Fire, Security and Safety

The Grenfell Inquiry transformed the fire safety landscape with the subsequent publication of the amended Approved Document B (Fire Safety) of the Building Regulations, the introduction of the Building Safety Act, and the Building Safety Regulator. Shaun Scott, Applications Engineer at Advanced, explains how social housing landlords are facing increased scrutiny and how Evacuation Alert Systems are a route to both compliance and Best Practice.

Nowhere faces more scrutiny on fire safety compliance than the social housing sector. On 26 June 2025, the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) published its latest quarterly survey assessing fire safety in social housing blocks over 11 metres. The report reaffirmed the immense pressure on social housing landlords to submit robust remediation data, not only to the RSH but also to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). 

In the evolving landscape of UK housing, certainty about the origin and quality of construction materials has become paramount. This renewed focus is primarily driven by stricter safety regimes, including the Building Safety Act, which places greater scrutiny on product performance, particularly for buildings with higher risk. However, the principles extend to all projects, ensuring long-term durability and simplifying future maintenance.

Lorient, a leading manufacturer of high-performance sealing systems for fire safety, is delighted to announce the launch of its latest RIBA-approved CPD, created in collaboration with Douglas Masterson, Technical & Training Director at the Guild of Architectural Ironmongers (GAI). Entitled “The Design & Specification of Intumescent Air Transfer Grilles”, the CPD provides in-depth technical insights into this vital component of fire safety.

With ‘once in a generation’ weather events becoming more frequent and the increase in outdoor space on tall buildings, it’s no wonder that many of the major housing providers are concerned about the potential for unsecured paving to cause damage.

Consequently, there is a growing focus in the construction industry on how to protect vulnerable structures such as balconies and roof terraces from wind uplift to ensure their safety and durability.

So, what can you do to protect against wind uplift and provide safe, secure environments? First, let’s understand the cause. 

In the wake of the Grenfell Tower tragedy in 2017, stringent regulations have been put in place to ensure the safety of outdoor areas, particularly in relation to fire.  

While the requirement for the use of non-combustible components on specified attachments such as balconies is clear and unequivocal, areas that fall in the category of flat roof systems represent a different challenge.

Unlike balconies, the requirements for roof systems leave room for interpretation that can potentially lead to the installation of non-compliant build-ups.  To avoid falling on the wrong side of compliance, specifiers often resort to non-combustible options which can have a negative impact on their budget.

Scolmore Group is a leading manufacturer of electrical accessories, circuit protection, lighting, home automation, security and cable accessory products.  Established in 1989, the company designs, develops and manufactures an ever-expanding range of innovative, energy-efficient and time-saving solutions for commercial and domestic projects. 

Having been involved for many years in fire rated products, gaining invaluable knowledge and insight into the composite fire door industry, Astraseal could see the requirement for a comprehensive fire safety door package. A start to finish solution backed up by extensive testing to the most onerous standards and certified by industry leading experts.