Fire & Risk Management London Road, Moreton in Marsh Gloucestershire GL56 0RH +44 (0)1608 812 532 www.frmjournal.com


Editor William Roszczyk wroszczyk@thefpa.co.uk


Production Editor Jan Wassall


jwassall@thefpa.co.uk advertising@thefpa.co.uk


Managing Director Jonathan O’Neill OBE


RISCAuthority Director Dr Jim Glockling


Advertising Jamie Wyatt


of DSEAR.


Foreword W


PEFC Certified


This product is from sustainably managed forests and controlled sources


PEFC/16-33-254 www.pefc.org


EditorWilliam Roszczykintroduces this month’s edition


ELCOME TO the March 2020 issue of F&RM, which focuses on toxicity, with sub focuses zeroing in on toxicity threats, fi refi ghter health and the challenges


One of the more harrowing elements arising so far from


the Grenfell inquiry was the report outlining just how much toxic material was released by materials used in the tower’s refurbishment. I’m sure that I’m not alone in being mortifi ed that certain material combinations – when burned – create incredibly dangerous fumes, residues and pollutants, all of which were found within the building itself and in the surrounding area. There is a growing awareness (and not a moment too soon) of the lack of attention previously paid to toxicity as an element of fi res, large or small. I’m sure many in this sector are more than aware of the dangers, but I think there’s a wider lack of knowledge at all levels – something that this issue, and an upcoming FPA event, aim to address. Our first focus – the specific threats posed by toxic


ISSN 1757-1324


The views expressed in articles by outside contributors are those of the authors and not necessarily those of The Fire Protection Association. Claims made for products and services in news items, articles or adverts do not imply endorsement by The Fire Protection Association. No responsibility is accepted for such views or claims.


Want to write for us?


Articles can cover aspects related to fire, business and resilience planning, protection of lives and buildings, or insurance.


Our minimum word count is 1,500 words – we also require a two to three sentence author bio and print quality author headshot, for our contributors’ page, and high resolution images to support your piece. We do not run overt advertorial – the best way to proceed is to explain general principles or technologies in the context of fire and other risks, with mention of relevant products in a case study.


If you’d like to write for F&RM, please contact us at frm@thefpa.co.uk


materials – sees Ash and Lacy’s Jonathan Evans argue that toxicity must be considered in our building regulations as well as in both fi re prevention and safety. Professor Richard Hull of the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) then charts the origins of smoke toxicity and explains how it can be assessed effectively to provide regulators with much needed information. Next, we move to firefighter health – a pressing subject,


given the myriad risks these brave men and women face selfl essly already at every fi re. Professor Anna Stec of UCLan examines potential long term toxic and carcinogenic risks from unwanted fi res threatening fi refi ghters, the public, fi re survivors and buildings. Of course, there are other materials that not only create


toxic fumes, but also are explosive or fl ammable – and these are covered under the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmosphere Regulations 2002 (DSEAR). In the fi rst of a two part series, FPA fi re risk consultant and lead DSEAR assessor Marcus Rees highlights DSEAR requirements and discusses control measures to minimise risks. We also have a series of current affairs pieces for you in this issue. Firstly, you’ll see my report from the latest FPA seminar held in London in late January, before the British Woodworking Federation’s Kevin Underwood takes a close look at fire door certification, as fire door performance can mean the difference between life and death. Finally, Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service’s Benjamin Brooks, and PriceWaterhouseCooper’s Andy Theedom and Hugo Warner, begin a debate by looking at big challenges for fire and other public services, and ask crucial questions needing answers. If you’d like to contribute an article to a future issue of the journal, please get in touch with me at wroszczyk@ thefpa.co.uk


4 MARCH 2020 www.frmjournal.com


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60