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 8-10 April 2025. For more information or to register to attend for free visit https://www.firesafetyevent.com/
Episodes
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
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
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
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
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
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.
Tuesday Jul 07, 2020
Tuesday Jul 07, 2020
In Episode 7 of the fortnightly Fire Safety Matters Podcast, Brian interviews Dennis Davis (Executive Officer at the Fire Sector Federation) about numerous issues, among them Approved Document B, competency in the fire sector, the much-discussed Fire Safety Bill and, of course, the ongoing (and vital) work of the Federation itself.
As always, Mark hears from fire safety lawyer Warren Spencer who, this time around, focuses on fire inspections and a new service designed to limit liability under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. Also, C-TEC founder and director Andy Scott talks about BS 8629. The news round-up includes further commentary on the hotly-debated subject of cladding remediation work in the UK.
Tuesday Jun 23, 2020
Tuesday Jun 23, 2020
In Episode 6 of the fortnightly Fire Safety Matters Podcast, Brian chats with Peter Aldridge (General Manager at the National Association of Healthcare Fire Officers and also General Manager for Estates, Fire and Security at the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust) about the importance of CPD and the impact of COVID-19 on the role of fire safety managers within the NHS. Mark hears from fire safety lawyer Warren Spencer in relation to current legal issues and also interviews Craig Halford (Managing Director at Jactone Products) on product compliance and current developments at the fire safety and signage developer. This week’s breaking news stories include a study conducted by the Fire Door Inspection Scheme and a report from the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee on progress to date with cladding remediation work.
Tuesday Jun 09, 2020
Tuesday Jun 09, 2020
In Episode 5 of the fortnightly Fire Safety Matters Podcast, Brian interviews Niall Rowan (CEO at the Association for Specialist Fire Protection) about several major topics, among them the Fire Safety Bill and the future direction of travel when it comes to passive fire protection. As always, Mark chats with fire safety lawyer Warren Spencer and also hears from Nigel Ward (technical support specialist at FFE) on the latest developments in beam detection technology. This week’s breaking news stories include UKAS support for BAFE’s ‘Don’t Just Specify, Verify!’ campaign and hot work-induced fires in the construction sector.
Wednesday May 27, 2020
Wednesday May 27, 2020
On this episode of the Fire Safety Matters Podcast, Brian interviews Bob Docherty (Chairman of the Institute of Fire Safety Managers) on the key topic of accreditation, while Mark chats with fire safety lawyer Warren Spencer on HMO prosecutions under the Fire Safety Order and also Gary Craig (Sales Director at global fire protection business Advanced). Analysis of this week’s news includes an appraisal of the RIBA’s views on the restriction of combustible materials in buildings and the FIA’s soon-to-be-introduced online examinations.