Fire Extinguishers, Fire Safety and Personal Protection Products

The difference between water and water additive extinguishers
What are Water Additives in Fire Extinguishers Chemical additives (like butyldiglycol, pronounced butyl-di-gly-col) when mixed with water increase the effectiveness of a water fire extinguisher by up to 300%. Water additive fire extinguishers, often referred to by the brand name of Hydrospray, are smaller and lighter than standard water fire extinguishers for the same fire rating. A 3 litre Water additive extinguisher should have the same 13A rating of an ordinary 9 litre water extinguisher.... read more

Construction Sites under the spotlight
The fire performance of modern methods of construction used in timber frame buildings came under the spotlight at an insurance industry event earlier this month.  The insurance industry has a pretty significant influence on what can and can't be built given that being refused insurance would make the building unsellable. The RISCAuthority ("The Risk Insight, Strategy and Control Authority", formerly InFireS), who organized the Seminar, represents many UK insurers with a remit to research and ... read more

The Law of the land
I have spent some time of late looking at UK Legislation relating to the storage of hazardous goods so that we can better inform our customers on the new range of Safety Storage Cabinets and Security Chests recently added to our portfolio. In doing so I chanced upon an illuminating website  www.statutelaw.gov.uk that lists all the Primary Statutes of Law enacted in the UK over the years and a good many Secondary Statutory Instruments (sub Laws I guess) that also apply to the immensely toleran... read more

Storage of Hazardous Substances
Much has already been said in these pages regarding Fire Risk Assessments but the legal requirements for Risk Assessments in your place of work doesn't stop there. Regulations The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002, also requires you to ensure chemicals and dangerous substances stored, used or sold from the workplace are stored and handled in a way that minimise the attendant risk to employees and visitors of exposure to these substances. You must also ensure ... read more

Are Universities Safe?
A so called "secret" database held by the grandly named "Higher Education Funding Council for England" was published in the Guardian newspaper this Monday. It revealed that scores of University halls of residence and other buildings including lecture theatres, were classified as "at serious risk of major failure or breakdown" and "unfit for purpose". In the most severe cases, buildings were deemed totally inoperable because they contravene fire regulations. The right to publish the database h... read more