2013 has been an exciting year in the fire industry, and we were delighted to become a part of it when we launched way back in January.
The industry is taking remarkable steps forward, and we were delighted to see that accidental deaths from fire are continuing to fall. I was also really happy to meet many of you in May at FIREX International, and I hope that you are as excited as I am to see the show in its new home at London’s ExCeL on 17-19 June.
As is traditional at this time of year, we’re taking a moment to look back at the most-read stories in fire in the past year. I’d like to thank all of our expert contributors and you, the community members who make IFSEC Global.com a success. And remember, IFSEC Global.com is your community, so if you feel you have something to share you can email us at editors@ifsecglobal.com and join our growing network of industry contributors.
10. Hold-Open Door Closers & Devices: Uses & Limitations
If you missed Claire Rizos’s guide to devices designed to legally (and safely) hold open fire doors, then now’s the time to go back.
9. 100 Fire Prosecutions Analysed
Fire solicitor Warren Spencer this year was involved in his 100th fire prosecution, and took the opportunity to look back at the trends across these prosecutions under the RRO since 2006.
8. Special Report: Total Fire Engineering at The Shard
Evacuation lifts for use during a fire? Surely not! These are what you can find in The Shard, a unique (for this country) solution to being Western Europe’s tallest building in event of fire.
7. A Guide to Fire Alarm System Types
Without wanting to teach you to suck eggs, if you missed our brief guide to the types of fire alarm system types, this is the place to go.
6. Labour Councillor Loses Appeal for Fire Convictions
Everyone likes to see a politician’s fall from grace, don’t they?
5. The End of Fire Risk Assessors?
What title could be more provocative? Warren Spencer imagined what could happen if an enforcing fire authority decides that a risk assessment isn’t suitable and sufficient? Could the risk assessor end up in prison, too?
4. A Worrying New Fire Risk in Timber-Framed Buildings
Earlier this year I visited the FPA’s laboratory and was shown a worrying new risk linked to air bricks that could cause problems for timber-framed buildings.
3. Change to Fire Alarm Standards: Are You Affected?
“If in doubt, consult a competent person.” That was the advice from government for people dealing with a Fire Risk Assessment. But if you’re looking for something a bit more concrete, remind yourself of Claire’s guide to the updated BS 5839-1 standard.
2. How Not to Install a Fire Door
This gallery of images was extremely popular with the community but not quite popular enough to top the list of the year’s top stories. One thing is for sure though: We were taken aback by the interest in the images of badly installed fire doors, and ahead of Fire Door Safety Week this gallery served as a stark reminder of how not to do it.
1. IFSEC 40: The Most Influential People in Security & Fire
Back in January we revealed our 2013 list of the most influential people in fire and security. Voted by users of info4fire and info4security — which later became a part of this website — the list was unveiled on launch day.
2023 Fire Safety eBook – Grab your free copy!
Download the Fire Safety in 2023 eBook, keeping you up to date with the biggest news and prosecution stories from around the industry. Chapters include important updates such as the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 and an overview of the new British Standard for the digital management of fire safety information.
Plus, we explore the growing risks of lithium-ion battery fires and hear from experts in disability evacuation and social housing.
