West Midlands Fire & Rescue Service - Experts & Thought Leaders

It’s been another busy year for the fire safety industry, with higher risk building registration and the new Building Safety Regulator under reforms of the Building Safety Act. Designed to provide greater accountability and management of higher-risk buildings, the Building Safety Act 2022 mandated two new roles for managing building safety – Accountable Persons and Principal Accountable Persons. FIREX International 2023 FIREX also returned to ExCel this year, covering the latest in the sector, including Virtual Reality training, legislation updates and resident experiences of the building safety crisis among others. This article reveals the top stories that IFSEC Insider readers engaged with throughout the year: Fire safety concerns raised over Bibby Stockholm – Five improvements required include escape routes, ventilation and fire-stopping In September, news of the fire safety challenges around the Bibby Stockholm barge, moored at Portland Port in Dorset and housing over 500 asylum seekers, hit headlines. Changes to building regulations and fire safety: An overview Speaking at FIREX International 2023 in May, Natalie Sellar and Adrian Mansbridge of law firm - Addleshaw Goddard outlined how the Fire Safety Act (FSA) and the Building Safety Act (BSA) will fundamentally change the regulatory landscape. Enhanced duties of responsible persons under the Fire Safety Order: An overview In September, the government published new guidance on the enhanced duties of responsible persons under amendments made to the Fire Safety Order by the Building Safety Act. HSE publishes fire safety guidance for building planning stage In August, Ron Alalouff provided on overview of the advice on the fire safety matters that should be considered by local planning authorities, applicants and other technical specialists involved in high rise residential and educational accommodation buildings at the planning stage, which had been published by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). The hazards of Lithium-ion batteries on construction sites Speaking at the High Rise Construction Fire Safety Conference held alongside FIREX in May, Matthew Pearce and Andy Lack from Skanska outlined the hazards of Lithium-ion batteries on construction sites. E-bike battery found to be cause of fire in Coventry apartment block In September, around 50 firefighters were called to respond to a flat fire on the 11th floor of a high-rise in Coventry caused by an e-bike battery setting alight. BRE investigates causes and consequences of lithium-ion battery fires in new research Also in September, and in collaboration with Electrical Safety First, the Building Research Establishment (BRE) fire safety research team has carried out tests into lithium-ion battery fires – the dangers of which are being increasingly well documented. Six companies charged with fire safety offences for blaze which destroyed Cheshire retirement village In August, Ron Alalouff reported on a highly complex case, where six companies were charged with offences under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, following a fire which destroyed a retirement village in 2019. Lithium-Ion battery fire safety – Questions answered Following from the popular webinar, ‘Is our reliance on Lithium-ion batteries safe or sustainable’ IFSEC Insider ran in early October, they compiled a list of popular questions asked during the session, answered by presenter, Matt Humby from Firechief. Luton Airport vehicle fire causes ‘structural collapse’ of car park The top story of the year came in October, where London’s Luton Airport suspended all flights after a multi-storey car park collapsed as a result of a vehicle fire.

A West Midlands mum has thanked Birmingham City Council for ensuring that a ‘life-saving’ sprinkler system had been installed in her tenth-floor flat, when a fire caused by an electric bike cut off her family’s only escape route out of the building. Even though 25 firefighters were mobilized and at the scene within three minutes – the sprinkler system had already brought the fire under control. Had they not been fitted, the outcome would have been very different. Importance of ‘lifesaving’ fire sprinklers Hana shared her moving story in a video for West Midlands Fire & Rescue service, which certainly brings the message home. Simon Barry, the Deputy Chief Fire Officer of West Midlands Fire Service (WMFS), said: “Sprinklers save lives – as this incident very clearly demonstrates. It could have ended tragically had the council-fitted system not kicked in.” Sprinklers are invaluable and save lives Sprinklers are invaluable. They save lives and reduce injuries, protect firefighters who respond to fires" Simon Barry adds, “Sprinklers are invaluable. They save lives and reduce injuries, protect firefighters who respond to fires, and reduce the amount of fire damage to property and the environment.” Four fire engines, a 4×4 Brigade Response Vehicle and an aerial platform attended the scene. A man, a woman and a toddler were led to safety by firefighters, before being taken to hospital for checks after breathing in smoke. Sprinkler system helps extinguish fire quickly WMFS' Deputy Chief Fire Officer, Simon Barry adds: “Without the sprinklers, the family could have been very seriously injured or worse. The bike battery produced a lot of smoke and fumes, which quickly spread through the flat. Very fortunately, the sprinkler system did its job. One of the sprinkler ‘heads’ was fitted very close to where the bike was being charged, so the flames were quickly extinguished.” BAFSA and WMFS have previously welcomed the decision taken by several West Midlands Councils to retrofit sprinklers across their high-rise tower blocks.

GMB Union has announced industrial action ballot dates for more than 15,000 ambulance workers across 11 trusts in England and Wales for strike action. Ambulance workers from London, East of England, East and West Midlands, North East, Yorkshire, North West, South Central, South East Coast, South West, and Wales Ambulance trusts will participate in the strike vote. strike ballots Thousands more NHS workers will also be balloted across other NHS trusts, with more votes set to follow Thousands more NHS workers will also be balloted across other NHS trusts, with more votes set to follow. The ballot opens on 24 October and closes on 29 November, and any potential strike action could occur before Christmas.  The strike ballots follow consultative votes across all the trusts in which workers voted strongly in favor of strike action. Workers are angry over the Government’s imposed 4 percent pay award, which leaves them facing yet another massive real terms pay cut.   Cuts and shortages  Rachel Harrison, GMB National Officer, said “Ambulance workers have just had enough. They’ve not been on strike in decades, but they are at the end of what they can take. Pay has been systematically slashed for more than ten years and we now face the worst cost of living crush in a generation."  Rachel Harrison adds, "Meanwhile vacancies are at record highs and we have the worst A&E delays ever and it’s not even the winter flu season yet. But this is about more than pay and conditions. Cuts and shortages mean GMB members feel unable to deliver safe standards of patient care. Things can’t go on like this - something has to give.”