Notifier by Honeywell has announced a new addition to its continuing professional development (CPD) portfolio, with the introduction of its Understanding the Cost of Fire course. Designed to provide installers, integrators, specifiers, consultants and end users with all the information they need on this important subject, it examines the changes in standards and regulations that have occurred following the tragic events that took place at the Rosepark Care Home in 2004.
When a fire broke out in a cupboard at the Rosepark Care Home it spread through the building and led directly to the deaths of 14 elderly residents. Attempts to prosecute the owners for alleged fire safety breaches failed, due to a loophole in the law that meant that as they had dissolved their partnership they could no longer be prosecuted. However, in November 2012, Lord Wallace introduced a bill to close the loophole and ensure that dissolving a partnership will no longer protect those responsible from prosecution in such cases.
Notifier’s “Understanding the Cost of Fire” CPD course is fully interactive and uses video footage taken at the time to highlight the devastating consequences of fire. Written by experts within the company, it enables delegates to gain a better understanding of the reasons things went so catastrophically wrong and why action had to be taken so that they cannot be repeated in the future.
As well as covering the Fire and Rescue Service Act, the Equality Act and Building Regulations Approved Documents B and M, the hour long course will address why it is now necessary to comply with BS 5839-1:2013, the code of practice for design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of systems in non-domestic premises. It also looks at the human responsibilities contained within one of the most important pieces of legislation in recent times.
At the Rosepark Care Home, no risk assessment was ever carried out. As a consequence, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires a dedicated ‘responsible person’ to risk assess a premises and ensure that any installed life safety equipment is fully maintained and fit for purpose, and that appropriate documentation is kept. Any failure to do so that leads to loss of life, personal injury or damage to property could now lead to prosecution – minor penalties include a fine of up to £5,000, while major penalties consist of unlimited fines and up to two years in prison.
The course also provides best practice tips in terms of premises management, before concluding with a hard hitting summary of the findings of the Rosepark Care Home Enquiry, offering a salient reminder of the importance of having correct life safety equipment and procedures in place.
“Although it took place over 12 years ago, the repercussions of the events at the Rosepark Care Home have had a dramatic effect on how we mitigate the causes of fire,” said Derek Portsmouth, Sales Leader – UK & Ireland, Sweden, Iceland and Slovenia, at Notifier. “The Understanding the Cost of Fire CPD course addresses the consequences of not doing things in the correct way. We are committed to furthering knowledge and awareness of this subject and can deliver the course anywhere in order to do so.”
