Brian interviews Colin Todd MBE (Managing Director of C.S. Todd & Associates) on the changes taking place within the UK’s fire safety sector and how they’re directly impacting consultants, the registration process for fire risk assessors, developments with standards and guidance documents and also revisions to some of the industry’s key reference works. As always, Mark chats with Warren Spencer (Managing Director at Blackhurst Budd Solicitors). On this occasion, Warren focuses his attentions...
Oct 13, 2020•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 14
Brian hears from Bob Bantock (Heritage Fire Safety Specialist at the National Trust) about the key challenges facing the Trust’s properties and fire safety regime during the COVID-19 pandemic, Best Practice approaches for risk assessments and the importance of Continuing Professional Development for today’s fire safety practitioners. Once again, Mark chats with Warren Spencer (Managing Director at Blackhurst Budd Solicitors), this time specifically in relation to an upcoming digital conference f...
Sep 29, 2020•52 min•Ep. 13
Brian interviews Ian Moore (CEO of the Fire Industry Association) about BAFE’s recent acquisition of the FIA’s Awarding Organisation and also the FIA’s new partnership with Western Business Media, which will see the publication of an all-new Annual Guide to UK Fire Safety. As always, Mark chats with Warren Spencer (Managing Director at Blackhurst Budd Solicitors) in relation to legal issues affecting the industry and also interviews Tony Hanley (Managing Director of FirePro UK) with a focus on t...
Sep 15, 2020•51 min•Ep. 12
Brian interviews Stephen Adams (CEO of BAFE) in relation to BAFE having recently acquired the Fire Industry Association’s Awarding Organisation and forming FireQual Ltd to progress qualifications for the UK’s fire sector. In addition, Mark chats with Warren Spencer (managing director at Blackhurst Budd Solicitors) who addresses a question posed by one of Fire Safety Matters’ readers and also interviews Andy Spence (sales director and general manager at Britannia Fire) about how standards can slo...
Sep 01, 2020•45 min•Ep. 11
Brian interviews Tony Cash (President of the Rail Industry Fire Association) in relation to several key topics, among them how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted fire safety regimes on the railway network and the main changes to those safety regimes since the findings of the Kings Cross fire that occurred in 1987 were made public. In addition, Mark chats with Tim Barker (UK Account Manager at FSi Ltd, the specialist fire protection systems manufacturer renowned for its expertise in fire stopping...
Aug 18, 2020•37 min•Ep. 10
Episode 9 of the fortnightly Fire Safety Matters Podcast includes Brian interviewing Roy Wilsher (chair of the National Fire Chiefs Council) about Dame Judith Hackitt’s Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety, the draft Building Safety Bill and the Fire Safety Bill and also how the Fire and Rescue Service has responded to the COVID-19 pandemic. Mark chats with fire safety lawyer Warren Spencer concerning current legal developments impacting the sector and also interviews Adam ...
Aug 04, 2020•49 min•Ep. 9
Episode 8 of the fortnightly Fire Safety Matters Podcast includes Brian chatting with Graham Ferris (General Manager at the Independent Fire Engineering and Distributors Association) on several core subjects, among them competency in fire safety work and the key challenges ahead for the sector. Mark hears all about the latest legal developments courtesy of fire safety lawyer Warren Spencer and also interviews Ray Puttock (Marketing Manager at EMS) on the benefits to be realised from the installa...
Jul 21, 2020•45 min•Ep. 8
In Episode 7 of the fortnightly Fire Safety Matters Podcast, Brian interviews Dennis Davis (Executive Officer at the Fire Sector Federation) about numerous issues, among them Approved Document B, competency in the fire sector, the much-discussed Fire Safety Bill and, of course, the ongoing (and vital) work of the Federation itself. As always, Mark hears from fire safety lawyer Warren Spencer who, this time around, focuses on fire inspections and a new service designed to limit liability under th...
Jul 07, 2020•41 min•Ep. 7
In Episode 6 of the fortnightly Fire Safety Matters Podcast, Brian chats with Peter Aldridge (General Manager at the National Association of Healthcare Fire Officers and also General Manager for Estates, Fire and Security at the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust) about the importance of CPD and the impact of COVID-19 on the role of fire safety managers within the NHS. Mark hears from fire safety lawyer Warren Spencer in relation to current legal issues and also interviews Craig Halford (Managin...
Jun 23, 2020•54 min•Ep. 6
In Episode 5 of the fortnightly Fire Safety Matters Podcast, Brian interviews Niall Rowan (CEO at the Association for Specialist Fire Protection) about several major topics, among them the Fire Safety Bill and the future direction of travel when it comes to passive fire protection. As always, Mark chats with fire safety lawyer Warren Spencer and also hears from Nigel Ward (technical support specialist at FFE) on the latest developments in beam detection technology. This week’s breaking news stor...
Jun 09, 2020•40 min•Ep. 5
On this episode of the Fire Safety Matters Podcast, Brian interviews Bob Docherty (Chairman of the Institute of Fire Safety Managers) on the key topic of accreditation, while Mark chats with fire safety lawyer Warren Spencer on HMO prosecutions under the Fire Safety Order and also Gary Craig (Sales Director at global fire protection business Advanced). Analysis of this week’s news includes an appraisal of the RIBA’s views on the restriction of combustible materials in buildings and the FIA’s soo...
May 27, 2020•51 min•Ep. 4
In this episode, Brian and Mark discuss the second reading of the Fire Safety Bill, while lawyer Warren Spencer shares his thoughts on Third Party Certification as a statutory defence. This week's guests include BAFE Chief Executive Stephen Adams and Detector Testers Key Account Manager Mark Rivers.
May 12, 2020•44 min•Ep. 3
This week, Brian and Mark interview Fire Industry Association CEO Ian Moore about the key topic of fire safety competency. The boys are also joined once again by leading lawyer Warren Spencer who talks about how the FSO is being used in relation to domestic premises. There's also an interview with Apollo Fire Detectors' Salvy Vittozzi, as well as coverage and views on the biggest news stories in the sector.
Apr 28, 2020•46 min•Ep. 2
Welcome to the first episode of the Fire Safety Matters Podcast hosted by Brian Sims and Mark Sennett, who will analyse this week's biggest news stories. The boys will be joined this week by leading fire safety lawyer Warren Spencer to discuss the government's proposed new Fire Safety Bill and Global Fire Equipment's Paul Pope who is also a director of the Fire Industry Association.
Apr 09, 2020•34 min•Ep. 1
