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

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

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

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

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

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AS AN industry, we’re now well versed and experienced in the value of sprinkler systems. Here, James Broadest explains precisely why it’s crucial to deliver continuing education on this matter so Government bodies and building owners alike recognise the truism that substantial costs – and lives – can be saved thanks to retrofitted fire sprinklers.

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On Wednesday 20 May, Fire Safety Matters ran a further webinar in the magazine’s hugely popular ongoing series. This time around delivered in conjunction with FFE, the hour-long broadcast focused on protecting large premises from fire by dint of using infrared optical beam smoke detectors. Brian Sims addresses the essential points that emerged.

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Arguably, there’s no other danger that can imperil heritage buildings as totally and as swiftly as an outbreak of fire. Notwithstanding the serious risk posed to life, a fire is capable of wholly consuming and destroying historic buildings and their precious contents. With this in mind, Adam Welton examines the key points to be observed in relation to fire prevention and detection.

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UK fire safety law states that property must be ‘equipped with appropriate fire detectors and alarms’, but the legislation takes a broad approach and fails to offer specific recommendations for heritage buildings. That being so, Mark Taylor offers his recommendations for how fire can be prevented and detected in historical buildings

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FOLLOWING THE enforced lockdown restrictions introduced to help combat the COVID-19/Coronavirus pandemic, the Security Systems and Alarms Inspection Board (SSAIB) took the decision to continue to offer certification by embracing new technology and migrating to remote auditing procedures. With the remote audit process now having been in place for three months, the organisation recently spoke with Heather Martin – operations manager at SSAIB-registered firm Southern Fire Alarms Ltd – to discuss its own remote audit conducted during the height of lockdown in April.

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IN LIGHT of the lockdown restrictions introduced by the Government in a bid to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, the Security Systems and Alarms Inspection Board (SSAIB) decided to continue offering certification services by dint of embracing new technology and migrating to remote auditing. With the new process having been in place for the last two months, Fire Safety Matters reviews what has happened to date.

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THE PROLIFERATION of false fire alarms places a huge burden on Fire and Rescue Services. Understanding false fire alarm causes and taking steps to prevent them can help reduce false dispatches, as Jim O’Dwyer duly explains.

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IN THESE rather challenging and somewhat surreal times for us all, Andy Hicks examines precisely why now is most definitely not the time to neglect fire safety on construction sites and temporary Coronavirus-related facilities.

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As our buildings and the way in which we put them to use become more complex, the challenges of safely evacuating occupants also increase. The latest analogue addressable fire panels give fire engineers, specifiers and end users more control and peace of mind than ever, delivering unprecedented levels of performance and accuracy, explains Paul Duffy

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Nick Rutter explores how the latest developments in internet-connected smoke and heat alarms are offering Fire and Rescue Services the opportunity to provide individuals with preventative, rather than reactive, fire safety measures

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Kevin Swann discusses the latest developments in the technology being used to protect complex premises, and what manufacturers can do to help installers capitalise on that technology.

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THERE IS still more to be done when it comes to maintaining residential safety and compliance, says Simon North.

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We sit down with Fire Safety North content director Mark Sennett to learn why the event is a must attend at EventCity, Manchester on 8-9 October 2019.

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Not all multi-sensors are created equal and it has come to light that in the absence of standard ratification, some are lacking when it comes to approvals. Mark Jones explores the potential dangers this issue poses.

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Fighting fires in remote locations, such as offshore wind farms, has its obvious dangers and so fire detection and prevention, as well as rescue plans for stranded operators need to be second to none. Here, Tony Hanley looks at some of the issues that need addressing.

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