FireRite News

As workplaces have evolved over the past year or so companies should have a flexible mind as to how to best keep the office/workplace compliant. The first point is often to check the risk assessment is up to date and make sure it stays adaptable to reflect the current working practices. If users have implemented a new hybrid working practice, altered the building layout, or changed how the building is used there is an onus on the Responsible Person to consider in the Fire Risk Assessment; Ch...

Earlier this year, a large care provider received the biggest ever fines in the UK for a serious breach of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. The judgement, at a court in London, saw a large care provider receive a £1.4m fine after a resident died when his clothes set on fire while he was smoking. The resident, Cedric Skyers, was in a wheelchair inside a garden shelter at a care home in Brockley, when the incident happened. The prosecution explained that his clothes went on...

A Fire Risk Assessment (FRA) is an essential component of their organisation’s overall Fire Risk Management Strategy. As with all fire safety measures, the primary goal of a risk assessment is to keep people safe. Virtually all buildings in England and Wales are required, by law, to undertake a Fire Risk Assessment (except for domestic dwellings). This article will explain the process of carrying out a Fire Risk Assessment, their responsibilities under Fire Safety legislation, as well as...

The Fire Industry Training Academy (FITA) is the benchmark provider for educating and training professionals within the fire industry. The organisation supports those seeking to gain fire safety compliance – whether an individual, small company, SME, industrial space or large-scale public sector body. FIFA can advise on what the government expects in terms of ensuring buildings are fire safe. Fire safety compliance @FITA_fire: “Training may seem like an expensive luxury, but is a...

FireRite now offer a virtual fire risk assessment tool for care homes and other businesses who need one. In these unprecedented times, access to premises can be heavily restricted to protect staff and residents/occupants. Although it does not replace a full fire risk assessment, their virtual interim fire risk assessment tool will help users keep pace with the changing circumstances inside their care home which may impact fire safety. Virtual fire risk assessment Users will also get the adde...

At FireRite they have always offered a range of fire safety training in different formats. They’ve offered a range of standard training packages as well as bespoke and tailored training to meet their specific needs. The way that they approach training delivery needs to adapt and change as the world moves into ‘the new normal’. The requirements and legislation relating to fire safety for businesses have not gone away or been relaxed during the lockdown. Fire safety training is...

21st-27th of September marks Fire Door Safety Week, a week to raise awareness around a critical element of passive fire safety. Fire doors a part of the furniture in public buildings, their homes and other residential buildings. Most members of the public see fire doors all the time, but don't truly appreciate how much thought and strategic planning goes into fire doors, and how vitally important they are to their safety. Fire Door Safety Week aims to highlight the importance of fire doors to t...

Published in September 2020 by the Competence Steering Group, Setting the Bar (the final report of the Competence Steering Group), represents two years of challenging work following the Grenfell Fire Tragedy. Initiated by the recommendations within Dame Judith Hackitt's review “Building a safer Future” it identifies the need for competent persons within the construction and built environment industries to ensure buildings are effectively designed, maintained and managed with (fire)...

Once users have conducted a competent fire risk assessment, where necessary, users may then need to plan for what’s known as fire compartmentation, or passive fire protection survey. It’s important to understand that Passive Fire Precautions (PFP) are a vital part of the building fabric, dividing the building into individual fire compartments, constructed, and lined with suitable fire resisting materials to reduce the spread of fire. Individual fire compartments What is the purpos...

Since the onset of the pandemic, most companies have become familiar with issuing alcohol gel in the form of hand sanitizer for staff, customers and visitors. This is understandable because it’s a good way of ensuring no germs, viruses and bacteria are passed on when surfaces are touched. But, as a manager or procurement officer, just how au fait are users with storing these highly-flammable liquids? It’s important to do so carefully because of the high alcohol content in the gel &n...

At FireRite, they are proud of the associations in business that they have built up over two decades in the fire safety industry. That’s because it is the number of associations they align with that give they the edge over the competitors and ensure the fire health and safety advice is both contemporary and as good as it can possibly be. To the extent that they were awarded Best Fire Safety & Compliance Consultancy Business 2020 & 2021 at the recent Welsh Enterprise Awards.&n...

Since they invested in the Fire Consultancy division, they were aware of the perceived ‘conflict of interest’ in the fire industry for companies like ourselves; Why? As they assess client fire safety risks and are then providing Active & Passive fire solutions to address the findings within the assessment. For some people, informing a company that they need to improve their fire safety and then, later on, assessing those improvements may appear conflicting. Because yes, they hav...

If they are a new business – or an existing business, for that matter – and are wondering whether or not they need fire safety training, then read on. The bad news is fire is easily started and can spread quickly through a building – to the extent it can completely raze it to the ground. In other words, they could be left with no premises at all for them and their staff to work in. Fire safety training In a worst-case scenario, they might face court proceedings and even up t...

Here at FireRite, they were saddened to learn of the huge fire that completely destroyed a recycling plant at Blaenavon in South Wales last month. Around 600 tonnes of plastic melted while 60 firefighters with 14 appliances and using specialist equipment tackled the blaze. There was also a huge upheaval for the community after roads were closed and harmful fumes polluted the atmosphere. This particular fire in October at Capital Valley Plastics followed recycling plant fires in W...

A dry riser is, in fact, simply a set of permanently installed pipework (water inlets, pipes, and outlets) spread through a building on all levels and which firefighters can access to help them fight a fire on an upper floor of a building. An air valve is fitted at the top of the pipework so that air can be released when the system is full of water. Fire-resisting enclosures surround the pipework. It is called a dry riser because it should always remain empty and only be filled w...

Following the tragic fire at London’s Grenfell Tower back in June 2017, it has become more important than ever to check third-party fire certification for goods and services. Although the Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety Report into the incident in which 72 people lost their lives failed to mention third-party certification, the government’s own guidance certainly does. Fire safety officers It states: “Third-party quality assuran...

Very few people in the UK can be unaware of the devastation caused by the Grenfell tower block fire five years ago now. For those involved in the horrors of that night are replayed over and over again as the fatal accident inquiry into apportioning blame - and ensuring a similar event never occurs again - continues. To this end, the government has introduced new legislation in the form of the Fire Safety Act 2021. Fatal accident inquiry The Act considers the recommendations introduced by Sir...

It’s important for any organization to be able to reduce risk, manage the situation and mitigate any impact that might arise from an emergency. One of the first approaches is to identify the best man – or woman – for such a job/s. Their course can help prepare staff for such an emergency. In it, they take senior staff (managers and supervisors) through a series of confidence-building stages. This allows them to check their existing knowledge, look at their current skills and a...

Regarding the notion of fire safety in the workplace, fire signs are an essential part of this. These signs guide people to safety should a blaze occur, after all. They also point to where fire-fighting equipment such as extinguishers and safety blankets can be found. So important are they that the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 legislation insists certain signs are a legal requirement for commercial premises. Legal requirement for commercial premises So, what are these signs, and...

Here at FireRite, they believe in providing full training for apprentices in the industry. That involves close mentoring and monitoring the personal development of all their apprentices. They are an award-winning outfit that believes in nurturing young talent. Right now, they have positions available for which they are happy to provide apprenticeships – Fire alarm engineers, Fire Stopping Technicians and Fire Door Fitter Technicians. Fire Alarm Engineer The Fire Alarm Engineer apprentic...

It’s not unusual to find fire safety training low on the demands of an innovative start-up business or even an SME. There always seems to be something more ‘urgent’ to deal with first. But what’s more urgent than finding new business premises because their existing one has burned down? And users may not be allowed to continue operating the business since failing to ensure the staff are protected against a fire outbreak is against the law. Fire risk assessment The Regul...

Now that many businesses are again up and running following the lockdowns of 2020 and 2021, government thoughts are turning to housing – and social housing in particular. In their latest report, in October last year, the Housing Regulator pointed out there were still a number of risks facing the social housing sector. Providers, it said, should be taking steps to manage those risks. Those include local authorities, and councils, of course. Fire risk assessments @RSHEngland: “Board...

Anyone in charge of a building – whether residential, commercial or industrial – needs to get a fire risk assessment carried out on it. Getting a fire risk assessment done on a building doesn’t only make sense, it can be a life saver. It’s also a matter of staying on the right side of the law. @LondonFire: “If we believe people are at risk, we may even have to close your business until you can make it safe for employees and members of the public.” Fire safet...

In celebration of 100 years of the IFE and continuing to build on previous event successes, the South Wales IFE Branch organized a CPD event on 19th July 2018 at South Wales Fire and Rescue Service Headquarters. The event, which focused on Fire Compartmentation, attracted over 100 delegates and was supported by Firerite UK, a Fire Protection Company based in South Wales. The presentations were developed to focus on key elements of Compartmentation. How firestop products are tested Fire-Rite U...

Since 1999, FireRite has been pioneering the fire protection industry in Wales and the UK, alongside their experienced team of 28, providing fire safety assessments, strategies, audits and training to thousands of clients across the regions both in the public and private sector. FireRite has four key values; passion, care, integrity, and expertise. FireRite wanted a rebrand that repositioned these values first and foremost and reflected them. Values and professional services While the company...

A fire breaking out in the place of work or home can be one of the most devastating events imaginable. Getting a fire risk assessment could mean the difference for their employees and business. A fire risk assessment is a snapshot of the premises in terms of compliance with current fire safety legislation and the risk to life safety. It is an organised and methodical examination of a defined premises which takes into account the activities carried on, or planned to be carried out on site and th...

Firerite is proud to support this year’s Fire Door Safety Week (24th September – 30th September) – a campaign that raises awareness about the critical role of fire doors, drawing attention to specific issues such as poor installation and maintenance. It also encourages building owners and users to check the operation and condition of their fire doors; and understand the legal commitments they have. Fire doors are a crucial part of the passive fire protection of every...

The devastating fire damage caused to the cathedral of Notre Dame earlier this week provided a dramatic visual illustration of the effect that a fire may have on a heritage building. Although it is too early to speculate on the cause of the fire at Notre Dame, it can be seen as an appropriate moment for the Fire Sector internationally to reflect on the management of heritage buildings in relation to fire risk management. How vulnerable these buildings can be is crucial Heritage buildings can...

As the fire safety industry continues to evolve, there are significant changes ahead that will impact how everyone approaches fire extinguisher firefighting foams. In particular, the increasing restrictions on per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in firefighting foams demand staying ahead of the curve. At FireRite, their commitment to customer satisfaction and support has always been at the heart of everything they do. They understand that navigating these complex regulatory changes can...

FireRite is thrilled to announce their new status as an official distributor of ANSUL® Commercial Kitchen Fire Suppression Systems. Renowned for leading the way in commercial kitchen fire suppression, ANSUL® systems are expertly designed to swiftly detect and combat kitchen fires, ensuring the highest levels of safety. Commercial kitchen fires can be incredibly destructive ANSUL® kitchen fire suppression systems offer a comprehensive and robust solution Commercial kitchen fires c...