Clearview National September 2015 - Issue 166 | Page 75
firesafety
The Real Risks of Fire Safety
On 25th June 2015, David Schofield, owner of the Park Hotel
in Paignton, was sentenced to six months imprisonment,
suspended for two years for severe fire safety breaches.
»»The offences were
related to several breaches of
fire safety regulations which
included: fire doors not meeting
the required standard, fire doors
blocked or wedged open, poor
safety evacuation procedures and
exposed wires.
The most recent government
statistics show that around 42%
of hotels in England fail to meet
satisfactory standards in their
fire inspection, with one of the
most common issues being
inadequate emergency routes
and exits. Twenty eight fire doors
at the Park Hotel failed to close
properly, and in the event of a
fire this could have resulted in
devastating consequences for the
hotel and its occupants.
Fire doors are important
safety devices which are there to
help protect lives by preventing
the spread of smoke and fire.
Regulations state that fire doors
must be kept closed in order to
provide protection in the event
of a fire. Failure to comply with
these regulations can result in loss
of business, hefty fines and even
imprisonment.
For many, being able to keep
fire doors open makes day-to-day
life easier by enabling freedom of
movement through busy buildings.
It also improves ventilation and
reduces the risk of injury from
handling a heavy fire door.
Fireco can help make
compliance easy by offering
solutions that keep fire doors
open legally and safely. They supply
products that continuously listen
for the sound of the fire alarm
and close the doors automatically
in the event of a fire.
For more information visit
www.fireco.uk
Free fire safety
seminar
»»BM TRADA is holding
a free half-day seminar at the
University of Birmingham
on 8 September. The ever
popular event, Fire Protection
Measures– Understanding Your
Responsibilities aims to explain
the duties of the Responsible
Person under the Regulatory
Reform (Fire Safety) Order
(RRFSO) and raise awareness of
passive fire protection.
It provides an introduction to
the legislation and explains the
vital role of passive fire protection,
in ensuring life safety and why
correct installation and continuing
maintenance is essential.
The seminar explains the
importance of ensuring the
competency of those involved in
assessing, specifying, installing and
maintaining passive fire protection
measures and how third party
certification can help. It also
considers the role of the enforcing
officer; and the consequences
and costs of getting passive fire
protection wrong.
‘raise awareness
of passive fire
protection’
Delegates also receive free
access to ‘The Responsible
Person’ e-learning course from
the Fire Protection Association,
allowing them to fit further
learning into their busy schedules
at their own convenience.
For further information or to
book a place at one of these
events please visit http://www.
bmtrada.com/en-gb/training/
passive-fire-protectiontraining/fire-protectionmeasures or contact tel:
01494 569750 or email:
[email protected]
‘free access to
‘The Responsible
Person’
e-learning
course from the
Fire Protection
Association’
C L E A RV I E W-U K . C O M » S EP 2015 » 75