Join our Mailing List!
Sign up to receive our regular emails with details of new products and special offers.
Sign up to receive our regular emails with details of new products and special offers.
In what has been hailed as a landmark decision in Fire Safety the Welsh Assembly members voted on Wednesday 27th Jan this year to make the installation of automatic fire sprinklers compulsory in all new build homes in Wales.
The euphoria amongst the proponents may well be short lived as the Welsh vote is only the first step and now needs to be formally approved in both houses of Westminster before the legislation can receive Royal assent. Allocating parliamentary time this side of the General Election seems highly unlikely and the new incoming Administration may not be so keen on supporting such legislation.
Not that I am in any way against the wider use of automatic sprinklers but I do see some difficulties in enforcing any legislation. The powerful construction industry lobby may well have something to say as it will add a few thousand pounds to building costs. There is also the issue of ensuring regular maintenance and testing which is essential with Automatic Sprinkler Systems and will represent an ongoing annual cost for the householder.
Private and self build home builders could well argue that other equally effective options are available in the form of smoke alarms and the more versatile domestic friendly fire extinguishers like the ABF, that are already reducing the incidence of deaths and injuries from domestic fires. The figures bear this out with official statistics showing sustained year on year falls in death and injuries from domestic fires.
I also think Ronnie King, vice-chairman of the National Fire Sprinkler Network was letting enthusiasm get the better of his judgement in claiming the move would lead to making Wales the safest place in which to live in the United Kingdom. He went so far as comparing Residential Sprinklers to the installation of air bags in cars and added that “in the course of time fire deaths in Wales will be almost eliminated, and the horrific burns injuries reduced by up to 80% because of this wonderful visionary decision taken by the Welsh Assembly government.”
Now the current housing stock in Wales according to the latest Government statistics is 1.4million homes or thereabouts virtually none of which have, or will ever have sprinklers fitted. New house builds are running at around 5000 per year and demolitions at less than 100 a year. You don’t need to do the detailed math’s to see that “in the course of time” to reduce injuries by 80% will take a very, very long time indeed to achieve with sprinklers alone. Centuries in fact. It is akin to saying the World will end on Wednesday without specifying which Wednesday.
With the exception of multi occupancy complexes – where careless or reckless homeowners can put other residents at risk – legislation is arguably not the answer. A continuance of the high profile fire safety awareness campaigns, the free smoke alarm scheme and the low cost of alternative fire safety equipment will continue to make our homes a safer place. Promoting the undoubted benefits of sprinkler systems should obviously continue, but on the basis of choice and affordability rather than law enforcement.
Tony
It may be a fairly tenuous semantic link to Fire and Safety but yesterday saw the passing of Burns Night. This is not a ritual setting fire to the Scottish nations indispensable kitchen accessory the chip pan, but a celebration of the birth of Robert (nay Rabbie) Burns, Scotland’s most celebrated son, poet and lyricist.
Not withstanding my role as a dispenser of the accumulated wisdom of fire protection and personal safety it cannot hurt to offer some insight into this 200 year old tradition.
Burns Night is to all intents a second national day in Scotland and is now celebrated on the 25th January with Burns suppers held, not just in Scotland, but all around the world. It is thought Burns Night is now more widely observed than Saint Andrew’s Day the Scots official national day which falls on 30th November.
It is regrettable that in England our multicultural obsessed, politically correct, minority appeasing establishment denies us the pleasure of celebrating St Georges Day as our National ENGLISH day. They have no sense of being and are all Scots anyway.
The Scots, in keeping with the Welsh and Irish have no such phobias at flying their National flag. The first Burns supper was held in 1802 at The Mother Club in Greenock on 29 January on what they thought was his birthday, barely 5 years after his untimely death in July 1796 as the age of 37. In 1803 they discovered from the Parish records that his actual birth date was 25 January 1759 and Burns suppers have been held on that day ever since.
The basic format of a Burns Supper has barely changed over the years so if you attend one this is what you can expect. It starts with a general welcome and announcements, followed with the Selkirk Grace. After the grace, comes the piping in (that’s bag piping) and cutting of the haggis, to the refrain of Burns’ famous poem “Address To a Haggis” that culminates in cutting the haggis open.
I warn you that all this is spoken in the 18th century Scottish dialect so unless you are of Celtic persuasion or a Burns aficionado you will understand little. The first verse goes:
Fair fa’ your honest, sonsie face,
Great chieftain o’ the puddin’-race!
Aboon them a’ ye tak yer place,
Painch, tripe, or thairm:
Weel are ye wordy o’ a grace
As lang’s my airm.
The event usually allows for people to start eating just after the haggis is presented. This is followed by the reading called the “immortal memory”, an overview of Burns’ life and work. In full blown versions other often less austere speeches are given including by the “lassies” but the event usually concludes with the singing of Auld Lang Syne also penned by the Scottish Bard.
Haggis by the way is quite tasty despite containing minced sheep’s ‘pluck’ (heart, liver and lungs), with onion, oatmeal, suet, spices and salt, all of which is traditionally simmered for hours in a sheep’s stomach. These days a synthetic edible casing is often used. More appealing perhaps is that Haggis is traditionally washed down with Whisky.
So there you go. Burns Night in 500 words. If Haggis is not your thing Sausage and Chips is the poor man’s version. That brings me back to setting fire to the chip pan and a chance to plug our new Class F (ABF) Fire extinguisher!!! Well what did you expect?
Tony
A news item that by chance landed on my desk set the old blood boiling again. Now anyone reading this blog will be familiar with Fire Risk Assessments, the central plank of the new Fire Safety Legislation – i.e. the LAW.
I have repeatedly warned that the Fire Inspection Officers are on the hunt for Businesses that fail to complete and act on a Risk Assessment, for which the business must foot the bill. Some pretty heavy fines have been imposed on the non believers.
The Legislation has been in force since 2005 and a period of grace was purportedly allowed for Businesses to catch up with compliance which includes private landlords particularly of multi-occupancy dwellings – or Flats to you and me. It seems there is one law for business and one for ….. er……well ……. the lawmakers or at least the public sector.
It is not so long ago that I reported a private landlord had been ordered to pay over £20,000 in fines and costs after pleading guilty to breaches of Fire Safety Legislation.
Then I read last week that leaseholders who had purchased property in Tower blocks operated by Southwark Council were being asked to pay for “crucial fire safety works” identified from a “recent” Fire Risk Assessment. Council tenants living in the same blocks on the other hand are to pay nothing. And it is not a small sum either at an average of £10k per property.
Apart from the obvious and unfair discrimination the question I have is that as the Council has had as much time as any business to conduct a Fire Risk Assessment, had the buildings previously been cleared as safe under the new or even the old legislation? If they had been cleared as safe how come it is going to cost £4million to bring them into compliance? If not why has it taken over 4 years to conduct a Fire Risk Assessment? No business would get away with this.
You may recall the fire last year at Lakanal House tower block in nearby Camberwell that claimed six lives. The official report on this tragedy is still awaited but it seems obvious to conclude the building was a fire risk. If this proves to be the case, will the Landlord aka the Council be fined for non compliance under the RRO? I doubt it.
The unfortunate leaseholders in Southwark are opposing the charge for fire safety improvements and I wish them luck but I also wonder if Councils have the same obligation as mere mortals to provide HIP’s for the properties they sell? The owners could have a case for misrepresentation as they were clearly not told at the point of purchase that the fire safety provisions were inadequate and they were buying a potential fire trap.
For more information on Fire Risk Assessments visit our Advice pages or go to www.communities.gov.uk/fire/firesafety/firesafetylaw/aboutguides/ If you need some help in completing a Risk Assessment take a look at our self help tutorials and manuals. We can also arrange a professional Fire Risk Assessment and Action Report.
Tony
It is fair to say that most Brits are now just about full to the back teeth with the winter weather. It has dominated every news channel for days on end and all small talk seems to start with a comment on the state of the snow, how cold it is or how long it will last.
The effects of the snow on our daily lives has exposed the more bizarre consequences of our risk averse society. Schools closed because of the risk that teachers and children may hurt themselves getting to school. Even if the school is open the kids can’t play outside for the same reason and snow ball fights are banned. It seems everything we now do must be first subject to a Risk Assessment. In practice a life cannot be lived without exposure to risk. I actually think taking risks is what drives our progress.
Of course in the fire protection industry we are only too aware of the term Risk Assessment since the introduction of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order (RRO). In some respects this legislation was a step forward in consolidating the myriad pieces of fire safety legislation that existed previously.
The fundamental difference is that the legal responsibility for fire safety within business premises is now firmly in the court of the business owner or “responsible person” as defined under the Act. It is not a defence against non compliance to claim you don’t have the first idea about fire safety. The basics are pretty straightforward common sense.
There are five key steps in conducting a fire risk assessment:
1. Identify the fire hazards – how could a fire start? For a fire to start it needs a fuel, heat and oxygen. Identify any possible source of ignition and combustible materials. Mostly you can assume oxygen is present unless you operate in a vacuum!!
2. Consider who may be a risk - your employees, visitors, and particularly people vulnerable such as children, the elderly and disabled.
3. Assess and act – Based on these considerations and findings, assess the risks and take action to remove and reduce any fire risks. Typically his may involve adding a fire extinguisher, smoke alarm or exit sign, replacing obsolete equipment or better housekeeping.
4. Record, plan and train – Maintain a record of the risks identified (legally required for businesses employing 5 or more) together with the actions taken to reduce or remove them. Produce a fire action plan of how to prevent fires and safety procedures should a fire start. Train staff so they know what to do in the event of a fire and if necessary provide training in the use of fire safety equipment.
5. Review – Review your risk assessment on a regular basis to ensure it remains up to date with any changes made to your organisation.
If in carrying out a risk assessment you decide, as the responsible person, that due to the type or complexity of the business, you just don’t have the necessary skills, you can always appoint an external competent person to do it for you. Most reputable fire safety equipment suppliers offer this service including Fire and Safety Centre.
The bottom line is that a Fire Risk Assessment just has to be done to comply with the Law.
Tony
Bringing in the New Year always cheers me up. Unusually for us, we had a quiet night in with the Tele and a bottle or two but nevertheless it was still satisfying to count down Big Ben and know we had turned the celestial corner and were heading back into Spring. (I know technically it was the 21st Dec, but for me New Year is a better marker)
Not like it feels anything other than Polar outdoors. Most of northern Europe and great swathes of North America are also enduring their worst winter in decades and if the weather forecasters are right – (often a contradiction in terms) – there is a lot more of the same to come.
In my village there are patches of ice that fell as snow over two weeks ago still covering pavements and paths making it treacherous under foot, particularly for the elderly. The NHS has also reported a massive rise in A & E admissions with ankle and wrist fractures from falls and the AA and RAC are stretched to the limit with car accidents.
Unfortunately these days you are counted lucky if your Council or Transport Agency salt and grit the main roads and the days are long gone when they cleared footpaths. If Local Authorities had DNA then Service Delivery would always spiral down one helix whilst the cost of diminishing Service Delivery spiralled up the other.
The only solution when it comes to personal safety is self help, self awareness and consideration for others. If you are fit and able volunteer to clear access paths and walkways for older and less agile neighbours. Clear the pavement outside your own property and chances are others will follow suit. By the way it is far easier to clear fresh snow before it gets compacted or part frozen.
An ex-teacher I spoke to the other day was bemoaning the fact that so many schools now closed due to snow. He said that Health and Safety issues and our overbearing liability laws meant teachers were loath to clear snow and allow kids to play in snow on school premises for fear they may hurt themselves and sue for damages. When did common sense leave the room? I don’t envisage Councils and Government will pay up for the broken bones caused by failures in their Duty of Care to the taxpayer.
Tony
