Kentec helps protect the Archive of Serbia

The newly restored Archive of Serbia in Belgrade, home to some of the country’s most valuable pre-1918 documents and archives, is being protected by a new fire safety system that includes a number of Kentec fire alarm control panels. The Archive of Serbia, houses and protects documents and other archival materials produced by Serbian state bodies and organisations before 1918 – prior to Serbia becoming part of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. Within its 972 archives and 51 collections, the archive houses over 10 kilometers of historical records. The new fire safety system, designed and engineered by leading fire safety specialists TVI Belgrade, comprises a four loop Kentec Syncro Multi Loop Analogue Addressable fire control panel supported by Apollo open protocol communicating with more than 70 devices. Three Kentec Sigma XT+ ECU Coincidence Units control a three-area fire suppression system with more than 900kg of 3M Novec 1230. Life safety specialists Kentec Electronics are the UK’s leading fire alarm control panel manufacturer. A truly global supplier, Kentec exports equipment from its UK base to over 80 countries, much of which is programmed in a wide array of...
ISO 9001:2015 – Does this new Standard affect your business?

ISO 9001:2015 – Does this new Standard affect your business?

On 1 October 2015 the substantially revised and updated ISO Standard, ISO 9001:2015 was published.  Businesses who are ISO 9001 certified now have up to 3 years to transition from ISO9001:2008 to the new ISO9001:2015. There are a few major changes on emphasis within the Standard, for example, Leadership, Planning and Risk Management within the business.   Reproduced below is a summary of the Principal Changes, provided by the Chartered Quality Institute within their ISO9001:2015 Report, along with a summary of the changes businesses do not need to make too.  FIA’s Compliance Manager, Kevin Stearns is available to talk to about the changes and can offer a consultancy service to help member companies with the transition to the new standard. Please contact Kevin at kstearns@fia.uk.com or 020 3166 5002.   The Summary is reproduced with the kind permission of the CQI (Chartered Quality Institute) and the lead authors on the Paper, Mr Colin MacNee and Mr Richard Green. ISO 9001 2015 Summary of principal...
25 people rescued from flats fire

25 people rescued from flats fire

70 firefighters attend the scene 25 people were evacuated from a block of flats in Hampstead, London, after a fire broke out earlier this week.  London Fire Brigade sent 10 fire engines and 70 firefighters to extinguish the blaze, which broke out in the flats situated above a shop. 23 people were led to safety from the flats and two other people, including a pregnant woman, were rescued from the roof of the building by a turntable ladder. Twelve people had to be treated at the scene for smoke inhalation and a two-year-old child was taken to hospital as a precaution. The cause of the fire still remains unclear at this...
Arson attack reveals numerous fire safety failings

Arson attack reveals numerous fire safety failings

Firm admits ten breaches A firm in Preston, Lancashire, have admitted to ten counts of breaching fire safety laws after a deliberate arson attack at their premises nearly ended in tragedy. One resident was forced to run past flames to escape the blaze, whilst another was nearly struck by falling PVC windows which buckled under the heat of the fire.  The incident was caused by another resident of the building, who deliberately torched the entrance hall outside her second floor flat, causing the a fire to break out and rapidly spread. Fire inspectors subsequently uncovered a string of dangerous fire safety practices at the property. The firm responsible for running the building, 3i Investments Ltd  and its director Faisal Hussain pleaded guilty to the offences after being prosecuted by Lancashire Fire and Rescue.   The charges against the firm included: failure to provide adequate fire separation between the means of escape and the flats  failure to provide a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment and review the existing assessment  failure to provide effective fire safety management  failure to provide an adequate alarm system failure to have adequate fire doors to one of the 2nd floor flats  failure to have adequate fire safety signage,  failure to adequately maintain the existing fire alarm system and failure to provide a sufficient fire evacuation...
Rogue landlord slapped with £20,000 fine

Rogue landlord slapped with £20,000 fine

A Reading landlord has been handed a fine of £20,000 and ordered to pay £3,343 in costs after being prosecuted for a string of offences. Mr Hafiz Gulfraz, who owned the house in multiple occupation, was charged with 12 offences including failing to ensure that the fire alarm and emergency lighting were maintained in good working order. The safety concerns were flagged to Reading Council by one of the tenants at the property. After inspecting the premises, the council believed was an imminent risk of harm if the tenants were to remain living in the property and an emergency prohibition order was served.  The court said that the case was one of the worst that it had ever dealt with. Richard Davies, Lead Councillor for Housing at Reading Borough Council, said: “The private rented sector is large in Reading and is a rapidly growing market.  “Most landlords provide decent and well managed homes but there are a few who do not meet the standards their tenants have a right to...

QUALITY & SAFETY ASSURANCE