Lessons from Grenfell: Why aren’t we learning?
February 26, 2021
In episode 8 of the Safety & Health Podcast, we hear from Gill Kernick about the pressing need to improve building safety culture post-Grenfell. We then look ahead to 2021 with some news from the Women in Safety & Health Network, plus hear an update on the One Percent Safer Foundation. Read More
London Fire Brigade must do more to fully address failings from Grenfell, says report
February 26, 2021
A report from Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) has found that the London Fire Brigade still has more work to do to fully address its failings from the Grenfell Tower fire. Read More
Housing Secretary pledges additional £3.5bn to tackle cladding crisis
February 10, 2021
Fund is in addition to the £1.6bn released for the Building Safety Fund, announced last year, and will be used to help remove unsafe cladding from high-rise buildings, but critics say the proposals fall short of what is needed. Read More
Government’s £30m Waking Watch Fund for fire alarm installations is open for applications
February 1, 2021
Designed to 'remove' or 'reduce' the need for interim safety measures at high-rise buildings with unsafe cladding, the UK Housing Secretary, Robert Jenrick, announced the £30 million Waking Watch Relief Fund is open for applications. Read More
Fire safety changes to sprinkler thresholds in Approved Document B come into force
December 7, 2020
Documents in Approved Document B, the documents relating to fire safety in the Building Regulations, were updated on 26th November to incorporate 2020 amendments. A key part of these changes is the trigger height to fit sprinklers in tall buildings has been reduced to 11m (typically four floors), from 30m (typically 10 floors). Read More
Delay in implementing Grenfell recommendations ‘abysmal’, says FPA
December 4, 2020
Jonathan O’Neill, Managing Director of the Fire Protection Association (FPA), has commented on the Lord’s amendment which requires Grenfell Inquiry recommendations to be implemented on the Fire Safety Bill. Read More
Fire Safety Bill receives amendments from House of Lords
December 1, 2020
On 19 March 2020, The Home Office introduced the new Fire Safety Bill, in an effort to improve fire safety in buildings in England and Wales. In September the Bill passed its first stage before becoming law, clearing the commons despite calls from politicians to make adjustments to ensure the recommendations of the Grenfell Tower inquiry’s first phase were implemented. Read More
40 schools a month hit by fires in the past year
November 30, 2020
A recent study from Zurich Municipal reveals 480 primary and secondary schools endured fires in 2019, a staggering 40 incidents every month. Zurich inspected 1,000 schools, finding two thirds were rated with ‘poor’ fire protection measures. Read More
False alarms account for 42% of FRS incidents in 2020
November 26, 2020
Fire and rescue incident statistics for England, have been released by the Home Office for the year ending June 2020, containing statistics about incidents attended by the services (FRS). Read More
FPA launches Know Your Building campaign as large fire losses average £650k
November 9, 2020
Launching its Know Your Building campaign, data from the Fire Protection Association (FPA) reveals the huge financial impact of fires on businesses and services in the UK over a ten-year period. Read More