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53% of fire safety professionals have seen an increase in fire door wedging
The survey, which was completed to gain an insight into how COVID-19 has impacted the fire safety industry over the last 12 months, highlighted key themes such as the impact of financial pressure following the pandemic. 84% of the respondents identified that financial pressure has made businesses less likely to carry out fire safety maintenance and improvements. One Health and Safety Advisor, said: "Fire will not stop for COVID-19, employers still have an obligation to keep people and premises fire safe”. Over the last 12 months, the COVID-19 pandemic has dominated the world with the necessary, but disruptive nature of lock-downs and restrictions impacting day to day business across the…
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Fire safety compliance and COVID-19. How can the Salamander fire door system protect patients in the event of a fire?
As hospitals battle through the second major wave of the virus, concerns have been raised around the NHS’ on-going maintenance backlog and the impact on safety and infrastructure. In January 2021, figures suggested that the total backlog was the equivalent of the annual running cost of the entire NHS estate, which was around £9.7bn in 2019/20 [1]. Despite the added pressure of COVID-19, hospitals and health care buildings must ensure that fire safety standards are not only compliant, but adapted to facilitate the added challenge of the ongoing pandemic. Emergency hospital evacuations are inherently more complicated when compared to other public buildings. Alike most aspects of modern life, the pandemic…
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Geofire launches Deaf Alert home pillow alarm to wake hard of hearing in the event of fire
The Deaf Alert is a digital, vibrating pillow alarm that uses ‘listening’ technology to activate on the specific sound of a home smoke alarm. Geofire has manufactured fire safety products in the UK since 1972. The Deaf Alert will join the Agrippa acoustic product line which includes the battery powered fire door holder and closer. The acoustic technology used among Agrippa’s wire-free products allows the unit to learn the specific sound of the smoke alarm ensuring activation upon hearing only the specific sound rather than any loud noise. In the event of the smoke alarm sounding, the Deaf Alert unit wakes the user by displaying a visual ‘FIRE’ warning, flashing…
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How can a radio controlled fire door system help your flat or residential building comply with the Fire Safety Bill 2020?
What is the Fire Safety Bill 2020 and why is it being amended? Currently progressing its way through Parliament, the Fire Safety Bill 2020 proposes fundamental changes to the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. The changes will action the recommendations identified by the Grenfell Tower public inquiry and the Dame Judith Hackett review which found current building and fire safety regulations needed a “major reform” in order to prioritise and protect resident’s safety. In conjunction with the Building Safety Bill, which overhauls legislation around building construction methods and materials, the Fire Safety Reform represents a landmark change to current fire safety legislation. Lord Greenhalgh, Building Safety and Fire Minister,…
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Get back to school safely with Agrippa
. This week marks the launch of the Government’s ‘Back to School Safely’ campaign following the announcement that all educational facilities will reopen from the beginning of the autumn term. Following the opening of nurseries, schools and colleges, the government has advised schools to implement a range of protective measures in order to mitigate the risk of the virus being spread. The six preventative actions which have been outlined by gov.uk and Public Health England are: 1) Minimise contact with individuals who are unwell by ensuring that those who have coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms, or who have someone in their household who does, do not attend school 2) Clean hands thoroughly…
