FOCUS
Fire Sector Summit
and ‘understand that those vulnerabilities had root causes’. The end of the 2000s showed vulnerabilities had an impact on wider issues, and firefighters now understand ‘how to reduce risk’. There is still a requirement for data to go to the Home Office, but services are now creating and developing their own databases. It is ‘far more holistic to understand community risk, as your awareness becomes far greater’ recognising impacts of root causes and bad outcomes. Firefighters can target home safety checks
through data ‘intelligence’, though the fact services need to create their own systems showed him the unreliability of the Home Office system. The choice between free or paid systems is usually obvious, but the free system ‘doesn’t deliver’, and over half pay, which he called a ‘real issue’. The free system ‘still just focuses on incident data
and operational demand’, but the consequence of proactive work is that there is less demand for operations, so while services are doing more for less, it is having a ‘bigger impact’. A downside of new processes is firefighters
‘haven’t got as much information to gather from incidents to learn as in the past’, while there is no mechanism to collect data from different types of fire, illustrating a ‘significant gap’. Another opportunity was the increase in
partnerships to ‘tap into’ a range of data sources. The insurance industry operates ‘fundamentally’ on data sources, and if fire services could tap into that, they could ‘find a way to share their data – how much more could we enrich targeted activity?’ Mr Dartford pointed to how FRSs are looking holistically at the level of risk and vulnerability affecting health, safety and wellbeing, adding it was ‘encouraging’ to see the health industry appreciate the value of the fire service dealing with public health via Safe and Well visits. Another issue was the establishment of the new inspectorate, with data ‘undoubtedly part of the new process’. The body will look at comparative data from services, so needs ‘consistent, reliable, timely data’, in a ‘big change’. The most important thing is the ‘different
approach’ in studying data, identifying vulnerabilities and ‘those we can help’, with ‘really important impact’ on deaths and injuries now at an ‘all time low’. It has taken time to prove value, but ‘stories start to emerge’ sharing the impact of community engagement and the use of data.
Sprinklers in tall buildings
British Automatic Fire Sprinkler Association’s (BAFSA’s) Steve Seaber and Alan Brinson of the European Fire Sprinkler Network discussed sprinkler industry challenges post Grenfell. Urgent recruitment, training, and expansion of the training network are essential, Mr Seaber began, saying that specifiers need to
develop risk assessed and managed systems and programmes, based on British standards, third party approved products and competent installers. Earlier tragic fires at Shirley Towers and Lakanal
House prompted coroners to recommend social housing providers consider retrofitting sprinklers in all existing high rise buildings. The government fire advisor for Lakanal declared such retrofitting was not considered practical or economic; yet practical and cost effective retrofitting of occupied high rise housing has been completed in reasonable time and with minimum impact on residents. Prior to Grenfell, 100 retrofits nationwide were successfully completed to respond to identified high risks and to protect vulnerable people, or as part of long term refurbishment programmes at 57 other tower blocks. A much greater uptake of low rise retrofit in social housing is also possible. Post Grenfell, a number of authorities stated
intent to sprinkler all high rise blocks; some with unrealistic timescales. Others show more measured and risk assessed approaches, such as agreeing to run a pilot scheme. Some housing providers may be pre judging outcomes of the Grenfell inquiry, so expectations must be managed using industry and housing provider experience, while encouraging the use of third party approved products and installers. Thirty of 33 installation companies surveyed
showed a surge in enquiries and increase in quotes of 150-500%. Nine reported waiting lists of up to two months and eight were actively turning away work. Recently announced plans to retrofit around 600 blocks raised concern about component availability, but it is believed that this could be absorbed by manufacturers and growing installer capacity. Efforts to enlarge the workforce to meet Welsh
demand, with possible extension to England, include a Level 2 course in sprinkler installation (residential and domestic) for those with less than three years’ experience, plus day release courses. From 2018, a course in domestic installation and maintenance aims to upskill Level 3 qualified plumbers.
40 DECEMBER 2017/JANUARY 2018
www.frmjournal.com
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