Fire Safety Standards - News

A waking watch is a temporary fire safety measure used when a building has significant fire risks, such as unsafe cladding, inadequate compartmentation, or no building-wide alarm system. It replaces the standard “Stay Put” approach with a “Simultaneous Evacuation” policy, ensuring occupants can be alerted and evacuated quickly in the event of a fire. Waking watch duties typically include: Constant Patrolling: Trained personnel continuously patrol all floors and the b...

Fire protection specialist WAGNER will be presenting its portfolio for rail transport at this year's TRAKO in Gdansk from September 23 to 26, 2025. TRAKO is considered one of Europe's major trade fairs for traffic systems and railway infrastructure and offers a central platform for international exchange on current developments in the industry. At booth B01, WAGNER Rail GmbH will present innovative fire protection solutions for the rolling stock. The company will demonstrate how its pioneeri...

In Los Angeles, the forefront of fire safety is governed by Chief’s Regulation 4, commonly referred to as the Reg 4 Fire Safety Test. This critical test is required to be performed regularly, though the frequency varies depending on the building type and the specific fire protection systems in place. Understanding the importance of the Reg 4 test is essential for maintaining compliance and ensuring the safety of occupants and property. Understanding the Reg 4 Fire Safety Test The R...

Ahead of the much anticipated review of BB100 for England, British Automatic Fire Sprinkler Association Ltd’s (BAFSA) sprinkler ambassador and the driving force behind the website, Sprinkler Saves UK, has compiled a report for the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) to form part of the industry’s case to Government to make sprinklers mandatory in all new schools in England as they are in Scotland and Wales. The report details case studies where sprinklers have actuated having an imp...

At Midland Fire, they’re committed to delivering safe, compliant, and professional fire and life safety services to every client they work with. That’s why they’re pleased to share that they are now a registered member of Reset, a contractor and competence management solution that supports health and safety compliance across the UK. What is Reset? Reset is a digital compliance solution designed for estates and facilities managers, contractors, and safety professionals....

Only when an organization has identified the project’s requirements should it begin to engage with the relevant fire-stopping manufacturer, like Quelfire, to identify the available tested solutions for requirements. Once there is a portfolio of details, the designer can then gather all the information and communicate it to the supply chain. This part of the process is paramount in ensuring that all the relevant, competent trades are not only happy with the design but can also efficiently...

For care home owners and managers, fire safety is one of the most critical parts of that responsibility. Lives depend on it. In recent projects, such as the installation of a new Category L1 fire alarm system at Lavender Lodge Nursing Home, Midland Fire’s fire alarm installers worked in a live environment, carefully planning to keep residents safe while ensuring full compliance with the latest fire safety standards. This reflects the realities many care homes face – balancing resid...

New Government data of fire and rescue service incidents analyzed by HETAS for Chimney Fire Safety Week (CFSW), reveals that Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service responded to 181 chimney fires over the last year, the most out of all counties in England.  Dorset and Wiltshire follow in close second with a combined 113 chimney fires; Hereford and Worcester are third with a combined 95; North Yorkshire follows in fourth with 90; and Norfolk fifth with 86 chimney fires reported between...

The Fire Standards Board (FSB) is delighted to announce the launch of two new Fire Standards - Fire Control and Communications & Engagement. The development of the Fire Control Standard was driven by recent major incident events, such as Grenfell and the Manchester Arena bombing. It addresses the fundamental and strategic role that Fire Control plays from initially receiving the first contact through to the very close of an incident. Standardizing and refining This Fire Standard’s...

Gavin Skelly, CEO of growing fire safety industry body - Fire Aware, spoke of the moral and behavioral changes in culture needed to improve standards at the Scotland Housing Leaders’ Summit. He called for unity of all of those working across the entire fire safety supply chain to consider their moral responsibility, including national and local housing associations, local councils, and developers across the UK. Cultural change of the built environment To change the culture of the built...

Using the highest-rated fire performance cables will help firefighters in the event of a fire in some of the largest new buildings being developed, says pioneering cable supplier AEI Cables. AEI Cables has been highlighting the need for the use of Category 3 fire performance cables, which are designed to withstand heat and flames for up to 120 minutes, helping to protect equipment, property and even lives, supporting critical safety circuits in tall buildings, office spaces, hospitals, shopping...

Fire doors play a huge role in fire safety and yet they are the most commonly overlooked aspect of buildings. The Grenfell Tower Inquiry in the Phase 1 report noted that “Fire doors play an essential role in preventing or inhibiting the spread of smoke and toxic gases and in preserving the effective compartmentation of buildings.” And yet, many buildings do not have fire doors that meet the required standard. Fire Safety (England) Regulations Subsequently, as of 23rd January 20...

The most important thing to consider with a new build, whether its purpose is apartments or offices, is safety. Things can go wrong quickly, so preparation and prevention are key. In case of a fire, fire extinguisher installation is crucial for defusing a situation before it becomes an emergency. Especially when many new builds are tower blocks, the risk of being unable to evacuate safely becomes greater. Fire extinguisher regulations The Regulation Reform (fire safety) Order 2005 covers...

Fire doors play a critical role in preventing the spread of fire and smoke within commercial and residential buildings. They are specifically designed and constructed to resist fire for a specific period, providing valuable time for people to evacuate the building safely. However, fire doors are only effective if they are installed correctly and maintained regularly. This article is going to explore the importance of fire door maintenance, why regular inspections are vital for fire door safe...

Fire safety in care homes is extremely important as these environments involve some of society’s most vulnerable people, some of whom may have health conditions that make things like evacuations much more difficult. That’s why it’s imperative to have the right regulations in place when it comes to fire safety. The risk of fire is present pretty much everywhere, but care homes carry their own unique risks. Government statistics show that there are, on average, 388 UK care home...

The landlord of a block of flats is considered the Responsible Person, who in the event of a fire, has to ensure the safety of all the occupants of the block of flats. And while people may be aware that an up-to-date fire risk assessment is a legal requirement for this type of building, they might not be aware that there are actually four types of fire risk assessments that landlords need to consider. Here are the four types of fire risk assessment and when and why users might need to implem...

Luca Fiorentini, Director of TECSA, has been appointed ‘voting member as special expert’ of the NFPA ‘Spaceports (SPA-AAA)’ technical committee responsible for NFPA 461 ‘Standard for Fire Protection and Life Safety at Spaceport and Support Facilities’. This further enhances their participation in NFPA activities. Tecsa would like to remind users that Mr. Fiorentini is also a member of: ‘Fire risk assessment methods (FIR-AAA)’ committee responsi...

A fire risk assessment is the first step in the fire safety plan. Let’s go over why users need one for their business, what they involve and who can help them get it sorted. Birmingham is a dense urban environment, with buildings that range from historical houses to modern high-rises, and as a city it poses unique challenges when it comes to fire safety. That means that when choosing a contractor to carry out the fire risk assessment, one should look for one with experience in the area,...

Ship fires are on the rise, posing serious risks to crews, vessels, and operations. Ensuring the firefighting equipment meets the latest safety standards is not just essential — it’s lifesaving. The latest update to the Marine Equipment Directive (MED), (EU) 2024/1975, mandates significant changes to the approval and use of firefighting suits onboard European vessels. Here's what they need to know to stay compliant and protect the crew. Key regulation updates From August 20...

Growing fire safety industry organization - Fire Aware aims to change the culture of the built environment sector, by introducing a moral code of conduct via a series of charters designed to influence how member companies behave in upholding their duty of care. The expanding industry body is pioneering the way by focusing on the moral responsibility of all those working in the fire safety supply chain, including designers, developers, asset owners, managers, and other stakeholders. Number of o...

A fire alarm’s a fire alarm, right? Wrong. While the basics are the same – a fire is detected and an alarm sounds – there are several elements that make a commercial and a domestic fire alarm system very different from one another. Commercial fire alarm systems are far more advanced and regulated than a standard fire alarm system found in someone’s home. The risks at a commercial setting are often substantially higher than at a domestic one, meaning the level of protecti...

Johnson Controls marks the one-year anniversary of Autocall as it introduces the brand of proven fire detection systems to the Canadian market. By bringing Autocall to Canada, Johnson Controls is providing market access to the same high-quality, proven fire detection solutions already available in the U.S. and Middle East. Backed by the support and dedication of Autocall Authorized Distributors, end-users of Autocall systems benefit from advanced fire detection and industry-pioneering, state-...

The latest updates to UL 268, Standard for Safety of Smoke Detectors for Fire Alarm Systems, call for significant improvements to smoke detection technology. Set to take effect in June 2021, the new UL 268 7th edition standard requires smoke sensors, detectors, and smoke alarms to pass more than 215 new or revised performance tests, including three new challenging tests: a cooking nuisance alarm test, a flaming polyurethane foam test, and a smoldering polyurethane test. To satisfy these requ...

While building fire and life safety codes are typically viewed as set in stone, the reality is not quite as concrete. As facilities add unique design elements to achieve aesthetic or functional goals, they also give rise to fire safety considerations that fall outside established code requirements. In this episode, Rodger Reiswig speaks with Chris Jelenewicz, technical director at the Society of Fire Prevention Engineers (SFPE), about the growing use of performance-based design to address thes...

Henkel Adhesive Technologies India is excited to share the launch of its new automotive warehouse in Chakan, strategically located in one of India’s key automotive hubs. This built-to-suit facility is designed specifically for automotive manufacturing customers, ideally suited for Just-in-Time ‏(JIT) delivery models. SAP traceability The warehouse offers cutting-edge capabilities for supplier integration and prototyping innovation. It will now manage non-standard prototype mater...

The fire risk assessment is sorted, the fire alarm systems are installed and the staff are briefed on emergency and evacuation plans. What next? Now they have to make sure that the fire alarm system maintenance is carried out regularly with planned preventative maintenance servicing to keep everything in working order. Why fire alarm maintenance is so important Because what’s the use in having a state-of-the-art fire alarm system if it isn’t working properly? Neglecting the upkeep...

AdvanTec Marine is pleased to announce a major milestone: both its Canadian manufacturing facility in British Columbia and its Oregon, USA facility are now certified to produce fire-rated marine doors. With the Canadian site receiving MED Wheel Mark certification — making it the only such facility in Canada — AdvanTec now proudly holds fire-rated door certifications on both sides of the border.  Commitment to safety and innovation New chapter as AdvanTec strengthens its posit...

Globally renowned provider of testing, inspection, and certification services, SOCOTEC UK and Ireland has announced the acquisition of United Kingdom Testing and Certification (UKTC), a renowned independent fire testing laboratory based in East Kilbride. The strategic acquisition significantly expands SOCOTEC’s capabilities in the critical field of fire safety and compliance, while reinforcing the company’s growing presence in Scotland, with its second acquisition in the country, fo...

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) is urging residents to be extra vigilant about the risk of fires in their homes following a spate of fires in Sydney’s south-west. FRNSW crews have responded to at least 10 fires in houses, units, garages and garden sheds in the south-western suburbs in the past few weeks. Some were caused by electrical faults whilst others were started by cooking left unattended on kitchen stoves. Spike in residential fires The spike in residential fires has prompted FRNSW...

When a fire or emergency situation sparks up, every second counts. Voice alarm systems are a key part of the evacuation plan for many businesses, helping get people to safety as quickly as possible. But what exactly are voice alarm systems and emergency voice communication systems, and are they one of the businesses that needs them? They’re here to answer those questions, as well as giving them all the information on how they at Midland Fire can help get the business s...