Association News, Health & Safety

The Passive Fire Protection Federation (PFPF) has announced a series of seminars on built in fire protection, to be held at venues around the country.

The series, which begins on 25th May with a “breakfast briefing” at the Building Centre in London, aims to promote better understanding of a range of issues relating to residential and commercial properties and current regulations governing fire safety.

Chaired by Sir Ken Knight, the UK’s chief fire and rescue adviser, the event will also feature speakers from Wandsworth Council Building Control and the London Fire Brigade, and will provide delegates with an in-depth look at the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order (RRO) with the opportunity to discuss issues with experts from the passive fire protection industries.

The British Woodworking Federation will also be the running a session on the role of fire doors in passive or built-in fire protection. The half day seminars, which cost £50 plus vat per delegate, are aimed at architects, specifiers, facility managers, local authority and housing association officers, registered landlords and hoteliers.

“I’d advise anyone responsible for fire safety – whether they’re specifying passive fire protection measures or conducting fire risk assessments in buildings covered by the RRO – to book a place on this seminar,” said David Sugden, chairman of the PFPF.

“Investigations into several major fires have made the news in recent years and revealed a lack of understanding of the basic principles of fire protection, and who has responsibility under the RRO.

A London Council employee who came across this problem told me that from her own experience she knows how difficult it can be to match the fire tested, certified product with what is actually fitted. There are so many points at which the specification can be changed – the supplier substitutes what he believes to be a similar component, the contractor uses an unqualified installer or, I’m sorry to say, someone along the line thinks they can get away with supplying an inferior product. With these seminars, we hope to make a difference.”

To register or find out more visit www.pfpf.org