IN JUNE 2017, the tragic fire at Grenfell Tower, a block of flats in West London, claimed the lives of 72 people. In the aftermath of the episode, questions were asked about the safety and security of high-rise buildings, writes Michael Knibbs.

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In the May 2021 edition of Fire Safety Matters (‘On the Bill’, pp20-21), the focus was on Royal Assent for the Fire Safety Bill to become the Fire Safety Act 2021, its implications for the fire sector and for ‘Responsible Persons’. This time around, Stacey Adams delves further into the revamped regulatory environment created by the Act, the implications for existing legislation and reviews the timescales for implementing the new requirements

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WHEN ELECTRICIANS are required to install fire detection and fire alarm systems within domestic premises, it’s often the case that the design of such systems is effectively undertaken by others (for example, manufacturers or housebuilders) writes Tim Benstead. For domestic installations, such designers may detail what types of alarms should be installed and where and then provide the alarms specified.

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The protection of large premises from fire presents a specific challenge for system designers. The first issue to address is the rapid and reliable detection of smoke. Experience has shown that optical beam smoke detectors offer an excellent solution. Nigel Ward details how recent developments have made this option even more attractive

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Those industry professionals visiting Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre in early September to attend Nineteen Group’s Safety and Security Series will be privy to the UK’s largest group of events wholly dedicated to protecting people, property and assets. Here, Fire Safety Matters takes a look at what’s in store for practitioners at The Fire Safety Event

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From 7-9 September, The Fire Safety Event makes a triumphal return to the NEC in Birmingham, with organiser Nineteen Events promising a show that’s bigger and better than ever. Here, Fire Safety Matters learns all about what’s on offer for visitors and seminar delegates from event director Tristan Norman

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AS PART of 2021’s Dementia Action Week (which runs from 17-23 May), Claire O’Meara shares some perspectives on how today’s fire safety-centric technology can help safeguard tenants with dementia.

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With the fire sector one that operates across the devolved nations, Andy Speake outlines why sector professionals should be pushing for greater and clearer legislation that makes requirements consistent as the current situation leaves many who are not experts in the fire arena confused and unsure as to what to fit in terms of system solutions

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National guidance issued by the Government, the Fire and Rescue Services and other important bodies strongly recommends the level of competency within the fire safety industry that practitioners should be striving to attain. Here, Stephen Adams discusses in detail the current competency landscape

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Ever since the tragic events at Grenfell Tower, the $64,000 question to be answered is how might the industry solve the myriad safety issues around tall buildings. This question itself poses many further ones and, as Ray Puttock discovers, almost inevitably delivers a multitude of answers

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Minimising the risk to life as a result of a fire involving external wall systems is crucial, yet in cases of buildings containing flats, alternative housing options can place people in worse living conditions or even leave them without accommodation altogether. Such that people can continue to live in relative safety in their own homes, Ken Bullock explains why interim solutions are vital for mitigating the risk

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In the midst of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and with the myriad impacts of Brexit already beginning to be felt, Paul Pope explores some of the key challenges facing the UK’s fire sector and pinpoints various ways in which the latter can ably and determinedly prepare for the future

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Evacuation alert systems are a new type of fire alarm designed for the UK market and described in BS 8629. They’re just one of the many changes being made to the fire safety landscape in the wake of the Grenfell Tower tragedy that occurred on 14 June 2017. Andy Scott evaluates the fine detail

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With the word ‘smart’ now appearing in front of almost anything, including speakers, cars, heating systems, televisions and even fridges, what are the criteria that dictate or otherwise certify the use of ‘smart’ as a prefix when applied to the built environment? Ray Puttock airs his views on the matter

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Fires impacting refurbishment projects, such as the catastrophic blaze that broke out at the Notre Dame Cathedral in April last year, remain at the forefront of people’s minds as a direct result of the myriad news headlines they generate. Here, Tony Obadipe outlines the key issues to think about in terms of fire safety regimes for building and refurbishment projects

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On Wednesday 29 July, Fire Safety Matters ran another event in its popular webinar series, this time focused on ‘Ensuring Compliance and Improving Efficiency of Fire Alarm Systems’ and featuring detailed input from solution specialists at LAN Control Systems. Brian Sims reports on proceedings

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THE RECENT publication of the Government’s draft Building Safety Bill confirms its commitment to putting safety at the heart of all future building design and development. Here, Ges Wallace discusses the document and what it could mean for the future of our built environment.

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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 an exclusive interview for Fire Safety Matters, 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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