It’s been almost a month since the FIRE conference took place at the Institution of Engineering and Technology in London. The event serves as a critical platform, and over 520 fire professionals participated this year in leading the future of fire safety, amidst legislative changes and ongoing investigations following the Grenfell Tower tragedy.
Barrister Danny Friedman KC's session stood out, emphasising a human-centred approach for the UK fire safety sector, drawing on insights from the Grenfell Tower fire investigation. Friedman emphasised key findings from the investigation, highlighting the importance of community engagement, collaboration and an inclusive approach to fire safety and emergency planning, in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
The conference welcomed Chris Griffin-McTiernan, Deputy Chief Inspector of the Building Safety Regulator, who stressed the urgency for change within the built environment. Addressing issues of blame-shifting and systematic incompetence, he emphasised the regulator's commitment to enforcing behavioural and cultural shifts in the industry, urging stakeholders to adapt to the evolving landscape.
Our CEO, Steve Hamm delivered a session on the critical role of fire risk assessment, highlighting the IFE's Fire Risk Assessors register and the need for an expanded pool of registered professionals. Addressing the importance of professional standards, Steve delved into career pathways and the necessity for third-party assurance for fire risk assessors.
Our strongest instalment to date
The 2023 instalment included nine workshops on a variety of fire safety topics, such as the use of new technologies, firefighter health, building safety and fire safety in batteries. Panel discussions focused on leveraging professional standards for sector improvements and enforcement responsibilities.
This year’s conference highlighted the need for collaboration and innovation in a rapidly evolving sector, positioning events like FIRE Conference as essential platforms for progress and safer futures. Further comprehensive summaries will be available in upcoming issues of the IFE and FPA's professional publications, and the IFE will be adding sessions from the day to our online CPD hub in the new year.
As the sector continues its evolution, the conference stands as a testament to the collective commitment towards a safer and more secure future for all. The success of the event is credited to the dedicated teams from the Fire Protection Association, National Fire Chiefs Council, the Fire Sector Federation and the IFE, signifying the collaborative efforts in driving transformation and progress within the fire safety sector.
Information about 2024’s event will shortly be made available on the organisers' websites.