Fire Industry News for September 2023

A reminder to Schools that fire safety provisions and systems should be reviewed and maintained on a regular basis. IFSEC Global has reported that “according to new research from insurer, Zurich Municipal, schools in England are “nearly twice as likely” to suffer from a fire as other types of commercial buildings.” Life safety systems The data, from 28,800 schools in England alone, noted reasons including poor fire detection and the regular presence of cooking equipmen...

Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government has published new guidance regarding “the end of recognition of the CE mark in GB and affix the UK marking using a UK-recognized ‘approved body’ by 1 January 2022.” Impact of BAFE Schemes  The guidance states “Businesses are being encouraged now to be ready for the full implementation of the new UK regime, as soon as possible after 1 January 2021. Businesses will be able to use the UK mark from 1 Ja...

BAFE and FireQual Ltd are pleased to announce that they have appointed Nic Preston as the FireQual Qualifications Manager from 1st September 2020. Nic Preston Nic Preston has over 14 years of experience in the training and development sector with a proven ability in quality assurance demonstrated in several roles influencing training environments within the UK. His most recent roles have been developing and implementing growth strategies as Chief Executive of SFEDI Awards, the Awarding Organi...

At the start of April this year, BAFE published information for SP101 Registered Companies regarding coronavirus and the multiple factors related to fire extinguisher technician requirements.  BAFE earlier this month resumed technician assessments and BS 5306 Exam invigilation (where safe to do so). SP101 Scheme Now that COVID-19 restrictions are beginning to ease, BAFE would like to announce that refresher, asbestos awareness, and health and safety training will now resume under normal...

Professional competence recommendations set out in Dame Judith Hackitt’s Building a Safer Future report are set to be fulfilled by BSI with a new standards program. BSI, in its role as the UK National Standards Body, announced a new National Standards program to raise professional competence in the built environment sector. The standards aim to tackle the competence challenges identified in the Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety, Building a Safer Future,...

The government is determined to continue to learn the lessons from the Grenfell Tower fire, and reform building and fire safety to ensure that such a tragedy can never happen again. Government published the draft Building Safety Bill which “takes forward reforms to the (domestic) building and fire safety system.” They state the Bill will “improve building and fire safety, so that people will be, and will feel, safer in their homes.” UKAS Accredited Third-...

BAFE SP101 fire extinguisher technician assessments and BS 5306 Exam during the coronavirus pandemic. BAFE is focused on protecting assessors and fire extinguisher technicians from the threat of COVID-19. After reviewing the risk threat posed by COVID-19, BAFE has established new safety procedures to recommence fire extinguisher technician assessments for the BAFE SP101 Scheme. BAFE SP101 Scheme BAFE is now in a position to accept bookings for assessments with immediate effect from 06/07/2020...

Alarming findings are published in the 'Home Router Security Report 2020' by the Fraunhofer Institute for Communication, Information Processing and Ergonomics FKIE. Of the 127 home routers tested by seven major manufacturers, nearly all were found to have security flaws, some of them very severe.  security flaws The problems range from missing security updates to easily decrypted, hard-coded passwords and known vulnerabilities that should have been patched long ago. A team led by Peter...

Purchasing, production, logistics, distribution, and markets form a network spread over continents and nations, the details of which are difficult for companies to keep track of. However, such an overview with a focus on one's own company contributes to the company's success in many ways. FIFI project The project, 'Fraud Information-Fusion Intelligence' by Fraunhofer FKIE adapts proven approaches, procedures, and tools used by security authorities to the requirements of companies, develops t...

BAFE is pleased to note the announcements made by Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Most notably, the one meter plus rule (in England) will help in the continuation of the fire safety industry by gaining access to buildings to perform essential fire safety work and maintenance as required by legislation. BAFE awaits further guidance to be released by the Government shortly, which will assist the industry to determinedly continue with extreme care and diligence. fire safety provisions and systems...

Due to the current lockdown in place, there have been restrictions on access to the site, both office and customer premises.  The Certification Body however will be required to assess competence on-site but may issue temporary certification during this period. Interested parties can contact the Certification Body for their current position. Concession granted It is the BAFE position that if scheme requirements cannot be fully met due to the current lockdown issues relating to access to c...

With recent developments in the approach out of lockdown, Fire and Rescue Services nationwide have been publishing useful advice and guidance for commercial/non-domestic buildings. A recent news item published by West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS) for example, announced a new fire safety leaflet “Returning to Work after COVID-19 Lockdowns” noting important fire safety measures that should continue to be followed to adhere to legislation. new safety measures BAFE has...

WYFRS recommends reviewing the fire assessment as soon as possible after returning from lockdown and systems and provisions are maintained to check they are working correctly. Stephen Adams, Chief Executive–BAFE, commented: “We are pleased to see Fire and Rescue Service information mirrors what BAFE has been advising as we begin the process of returning to a ‘new normal’. Many business premises will have changed the way they operate due to new coronavirus safety measures...

The Construction Leadership Council (CLC) summarizes the document as 'a strategy to drive the recovery of the construction and built environment sectors, and through them, the wider UK economy, following the COVID-19 pandemic and economic downturn.' BAFE is optimistic the construction sector will, as the document states, 'ensure the sector is reformed to create a legacy of safe building.' importance of fire safety Stephen Adams, Chief Executive of BAFE, comments, “The importance of this...

The National Security Inspectorate (NSI) has announced the resumption of all audit and assessment activity from 1st June 2020, in light of the current Government 'go to work if are unable to work from home' guidance. Government guidance allows all employers to resume activity in the workplace where appropriate, including professional services that cannot be delivered remotely, such as NSI on-site audits. NSI’s discretion NSI recognizes all Government guidance regarding social distancing...

With COVID-19 - coronavirus lockdown measures in place slowly beginning to ease, BAFE strongly advises that fire safety measures are not overlooked or deferred further. There is a bombardment of information coming out regarding the coronavirus pandemic and the changes to the ‘new normal’, that users are becoming accustomed to.    BAFE has been keeping abreast of this information and hopes users have found the news provided on the BAFE website useful. fire safety measur...

The Scottish Government has published its route map for moving out of lockdown. This is their Publication of key phases of changing restrictions. Scotland’s route map News published alongside this document states, "The COVID-19: Framework for Decision Making - Scotland’s route map through and out of the crisis–gives practical examples of what people, organizations and businesses can expect to see change over time.” It adds, “The route map gives an indication of t...

Instead of the Fire Safety Event, which was meant to take place in late April 2020 (postponed until September 2020), Nineteen Group hosted an online webinar event (15/05/2020) to discuss current fire topics. Several 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. COVID-19 safety measures Niall Rowan, CEO - ASFP, noted Dame Judith Hackitt’s comments t...

With the support of the Scottish Government, the Supplier Development Program has launched a survey on the effects of Supplier Relief. short survey Suppliers in Scotland, especially small, medium, and micro-sized businesses, can fill in a short survey to share their experience of supplier relief with public sector buyers during the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) crisis so far. Responses will be collated into a report which will be shared with the Scottish Government and local authorities throughout S...

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...

In the frame of the Future Combat Air System (FCAS), Airbus and Fraunhofer FKIE have created an independent panel of experts on the responsible use of new technologies to define and propose ethical as well as international legal 'guard rails' for Europe’s largest defense project. The expert panel, which was first initiated in Germany in 2019, currently includes stakeholders such as the German Ministry of Defence, the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs, foundations, univers...

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...

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 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...

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...