the findings of the Remediation Programme Insurance Survey, which indicates that some leaseholders continue to face particularly high insurance costs despite progress in remediating building safety defects.

Dixon confirmed that the Financial Conduct Authority will work with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and His Majesty’s Treasury to undertake a short and focused review of the multi-occupancy buildings insurance market. The review will explore how insurers’ pricing approaches for multiple occupancy buildings have changed since 2023, how firms are considering leaseholders’ interests when assessing whether their products deliver fair value and also how fire safety remediation work and other related factors are being taken into account in insurers’ risk assessments.

Further, the review process will work with the Association of British Insurers and the MHCLG to assess the effectiveness of the Fire Safety Reinsurance Facility in increasing market capacity and reducing premiums.

Single Construction Regulator

The Government has published its response to the Single Construction Regulator prospectus consultation. “The Government welcomes the broad support for the Single Construction Regulator from respondents,” said Dixon. “Our response to the consultation sets out the Government’s direction for the Single Construction Regulator, including our vision and ambition for the regulator, outcomes for the building system and the Single Construction Regulator’s primary objective.”

What’s more, the response confirms the Government’s intention to bring forward primary legislation as the next step towards establishing the Single Construction Regulator, using the Building Safety Regulator as its foundation.

According to Dixon: “Establishing the Single Construction Regulator will support a more effective, fair and coherent regulatory system that improves outcomes for residents and building users, while also providing greater clarity for industry.”

Dixon added: “The Government continues to drive reform across the wider building safety system. Our objective is to ensure that the system established after the Grenfell Tower fire is protecting residents, supporting responsible development and operating in a clear, proportionate and effective way.”

As the new framework has matured, Dixon said experience has shown where improvements can be made, while maintaining the protections residents rightly expect. “The reforms announced will improve how the regime operates in practice, while maintaining high standards of safety.”

Higher-risk buildings regime

Improving the proportionality of the higher-risk buildings regime is vital for the Government. Robust oversight of safety-critical work remains essential, but Dixon affirms in the statement that requirements must be targeted and efficient if they are to command confidence and support delivery.

“A proportionate regime is not a compromise on safety,” stated Dixon. “It’s essential to make sure regulatory effort and limited specialist resources are focused where they have the greatest positive impact on safety and efficiency.”

In relation to this, the Government has published the response to two consultations focused on re-categorising work in existing higher-risk buildings and on targeted dispensations from procedural requirements for telecommunications work in existing buildings. In parallel, the Government has launched a new consultation on the emergency repairs route.

Revised approach

As previously reported by Fire Safety Matters, the Building Safety Regulator is introducing a revised approach to building assessment certificates. “This will provide an effective, proportionate and risk-based approach to managing occupied higher-risk buildings, with greater support for ‘Principal Accountable Persons’, particularly resident-led organisations and those managing complex cases.”

The Building Safety Regulator will also develop updated processes, prioritisation and guidance to help protect residents and leaseholders from unnecessary additional costs.

“The core duties established by the Building Safety Act 2022 will not change,” explained Dixon. “It remains the case that ‘Accountable Persons’ must continue to manage their buildings effectively and take all reasonable steps to protect residents from fire spread and structural failure.”

Dixon concluded: “Taken together, this package of measures ensures the building safety framework remains focused on proportionate management of risk to be effective in operation and firmly centred on protecting residents.”

BS 9994 covers the development, validation, maintenance and lifecycle management of fire strategies alongside competence requirements and guidance on the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence.

The Special Interest Group will provide an opportunity for members to discuss the draft, share practical experience and assist in shaping the FIA’s official response to the British Standards Institution. Feedback received will ensure the views of the fire industry are represented during the national consultation.

The Special Interest Group review session takes place on 6 August at 10.00 am and will be conducted online through the Zoom platform. This session is open to FIA members only. Those who wish to register their interest and receive the meeting link need to send an e-mail to [email protected]

Guidance on pipework

The FIA’s guidance to support the safe and professional installation of pipework used in gaseous fixed firefighting systems outlines industry Best Practice for installers and brings together pipework specification information previously contained in BS 5306-4 following the transition to ISO 6183 and BS EN 17966, which don’t include the same level of detail.

In addition, the new guidance complements the BS EN 15004 Series by providing practical guidance on pipework installation.

Pipework plays a critical role in delivering the extinguishing agent from storage containers to discharge nozzles within the protected area. Any failure of the pipework or fittings can have serious consequences, including projectile hazards, the unintended release of extinguishing agents, structural damage caused by pressure effects and reduced system performance during a fire.

Minimising the risks

In order to minimise these risks, the guidance emphasises that installation should only be carried out by trained and competent personnel with experience in gaseous fixed firefighting systems. Installers should also follow manufacturers’ requirements to ensure pipework remains secure and performs as intended during system discharge.

The new guidance provides a valuable reference for contractors and installers, helping to promote consistent and high-quality installations that support the reliability and safety of gaseous fixed firefighting systems.

*Download the guidance online at www.fia.uk.com