Category Archives: Fire News

Fire Safety Compliance for Airbnb’s and Short-Term Lets

Modern short-term rental apartment with an open-plan kitchen and living area, featuring a ceiling smoke alarm and wall-mounted fire blanket for fire safety compliance.

What You Need to Know as a Holiday Rental Host in the UK Whether you rent out a spare room or manage several short-term holiday properties, as an Airbnb or short-let host in the UK, you’re legally responsible for the safety of your guests—including when it comes to fire protection. Fire safety laws apply even […]

Intumescent Coating Thickness: Why It Matters and How It’s Measured

Firefighters tackling a large industrial building fire, with exposed steel framing, heavy smoke and water jets directed at the blaze.

Understanding Dry Film Thickness (DFT) in Passive Fire Protection When applied correctly, intumescent coatings provide vital protection to structural steel and other materials during a fire. These coatings expand when exposed to high heat, forming a char that insulates the substrate and helps delay collapse. However, the effectiveness of an intumescent coating depends heavily on […]

Tenant Fire Safety: What Landlords Are Required to Tell Residents

Fire-damaged detached brick house with a partially collapsed roof, broken windows, heavy soot staining and debris scattered around the entrance.

Your Responsibilities Under the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 If you’re a landlord or managing agent of a residential building in England, you have a legal duty to ensure your tenants are aware of fire safety arrangements in their building. The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022, which came into effect on 23 January 2023, introduced […]

Can You Paint Over Intumescent Coating?

Worker using a paint roller to apply a protective coating to a steel column inside a commercial building under construction.

Do’s and Don’ts for Maintaining Fire Protection and Compliance Intumescent coatings play a critical role in passive fire protection—particularly in buildings where structural steel or timber elements are exposed. These coatings are designed to expand when exposed to high temperatures, forming an insulating char that helps delay structural failure during a fire. But what happens […]

Do I Need a Fire Alarm Panel?

Fire alarm control panel mounted near a building entrance, with a high-level alarm sounder, manual call point and emergency exit visible nearby.

A Guide for Small and Medium Premises When it comes to fire safety, choosing the right type of fire alarm system is crucial, not just for compliance but for protecting lives and property. One of the most common questions we hear from business owners, landlords, and facilities managers is: “Do I really need a fire […]

Are Your Fire Safety Systems Fit for an HMO?

Alt text: Firefighter in full protective gear climbs into a smoke-filled building during an active fire, with bright flames and thick smoke visible around the entrance.

A Landlord’s Guide to Compliance and Protection As a landlord of a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO), you carry added responsibility for the safety of your tenants. Because HMOs involve shared living spaces, the risk of fire is often greater than in single-family homes. This makes it essential that your fire safety systems aren’t just […]

What’s the Difference Between a Fire Alarm Test and a Fire Alarm Service?

Fire alarm technician testing a ceiling-mounted smoke detector with a telescopic testing pole in a modern commercial building.

If you manage a business, rental property, or public building in the UK, keeping your fire alarm system in good working order isn’t optional—it’s a legal requirement under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. However, many people confuse fire alarm testing with fire alarm servicing. While both are essential to ensuring your fire alarm […]

Can You Do Your Own Fire Risk Assessment? Pros, Cons, and Legal Considerations

Fire safety inspector recording checks on a wall-mounted fire extinguisher during an industrial workplace assessment.

If you run a business or manage property in the UK, you’ll already know that fire safety is a legal responsibility. Central to this responsibility is the requirement to carry out a fire risk assessment. But do you need to hire a professional to conduct one, or can you do it yourself? The short answer […]

The Lifecycle of Intumescent Seals: When to Inspect and Replace

Open double fire exit doors with push bars in a modern commercial corridor, with an emergency exit sign and fire extinguisher nearby.

Intumescent seals are a vital component of a building’s passive fire protection strategy, playing a key role in compartmentation and helping to prevent the spread of fire and smoke. Found around fire doors and sometimes windows, these seals expand when exposed to high temperatures, filling gaps and maintaining the fire-resistant barrier of walls, floors, and […]

How Fire Alarm Zones Work: Why Zoning Matters in Large Premises

Fire alarm control panel mounted beside a detailed fire alarm zone plan in a modern commercial building corridor.

In large commercial or multi-storey buildings, a fire alarm system is more than just a warning device—it’s a vital tool for identifying where a fire has started, ensuring a safe evacuation, and helping emergency services respond quickly. One of the key features of a well-designed fire alarm system in larger or more complex buildings is […]