The Locksmith Journal Mar/Apr 2019 - Issue 61 | Page 54

54 • FIRESAFETY PROUD SPONSOR OF THE LOCKSMITH JOURNAL FIREX International has new 2020 vision How to be compliant with fire safety » » FIRE SAFETY IS OFTEN overlooked as, luckily, fires don’t happen all the time. Companies that don’t have the right precautions in place are more likely to lose stock, property and even their business. In the worst circumstances, lives can be lost. There are regulations in place to minimise the risk, and spread of fire. Here are some aspects it covers: Clear corridors- It is important that nothing is obstructing the path. This is to make sure people can evacuate easily, and will also improve access for firefighters. Fire exits- It needs to be clearly signed which doors are fire exits. This is to avoid confusion and allow for an easy escape. Evacuation plans- All businesses need an up to date emergency evacuation plan. It needs to contain instructions on what people should do in the event of an emergency. Emergency doors- Any exits that are for the purpose of escape must open effortlessly. They should never be blocked or locked. Fire equipment- Extinguishers should be in plain sight and accessible. Maintain compartmentation- Fire doors should never be wedged open, and should be checked regularly. The building also needs to be kept in a fire safe condition, e.g. holes or gaps in walls or voids need to be filled. Fire resistant materials must always been used. There is always the possibility of a fire. But the risk can be reduced if you comply with fire regulations and the correct preventative measures are in place. For more fire safety information, go to fireco.uk » » FIREX INTERNATIONAL, alongside the co-located IFSEC International, Safety & Health Expo and Facilities Show, has announced that the Protection & Management series of events will be moving to a new dateline of 19-21 May for the 2020 edition at ExCeL, London. Gerry Dunphy, Exhibition Director, FIREX, explains: “Major business decisions are made at FIREX every year, and the event has been in huge growth in its home in London, as we anticipate seeing for the June 2019 event. Expanding on this, we’re thrilled now to have worked even more closely with the fire safety community and with our venue, ExCeL, to organise the 2020 edition on a May timescale. The customer is at the heart of the much-loved FIREX exhibition, and this will allow exhibitors and visitors alike to maximise this essential time in the buying cycle.” FIREX welcomes an international audience of installers, integrators, specifiers, distributors and end-users from over 70 countries. In the wake of the number of fire tragedies the community has witnessed on a global scale, the conversation around fire safety has never been more important; FIREX sees LOCKSMITHJOURNAL.CO.UK | MAR/APR 2019 Sponsored by ERA - Total Security organisations across a host of industries, from construction to government and legislative bodies, mark the three days as a key date on their calendars. In moving to May 2020, ExCeL also welcomes the Security & Counter Terror, Ambition and Forensics Europe Expos to run alongside FIREX and its neighbouring IFSEC, Safety & Health Expo and Facilities Show. With fire prevention and protection playing a major role in developments in the security and safety industry, the move further strengthens FIREX’s position as the industry leader in the life safety conversation. This strategic co-location of events will see 38,000 professionals working across fire and security come together at ExCeL London. Exhibiting companies will have access to the entire end-to-end fire protection supply chain under one roof, with visitors able to source products and technology from an unrivalled showcase of solutions. This year, FIREX will keep its June dateline from 18–20 June 2019. Registration is now open for FIREX 2019, running alongside IFSEC, Safety & Health Expo and Facilities Show. www.firex.co.uk