Fire, Security and Safety

Following the Grenfell disaster and the West Hampstead balcony fires, it was only a matter of time before safety concerns gave rise to statutory measures and those changes arrived in December 2018. Will Forbes, Technical Project Lead at balcony specialist Neaco, explains their impact on design and specification.

Dr. Barbara Lane's recent report raised numerous questions about the overall management of the smoke control installation at Grenfell.

The Recording Rooms, one of Birmingham University’s newest student accommodation blocks, is using an integrated smoke and heat exhaust ventilation system from SE Controls to provide smoke free escape routes for more than 250 students.

Smoke Control Systems, as with other active fire safety installations, are rarely designed for whole building fires like Grenfell where fire spreads uncontrollably throughout the complete structure.

Property owners and managers should be aware of their legal duties regarding asbestos management, and the need for locating and assessing the risks from any asbestos-containing materials in a building.

Specifically relating to managing and working with asbestos is the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 (CAR 2012).  Regulation 5, requires employers to identify the presence of asbestos, and its type and condition, before any building, maintenance or other work, liable to disturb asbestos, begins. It also sets out the requirement to arrange an asbestos survey if existing information on the presence of asbestos in the premises is incomplete or appears unreliable.

An industry report has predicted the number of connected devices being used worldwide will grow to 20.8billion by 2020*. What opportunities could this present for social housing providers and landlords?
Nick Rutter, Chief Product Officer for FireAngel, explores the latest connected safety solutions and how they are transforming the capabilities of fire safety technologies…

Over the last decade the development of internet of things (IoT) and the notion of a ‘connected home’ has undergone significant developments. Initially starting as a rather fantastical concept, today’s IoT technology is relevant to everyday life, primarily designed to ‘make life easier for the user’.