2-4 December 2024 | ExCel London

Innovation, legislation and sustainability on the agenda at the FPA InfoZone

An agenda covering a wide range of crucial talking points in the fire safety sector, with updates on legislation, presentations on sustainability, and several informative case studies will be featured.

Highlights from the programme included:

  • We hear from Pete Davies, FIRECO on how cloud services are changing the fire indsutry.  
  • Ricky Nutall , one of over 250 first responders who were called to the fire at Grenfell Tower in London, on the 14th June 2017.
  • A debate around why sprinklers fail  – hosted by George EdwaresTechnical Steering Group Manager, FPA.
  • Proposed changes to approved Document B of Building Regulations- discussions and updates with Howard Passey, Deputy Managing Director, FPA.
  • Raising awareness of one of the biggest potential causes of fire in your premises, Kiera Biggins, Senior Investigator Jensen Hughes. 

16 May Programme

Fire and Rescue Service - Is enough being done to support mental health and diversity? 

16/05/2022 | 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM

Katie served in Her Majesties Royal Marines Commandos for 6 years before becoming a fire-fighter which she was interested in as a career from a young age, stimulated by her Grandfathers stories of his time in the Service. In February 1996 Katie was very fortunate to gain employment with Hampshire Fire & Rescue Service (HFRS). Having enjoyed a fulfilling 23 years, Katie now works for Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service. She realised since the
beginning of her Fire Service career that we cannot truly understand our communities needs and risk and make them as safe as possible without being
organisationally diverse ourselves and with granular equity being the
underpinning principle.

Katie enjoys working hard to make people’s lives safer, happier, healthier and improve their well-being and she currently does this through a number of external voluntary roles representing the FRS which she feels privileged to do. This includes being a role model with Diversity Role Models, a Mind Blue Light Champion and a progression mentor with the Princes Trust. Katie was honoured in 2017 when HFRS
nominated her for the ‘most influential woman in the Fire and Rescue Service’,
for which she was shortlisted for in December 2016. 

Ricky Nuttall was one of over 250 first responders who were called to the fire at Grenfell Tower in London, on the 14th June 2017. The fire tragically claimed the lives of 72 residents and injured over 70 more. Ricky suffered from PTSD as a result of the life-changing decisions he had to make that night, as well as carrying the weight of previous traumatic incidents over a long career.

As part of his recovery Ricky Nuttall started writing, producing and featuring in creative content ranging from short films and spoken word pieces to written poetry and podcasts. One of his most moving short films "The Firefighter" made in conjunction with Grenfell Voices CIC, was featured at the Manchester Film Festival to an outpouring of support and love.

Ricky Nuttall has made numerous media appearances on the BBC and ITV discussing that night of the Grenfell Tower fire, the traumatic impact it had on him and his colleagues and his journey through PTSD. He has even gone on to
star in Channel 4's SAS Who Dares Wins and has become a patron and advocate for a number of mental health charities and organizations.

With a new perspective on life, Ricky Nuttall is now a mental health advocate and public voice, focusing on raising awareness on the importance of social and workplace mental health and wellbeing.

What does the future of fire testing look like?          
16/05/2023 | 11:15 AM - 12:15 PM

Tom Gilbert is the European Head of Fire Risk Management at Lendlease. Tom joined Lendlease in 2019 having previously worked as an operational
firefighter in the Royal Air Force, Fire Safety Manager at Goldman Sachs
International and Head of Fire Risk Management at Affinity Sutton Homes Group.

Tom has headed fire risk management output at BB7 and was Director of Fire at
Frankham Consultancy Group. He has over 17 years’ experience in the fire
industry and understands all aspects of fire in business from quality and
delivery in fire risk assessment, consultancy, training, business development, construction and special projects.

Tom is the residential lead on the International Tall Buildings Fire Safety Network, a previous member of the FIA Fire Risk Assessment Council and previous Chairman of the Technical Committee of the National Social Housing Fire Safety Group.

Chris joined the FPA in 2022 with over 30 years’ experience in the testing, assessment, and certification of fire resisting construction products. He is responsible for the FPA’s commercial pipeline and business development,
and also manages the programme for key technical projects within the FPA and the Fire Sector Federation.

 

Chris is the current chair of ASFP and a key contributor to industry groups including past chairman of CEN/TC127/WG3 for fire resisting and smoke control doorsets, and as a member of various BSI committees for fire resistance areas.

Simon is a pragmatic fire safety professional with a vocational approach to helping others comply with legislative and business fire safety requirements.

He has a broad background in fire safety, testing, certification, fire risk management, assessment, auditing enhanced safety/quality management systems, and fire safety training. Simon has a working knowledge of legislative requirements and supporting guidance.

He currently represents the Fire Sector Federation as a technical officer on advisory and national guidance editing working groups. In his current UL Solutions role, Simon is working on a global remit, looking at UL Solutions, testing, inspection, and certification services in active and passive fire protection and building safety compliance.

What is a DSEAR risk assessment and how often should this be carried out? 

16/05/2023 | 12:30 PM - 13:00 PM                               

Howard joined the FPA in 1992 and has held a multitude of roles as the
organisation has grown including Training/Information Officer, Principal
Consultant, and Director of Operations. He trained formally as a land surveyor
before spending 8 years in the construction industry in his early career and has since spent considerable time in the FPA’s fire advisory division. Howard
is among our most experienced and respected fire risk assessors.

Working closely with the FPA Board and leadership team, Howard is responsible for ensuring that the FPA delivers its mission as the UK’s national fire safety organisation; proactively addressing the causes of the industry whilst upholding the FPA’s values. His varied and thorough knowledge ensures that the needs of our customers and the industry remain the focus of the FPA’s objectives and wider initiatives to move the fire safety agenda forwards by improving standards and best practice.

Howard has a BEng (Hons) in Fire Engineering and is a Member of the
Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE), a Fellow of the Institute of Fire Safety
Managers (IFSM) and is registered at Tier 3 on the Nationally Accredited Fire
Risk Assessors Register (NFRAR).


Why do sprinklers fail?

16/05/2023 | 13:15 PM - 14:00 PM

George joined the FPA in 2014 with experience as a research and development engineer. He manages
the Technical Steering Group, comprising the FPA’s technical experts. George is
also involved in a 12-month RISCAuthority research project on advanced fire testing and classification criteria for external cladding systems, in
collaboration with the University of Central Lancashire. He has a BEng
(Hons) in Mechanical Engineering, is Prince 2 Certified, and holds SC Security Clearance. 

Sprinkler Systems VS Watermist Systems 

16/05/2023 | 2:15 PM - 15:15 PM    

The Fire Risk Assessor, routes to competency.
16/05/2023 | 15:30 PM : 16:00 PM

Dennis is an international independent adviser on fire and civil protection matters. His background is as an operational firefighter who served through the ranks to Chief Fire Officer for Cheshire and then became HM Chief Inspector of Fire Services for Scotland. Within the Federation, Dennis’ technical roles involve leading activities on competency.


Fire safety when charging electric vehicles 

16/05/2023 | 16:15 PM : 16:45 PM

Adrian joined the FPA in 2021, having previously worked in risk engineering and risk management for international insurance carriers and as a global insurance broker across a broad range of industries worldwide. He has developed technical guidance, fire and explosion models, and risk engineering-related software tools.

 

Adrian is the Convenor of the RISCAuthority Risk Control Working Group, the Business Continuity Working Group, and the Security Working Group. He holds a BSc (Hons), ACGI in Aeronautical Engineering, and a MSc (Eng) in Process Safety and Loss Prevention. Adrian is a Chartered Engineer, a Member of the Energy Institute, and a Member of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers. He is also a Chartered Insurance Risk Manager and an Associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute (ACII).

17 May Programme

FIRE SAFETY DURING CONSTRUCTION WORKS

17/05/2023 | 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM                                                       

The compartmentation debate with ASFP 

17/05/2023 | 11:15 AM - 12:15 AM

The compartmentation debate with ASFP 

17/05/2023 | 12:30 PM - 13:00 PM

Professor Jim Glockling was until recently the Technical Director of the Fire Protection Association (FPA) and RISCAuthority. He has a degree in Chemical Engineering and PhD in nuclear engineering.

Following post-doctorate studies, he went on to work as, a lecturer in Chemical Engineering and Fire Safety Engineering, a forensic fire investigator and ran research laboratories at both the Loss Prevention Council (LPC) and Building Research Establishment (BRE) before taking up the position of Technical Director with the FPA in 2002. Jim’s principle areas of expertise are in suppression and detection technologies and complex risk mitigation scenarios Jim is now visiting Professor at the University of Central Lancashire and continues to work promoting resilience on a consultancy basis.


Sustainability, Safety and Managaing Property Protection

17/05/2023 | 13:15 - 14:00  PM

The independent review of the construction product testing regime

17/05/2023 | 14:15 PM - 15:15 PM

Paul is currently engaged in a review of the product testing regime as part of the Government’s building safety programme. He is a chartered quantity surveyor and was formerly senior partner of Davis Langdon (now part of Aecom), where he had worked sincegraduating from university until retiring in 2007. He was awarded an OBE in the2009 New Year’s Honour list for services to architecture and the built environment.

He was subsequently appointed as the Government’s Fire Chief Construction Adviser, with a brief to champion a more coordinated approach to affordable, sustainable construction. He now practices as an independent consultant, principally concerned with governance and setting up major projects; and wider cross-industry issues.

Legal discussion Red Lion Chambers

17/05/2023 | 15:30 PM - 16:00 PM


18 May Programme

Proposed Changes to the Approved Document B of building regulations – discussions and updates. 

18/05/2023 | 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM

Howard joined the FPA in 1992 and has held a multitude of roles as the organisation has grown including
Training/Information Officer, Principal Consultant, and Director of Operations.
He trained formally as a land surveyor before spending 8 years in the
construction industry in his early career and has since spent considerable time
in the FPA’s fire advisory division. Howard is among our most experienced and respected fire risk assessors.

Working closely with the FPA Board and leadership team, Howard is responsible for ensuring that the FPA delivers its mission as the UK’s national fire safety organisation; proactively addressing the causes of the industry whilst upholding the FPA’s values. His varied and thorough knowledge ensures that the needs of our customers and the industry remain the focus of the FPA’s objectives and wider initiatives to move the fire safety agenda forwards by improving standards and best practice.

Howard has a BEng (Hons) in Fire
Engineering and is a Member of the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE), a
Fellow of the Institute of Fire Safety Managers (IFSM) and is registered at
Tier 3 on the Nationally Accredited Fire Risk Assessors Register (NFRAR).

Fire Doors: The new testing regime requirements 

19/05/2022 | 11:15 AM - 12: 15 PM

Arson - Raising awareness of one of the biggest potential causes of fire in your premises

18/05/2023 | 12:30 PM - 13:00 PM

Kiera is a Senior Investigators for investigating the origin and cause
of water and oil escapes. She has managed and assisted with over 500 escape of water, escape of oil and fire investigations in commercial, industrial and residential premises.

To supplement her investigation skills, she obtained her Evidence Collection Technician professional designation through the International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI). She has also undertaken legal experience training successfully receiving her Advanced Professional Award in Expert Witness Evidence (APAEWE).


Technology : Get your head in the cloud - how cloud services are changing the fire industry

18/05/2023 | 13:15 PM - 14:00 PM

Compartmentation penetration test with commentary 

18/05/2023 | 14:15 PM - 15:15 PM