Clearview National September 2016 - Issue 178 | Page 66

FIRESAFETY& SECURITY FIRE DOOR SAFETY WEEK COMMEMORATES GREAT FIRE OF LONDON »»FIRE DOOR SAFETY WEEK is shaping up to be the biggest and best yet, with cross industry support and a growing army of high profile backers contributing to a range of activities and creative plans that also commemorate the 350th anniversary of the Great Fire of London, the event that gave rise to the ‘fire door’. The award winning campaign, which runs from 26th September – 2nd October 2016, aims to raise awareness of the critical role that fire doors play in protecting property and saving lives. HIGHLIGHTING RISKS Run by the British Woodworking Federation, the BWF-Certifire Fire Door Scheme and the Fire Door Inspection Scheme (FDIS), the campaign focuses on helping those responsible for building specification, installation and maintenance/management of fire doors and highlights the risks that unsatisfactory fire doors present to property and lives. This year particular focus will be on the high risk areas of Houses in Multiple Occupancy (HMO), private rented, council and social housing, sheltered housing and care homes. Support for the campaign has already been pledged from South Wales, West Midlands and London fire and rescue services, as well as a significant number of companies in the door and hardware industries. 66 » SE P 2016 » CL EARVI E W- UK . C O M It is also backed by the Government’s Fire Kills campaign, the Fire Sector Federation, the Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP), Children’s Burns Trust (CBT) and the Guild of Architectural Ironmongers (GAI). SAVING LIVES Hannah Mansell, BWFCertifire scheme manager and Fire Door Safety Week spokesperson said: “From April 2014 to March 2015 there were 28,200 dwelling fires in England alone. Deaths from these fires contributed to nearly two thirds of the total fire fatalities in that time frame. This is why we continue to campaign for changes in legislation and to educate people on the importance of fire doors. A properly installed fire door can save your life.” Housing landlords need to be fully informed of their responsibilities under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, and to understand the correct specification, supply, installation, operation, inspection