Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP) - Experts & Thought Leaders

The Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP) is delighted to announce a new appointment to its marketing function. Louis Bradley has been appointed to the newly created role of Marketing Executive, to support the wider marketing team in furthering ASFP's reach and its member offering. Louis will be responsible for creating marketing materials for the ASFP, working across their full range of promotion and knowledge channels, including podcasts, videos, and other member resources. He will also keep ASFP members informed via day-to-day messaging on social media. Working in this role, Louis will contribute to elevating ASFP's brand identity, marketing strategy, and member services. Extensive industry experience Louis also has experience in journalism and commercial copywriting skills Louis has a diverse marketing background. Having worked in-house for large creative recruitment bodies and smaller agencies, he has developed material for globally recognized brands.  Louis also has experience in journalism and commercial copywriting skills, which the ASFP will harness to create more informative content for the member base, keeping them updated on changes within the passive fire protection sector. Welcome Louis to the ASFP team ASFP Managing Director - Mike Ward extended a warm welcome to Louis, stating: "We are delighted to welcome Louis to the ASFP team. With his wide-ranging skills and experience, I am sure he will rapidly become a pivotal member of the ASFP Marketing Department. As we further expand our services and member support, we will need ever-more marketing material working with our full range of promotional tools." In addition to developing ASFP marketing materials, Louis is keen to work with ASFP members to develop collaborative marketing opportunities to raise awareness of passive fire protection.

The Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP) has launched a new training recognition service to offer an independent third-party evaluation of training courses specific to passive fire protection (PFP). ASFP Recognition ensures that all recognized providers work to the highest standards in both training delivery and passive fire technical input, and that recognized programs provide current and up-to-date skills and knowledge by linking them to the industry-developed competence framework. High-quality learning The service allows the Association to work with training providers of all kinds The service allows the Association to work with training providers of all kinds and review their internal processes and ways of working to identify a commitment to high-quality learning. This includes looking at how training is developed, delivered, and maintained, how technical accuracy of content is ensured, and how trainers are selected, developed, and managed. Once companies have demonstrated their approach to training quality and technical capability, their application is reviewed by an independent panel. All providers that meet this quality benchmark gain recognition from ASFP for training delivery in their particular subject area(s), subject to ongoing oversight and quality monitoring. They are then permitted to use the ASFP Recognized Provider logo. This ensures high-quality providers are easily recognizable, making choosing the right training easier. ASFP Competence Register Providers may be dedicated training companies, those with significant internal provision for their staff, or manufacturers offering training or CPD to clients or the public, whether it is chargeable or not. By only using training delivered by the ASFP or its recognized providers, learners can be confident that they will receive high-quality input that is technically accurate, professionally presented, and both relevant and sufficient to demonstrate competence in PFP. All such training will be eligible to support registration on the ASFP Competence Register. All such training will be eligible to support registration on the ASFP Competence Register Having worked to develop the scheme over the last year, the ASFP is delighted to announce Siderise Insulation as the very first company to become an ASFP Recognized Training Provider. They deliver training for designers, supervisors, installers and distributors, covering important topics related to Siderise Insulation products, and general PFP specification, sales, installation and distribution. High quality and technical standards Commenting on the new service and the recognition of the first training provider, ASFP Managing Director, Mike Ward, stated: "Training is an important part of positively driving up standards in the passive fire protection sector and forms a key step of our broader Competency Pathway, which leads to the ASFP Pass Mark." He adds, "We recognize that many third parties offer appropriate PFP training and have now developed a process for recognizing those that meet our high quality and technical standards, incorporating their good work as evidence of competence." Mike Ward continues, "We are delighted to welcome ASFP member Siderise as the very first ASFP Recognized Provider for their comprehensive training courses and CPDs. We are pleased that they are supporting our drive to increase quality and competency in every aspect of PFP." ASFP Competency Pathway Having gone through the process to obtain recognition, Siderise CEO, Adam Turk, said: "We are thrilled and proud to be the first ASFP Recognized Provider. Having an independent measure of training is great for the industry – it is good that there is something specific that we can be measured against, and that it results in a more capable workforce." He adds, "The fact that our training is now ASFP recognized and can be used within the ASFP Competency Pathway is very important, and we’re happy to support that." By becoming an ASFP Recognized Provider, companies clearly demonstrate that their training is valid and independent. They can list their courses on the ASFP Competence Framework website and use the ASFP Recognized logo to promote training in the PFP marketplace, while supporting the ASFP Competence Pathway.

The Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP) appointed its new Council at its 2024 Annual General Meeting (AGM) at Drapers’ Hall, in London, UK, on 11 April, 2024.  The 12-strong Council was appointed following a successful election held in February-March in which 21 nominations were received.   New and elected seats The Association’s Chair and Vice Chair retain their seats for another year, with the remaining 10 places elected for two years. The Council includes representatives from each of the ASFP’s member categories of Contractor, Manufacturer, Distributor, and Associate, as well as a representative from ASFP Ireland. In 2024, a place for a Principal Contractor member has been created to reflect the growth in membership in this category and ASFP’s increased engagement with this important sector of construction.  The new Council members Clive Miles (Chair) – Chair, CLM Fireproofing  Sharon McClure (Vice Chair) – Director, Avesta Scotland Ltd  Moe Elmasry – Technical Manager, Golden Thread Fire Delay  Alan Curran – Fire Engineer / Technical Director, OFR Consultants  Carrie Blackshaw – Fire Protection Sales Director, Minster  Liam Keenan – Technical & Managing Director, Compliance + Fire Limited  Carl Burrell – Regional Market Director, Sherwin–Williams  Jamie O'Hagan – CEO, Structural Fireproofing Systems  Matthew Jones – Head of Fire Protection and HVAC, ROCKWOOL International   Ian Outram – Firestopping Technology Manager, CPG UK  Will Pitt – Technical Leader – MEICA Specialist Systems, Laing O'Rourke  John O’Callaghan – Managing Director, Complete Coating Services  The AGM offered all attending ASFP members their first opportunity to meet the new Council. They also received updates from ASFP officers on Association activities during 2023 and its plans, with the ASFP’s vision introduced by ASFP Vice Chair - Sharon McClure.   office and training academy He detailed key activities in further developing the ASFP Competency Pathway and launching new training courses ASFP Managing Director - Mike Ward provided an update on ASFP operations, highlighting the successful purchase, fit-out, and occupation of the ASFP’s new office and training academy in Coventry. He also detailed key activities in further developing the ASFP Competency Pathway, as well as launching new training courses and membership groups, and developing new industry collaborations. ASFP Membership Officer - Tony Corcoran explained that interest in ASFP membership remained high, with over 57 new members joining since June 2023. He noted that the membership growth is across the full supply chain from Principal Contractors and architects through to fire risk assessors and facilities managers.  latest legislative requirements ASFP Head of Technical - Dr. Andrew Taylor reviewed the technical landscape providing an update on the latest legislative requirements and highlighting ASFP’s role in developing standards and industry guidance. He detailed how the Association’s technical work assisted with the development of the Competency Pathway. The ASFP’s Competency Specialist - Kate Milford provided an overview of progress with the Pathway, explaining that work would continue throughout 2024 to address both individual competence and organizational capability, while also continuing to look for opportunities to show leadership and collaborate with like-minded organizations and individuals across the built environment.  keynote address The formal event was brought to a close with a keynote address from Chandru Dissanayake of the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC), who provided a detailed update on Government and regulatory progress and took questions from the floor. The meeting was followed by a lunch, allowing attendees to network with ASFP members, officers staff, and other industry leaders.

FIREX International, 18-20 June, 2019, at ExCel London will feature 25-plus hours of seminars and panel discussions along with an exhibition of 130-plus manufacturers showcasing products for fire safety. A Sprinkler and Suppression Presentation Area will highlight the important category. Also, for the fourth year, the International Tall Building Fire Safety Conference will take place alongside FIREX International. There will be 18,000 fire prevention and protection professionals from over 70 countries in attendance at FIREX International. Seminars and panel debates, held in the dedicated Expertise and Guidance Theatre, will include sessions covering tall building safety, passive fire protection, case studies, and more. One session will consider how the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union will impact fire safety laws and the fire industry. Implications of fire safety regulations A presentation will cover the development of new tests to assess video smoke and flame detectorsThe aftermath of the Grenfell fire will be the backdrop of several sessions. One will address the competency of fire, emergency and security systems technicians in the post-Grenfell era, presented by Fire and Security Association Chairman Tom Brookes. Also, a panel discussion will consider the process control and record-keeping requirements of Dame Judith Hackitt's proposed ‘golden thread of information’ that spans regulatory, design, compliance, construction and operational management functions. Another session will speak to post-Grenfell implications of fire safety and future regulations, and there will be a summary of the government response to the Hackitt/ADB review and its impact on passive fire protection. Other topics include training, testing, and fire risk assessment. A case study will highlight the importance of smoke alarms in rented properties. A session on defining Fire Industry Association (FIA) Qualifications will address the impact of best practice, legislation and standards. A presentation will cover the development of new tests to assess video smoke and flame detectors. And there will be an update on industry efforts to create an overarching competence body for the fire safety sector. Thousands of products on display The Passive Protection Zone offers an opportunity for delegates to develop their knowledge of passive fire protectionFIREX International caters to everyone within the fire safety buying chain from manufacturers, distributors, installers, integrators, consultants to end users. With tens of thousands of products on display, attendees can test and try them out hands-on. The largest presence at the show will be the Fire Solutions stand, organized by Halma, which will feature six leading suppliers of fire safety technology from the same commercial family hosted at a single stand. The featured exhibitors will be Advanced, Apollo Fire Detectors, Argus Security, FFE UK, Klaxon and LAN Control Systems. The Passive Protection Zone offers an opportunity for delegates to develop their knowledge of passive fire protection via a variety of seminars and workshops. Plus, Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP) member companies will be located around the zone, displaying related products. Tall Building Fire Safety Conference The 6th International Tall Building Fire Safety Conference will focus on innovation, drones, fire science and more. Topics on Day 1 will be fire engineering, fire testing and fire science in tall buildings. Day 2 will address fire risk management, insurance and construction in tall buildings. Day 3 will focus on firefighting in tall buildings. FIREX International is co-located with IFSEC International, Facilities Show, Safety & Health Expo and Field Service Management Expo, catering to those working across many platforms, including building management, and protection and safety of people and information.