Roaring success for Fire Safety seminar proves need for education

10 June 2010

The reaction to its first seminar has proved the need for further regional sessions, says the Passive Fire Protection Federation (PFPF). Held on Tuesday 25th May at the London Building Centre, the seminar was chaired by Sir Ken Knight, the UK’s Chief Fire and Rescue Adviser. "On the day of the Queen’s speech, it was a measure of the importance Sir Ken attaches to these issues that he spared the time to address our delegates," comments David Sugden, Chair

Ninety delegates came from local government, housing associations and architects’ practices to learn more about built-in, or ‘passive’ fire protection, and the application of the Regulatory Reform (Fire and Safety) Order 2005, and its relevance to their situation.

Presentations from Building Control, the London Fire Service, the Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP) and the British Woodworking Federation (BWF) all stressed the importance of built-in fire protection and how vital it is to ensure that specifications are not compromised during construction.

The seminar also addressed the issue of responsibility. Under the Fire Safety Order both the company and the individual responsible for the Risk Assessment are criminally liable for breaches in regulations.

The PFPF is the body for the built-in fire protection industry, and is dedicated to growing awareness on the Fire Safety Order. Membership includes the Chief Fire Officers Association, the DCLG, Local Authority Building Control and the Fire Test Study Group (UK) Ltd.

Further seminars will be held in Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds or York, Newcastle, Glasgow and Cardiff – visit www.pfpf.org or call Wendy Cooles on 01420 471621 for more information.