Accredited Support Proffessionals (ASP FIRE) News

The fire that broke out at the Houses of Parliament in central Cape Town on 2 January 2022 has again raised the issue of protecting heritage structures and other buildings containing priceless artifacts or documents from fire risk. The fire is believed to have started on the third floor of the National Council of Provinces building before spreading to the office space and gymnasium and then the National Assembly building, which was completely gutted. Houses of Parliament The Houses of Parliam...

With the Festive Season almost near, homeowners are urged to ensure that basic fire-risk mitigation measures are in place if they are going away on holiday, highlights ASP Fire CEO Michael van Niekerk. The situation is also compounded by the current spate of load-shedding instituted by electricity utility Eskom. Proper fire-safety check If users are planning on going away, it is best to conduct a proper fire-safety check of the home before the family departs. This will reveal any potential fir...

A fire that broke out at the KZN Resins factory in Durban at the end of August has placed the spotlight on the extreme hazards associated with the chemical-processing industry (CPI), comments ASP Fire CEO Michael van Niekerk. These hazards can quickly lead to a cascading sequence of events, resulting in a potentially catastrophic loss. Here fire protection systems should be designed in conjunction with, or consideration of, the respective Process Hazard Analysis (PHA). It includes identificatio...

The issue of protecting heritage structures and other buildings containing priceless artefacts or documents from fire risk came into stark focus in mid-April. A blaze originating at Table Mountain eventually swept onto the upper campus of the University of Cape Town (UCT). It caused extensive damage to the African Studies Library reading room, known previously as the JW Jagger Library. Built-in the 1930s, it is home to many international research collections, with an estimated 85 000 items in t...

With the South African Weather Service (SAWS) warning about sub-polar weather conditions affecting most parts of the country this week, many families will turn to gas heaters to keep warm. ASP Fire CEO Michael van Niekerk gives us his ‘top tips’ on what to do when users switch the appliance on for the first time after long storage, as well as some of the safety factors to be on the lookout for. When connecting a gas appliance to the gas cylinder, always ensure that the con...

With winter fast approaching and people already beginning to unpack their electric heaters and blankets, what are the fire-risk implications that people need to be aware of? ASP Fire CEO Michael van Niekerk outlines the main areas of concern for homeowners. These are known to be the causes of home fires. Fires caused by heating sources such as heaters and electric blankets are the main contributor to home fires. Always operate electrical equipment and extension cords safely to minimize any fire...

To reduce the fire risk, and comply with regional regulations, a Mpumalanga macadamia-nut processing company called on risk consulting specialist ASP Fire during the planning of its processing plant to implement a turnkey solution. This involved designing compartmentalization, safety distances, access routes, and the installation of the fire-detection system itself. “Macadamia nuts have a high fat content of 70%,” says ASP Fire CEO Michael van Niekerk, which poses a high fire risk i...