New Guidance On Fire Risk Appraisals Of External Walls Is Now Available The Facade Special Interest Group, a collaboration between the Fire Industry Association (FIA) and the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE), has issued guidance on 'Proportionality and Risk in Fire Risk Appraisals of External Walls (FRAEWs)' aligned with PAS 9980. This comprehensive document delves into crucial considerations surrounding risk acceptability and the proportional nature of remedial actions, in accordance with PAS 9980 recommendations. Tailored for fire engineers conducting FRAEW assessments, the guidance offers initial direction on understanding risk acceptability and proportionality in remedial measures. Specifically designed to complement PAS 9980, which emphasises the necessity for proportionate decision-making in regards to remedial actions, this document provides further insights to aid fire engineers in determining the appropriateness of recommending such measures. While the focus of this guidance centres on residential apartment buildings, consistent with PAS 9980's scope, its principles can be adapted for application in other building types. It assumes a foundational understanding of risk, hazard, and consequence concepts as delineated in conventional risk assessment procedures, without delving deeply into these matters. Additionally, it [...]

Company Directors Found Guilty Of Endangering Lives With Fire Safety Breaches In a shocking development, two Directors of a West Bromwich based company, have been sentenced to prison for endangering residents' lives due to flagrant violations of fire safety regulations. This revelation, brought to light by the West Midlands Fire Service, underscores the severe repercussions of disregarding fire safety protocols. The transgression occurred at Metro Court, a four-story residential complex located on High Street, West Bromwich, predominantly occupied by residents. During routine inspections, West Midlands Fire Service uncovered serious breaches of fire safety regulations. Despite receiving a prohibition notice from fire safety inspectors, the Directors and their company persisted in compromising the safety of approximately 80 residents. The inspection revealed alarming deficiencies, including the absence of power to the building's fire alarm system, its malfunction, presence of combustible materials in the staircase, and multiple fire doors wedged or propped open. These critical lapses warranted the issuance of a prohibition notice, barring the premises' residential use. However, subsequent visits revealed that residents continued to inhabit the premises, prompting swift intervention from the fire service. As [...]

Surge In Electric Bike Popularity Raises Fire Hazards Concerns The expanding market for electric bikes, scooters, and mopeds presents a positive trend in reducing carbon emissions, as studies indicate their low carbon footprint. However, this growth also brings attention to the electrical safety risks associated with electric two-wheelers. In countries like China, a hub for e-bikes, and cities such as London, where e-bikes gained popularity later, there's a noticeable increase in fires caused by e-bikes and e-scooters. Aviva, an insurer, has observed an increase in customer claims related to fires caused by rechargeable e-bikes exploding during charging, including incidents involving faulty e-bike batteries and second-hand purchases, notes Hannah Davidson, a senior underwriting manager for Aviva. A survey conducted by Aviva reveals that 71% of adults in the UK are unaware of the signs indicating that a lithium-ion battery, commonly found in e-bikes and e-scooters, is close to failing. These warning signs include heating, leaking, swelling, and unusual smells and noises. The rapid rise of e-bikes has outpaced regulations. For example, the UK lacks regulations concerning e-bike chargers or kits to convert standard bikes into [...]

Immediate Appeal For Restaurants To Reassess Fire Safety Measures Fire and Rescue Services emphasise the critical importance of fire safety for residents residing above food outlets, highlighting the increased risks associated with insufficient safety measures. Restaurant owners and proprietors of food establishments are strongly advised to review their fire safety protocols, especially for premises with residents above or below. Fire and Rescue Services have expressed concerns about the heightened risks in such setups, stressing the immediate need for thorough safety measures. Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service have emphasised the potential dangers in buildings where upper or lower floors are used for living spaces, particularly when accessed through a single unprotected staircase from public or kitchen areas. A spokesperson from the service commented, "In the event of a fire, these conditions significantly elevate the risk of injury or fatality. It's crucial to have appropriate fire safety measures in place to protect lives, including those of residents, employees, and customers, as well as to safeguard property and business interests." The Regulatory Reform Order 2005 requires business owners to conduct fire risk assessments to mitigate [...]

BS 5839-1 Available For Public & Professional Comment BS 5839-1, concerning Fire detection and fire alarm systems for buildings - Part 1: Design, installation, commissioning, and maintenance of systems in non-domestic premises - Code of practice, is now open for public review. This latest update of BS 5839-1 outlines essential guidelines and practices for ensuring fire safety within non-domestic premises, aiming to uphold the highest standards of protection for both occupants and property. This portion of BS 5839 provides recommendations for the design, installation, commissioning, and upkeep of fire detection and fire alarm systems in buildings other than domestic ones. However, it does not offer advice on whether a fire detection and fire alarm system should be installed in specific premises. Note: Recommendations for fire detection and fire alarm systems in domestic premises can be found in BS 5839-6. BS 5839-1 addresses a wide range of systems, from simple setups comprising only a few manual call points and sounders to intricate networked systems integrating numerous automatic fire detectors, manual call points, and sounders, all linked to multiple intercommunicating control and indicating panels. It provides [...]

Council Considers Demolition Instead Of Fire Safety Upgrades Residents in a Harlow apartments block are facing the prospect of relocation as Harlow Council considers the option of demolition, deeming it more economically viable than the £5.5 million required for fire safety upgrades recommended post-Grenfell. Harlow Council confronts a challenging decision as it ponders the demolition of a complete apartment block due to the substantial cost of essential fire safety measures following the Grenfell Tower tragedy, estimated at £5.5 million. Having already invested £300,000 based on fire service advice, the council grapples with the dilemma of potential relocation as an alternative to shouldering the significant expense. Council Leader Dan Swords acknowledges the seriousness of the situation, citing the need for safety reviews prompted by the Grenfell tragedy. However, he emphasises the considerable financial burden associated with potentially making the flats safe. The decision, slated for discussion by government in February 2024, could lead to the gradual relocation of residents. Among the 54 homes under consideration, 34 are occupied by leaseholders, including 14 private renters, and 15 are home to council tenants. The remaining five [...]

Large Fire At Music Festival Business Warehouse Residents were forced to evacuate their homes following a significant fire that erupted at a nearby warehouse business in Manchester during January. The Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) reported that the blaze commenced in the evening on a Monday outside of office hours at a facility located on Stockport Road in Hyde. GMFRS deployed five crews to combat the fire and assist in the evacuation process. The affected warehouse business specialises in designing sets for events like Manchester's Parklife and Kendal Calling festivals. Summer will soon be here and the Festival season will be in full swing. The festival industry and its supporting supply chain covers a vast arrange of industrial sectors from crowd safety, access control, security management, temporary structures, catering, sanitation, accommodation, waste management, logistics and power generation. All of these elements both individually and combined represent a significant fire risk across multiple location types. The festival industry is one that generally works on season and off season, where significant activity occurs during the summer months, with little activity occurring in the [...]

Huge Financial Implications From Skip Hire Site Fire Demolition costs for Lancaster fire may rise to £900k for Lancaster City Council who are grappling with a financial quandary in the aftermath of a massive fire at a former skip hire site. The potential demolition costs, estimated at £900,000, have prompted the council to consider various options to address the consequences of the fire that consumed a significant amount of waste. In a recent development, Lancaster City Council is confronted with a financial challenge following a substantial fire at a former skip hire site on Port Royal Avenue. The fire, lasting three weeks and extinguished on December 3rd, has left the council contemplating the financial implications of dealing with the aftermath. Last month, the council allocated £900,000 to expedite the containment and resolution of the fire's aftermath. This decision, currently under deliberation by councillors, underscores the gravity of the situation and the associated financial burdens. The site's connection to private ownership and administration raises questions about responsibility for the substantial demolition costs. In response, the council's chief executive, Mark Davies, promptly took decisive action [...]