Firefighters-turned-fire risk consultants Dave Calvert and Tom Gilbert have launched a fire safety podcast.“The Open Fire podcast aims to bring together the fire safety industry, to include fire risk assessors, fire engineers and consultants,” it says on their new website, “providing an accessible and informative dialogue that can be comfortably understood by interested parties to include responsible persons across the commercial and residential sectors to encourage an enlightened, informed and entertaining understanding of current fire safety issues in the modern world.”
Fire safety has never been so firmly under the microscope – sadly it always takes tragedy to focus minds – so the podcast is a timely contribution to the debate.
In an age of intemperate, superficial exchanges on Twitter or Question Time, the popularity of podcasts – usually following the simple format of two or three people discussing a subject free from the tyranny of time limits – is a rebuke to the notion that people no longer have the time or concentration span for long-form media.
“Our aim is to open an honest and informed dialogue on fire safety issues through collaboration, research and innovation.” Dave Calvert & Tom Gilbert
The podcast should be a good format then for achieving the duo’s mission statement: “We are impartial and have no agenda other than promoting good practice, logical thinking and honest talking. Fire safety issues should not be debated behind closed doors, and no single body should have a monopoly on decision-making. If there’s a better way, we want to know.”
The pair also issued this call to arms on their website: “Our philosophy is to unite the fire safety industry and to help the owners, managers, and supervisors of buildings across the UK manage their portfolios to a better standard. We can’t do this alone.”
The duo are inviting guests to join them in their Old Street studios, London, where they record each podcast episode every Wednesday evening: “If you’re an industry specialist, a product innovator or just have some questions you need answered, join us live on our podcast.”
Tom Gilbert is a former RAF firefighter and commercial fire manager at a global commercial bank. Now heading up the fastest-growing fire risk management company in the UK, Frankhams RMS, he’s been engaged by several G15 housing associations to optimise strategic fire risk management. He also ranked sixth on our 10 fire safety influencers for 2018.
Dave Calvert began his career in the Royal Navy, later becoming an airport firefighter. As a fire consultant in both the commercial and residential sectors he now works as head of fire consultancy and training at one of the country’s leading fire safety providers.
Find out more about the podcast hosts.
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