http://www.means-of-escape.com/ The latest articles from Means of Escape Copyright: (C) Means of Escape.com 60 en-gb Sun, 5 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.means-of-escape.com/articles/833/fia-announces-2012-conference-programme/ http://www.means-of-escape.com/articles/833/fia-announces-2012-conference-programme/ The Fire Industry Association (FIA) has announced the seminar programme for its annual conference, which takes place on 15th March in Warwickshire. This year’s conference, entitled ‘Moving Fire safety into Top Gear’ will look at all the key issues to affect the industry including the reduction of false alarms, Fire & Rescue Services attitudes to attending automated fire alarms and, in terms of fire risk assessments, the definition of ‘suitable and sufficient’ and ‘competent and responsible’. Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:17:20 GMT http://www.means-of-escape.com/articles/832/shocking-facts-about-fire-safety-would-you-survive-a-fire-in-your-office/ http://www.means-of-escape.com/articles/832/shocking-facts-about-fire-safety-would-you-survive-a-fire-in-your-office/ Guildford, United Kingdom - When you turn out the lights in your apartment or hotel room, visit a restaurant or ride the lift to your 4th floor office, you assume you will come out alive. Our safety and peace of mind are based on the assumption that buildings have been built safely and are correctly maintained to keep them that way. The law requires public buildings to be constructed and maintained so that, in a fire, exit routes are kept open, smoke and flames aren’t allowed to spread unchecked and fire fighters can get in to tackle the fire and get out again without loss of life. ` And we all assume the law is complied with. Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:15:22 GMT http://www.means-of-escape.com/articles/831/asfp-leads-the-way-in-partnership-and-education/ http://www.means-of-escape.com/articles/831/asfp-leads-the-way-in-partnership-and-education/ Partnership, sustainability and education are top of the agenda for the Association of Specialist Fire Protection, according to ASFP President Brian Robinson. Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:14:19 GMT http://www.means-of-escape.com/articles/830/prysmian-launches-new-afumex-cable-range-and-website/ http://www.means-of-escape.com/articles/830/prysmian-launches-new-afumex-cable-range-and-website/ To coincide with the launch of Prysmian’s Afumex range of low smoke zero halogen cables (LSOH) the company has introduced a new dedicated website, www.afumexcables.co.uk. The portal is the source of information for the entire range, including Afumex 6491B, Afumex 6242B, Afumex BS6742 and Afumex LSX. Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:06:36 GMT http://www.means-of-escape.com/articles/829/new-andquotbest-valueandquot-10-year-optical-smoke-alarm-from-detectomat-/ http://www.means-of-escape.com/articles/829/new-andquotbest-valueandquot-10-year-optical-smoke-alarm-from-detectomat-/ HDv® sensys is a New, "Best Value", 10 Year optical smoke alarm from detectomat. "Best Value" because this is a quality product based on tried and tested, commercial grade systems technology, which is designed to deliver reliable performance with minimal failures and call backs! Quality products are not the cheapest but they can deliver exceptional value over their operational life. And when considering a life safety product in someone’s home, long term reliable performance is a must. Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:03:36 GMT http://www.means-of-escape.com/articles/828/quench-fire-use-a-viable-solution-for-fire-protection-in-listed-property/ http://www.means-of-escape.com/articles/828/quench-fire-use-a-viable-solution-for-fire-protection-in-listed-property/ Quench Fire based in East Sussex were asked to provide cost effective fire protection for a 3-storey, late 18th century townhouse in Rochester. Due to the Grade II Listing of the property they knew that they could not recommend anything that was going to adversely affect the historic fabric or indeed the newly refurbished décor of the property. Building Regulations demand that a protected enclosed stairwell is provided or alternatively, they require the use of sprinklers or other compensatory measures. An enclosed stairwell was not acceptable in the open plan design but, fortunately, David Moyce of Quench Fire recommended a solution. Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:00:53 GMT http://www.means-of-escape.com/articles/827/c-tecs-revolutionary-envision-fire-panel-at-firex-south/ http://www.means-of-escape.com/articles/827/c-tecs-revolutionary-envision-fire-panel-at-firex-south/ C-TEC will be exhibiting its powerful new multi-loop Envision touch-screen controlled analogue fire panel at this year’s Firex South. Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:55:00 GMT http://www.means-of-escape.com/articles/826/york-hospital-focuses-on-evacuation-safety/ http://www.means-of-escape.com/articles/826/york-hospital-focuses-on-evacuation-safety/ York Hospital serves as a hub for its surrounding community, caring for patients with varying medical needs and levels of mobility, making it responsible for the safe evacuation of all patients, staff and visitors. To demonstrate its dedication to evacuation safety, the hospital has teamed up with Evac+Chair International to continue to uphold robust evacuation plans for its occupants. Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:51:50 GMT http://www.means-of-escape.com/articles/825/from-rome-to-a-kiss-and-modern-atria/ http://www.means-of-escape.com/articles/825/from-rome-to-a-kiss-and-modern-atria/ It started with a wartime kiss and ended in the deaths of 492 people and marks, arguably, the moment when modern fire safety started to get serious. Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:50:17 GMT http://www.means-of-escape.com/articles/824/fire-evacuation-the-end-of-one-crisis-but-the-beginning-of-another/ http://www.means-of-escape.com/articles/824/fire-evacuation-the-end-of-one-crisis-but-the-beginning-of-another/ Our experience from having prepared over 1,300 fire risk assessments – is that many otherwise well organized organizations fail to prepare and rehearse a comprehensive Emergency Plan. Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:47:16 GMT http://www.means-of-escape.com/articles/823/adopting-a-fire-safety-culture-is-a-corporate-commitment-that-each-organisation-should-have-in-place/ http://www.means-of-escape.com/articles/823/adopting-a-fire-safety-culture-is-a-corporate-commitment-that-each-organisation-should-have-in-place/ Fire safety is a corporate commitment. It should be a condition of employment to ensure that each individual understands how important fire safety is taken within the organisation. Before fire safety arrangements and modern products, comes the old fashioned method of starting at the beginning and spreading the word to form a fire safety culture. Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:40:16 GMT http://www.means-of-escape.com/articles/822/bre-global-provides-some-essential-information-for-retail-managers/ http://www.means-of-escape.com/articles/822/bre-global-provides-some-essential-information-for-retail-managers/ It is vitally important that retailers do everything possible to protect their colleagues, customers and premises from the many fire risks faced by their business on a daily basis. A fire safety management system can significantly reduce these risks and minimise the potential effects of fire. Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:36:13 GMT http://www.means-of-escape.com/articles/821/the-fia-welcomes-an-extensive-training-programme-for-2012/ http://www.means-of-escape.com/articles/821/the-fia-welcomes-an-extensive-training-programme-for-2012/ The Fire Industry Association has released its 2012 Training Brochure which outlines all 17 of the Association’s courses running next year. Tue, 20 Dec 2011 14:02:48 GMT http://www.means-of-escape.com/articles/820/ifeda-voices-concern-over-fire-extinguisher-removal/ http://www.means-of-escape.com/articles/820/ifeda-voices-concern-over-fire-extinguisher-removal/ IFEDA, the Independent Fire Engineering & Distributors Association, is questioning the reasoning behind the recent removal of fire extinguishers in a property maintained by Richmond Housing Partnership (RHP). Residents at the property have allegedly been told that the removal of fire extinguishers from common areas of their block of flats was for their own safety. Tue, 20 Dec 2011 14:01:23 GMT http://www.means-of-escape.com/articles/819/kac-manual-call-points-for-legacy-mains-voltage-fire-systems/ http://www.means-of-escape.com/articles/819/kac-manual-call-points-for-legacy-mains-voltage-fire-systems/ The latest addition to KAC’s range of manual call points for specialist applications is the MCP6V, an indoor call point for flush or surface mounting that will switch up to 2A at 240VAC mains voltage. Tue, 20 Dec 2011 14:00:16 GMT http://www.means-of-escape.com/articles/818/argos-fire-choose-detectomat’s-src-3000-for-best-value-temporary-fire-detection-on-construction-sites/ http://www.means-of-escape.com/articles/818/argos-fire-choose-detectomat’s-src-3000-for-best-value-temporary-fire-detection-on-construction-sites/ Construction site fires are regrettably a topical issue with a number of recent instances of significant fire damage to buildings in the process of construction. The issue is receiving serious attention from related Trade Associations and Insurance providers looking for a cost-effective solution. And Argos Fire are offering one in the Detectomat SRC3000 wireless detect system. Tue, 20 Dec 2011 13:59:20 GMT http://www.means-of-escape.com/articles/817/trellchem-vps-suits-from-trelleborg-will-be-a-key-player-at-the-uefa-euro-2012-in-poland/ http://www.means-of-escape.com/articles/817/trellchem-vps-suits-from-trelleborg-will-be-a-key-player-at-the-uefa-euro-2012-in-poland/ In preparation for the UEFA EURO 2012, the National Headquarters of the State Fire Service in Warsaw, Poland will upgrade to the Trellchem® VPS suit from Trelleborg Protective Products as their standard type 1a (Level A), fully encapsulated chemical protective suit for their first responders. Tue, 20 Dec 2011 13:58:05 GMT http://www.means-of-escape.com/articles/816/power-for-emergency-lighting-–-local-vs-central/ http://www.means-of-escape.com/articles/816/power-for-emergency-lighting-–-local-vs-central/ Emergency lighting is an obvious requirement during an evacuation situation, but what if the cabling from the power source to the point of use is damaged? A centralised system leaves critical emergency lighting at very real risk. Why leave huge lengths of site-wide cable vulnerable to theft, fire damage or a system circuit failure when ‘point of use’ power system installation can provide the guarantee you need in an emergency? Tue, 20 Dec 2011 13:56:45 GMT http://www.means-of-escape.com/articles/815/macbryde-homes-use-a-viable-alternative-to-enclosing-stairwells-or-residential-sprinklers/ http://www.means-of-escape.com/articles/815/macbryde-homes-use-a-viable-alternative-to-enclosing-stairwells-or-residential-sprinklers/ When Macbryde Homes embarked on designing a terrace of 21/2 storey homes with open plan kitchen/dining and living room in Llandudno Junction, they were faced with the problem of providing a cost effective and appropriate fire protection solution, which would be acceptable to potential customers. For their contemporary open space design the Building Regulations demand that a protected enclosed stairwell is provided or they require the use of alternative compensatory measures such as sprinklers. Tue, 20 Dec 2011 13:50:24 GMT http://www.means-of-escape.com/articles/814/evac-chair-communication/ http://www.means-of-escape.com/articles/814/evac-chair-communication/ Preventing fatalities during an emergency begins with regular and effective communication to all occupants of a building – employees and visitors. The Equality Act 2010 reiterates key elements of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 by specifying that employers take responsibility for ensuring that all people, including those with mobility problems, can evacuate a building safely in the event of a fire. Tue, 20 Dec 2011 13:49:31 GMT http://www.means-of-escape.com/articles/813/chiltern-international-fire-fire-doors-explained-february-sold-out-already/ http://www.means-of-escape.com/articles/813/chiltern-international-fire-fire-doors-explained-february-sold-out-already/ Almost as soon as the 2012 details were released online, the 28th February date for Chiltern International Fire’s one-day training course ‘Fire Doors Explained’ sold out. The CPD-certified seminar, which covers steel, composite and timber fire doors, has always proved popular, but this year’s interest in the course has ‘surpassed all expectations’. Tue, 20 Dec 2011 13:45:43 GMT http://www.means-of-escape.com/articles/812/bre-global-discusses-issues-surrounding-the-responsible-person-/ http://www.means-of-escape.com/articles/812/bre-global-discusses-issues-surrounding-the-responsible-person-/ BRE Global highlights some important considerations for businesses and employers surrounding the Responsible Person. Tue, 20 Dec 2011 13:44:59 GMT http://www.means-of-escape.com/articles/811/working-out-who-is-responsible-for-fire-safety-/ http://www.means-of-escape.com/articles/811/working-out-who-is-responsible-for-fire-safety-/ Misconceptions exist about fire safety responsibilities at work, claims a fire safety trainer. Steve Morris, of Xact Training, has noticed a lack of understanding over the issue from his work with customers within the field, including employers, employees, risk assessors and the Fire Service. Here Mr Morris answers some frequently-asked questions about where responsibility for fire safety in buildings lies: Tue, 20 Dec 2011 13:43:52 GMT http://www.means-of-escape.com/articles/810/launch-of-fire-stream-–-safety-videos-on-demand/ http://www.means-of-escape.com/articles/810/launch-of-fire-stream-–-safety-videos-on-demand/ All Fire Protection Association (FPA) safety training videos can now be accessed online with fire-stream. Wed, 14 Dec 2011 10:30:52 GMT http://www.means-of-escape.com/articles/809/fire-safety-in-educational-facilities/ http://www.means-of-escape.com/articles/809/fire-safety-in-educational-facilities/ Fifty years ago this month (December), 323 people, many of them children, died in a circus fire in Brazil, which also made a hero of an elephant. It provides a graphic reminder that children can be most at risk when fire breaks out. Thu, 1 Dec 2011 09:29:19 GMT http://www.means-of-escape.com/articles/808/freedors-the-easy-solution/ http://www.means-of-escape.com/articles/808/freedors-the-easy-solution/ Fireco’s award winning Freedor, the world’s first wireless, electrically powered free-swing door closer, is proving to be a great success in the healthcare sector. Thu, 1 Dec 2011 09:09:01 GMT http://www.means-of-escape.com/articles/807/bre-global-discusses-the-importance-of-correct-installation-of-passive-fire-protection/ http://www.means-of-escape.com/articles/807/bre-global-discusses-the-importance-of-correct-installation-of-passive-fire-protection/ Passive Fire Protection (PFP) is of vital importance to the protection of people, businesses and buildings. PFP and containment measures are designed to prevent or slow the spread of fire from the room of fire origin to other building spaces. It is designed and installed to limit building damage and provide more time to the building occupants to complete emergency evacuation or to reach a safe area within the building. Wed, 30 Nov 2011 17:22:46 GMT http://www.means-of-escape.com/articles/806/cambridgeshire-calls-for-businesses-to-help-reduce-false-fire-alarms/ http://www.means-of-escape.com/articles/806/cambridgeshire-calls-for-businesses-to-help-reduce-false-fire-alarms/ The Fire Industry Association (FIA) and Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service (FRS) have teamed together to reduce the volume of false fire alarms occurring in businesses across the county. Tue, 29 Nov 2011 17:14:13 GMT http://www.means-of-escape.com/articles/805/david-sugden-chairman-of-the-passive-fire-protection-federation-says-risk-assessments-should-always-start-with-the-structure-/ http://www.means-of-escape.com/articles/805/david-sugden-chairman-of-the-passive-fire-protection-federation-says-risk-assessments-should-always-start-with-the-structure-/ Ever since the Lakanal House disaster Risk Assessments have been high on the list of “things to do” for Registered Social Landlords (RSLs). But are they doing them correctly – and above all, safely? When the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order or ‘FSO’ became law in 2006 there was a lot of confusion about what RSLs needed to do, and many prosecutions have followed. Tue, 29 Nov 2011 17:13:33 GMT http://www.means-of-escape.com/articles/804/fia-agm-highlights-a-positive-year-for-the-organisation/ http://www.means-of-escape.com/articles/804/fia-agm-highlights-a-positive-year-for-the-organisation/ Despite challenging economic conditions, 2011 has proved a positive year for the Fire Industry Association (FIA) according to figures announced at the organisation’s fourth AGM & Lunch. Tue, 29 Nov 2011 17:12:52 GMT http://www.means-of-escape.com/articles/803/pole-position-for-prysmian/ http://www.means-of-escape.com/articles/803/pole-position-for-prysmian/ Prysmian FP600S and FP400 fire resistant cables have been installed in the fire alarm system at the world famous Silverstone circuit in Northampton. The installation was completed just in time for the 2011 Formula One Santander British Grand Prix, part of the multi million pound redevelopment of the pit and paddock facility. Tue, 29 Nov 2011 17:10:34 GMT http://www.means-of-escape.com/articles/802/groveley-detection-relocation-due-to-expansion/ http://www.means-of-escape.com/articles/802/groveley-detection-relocation-due-to-expansion/ Expanding hazard detection company Groveley Detection has relocated to larger premises in Dorset. Tue, 29 Nov 2011 17:09:53 GMT http://www.means-of-escape.com/articles/801/draeger-appoints-peter-silk-and-further-increases-industry-expertise/ http://www.means-of-escape.com/articles/801/draeger-appoints-peter-silk-and-further-increases-industry-expertise/ Peter Silk, formerly a technical advisor to Firebuy and Assistant Divisional Officer with the London Fire Brigade (LFB), has joined Draeger Safety as Manager of its new Southern Safety Centre. He joins a team of industrial experts focused on delivering high quality solutions to customer problems as a result of in-depth knowledge of different industrial applications. Tue, 29 Nov 2011 17:08:35 GMT http://www.means-of-escape.com/articles/800/prioritise-training-to-ensure-a-safe-evacuation/ http://www.means-of-escape.com/articles/800/prioritise-training-to-ensure-a-safe-evacuation/ Ensuring an individual emergency evacuation plan is in place is paramount, but even the most comprehensive plan becomes redundant unless premises managers ensure people are correctly trained in how to adhere to them. Without holding regular training sessions, communication exercises and reviewing the personal emergency evacuation plans (PEEP) of those with mobility problems, any adopted procedures become redundant, and peoples’ lives are put at risk in the event of an emergency, such as a fire. Tue, 29 Nov 2011 17:03:52 GMT http://www.means-of-escape.com/articles/799/alan-cox-discusses-planning-for-hotel-fire-safety-sponsored-by-firecad/ http://www.means-of-escape.com/articles/799/alan-cox-discusses-planning-for-hotel-fire-safety-sponsored-by-firecad/ The old adage “A picture is worth a thousand words” has been attributed to Fred R. Bernard in the Printers’ Ink trade journal, promoting the use of images in advertisements that appeared on the side of streetcars. The quote is sometimes also attributed to Napoleon Bonaparte who said "Un bon croquis vaut mieux qu'un long discours," or "A good sketch is better than a long speech" which has been translated today as "A picture is worth a thousand words" - and nowhere is this more true than when providing an overview of fire precautions in buildings and whilst these graphical fire plans can be seen in many hotels and public buildings in Europe, Australia and the USA – why are they rarely seen in the UK and why should they be a fundamental part of planning for hotel fire safety? Tue, 29 Nov 2011 17:01:45 GMT http://www.means-of-escape.com/articles/798/power-for-designated-emergency-evacuation-lifts/ http://www.means-of-escape.com/articles/798/power-for-designated-emergency-evacuation-lifts/ Most lifts cannot be used in an emergency. This is to prevent cabin doors from opening onto a fire or smoke engulfed landing. It also prevents lift use when there is a risk of power failure or cables melting. However, as a result of the changing and more demanding environment for duty of care, there is the need to improve the facilities for the evacuation of disabled, injured or incapacitated persons from public premises. A designated evacuation lift, protected with features to enable operation during an emergency, will allow for safe and controlled evacuation, in line with the Disability Discrimination Act. Tue, 29 Nov 2011 16:27:36 GMT http://www.means-of-escape.com/articles/797/new-aico-website-features-innovative-specifier-tools/ http://www.means-of-escape.com/articles/797/new-aico-website-features-innovative-specifier-tools/ Aico Ltd. has launched a completely new website aimed at providing its customers with useful information and unique features. In particular it provides comprehensive information for specifiers looking to specify Aico’s market leading Ei Professional range of mains powered fire alarms. Mon, 31 Oct 2011 12:11:29 GMT http://www.means-of-escape.com/articles/796/forth-valley-college-achieves-safety-with-distinction/ http://www.means-of-escape.com/articles/796/forth-valley-college-achieves-safety-with-distinction/ The entire campus network of Forth Valley College, Scotland’s fifth largest college, is now fitted with specialist evacuation chairs to provide a safer escape for students and staff with mobility problems in an emergency (the Falkirk campus specifically has benefitted from this development) Mon, 31 Oct 2011 12:03:08 GMT http://www.means-of-escape.com/articles/795/new-devon-housing-development-uses-aico-alarms-with-sprinkler-systems/ http://www.means-of-escape.com/articles/795/new-devon-housing-development-uses-aico-alarms-with-sprinkler-systems/ Lite Homes' new Northcotts residential development in Devon features contemporary architect designed homes with high specification features, including a sprinkler system fully integrated with Aico's 140 Series smoke and heat alarms for top level protection. Mon, 31 Oct 2011 11:59:09 GMT http://www.means-of-escape.com/articles/794/ifeda-members-feel-the-benefit/ http://www.means-of-escape.com/articles/794/ifeda-members-feel-the-benefit/ IFEDA, the Independent Fire Engineering and Distributors Association, recognising the need to offer additional benefits of membership that add tangible value to its many members, has introduced a free bespoke HR advice and assistance service. Mon, 31 Oct 2011 11:55:12 GMT