FIRE RISK assessments are a legal requirement and a vital safety tool underpinning all commercial buildings in the UK. They serve to protect people, property and business operations. Here, Anthony Walker sets out the requirements for, the procedures surrounding and also the significance of conducting fire risk assessments.

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PHOTOVOLTAIC (PV) SYSTEMS harness sunlight to generate electricity through semiconductor materials, providing a sustainable and renewable energy source. Being electrical systems, though, means that solar PV installations present common fire risks that need to be managed to ensure safety and performance, as Spike Armstrong discovers.

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2024, STATES Philip White, marked the shift from groundwork to meaningful action. There has been a demonstration of what’s possible when unity develops behind a shared goal, but that’s just the beginning. The long-term journey is all about building and managing a safer and more accountable built environment for everyone.

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IN ORDER to achieve the United Nations’ stated goal of ‘Net Zero’ carbon emissions by 2040, significant changes must be made, and particularly so in the construction sector. As the global population continues to grow, streamlining the construction industry becomes increasingly essential, emphasising the need to adopt more sustainable practices, as Ramtech Electronics reports.

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IN THE realm of fire detection and alarm systems, the visible costs associated with their purchase often represent merely the tip of the iceberg. The true cost of ownership, asserts Max Jones, encompasses a spectrum of factors that extend far beyond the initial installation price.

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CRAIG TAYLOR examines how systems integration not only facilitates the early detection of potential fire hazards, but also enables swift and co-ordinated responses, in turn minimising the risk of damage and ensuring the well-being of students and staff alike within the educational setting.

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EN 54-23 WAS published in the UK in 2010 and became mandatory on 1 January 2014. After that time, any visual alarm device (VAD) newly installed and used as the primary means of warning as part of a fire alarm system has to conform with this standard. Mike Sutton has the detail.

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OVER THE last few years, the use of multi-sensor detectors has grown in popularity. Due to such detectors’ ability to detect fire at the earliest possible opportunity by combining multiple sensors within one device, installers and end users alike are reaping the benefits, particularly so as they’ve been proven to reduce the UK’s multimillion-pound economic headache of false alarms. Ian Humby elaborates on the fine detail.

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THROUGHOUT 2022, as Tony Boyle observes, many notable topics came to the fore within social housing, but have we lost sight of one of the basics when it comes to not only compliance, but also improving the safety of others? Moving into 2023, it’s crucial to recognise and respect the fundamentals regarding safety within the residential environment.

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WAREHOUSE FIRES have the potential to be devastating, posing a threat to life, destroying business operations and exerting a detrimental impact on the supply chain. Ahead of the busy Christmas period, Neil Eves offers some Best Practice advice when it comes to fire safety strategies.

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THE COST of living is at an all-time high just now, so as a business owner how can you deliver a price increase announcement for your customers? Here, Simon Tushingham Jones provides key tips on how to do just that, as well as explaining an effective way in which to increase costs without losing valuable customers.

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OVER THE last decade, carbon monoxide poisoning has caused an average of 162 deaths yearly in the UK. That’s equivalent to one life being lost every few days. Here, Ian Ballinger shares some expert insight on achieving carbon monoxide compliance and future-proofing properties.

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THE LAST year has witnessed significant changes regarding the legal requirements for smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) protection for all types of residential dwellings throughout the UK, including both owned and rented properties, but concerning disparities remain regarding the minimum level of protection required throughout each country and property type. Ian Ballinger and Craig Drinkald discuss the situation in some detail.

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FOLLOWING THE Grenfell Tower disaster in June 2017, where 72 people lost their lives, high-rise building owners and operators across the UK have been charged with ensuring that fire safety and evacuation procedures are the absolute best they can be in their buildings. What’s the current state of play? Hochiki Europe has the detail.

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THE INTERNET of Things, Artificial Intelligence, connected data, wireless systems and Government guidance are all going to play their part in how fire safety evolves during the remainder of this year and into 2023. Nick Rutter shares his predictions for the sector.

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ON TUESDAY 29 March at 10.30 am, Fire Safety Matters hosted another webinar in its ongoing CPD series. The focus on this occasion was ‘Flexible Evacuation Solutions to Meet BS 8629’. Brian Sims reviews what was said on the day by subject matter experts from webinar sponsor Advanced and Veritas Fire Support Services.

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THE SUBJECT of competency in relation to fire safety was brought to the fore in the wake of Grenfell Tower and Dame Judith Hackitt’s Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety. Here, Justin Maltby-Smith discusses the importance of confirming competency and individuals’ responsibilities within the ‘golden thread’ of fire safety.

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THE LATEST research involving UK heating engineers has identified a significant increase in the number of dangerous appliances across the nation being installed or poorly maintained due to the repercussions of COVID-19, with many individuals delaying crucial annual servicing. Steve Boggis and Craig Drinkald outline how every area of the industry can work together to ensure the highest standards of protection.

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ON TUESDAY 23 November last year, the Government published the results of a consultation proposing an extension to regulations for smoke and carbon monoxide alarms applicable to all rented properties within England. Andy Speake explains the requirements of the new legislation and outlines how to comply.

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EVERY FALSE fire alarm is costly, but in a COVID-aware world, there’s now even more pressure on management teams operating in the leisure, retail and hospitality industries to prevent such alarms occurring at their premises. Liam Hunt elaborates on the detail.

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The multilayer PCB segment is a big part of our production. In order to support this important segment, we have developed long-standing relationships with a broad factory base. The factories are carefully selected in our sourcing process.

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