Fire Protection

Rochester-based balcony components manufacturer AliDeck made an important contribution last year to the national debate on fire safety in high-rise buildings with the publication of the Balcony Fires Report 2017 to 2020.
Collating data from UK Fire and Rescue Services on the prevalence and causes of balcony fires across the country, the report was shocking; at least 873 fires on balconies were recorded nationally across the period, with almost half of them caused by smoking materials such as carelessly discarded cigarettes.

Siderise has launched a suite of new passive fire protection products specifically engineered for masonry facades, making it easy for specifiers and developers to choose the right protection for their buildings.

Fire safety remains the top priority in the design of safer, healthier social housing. The government has announced it will be getting tougher on those who fail to comply with fire safety regulations, such as imposing unlimited fines on anyone caught obstructing or impersonating a fire inspector, as well those who breach fire safety regulations under the Fire Safety Order.1

Building owners and operators have always played a vital role in ensuring the fire safety of their properties. However, with the Fire Safety Act 2021 becoming law this April, the responsibilities of those managing multi-occupant residential buildings are now more stringently defined. It states that they are accountable for reducing fire risk of the structure and external walls, and any entry doors between flats and communal areas. Although we are still waiting for the updated guidance to be released, it is imperative that housing associations of all kinds get to work now to ensure the safety of their tenants, including ensuring effective passive fire protection.

Aico are delighted to have been selected as a supplier on all categories of the West Midlands Fire Service Framework, which will shortly be available to all UK Fire & Rescue Services (subject to contract).

The West Midlands Fire Service Framework will facilitate the procurement of Fire and Carbon Monoxide (CO) alarms for all UK Fire and Rescue Services (FRS), in a move towards the standardisation of requirements as outlined in regulations. As part of the supplier status, market-leading Aico will provide Smoke, Heat and CO alarms, including their technologically advanced, award-winning alarms for total protection.

With HA and local authority landlords implementing major fire protection upgrade programmes, including the ongoing retro-fitting of fire sprinkler systems, for many contractors Encasement’s Versa pipe boxing is proving to be the ideal solution for concealing sprinkler pipework.

Although high efficiency cam action door closers enable low operating forces within and below those demanded within BS8300, some users find any resistance on a fire door either very hard or impossible to manage.

Where such instances arise, the use of a free swing door closer is highly advised. A free swing door closer, when active, enables to door to move freely without resistance being experienced by the user; thus, it enables the door to perform as any standard internal door within a domestic dwelling. In addition to no resistance from the closer, the door can be left in any position desired by the user - fully open, slightly ajar or fully closed. On activation of the fire alarm or in the event of a power failure, the door will close from whatever position it has been left in, ensuring the fire door will perform as required in the event of a fire. Whilst the alarm is active or while power is out, the free swing closer will perform as a ‘normal’ door closer, so if opened it will automatically close again. Once the alarm has been reset or power restored, the free swing will become active once again.