Fire Safety Matters is the UK‘s leading B2B publication covering fire safety and evacuation. Every month the FSM editorial team of Brian Sims and Mark Sennett will analyse the latest news as well as getting a legal perspective from lawyer Warren Spencer who has prosecuted more than 150 cases under the Fire Safety Order. Brian and Mark will also interview guests each episode talking about the latest industry trends and to help share best practice. You can also see breaking daily news at www.fsmatters.com The FSM Podcast is sponsored by The Fire Safety Event, which takes place at NEC Birmingham on 30 April - 2 May 2024. For more information or to register to attend for free visit https://www.firesafetyevent.com/
Episodes
Wednesday Feb 10, 2021
FSM Podcast - Episode 17
Wednesday Feb 10, 2021
Wednesday Feb 10, 2021
Episode 17 of the Fire Safety Matters Podcast features Brian interviewing Brett Ennals, founder and managing director of Cento (the nationwide recruitment company with a keen focus on the fire and security markets). Brett reviews the current state of play in the recruitment market, the skills shortage in the fire and security sectors, salary levels and the role of sub-contractors. He also details Best Practice advice for job candidates and hiring businesses as we move into the New Year.
Warren Spencer (managing director at Blackhurst Budd Solicitors) looks back at the digital conference on the Fire Safety Bill which Fire Safety Matters hosted just prior to Christmas. In addition, Mark chats with Adam Turk (CEO at the Siderise Group) who outlines the main points of Siderise Insulation’s ‘By Your Side’ campaign and why he believes the company is one of the passive fire protection market’s best kept secrets.
Major news stories analysed include the advent of the new regulator for construction products, the Labour Party’s recent Opposition Day debate on cladding and the establishment of a nationwide database designed to assess the potential link between exposure to fire toxicants and the increased occurrence of cancers and other diseases among firefighters.
Tuesday Nov 24, 2020
FSM Podcast - Episode 16
Tuesday Nov 24, 2020
Tuesday Nov 24, 2020
Brian hears from Wayne Woodland (Pre-Construction Director) and Matthew Flower (Sector Director) of Miller Knight, the specialist company focused on remedial passive fire protection measures. They outline key changes in the new build sector regarding fire protection post-Grenfell, the scope of current building regeneration projects and how it can be ensured that fire safety installations are being conducted in the correct manner.
With Warren Spencer (Managing Director at Blackhurst Budd Solicitors) absent from Episode 16 due to work commitments, this time around Mark looks ahead to next month’s digital conference on the Fire Safety Bill in which Warren features. In addition, Mark interviews Peter Jones (CEO at the Nineteen Group) who explains the recent decision to move The Fire Safety Event from next April to early September and why live events will continue to be so essential for practitioners in the fire sector.
Major news stories analysed include calls for firefighters to use body-worn video, a new worldwide standard for fire safety in buildings and the Fire Sector Federation’s support for a revised Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
Tuesday Oct 27, 2020
FSM Podcast - Episode 15
Tuesday Oct 27, 2020
Tuesday Oct 27, 2020
Brian interviews Richard Jenkins (CEO) and John Davidson (Head of Field Operations for Systems) of the National Security Inspectorate (NSI). They outline the work of the NSI and its key role in the fire safety sector, in addition to focusing on how fire safety solution providers can navigate their route towards achieving third party certification and also highlighting the organisation’s views in relation to the draft Building Safety Bill.
Once again, Mark hears from Warren Spencer (Managing Director at Blackhurst Budd Solicitors). This time around, Warren concentrates on the impact of COVID-19 in terms of compliance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. Mark also chats with Michala Ford (Head of Business Support at Safety Technology International) who offers an overview of STI’s product range and applications in projects encompassing tall buildings, the education sector and the heritage market.
Major news stories covered include the development of a dedicated FIA portal for EWS-1 Forms and ASFP CEO Niall Rowan’s stated intention to stand down from his role following next year’s AGM.
Tuesday Oct 13, 2020
FSM Podcast - Episode 14
Tuesday Oct 13, 2020
Tuesday Oct 13, 2020
Brian interviews Colin Todd MBE (Managing Director of C.S. Todd & Associates) on the changes taking place within the UK’s fire safety sector and how they’re directly impacting consultants, the registration process for fire risk assessors, developments with standards and guidance documents and also revisions to some of the industry’s key reference works.
As always, Mark chats with Warren Spencer (Managing Director at Blackhurst Budd Solicitors). On this occasion, Warren focuses his attentions on fire doors and the legalities pertaining to them. In addition, Mark hears from Mark Whiteley (UK and Ireland Sales Manager at asecos Limited) who looks at the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations, duly outlining their importance in terms of today’s fire safety projects.
Major news stories encompass the publication of the ‘Setting the Bar’ report by the Competence Steering Group and the National Fire Chiefs Council’s repeated call for sprinkler installations in school buildings.
Tuesday Sep 29, 2020
FSM Podcast - Episode 13
Tuesday Sep 29, 2020
Tuesday Sep 29, 2020
Brian hears from Bob Bantock (Heritage Fire Safety Specialist at the National Trust) about the key challenges facing the Trust’s properties and fire safety regime during the COVID-19 pandemic, Best Practice approaches for risk assessments and the importance of Continuing Professional Development for today’s fire safety practitioners.
Once again, Mark chats with Warren Spencer (Managing Director at Blackhurst Budd Solicitors), this time specifically in relation to an upcoming digital conference focused on the Fire Safety Bill. In addition, Mark interviews James Jones (Managing Director at fire evacuation alarm systems developer Vimpex) with a focus on CE marking for products post-Brexit.
Major news stories include a round-up of developments during Fire Door Safety Week 2020 and the latest comment issued on the Building Safety Bill.
Tuesday Sep 15, 2020
FSM Podcast - Episode 12
Tuesday Sep 15, 2020
Tuesday Sep 15, 2020
Brian interviews Ian Moore (CEO of the Fire Industry Association) about BAFE’s recent acquisition of the FIA’s Awarding Organisation and also the FIA’s new partnership with Western Business Media, which will see the publication of an all-new Annual Guide to UK Fire Safety.
As always, Mark chats with Warren Spencer (Managing Director at Blackhurst Budd Solicitors) in relation to legal issues affecting the industry and also interviews Tony Hanley (Managing Director of FirePro UK) with a focus on third party certification when it comes to fire suppression systems.
Major news stories analysed this time around include the Government’s commitment to implementing the post-Grenfell Tower recommendations and the RICS highlighting the importance of expertise being required to sign off EWS1 forms.
Tuesday Sep 01, 2020
FSM Podcast - Episode 11
Tuesday Sep 01, 2020
Tuesday Sep 01, 2020
Brian interviews Stephen Adams (CEO of BAFE) in relation to BAFE having recently acquired the Fire Industry Association’s Awarding Organisation and forming FireQual Ltd to progress qualifications for the UK’s fire sector.
In addition, Mark chats with Warren Spencer (managing director at Blackhurst Budd Solicitors) who addresses a question posed by one of Fire Safety Matters’ readers and also interviews Andy Spence (sales director and general manager at Britannia Fire) about how standards can slow down innovation in the world of fire suppression.
Major news stories analysed include AMA Research’s report on the active fire protection market and Mark Hardingham’s appointment as the next chair of the National Fire Chiefs Council.
Tuesday Aug 18, 2020
FSM Podcast - Episode 10
Tuesday Aug 18, 2020
Tuesday Aug 18, 2020
Brian interviews Tony Cash (President of the Rail Industry Fire Association) in relation to several key topics, among them how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted fire safety regimes on the railway network and the main changes to those safety regimes since the findings of the Kings Cross fire that occurred in 1987 were made public.
In addition, Mark chats with Tim Barker (UK Account Manager at FSi Ltd, the specialist fire protection systems manufacturer renowned for its expertise in fire stopping and compartmentation solutions) about the importance of using suitable passive fire protection systems and the new Building Safety Bill recently unveiled by the Government.
Major news stories analysed include insurer NFU Mutual urging commercial property owners not to neglect fire risk assessments during the pandemic and the 20% increase in smoking-related fires since the start of lockdown reported by the London Fire Brigade.
Tuesday Aug 04, 2020
FSM Podcast - Episode 9
Tuesday Aug 04, 2020
Tuesday Aug 04, 2020
Episode 9 of the fortnightly Fire Safety Matters Podcast includes Brian interviewing Roy Wilsher (chair of the National Fire Chiefs Council) about Dame Judith Hackitt’s Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety, the draft Building Safety Bill and the Fire Safety Bill and also how the Fire and Rescue Service has responded to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mark chats with fire safety lawyer Warren Spencer concerning current legal developments impacting the sector and also interviews Adam Welton (Head of Sales at LAN Control Systems) to discover what’s happening in the sphere of fire alarm management solutions.
Major news stories analysed include the proposed pay rise for firefighters and Control Room staff and the BSI’s announcement in relation to a new national standards programme.
Tuesday Jul 21, 2020
FSM Podcast - Episode 8
Tuesday Jul 21, 2020
Tuesday Jul 21, 2020
Episode 8 of the fortnightly Fire Safety Matters Podcast includes Brian chatting with Graham Ferris (General Manager at the Independent Fire Engineering and Distributors Association) on several core subjects, among them competency in fire safety work and the key challenges ahead for the sector. Mark hears all about the latest legal developments courtesy of fire safety lawyer Warren Spencer and also interviews Ray Puttock (Marketing Manager at EMS) on the benefits to be realised from the installation and use of wireless fire detection systems. The big news stories analysed include the Government’s publication of the draft Building Safety Bill and a major new strategic agreement forged between Western Business Media (the publisher of Fire Safety Matters) and the Fire Industry Association.