fig leaves
The newsletter of the Fire Information Group UK (FIG UK)
No. 55
September 2017
Edited by Sheila Pantry, OBE
Sheila Pantry Associates Ltd
www.sheilapantry.com
This Newsletter contains:
- News from around the World
- Diary of Events
- Summary of the FIG UK Meeting held on 6 September 2017
- Dates of Next Meetings
FIG UK website www.figuk.org.uk ... please help to promote FIG UK whenever you can ... Make a link from your website!
News items from around the world
Some reports and articles worth revisiting – timely reminder re Grenfell.
One person died and six were injured when the Mermoz Tower in Roubaix, France, went up in flames in 2012
News Com Australia, 2017
One person died and six were injured when the Mermoz Tower in Roubaix, France, went up in flames in 2012. The Mermoz Tower had been refurbished and reclad nine years before fire killed and six were injured. Then refurbishment included adding metal composite cladding above the ground floor: the panels had a 3 mm polyethylene core sandwiched between two 0.5 mm aluminium sheets. According to one researcher, residents were concerned about the quality of the refit.
Select Committee on Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs First Report Potential Risk of Fire Spread in Buildings via External Cladding Systems (Fire occurred in a multi-storey block of flats Garrock Court, Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland on 11th June 1999)
UK Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Committee, House of Commons Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Committee, 1999
The flats had been given new floor-ceiling unplasticised polyvinyl chloride (uPVC) window units. When a fire started on the fifth floor, a vertical ribbon blazed. A 55 year old man died. A House of Commons Select Committee report questioned the fire test under AD B regulations at the time. In 2000, the Regulations were changed, introducing BS 8414 test. But other compliance routes and ambiguities remained.
The report states:
1. A fire which occurred in a multi-storey block of flats Garrock Court, Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland on 11th June 1999 drew the Committee’s attention to the potential risk which could be posed by fire spread involving external cladding systems.
2. The necessity of ensuring that steps be taken to minimise this risk should it prove a serious danger to life and/or property prompted us to undertake a brief inquiry, with the following terms of reference:
- whether a risk is posed by such cladding;
- the extent of the use of external cladding systems;
- the adequacy of the regulations pertaining to their use;
- what action may be necessary to counter any risks posed in existing buildings and to avoid any risks in new buildings or alterations to existing buildings;
- other matters which may arise in the course of questioning.
3. We received 18 written memoranda, and received 28 replies to a letter which we sent to the housing departments of all metropolitan borough councils to try to assess the extent of any risk which might be posed by the use of such systems. We also took oral evidence from seven sets of witnesses.
https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199900/cmselect/cmenvtra/109/10907.htm
Lacrosse Building Fire 673 La Trobe Street, Docklands, Melbourne, Australia on 24 November 2014 by Giuseppe Genco; City of Melbourne, Australia
City of Melbourne, Australia, April 2015, 50 pages
Series DM ref# 8989066
The Lacrosse building, situated at 673 La Trobe Street Docklands, is a twenty three (23) storey mixed-use building which includes fifteen levels of apartments. Levels six to twenty-one were affected by fire and many more were affected by water damage. There are approximately fifteen apartments per level.
A fire took place in the early hours of the morning of 25 November 2014. The fire at the Lacrosse building is a first in Melbourne in that it directly affected approximately 450 to 500 people who required immediate evacuation and accommodation. In addition the fire spread vertically and was not contained in the room or area of fire origin. Fortunately in this incident there were no fatalities or serious injuries.
The fire and subsequent investigation raise a number of questions relating to:
- The compliance of the building to the Building Code of Australia (BCA);
- The number of occupants contained within the building;
- The external wall cladding system used and whether it has been approved and accredited.
The objective of current building legislation (the Building Act and Building Regulations) is to keep people safe and to regulate minimum building standards. The spread of the fire in this incident brings into question the ability of building legislation, including the regulatory process, to minimise the impact of such an event. The Act and Regulations also provide a process of how the MBS can bring the building into conformity with the Act and the BCA.
Inspections after the fire raised questions about materials used on the external façade wall. A post incident analysis (PIA) has been undertaken by the Melbourne Metropolitan Fire Brigade (MFB) which identified that the external wall between the balcony and bedroom was not non-combustible. This is contrary to the prescriptive requirements of the Building Code of Australia (BCA) for Type A construction.
A review of the documentation lodged by the Private Building Surveyor with Council has highlighted the following:
- That the documentation does not provide sufficient detail to determine if the wall was designed to be non-combustible or not,
- The occupancy permit was limited to approximately 36 persons per floor for levels 6-21,
- There is no evidence within the fire engineering design report as to whether this wall was considered to be not non-combustible.
- No specific documentation lodged by Private Building Surveyor with Council, proving that the wall system was approved or accredited.
It was observed during the inspection that some apartments were being utilised as multiple accommodation units on a commercial basis, with some apartments containing 6 to 8 beds. An increase in the density of population without heightened warning systems may lead to the MFB being caught unaware for the extent of occupants in case of evacuation and the potential for the occupants to not evacuate in time.
The principal legislation dealing with fire safety, basic amenities and sustainability, is contained in Building legislation. Planning and Health are involved however, more so with the impact of amenities on surrounding properties and registration plus cleanliness of rooming houses.
In assessing the steps involved in the approval process and also the use of the building, containing more people than anticipated per floor and the use of short term commercial accommodation, it is considered that the current regime of the Building Act and Building Regulations plus BCA does not manage well complex buildings and the way they are used today.
In addition, the ability for the MBS to bring buildings into compliance is cumbersome, requiring in this case, the serving of notices on 300+ property owners – a consequence of the enforcement provisions of Part 8 of the Act where directions are required against each individual owner.
The key areas highlighted that are recommended for review are:
- The product accreditation process is not widely utilised in Australia and the constant introduction of new range of products being used by the building industry each year suggests the policing of these products is unchecked.
- The use of non-accredited products within the building industry which may go largely unchecked.
- Clearer definition is required of what constitutes the use of a Class 2 apartment building and a Class 3 commercial accommodation building (or part thereof) and whether the technical regulations cater for their respective use. In particular where multiple apartments have occupant numbers higher than one would consider the norm for apartment dwellings.
- Method of how the design parameters which are assumed by fire engineers for alternative solutions are clearly transferred onto occupancy permits. In particular in this case design parameters such as occupant characteristics and reliance on prescriptive requirements.
- The relevance of an occupancy permit which was issued prior to subdivision of a building is questionable, particularly in relation to occupancy numbers and the ability to ensure compliance with the Building Act 1993.
- Review Part 8 of the Building Act 1993, taking into consideration the Sub-division Act, how buildings are currently being occupied, and how the enforcement provision can be improved.
- Provision of Warranty insurance for apartment buildings, and the type of warranty insurance taking into consideration the increase in higher density living.
www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/sitecollectiondocuments/mbs-report-lacrosse-fire.pdf
Marina Torch fire, Dubai on 4 August 2017
Daily Telegraph, 4 August 2017
A large blaze has ripped through one of the largest residential buildings in the world, the Torch Tower in Dubai. Flames shot up the side of the skyscraper, sending debris tumbling from the 337 m (1,106 ft) structure. One resident told Reuters people were screaming as they woke to the late-night blaze before having to flee. A fire ripped through one of the world’s tallest residential towers in Dubai on Thursday night, sending panicked residents fleeing from the building. Debris could be seen spiralling to the ground across the famous Marina district of the city as the fire consumed multiple floors of the Torch Tower after midnight.
The authorities said all inside were safely evacuated and the fire brought under control at about 03:40 local time (23:40 GMT).
“Thank God, there were no casualties because of the efforts of all teams on the ground,” Dubai Police chief Major General Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri said.
It is not clear what caused the fire in the 79-storey skyscraper, but it is the second blaze to hit the building in two years.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-40822269
Fire engulfs The Address 63 storey hotel, Dubai on 31 December 2015
Daily Telegraph, January 2016
Flames engulfed the exterior of the luxury 63-storey hotel ‘The Address’ within a matter of seconds, tearing up the outside of the building “like paper” according to onlookers and creating a stampede of New Years’ revellers fleeing for their lives. The fire – the third major skyscraper fire in Dubai since 2012 – has raised renewed fears about the use of highly combustible materials on the exterior facades of hundreds of skyscrapers throughout the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Miraculously no-one was killed in the blaze at The Address, which lit up the Dubai skyline three hours before midnight. Dubai authorities confirmed that only 16 people had suffered mostly minor injuries, with only two victims, including a pregnant woman, remaining in hospital overnight for precautionary observations. At the heart of safety concerns is the use of polyurethane and aluminium composite cladding on buildings throughout the height of the emirate’s building boom. The material was only outlawed by new buildings regulations in 2013.
Recall of products
FIG UK Members are keen to share the various Recall websites. Thanks to Members who have sent some of these websites.
If you have a recall website you wish to share with others please send to Sheila email: sp@sheilapantry.com for adding to the FIG UK website www.figuk.org.uk
Argos Product Recalls
https://www.argos.co.uk/events/safety-product-recalls
The official Argos catalogue website. UK catalogue shopping online for appliances, DIY, electronics, etc.
Association of Manufacturers of Domestic Appliances – Register my Appliance
www.registermyappliance.org.uk
Always ensure new electrical items are registered, so manufacturers can contact you in the event of any problems. Use this website for more information and to register your electric products.
Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, UK
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/household-appliances-recalled-due-to-fire-risk
List of household appliances recalled due to fire risk since 2010.
Electrical Safety First
www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/product-recalls
The average success rate of an electrical product recall in the UK is just 10-20%. This means that there are potentially millions of recalled electrical items still in UK homes. As most of these products have been recalled because they offer a risk of electric shock or electrical fire, they present a serious risk.
London Fire Brigade – Product recalls
www.london-fire.gov.uk/product-recalls.asp
Product Recall Campaign – UK
https://productrecall.campaign.gov.uk
If there is a problem with the safety of a product, its manufacturer is responsible for making arrangements for its repair, replacement or refund for the owner.
RoSPA – Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents Recalls
www.rospa.com/lets-talk-about/2017/july/product-recalls
RoSPA – Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents Recalls
Trading Standards Institute
https://www.tradingstandards.uk/consumers/product-recalls-and-safety-notices
Product recalls are made by traders about products that have problems which could affect the safety of the consumer. The product should not be used and should be returned to the trader. Traders wishing to display their recall/safety notices on should email it to publications@tsi.org.uk
UK Recall
http://ukrecall.org.uk/search-recall-list
Vehicle, part or accessory recalls – GOV.UK
https://www.gov.uk/check-if-a-vehicle-has-been-recalled
Check if a vehicle model, part or accessory has been recalled because of a fault in how it was made.
Events
Health and Safety Laboratories are offering the following courses
HSL: Hazardous Area Classification – Buxton, 19 Oct 2017
This course is designed to provide delegates with the knowledge to carry out straightforward hazardous area classification in accordance with commonly used standards or to act as an intelligent customer when contracting others to deliver this role.
HSL: Process and Fire Incidents – Buxton, 18-19 Oct 2017
This two-day course is designed to introduce delegates to lessons learned from a number of significant or high profile incidents involving fires or chemical processes.
Drawing on the wealth of investigation experience within HSE, we provide detailed histories of incidents, key outcomes of the investigations and examples of how investigation and follow up research has led to improvements in safety.
Within this course there will be significant practical demonstration content where you will witness live experiments.
New book
RoSPA’s Little book of big ideas about health and safety
by Karen McDonnell and Roger Bibbings
A guide to help experts and non-experts alike to refresh their knowledge and understanding of the basic ideas which underpin the discourse about health and safety.
It is designed to aid in understanding the increasingly complex and debated ideas at the heart of occupational health and safety and can be used as a gateway to further reading.
Handy reference guide to remind about essential terms and concepts, or as a resource to support teaching. When, where, how, why – and to whom – do accidents happen?
Royal Society for The Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), July 2017, 25 pages
www.rospa.com/occupational-safety/advice/little-book-of-big-ideas
Diary of Events
14 September 2017 – IOSH National Safety and Health Conference
The Nottingham Belfry, Mellors Way, off Woodhouse Way, Nottingham, NG8 6PY
Contact: https://www.iosh.co.uk/nshc
19-21 September 2017 – Fire Protection and Safety in Tunnels 2017
Norway
Contact: www.arena-international.com/fpst
20-21 September 2017 – The Emergency Services Show
Hall 5 NEC, Birmingham, UK
Contact: Emergency Services Show | www.emergencyuk.com
11 October 2017 – 2017 Fire Sector Summit
Aviva Headquarters, London
Contact: http://www.thefpa.co.uk/firesectorsummit/
18 October 2017 – Fire Information Group (FIG UK) Seminar: “Mind the Gap in Fire Information: Update 2017”
Imperial Hotel, Russell Square, London
Contact: Sheila Pantry OBE | Sheila Pantry Associates Ltd, Sheffield S26 1JG, UK | Tel: +44 (0) 1909 771024 | Email: sp@sheilapantry.com |
www.figuk.org.uk/conferences/2017
20-21 October 2017 – International Conference on Research and Advanced Technology in Fire Safety (FIRE SAFETY 2017)
Santander, Spain
Contact: GIDAI Group, University of Cantabria | Tel: +34 942 20 18 26 | Fax: +34 942 20 22 76 | Email: escalantes@unican.es |
www.firesafety2017.unican.es/index_en.html
25-26 October 2017 – London Build 2017: 2-day conference on the Grenfell fire
London Olympia
Contact: Free of charge. www.londonbuildexpo.com
9 November 2017 – RE17: Fire Related Research and Developments
West Midlands Fire Service HQ, Birmingham, UK
Contact: www.ife.org.uk/Events/Re17Annual-Conference-Fire-Related-Research-and-Developments/44243
28-30 November 2017 – Hazardous Area Classification
London, UK
Contact: Energy Institute, 61 New Cavendish Street, London WIG 7AR, UK | www.energyinst.org/training/risk-management-training/Process-Safety-Training/HAC
See also www.oshworld.com/diary.html for dates for many other seminars, conferences and training courses on a wide range of topics.
Abbreviated FIG UK Meeting minutes held on Wednesday, 6 September 2017 at the London Fire Brigade (LFB) Headquarters, 169 Union Street, London
Sheila Pantry OBE |
Sheila Pantry Associates Ltd |
Sally Walsh |
Burgoyne Management Ltd |
David Washer |
Boat Safety Scheme (BSS) |
Penny Morgan |
|
Claire Benson |
London South Bank University, Explosion & Fire Research Group |
Alyson Warner |
|
Marian Bodian |
Building Research Establishment (BRE) Compliance Team |
David Lane |
Lane, Jefferies & Associates Ltd |
Dominic Louks |
Fire Protection Association (FPA) |
Adair Lewis |
Adair Lewis Fire Safety Management |
Paula McCrudden |
Hawkins |
Nick Fry |
International Fire Consultants (IFC) |
1. Welcome
Sheila welcomed everyone and especially new member Claire Benson – introductions were made round the table. Sheila thanked Andy Mobbs of London Fire Brigade for arranging for the meeting to take place at LFB Headquarters. Sheila went on to explain that Andy Mobbs, our LFB host, had chaired the previous day’s Fire Research and Statistics User Group (FRSUG) meeting as their new Chairman.
Marian Bodian, BRE explained she no longer worked in the BRE GLOBAL library but in the BRE Compliance Section.
Dave Washer summarised the work of the Boat Safety Scheme (BSS) provided by the Canal and River Trust which is responsible for inland waters: he looks at waterway incidents including fire. Information is on their website https://www.boatsafetyscheme.org BSS is very aware that the boating stock is ageing.
ACTION: Dave Washer agreed to write a synopsis of BSS for the FIG UK Newsletter/website.
Alyson Warner has recently retired from the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG). The Home Office has taken over responsibility for fire information from DCLG.
This led to a discussion on the difficulty of accessing governmental archives held in a central site.
Claire Benson also explained that she had been inundated with press enquiries after the fatal fire at Grenfell Tower as most other fire researchers were abroad at a conference. She identified an area of interest as the importance of registering kit being used domestically in high rise buildings.
2. Apologies
See above
3. Minutes
Minutes of the last meeting held on 22 March 2017 at LFB HQ, London and also the Abbreviated Minutes with the Newsletter were accepted noting that changes to the October Seminar speakers and topics had been made. Altered programme has been circulated to all FIG UK members.
Publicity to others e.g. delegates and 2015 and 2016. Also journals and magazines are being contacted. e.g. paragraph in the FPA Fire Risk Management September 2017 issue. (Thanks to Dominic Louks, FPA and FIG UK Member)
Chairman reminded everyone to check their details in the website Members’ Directory www.figuk.org.uk/directory.html
Sheila advised that a topic of interest worldwide has emerged, namely the use of robots and drones in firefighting activities and she is collecting data in this area the electronic collection “OSH UPDATE + FIRE” www.oshupdate.com
4. Accounts 2017 and Membership Fee for 2018
FIG UK Accounts at 12 August 2017 (end of financial year is 12 August 2017) were circulated to Members by Sally Walsh – FIG UK Treasurer and Membership officer at the meeting. These accounts are sent as separate document to all FIG UK Members. Thanks to Sally for this updated Accounts information.
Auditing FIG UK accounts. AGREED Alyson Warner agreed to act as Auditor.
Membership
Next year FIG UK will be in its 30th year.
AGREED that the 2018 Membership fee will be held at £20.00.
5. Membership – new recruits
ACTIONS:
Agreed that all Members would continue to endeavour to encourage others to join FIG UK. Details of aims, objectives and benefits are list on www.figuk.org.uk
One reason that people may not want to join information Groups such as FIG UK is that people do not use information as they used to do. It was observed that information is not properly researched – there are more accidents and serious events (Grenfell again) despite safety training. Information is provided but may well be ignored. The Group were also concerned about the lack of continuity as people retire; lack of knowledge of the importance of standards and how to influence the creation and updating them. There were examples of training courses just being linked to passing exams and trainees perhaps not knowing how to search for and keep up to date with validated, authoritative and up-to-date knowledge. e.g. The use that should be made of the Publicly Available Specifications.
Sally had set up a FIG UK Facebook and also a FIG UK LinkedIn and agreed to update the information on them. Sally will also add new 2017 FIG UK Seminar details.
6. FIG UK Seminar
FIG UK Seminar to be held on 18 October 2017 at the Imperial Hotel, Russell Square, London
a) The final Seminar programme was accepted and welcomed. All details – the programme, speakers, subject topics and contact/booking details below. The Seminar details have been added to the FIG UK website see www.figuk.org.uk/conferences/2017
FIG UK Seminar: “Mind the Gap in Fire Information: Update 2016”
Wednesday 18 October 2017 starting at 13.15
Location: Senate Room, Imperial Hotel, Russell Square, London
This seminar is kindly sponsored by Lane, Jefferies & Associates Ltd and Sheila Pantry Associates Ltd
| 12.30 – 13.15 | Registration |
|---|---|
| 13.15 – 13.25 | Introduction by Chair Sheila Pantry OBE Updating “Mind the Gap in Fire Information” Setting the scene – FIG UK and fire information worldwide |
| 13.25 – 13.55 | Jeremy Fraser-Mitchell, BRE Global Fire Research and new trends also where to keep up to date in information |
| 13.55 – 14.25 | Martin Hembling, Sales & Marketing Director, Swiftclean Building Services Kitchen Extract Systems and Fire Safety Management also where to keep up to date in information |
| 14.25 – 14.55 | Stewart Kidd, Loss Prevention Consultancy Fire Safety and the Law of unintended consequences also where to keep up to date in information |
| 14.55 – 15.15 | Break |
| 15.15 – 15.45 | William Wright, Electrical Safety First ESF major work, fires and product recalls, drones, e-cigarettes and also where to keep up to date in information |
| 15.45 – 16.15 | Charlie Pugsley Head of Fire Investigations, London Fire Brigade (LFB) New trends, new materials used in buildings, high rise buildings and fires and also where to keep up to date in information |
| 16.15 – 16.45 | Dr Ivan Vince, ASK Consultants Tales from the Expert Witness. |
| 16.45 – 17.00 | Q&A Summing up – Chairman |
| 17.00 – 18.00 | Networking & Complimentary Refreshments in The Imperial Hotel 1st Floor Bar |
Seminar Delegate Rates
- £30 – FIG UK members
- £40 – IFE members
- £50 – Other delegates
To book a place or for any further information
Contact: Sheila Pantry OBE Sheila Pantry Associates Ltd, 85 The Meadows, Todwick, Sheffield S26 1JG, UK | Tel: +44 (0) 1909 771024 | Email: sp@sheilapantry.com | www.sheilapantry.com
As well as the announcement details above a banner advert has been put on various pages of the FIG UK web site– and added onto a number of other websites main pages.
b) Sheila asked all FIG UK Members to promote the Seminar to their own list of contacts and perhaps add on their own organisations’ websites.
Sheila has sent out details to a range of people who may be interested in attending the Seminar – this includes delegates previous FIG UK Seminar held in 2016.
c) The Seminar delegate fees agreed as follows:
- £30 – FIG UK members
- £40 – IFE members
- £50 – Other delegates
ACTION: Sally Walsh, Alyson Warner and David Washer all agreed to welcome delegates at the reception desk at the Seminar room entrance.
7. FIG UK Members Directory
ACTION All members are asked to check that their entry in the FIG UK Directory is up to date and send any alterations to Sheila please. See www.figuk.org.uk/directory.html
Sheila reminds All Members to send in any News to her at any time so that she can add to the continual stream of information regularly sent to FIG UK Members.
8. 2018 is FIG UK 30th Anniversary year
Sheila had put this item on the agenda and asked for any ideas on how to mark this special year.
We will see how this year’s event goes and discuss details at the March 2018 FIG UK Meeting.
ACTION All FIG UK members should decide how to mark this special event – all ideas welcomed
Sally agreed to explore cost effective promotional items via her organisation.
9. Should FIG UK make a contribution to the Grenfell Inquiry?
See www.frsug.org/reports/grenfellInquiryletter.pdf
Sheila raised the idea that perhaps FIG UK should make a contribution to the Grenfell Inquiry.
Sheila expanded her concerns about the use of health, safety and fire knowledge/information in current workplaces and felt that it may be appropriate for the Inquiry to examine how validated and authoritative information is disseminated for instance by government, institutes, organisations, product suppliers and local authorities. Whilst it is agreed that information abounds due to the advances in the technologies there seems to gaps in knowledge and applications in workplaces.
After much discussion the following actions were agreed:
ACTION 1: SHEILA would draft a piece to be sent to all FIG UK MEMBERS seeking additional views, information and comments.
ACTION 2: FIG UK to send final document to the Grenfell Inquiry
10. FIG UK Website
Sheila continues to add any information on product recalls aiming to make this part of FIG UK website a one stop shop to go to, particularly with reference to electrical safety and fires.
ACTION: FIG UK MEMBERS to send in any RELEVANT links to Sheila to add to the website.
Burgoynes has just sent in some new information.
11. ROUND TABLE
Marian Bodian, BRE reported
That BRE was privatised 20 years ago, details of the BRE Trust are on the website, go to https://bregroup.com
Dave Washer, BSS reported
That LPG awareness week is coming up, publicity will be on their website, Twitter and Facebook.
Dave also drew attention to many specific pieces of guidance and advice on BSS website e.g. https://www.boatsafetyscheme.org/requirements-examinations-certification/boats-with-gas/
Sally Walsh, Burgoynes stated that
Sally also noted that lithium batteries on the FM Global website contained lots of free information www.fmglobal.co.uk
She also noted that USA has updated NFPA 921 on Fire Investigation.
Sally has visited the BSI and found that there is no longer a physical library collection as, it is understood, the reciprocal arrangements that they had previously had with various other standards suppliers have not been renewed. The current collection have been archived, and only electronic subscriptions are currently available from the knowledge centre itself. Withdrawn British Standards are still available from them.
Claire Benson, London South Bank University (LSBU) reported
on the work of the Explosion & Fire Research Group (EFRG) where she works. EFRG team of experts has extensive experience doing research and consultancy work for companies, organisations and governments dealing with flammable substances. EFRG has specialist knowledge in Domestic, Industrial and Aeronautical Fire Safety; Fire and Explosion Hazard Analysis; Hydrogen and other Flammable Gas Hazards and Modelling of Fires, Explosions and their Mitigation see www.lsbu.ac.uk/esbe/efrg
Penny Morgan noted
the details of the IFE Fire Safety Conference at IWM Duxford on Wednesday 13th September 2017 entitled ‘Fire Safety in Heritage Buildings – Secure or Sacrifice’. Also 25 and 26 October 2017 London Build 2017: 2-day conference on the Grenfell fire. To be held at London Olympia, free of charge. Go to www.londonbuildexpo.com
Sheila Pantry, Sheila Pantry Associates Ltd reported the following items:
Sheila reported from the FRSUG meeting held 5 September 2017 that the Home Office Fire Research and Statistics Group has taken over production publications of fire statistics and documents. New documents are coming out in October 2017 – Sheila will send titles dates etc when known meanwhile the following website may be of use https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/fire-statistics
From the same meeting Stewart Ross the Scottish FRS member Scotland Statistics Group reported that they have been looking at the information behind the Scottish Statistics. Findings include that the old and sick do not socialise, tend to live in poor housing and are not in the care system. Fire calls are received from residents who when the responders arrive find that the residents will not open their doors.
Often when the FRS has to break into the properties the firefighters are finding bodies behind the door. Such break-ins are now involving roughly 10 people per week. As a result of these findings the FRS are now working with Social Services to try and get people into the care system. These cases are causing extreme stress for firefighters.a. Fire Research and Statistics User Group
Sheila is a long-time member of the Fire Research and Statistics User Group (FRSUG) and runs and hosts their website which contains many links to fire statistics and related sources plus minutes and other news items.
FIG UK members are reminded that they have free access to www.frsug.org for all minutes, presentations, statistics, links and updates. There are many interesting presentations which FIG UK Members may be interested in.
Sheila also runs and hosts the FIG UK website www.figuk.org.uk There are cross links to/from FRSUG and FIG UK websites.
b. The website History of Occupational Safety and Health www.historyofosh.org.uk which she and her company has developed with RoSPA’s National Occupational Safety and Health Committee (NOSHC) was launched last year. The website does include fire and fire related information sources and covers reviews/legislation/links to full texts/standard specifications/memorial sites and the developments from the 1802 Factory Act. It lists many full text books, reports, legislation – the earliest full text book listed is De Re Metallica – hazards of working with metals which was published in 1556! You can digitally turn over the translated into English pages! Making workplaces safer and healthier is NOT NEW!
ACTION: Members are requested to check it out and if they can contribute by providing fire related documents or references – please send to sp@sheilapantry.com
c. OSH UPDATE + FIRE electronic service
Wanting the latest information as it launched?
This long established electronic service (well into the second decade) is a special collection of OSH and fire legislation, guidance and advice and much more! If you need information on new developments, innovations, ways of working, latest research and training?
Daily you will need to quickly gain access to legislation, guidance and advice that is constantly being up-to-date and relevant. Your first port of call is to an aggregation of 26 databases collected together in an electronic service entitled OSH UPDATE + FIRE that currently contains over 1,137,891 records including over 103,000 full text documents from worldwide sources! It is constantly update and arguably – especially at the subscription price the best collective source of information in the world. There are over half a million fire and fire related records in OSH UPDATE + FIRE.
The databases and contents are from worldwide class organisations such as the US NIOSH, the UK Health and Safety Executive, the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work and many more similar organisations.
OSH UPDATE + FIRE is easily searchable by keywords, titles, journal names, standard number, authors, organisations, and will keep you and your colleagues alerted to hot topics including all aspects of fire and related fire topics, workplace health and safety and much more.
Arguably the largest electronic collection in the world in these very wide subject areas from worldwide sources. Used worldwide by: Fire fighters, Researchers, Management in a wide range of industries and governmental departments, Information Specialists, Lecturers, trainers and students in universities colleges, Inspectors, Consultants, Professionals, Information Staff and libraries, OSH and FIRE EXPERTS including Fire and Research Services.
So help is at hand for those working in health, safety and fire and fire related industries that need quality information. These are brought together in an easy to use web service entitled OSH UPDATE + FIRE www.oshupdate.com that is constantly updated.
For a 15 DAY FREE NO OBLIGATION TRIAL contact: Sheila Pantry Associates Ltd | email: sp@sheilapantry.com | or fill in the Interest form www.sheilapantry.com/interest.html
e. New Topic of interest – Robots including drones and firefighting
Sheila asks if anyone has any information of the use of robots and drones in fire-fighting to please send her details to sp@sheilapantry.com
Meeting closed at 4.30 pm.
Dates of next meetings
Next FIG UK meeting will be held at 1.15 pm on 18 October 2017 – FIG UK Mind the Gap Seminar 2017 – at the Imperial Hotel, Russell Square, London see details www.figuk.org.uk/conferences/2017/index.html
Please send your booking request to Sheila – sp@sheilapantry.com
There will be a short catch-up meeting before Christmas 2017 that will include a meal. Date to be announced shortly.