Fire Safety Matters Podcast

Fire Safety Matters Podcast - Episode 30

On Episode 30 of the Fire Safety Matters Podcast, Mark Sennett (CEO at Western Business Media) chats with Derrick Hall (director of sales for Kentec Electronics) and Craig Puddefoot, managing director at London-based fire safety systems installer Early Birds Fire Protection Ltd. During the interview, Derrick and Craig concentrate on two core issues pertaining to the fire sector: training and the installation of fire safety systems.

Mark is also in conversation with Paul Adams (marketing manager for Hochiki Europe) and Will Lloyd, technical manager at the Fire Industry Association. Paul and Will offer an insightful overview of today’s multi-sensor technology with a keen focus on compliance issues, false alarms and typical applications.  

As always, Brian and Mark deliver a comprehensive round-up of major news stories in the sector. This time around, there’s a detailed analysis of the commencement of the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022, the Building Engineering Services Association’s comments on the Government’s recent admissions over Grenfell, proposals for sprinkler requirements in care homes being welcomed by the Business Sprinkler Alliance and also an appraisal of National Apprenticeship Week 2023, which is supported by both the Institution of Fire Engineers and the Fire Service College.

Fire Safety Matters Podcast - Episode 29

Episode 29 of the Fire Safety Matters Podcast includes Mark Sennett (CEO at Western Business Media and the founder of Fire Safety Matters) in conversation with Andrew Cooper, the managing director of Global HSE Solutions (and Global Technical Services), the company firmly focused on fire safety engineering and passive fire protection services. During the course of the interview, Andrew turns his attentions towards developments at the business in the last 12 months, outlines the company’s plans for 2023 and also focuses on the ‘golden thread’ of information for buildings (encompassing a partnership with PlanRadar).  

In addition, there’s a detailed round-up (and analysis) of key news stories impacting the fire sector at present. On this occasion, we concentrate on the Government’s proposals for dual staircases in new build tower blocks, the announcement regarding the extension of the CE marking period (and what this means for the industry), an expansion in enforcement teams designed to hasten ongoing work in relation to cladding removal and replacement projects and also the Carrier Roadshows that begin at the end of this month.

Fire Safety Matters Podcast - Episode 28

Episode 28 of the Fire Safety Matters Podcast features Mark Sennett (CEO at Western Business Media) once again chatting with our regular Fire Safety Matters Podcast guest Warren Spencer (managing director at Blackhurst Budd Solicitors). On this occasion, Warren outlines the new fire safety legislation being brought forward in 2023.

In addition, Mark hears from Colin Smith (field product manager for the UK life safety division at Eaton). In his present role, Colin is responsible for the ownership, development and marketing of the company’s fire alarm and emergency lighting platforms here in the UK. In conversation with Mark, Colin details Eaton’s new product roadmap for 2023 and also touches on the key issue of cyber security for life safety systems.

As always, there’s an informative round-up (and analysis) of several major industry news stories. This time around, we concentrate on the Building Safety Act, warehouse fires, the Building Safety Levy and also the Fire Industry Association’s Guide to the UK Fire Safety Industry.

Fire Safety Matters Podcast - Episode 27

Episode 27 of the Fire Safety Matters Podcast features Mark Sennett (CEO at Western Business Media) in conversation with our regular guest Warren Spencer (managing director of Blackhurst Budd Solicitors).

This time around, Mark and Warren address some of the questions that were posed during the recent joint Fire Safety Matters-Blackhurst Budd Solicitors online conference entitled: ‘Is The Fire Risk Assessor’s Voice Being Heard?’ With more and more investigations being conducted and enforcement action taken involving fire risk assessments, are fire risk assessors being properly represented and protected?

In addition, Episode 27 also includes Brian’s detailed round-up of several major industry news stories focused on professional indemnity insurance for EWS-1 assessors, the Building Safety Act 2022, a petition calling on the Government to implement the Grenfell Tower Public Inquiry recommendation on Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans and the election of a new governing Council at the ASFP.

Further, we look ahead to the 2022 Fire Safety Matters Digital Conference.

Fire Safety Matters Podcast - Episode 26

Episode 26 of the Fire Safety Matters Podcast features Mark Sennett (CEO at Western Business Media) chatting with Ken Bullock (business development manager for emergency evacuation systems at Advanced) about BS 8629, the Code of Practice for the Design, Installation, Commissioning and Maintenance of Evacuation Alert Systems for Use by the Fire and Rescue Services in Buildings Containing Flats.

In a recent Fire Safety Matters webinar run in partnership with Advanced, Ken Bullock explained how ‘over-engineering’ temporary systems will allow conversion to an evacuation alert system once a risk assessor has confirmed that the ‘Stay Put’ policy can be reinstated. He also offered an overview of BS 8629 recommendations, which bring fire safety peace of mind for high-rise residents.

In addition, Episode 26 also includes a round-up (and analysis) of several major industry news stories concentrating on the Building Safety Bill, UK Fire and Rescue Services donating equipment for their Ukrainian counterparts and the inaugural Fire & Security Matters Awards.

Fire Safety Matters Podcast - Episode 25

Episode 25 of the Fire Safety Matters Podcast includes Mark interviewing Tom Crane, business unit director at Hyfire, the developer of wireless fire alarm and detection solutions. Recently appointed by the company to manage its nationwide sales team in the UK and Ireland as well as oversee future growth, Tom focuses his attentions on the benefits to be realised from the adoption of wireless fire detection technology.

Once again, Mark hears from our regular Fire Safety Matters Podcast guest Warren Spencer (managing director at Blackhurst Budd Solicitors). This time around, the subject for discussion is fire risk assessors. Indeed, Mark and Warren will be hosting a two-hour online seminar about this very subject on Friday 11 March at 10.00 am. Organised by Fire Safety Matters in partnership with Blackhurst Budd Solicitors, the event examines whether or not the voice of the fire risk assessor is currently being heard.

In addition, we feature a round-up of several major industry news stories concentrating on the Building Safety Bill, hot work fires, domestic fire safety and the inaugural edition of the Fire and Security Matters Awards.

Fire Safety Matters Podcast - Episode 24

This episode features Brian chatting with Stuart Letley, director and owner of Clear Safety Services. During the interview, Stuart covers a number of topics, among them the cladding issue, fire safety risks in the housing association sector, the recent fire at New Providence Wharf and anticipated further changes in the fire safety environment now that the Fire Safety Act has passed into law.

As always, Mark sits down with our regular Fire Safety Matters Podcast guest Warren Spencer (managing director at Blackhurst Budd Solicitors). On this occasion, the duo unveil some of the detail behind a two-hour webinar being organised by Fire Safety Matters in partnership with Blackhurst Budd Solicitors. Taking place on Friday 11 March at 10.30 am, the online event examines whether or not the voice of the fire risk assessor is being heard.

In addition, we feature a round-up of several major industry news stories including the Government’s latest plans to address the cladding crisis and a record fine handed down to BUPA in the wake of fire safety failings.

Fire Safety Matters Podcast - Episode 23

Episode 23 of the Fire Safety Matters Podcast features Brian and Mark reflecting on 2021, focusing in particular on the many achievements realised by the magazine across the last 12 months (among them the launch of Fire Safety Matters Live in November, four nominations at the PPA Independent Publisher Awards and the publication of the first-ever edition of the Fire Industry Association’s annual Guide to the UK Fire Safety Industry).

As always, we feature a round-up of the latest industry news. Here, there’s discussion around the Grenfell Tower Public Inquiry, the professional indemnity insurance crisis currently impacting fire risk assessors, developments for BAFE’s ‘Don’t Just Specify, Verify!’ campaign and current moves signalled by the Government in terms of smoke alarms for the nation’s housing stock.

Further, Brian and Mark concentrate their attentions on the content of Fire Safety Matters’ December print edition before looking ahead to the magazine’s features programme for 2022. The New Year, in fact, witnesses the inaugural running of the Fire and Security Matters Awards (at the CBS Arena on 28 April) and the Fire Safety Matters Golf and Networking Day (which takes place at the Celtic Manor Resort on 14 June).

Fire Safety Matters Podcast - Episode 22

Episode 22 of the Fire Safety Matters Podcast encompasses a detailed conversation between Brian and Steve Davies (the new CEO at the Association for Specialist Fire Protection). The duo chat about a number of core industry subjects, among them the recent launch of the ASFP’s e-Learning platform and also the current state of play when it comes to legislation and its direct impact on the sector.

As always, Mark sits down with our regular Fire Safety Matters Podcast guest Warren Spencer (managing director at Blackhurst Budd Solicitors). This time around, Warren focuses on the key issue of culpability when it comes to fire safety-related prosecutions in the courts.

In addition, Brian hears from both Matt Simpson (business development manager at simPRO Software) and one of the company’s customers (namely Darren Thorne, managing director at DT Fire Systems) about the benefits to be realised by those organisations who opt for digitalisation in a bid to improve their day-to-day workflows.

There’s also a round-up of the latest major news stories published online by Fire Safety Matters.

FSM Podcast - Episode 21

Episode 21 of the Fire Safety Matters Podcast includes an interview with Anthony Walker (director and also a member of the Board at Sircle). Brian puts a number of questions to Anthony (who’s a Chartered surveyor and fire engineer) focused around several key topic areas, among them cladding for buildings, qualifications for fire risk assessors, EWS-1 Forms and the ‘golden thread’ of information.

Once again, Mark hears from our regular Fire Safety Matters Podcast guest Warren Spencer (managing director at Blackhurst Budd Solicitors). On this occasion, Warren turns his attentions towards the belief that associations need to take the lead when it comes to the competency of fire risk assessors.

In addition, Brian hears from Yusuf Muhammad, co-founder and chief design officer at Plumis, who outlines what the company has been doing of late in relation to product testing for fire suppression systems.

As always, there’s a round-up of the latest major news stories published online by Fire Safety Matters as well as some essential detail about The Fire Safety Event and the FSM Live one-day digital conference in November.