The current conflict in the Middle East, suggests central Government, is “yet another reminder” that “the only route” to energy security and sovereignty for the UK is to end the dependence on fossil fuel markets and accelerate the drive for clean homegrown power, as well as new renewables and nuclear.   

Indeed, the Government has already taken significant steps in speeding up the move towards clean energy in response to the Middle East scenario. The annual renewables auction, for example, has been brought forward to July. The most recent auction was the biggest one to date and, alongside the previous iteration, means that enough clean energy to power circa 23 million homes has been confirmed.

Now, the Government is driving forward with the aforementioned roll-out of ‘plug-in’ solar panels (ie low-cost panels that families can put on their balconies or outdoor spaces) to be made available in High Street shops and save people money on their energy bills.

Retailers including Lidl and Iceland, alongside manufacturers such as EcoFlow, are working with Government to enable these panels to be brought to the UK market. The Government notes: “The free solar power can be used directly through a mains socket like any other device, without an installation cost, thereby reducing the amount of electricity taken from the grid and cutting energy bills.”

Positive step

Georgina Hall, corporate affairs director at Lidl, noted: “At Lidl GB, we’re committed to making sustainable living affordable for everyone. We welcome the Government’s move to modernise regulations in the UK. Updating the regulatory landscape for this ‘plug-and-play’ technology is a positive step towards empowering British households to manage their energy costs and support the nation’s ‘Net Zero’ ambitions.”

Chris Norbury, CEO of E.ON UK, commented: “Cutting red tape on ‘plug-in’ solar is an encouraging move and we will help to ensure that it works either alongside, or as part of, whole-home solutions that genuinely empower people to take control of their energy use and cut bills.”

Chris Hewett, CEO of Solar Energy UK, explained: “Expanding solar energy and battery storage is a rapid and inexpensive solution to the looming energy crisis for cutting bills, for the economy and for our nation’s energy security. From the largest installations through to the smallest domestic systems, every battery and panel counts towards weaning us off the reliance on imported and polluting fossil fuels. That’s why ensuring that new homes and other buildings are constructed with solar and boosting retrofits is so vital and welcome.”

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband stated: “The Iran War has once again shown that the drive for clean power is essential for our energy security so we can escape from the grip of fossil fuel markets we don’t control. Whether through solar panels fitted as standard on new homes or making it possible for people to purchase ‘plug-in’ solar solutions in shops, we’re determined to roll-out clean power so that we can give our country energy sovereignty.”

Concern among consultants

The Government’s plans have raised the alarm bell over fire safety. Stuart Patience (director and head of energy solutions at built environment consultancy Hollis) informed Fire Safety Matters: “Buying ‘plug-in’ solar panels from the supermarket sounds like a great idea in principle, but it’s not like picking up a pint of milk or a tin of beans. There will assuredly be savings in energy costs for thousands of people, but we should always be aware of the risks.”

In theory, ‘plug-in’ solar could open solar PV to the masses, notably so renters and flat owners who’ve been locked out of the market to date, but it also has the potential to present a much bigger issue.

“There’s a huge difference between making solar more available and making it safe,” suggested Patience. “Right now, the push for ‘plug-in’ solar feels more like a headline-grabbing story than a fully worked through plan for safe installation and long-term use. The idea is attractive. The details and safety considerations are limited.”

The first critical question to be addressed revolves around who’s fitting these systems. “Solar PV is not a casual ‘plug-and-play’ lifestyle product. It’s an electrical product with serious safety and fire risks attached. If these systems are sold through mainstream retailers without clear requirements around competent installation, inspection and sign-off, the industry could be opening the door to widespread non-compliant electrical work.”

According to Patience, this is where any lack of electrical competency checks becomes a serious concern. “If the Government is encouraging householders to buy systems ‘off-the-shelf’ and plug them in, they don’t have any verification of who has installed or inspected them or whether their existing electrical system can cope with the additional load. These products only weaken competency controls and installation quality, which could well be a recipe for disaster.”

Grid connection requirements

There’s also the unresolved issue of grid connection requirements and planning rules that are already in place. Traditional solar installations are subject to established processes for network connection, technical assessment and, in some cases, planning consent, all of which exist to protect both building safety and grid stability.

“The Government’s announcement ducks the wider building safety issues,” asserted Patience. “These ‘plug-in’ solar panels could introduce combustible materials, new ignition sources and additional loading to balconies and external surfaces. In higher-risk residential buildings, particularly so those already facing cladding or other fire safety remediation issues, this is a major unresolved issue that could cause serious structural and fire safety-related problems.”

Will these systems be lightly regulated or folded into the current framework? “Until that’s made clear,” continued Patience, “there’s a real risk that mass adoption of these technologies could significantly impact the grid capacity and the rules designed to keep installations safe, lawful and fit for purpose.”

Battery storage makes that risk even more worrying. “There’s a possibility that battery storage could be added to this proposal, which changes the conversation immediately. The industry needs to consider how to manage an unextinguishable fire in a high-rise building or residential property, caused by thermal runaway, which is when the lithium battery cell overheats and releases flammable gases that continually burn until they run out or explode. The prospect of solar PV and battery storage being introduced into high-rise flats without a robust competency framework in place should set alarm bells ringing right across the sector.”

The issue is not just about installation, either. It’s also about what happens afterwards. “Solar PV is not something consumers can simply buy, forget about and assume will look after itself. Performance, safety and compliance all depend on proper ongoing maintenance, monitoring and user understanding. If owners are not properly educated on safe operation, routine checks, fault signs, shutdown procedures and when to call in the specialists, small issues have the potential to turn into life-threatening situations.”

As far as Patience is concerned, the worrying factor is that the Government’s announcement “barely touches” on risk, compliance or competency. “It’s being sold as a good news solution to confront energy pressure and rising bills, but it says far too little about the safeguards needed to make it work safely. Without proper competency checks, strong regulations and serious user education on maintenance, installation and safe use, it risks becoming a dangerous shortcut.”

Response from Electrical Safety First

Also responding to the Government’s plans to make ‘plug-in’ solar panels widely available to the public, Luke Osborne (technical director of Electrical Safety First) observed: “Electrical Safety First welcomes the announcement of the Future Homes Standard. However, while we recognise the potential for ‘plug-in’ solar panel systems to make renewable energy more accessible for millions of people, safety must come first. Recent investigations conducted by the charity have highlighted that, at present, ‘plug-in’ solar systems supply power to household circuits in a way currently not permitted by regulations.”

Osborne added: “While the risk remains low, without wiring regulation changes and under certain conditions, ‘plug-in’ solar PV systems connected to standard household sockets can cause overheating or otherwise impair the operation of protective devices such as RCDs.”

Further, Osborne commented: “We are pleased to see the Government intends to address these issues. New safety standards should be introduced rapidly to ensure households can safely enjoy the benefits of ‘plug-in’ solar. We look forward to working with the Government to address these issues in detail.”  

By way of a warning, Osborne concluded: “With the introduction of any new technology comes the risk of substandard versions making their way on to the market through unscrupulous sellers. We continue to call for online marketplaces to be better regulated in order to prevent unsafe products from being made available to households both now and in the future.”

*Photograph: Ordnance Survey

Following a recommendation that emerged from the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, the system – supported by Ordnance Survey data – has been developed for Fire and Rescue Services in England in collaboration with British APCO, the public safety organisation.

The Multi-Agency Incident Transfer (MAIT) standard is a system designed for the Emergency Services and reduces the time it takes to respond to an incident by allowing personnel to send incident information to either one or multiple Control Rooms instantly through a shared digital communications system. MAIT also presents incident information in a standard form and makes sure the shared detail is secure and accurate.

Implementation and some initial running costs for MAIT are funded for Fire and Rescue Services in England by central Government. The National Fire Chiefs Council has been overseeing the roll-out of MAIT to all 44 Fire and Rescue Services (served by 34 fire Control Rooms) in England. 27 Fire and Rescue Services (served by 19 fire Control Rooms) are already using the system, while it’s expected that the majority will be online by the end of March.

Critical information

Keith Donnelly, head of Fire and Rescue Service operational Communications at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, said: “One of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 1 recommendations was to investigate methods for assisting Control Rooms to obtain access to information available to host Control Rooms. MAIT is one of the tools that enables fire Control Rooms to share critical information in fast time with other fire Control Rooms and, once onboarded, with other Emergency Services. Since ‘go live’, MAIT has been used in a number of operational scenarios. Feedback from Fire and Rescue Services has been very positive.”

Other Emergency Services outside of the fire domain are being encouraged to take up the new protocol and grow the effectiveness of the network. To date, North Yorkshire Police and His Majesty’s Coastguard are in the process of implementing MAIT in their Control Rooms.  

Matt Leat, deputy chief coastguard at His Majesty’s Coastguard, explained: “Any process that can accelerate communication between the Emergency Services has the potential to save lives. MAIT eases the pressure on Control Room operators, helps them to manage incidents more effectively and can cut response times by a matter of minutes. British APCO fully supports this initiative and encourages interest from other agencies looking to bring the same benefits to their own operations.”

Phil Garrigan, chair of the National Fire Chiefs Council, explained: “Fire and Rescue Services are working alongside other Emergency Services more than ever before. One of our priorities has been to make that joint response as smooth as possible. MAIT means that Control Rooms can share information in seconds, not minutes, so everyone’s working from the same picture from the moment the call comes in. That improves co-ordination and helps the right assistance to be actioned for the public both swiftly and safely.”

In England, the contract to provide MAIT to all Fire and Rescue Services was awarded to the AVR Group. It uses shared addressing standards to improve consistency between agencies, such as Ordnance Survey AddressBase Premium and the Unique Property Reference Number. AVR Group, which is an Ordnance Survey partner, has also created a bespoke gazetteer routinely used by Fire and Rescue Services. This combines Ordnance Survey addressing and other boundary data to show which agencies cover the same geographical patch.

The MAIT standard is available in both web-based and fully integrated versions.

Trusted and accurate data

Wes Clift, customer development manager for national security and resilience at Ordnance Survey, informed Fire Safety Matters: “Ordnance Survey has a long history of supporting the Emergency Services by providing trusted and accurate data across the whole of Britain. It’s a great privilege to know that our data is integral to the growing success of MAIT. We would love to see an even greater adoption of this life-saving protocol by the wider blue light community.”

The value of MAIT has already been demonstrated in Wales, where it has been adopted by all of the Emergency Services.

*Any Emergency Services aside from the Fire and Rescue Service wanting more information about MAIT in England should contact British APCO via e-mail at [email protected]

**The Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 1 recommendations regarding MAIT can be found at 33.16

***Additional detail concerning MAIT can be accessed on GOV.UK (Share information between Emergency Services with MAIT - GOV.UK)

****Watch this video for more information on British APCO and MAIT - British APCO: Who we are and what we do

Supported by Western Business Media’s sector magazines Fire Safety Matters, Security Matters, Professional Security Installer and Benchmark, the Fire and Security Matters Awards will be hosted by celebrated comedian, writer, presenter and actor Katherine Ryan.

The gala evening includes a VIP drinks reception, a sumptuous three-course meal with table wines, live music and more.

Tickets are already selling fast. Take advantage of the ‘early bird’ rate (which is available until 10 April) and secure a discount on tickets NOW! Make sure you join 900-plus of your peers for a great night out.

Book your tickets online at https://firesecurityawards.com/2026/en/page/book

2026: The Finalists

Fire categories

Fire Industry Woman of the Year

*Ashley Vargas (Barnard College)

*Carmen Walbyoff (Fire Protection Association)

*Coral Morgan (Saint-Gobain UK)

*Dara Heneghan (Securitas UK)

*Deborah Williams (Compass)

*Gemma Pawson (Fire Safe Scotland)

*Irene de Leczano-Mujica Gonzalez (Trigon Fire Safety)

*Mabel Higgins (MH Fire Safety)

*Nicola John (FDM Training and Development)

*Sally Evans (Bennett Associates)

*Sophie Mogford-Revess (LGM Products)

*Sophie Smith (Institute of Fire Safety Managers)

Fire Innovation of the Year

*Advanced – SmokeGo

*Ajax Systems – Alarms and Smart Systems

*C-TEC – FastConvert

*DVS – Ciqurix CORE XFP Video Flame Detection System

*Europa plc – Solar Guardian

*Evac+Chair – Evac Xpert

*FireTAG UK – FireTAG Smart Fire Door Management System

*Gerda Security – AlertAssure

*Hyfire – Taurus

*Kentec Electronics – Wireless Lockdown Notification System

*Patol – Optect LR16 Flame Detector

*QDOS – dynamicZM

*Vent Trade – O Range Smoke Control Panels

Fire Safety Consultancy of the Year

*AESG

*Assured Fire Safety Consultancy

*C. S. Todd & Associates

*CT Protect

*FCS-Live

*Fire Safety & Compliance

*Global Technical Services (Global HSE Group)

*Judicium Education (Supporting Education Group)

*PHSC Ltd

*TEAM Safety Services

*Tenos

*Trident Fire Compliance

Fire Safety Installation Company of the Year

*Advanced Roofing

*Aylesbury Fire Systems

*City Building Engineering Services

*Gabriel Security SRL, Securitate.Pro

*Galliford Try Asset Intelligence

*Global HSE Group

*Kilnbridge

*M&G Fire Protection

*Miller Knight

*OHEAP Fire & Security

*RECOM Fire Solutions

*SGD Fire Protection Ltd

*Triton Security and Facilities Management Ltd

Fire Safety Manager of the Year

*Alec Purdie (Quelfire)

*David Campbell (Emirates Safety Laboratory)

*Gary Grant (Delva Patman Redler)

*Gary Turnbull (RiskFire)

*John Alldread (Manchester Airport)

*Kate Kirk (Somerset NHS Foundation Trust)

*Kevin O’Neill (AESG)

*Martyn Ward (Securitas)

*Paul Brunt (Manchester United FC)

*Phil Perry (Wentworth Security & Fire Protection)

*Rob Cook (Tesco plc)

*Thomas Hoyle (Triton Group)

Fire Safety Manufacturer of the Year

*Advanced

*Aico

*Ajax Systems

*Ampac Europe

*C-TEC

*Eurotech Fire Systems

*FFE

*Gerda Security Products

*Kentec Electronics

*Quelfire

*Safety Technology International

*Vox Ignis

Fire Safety Project of the Year

*AJS (Fire Safety Upgrades for Raven Housing Trust)

*Alpine Group (Diageo, Blackgrange)

*Bandweaver (Turin Metro Fibre Optic Linear Heat Detection System Upgrade)

*Call Systems Technology (Enhancing MoD Security with Encrypted Fire Signalling)

*City Building Engineering Services (Ullswater College Fire System)

*Ecosafe Group (Mary Rose Avenue)

*Fire Protection Association (Fire Sprinkler System Design for Buildings with Exposed Timber Surfaces)

*Global HSE Group (Post-Fire Residential Remediation Programme)

*Quidvis Risk Management (Transforming Fire Risk Management for Post Office Ltd)

*SGD Fire Protection (Compartmentation Enhancement Programme, Jackson Jackson for Your Housing Group)

*Tesco plc (Tesco Express Residential Fire Protection)

*Ventro Group (London Stadium Fire Stopping Project)

Fire Safety Team of the Year

*AESG

*Ampac Europe

*Safety Consulting Partnership

*Delco Safety Compliance

*Bellrock

*Legionella & Fire Safe Services

*Hampshire Fire Protection Co

*Galliford Try Asset Intelligence

*RECOM Fire Solutions

*Saracen Compliance Services Ltd

*Securitas Security Services UK

*Tesco plc

Fire Safety Training Company of the Year

*Aico

*C. S. Todd & Associates

*Elevation Fire Training

*FDM Training and Development

*Fire Industry Association

*Fire Protection Association

*North West Fire Training Ltd

*Quelfire

*Saint-Gobain UK

*Securitas Security Services UK

*Vulcan Fire Training Co Ltd

*Xact Consultancy & Training Ltd

Security categories

Security Guarding Company of the Year

*Carlisle Support Services

*Corps Security

*Herongrange Security Services (Herongrange Group)

*Mitie

*Region Security Guarding

*SecuriGroup

*SmartSec Solutions

*StrongGuard Security UK

Security Consultancy of the Year

*Alliance Consulting

*Buro Happold

*Cundall

*Nuparadigm

*Rockfort Security Consultants

*Tobruk Protective Security Solutions

*Trident Manor

Security Industry Woman of the Year

*Alessia Mazuelos Cáceres (Mitie Intelligence Services)

*Chantelle Ridehalgh (Videcon)

*Claire Shrosbree (CYS Group)

*Colleen Harris (The Portmarnock Group)

*Danielle Maloney (Galliford Try)

*Derren Fitton (Netflix)

*Francesca Boeris (Comelit-PAC)

*Laura Potter (Event Pro Security Management)

*Natasha Hornby (Mitie Security)

*Nicola Bate (SecuriGroup)

*Samehra Malik (Seagate Technology)

*Sarah Large (Arena Security)

*Vicki Hearn (SAFECROWDS Group)

Security Innovation of the Year

*Ajax Systems – HL Cameras

*CSL Group – DualCom Pro 4

*Dahua Technology – WizSeek and Text-Defined Alarms

*Gallagher Security – OneLink

*Herongrange Group – SolarWind 2.0

*HID – M1 Transparent Gateway

*Hikvision UK and Ireland – Guanlan AI

*HKC – SecureHub

*i-PRO – Active Guard 3.0

*Johnson Controls – IQ with PowerManage

*March Networks – AI Smart Search

*Suprema Systems UK – BioStar Air

Security Installation Company of the Year

*Chris Lewis Fire & Security

*EDG Security

*Fitted Home Alarms Ltd

*Galliford Try Asset Intelligence

*Gurutech Security

*Herongrange Group

*KeepSafe Security Solutions Ltd

*Lodge Security

*SecuriGroup Systems

*Soteria Security Services

*Voltsecure

*Wentworth Security & Fire Protection

Security Manufacturer of the Year

*AddSecure

*Comelit-PAC

*Concept Pro

*Dahua Technology

*Hikvision UK and Ireland

*i-PRO

*Orisec

*Paxton

*Pyronix

*Reconeyez UK

*Rhombus

*Suprema Systems UK

Security Project of the Year

*AddSecure (Migration of Next Generation Portfolio Products from BT Redcare)

*Dahua Technology (The Maltings Shopping Centre, St Albans)

*Dual-Stream (Smart Detection with Waitrose)

*Galliford Try Asset Intelligence (Thames Water AMP7 Critical Infrastructure Security Upgrades)

*Genetec (Hammersmith and Fulham Council Public Space Surveillance)

*H3 Group (Fire and Security Upgrades at 21 Day Motor Group Sites)

*i-PRO (Public Space Protection in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham)

*Johnson Controls (Smart AI-Enabled Integrated Security Transformation for British Airways Engineering)

*SAFECROWDS Group (Crystal Palace FC FA Cup Winners Parade)

*SecuriGroup (SecuriGroup and M&G Cloud Migration Project)

*SecuriGroup (SecuriGroup and the Royal Albert Hall Grand Sumo Tournament Project)

*Voltsecure (European Retail Security Infrastructure Upgrade)

Security Team of the Year

*Amazon (UK and Ireland Security and Loss Prevention Team)

*Cundall (Cundall Security Consultancy Team)

*Galliford Try Asset Intelligence (United Utilities Security Enhancement Team)

*Mitie Fire and Security (Nationwide Building Society Team)

*Mitie Security (Civilian Guard Force Training Team)

*Mitie Security (HMRC Birmingham Security Team)

*SecuriGroup (Television Centre Security Team)

*The Portmarnock Group (The Portmarnock Group Management Team)

*Westgrove Group (Castle Quay Shopping Centre Security Team)

*Westgrove Group (Cwmbran Town Centre Security Team)

*Westgrove Group (Touchwood Shopping Centre Security Team)

*Zinc Systems (B&Q Crime Centre Team)

Security/Risk Manager of the Year

*Daniel Pike (NG Bailey)

*Darren Barber (SGC Security Services)

*Daryn Clements (SecuriGroup)

*Grant Lecky (Security Partners’ Forum)

*James Bradley (Mitie Security)

*Jason Morgan (Herongrange Group)

*Leigh Harper (Cundall)

*Michael Warner (Herongrange Group)

*Naadira Ahmed (Cundall)

*Ross Harvey (Rockfort Security Consultants)

*Salih Ozturk (Lodge Security)

*Selim Mahmout (Lodge Security)

Security Training Company of the Year

*Blueprint Training

*Dahua Technology

*Event Pro Security Management

*Invictus Professional Training

*Mercury Training Services

*Nu-ology Training

*Safer Business Network Training

*The Bonny Academy

Joint categories

Commercial Person of the Year

*Alan Fowlie (Videcon)

*Claire Blakemore (Evac+Chair)

*Connor Tse (SecuriGroup)

*David Kane (Herongrange Group)

*Derrick Hall (Kentec Electronics)

*Jon East (Elmdene International)

*Kyle Millward (Xact Consultancy & Training Ltd)

*William Espiner (Aylesbury Fire Systems)

Customer Service Award

*ABUS UK

*Aico

*Elmdene International

*Eurotech Fire Systems

*Johnson Controls

*Mitie

*Orisec

*Paxton

*Phoenix Safe Company

*SecuriGroup

*SGD Fire Protection

*Westgrove Group and Darwin Shopping Centre

Distributor of the Year

*ADI Global Distribution

*Fire Seals Direct

*Illumino Ignis

*LGM Products Ltd

*Mast Digital (UK) Ltd

*Videcon

ESG Company of the Year

*Advanced

*Apollo Fire Detectors

*AURA UK

*Corps Security

*FFE

*Johnson Controls

*MES Systems Ltd

*North

*Pointer Ltd

*SecuriGroup

*SGD Fire Protection

*SmartSec Solutions

Rising Star Award

*Chris Byers (Wentworth Security & Fire Protection)

*Derryn Crowley (RiskFire)

*Hayley Clay (Quelfire)|

*Jamie Hazel (Herongrange Group)

*Jemma Barton (Westgrove Group)

*Kyle Grant (Delva Patman Redler)

*Michael Warner (Herongrange Group)

*Olivia Smith (Frocester Group)

*Rohit Vekaria (National Portrait Gallery)

*Ryan Collins (Trigon Fire Safety)

*Ryan Hipperson (Fire Protection Association)

*Samuel Forbes (Bennett Associates)

Unsung Hero Award

*Eren Bessim (Safer Business Network)

*Hamza Hussain (CYS Security)

*Michael Kiddle (Hawksworth Appliance Testing)

*Paul Lawton Jones (Mercury Training)

*Peter Scholefield (Delva Patman Redler)

*Matt Kirby (Aylesbury Fire Systems)

*Paul Meyerhoff (Mitie)

*Shaun Davidson (SGD Fire Protection)

*David Kane (Herongrange Group)

*Michael Warner (Herongrange Group)

*Ahmed Azam (Lodge Security)

*Ben Jaggers (Westgrove Group)

Lifetime Achievement Award

The winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award will be revealed on 2 July at the Fire and Security Matters Awards 2026.

Fire Safety Matters Live features a full day of Continuing Professional Development seminars accredited by the Institute of Fire Safety Managers (IFSM) and curated by Mark Sennett (CEO of Western Business Media and the founder of Fire Safety Matters).

Topics featured on the day range from the changing landscape of fire safety and external wall fire risks through to smoke control systems, competence in the fire safety arena and fire suppression.

Speakers include George Edwardes (technical director at the Fire Protection Association), Lewis Ramsay (chief operating officer at the BAFE Group) and Alisdair Perry (CEO of the British Automatic Fire Sprinkler Association).

There will also be the inaugural edition of the Women in Fire Safety Conference.

In addition, the accompanying exhibition features 50-plus of the biggest brands and industry bodies in the fire safety sector. Delegates will be able to network with upwards of 1,000 industry peers.

There’s free on-site parking at the Coventry Building Society Arena in addition to free lunch and refreshments throughout the day.

The Headline Sponsor for Fire Safety Matters Live Coventry 2026 is Apollo Fire Detectors. Event sponsors include Aico, FFE, Firechief Global, Global HSE Solutions, HandsHQ (recently acquired by HSI), the IFSM and the Security Systems and Alarms Inspection Board.

Join us for the UK’s largest single-day fire safety conference and exhibition, which is also co-located with the IFSM Technical Conference in addition to Security Matters Live, IFPO Live and the ASC Business Group.

*Register to attend for FREE at https://registration.fsmlive.co.uk/register

Several important changes have been introduced. Coverage is expanded from timber doors to include fire door assemblies manufactured from all materials (ie timber, steel, aluminium, composite), with annexes provided for material-specific guidance.

The revised British Standard addresses the lack of a Code of Practice for metal and composite fire doors, providing new guidance for installation, maintenance and manufacture. Further, the document clarifies installation requirements, notably in Section 9.4, in order to prevent misinterpretation and the potential for non-compliant installations.

Smoke control guidance has been updated to align with revisions in BS 9991, including Best Practice when it comes to sealing under-door gaps. In addition, the 2026 version incorporates changes required by post-Brexit legislation (relating to UKCA and CE marking) and new regulatory requirements introduced by the Building Safety Act 2022, the Fire Safety Act 2021 and, of course, related legislation.

Importantly, this new document responds directly to feedback from industry associations, certification bodies and regulatory authorities alike.

Controlling fire spread

The British Standard aims to ensure that fire doors perform effectively in both new-build projects and refurbishments, helping to protect escape routes and control the spread of fire and smoke within buildings.

BS 8214:2026 is intended for a wide range of professionals and organisations involved in the provision, specification, installation, inspection and maintenance of fire doors. Those professionals and organisations include building designers, specifiers, architects, consultants, engineers, contractors and buyers, product manufacturers and supply chain providers, installers and maintenance and repair contractors, inspectors, fire risk assessors, Building Control bodies, site managers, supervisors and competent persons.

In addition, its contents are aimed at Fire and Rescue Authorities, building owners, residents and clients as well as insurers and regulators.

Building fire safety strategies

Fire doors are critical when it comes to building fire safety strategies, working in combination with other construction elements to protect escape routes and control fire and smoke spread.

The British Standard is updated not only to reflect the current legislation previously mentioned, but also to reference other key standards (BS 9991 and BS 9999 among them).

This new document addresses anomalies and misleading information in previous versions, ensuring that life safety is prioritised.

Ultimately, using BS 8214:2026 helps to ensure that fire doors are specified, installed and maintained according to Best Practice. The revisions outlined benefit all stakeholders by providing vital guidance, in turn leading towards safer buildings and communities.

*Copies of BS 8214:2026 Fire-Resisting and Smoke Control Doors – Practical Considerations Concerning Specification, Design and Performance in Use – Code of Practice are priced at £161.00 for BSI members and £322.00 for non-members. Further information is available on the BSI’s website

This webinar has been developed in partnership with the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) for those who are responsible for preparing, co-ordinating or submitting staged applications to the Building Safety Regulator.

Whether an individual is new to the process or looking to strengthen their approach, this session will help practising professionals to understand what the Building Safety Regulator expects at each stage, how to avoid common pitfalls and also how to ensure submissions are clear, complete and compliant.

The webinar will cover the purpose of staged applications, the key information required and how each stage supports safe design, construction and decision-making. There’s also going to be practical insights from Building Safety Regulator specialists and industry experts who drafted the CLC’s building safety staged application guidance and an opportunity to ask questions about real‑world scenarios.

The webinar panel includes chair Neil Hope-Collins (policy team lead for higher-risk buildings at the Building Safety Regulator), Matt Coleman (director of structures for WSP), Dave Morris (operations policy advisor at the Building Safety Regulator) and Ben Oram (technical director at Buckley Gray Yeoman).

*Register online at https://bsrevents.co.uk/basket/attendee/add

**The Building Safety Regulator is running two more webinars in March: ‘Managing Competence in the Built Environment’ (23 March from 10.30 am-12 noon) and ‘An Introduction to the Building Safety Regulator’s Remediation Enforcement Unit’ (25 March from 2.00 pm-4.00 pm). Registration can be completed using the above link

Offering tall ceilings, roller shutters and vehicle access to the upper levels, this flagship scheme in Barking, East London has been described as a ‘pioneer project’, but two years on, most of it is empty.

The reason isn’t market collapse or any lack of demand. It’s a fire strategy. The development in question has been designed as a multi-storey industrial and warehousing scheme. Part of a drive to maximise land use in order to free up other areas for housing. On paper, it achieved remarkable land efficiency. The units were large, airy and perhaps tall enough to accommodate mezzanines. The kind of space in which you would reasonably expect to store goods, materials and products at scale for a local logistics hub.

However, despite those apparent credentials, the completed building has struggled to attract occupiers. Only a small fraction of the available space has been let. The issue, it transpired, is that, while the building resembles a collection of small warehouse units, it cannot operate as one in any meaningful sense.

The sprinkler system had been designed for industrial use, not for storage. As a result, flammable materials can only be stored to a height of around 1.2 metres. In units that were otherwise capable of accommodating storage many times that height, the commercial reality became immediately obvious. What should have been flexible and lettable space became highly constrained accommodation suitable only for a limited range of occupiers.

Value engineering

The sprinkler system was described by Barking and Dagenham Council as having been “value engineered” to “balance cost, compliance and anticipated use”. It complied with fire safety regulations and Barking and Dagenham Council has said it went beyond the guidance in fitting the sprinklers. The installation passed the checks. It was signed-off. Unfortunately, the outcome has been a building that doesn’t do what it was built to do.

This is not a story about sprinklers failing, rather a story about assumptions going unchallenged and then meeting the reality of enforcement, which then spotlights the limitations of the design.

Sadly, fire engineering strategies are often treated as static technical documents, agreed early and rarely revisited. They can determine what can be stored, how space can be used, how easily it can be adapted and, ultimately, how commercially viable it is. When those strategies are developed around the minimum anticipated for compliance, rather than the likely or marketed use, the consequences can be severe.

Even when strategies are updated, further value engineering can quietly redefine the future life of a building. In this case, it’s reported that an additional £2.2 million is needed to put the property back in a position so that it can be used in the original way intended.

The parallels with other parts of the sector are uncomfortably familiar. We have seen schools designed with atria only to find they cannot hold events in them. Large-scale warehouses designed with impressive clear heights only for it to emerge later that the structures will not be protectable with ceiling-only automatic sprinklers. In these cases, occupiers are faced with decisions over layouts and, perhaps, compromises over the use of their premises. Retrofitting becomes complex, expensive or otherwise simply not viable. Once again, the building technically complies, but practically fails.

Misreading compliance as success

What links these examples isn’t poor intent or a lack of regulation. It’s a culture that can misread compliance as success, limiting future use and, unfortunately, outcomes seen to miss the needs of occupiers/owners.

At the Business Sprinkler Alliance, we often talk about outcomes because outcomes are what owners, occupiers and communities actually experience. A building that cannot be let because its fire strategy restricts its use is not a success. A development that requires millions of pounds of remedial work shortly after completion is not a success. A scheme that looks right, feels right, but functions incorrectly has failed at a fundamental level.

The uncomfortable question is whether we are too willing to accept these outcomes because the paperwork says everything is fine. As multi-storey industrial and warehousing developments become more common, this matters more, not less. These buildings are long-term assets. They’re expected to adapt, to support different occupiers over time and to respond to changing patterns of production and storage. Designing fire protection systems that lock them into a narrow operational envelope undermines that flexibility from Day One.

Warning sign

If a building looks like a warehouse, is marketed as a warehouse and priced as a warehouse then it should be able to operate as one. Anything else is not regulatory success. Rather, it’s a warning sign.

At the Business Sprinkler Alliance, we will continue to argue for fire safety approaches that value protection, resilience and continuity alongside life safety. When compliance delivers buildings that don’t work, it’s not just a technical issue. It’s a failure of outcome.

Tom Roche is Secretary of the Business Sprinkler Alliance (www.business-sprinkler-alliance.org)

Launched in 2024, the Apprenticeship Awards were created in order to recognise excellence among Fire and Rescue Service apprentices and training providers. The annual programme highlights the vital role apprentices play in strengthening the sector, protecting communities and supporting organisations in developing new knowledge and skills within the workforce.

This year witnessed a remarkable 198 nominations (more than double the number received in 2025) across seven award categories.

Praise from sector leaders

Gavin Ellis, Chief Fire Officer of Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service and the NFCC’s lead on apprenticeships, said: “The Apprenticeship Awards inspire Fire and Rescue Services to prioritise high-quality apprenticeship programmes and help raise training standards nationwide. Championing apprenticeship successes enhances professionalism and builds capability across the UK’s fire community.”

NFCC chair Phil Garrigan echoed those sentiments in stating: “It’s important that we recognise and praise the innovation, commitment and fresh perspectives apprentices bring to the Fire and Rescue sector as well as the transformative impact apprenticeships continue to have on hundreds of young people.”

Organised by the NFCC’s events team and apprenticeships deputy lead Ashley Roberts, the evening highlighted the work of the NFCC Apprenticeship Network, which brings together apprenticeship professionals, training providers and assessment-focused organisations alike to share Best Practice and strengthen the sector’s long-term development.

2026 Apprenticeship Awards: The Winners

Inclusion Champion Award

*Winner: Kate Chetland-Johnson (London Fire Brigade)

*Runner-Up: Eve Eaton (Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service)

*Highly Commended: Sasha Weaver (Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service)

Non-Operational Apprentice of the Year

*Winner: Amanda Kennedy (County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service)

*Runner-Up: Zuzanna Zagrobelska (Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service)

*Highly Commended: Molly Ashcroft (Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service) and Eric Connor (Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service)

Apprentice Support of the Year

*Winner: Richie Mathews (South Wales Fire and Rescue Service)

*Runner-Up: Sam Collins (Essex County Fire and Rescue Service)

*Highly Commended: Cheryl Porter (County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service)

*Learning and Development Department: Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service

Apprenticeship Project of the Year

*Recruit Course 1/25 (Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service)

*Essex Prevention Apprentices (Essex County Fire and Rescue Service)

Apprenticeship Champion Award

*Winner: Sue Mottershead (Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service)

*Runner-Up: Niamh Errington (Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service)

*Highly Commended: Chloe Sansom (Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service)

Apprenticeship Provider of the Year

*Winner: Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service

*Runner-Up: Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service

*Highly Commended: Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service

Operational Apprentice of the Year

*Winner: James Miller (South Wales Fire and Rescue Service)

*Runner-Up: Sasha Weaver (Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service)

*Highly Commended: Ricardo Clark (London Fire Brigade), Luke Turner (Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service) and Adam Walford-Dunn (Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service)

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

One-in-four adults in the UK suffer from hearing loss. Are you sure everyone in your building can hear the fire alarms when activated? In the event of a fire, everyone must be provided with equal opportunity to evacuate buildings.

The new Deaf Alerter devices are rechargeable and boast a larger LCD backlit screen for increased readability. Notifications sent to the new devices can also be sent to Bluetooth-connected smart phones.

Deaf Alerter systems are compliant with BS 5839-1:2025 and use a ‘National Roaming’ feature (meaning the devices can receive notifications in any UK building displaying the Deaf Alerter sign).

BS 5839-1 Section 18 is dedicated to the special requirements of “fire alarm warnings for people with impaired hearing”. It’s vital that this British Standard recommendation is followed.

Section 18 of BS 5839-1 is seen as the minimum acceptable standard by industry leading experts that’s considered safe to use. It’s important not to cherry-pick areas within this British Standard, and notably so when potentially life-saving equipment is used.

Alerter Group has amassed 25 years’ worth of experience in designing, manufacturing and installing radio-based emergency communication systems.

As well as Deaf Alerter, the Derby-based company’s products include Refuge Alerter (a wireless Emergency Voice Communication System enabling two-way communication between building management and refuge points).

*Further information is available online at www.alertergroup.com

Stand J36 Hall 4

*Photograph: The main entrance to Glasgow Central Station, which is next to the site of the Union Corner building

The fire began at around 3.45 pm and is believed to have started in a shop on Union Street that, among other things, sold vapes. Glasgow City Council has now confirmed that the “highly dangerous” remains of the Union Corner structure will be demolished, with work on that process beginning on 13 March.

Major disruption realised by the fire has included the neighbouring Glasgow Central Station being closed, although low-level platforms have now resumed operations. The latter serve the Argyle line north of the River Clyde.

Once the cause of the fire is determined post-investigation, the UKVIA would welcome the opportunity to engage with Fire and Rescue Services and relevant authorities on identifying any lessons that can be learned from this incident in a bid to ensure such an episode doesn’t occur again.

Fire safety message

Although the precise cause of the blaze has still to be determined, the UKVIA is nevertheless keen to reinforce the fire safety message among its membership.

The letter – written by John Dunne (director general of the UKVIA) – has also been circulated to the Fire Standards Board, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, the North Wales Fire and Rescue Service and the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service.

According to Dunne, the UKVIA is “already aware” of retail members having sent circulars to their stores immediately following the Glasgow blaze in order to reiterate fire and lithium battery-related safety measures.

Licensing scheme

Dunne observes: “We are also working with the British Government on the introduction of a mandatory retail licensing scheme, proposed as part of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which is currently before Parliament. This goes beyond the Scottish registration scheme. We believe it could provide an effective mechanism for supporting robust compliance with fire safety requirements in vape retail stores across the UK in the future.”

The UKVIA has long advocated for a “robust and fit-for-purpose” licensing scheme for vape retailers, including provisions to ensure the highest possible safety and compliance standards.

Following on from the Glasgow incident, the Trade Association is now advising all of its members to check their fire risk assessments and contact their local Fire and Rescue Authorities should they need to seek any further guidance.

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