Fire Industry News for September 2025

Fire doors play a crucial role in preventing the spread of fire and smoke within a building. They can mean the difference between life and death in the event of an emergency. However, many fire doors fail to meet the required standards due to user errors. In this article, Total Fire Group will highlight some common mistakes and emphasize the importance of regular inspections and fire risk assessments. Understanding Fire Doors Fire doors are designed to restrict the spread of fire and smoke fr...

The UK government has put a fire safety reform program in place aimed at making sure the country’s residents are safe from fire hazards. As part of this program, new fire safety regulations are set to come into force in October 2023. In this article, Total Fire Group will discuss changes to fire safety and how they can help. Understanding Phase 3 of the Fire Safety Reform Program Phase 3 of the fire safety reform program builds upon the progress made in Phases 1 and 2. This program...

The Metropolitan Police Service has not learned enough from its failings in the case of serial killer Stephen Port, and it could happen again, a new report has found. An inspection of the Metropolitan Police Service’s response to lessons from the Stephen Port murders Stephen Port murdered four young men in East London between June 2014 and September 2015 – but despite the obvious similarities, the Met failed to recognize the deaths were connected. Training and guidance for off...

As the cost-of-living crisis continues to impact businesses across the country, many are seeking ways to reduce expenses. However, it’s crucial to avoid compromising on fire safety, while adapting to the economic challenges. This article will outline key considerations for businesses as they make changes to minimize costs, while maintaining the highest level of fire safety. Understanding the Issue of a Fire Risk Assessment The foundation of any fire safety strategy is a comprehensive&nb...

Recent studies have revealed alarming statistics – only 40% of tenants feel safe in their homes due to fire safety concerns. This article aims to provide an overview of these findings, highlight the importance of landlord fire risk assessments, and discuss the latest government regulations that aim to improve fire safety. Overview of Findings A recent study conducted by Zutec has found that a staggering 60% of UK tenants do not feel safe in their homes for fear of fire risk. This alarmi...

A recent fire at the Midhurst Hotel in Sussex has raised concerns around fire safety in hotels. This has prompted hotel owners and managers to review their fire safety policies and procedures. The incident, which occurred in March 2023, involved a fire that broke out in a guest room and quickly spread. This 400-year-old hotel was housing 30 people, including Ukrainian refugees. Fortunately, all guests and staff were safely evacuated, but the damage to the building was extensive,...

Sussex Police needs to improve how it keeps the public safe and reduces crime, the police inspectorate has said. His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) graded Sussex Police’s performance across nine areas of policing and found the force was ‘good’ in two areas, ‘adequate’ in four areas, ‘requires improvement’ in one area, and ‘inadequate’ in two areas. Sussex Police’s work in preventi...

Gwent Police needs to improve the service it provides to the public in answering and attending calls and identifying vulnerable callers, the police inspectorate has said. His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) graded Gwent Police’s performance across eight areas of policing and found the force was ‘good’ in two areas, ‘adequate’ in three areas, ‘requires improvement’ in two areas, and ‘inadequate&...

The police response to online child sexual abuse and exploitation is too often leaving vulnerable children at risk – and allowing offenders to escape justice, a new report has found. His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) found that while officers are generally good at dealing with very high-risk cases, forces are often not properly responding to allegations or concerns about suspects, leading to unacceptable delays and missed opportuniti...

Since the beginning of the pandemic, remote and hybrid working has become increasingly popular, and the increase in these work practices is set to continue. A recent survey found that a huge 52% of workers now combine working remotely with being on site. With this, however, comes added fire safety risks – it’s likely that many offices and buildings will have far fewer staff on-site at any one time, resulting in office moves and layout changes, and some may now even be completely uno...

Staff reported allegations of bullying, harassment, and discrimination in every fire and rescue service in England – and recent headlines about misconduct may be just the tip of the iceberg, the fire inspectorate has warned. A new report from His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) calls for appropriate background checks on all firefighters and staff, and new misconduct standards to be introduced, including a national barred list and new m...

As stated in the 2021- 2025 strategy, HMICFRS is committed to capitalizing on the independent insight and learning and sharing this with the sectors they inspect. As part of this, they are pleased to announce the launch of the practice bank – an innovative online platform developed by the College of Policing with support from HMICFRS. Development of the practice bank This has been designed as a public-facing shared space and provides information on tactics, knowledge and advice acr...

Cleveland Police has improved in some areas but further changes are needed to keep people safer and reduce crime, the police inspectorate has said. His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) graded Cleveland Police’s performance across ten areas of policing and found the force was ‘good’ in one area, ‘adequate’ in four areas, ‘requires improvement’ in three areas and ‘inadequate’ in two areas....

North Yorkshire must make improvements to help keep people safe and reduce crime, the police inspectorate has said. His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) graded North Yorkshire Police’s performance across eight areas of policing and found the force was ‘inadequate’ in one area, ‘requires improvement’ in four areas, ‘adequate’ in two areas and ‘good’ in one area. Performance of North Yorksh...

HMICFRS has published the latest Value for Money profiles, which provide comparative data on a wide range of policing activities for each police force in England and Wales. Value for Money profiles help forces make better decisions by identifying areas where improvements can be made in cost and performance. The VfM profiles include data provided by police services from 2012/13 to 2021/22. Data is presented as a series of interactive charts and graphs, allowing users to explore and tailor report...

Staffordshire Police has improved in some areas but still has more to do, the police inspectorate has said. Staffordshire Police: PEEL Cause of concern revisit letter. Last year, His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary moved Staffordshire Police into an enhanced monitoring process, known as Engage, because of concerns about the force’s performance. Crime prevention advice HMICFRS revisited the force last month to review its progress, specifically in improving the service Hi...

Greater Manchester Police is not providing custody services well enough, and some important areas of custody now require urgent attention, a report has found. Report on an inspection visit to police custody suites in Greater Manchester His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) found that Greater Manchester Police has a clear governance structure to provide strategic oversight of custody services. Six mai...

South Yorkshire Police has been congratulated for its performance in keeping people safe and reducing crime, the police inspectorate has said. His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) graded South Yorkshire Police’s performance across nine areas of policing and found the force was ‘outstanding’ in three areas, ‘good’ in five areas, and ‘adequate’ in one area. HMICFRS said the outstanding areas included p...

The shift towards remote and hybrid working models is undoubtedly here to stay, and while it’s seen as a positive change for employees, it’s also had a significant impact on the fire safety of commercial office buildings. Even the simplest of buildings will require some form of a fire alarm system, and if a building has a fire alarm installed, whether it is occupied or vacant, the system must be regularly maintained. Just because a building is either vacant or not occupied to cap...

The start of a new year is a great time for businesses to review their fire safety protocols and ensure that they are in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. By taking the following steps, users can ensure that their facilities are safe for employees and customers, and minimize the risk of fire-related accidents and damage. The first step in ensuring compliance with fire safety regulations is to review a company’s current policies and procedures. Look for areas that may...

New fire safety regulations will come into effect from 23rd January 2023 relating to buildings that contain more than one residence. The duties in these Regulations supplement those imposed by the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. These new regulations relate to buildings in England that comprise two or more domestic premises (including the residential parts of mixed-use buildings), including blocks of flats (whether purpose-built or converted from another type of building, such as a...

If anyone thinks that just because the building is empty that fire safety, and in particular fire risk assessments, is no longer a concern, they would be very wrong. Despite the fact that the building is empty, the same legal obligations apply for an empty building as for an occupied one, and that responsibility is with the present owner until another takes over. Every year, many unoccupied properties fall victim to fire damage. While users might think that the risk of fire is significantly les...

Fire compartmentation is defined as: “A building or part of a building comprising one or more rooms, spaces, or stories constructed to prevent the spread of fire to or from another part of the same building or an adjoining building.” This means that certain buildings, particularly those where there is a sleeping risk such as care homes, hotels, and flats, are designed and constructed in such a way as to prevent the spread of fire and smoke from one part of the building to another,...

Fire protection, prevention, and suppression systems are all fundamental parts of fire safety. However, while these systems all work together to create a holistic fire safety plan, it’s important to understand the difference between the three. Fire protection systems are designed to protect a building’s occupants and minimize the damage associated with fire. It’s worth noting that fire protection doesn’t necessarily stop a fire from occurring in the first place. Instead,...

A hotel owner has been ordered to pay £50,000 and has received custodial sentences, suspended for two years, after he continued to take guests despite being issued with a prohibition notice for serious fire safety failings. London Fire Brigade inspectors visited The Bank Hotel on Ripple Road in Barking in May 2018, where they found fire safety deficiencies, including a lack of fire doors, no smoke detectors, and no fire alarm system. The deficiencies were significant enough to warrant a...

Bronto Skylift and the Ministry of Home Affairs in the city of Hamburg, Germany, have signed an agreement regarding a delivery of a 70-meter F70RPX aerial rescue platform for the Hamburg fire brigade. The F70RPX combines the ability to reach up to high-rise buildings in the Hamburg skyline with the versatility of reaching up-and-over obstacles, like roofs and parapet walls. The spacious rescue cage allows space and capacity for the fire crew, paramedics, and the needed gear in various firefight...

The UK Government has announced the arrival of new fire safety regulations, set to come into force in January of 2023. The Fire Safety Act 2022 (FSA) is not set to replace the Fire Safety Order 2005 (FSO), rather it is designed to expand and clarify some existing points. The FSA affects buildings that contain more than one residence, and clarifies that the arrangements set out in the FSO apply to the entire structure of a building, the external walls, and any doors that separate domestic and c...

A recent survey has revealed that 93% of commercial fires were extinguished by portable fire extinguishers. British Fire Consortium (BFC), Fire Industry Association (FIA), Independent Fire Engineering & Distributors Association (IFEDA), and UK Fire Association (UKFA) spoke to businesses across the UK that had experienced fires and it was discovered that the number of fires being successfully extinguished by portable fire extinguishers has increased from 80% in 2003 to 93% in 2021. Signifi...

Fire risk management is an integral part of owning any commercial business and it goes without saying that fire safety is crucial when it comes to housing associations. Housing associations have legal requirements to ensure reasonable fire safety standards in their homes and must protect the health and safety of residents and take all reasonable steps to prevent and control the risk from fire. Every home within a housing association must meet building regulations and fire safety requirements....

Fire risk management software has the ability to make the fire risk assessment process as efficient and seamless as possible. Now, businesses can allocate jobs, prioritize and complete actions, as well as stay up to date with the fire safety of their building or buildings. Specially designed fire risk management software helps users manage and maintain various sites and the operations at those sites. Implementing this software has the ability to transform the way they conduct their processes, i...