Northamptonshire businesses given fire safety advice ahead of latest strike

Fire service strikes have certainly gained unfortunate prominence in the national news headlines in recent weeks and months, as has proved the case in Northamptonshire, following the announcement of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) of their intention to take further strike action, amid their ongoing national dispute with the government. Triple Star Fire (http://www.triplestarfire.com) can therefore only agree with Northamptonshire County Council's encouragement to local businesses to ensure the fitness for purpose of their fire safety procedures, including that they have the most up to date fire safety equipment.

Although contingency plans were put in place by Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service to minimise disruption caused by the latest strike, which lasted between 10:00 and 14:00 hours on Wednesday 13th November, it is nonetheless always a good idea for a conscientious business to keep an eye on its fire safety measures - including carrying out any fire equipment maintenance that may be required. This is despite the service having spent several months, including in partnership with neighbouring authorities, ensuring its ability to promptly respond to any emergencies that did occur during the strike period.

To help businesses to prepare themselves in the event of a fire or similar emergency incident, the service outlined six simple steps that they could take. These included reviewing their FireRisk Assessment (FRA) to ensure that it was up to date and incorporated all of the fire risks within their business premises. Companies were also urged to make sure that their staff training was up to date, including in the use of fire extinguishers, as well as ensure the good working order of their fire alarms and emergency lighting.

The service also said that all of a firm's employees should be trained in emergency procedures, suggesting that a fire drill should be carried out remind staff of procedures, as well as evaluation procedures practiced. Other advice from the service for Northamptonshire businesses included to carry out a hazard spotting assessment inside and outside of any business premises, alongside the practicable removal or reduction of any possible sources of ignition. Companies in the region were also urged to reduce the amount of flammable materials that they stored or used in their premises, in addition to making sure that what was left was stored in a lockable fire resisting store.

Mark Ainge, Head of Community Services, said that by preparing themselves for an emergency, businesses could not only minimise any disruption resulting from a fire, but also quickly get back up and running. That are words that we can only firmly agree with here at Triple Star Fire (http://www.triplestarfire.com), as we continue to provide a wide range of organisations with the fire products and services that they require over the coming weeks and months - from fire extinguishersfor business to the highest standard of fire alarm maintenance.

Editor’s Note: Triple Star Fire (http://www.triplestarfire.com) are represented by the search engine advertising and digital marketing specialists Jumping Spider Media. Email: info@jumpingspidermedia.co.uk or call: +44 (0)20 3070 1959 / +34 952 783 637.

                                          

Dramatic crane operator rescue another indication of the dangers of fire

The very last thing that our seasoned fire safety professionals here at Triple Star Fire (http://www.triplestarfire.com) would want for your organisation's employees this Christmas would be for them to discover the dangers of fire the hard way, as a result of a failure to maintain fire alarms or carry out other vital safety measures. Indeed, even with the best will in the world, fire can pose a real peril to human life, as a crane operator in Canada recently found out in dramatic fashion.

It was in Kingston, Ontario where the crane worker found himself trapped when a fire broke out in a half-built apartment building. Thankfully for the naturally petrified man, a Griffon helicopter from Canadian Forces Base Trenton was on hand to pluck him to safety after he had made his way to the tip of the crane, as documented in video footage widely viewed online. He was then taken to a waiting ambulance, the police stating that he was believed to have sustained only minor injuries. But they also confirmed the luckiness of his escape, the "structurally unsafe and at risk of collapse" base of the crane making the rescue a true race against time.

Sadly, not all such attempted rescues have such a happy ending, which only further confirms the importance of the introduction and maintenance of the right fire safety equipment, as well as such measures as a thorough fire risk assessment. This time of year is supposed to be one of celebration, after all, and you will want to focus on your organisation concluding the year on a successful note, rather than having to face what can be the extremely grave human, legal and/or financial consequences of fire.

That message of caution has been spread by many other fire safety organisations across the country lately, including Humberside Fire and Rescue Service, which having been forced into providing a reduced emergency response service due to strike action, urged local businesses to take their own steps to reduce the likelihood of fire. Deputy Chief Fire Officer Dene Sanders reminded businesses of the importance of an up to date fire risk assessment, as part of safety arrangements that were sufficiently robust to enable everyone to quickly and easily escape the building in the event of fire.

Dene also flagged up the potential fire hazard of Christmas decorations and lights, telling firms to ensure that all of their decorative lights had a British Safety Standard sign on them, while also not leaving them on overnight when the business was closed and the premises unoccupied. We can only wholeheartedly support such advice here at Triple Star Fire (http://www.triplestarfire.com), and would urge any business that requires such services as fire alarm installations and/or fire equipment maintenance over the Christmas and New Year period to get in touch without delay.

Editor’s Note: Triple Star Fire (http://www.triplestarfire.com) are represented by the search engine advertising and digital marketing specialists Jumping Spider Media. Email: info@jumpingspidermedia.co.uk or call: +44 (0)20 3070 1959 / +34 952 783 637.

Those easily forgotten Christmas fire safety tips

It's so easy to overlook that, as your employees start to get excited about the upcoming festive period and everyone rushes to get assignments done by those final pre-holiday deadlines, the highest standards of fire safety continue to apply in your organisation. That naturally means doing everything possible to maintain fire alarms and other vital equipment, as can be purchased from Triple Star Fire (http://www.triplestarfire.com), but it also means taking note of the aspects of fire safety that are slightly different at this time of year.

Generally speaking, Christmas wouldn't increase the fire safety risk in your workplace if it wasn't for the many electrical decorations and lights that tend to be increasingly strewn around the office as December looms. Basic steps that you are advised to take therefore include reviewing your firm's fire risk assessment, identifying the additional hazards and calculating the risks, as well as identifying who is at risk - with the elderly, young and disabled a particular priority. A hierarchy of control should also be used to identify the necessary control measures, and significant findings should finally be recorded and instruction given to workers.

Good general fire safety advice for this time of year includes ensuring that fire exit signs, call points, emergency lights, fire alarm sounders and other fire safety equipment is not concealed or obscured, as well as introducing any additional directional or exit notices that you deem to be necessary. Nor should fire escape doors or routes ever be obstructed or made harder to use by any Christmas trees, decorations or lights.

We'd also advise you to carefully consider the exact decorations that you introduce to your workplace. The extremely flammable nature of paper trimmings and cotton wool, for example, should certainly rule them out as an option, and you might look for a supplier of fire retardant foil decorations and fire resistant paper decorations. You should also space out your decorations so that in the event of a fire, it does not spread easily from one decoration to another, and nor should your decorations be placed in close proximity to ignition sources.

Some businesses opt for artificial Christmas trees to reduce their fire risk, not least as a real one can be highly flammable if it is allowed to dry out as a result of inadequate watering by busy workers. The tree should also be placed in a sufficiently stable container that it cannot be easily knocked over. Be wary of using lighted candles anywhere near your Christmas tree, and ensure that any lighting and electrical decorations that you use have been tested prior to use by a competent person, in addition to meeting the relevant British Safety Standard.

There is so much more advice in relation to Christmas fire safety that we can give you here at Triple Star Fire (http://www.triplestarfire.com) - not least, the importance of not only investing in the right fire alarm installations, but also all of the associated fire equipment maintenance.

Editor’s Note: Triple Star Fire (http://www.triplestarfire.com) are represented by the search engine advertising and digital marketing specialists Jumping Spider Media. Email: info@jumpingspidermedia.co.uk or call: +44 (0)20 3070 1959 / +34 952 783 637.

The bizarre background of one current fire safety law

As you might imagine of professionals in fire equipment maintenance like those of Triple Star Fire (http://www.triplestarfire.com), we're always keeping an eye on the latest headlines that relate to our specialism, and took a particular interest in an article in The Telegraph covering the views on fire safety legislation of Luke Bisby, Professor of Fire and Structures at Edinburgh University. He spoke in the article of how study in his engineering field changes people's lives - including his own.

"I always say to first-year engineering students if there's one thing your degree will give you, it's the ability to annoy your family ad nauseam," he reflected. "Everywhere you go, you will now see the world in a different way." He is further quoted as stating that his experiences as a fire engineer had made enjoyment of Edinburgh nightclubs impossible for him, given the widespread use of Georgian buildings with limited exits and many guests. He either couldn't bring himself to enter such nightclubs, he said, or would end up standing right by the door in readiness for something to happen.

An affable Canadian, Prof Bisby is one of just a few fire engineers in Britain concerned with designing buildings and cities in a way that prevents them burning down - so his views are well worth listening to for anyone undertaking a fire risk assessment on their building. His job might be amusing in many ways, given the hours spent in the lab designing model buildings before having been torched to the ground, but it's also one in which he has learned the rather bizarre basis on which certain modern fire safety regulations have come into being.

For example, nobody investing in fire extinguishers for business will be shocked to learn of the tight fire safety regulations surrounding modern offices, including the need for any employee to be able to reach a fire exit in no more than two and a half minutes. Given how fundamental this rule is to our modern built environment, one might have imagined good, solid reasoning behind it - but actually, that period of time is apparently the mean length of the British national anthem God Save The Queen, when played in full by a concert orchestra. Apparently, the history of this stipulation can be traced back to a 1911 fire at the Empire Palace Theatre in Edinburgh.

A French illusionist, The Great Lafayette, was performing the night's final illusion when the stage was set alight by a lamp at the back of the set. With the audience left watching the spectacle, presuming it to be part of the illusion, God Save The Queen needed to be played by the orchestra to rouse them to their feet. Most of the audience - although sadly not Lafayette himself or his body double - survived the fire. Here at fire alarm system providers Triple Star Fire (http://www.triplestarfire.com), it certainly made us wonder what other current fire safety laws may have rather curious origins!

Editor’s Note: Triple Star Fire (http://www.triplestarfire.com) are represented by the search engine advertising and digital marketing specialists Jumping Spider Media. Email: info@jumpingspidermedia.co.uk or call: +44 (0)20 3070 1959 / +34 952 783 637.

Landlords and fire services brought together for new student safety scheme

With the student property market experiencing its usual seasonal resurgence as undergraduates and postgraduates alike hunt out the best accommodation and join in with the customary fresher's festivities, as a landlord of a student property, you may think that you have enough to occupy you right now without being lectured on fire alarm maintenance and similar fire safety measures by Triple Star Fire (http://www.triplestarfire.com).

But if you need just one or two prompts to maintain fire alarms and undertake those all-important fire risk assessments, it's the research encompassing 1,500 landlords and 1,600 students across the UK revealing that more than one in five landlords (21 per cent) never worry about ensuring the safety of their tenants. That is despite the almost one in 10 renters (8 per cent) who claim to have had a fire incident or gas leak in their home.

Here at the fire equipment maintenance specialists Triple Star Fire, we think you should be rather more conscientious than that. Helping to ensure this is the introduction of an innovative training scheme, whereby student landlords receive expert help from local fire safety professionals in suitably protecting their tenants from accidental fires.

It isn't just the property owners who are genuinely benefitting from the scheme, with the participating fire services also gaining a better appreciation of the unique requirements of landlords as far as student letting is concerned. The scheme is called Firemark, and is the creation of the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, uniting these two parties that are so important in ensuring student safety.

Included in the initiative are short videos highlighting the importance of protecting student tenants from accidental blazes, as well as materials for the instigation of interactive and dynamic sessions between fire safety professionals and landlords. The training video and interactive sessions cover such matters as the right time and place for a fire risk assessment to be undertaken, as well as what is required of landlords if they are to achieve compliance with the most recent rules and regulations.

Indeed, the scheme goes further than this, also informing landlords on what they can do above and beyond the requirements set out by law. In its launch of the scheme, the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service cited as its inspiration for Firemark the tragic death of two young students in a rented house in Torquay, Devon in 2009.

Certainly, here at Triple Star Fire (http://www.triplestarfire.com), we are great believers in taking every effort to ensure the highest level of fire safety for UK properties and business premises. Across various industries, we focus on providing, installing and maintaining a wide range of truly industry-leading fire safety equipment, from the most trusted manufacturers - all as part of the most responsive, professional and customer-focussed service. Contact us now to find out more.

Editor’s Note: Triple Star Fire (http://www.triplestarfire.com) are represented by the search engine advertising and digital marketing specialists Jumping Spider Media. Email: info@jumpingspidermedia.co.uk or call: +44 (0)20 3070 1959 / +34 952 783 637.

                                          

Don't become a headline - invest in the right standard of fire protection

Our seasoned fire safety professionals here at Triple Star Fire (http://www.triplestarfire.com) continually impress upon our clients the importance of investing in the right fire alarm systems and other protective measures. We cater for all manner of properties and business premises, and our past and present clients include the likes of the London Underground, EDF Energy and Barclays. But whoever we work with, our message remains the same: you have the utmost moral and legal imperative to protect you, your employees and your property against fire.  

Of course, fire isn't always easily prevented, and its causes can be complex, but this only gives you all the more reason to ensure that your own organisation's fire safety equipment and fire alarm installations are of the highest standard possible. There's never a time when various fire disasters aren't in the news, with bulletins often beaming very dramatic pictures and footage around the world of an unfortunate business that has become the victim of an arson attack or a mere terrible accident. It's far too easy to think that it could never be your own business that is affected by such an event.

Even as we write this article, we only need to take a brief look at Google News to see that a major blaze has struck at a factory in Leicester, resulting in parts of it collapsing after the fire burned through the night. The fire at the plant in Trevanth Road started shortly before midnight on Tuesday, and by the time the first fire crews arrived at the scene, the building - which covers some 10,000 square feet - was fully alight. In fact, as many as 55 fire-fighters tackled the blaze, and the battle continued through the night. A building inspection and investigation is to take place into the cause of the fire, but whatever conclusion is reached, it looks to have been an incredibly expensive disaster.

Similarly, we are reading reports of a major outbreak in the Black Country, more specifically at a company in Smethwick, where flames engulfed around 500 tons of scrap metal. The possible cause of this one might be more obvious at first glance, given that the police are keeping an open mind about a potential link with various other suspected arson attacks on nearby scrapyards. But again, it was an event placing great demands upon local emergency personnel, with 50 fire-fighters tackling the blaze at its height.

Thankfully, it doesn't appear that anyone was harmed in either of these fires - but events like these can, at the very least, cause serious damage to a company's bottom line and at worst, result in deaths and widespread destruction. That’s why, here at Triple Star Fire (http://www.triplestarfire.com), we'll never cease to stress the importance of measures like fire equipment maintenance and a fire risk assessment that can help to prevent fires from occurring, or at least greatly minimise the damage that does happen if one breaks out. Contact us now for more information. 

Editor’s Note: Triple Star Fire (http://www.triplestarfire.com) are represented by the search engine advertising and digital marketing specialists Jumping Spider Media. Email: info@jumpingspidermedia.co.uk or call: +44 (0)20 3070 1959 / +34 952 783 637.

Don't become a headline - invest in the right standard of fire protection

Our seasoned fire safety professionals here at Triple Star Fire (http://www.triplestarfire.com) continually impress upon our clients the importance of investing in the right fire alarm systems and other protective measures. We cater for all manner of properties and business premises, and our past and present clients include the likes of the London Underground, EDF Energy and Barclays. But whoever we work with, our message remains the same: you have the utmost moral and legal imperative to protect you, your employees and your property against fire.  

Of course, fire isn't always easily prevented, and its causes can be complex, but this only gives you all the more reason to ensure that your own organisation's fire safety equipment and fire alarm installations are of the highest standard possible. There's never a time when various fire disasters aren't in the news, with bulletins often beaming very dramatic pictures and footage around the world of an unfortunate business that has become the victim of an arson attack or a mere terrible accident. It's far too easy to think that it could never be your own business that is affected by such an event.

Even as we write this article, we only need to take a brief look at Google News to see that a major blaze has struck at a factory in Leicester, resulting in parts of it collapsing after the fire burned through the night. The fire at the plant in Trevanth Road started shortly before midnight on Tuesday, and by the time the first fire crews arrived at the scene, the building - which covers some 10,000 square feet - was fully alight. In fact, as many as 55 fire-fighters tackled the blaze, and the battle continued through the night. A building inspection and investigation is to take place into the cause of the fire, but whatever conclusion is reached, it looks to have been an incredibly expensive disaster.

Similarly, we are reading reports of a major outbreak in the Black Country, more specifically at a company in Smethwick, where flames engulfed around 500 tons of scrap metal. The possible cause of this one might be more obvious at first glance, given that the police are keeping an open mind about a potential link with various other suspected arson attacks on nearby scrapyards. But again, it was an event placing great demands upon local emergency personnel, with 50 fire-fighters tackling the blaze at its height.

Thankfully, it doesn't appear that anyone was harmed in either of these fires - but events like these can, at the very least, cause serious damage to a company's bottom line and at worst, result in deaths and widespread destruction. That’s why, here at Triple Star Fire (http://www.triplestarfire.com), we'll never cease to stress the importance of measures like fire equipment maintenance and a fire risk assessment that can help to prevent fires from occurring, or at least greatly minimise the damage that does happen if one breaks out. Contact us now for more information. 

Editor’s Note: Triple Star Fire (http://www.triplestarfire.com) are represented by the search engine advertising and digital marketing specialists Jumping Spider Media. Email: info@jumpingspidermedia.co.uk or call: +44 (0)20 3070 1959 / +34 952 783 637.

For those who are yet to use our excellent service…

When buyers of fire alarm systems and fire safety equipment think of Triple Star Fire (http://www.triplestarfire.com/), they think of quality, innovation, technology, reliability and excellent customer service and aftercare. For those who are yet to use our services, we thought we’d give a quick breakdown of what we do as a company.

Our customers benefit from a wealth of industry experience and expertise in the protection of all sizes and types of premises. Whether the installations are highly complex or simple but effective, our skilled team install our top quality products to protect all manner of places, from hotels to government buildings, from domestic homes to commercial premises, from banks to airports.

Everything we do at Triple Star Fire is driven by quality. We know it’s important to our customers and they know it’s important to us. We work hard to achieve excellence in all our products and services. Here are some of them:

Fire Alarms & Emergency Lighting – We have over 30 years experience in the design, installation and maintenance of fire alarm systems and emergency lighting and stock a wide range of top quality products.

Fire Suppression – Our gaseous extinguisher systems are ideal for premises containing particularly valuable equipment such as data storage or essential documentation. The gas extinguishes the fire with minimal damage to the contents of the room. Our clean agent systems provide electrical non-conductivity and therefore minimum down time and maximum business continuity.

Fire Alarm Monitoring – Our alarm receiving centre is connected to your fire detection system and alerts the emergency services within seconds.

Fire Extinguishers – Fire extinguishers for business or residential applications are some of the most essential parts of any fire protection system.  We provide a comprehensive range of extinguishers that meet the most stringent of industry standards (including BS EN3).

Aspirating Smoke Detection – We install aspirating smoke detection (ASD) systems where a unique laser technology detects smoke, measures against specified thresholds and alerts/alarms accordingly.

Fire Risk Assessments – Carried out by our highly skilled and experienced fire safety engineers providing you with a clear understanding of what you need and how to do it. Our fire risk assessment will cut through the jargon to ensure you meet the necessary and most recent regulations.

Fire Safety Awareness Training – We also provide specialist training courses. We can teach you how to recognize the colour codings of the various fire extinguishers to decide which type to use depending on the type of fire. Our courses involve practical and hands-on demonstrations covering a variety of fires and how to tackle them, including chip pan fires, PC monitor fires and flammable liquid fires, all underpinned by videos and questionnaires to help attendees retain the knowledge they’ve learned.

Our loyal customers know Triple Star Fire (http://www.triplestarfire.com/) for all the services and product ranges we’ve touched upon here, and more than that, they know us for our excellence and quality in everything we do.

Editor’s Note: Triple Star Fire (http://www.triplestarfire.com/) is represented by the search engine advertising and digital marketing specialists Jumping Spider Media. Please direct all press queries to Louise Byrne. Email: louise@jumpingspidermedia.co.uk or call: +44 (0)20 3070 1959 / +34 952 783 637.

Brazil nightclub tragedy highlights the importance of effective fire safety legislation

The next time you find yourself cursing the perceived hassle and expense involved in having fire alarm systems set up at your investment property or business premises to meet your legal obligations with regard to fire safety, consider the recent horrible nightclub blaze in Brazil and the subsequent fallout. Here at Triple Star Fire (http://www.triplestarfire.com), we don't believe that anybody should enter a supposedly safe property and not come out with their lives.

And yet, more than 230 people were killed as a result of the latest blaze on the other side of the Atlantic, and with Brazil set to host the World Cup in 2014, as well as the 2016 Olympics, many observers have expressed anxiety about the suitability of the nation's present safety legislation. Indeed, the country's Congress will be asked to enact a new federal bill in an attempt to improve the matter before these sporting tournaments take place.

Such a bill would cover fire prevention measures in addition to the licensing of clubs and mass events. At the moment, various state and city laws exist, over which the new legislation would take precedence. The high number of deaths in the tragedy in the southern city of Santa Maria shows the very real downside of the inconsistent standards to which many of the country's safety inspectors presently work.

In the case of the Santa Maria fire, the high death toll has been particularly attributed to the stampede as the blaze began, with only one exit being available through which clubbers could escape. Many bodies were found trapped in the toilets of the club, indicating that they were mistaken for an exit. This led congressman Paulo Pimenta to comment to BBC Brasil that nationwide rules about emergency lights and exit signs would also be established by the new federal legislation.

Here at Triple Star Fire, we believe that there are many sad lessons that can be learned from these terrible events from the point of view of any British business that may be obligated to install and maintain fire alarms and associated equipment. First of all, the causes of the fire and subsequent fatalities indicate the often complicated nature of fire safety. However, they also send a clear signal to any wavering UK businesses of the importance of adequate fire risk assessment and safety equipment.

As a specialist in fire safety equipment including fire alarms, fire extinguishers and even fire telephone and disabled refuge systems, Triple Star Fire (http://www.triplestarfire.com) continually emphases how even the simplest of measures can make a big difference in saving the lives of a building's occupants, should the worst occur. Visit us online now to discover more about our cost-effective solutions.

Editor’s Note: Triple Star Fire (http://www.triplestarfire.com) is represented by the search engine advertising and digital marketing specialists Jumping Spider Media. Please direct all press queries to Louise Byrne. Email: louise@jumpingspidermedia.co.uk or call: +44 (0)20 3070 1959 / +34 952 783 637.

Fire Extinguishers for Business

Here at Triple Star Fire (http://www.triplestarfire.com/)  we provide our customers with a fully comprehensive fire protection service. We start by inviting you to consult with our highly trained engineers. Their professional help will allow you to understand which solution will work best for you. Our team can work with you to assess your requirements through our fire risk assessment service and we are happy to advise you on the most cost effective way to not only comply with fire regulations but to protect your assets from damage and loss.  

One of the key components of any fire protection system is of course the humble yet life-saving, fire extinguisher. Before electric lights were commonplace, gas lights were used extensively in homes across Britain. As you can imagine, accidents and devastating fires were frequent and in the aftermath of the Great Fire of London a fire fighting force had to be established. However in the early days, these were run by insurance companies and only those houses that were insured would be visited and helped by the fire brigade, even at their time of greatest need. Localised firefighting equipment that could be operated by the individual with limited training, was clearly required.

But in the early days it wasn’t so straight forward. The first fire extinguisher in relatively common use at the time, consisted of a cask of fire-extinguishing liquid containing a pewter chamber of gunpowder, connected with a system of fuses which were ignited, exploding the gunpowder and scattering the, hopefully, fire-suppressing solution. This device is, perhaps unsurprisingly, no longer the industry standard.

However, Triple Star Fire’s range of fire extinguishers for business are the latest, most efficient devices that you’ll need and what’s more we can advise and install them at the optimum and safest locations, at the most cost effective prices, throughout your business.

At Triple Star Fire we can protect your company and your premises with our wide range of fire safety equipment and fire alarm systems and we’d always recommend a fire risk assessment with one of our trained engineers. What we would not recommend is using a fire extinguisher from the 18^th century! Instead, check out our ‘Which Fire Extinguisher Guide’ on the Triple Fire Star website at http://www.triplestarfire.com/.