BAFE to ensure Fire Safety tenders are third-party certified

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25 Jun 2012 @Fireindustry

In an effort to raise fire safety standards in the UK, BAFE is working to ensure that tenders for fire safety contracts require third party certification (TPC).
Both BAFE , the registration body for companies that achieve third party certification for their fire protection services, and the Fire Industry Association ( FIA ) strongly recommend that that the installation and maintenance of fire safety equipment be carried out by a competent person who has TPC.
It is recommended that fire detection and alarm equipment should comply with the BAFE SP203 scheme, and portable fire extinguishers comply with ST101/ST104.
However, recent reports have revealed that some organisations have encountered advertised tenders that do not specify TPC as a prerequisite and BAFE is therefore encouraging FIA members to make them aware of any such cases.
Stephen Adams, general and marketing manager for BAFE , has confirmed that the body will then follow up any referred cases and ensure future tenders are modified.
A spokesperson for the Department for Communities and Local Government said: "We support third party certification schemes as an effective means of assuring the quality, reliability and safety of products and services, and recognise the valuable role BAFE plays in bringing to the marketplace recognised registration schemes for these products and services."

Asda fined for fire safety breaches

Asda fined for fire safety breaches at Slough store

From @Fireindustry

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Supermarket giant Asda has been ordered to pay more than £55,000 after breaching fire safety regulations at its branch near Slough.

An inspection of the firm's Chippenham store by the Royal Berkshire Fire Authority (RBFA) in June 2010 revealed that two fire exits were chained and padlocked.

The authority brought two charges under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 following the inspection, which also uncovered a number of other fire safety breaches including obstruction of fire escape routes and combustible items blocking exit doors.

Asda admitted the two charges at Reading Crown Court and was fined £20,000 per charge and ordered to pay more than £15,500 in costs.

David Walden, RBFA's fire safety legal support manager, claimed that Asda put people's lives at risk by failing to comply with fire safety regulations.

He said: "It is also further evidence that some businesses continue to treat compliance with fire safety legislation as an option – it is not.

"We will continue with our efforts to ensure that any business owner or manager who refuses to take these obligations seriously will be brought before the courts."

Fire service advises school to fit sprinklers

Fire service advises school to fit sprinklers when renovating

From @Fireindustry

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21 Jun 2012

South Wales Fire and Rescue Service (SWFRS) has told schools to install sprinklers when they undertake refurbishment work, following the devastating fire at Betws Primary School, near Bridgend.
A whole block at the primary school was destroyed following a blaze that was started on Tuesday afternoon by an overheated fan, with students needing to be evacuated.
The school was built in the 1960s using steel frames, but no fire barriers were included in its construction, meaning that the flames were quick to spread.
SWFRS's Graeme Smith told the news provider that there is approximately one school fire a day across Britain, highlighting the need for sprinkler systems particularly in older buildings that might not be as well equipped to deal with an outbreak.
He said: "What we are suggesting is that for new school builds and for rebuilds and major refurbishments, the authorities consider the installation of sprinklers."
Although the junior block, which contained the school's ICT suite, was fully destroyed, firefighters were able to prevent the nursery, instants and Flying Start buildings from sustaining any damage.

Addendum from Fire Isk A & T Ltd:
The Welsh Assembly have legislated for all new dwellings to be fitted with a sprinkler system.

Major fire breaks out at disused school in Aberdeen

Major fire breaks out at disused school in Aberdeen

From @Fireindustry

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22 Jun 2012

Firefighters were required to battle a raging blaze that had taken hold of a disused secondary school building in Scotland during the early hours of Friday morning.
Several crews were called to the Bankhead Academy in Aberdeen at 05:00, after smoke from the fire began billowing across a nearby road, bringing it to the attention of oncoming traffic.
It is not yet known what caused the fire, but Grampian Fire and Rescue told STV that 14 appliances were sent to the site of the blaze, which took hold at the front of the school.
A spokesman was quoted saying: "The incident is ongoing and we have over 40 personnel currently at the scene. The fire is believed to have started at the front of the building.
"Firefighters are not using breathing apparatus and nobody is believed to have been hurt."
Owners of disused buildings should regularly check these sites to ensure that they remain in compliance with Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 legislation.
Posted by Paul Clarke

Childminders in Scotland to comply with Fire safety Legislation

The Scottish government is set to amend fire safety regulations to clarify the law for childminders in the country.

A public consultation recently revealed that many organisations within the childminding sector were unsure if they needed to comply with the fire safety aspects of the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005.

This prompted the government to move to change the definition of 'relevant premises' in the act to confirm that childminders' premises must abide by the regulations.

Minister for community safety and legal affairs Roseanna Cunningham claimed it is "vital" that every business in Scotland is aware of its fire safety duties.

She said: "The changes I am making to regulations within the act remove any doubt that fire safety obligations apply to childminders' premises.

"I am pleased that we have been able to clarify this important piece of legislation. I will take the necessary steps to amend the legislation shortly after the parliamentary summer recess."

Old people's home damaged in blaze

Old people's home in Cornwall damaged in blaze

From @Fireindustry

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19 Jun 2012

An old people's home in Cornwall has been damaged after a large-scale fire broke out in the utilities room over the weekend.

Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service were called to the single-storey building on Barbican Road, Looe, at about 3.30pm on Saturday (16th June) after the alarm was raised.

Crews from across the county battled the blaze for over two hours before bringing the flames under control at around 6pm.

They managed to confine the fire, which appears to be accidental, to a launderette at the complex of 11 self-contained flats. No injuries have been reported so far.

Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, a 'suitable and sufficient' fire risk assessment must be conducted on all commercial properties in England and Wales.

If the fire risk assessment is deemed to be carried out to an insufficient extent, the Responsible Person can face an unlimited fine or a prison sentence of up to two years.

An investigation into the cause of the fire has begun.

Prosecution after nuclear weapons site fire

Prosecution after nuclear weapons site fire 19 June 2012

The Atomic Weapons Establishment in Aldermaston is to be prosecuted following a fire in 2010.
One worker was left with burns to his face and arm after the incident at around 9pm on 3 August 2010 in a building which housed explosives on the Berkshire site.
The Health and Safety Executive is prosecuting AWE plc for three breaches of safety law:

• Failing to ensure, so far as was reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all its employees (Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974)
• Failing to take appropriate measures to limit the extent of fire or explosion (S4(1)(b) of the Manufacture and Storage of Explosives Regulations)
• Failing to ensure that suitable personal protective equipment was provided to its employees who may be exposed to a risk to their health and safety(S4(1) of the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992)

AWE plc is due to appear before Reading magistrates court on 6 August.
In a statement the company said:
“AWE plc deeply regrets the occurrence of the fire at our Aldermaston site on 3 August 2010. Ensuring the safety of our staff, neighbours and local community is AWE's highest priority.
“Following the fire, we quickly initiated a thorough, independently-led investigation and published the resulting report in June 2011. The specific operation being carried out at the time of the fire was immediately suspended and will not be re-started until a safe alternative process has been agreed with our regulators.”

Firefighters tackle Grangemouth office blaze

Crews from four stations attended the scene

Published on Monday 4 June 2012 15:03 From Falkirk Herald

A fire broke out at a three-storey office building in Grangemouth this afternoon.

Crews from Falkirk, Larbert, Bo’ness and Slamannan were called to the scene at Abbotsinch Industrial Estate just before 12.30 p.m..
At the height of the blaze, five appliances and one specialist unit - the aerial ladder platform - were in attendance.
The fire is thought to have started in the yard area of the building and spread to the roof. It was tackled by firefighters wearing breathing apparatus and using a hose reel jet.
Nobody was believed to in the building at the time.
The fire service has stated that the blaze is now under contriol but crews remain at the scene.