FIRE & ELECTRICAL SAFETY
A RISKY BUSINESS
Simon Massey, from Hochiki Europe, explores recent findings that reveal 56% of European businesses are risking employee safety by not adjusting security systems following a buildings change of use.
Considering fire safety during the design of a building is paramount when it comes to a structures safety features. In most cases during any new development, variations in building fabric, interior layout and intended use are taken into account by architects.
In spite of this, recent government figures show that emergency services are attending more than 60,000 fires in UK buildings every year. Research from Hochiki Europe expands on this topic, revealing that 56% of European businesses risk the safety of building occupants by failing to adjust security systems in line with subsequent changes in use.
With buildings outlasting their initial tenants, occupant requirements and the overall purpose of a space often changes, meaning the initial design is no longer suitable. If modifications to a structure are made, such as a
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change of use, building extensions or internal layout alterations, a property’s life safety needs are also likely to need updating.
With this in mind, it is vital that those responsible for fire safety keep abreast of any changes and respond correctly, to ensure their buildings remain compliant with regulations and are fit for purpose. Often, it is building and facilities managers that hold the important responsibility of overseeing the installation and maintenance of the property’s fire safety systems.
TROUBLING FINDINGS Government figures suggest that fire safety in buildings is still a pressing issue and recent research from Hochiki Europe echoes this. Our survey, taken by life safety installers throughout the UK and Europe, suggests that more than half of businesses are failing to adjust their
life-safety systems in accordance with changes in the use of their space.
The survey also revealed concerning attitudes towards the maintenance of life safety systems, with around 55% of installers feeling their customers are more concerned with initial expenditure on life safety systems than the Total Cost of Ownership.
One in five installers surveyed were concerned that building managers view fire safety maintenance as an unnecessary expense while three quarters suggested they viewed it as simply a tick-box exercise.
A BURNING ISSUE When renovating properties and reviewing maintenance practices, there are a number of things that must be taken into account to ensure fire safety and emergency lighting equipment remains up to scratch.
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