Fire Safety Matters Podcast

Brian interviews Stephen Adams (CEO of BAFE) in relation to BAFE having recently acquired the Fire Industry Association’s Awarding Organisation and forming FireQual Ltd to progress qualifications for the UK’s fire sector.

In addition, Mark chats with Warren Spencer (managing director at Blackhurst Budd Solicitors) who addresses a question posed by one of Fire Safety Matters’ readers and also interviews Andy Spence (sales director and general manager at Britannia Fire) about how standards can slow down innovation in the world of fire suppression.

Major news stories analysed include AMA Research’s report on the active fire protection market and Mark Hardingham’s appointment as the next chair of the National Fire Chiefs Council.

Brian interviews Tony Cash (President of the Rail Industry Fire Association) in relation to several key topics, among them how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted fire safety regimes on the railway network and the main changes to those safety regimes since the findings of the Kings Cross fire that occurred in 1987 were made public.

In addition, Mark chats with Tim Barker (UK Account Manager at FSi Ltd, the specialist fire protection systems manufacturer renowned for its expertise in fire stopping and compartmentation solutions) about the importance of using suitable passive fire protection systems and the new Building Safety Bill recently unveiled by the Government.

Major news stories analysed include insurer NFU Mutual urging commercial property owners not to neglect fire risk assessments during the pandemic and the 20% increase in smoking-related fires since the start of lockdown reported by the London Fire Brigade.

Episode 9 of the fortnightly Fire Safety Matters Podcast includes Brian interviewing Roy Wilsher (chair of the National Fire Chiefs Council) about Dame Judith Hackitt’s Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety, the draft Building Safety Bill and the Fire Safety Bill and also how the Fire and Rescue Service has responded to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mark chats with fire safety lawyer Warren Spencer concerning current legal developments impacting the sector and also interviews Adam Welton (Head of Sales at LAN Control Systems) to discover what’s happening in the sphere of fire alarm management solutions.

Major news stories analysed include the proposed pay rise for firefighters and Control Room staff and the BSI’s announcement in relation to a new national standards programme.

Episode 8 of the fortnightly Fire Safety Matters Podcast includes Brian chatting with Graham Ferris (General Manager at the Independent Fire Engineering and Distributors Association) on several core subjects, among them competency in fire safety work and the key challenges ahead for the sector. Mark hears all about the latest legal developments courtesy of fire safety lawyer Warren Spencer and also interviews Ray Puttock (Marketing Manager at EMS) on the benefits to be realised from the installation and use of wireless fire detection systems. The big news stories analysed include the Government’s publication of the draft Building Safety Bill and a major new strategic agreement forged between Western Business Media (the publisher of Fire Safety Matters) and the Fire Industry Association.

In Episode 7 of the fortnightly Fire Safety Matters Podcast, Brian interviews Dennis Davis (Executive Officer at the Fire Sector Federation) about numerous issues, among them Approved Document B, competency in the fire sector, the much-discussed Fire Safety Bill and, of course, the ongoing (and vital) work of the Federation itself.

As always, Mark hears from fire safety lawyer Warren Spencer who, this time around, focuses on fire inspections and a new service designed to limit liability under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. Also, C-TEC founder and director Andy Scott talks about BS 8629. The news round-up includes further commentary on the hotly-debated subject of cladding remediation work in the UK.

In Episode 6 of the fortnightly Fire Safety Matters Podcast, Brian chats with Peter Aldridge (General Manager at the National Association of Healthcare Fire Officers and also General Manager for Estates, Fire and Security at the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust) about the importance of CPD and the impact of COVID-19 on the role of fire safety managers within the NHS. Mark hears from fire safety lawyer Warren Spencer in relation to current legal issues and also interviews Craig Halford (Managing Director at Jactone Products) on product compliance and current developments at the fire safety and signage developer. This week’s breaking news stories include a study conducted by the Fire Door Inspection Scheme and a report from the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee on progress to date with cladding remediation work.

In Episode 5 of the fortnightly Fire Safety Matters Podcast, Brian interviews Niall Rowan (CEO at the Association for Specialist Fire Protection) about several major topics, among them the Fire Safety Bill and the future direction of travel when it comes to passive fire protection. As always, Mark chats with fire safety lawyer Warren Spencer and also hears from Nigel Ward (technical support specialist at FFE) on the latest developments in beam detection technology. This week’s breaking news stories include UKAS support for BAFE’s ‘Don’t Just Specify, Verify!’ campaign and hot work-induced fires in the construction sector.

On this episode of the Fire Safety Matters Podcast, Brian interviews Bob Docherty (Chairman of the Institute of Fire Safety Managers) on the key topic of accreditation, while Mark chats with fire safety lawyer Warren Spencer on HMO prosecutions under the Fire Safety Order and also Gary Craig (Sales Director at global fire protection business Advanced). Analysis of this week’s news includes an appraisal of the RIBA’s views on the restriction of combustible materials in buildings and the FIA’s soon-to-be-introduced online examinations.

In this episode, Brian and Mark discuss the second reading of the Fire Safety Bill, while lawyer Warren Spencer shares his thoughts on Third Party Certification as a statutory defence. This week's guests include BAFE Chief Executive Stephen Adams and Detector Testers Key Account Manager Mark Rivers.

This week, Brian and Mark interview Fire Industry Association CEO Ian Moore about the key topic of fire safety competency. The boys are also joined once again by leading lawyer Warren Spencer who talks about how the FSO is being used in relation to domestic premises. There's also an interview with Apollo Fire Detectors' Salvy Vittozzi, as well as coverage  and views on the biggest news stories in the sector.