People who live in a high-rise tower block are at no greater risk of having a fire because of the type of building in which they live, say the West Midlands Fire Service
As they explain, all high-rise buildings are designed and built to ensure that a fire is contained within the flat where it starts and should not spread to other flats for at least 60 minutes. This provides time for the fire service to deal effectively with incidents and should ensure that other residents are not affected.
Evacuation procedures vary from building to building, depending on their design. If you live or work in a high-rise building, the owner or landlord must have an evacuation policy in place specific to that building, so it is important they share it with you.
If the advice you are given, by your landlord or building owner, is to ‘stay-put’, West Midlands Fire Service still recommend calling 999 immediately for advice and to check that the emergency services know what is happening. Once the firefighters arrive and have assessed the situation, the advice to stay put may have to be repeated or changed – but it will depend on several factors, including the nature and spread of the fire, and the building.
High-rise specific safety advice:
Here at Firechief, we want you to feel safe. Our mission is to work hard every day to protect lives and property from fire by providing a range of fire safety products that can be trusted to perform when the heat is on.
The Firechief range includes high-performance fire extinguishers, fire blankets, first aid kits, lithium-ion fire extinguishers and Firechief CAVIUS Alarms.
For more information, call us on +44 (0)330 999 0019 or email sales@firechiefglobal.com.
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People who live in a high-rise tower block are at no greater risk of having a fire because of the type of building in which they live, say the West […]
The beginning of Spring means majority of households will be carrying out a big spring clean, tidying up their gardens or even getting some home renovation projects on the go. Whilst we are carrying out home renovations it is important to think about checking in on your fire safety as well.
As the world has suddenly come to a standstill, even the best-laid plans are falling apart. This unforeseen pandemic has upended even the most organised renovation projects, forcing progress to abruptly pause.
Majority of us are spending more time at home and we are using his time to complete small home renovation tasks, cleaning up our gardens ready for summer or sorting through our homes and spring cleaning.
Whilst we have some time at home it is important to have a look at our fire safety, with the emergency services being stretched right now, making sure your smoke alarms are working and that you have the necessary fire extinguishing equipment in your home can help ensure that you are safe from fires.
Smoke Alarm Maintenance
Clean your smoke alarms at least once a month, using a soft dry cloth. Never use water, cleaners or solvents as they may damage the unit. Then test the smoke alarm. Gently vacuum the outside of the Smoke Alarm using your vacuum cleaner soft brush attachment.
Regular alarm testing is a vital part of ensuring continued fire and carbon monoxide detection. Alarms should be tested monthly. If you require new alarms, visit our website here, for replacements.
Practice Escape Plans
Making sure you have an escape plan at home is an important step to ensuring that your family is safe.
Simple steps can include:
Further Fire safety
Make sure you have fire blankets for potential kitchen fires, double check your fire extinguishers and their use by dates. If you are not sure which fire extinguishers you need, visit www.firechiefglobal.com for more information.
Always ensure you keep an eye on electrical appliances, make sure everything is safe to use. Whilst you are at home and everyone is using multiple electrical appliances, ensure that you are not overloading sockets.
If you are unsure, you can always check in with us to ensure your families safety.
Looking for fire safety products for your home? Call us on +44 (0)330 999 0019 or email sales@firechiefglobal.com.[related_products is_auto_added="1"]
The beginning of Spring means majority of households will be carrying out a big spring clean, tidying up their gardens or even getting some home renovation projects on the go. […]
Part 6 of BS 5839 provides guidance and recommendations on fire detection and alarm systems in domestic premises. This blog post looks at the role played by the standard in protecting life and details the recent revisions that have been made.
Did you know that around 80 per cent of UK fire deaths and injuries happen in domestic premises? Tragically, that adds up to over 300 deaths and around 9,000 injuries each year caused by fires in people’s homes, where they should feel safe.
Thankfully, however, fire detection and alarm systems can substantially reduce the risk of death or serious injury from fire. Fatality rates in fires where there’s a working smoke detector are between two and three times lower than in fires where no correctly functioning detector is present.
There’s also been an overall downward trend in domestic fire deaths since smoke alarms were first given recognition in BS 5839-1 in 1988. It means that Part 6 of the current British Standard on fire detection and alarm systems can play a crucial role in reducing the risk of fire death and injury, which is why the standard has been carefully revised over the past 18 months[W1] . The revision has now been published as BS 5839-6:2019 Fire detection and fire alarm systems for buildings Part 6: Code of practice for the design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of fire detection and fire alarm systems in domestic premises.
The key standard for domestic premises
The BS 5839 series of standards began life with the publication of BS 5839-1 in 1980. It has since grown into nine-parts, splitting domestic and non-domestic premises and dealing with a range of specific systems in detail.
Part 6 has become the key standard for domestic premises. This document supplies guidance and recommendations on planning, designing, installing, commissioning and maintaining detection and fire alarm systems. The recommendations refer principally to fire detection and fire alarm systems installed for the purpose of life safety but also include recommendations for systems that are intended to protect property.
The standard covers homes designed to accommodate a single family; HMOs comprising several self-contained units, each designed to accommodate a single family; and sheltered housing, including both the dwelling units and the common areas.
It applies to both new and existing premises. Its recommendations can be applied to the fire detection components of combined domestic fire and intruder alarm systems, or fire and social alarm systems. The standard also includes recommendations for routine attention. The systems it covers range from those comprising a single self-contained smoke alarm to systems of the type described in BS 5839-1.
How the standard has changed
Anyone involved in the commissioning, installation, design and planning of fire alarm and detection systems should know about this standard. That includes architects, other building professionals, enforcing authorities, installers and anyone else with responsibility for implementing fire precautions in domestic premises. These individuals will want to know that because of a full revision of BS 5839-6, changes were made in several areas and the main ones are listed below.
Firstly, BS 5839-6 covers many different types of detection and alarm system, differing widely in complexity, reliability and the level of self-monitoring. Some of the simpler systems are not suitable for premises where the fire risk is judged to be high; conversely expenditure on complex systems for low-risk premises might also be inappropriate. The standard therefore grades systems because some of its recommendations will only apply to grades. This revision has made changes to some of the grades: Grades B and E have been removed; Grades D and F has been split into Grade D1/Grade D2 and Grade F1/Grade F2 respectively; and Grade C has been revised and its recommendations expanded.
Table 1 of the standard – which sets out the minimum grade and category of fire detection and fire alarm system that can be used for protection of life in typical premises – has been revised to make sure it stays up to date with current conditions.
The guidance given has also been updated to consider the publication of a revised Part 1 of the standard (covering non-domestic premises) in 2017 and other standards published since the last full revision.
Meanwhile a new table on testing and servicing by grade has been added and new recommendations introduced to prevent blocking or delaying of fire alarm signals transmitted via social alarm systems in sheltered housing to an alarm receiving centre.
The standard of protection recommended in sheltered housing flats has been increased from Category LD2 to Category LD1. This constitutes a system installed throughout the premises, incorporating detectors in all circulation areas that form part of the escape routes from the premises, and in all rooms and areas, other than those with negligible sources of ignition such as toilets, bathrooms and shower rooms.
New recommendations have been added for fire detection in supported housing, and, finally, a new recommendation has been introduced on the installation of communal fire alarm systems in purpose-built blocks of flats.
The intention is that these significant revisions ensure that BS 5839-6 remains current, relevant and fit for purpose, helping users install and maintain appropriate systems and contribute to reducing the number of fire deaths and injuries each year.
Reference: BSI
Looking for fire safety products for your home? Call us on +44 (0)330 999 0019 or email sales@firechiefglobal.com.[related_products is_auto_added="1"]
Part 6 of BS 5839 provides guidance and recommendations on fire detection and alarm systems in domestic premises. This blog post looks at the role played by the standard in […]
Three companies have been ordered to pay fines totalling £670,000 after admitting fire safety failings at a building used for student accommodation in Leeds.
Judge Mairs at Leeds Crown Court heard how Trinity Halls on Woodhouse Street had only one available fire escape which was compromised due to combustible materials, putting at serious risk the 27 students who had moved in, in September 2016.
The court heard the students had moved into the building on the upper ground floor while other floors were still under construction. There was a string of other failures which contributed to the significant risk including lack of appropriate fire alarms and detection, exposed timber framing, the storage of flammable items on stairwells and no markings indicating fire escape routes.
The court heard that a lack of fire alarms and detection within the building meant that in the event of a fire, students would not have had early warning to evacuate the building and upon evacuation, some students would have had to travel 35 metres to get to the nearest fire escape, almost double the recommended limit of 18 metres.
Judge Mairs described the situation as having the “potential for catastrophe.”
The failings came to light in September 2016 after a concerned father called West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS) to report the building. He had been dropping his daughter off to live there but became concerned by the state of the premises and would not let his daughter stay.
Following this report, inspectors from West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service attended the building and discovered breaches in legislation. Inspectors then issued a prohibition order meaning students had to vacate the property for their own safety; a step Judge Mairs praised the service for doing so quickly and reducing the time students were put at risk.
Trinity Developments Ltd, the owners of the building, admitted four safety breaches. Niche Homes Ltd, contracted to manage and let the property, also admitted the same four breaches.
These are:
- Failing to make a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment.
- Failing to take precautions to make sure the premises were safe from risk of fire.
- Failing to provide appropriate fire detection and alarm system.
- Failing to provide an adequate number of fire escape routes and exits.
In addition to this APP Construction Ltd, who were contracted to design and build the property, admitted one charge of:
- Failing to provide an adequate number of fire escape routes and exits.
At previous hearings guilty pleas were entered to the charges, all relating to the period September 24th, 2016 to September 27th, 2016.
The companies were all offered credit in court for their early guilty pleas. Acceptable safety measures are now in place at the building.
Judge Mairs said that all the companies had “high culpability” and that “the risks were so obvious that a member of the public spotted them – so they should have been obvious to the companies involved.”
In sentencing, he fined APP Construction Ltd £450,000, Trinity Developments Ltd £160,000 and Niche Homes Ltd £60,000. The three companies also agreed to pay costs. APP Construction Ltd will pay £9,000. Trinity Developments Ltd will pay £6,000 and Niche Homes Ltd will also pay £6,000.
Following the sentencing Chris Kemp, Senior Fire Protection Manager for West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, said that "the conditions that were found on site were such that some of our senior officers have not seen such blatant disregard for the law and the safety of residents in 28 years".
References: Fire Safety Matters
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Three companies have been ordered to pay fines totalling £670,000 after admitting fire safety failings at a building used for student accommodation in Leeds. Judge Mairs at Leeds Crown Court […]
The new 2019/20 Firechief Catalogue is now available!
Featuring more than 2,000 quality, UK-approved fire protection products over 168 pages, the all-new catalogue includes Fire Depot’s exclusive and ever-growing range of Firechief branded products.
The new catalogue has over 50 new and improved products for you and your customers, new products include, the Firechief Wildfire Range – this is a robust range of wildlife firefighting tools to complement the Firechief Fire Beater.
The range consists of 4 new products:
Firechief Forestry Rakehoe - a McLeod rake with a two-sided blade on a long, fibreglass handle designed to rake fire lines with the teeth and cut branches and turf with the sharpened hoe edge.
Firechief Forestry Rake - a 4 teeth fire rake with 4 sharp steel blades individually bolted to the head and used to cut through roots and brush. The blades are easily removable for sharpening.
Firechief Firefighters Axe Short - with black rubber cover with a voltage resistance of 1000V.
Firechief Firefighters Axe Long - Long Fireman’s Axe - a versatile and heavy-duty Pulaski axe with handle. Able to both dig soil and chop wood. Typically used to construct firebreaks.[related_products is_auto_added="1"]
The new 2019/20 Firechief Catalogue is now available! Featuring more than 2,000 quality, UK-approved fire protection products over 168 pages, the all-new catalogue includes Fire Depot’s exclusive and ever-growing range […]
We are starting to plan our 2020 exhibitions and would love to invite all our followers to come down to the following shows.
Fire Safety Event – April 2020
A must attend for anyone who has a focus on improving life safety, business continuity and business protection for their organisation.
Birmingham, NEC – more information at: www.firesafetyevent.com
ElexShow – The Electrician’s Exhibition – September 2020
Get some huge deals on the very latest power tools and make sure you’re up to speed with all the latest regulations.
Coventry, Ricoh Arena – more information at: www.elexshow.info
Screwfix Live – September 2020
Customers who make the trip will get at least 10% off anything bought at the show or ordered from the catalogue. There will also be the ever-popular clearance event which will include extra special offers.
Farnborough International Exhibition and Conference Centre – more info at: www.screwfixlive.com
For more information, visit our website: www.firechiefglobal.com
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We are starting to plan our 2020 exhibitions and would love to invite all our followers to come down to the following shows. Fire Safety Event – April 2020 A […]
Housing associations cannot give “blanket assurances” that they will cover the cost of fire safety and cladding remediation work for leaseholders in the blocks they own, the chair of the G15 has said.
Speaking to Inside Housing, Helen Evans, who is also chief executive of Network Homes, said that due to the charitable status of housing associations, many may be left in a position where they are unable to pay, and costs of the work may be pushed onto leaseholders.
She said: “Associations will try and pursue redress against all and anyone who may have liability [for fire safety costs] when they arrive, but beyond that, we can’t give blanket assurance that we will pay.”
She added: “We can’t do that partly because of our charitable status. The needs of the boards of housing associations is to satisfy themselves that the expenditure they are meeting their charitable objectives, and it [paying for the costs] may be in some instances, but in other instances, it may not be.”
Ms Evans was talking to Inside Housing as part of its investigation looking at the implications of Advice Note 14, government guidance published in December which calls on building owners to check for and remove dangerous non-ACM cladding from the outside of their building.
This has resulted in housing associations across the country carrying out inspections of the materials in their external wall systems and, if found in breach of the advice note, carrying out work to remove it.
This has already cost associations millions of pounds and has eaten into surpluses. However, it is expected that this number could rise, with the G15 estimating that the full cost of these works for London-based associations potentially rising to as much as £6.9bn.
So far in several cases, housing associations have committed to covering the costs of remediation work, even for leaseholders and shared owners. In some cases, associations have been forced to decant residents from blocks and buy back shared ownership stakes.
Ms Evans has called for clarification of the government’s Advice Note 14 and says one potential route is for the government to underwrite the costs of work.
She said: “I think government is working with stakeholders to come up with a formula to unstick this, I don’t quite know what intentions are, but common sense says that the way you can unstick the market is change guidance or to ensure that the potential remediation costs are underwritten somehow.”
One of the knock-on effects of Advice Note 14 has been the impact it has had on leaseholders trying to sell properties, remortgage or, for shared owners, staircase.
Several surveyors and mortgage lenders are asking leaseholders to provide documentation to show that their building complies with Advice Note 14.
In many cases, housing associations and building owners need to carry out extensive inspections of the building so this documentation can be provided, and if found not to match up with the requirements in the advice note, lengthy and costly remediation work is needed.
Ms Evans said: “It is having an impact now, but it is probably varied between associations and the numbers are slowly growing. Obviously, this is a situation that potentially affects a great many people and we have to have a solution to it.”
She added that it could take a great number of years before the situation is rectified.
Analysis from the Labour this week, estimated that up to 600,000 people could be unable to sell their flats as a result of mortgage issues driven by the advice note.
Peabody is another housing association that has seen its residents hit by issues trying to sell as a result of Advice Note 14, with Inside Housing reporting on one of those people earlier this week.
In its response, a Peabody spokesperson said: “We’ve taken a methodical and proactive approach to remediation on our buildings that passed all the appropriate safety checks when they were completed.
“This does take time, and unfortunately the government’s ad-hoc publication of advice notes has created additional complexity and uncertainty for homeowners, lenders and purchasers.
“To help, the government could consolidate all 22 advice notes into a single consistent document to provide much-needed clarity for everyone. They could also commit to covering the costs of remediation on buildings that were previously compliant and signed off.”
If you’re looking for fire safety equipment for your home, visit: http://firechiefglobal.com/home-kitchen-fire-extinguishers-equipment
T: 0330 999 2233
E: sales@firedepot.co.uk
References: Inside Housing[related_products is_auto_added="1"]
Housing associations cannot give “blanket assurances” that they will cover the cost of fire safety and cladding remediation work for leaseholders in the blocks they own, the chair of the […]
The Firechief team would like to say Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all our followers, clients, customers, family & friends.
We would like to dedicate a short blog post to saying thank you for all the continued support in 2019. It has been a busy and exciting year for the Firechief team, but we could not have done it without your continued support.
Make sure you keep in touch in 2020 for exciting product launches, news and top tips on fire safety.
Merry Christmas and here’s to a prosperous 2020!
The Firechief Team
If you’re looking for fire safety equipment for your home, visit: www.firechiefglobal.com.
T: 0330 999 2233
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The Firechief team would like to say Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all our followers, clients, customers, family & friends. We would like to dedicate a short blog […]
Most house fires occur in the kitchen, 89% of these happened while the victims were in another room. This Christmas make sure you are aware of what is happening in the kitchen.
Nearly two thirds of all domestic fires happen because of cooking. The kitchen is the single most dangerous place in your home, and time and time again it is the same problems that cause fires. If you know about those problems, the chances are you will be less likely to have a fire in your kitchen.
- The most important point about cooking is to avoid being distracted. Most kitchen fires occur when people leave things unattended.
- If you’re called away from the cooker by the phone or by someone at the door, take pans off the heat. It’s the easiest thing in the world to forget about them.
- Don’t cook if you’re affected by alcohol or prescription drugs.
- Turn saucepan handles so they don’t stick out where they can be accidentally knocked and aren’t over another hot ring.
- Keep the oven door shut.
- Don’t put oven gloves or tea towels down on the cooker after you’ve used them.
- Always clean the grill pan after using it.
Christmas can be a busy time in any household, make sure you take care when cooking and keep small children out of the kitchen when it gets busy.
Make sure you take the time to ensure you have the necessary fire safety equipment in your home and test your smoke alarms when you are putting all your Christmas decorations up!
If you’re looking for fire safety equipment for your home, visit: www.firechiefglobal.com.
T: 0330 999 2233
E: sales@firedepot.co.uk
References: Inside Housing
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Most house fires occur in the kitchen, 89% of these happened while the victims were in another room. This Christmas make sure you are aware of what is happening in […]
This blog has been put together to ensure you double check your fire safety practices at work once the New Year sets in.
Who's responsible
You’re responsible for fire safety in business or other non-domestic premises if you’re:
- an employer
- the owner
- the landlord
- an occupier
- anyone else with control of the premises, for example a facilities manager, building manager, managing agent or risk assessor
- You’re known as the ‘responsible person’
If there’s more than one responsible person, you should work together to meet your responsibilities.
The Fire Safety Order also applies if you have paying guests, for example if you run a bed and breakfast, guesthouse or let a self-catering property.
Responsibilities
As the responsible person you must:
- carry out a fire risk assessment of the premises and review it regularly
- tell staff or their representatives about the risks you’ve identified
- put in place, and maintain, appropriate fire safety measures
- plan for an emergency
- provide staff information, fire safety instruction and training
You can read about how to make sure your premises are safe from fire.
Non-domestic premises
Non-domestic premises are:
- all workplaces and commercial premises
- all premises the public have access to
- the common areas of multi-occupied residential buildings
Shared premises
In shared premises it’s likely there’ll be more than one responsible person. You’ll need to co-ordinate your fire safety plans to make sure people on or around the premises are safe.
For common or shared areas, the responsible person is the landlord, freeholder or managing agent.
Alterations, extensions and new buildings
When building new premises or doing building work on existing premises, you must comply with building regulations. This includes designing fire safety into the proposed building or extension.
Read the fire safety building regulations.
If you’re looking for fire safety equipment for your home, visit: www.firechiefglobal.com.
T: 0330 999 2233
E: sales@firedepot.co.uk
References: GOV.UK
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This blog has been put together to ensure you double check your fire safety practices at work once the New Year sets in. Who’s responsible You’re responsible for fire safety […]
If you’re wondering what to get for Christmas, add a Fire Blanket onto your list!
It is well-known that we all spend a lot more time in the kitchen over to festive season, therefore, it is important to remember that the risk of fires increase this time of year. Having all the necessary fire safety equipment at hand will help you in the event of a potential fire.
A fire blanket is a safety device made from special woven fabric that is fire retardant and is designed to help extinguish small starting fires. They are particularly useful for smothering fat pan fires or for wrapping around a person whose clothing is on fire.
A fire blanket should be kept close to areas at higher risk of fire such as a kitchen or catering environment.
Smaller blankets are ideal for home kitchens or cafe environments that you may associate fire blankets with. Fire blankets can be mounted to a wall and be easily and quickly released.
If using the fire blanket to put out flames, remember to turn off the gas or electric supply, roll up your sleeves and cover your hands with the blanket before placing it on the flames. Feel free to contact us if you are unsure of any aspect. We will be happy to give you further information about the use of any of our products, including fire blankets.
If you’re looking for fire safety equipment for your home, visit: www.firechiefglobal.com.
T: 0330 999 2233
E: sales@firedepot.co.uk[related_products is_auto_added="1"]
If you’re wondering what to get for Christmas, add a Fire Blanket onto your list! It is well-known that we all spend a lot more time in the kitchen over […]
The Firechief Flamebuster is one of our best-selling products, find out everything you need to know about it here:
Fire extinguishers are extremely important as they are the most commonly used for of fire protection. In many cases they are a first line of defence and often contain or extinguish a fire, preventing costly damage. These often-overlooked devices can be a key component towards keeping you safe during a fire emergency.
Firechief Flamebuster Foam Aerosol is designed for use on:
- Class F (cooking fires involving oil and liquids)
- Class A (solid combustibles i.e. wood, paper, textiles, etc.)
- Class B Fires (non-cooking flammable liquids: paint, petrol, etc.).
The Flamebuster is the ideal aerosol fire extinguisher for use in domestic kitchens, boats, caravans and for taking on camping trips. You don’t need any training before using this fire extinguisher however it is always necessary to ensure that you are aware which types of fire it can be used for before using it.
It’s recommended that you only try to stifle a fire once everyone has safely evacuated the home and the fire department has been called. Once those two conditions have been met, ensure that the flames are small enough that you can still see and breathe in the room.
If you’re looking for fire safety equipment for your home, visit: www.firechiefglobal.com.
T: 0330 999 2233
E: sales@firedepot.co.uk
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The Firechief Flamebuster is one of our best-selling products, find out everything you need to know about it here: Fire extinguishers are extremely important as they are the most commonly […]