BAFE (British Approvals for Fire Equipment) News

In lieu of the Fire Safety Event which was meant to take place late April this year (now postponed until September), Nineteen Group hosted an online webinar event to discuss current fire topics. A number of notable fire safety specialists discussed different topics, but the overarching topic was how the coronavirus pandemic will affect fire safety and any additional changes it will require. Niall Rowan, CEO - ASFP, noted Dame Judith Hackitt’s comments that the previously thought difficult...

The Site Operating Procedures have been updated to incorporate a number of technical changes as a result of the recently published Government guidance on Working Safely during Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Construction and other Outdoor Work. Version 4 inclusions The changes in Site Operating Procedures – Version 4 are minimal and include: Removal of the requirement for face-to-face contact to be kept to 15 minutes or less. The section on PPE links to the latest Government guidance...

On episode 3 of the Fire Safety Matters (FSM) Podcast recurring guest Warren Spencer, Managing Director - Blackhurst Budd Solicitors, answered questions from BAFE regarding his thoughts on Third-Party Certification and Government fire safety guidance. Mark Sennett, Chief Executive Officer - of Western Business Media, asked, “The question we've had come in from BAFE is they would like to hear your thoughts on Third-Party Certification as a statutory defense. Can you give us an insight...

The latest podcast from Fire Safety Matters featured an interview with Stephen Adams, Chief Executive of BAFE. Brian Sims, recently appointed Editor of FSM Magazine, discussed a multitude of subjects in the segment. This included BAFE’s Don’t Just Specify, Verify! Campaign stressing the importance of that checking your chosen contractor is appropriately Third Party Certificated. Stephen Adams also discussed the recent comments regarding fire risk assessments in the House of Com...

AXA is producing a series of guides to help businesses return to work. In the information published, they state - “With signs that we’re now past the peak of Coronavirus cases in the UK, there are indications that the current lockdown will gradually be relaxed.” AXA has produced back-to-business guidance for multiple sectors, including construction sites, construction subcontractors, sprinkler installations, and other areas currently relevant. policy conditions AXA comments...

The document “Our Plan To Rebuild: The UK Government’s COVID-19 Recovery Strategy” has been published. HM Government has released “Our Plan to Rebuild,” a document outlining the UK Government’s COVID-19 recovery strategy. Section 4 outlines the “roadmap to lift restrictions step-by-step”. Regarding returning to work, Government guidelines state “All workers who cannot work from home should travel to work if thei...

HM Government have released ‘Our Plan to Rebuild’, a document outlining the UK Government’s COVID-19 recovery strategy. Section 4 outlines the ‘roadmap to lift restrictions step-by-step’. Regarding returning to work, Government guidelines state ‘All workers who cannot work from home should travel to work if their workplace is open.’ Sectors of the economy that are allowed to be open should be open, for example this includes food production, construction...

With the introduction of the much publicized 5G networks, alongside the evolution of live chat facilities impacting on the way people stay connected, there is extra pressure to deliver on extra speed and bandwidth, faster operating and more powerful mobiles to enable apps to work much harder and video to become the cornerstone of security. CSL and Amthal, who have worked in partnership for 15 years, are operating together for customers to ensure the safe delivery of advanced routers, alarms and...

As of 6th May, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service is changing its response to automatic fire alarm activations during the coronavirus pandemic. Full statement from Scottish Fire and Rescue Service: Pre-determined attendance at automatic fire alarm actuations during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) is taking all necessary measures to minimize disruption to the emergency response during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Demand on front-line resources...

The service offers free digital and numeracy courses to build the skills. The Government’s National Careers Service state: “Digital and numeracy skills are amongst those that are most sought after by employers, and can help you progress in work and boost your job prospects. Digital skills can be anything from using social media and staying safe online to coding, programming or digital marketing.” “You can choose from a selection of high quality courses put together in co...

The Fire Safety Bill had a successful second reading in the House of Commons. The Minister of State (The Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP) discussed the tragic Grenfell fire and that the Government is resolute in its commitment to ensure that (events of this kind) are never repeated. “The Queen’s Speech committed the Government to bringing forward two Bills on fire and building safety. The first is this short, technical, Home Office-led Fire Safety Bill, which will amend the Regulat...

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy offer guidance. The Business Intelligence and Readiness Directorate, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) will be hosting a webinar 05/05/2020 to advise on the coronavirus financial support schemes available. The webinar will cover: Eligibility for small business grants Applying for a loan Tax Claiming for wages through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme  

BSI are now accepting comments on both parts of the specification revisions: PAS 79-1 (Fire risk assessment. Part 1: Premises other than housing - Code of practice) “This part of PAS 79 gives recommendations and corresponding examples of documentation for undertaking, and recording the significant findings of, fire risk assessments in non domestic premises and parts of non-domestic premises for which fire risk assessments are required by legislation.” PAS 79-2 PAS 79-2 (Fire...

In the Fire Sector Federation’s latest newsletter (Spring 2020), they state, that the Federation has continued to work with the Home Office to address some of the implications arising from the proposed amendment of the Fire Safety Order. Most recently this has involved concerns on updating fire risk assessments to include the external walls of multi-occupied residential buildings. The Bill’s impact assessment suggests around 1.6 million buildings may be affected by this clarificatio...

Why do gas engineers need to become Gas Safe Registered? Why do heavy goods vehicle (HGV) drivers need to have an advanced driving license? We all know the answers to these questions: To determine competency and reduce risk. Because they are mandatory, it is simply expected. Premises managers expect the same competency from their fire safety providers; however, there are no mandatory measures in place to ensure a particular level of competency is met. But there should be, says Stephen Adams, C...

This is a reminder that on April 23, 2020, CIC will be holding the third in its Age of Coronavirus series of webinars. This webinar is entitled Construction’s Recovery from the Age of Coronavirus and it is to be held on Thursday, 23 April at 2 p.m. (lasting for approximately one hour). The two speakers will be Peter Kubik/Brian Johnson from UHY Hacker Young on the financial aspects of recovery and turnaround – what is available for businesses etc. – and then Alasdair Reisner...

Chief executive Alex Carmichael is keen to reiterate that SSAIB is fully operational and continues to provide certification for over 1,800 registered firms and new firms looking to join during the current COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. Due to the restrictions imposed by the Government - relating to travel and social distancing – the UKAS-accredited certification body for the fire and security industries has embraced new technology to provide remote audits for certification, surveillance...

Fire Sector Federation provides an update on the work undertaken to reform building safety regulations. The early April announcements of the results of the Building Safety Proposals consultation linked to the two published outcomes, Response and Economic Impact BSP Response BSP Impact offer considerable insight into the government's intent to: improve the current system; advance remediation of unsafe cladding, and update Approved Document B. New building safety system More recently in an...

Chief executive Alex Carmichael is keen to reiterate that SSAIB is fully operational and continues to provide certification for over 1,800 registered firms and new firms looking to join during the current COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. Due to the restrictions imposed by Government - relating to travel and social distancing – the UKAS-accredited certification body for the fire and security industries has embraced new technology to provide remote audits for certification, surveillance and r...

Fire Safety Matters Magazine has launched a new podcast for the fire safety industry. Fire Safety Matters (FSM) launched their inaugural podcast episode featuring the new BAFE campaign.    The Don’t Just Specify, Verify! campaign focuses on the important verification stage of Third Party Certification when sourcing a competent provider to help meet fire safety obligations.    Verification is extremely important, as BAFE Registration or any Third Party Certification...

BAFE announces that the Furlough scheme cut-off date has been extended to 19 March, 2020. Thousands of more employees will able to receive support through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), after the eligibility date was extended to 19 March 2020, the government announced recently.

Thousands more employees will able to receive support through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) after the eligibility date was extended to 19 March 2020, the government announced.

The Construction Industry Council are providing two opportunities that may be of benefit. The first is a Webinar on Employment and Jobs during the current COVID-19 (Coronavirus) crisis focusing on the self-employed and freelance workers, which will take place today (15/04/2020) at 2pm. The webinar will last for one hour and is being led by Charles Homan of UHY Hacker Young. Zoom webinar 15 April 2020 02:00 PM on the topic of: Help for the self-employed in the age of Coronavirus. The second is t...

BAFE, British Approvals for Fire Equipment has announced that it welcomes the statement from the UK Home Office, regarding the Key Worker status for all fire industry employees, providing essential services, as published by the FIA, Fire Industry Association. The BAFE statement added that the organization was grateful for the FIA initiative to clarify this. Key Worker Status directly to FIA The Minister of State for Security, the Rt. Hon James Brokenshire, MP in the UK Parliament, has written...

SSAIB were overcome with pride upon discovering that registered firm PLP Fire Protection have been providing invaluable assistance in the building of the Government’s first emergency field hospital at the ExCel in London. The temporary NHS Nightingale hospital has been set up to treat up to 4,000 coronavirus patients, with Dorset-based PLP Fire Protection helping to transform the ExCel exhibition space – which was due to host IFSEC International and FIREX International next month, be...

Cabinet Office moves to further protect suppliers after COVID-19 (Coronavirus). A new Procurement Policy Note (PPN) has been published by the Cabinet Office to further protect suppliers during and after the Coronavirus outbreak. BAFE welcomes this initiative to protect the vital provision of fire safety services during the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak. Many companies are suffering the financial consequences of being unable to carry out routine work. However, they recognize that when more no...

BAFE announces key information published by Construction Leadership Council on 23/03/2020 and updated on 02/04/2020. Please note the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) has published Site Operating Procedures that is relevant to BAFE Registered Companies still going on-site to perform works.

The Government have published their response to the Building a Safer Future Consultation. The Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) state: “In June 2019, the government published the ‘Building a Safer Future’ consultation detailing proposals to achieve long-term reform of the building safety system. This document sets out the government’s proposals for a reformed building safety system covering the performance of all buildings as well as th...

BAFE is delighted to announce that Lewis Ramsay QFSM has joined the BAFE Board of Directors. Lewis Ramsay is a former Assistant Chief Fire Officer of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service specializing in both Response and Resilience and extensive work in Prevention and Protection. Stephen Adams, Chief Executive – BAFE, commented: “The BAFE Board brings together a very wide range of experience of the fire protection industry and related skills. Lewis’s experience and knowledge w...

As one comes to terms with the latest restrictions announced by the Prime Minister, one shares the uncertainties of the ‘lockdown’ requirements.  BAFE had the news recently that fire alarm technicians are considered key workers, when they are responding to alarms or system failures. However, to date there is no other clarification regarding other services.  BAFE has set out to remind property managers of their obligations under legislation to maintain fire protection syst...