As a direct result of the findings of the Hackitt Report and subsequent government focus on the recommendations for the wider fire safety environment, FIREX International, the UK’s leading fire industry tradeshow, has taken the decision to fully commit to supporting and promoting third-party approvals, independent accreditation, and competency for construction products and services.
This will mean all exhibiting companies with relevant fire protection or prevention systems and materials will need to hold – or be in the process of acquiring – recognised third-party approval on their products in order to participate at FIREX, which returns to London’s ExCeL on 17-19 May 2022.
The sector at large has responded positively to the announcement, with comments from the Fire Industry Association, the Association for Specialist Fire Protection, and others.
This important decision to put competency at the core of the show’s proposition will provide these partners with an arena where they can promote their expertise, communicate with fire safety professionals, and become leading advocates for the highest standards in life safety.
The Building Safety Bill 2021 has indicated that construction products will be subject to more stringent conditions in future which will include meeting existing UK and European standards. Should this become law, it will be important for all construction products and life safety systems to show acceptable levels of compliance which will result in a direct raising of standards. FIREX International will become an industry focused platform whereby all participants can confidently promote new and existing product solutions which carry valid test certificates.
Jonathan O’Neill, Managing Director at the FPA, commented: “At the FPA we believe that to be truly competent, an individual or product must be assessed by an accredited third party. A key aim of our ‘Know your Building’ campaign is for third-party certification to be a mandatory requirement for all fire safety services and products. By using third-party accredited, competent contractors and products, construction companies can ensure they are working within industry best practice and minimise the risks from fire.”