THE FIRE industry here in the UK has always defined itself by responsibility, writes Simon Lyons. Responsibility to protect life. Responsibility to safeguard property. Responsibility to uphold compliance. Today, that responsibility has expanded and, as such, leadership must expand with it.

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THE FIRE Sector Confederation stands at a pivotal moment in its evolution, writes Steve McGuirk. What began as a necessary reorganisation has blossomed into something even more significant: the emergence of a convenor for fire safety collaboration and co-ordination in the UK.

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SERVICED APARTMENTS and aparthotels are becoming increasingly common across the UK, write Paul Trew, Ian Bailey, David Quinn, Jon Pagan and Ian Moore, particularly so in urban developments and mixed-use buildings. While the layouts of these units are often very similar to standard residential flats, they’re rented out for varying durations from single nights to several months (or even years), in turn creating a grey area when it comes to fire safety compliance and enforcement. This can affect the design as well as the management of these buildings.

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AS 2025 draws to a close, the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) can reflect on a remarkable 12 months, writes Steve Hamm. The organisation has worked tirelessly to support and shape the evolving fire safety landscape through key initiatives, strategic partnerships and the continued dedication of its members and volunteers worldwide.

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2025 HAS been a transformative year for the Fire Industry Association (FIA), writes Helen Whittington, marked by a strengthened international footprint and a renewed commitment to sharing UK expertise across the global fire safety community.

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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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ODDLY, THE image you see below isn’t the burned out hulk of an industrial or commercial building such as the Cannock warehouse that caught fire in May 2024, writes Tom Roche. It’s a photo from Stockholm showing a low-rise residential building left largely uninhabitable after a fire spread across the structure. It catches the attention not because it’s unique, but rather because its familiar. Too familiar, in fact.

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ARTICLE 21 of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 states the designated ‘Responsible Person’ must ensure that all employees are provided with adequate safety training, writes Luke Ventura. It’s a legal requirement that training must be provided from the time the employee is first employed and subsequently if they’re exposed to a new or increased risk.

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AS WE continue to step into the New Year, and reflect on fire incidents from 2024, one key question immediately springs to mind: ‘How long does it truly take to recover from and then rebuild after a devastating fire? The lingering scars of fire disasters across the UK remind us all of the enduring challenges involved in recovery and reconstruction, writes Tom Roche.

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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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AS MANY sector commentators continue to reflect on the Grenfell Tower Inquiry and its recommendations, it’s important to recognise that the issues brought to light extend far beyond high-rise residential buildings. The challenges highlighted by this tragedy, asserts Thomas Roche, and highlighted in the Phase 2 final report are not confined to one type of building or one type of issue. Rather, they permeate across the entire built environment.

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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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THE SEVENTH anniversary of the Grenfell Tower fire occurred on 14 June. In the time since that tragedy, we’ve focused on themes including the importance of responsibility and cultural change within the construction industry. While challenges remain within the built environment, many positive changes are taking place. Here, Craig Wells highlights the improvements being made.

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LATE LAST year, London Build Expo ran at London’s Olympia. As part of the conference programme for The Fire Safety Stage, a Quelfire-sponsored panel discussion involving selected professionals took place on 16 November from 11.00 am-11.50 am. The core subject up for debate? Standardising processes when it comes to firestopping. Fire Safety Matters reports on the key points that emerged.

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THE FIRE at the Beechmere Retirement Village in Crewe was one of the biggest incidents attended by the Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service, writes Tom Roche. Occupied by elderly people, many of whom needed assistance, the facility was located in an unsprinklered building that was vulnerable to fire damage.

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2024 WILL witness a period of significant change for the construction industry as a whole, with a particularly keen focus placed on fire safety issues (including the provision of passive fire protection). Here, Christophe Bind looks ahead to what’s in store in the New Year.

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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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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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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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