Fire Safety Matters Podcast

Episode 50 of the Fire Safety Matters Podcast features several exclusive interviews as Brian hears from Mike Hobbs (specification and strategic growth lead at Apollo Fire Detectors) and Steve Dilloway (principal at Veritas Fire Support Services) in addition to Paul Pope (global director for the fire and life safety systems business at Ajax Systems) and Barnaby Carrick (senior technical engineer at passive fire protection solutions developer Siderise). Mike Hobbs joined Apollo in April last year from Honeywell, where he served as business manager and fire detection product specialist. He now leads a team of industry professionals operating across the UK and Ireland and focused on Apollo’s fire detection and life safety solutions. Steve Dilloway is a certified risk assessor and a member of the Fire Industry Association’s Fire Risk Assessment Council. He also provides consultancy support for those elements of fire and life safety that reside under the risk assessment umbrella. In tandem, Mike and Steve focus their attentions on the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 and what its introduction means for the fire industry going forward. Paul Pope is a Board director at the Fire Industry Association, an associate member of the Institution of Fire Engineers and also a member of the Institute of Fire Safety Managers. Having appeared as a guest on the very first episode of the Fire Safety Matters Podcast back in April 2020, Paul returns to examine the current challenges facing fire sector professionals and outlines recent developments at Ajax Systems. An Honours graduate in computer-aided product design having studied at the University of Portsmouth’s School of Engineering, Barnaby Carrick has been part of the team at Siderise since 2012. In conversation with Brian, Barnaby reviews the key challenges presented by Gateway 3 – the final checkpoint relating to the Building Safety Act – and the introduction of the new Siderise Inspection App. As always, Brian and Mark highlight and discuss key news stories in the sector. On this occasion, there’s a focus on the recent change of ownership at the Fire Protection Association, the upcoming Women in Fire Safety Awards (for which the 2026 finalists have just been announced), the Fire Industry Association’s tribute to Chris Watts and the Building Safety Regulator appointing an independent chair for the dedicated Residents’ Panel.

Episode 38 of the Fire Safety Matters Podcast includes Mark chatting with James Pecz, head of global business development at Ramtech Electronics, the Nottingham-based developer of wireless electronic solutions. James focuses his attentions on fire safety regulations in the UK, a comparison of standards on home shores versus the rest of the world, the overriding requirement for early detection systems in tandem with emergency evacuation and the steps that can be taken to improve fire safety regimes on construction sites. Once again, Brian and Mark analyse the key stories emerging from the industry at present. On this occasion, there’s an assessment of Warringtonfire’s new £24 million Birchwood Park testing facility that has been recognised with a Considerate Constructors Bronze Award in partnership with main contractor Tilbury Douglas. Also, there’s a focus on AXA Commercial’s advice for businesses in the capital to review their fire risk assessments and staff training in the wake of the London Fire Brigade announcing that it will no longer respond to daytime activations of automatic fire alarms in most non-residential buildings from October. Further, Mark and Brian examine the launch of the Institution of Fire Engineers’ Early Careers Networking Group and look back on the Fire & Security Matters Awards 2024, which ran at the CBS Arena in Coventry on 12 June, drawing a record number of entries and attendees.

Episode 36 of the Fire Safety Matters Podcast features exclusive interviews with regular contributor Warren Spencer (managing director at Blackhurst Budd Solicitors), Terry Edge (independent expert and consultant on furniture fire safety) and David Fitzpatrick, general manager in the UK for SMAY Ventilation Systems. In conversation with Mark Sennett (the CEO of Western Business Media and the founder of Fire Safety Matters), Warren Spencer references a News story published online by Fire Safety Matters last December in which a prosecution case launched against a fire risk assessor and his company collapsed after it was discovered that the fire risk assessment upon which the prosecution was based was not in fact the original document. Brian hears from former civil servant Terry Edge who, between 2004 and 2016, served as the lead official on the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 at what is now the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. Terry offers his thought-provoking views on what needs to happen next in the domain of furniture fire safety. Since November 2023, David Fitzpatrick has served Poland-based SMAY Ventilation Systems as general manager of UK operations. David is tasked with leading on project design and systems implementation for both HVAC and smoke protection solutions, driving business growth through new UK approaches to keeping evacuation routes safe thanks to pressure differential systems. During the interview with Brian, David looks at changes brought forward by the Building Safety Act 2022 and also outlines the company’s participation in this year’s edition of The Fire Safety Event at the NEC in April. As always, Brian and Mark analyse some of the latest major industry news stories. There’s comment on the Building Engineering Services Association’s views relating to high-risk buildings, repeated concerns expressed by Local Authority Building Control over building control capacity, the second fire remediation report on fire safety in English social housing and developments ahead of both Fire Safety Matters Live (Coventry) and the Fire and Security Matters Awards 2024.

Episode 34 of the Fire Safety Matters Podcast features Brian in discussion with a duo of sector specialists: Steve McGuirk (executive officer at the Fire Sector Federation) and Derrick Hall, sales and marketing director for life safety control systems developer Kentec Electronics. A former Board director for the Institution of Fire Engineers, Steve was recognised for his contribution to public service through the award of the Queens Fire Service Medal in 2002 and a CBE two years later. He served as an Expert Witness during the Grenfell Tower Public Inquiry. In conversation with Brian, Steve duly focuses on the ongoing and excellent work of the Fire Sector Federation and also outlines how the industry per se can best support its endeavours. Derrick joined Kentec in late 2018 armed with 20 years’ experience of operating in the fire detection and fire alarms arena. Commendably, his career underscores a steadfast commitment to innovation and excellence in the fire safety industry, underpinned by a fervent passion for saving lives and safeguarding property. On the podcast, Derrick assesses the Solihull Community Housing project and examines how manufacturers can adapt to meet regulatory changes. As always, Brian and Mark Sennett (the CEO of Western Business Media and the founder of Fire Safety Matters magazine) analyse several major industry news stories. This time around, there’s a focus on the Building Safety Regulator becoming the Building Control Authority for England, London Mayor Sadiq Khan calling for urgent action on impending fire safety rules, the results of a recent fire door survey conducted by the British Woodworking Federation’s Fire Door Alliance and insurer Aviva expanding its underwriting appetite to include engineered timber.

Episode 32 of the Fire Safety Matters Podcast witnesses Western Business Media’s CEO Mark Sennett in conversation with regular guest Warren Spencer (managing director at Blackhurst Budd Solicitors). Warren reviews the two-hour webinar run jointly by Blackhurst Budd Solicitors and Fire Safety Matters on Friday 2 June, which concentrated on the ramifications of proposed Government amendments to the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. Brian hears from Matt Wood (CEO and owner at Millwood Servicing), who duly outlines the importance of Environmental, Social and Governance frameworks in the fire sector. Further, Brian chats with Patol’s managing director Iain Cumner about linear heat detection cables and interviews Robert Campbell (managing director at Detectortesters) to discover some of the key trends impacting the industry at present and how they’re influencing demand for fire system testing. Once again, Brian and Mark join forces for a round-up of the major industry news stories. This time around, we appraise the Government’s £18.6 million injection of funding for common alarm system installations and the London Fire Brigade’s new alert in relation to e-bike battery fires. We also chart the Building Safety Regulator’s opening of the registration process for high-rise buildings and profile a joint initiative launched by the Institute of Fire Safety Managers and the Security Systems and Alarms Inspection Board concentrating on professional technician status.

On Episode 30 of the Fire Safety Matters Podcast, Mark Sennett (CEO at Western Business Media) chats with Derrick Hall (director of sales for Kentec Electronics) and Craig Puddefoot, managing director at London-based fire safety systems installer Early Birds Fire Protection Ltd. During the interview, Derrick and Craig concentrate on two core issues pertaining to the fire sector: training and the installation of fire safety systems. Mark is also in conversation with Paul Adams (marketing manager for Hochiki Europe) and Will Lloyd, technical manager at the Fire Industry Association. Paul and Will offer an insightful overview of today’s multi-sensor technology with a keen focus on compliance issues, false alarms and typical applications. As always, Brian and Mark deliver a comprehensive round-up of major news stories in the sector. This time around, there’s a detailed analysis of the commencement of the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022, the Building Engineering Services Association’s comments on the Government’s recent admissions over Grenfell, proposals for sprinkler requirements in care homes being welcomed by the Business Sprinkler Alliance and also an appraisal of National Apprenticeship Week 2023, which is supported by both the Institution of Fire Engineers and the Fire Service College.

Episode 28 of the Fire Safety Matters Podcast features Mark Sennett (CEO at Western Business Media) once again chatting with our regular Fire Safety Matters Podcast guest Warren Spencer (managing director at Blackhurst Budd Solicitors). On this occasion, Warren outlines the new fire safety legislation being brought forward in 2023. In addition, Mark hears from Colin Smith (field product manager for the UK life safety division at Eaton). In his present role, Colin is responsible for the ownership, development and marketing of the company’s fire alarm and emergency lighting platforms here in the UK. In conversation with Mark, Colin details Eaton’s new product roadmap for 2023 and also touches on the key issue of cyber security for life safety systems. As always, there’s an informative round-up (and analysis) of several major industry news stories. This time around, we concentrate on the Building Safety Act, warehouse fires, the Building Safety Levy and also the Fire Industry Association’s Guide to the UK Fire Safety Industry.

Episode 26 of the Fire Safety Matters Podcast features Mark Sennett (CEO at Western Business Media) chatting with Ken Bullock (business development manager for emergency evacuation systems at Advanced) about BS 8629, the Code of Practice for the Design, Installation, Commissioning and Maintenance of Evacuation Alert Systems for Use by the Fire and Rescue Services in Buildings Containing Flats. In a recent Fire Safety Matters webinar run in partnership with Advanced, Ken Bullock explained how ‘over-engineering’ temporary systems will allow conversion to an evacuation alert system once a risk assessor has confirmed that the ‘Stay Put’ policy can be reinstated. He also offered an overview of BS 8629 recommendations, which bring fire safety peace of mind for high-rise residents. In addition, Episode 26 also includes a round-up (and analysis) of several major industry news stories concentrating on the Building Safety Bill, UK Fire and Rescue Services donating equipment for their Ukrainian counterparts and the inaugural Fire & Security Matters Awards.