The image that’s stayed with me this week isn’t smoke pouring from a burning warehouse or the skeletal remains of a logistics hub after a major fire. Instead, it’s a photograph of a brand-new, multi-storey industrial building that looks at…
When a Fire Breaks Out, Who Really Knows The System?
The story that caught my attention recently wasn’t about fire growth or building loss; it was about confusion. Specifically, the confusion faced by the fire service when arriving at buildings equipped with a range of fire protection systems. In more…
Is This What Regulatory Success Looks Like?
Tom Roche, Secretary of the Business Sprinkler Alliance Oddly, the image I’m looking at this week isn’t the burnt out hulk of an industrial or commercial building such as the Cannock warehouse fire from May 2024. It’s a photo from…
The LGA Conference, A Car Park And Resilience
Last month, I attended the Local Government Association (LGA) Conference in Liverpool on behalf of the Business Sprinkler Alliance. Whilst I should be reflecting on the conference and discussions with differing councillors and consultants about housing or urban policy, my…
Middleton Blaze Highlights Ongoing Risk In Self-Storage Sector
A massive overnight fire at a two-storey, unsprinklered self-storage warehouse and rental office complex in Manchester required dozens of firefighters to tackle and contain the blaze. This incident adds to a growing list of unprotected self-storage facilities that have been…
Fenix Recycling Site Engulfed Again Amid Growing Battery Waste Fears
Exactly one year after a devastating fire tore through the Fenix Battery Recycling Plant in Kilwinning, North Ayrshire, the site has once again been consumed by explosions and flames. This second destructive blaze underscores the growing awareness of the risks…
Rebuilding Schools: Time To Think Again About The Value Of Fire Protection
Thomas Roche, Secretary of Business Sprinkler Alliance In October, the government announced its continued commitment to the future of education, unveiling plans to rebuild another 114 schools across the country1. This investment presents an invaluable opportunity to ensure that our…
Bedfordshire Fire Service Report Calls For Mandatory Sprinklers In UK Car Parks
The Business Sprinkler Alliance (BSA) welcomes the recently published Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service report on the Luton Airport car park fire, which has highlighted significant gaps in current building regulations regarding fire suppression systems in multi-storey car parks. The…
The Grenfell Legacy: Why We Need To Rethink Fire Safety Across The Built Environment
As many reflect on the Grenfell Tower Inquiry and its recommendations, it’s important to recognise that the issues brought to light extend far beyond high-rise residential buildings. The challenges highlighted by this tragedy and highlighted in the report are not…
Battery Recycling Centre Fire Poses Challenges For Fire And Rescue Service
A major fire at battery recycling centre in Scotland has highlighted the significant challenges faced by firefighters when tackling blazes involving waste lithium-ion batteries. The incident, which required a multi-agency response over a number of days, shows the complex and…
Furniture Factory Engulfed In Flames – It Could Have Been So Different
An early morning blaze at an industrial estate in Blackburn destroyed the production facilities of a local furniture upholsterer. The devastating fire swept through the unsprinklered upholstery unit, sending plumes of orange smoke across the town, with the business and…
BSA Encourages Greater Sprinkler Adoption In Warehouses At Ukwa Conference
The Business Sprinkler Alliance (BSA) was pleased to lend its support and promote awareness of sprinklers at the UK Warehousing Association (UKWA) National Conference on the 12-13th March. The conference, themed ‘2024 The Year of Warehousing’ and held at the…
Blaze Destroys West Sussex Beauty Products Warehouse
A massive fire engulfed an unsprinklered warehouse in Burgess Hill, resulting in the complete destruction of the facility. The warehouse was operated by a mail order hair and beauty products business. The fire broke out on the afternoon of June…
Business Sprinkler Alliance (BSA) is looking forward to sponsoring and joining the fire safety community at FIREX 2023, Europe’s leading safety event which this year takes place at the ExCel Centre in London on 16-18 May 2023.
FIREX 2023 will focus on the theme of Bringing Competency in Fire Safety to the Forefront and will provide the ideal opportunity for the global fire and security markets to get together and meet face-to-face. This year’s exhibition will give…
Homes Evacuated Due To Large Fire At Clothes Recycling Warehouse
A fire that broke out in an industrial unit in Mansfield completely destroyed the building, caused local residents to evacuate and will result in the temporary closure of the business. The building did not have the benefit of an automatic…
Hotel fires spark further sprinkler debate
A recent Fatal Accident Inquiry (FAI) has found that a Scottish hotel had a number of defects regarding fire safety. Whilst sadly two men died in the fire, the inquiry found that the installation of sprinklers would have resulted in…
Recycling centre fires cause disruption, environmental damage and cost to businesses
By Iain Cox, Chair of the Business Sprinkler Alliance It is well documented that at Christmas time, household waste increases by 30% and our recycling centres feel the pressure in January from the vast amounts of paper, plastic, cardboard and…
What is the true cost when a business is forced to close due to fire?
By Tom Roche, Secretary of the Business Sprinkler Alliance At a time of rising production costs, high energy bills and dwindling cash reserves, many businesses are facing an uphill battle when it comes to staying afloat in such challenging economic…
Fire destroys North Wales warehouse
By Iain Cox, Chair of Business Sprinkler Alliance Firefighters were called to a huge fire at a large manufacturing facility near Mold in Flintshire. The devastating blaze tore through the XPS foam factory at an industrial estate close to the…
Sprinkler activation saves leisure facility
By Iain Cox, Chair of Business Sprinkler Alliance A multi-occupancy entertainment complex in West Yorkshire was protected by an automatic sprinkler system which suppressed a fire, preventing any further damage and allowing the business to be operational a few days…