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A holistic approach to fire prevention and safety was one of the themes of this year’s keynote address, given by the government’s chief fire advisor at the Fire Industry Association’s AGM and annual lunch held in London in November.
Sir Ken Knight said the key was getting the balance right between protection, prevention and response. That is why the partnerships that are being formed in fire safety – such as meetings between the FIA and the minister for fire safety on topics such as legislation, fire service trading and the false alarms policy – are so important. He also reported that the industry would be consulted on the updated framework for the national fire and rescue service. Quoting the GB pound 7 billion a year economic cost of fire to the UK, he said that “the partnership of government and industry is crucial in driving these costs down.”
Earlier, the FIA’s outgoing chairman, Peter Moore, spoke of the achievements if the association in the first year since the merger of the BFPSA and FETA. These included strategic partnerships with the British Security Industry Association and the Institution of Fire Engineers; ongoing work with the Chief Fire Officers Association to reduce false alarms and implement a nationwide policy for a common strategy for alarm receiving centres; and the continuing pursuit of one-stop testing and a transportable certification regime across the EU.
Incoming chairman Martin Harvey turned his attention to the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order, and said FIA members were ideally placed to help spread the message about the legislation. “The skilled operatives from our trade [who] are involved in this work are more than willing to distribute further information concerning the Order, and to collect feedback so that all fire stakeholders may improve even further the levels of fire safety in the UK.” He then returned to the importance of a concerted, single voice for the fire industry, hoping that “there will be further unification within the industry which will increase our collective presence with the other fire stakeholder groups”.
Among the presentations made at the event, the Maurice Bean memorial lifetime achievement award went to Glynn Evans, highlighting his invaluable contribution to fire safety in a career spanning some 40 years. Peter Holmes of ADI Gardiner received a plaque in recognition of the company’s efforts in raising competence through training. Viv Jones, on behalf of the Worshipful Company of Fire Fighters’ charitable trust, received a cheque representing donations from FIA member companies; and David Bonnet was made the association’s very first honorary member, recognising the role he played in steering through the formation of the FIA.