New training courses brochure

Our new training courses brochure can be found via the following link

Please note that the dry riser course for 18th march is now full, however there is an extra course on 15th April in Chester.

There is also and extra extinguisher refresher course on 24th Feb in Buckingham, at the IFEDA national office.

Council gives go-ahead for sprinklers in wake of Lakanal tragedy

Southwark Council is installing sprinklers to its sheltered housing schemes and temporary accommodation hostels as part of £32 million plans to improve fire safety in the wake of the Lakanal House tragedy.

A coroner’s report following the fire at the 14-storey tower block in July 2009, in which six residents died, recommended that the council considered retrofitting sprinklers to high-rise residential buildings.

Following a feasibility study, Southwark’s cabinet has decided against installing sprinklers in general needs blocks, but has given the go-ahead to install sprinklers to existing and future sheltered housing schemes and temporary accommodation hostels.

It plans to retrofit existing properties by September 2016 at an estimated cost of £4.9 million.

The combined annual repair and maintenance bill will be £25,100.

Council officers advised against installing personal protection sprinkler systems for vulnerable residents in general needs blocks unable to self-evacuate, citing the effects of a triggered sprinkler system on medical needs, life support and medical equipment.

Southwark will spend a further £3.6 million by March 2015 installing automatic battery-powered smoke/heat detection to general needs-tenanted council homes in the 142 blocks included in the study.

The same equipment will be installed to all tenanted council homes over the next 10 to 15 years at an estimated cost of £23.4 million - or £703 per property.

IFEDA : Fire Hose reel Course

IFEDA Fire Hose Reel Course (to BSEN 671-3: 2009)

DATE	COURSE	VENUE	COST TO MEMBER	NON-MEMBER
21st February 2014	Fire Hose Reel	Chester	£235 + vat	£285 + vat

Housing Minister Carl Sargeant backs controversial sprinkler regulations in homes after Quebec care home tragedy

The introduction of sprinkler systems in all new homes will “set Wales apart” from the rest of the world in how it promotes fire safety, the Housing Minister has said.

Carl Sargeant gave his backing to the systems which are being phased in for some buildings from April this year before becoming mandatory for all new and converted houses and flats.

Mr Sargeant made the comments at a seminar of the British Automatic Fire Sprinkler Association – emphasising the importance of the policy in light of a devastating fire in a Quebec care home which may have killed up to 30 residents.

His intervention follows repeated criticism over the costs of installation of the systems for the housebuilding industry by notable UK Government figures, including Communities Secretary Ed Pickles and Welsh Secretary David Jones.

Mr Pickles criticised the burden of regulations in the Welsh housing sector, writing to Labour AM Ann Jones – who proposed the regulations – that: “The growing distance in relative building costs between England and Wales will place Wales at a competitive disadvantage, diverting housing investment away from Wales.

“Whatever the intentions, I fear this burden of red tape will mean less housebuilding, fewer first-time buyers and more expensive rents and mortgages in Wales.”

Sprinkler regulations will apply to new and converted care homes from April, as well as children’s residential homes, hospices, halls of residence, boarding houses and some hostels.

It will then apply to all new and converted houses and flats from January 1, 2016.

Mr Sargeant told delegates: “Domestic fires continue to have a devastating effect on individuals, families and communities across the world.

“We have just seen the tragic loss of life to residents in a care home in Quebec, as a result of fire. It’s imperative that we do everything we can to make our homes, care homes and residential buildings as safe as possible.

“I am very proud that Wales is the first country in the world to require the installation of an automatic fire suppression system in all new houses and flats. Our policy on fire sprinklers is part of our continuing wider approach to promoting fire safety and we will continue to set Wales apart as leading the way in this regard.

“These pilot projects form part of the phased introduction of the fire sprinklers in all new homes. This phased approach allows the building industry to gain experience and skills, and gives the sector the opportunity to innovate and reduce the costs of installing sprinklers.”

IFEDA has many members in wales. Anyone looking for guidance on the installation of fire equipment or assistance with your Fire Risk Assessment should go to http://www.ifeda.org/new-member-list/?region=6 

IFEDA Courses January 2014 and onwards

We have the following non alarm courses (please see separate post for  fire alarms) please note the change of venues from Stockport and Fareham to Chester and |Southampton respectively.

IFEDA Fire Extinguisher Refresher * (to BS5306-3: 2009 & 8: 2012)

DATE	COURSE	VENUE	COST TO MEMBER	NON-MEMBER
Mon 10th Feb 2014	Extinguisher refresher	Chester	£155 + vat	£185 + vat
Monday 24th Feb	“	Buckingham (IFEDA office)	£155 + vat	£185 + vat
Mon 10th March 2014	“	Southampton	£155 + vat	£185 + vat
Mon 7th April 2014	“	Chester	£155 + vat	£185 + vat

 * Depending on numbers (usually a minimum of 5) extinguisher refresher courses can be run at your premises.

IFEDA Fire Extinguisher Full Course (to BS5306 parts 3 & 8)

DATE	COURSE	VENUE	COST TO MEMBER	NON-MEMBER
11th – 13 February 2014	Extinguisher full course	Chester	£540 + vat	£640 + vat
11th – 13th March 2014	“	Southampton	£540 + vat	£640 + vat
08th  – 10th April 2014	“	Chester	£540 + vat	£640 + vat

IFEDA Fire Hose Reel Course (to BSEN 671-3: 2009)

DATE	COURSE	VENUE	COST TO MEMBER	NON-MEMBER
21st February 2014	Fire Hose Reel	Chester	£235 + vat	£285 + vat

IFEDA Dry Riser Maintenance Course (to BS9990: 2006)

Please note this is now a ONE day course

DATE	COURSE	VENUE	COST TO MEMBER	NON-MEMBER
18th March 2014	Dry Riser Maintenance	Chester	£235 + vat	£285 + vat

Course info, plus the full diary for 2014, can be found at www.ifeda.org/training

To book please send Emma an email on info@ifeda.org

IFEDA : Fire Alarm Training Modules added

IFEDA fire alarm training courses for the next 6 months:-

6 and 7 March in Southampton 

24 and 25 March  in Basildon 

28 and 29 April in Middlesbrough   

19 and 20 May in Chester 

23 and 24 June Telford

21 and 22 August Cwmbran

The first location date above is for the Fire alarm design course and the second is for Fire alarm maintenance course.

All venues start at 09:00 and finish circa 17:00 to book please send an email to info@ifeda.org

Course information e.g. syllabus prices etc can be found at www.ifeda.org/training

The risks of buying fire equipment from the internet : IFEDA survey

IFEDA members survey