FASS News

It is with great sadness that we all learnt yesterday 8^th of September 2022, of the passing of Her Majesty The Queen, Queen Elizbeth II, who for so long has been a constant, gracious and dedicated presence in our lives, not only within the UK and Commonwealth, but someone who was greatly respected and admired throughout the World.

At FASS, like so many we are deeply saddened and would like to take this moment to give our own words of gratitude for all that Her Majesty has done for the Commonwealth. The Queen’s unwavering dedication to duty, to country, to the people and her family is truly inspirational. Her Majesty’s tireless drive and spirit, right up to her final days is an example to us all of diligence and unwavering devotion to her pledge when at the age of 21 the young Elizabeth said:

I declare before you that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service, and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong.

As we now reflect on the life of Queen Elizabeth II, we can truly appreciate the commitment to that pledge and the sincerity in which it was spoken.

Although this is a time of great sorrow, it is not so much the closing of a chapter but perhaps that of a life that will be celebrated, reflected upon and referenced for many years to come. A period in history that was not just lived by Her Majesty, it is an era that is defined by Queen Elizabeth II. A Queen who has shaped and guided our nation and Commonwealth through highs and lows, bitterness and joy, as society changes and fashions come and go, one constant has always been Her Majesty providing a steady and reassuring presence.

Now the Crown and all that it symbolises has passed to The Queen’s eldest son King Charles III, a new era in our monarchy begins, who like so many here at FASS we support and offer our dedication and service to our new King Charles III.

God Save The King

Fire and Safety Solutions Ltd are pleased to support Ambition Aspire Achieve (AAA), a charity founded in June 2016 by Kevin Jenkins OBE, who had a longstanding desire to provide opportunities for children and young people in the London Borough of Newham and surrounding areas. 

To find out more about the work AAA do, please view the summer 2022 newsletter here.

FASS would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge and give thanks to the dedicated and unwavering service given to the United Kingdom and Commonwealth by Queen Elizbeth II, as Her Majesty celebrates the special and remarkable achievement of a Platinum Jubilee.

The World is ever changing, going through achievements and adversity, whilst fashions and interests come and go, attitudes shift as society evolves and responds to the World around us, but throughout all these changes, the Queen has remained an ever steady and dignified presence giving unwavering service to the Commonwealth.

Here at FASS we acknowledge and appreciate this very special 70 years of service and wish Her Majesty and all of our clients, families and friends a very special and happy celebratory Jubilee weekend.

A recent article released by the Fire Industry Association (FIA) underlines the importance of fire extinguishers in commercial and public buildings and the need for fully working and most importantly, commissioned extinguishers, to be available.

Following a survey commissioned by the FIA  in 2003, 2008 and then most recently in 2021, some key trends have emerged and most importantly the number of fires being successfully extinguished by portable extinguishers has increased from 80% in 2003 to 93% in 2021.

Apart from the obvious danger to life posed by a fire, its effect on a business can be devastating, possibly leading to the closure of a business. Having portable fire extinguishers available makes it possible to quickly react to a fire and extinguish it before it becomes a serious threat.

One important factor we at FASS can not stress enough. If you own a commercial or public building, you should have your fire extinguishers commissioned by an approved, professional company such as ourselves. Buying cheaper extinguishers online means they will be unchecked for safety and suitability, MOST IMPORTANTLY – not commissioned, which will almost certainly invalidate your insurance.

We are able to supply high quality fire extinguishers in a range of finishes that will be fully commissioned and ready for use. In addition, we will price match any other companies fully commissioned extinguisher on a like-for-like bases (i.e. size and extinguishant media).

We are happy to advise you of the correct extinguisher or carry out a full fire safety survey of your site. Our technicians are all salaried and not on commission, therefor the advice they provide is the correct advice for your circumstances, not influenced by sales targets or commissions.

The 2006 Fire Safety Order made fire legislation easier for employers to understand what they need to do to comply.  The installation standard (BS5306-8) has been revised twice.  One of the main improvements has been to make sure the most suitable extinguisher is the nearest one to any known hazard e.g. a Wet Chemical extinguisher (most suitable for cooking oil/fat fires) in or near kitchens; a Carbon Dioxide or Powder extinguisher (most suitable for petrol fires) in motor garages or a water-based extinguisher (most suitable for cardboard and clothing fires) in office/retail environments.

The way to use an extinguisher has become more uniform and is intuitive.  Whilst training the use of extinguishers is essential, they are very simple to operate and easy to use. These factors combined have significantly improved the reaction time and chance of quickly extinguishing a fire before it spreads.

FASS are able to supply and commission a full range of fire extinguishers, in addition we can carry out a full fire safety survey or even provide staff training courses on the correct use of an extinguisher. For further information, please contact us, we would be happy to help.

At Fire and Safety Solutions (FASS) we are always keen to give a little back to the community by supporting a number of charities, both nationally and locally, particularly those supporting the armed forces.

FASS has for many years supported the Royal British Legion and with remembrance Sunday taking place on November the 14^th, we would like to take this opportunity to reach out to our clients who have not donated to the RBL Poppy Appeal 2021 yet, to consider doing so and join us in our support of the excellent work the RBL do.

Please donate by following the link below:

https://www.britishlegion.org.uk/get-involved/poppy-appeal

In this, the RBL century year since it’s founding, the work they do providing life-long support to ex-service personnel and their families is every bit as important now as it ever was. It is not just those personnel who are injured or traumatised by experiences, but a whole spectrum services available to all ex-forces. From advice and guidance, rehabilitation and recovery right through to transitioning and adjusting to civilian life, the RBL are there at every step and will continue to do so for life.

So please join us in pledging your support to the Poppy Appeal, buy and wear your poppy with pride, not only in remembrance of the brave who sacrificed and lost so much for us all, but also for those who are still with us who continue to need the support and expertise the RLB can provide. Thank-you.

As the World continues to move towards more and more battered powered consumer goods, from electric vehicles to scooters and hoverboards for fun, it is important to be aware of the dangers posed by batteries in the event of a fire.

Most people are aware that batteries catching fire can cause an explosion risk, but not everyone is aware of the ferocity and rapid spread caused by a battery fire and the significant danger to life this can pose for anyone nearby.

For example an electric scooter, which is likely to be powered by a small ion lithium battery, you can see in the video on this page how intense the fire becomes and dangerous that would be if it were within a building or someone was stood close by.

Battery technology is safe but there are some steps you can take to minimise the risk of fire.

• Always buy your battery powered product from a reputable outlet. Cheaper items often have batteries made to a lower, non-CE standard which either have thin outer casings that can be punctured easily, or they contain shards of small metal particles which heat up causing the electrolyte to boil and a fire to start.
• Never leave an item charging unattended or overnight which might allow heat to build up
• It’s not just domestic users, businesses need to be aware too that with employees potentially using electric scooters and bikes, not to leave items charging near combustible materials or in close proximity to people

One final thing, should a fire start it is important to use the correct type of extinguisher which in this instance would be a Class ABC Dry Powder Extinguisher. Fire and Safety Solutions are able to supply a range of Dry Powder extinguishers in different sizes and finishes. Contact us for further information and pricing.