Fire safety community must unite to raise standards

Fire Safety Community must unite to raise standards. Info4Fire. 16 January 2012

In the absence of central government direction, the fire safety sector can only develop its own policies and standards if it presents a united front, according to the president of the Association for Specialist Fire Protection, Brian Robinson.Speaking at the association’s annual lunch last month, Mr Robinson said that improving the quality of fire safety requires a more collective approach to risk reduction and mitigation.“Allowing the sector to be more self-determined is high on the government’s agenda,” said Mr Robinson. “It will take time and thought to get used to the idea of developing our own policies and standards, which can only be done by all parts of the sector working together and in harmony.

”New methods and technologies in construction and a lack of fire safety compliance were also issues to be addressed.“We know there is a serious disconnect in appropriate understanding, communication, ownership of responsibility and commitment to required standards throughout the entire process of design, build, inspection, handover to the responsible person and onward management thereafter.”To help address both the environmental impact of fires and the fire safety issues inherent in some modern construction methods, the ASFP has set up a sustainability task group – made up manufacturers, contractors, consulting engineers and assessment bodies.

As sustainability goes beyond the life safety nature of Building Regulations, “appropriate fire protection measures, integrated within innovative design, must be recognised as a fundamental hub in any future carbon reduction mandate,” said Mr Robinson.

“The performance of a building in its normal state, and for both us and the fire service in its ‘hostile’ state, is changing fast.”The association will be working with those directly involved in the development of modern methods of construction, he said, to develop solutions in passive fire protection that will ensure adequate fire safety and building longevity – without stifling essential innovation.In addition, the ASFP has set up a training task group to look at the whole issue of supply chain education, and to develop an improved awareness of the importance of built-in fire safety and the dangers of compromising it.

Responding to Mr Robinson’s address, Neil O’Connor, director of fire, resilience and emergencies at the Department for Communities and Local Government, said the association had helped to promote better understanding and competence in the industry.“Ministers recognise the positive impact that this has on compliance with Building Regulations and the Fire Safety Order,” he said.Read Brian Robinson's comments in detail

The same lack of Government direction is evident in Scotland also. It is time Third Party Accreditation was a minimum standard for those carrying out Fire Risk Assessments in any premises more than one storey in height and 1000m2 in area.