We’ve pulled together the latest projects, case studies and other RES news into a regular Newsletter for our customers.
https://resfire.co.uk/free-downloads/res-record-newsletter-winter-2020/
A fire extinguisher is an essential piece of fire-fighting equipment that needs to work straight away when it is required by a user. It has to be reliable at all times – which means that business owners must ensure that fire extinguishers are regularly checked and serviced. As they are highly pressurised, fire extinguishers always carry the risk of bursting or causing injury to others. According to the Regulatory Fire Reform (Fire Safety Order) 2005, all fire-fighting equipment (including extinguishers), must be well-maintained and kept in efficient working order/repair.
There are two different types of fire extinguisher service – a visual inspection and annual maintenance. In a visual inspection, an inspector will check the location of the extinguisher to determine that it is located in the correct place, where it can be easily seen and accessed. The instructions will be checked to ensure that they are facing outwards where they can be easily and clearly read, and the overall condition of the extinguisher will be checked to determine whether it has already been used, and whether it has suffered any damage or has any missing parts. Tamper indicators are checked to see if they have been broken.
In an annual maintenance service, as well as a visual inspection, a fire extinguisher needs to be checked for corrosion, and assessed to see whether it needs to be refilled or re-pressurised. Most fire extinguishers (water, foam and powder) need discharge testing every five years. If you have a CO2 fire extinguisher, this will need a pressure test every 10 years to insure the cylinder is safe to continue to be pressurised and a new valve will be installed. You can have your extinguisher refurbished in this way, or in some cases it may be worth purchasing a new fire extinguisher.
As a business-owner, you are legally obliged to effectively maintain your fire-fighting equipment so that your staff and visitors are protected. At RES Protection Engineers, the servicing process is straightforward and affordable. When you have a fire extinguisher service with us, our BAFE registered technicians will carry out inspections and servicing in accordance with BS 5306. Following the service, you’ll receive the relevant documentation required. We can also service portable fire extinguishers, hose reels, trolley units and fire blankets to ensure that they are suitable for use in line with current legislation. All services are undertaken by BAFE registered technicians. We also offer an emergency call-out service, here for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Fire extinguisher sales and hire
Do you require a new fire extinguisher for your business? We can meet your requirements. All of our fire extinguishers are produced to European Standard EN3, and come with a five year guarantee. We offer discounts for large quantity orders. If you’d rather hire a fire extinguisher, we can provide hire services for up to six months.
Fire extinguisher service from RES
If you require fire extinguisher servicing, maintenance or repairs, RES engineers can carry out a comprehensive and affordable service. Our fire extinguisher services cover the South of England including the counties of Middlesex, Essex, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire, Dorset, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire including London, Brighton, Portsmouth, Southampton, Winchester, Bristol, and the surrounding towns of Aldershot, Basingstoke, Beaconsfield, Bracknell, Cirencester, Egham, Farnham, Guildford, Henley on Thames, High Wycombe, Maidenhead, Marlow, Newbury, Oxford, Poole, Reading, Slough, St Albans, Staines, Swindon, Watford, Windsor, Woking, Wokingham and Worthing.
The importance of a fire blanket
In the case of a fire, a fire blanket helps to control flames and extinguish fires that are most commonly caused by cooking oils in kitchens. You can also use a fire blanket if clothing is on fire, or if an item such as a waste bin has caught alight. By covering the fire with a fire blanket, the supply of oxygen is cut to the fire, minimising its spread. At RES Fire Protection Engineers, our fire blankets have been certified and tested to the most stringent requirements of BS EN 1869:1997.
In a business premises, the most frequent location of a fire blanket is in a kitchen area, where cooking equipment is located. A fire blanket should always be positioned at least two metres away from a cooker, and fixed to the wall. When a fire occurs in a kitchen, it is normally on or around the cooker. To use a fire blanket, pull out the blanket from its pouch and hold the blanket between you and the fire. Protect your hands by inserting them into the sleeves of the fire blanket, keeping your fingers away from exposure as you are holding it. Place the fire blanket over the fire and step back immediately. Do not attempt to try and lift up the fire blanket until you are sure that the fire has been put out. Fire blankets should be discarded after use and not re-used.
Using a fire blanket
For a fire to burn and quickly spread, it requires fuel, heat and oxygen. A fire blanket is used to cut off this supply of oxygen to a fire, and should successfully put it out completely. A fire blanket must be sealed around the fire for it to work effectively, to stop oxygen from getting to the flames. Fire blankets usually have two ‘tails’ that are visible from its packaging. When using a fire blanket, you should place one hand on each tag ‘tail’ and pull simultaneously to remove the blanket from its packaging. If a person’s clothing is on fire, you should use a fire blanket in the same way and make sure that it is correctly sealed around the fire to prevent air escape.
Fire blanket installation and servicing
If you require fire blankets for a business environment, they should receive an annual service along with your other fire-fighting equipment. Service charges for fire blankets are usually half of that for extinguishers, and having your fire blanket serviced can save lives. An RES engineer will unpack the blanket and carry out a full inspection to ensure that the quality of the blanket still meets the legally required standard before placing it back into its packaging. An engineer will check for signs of wear, stains and any other types of oil staining, and will inform you of any holes in the blanket that may stop the blanket from working properly in the case of a fire. You will receive a certificate containing details of the fire blanket service.
Fire blankets from RES
At RES, we provide fire blankets that meet the most stringent requirements of BS EN 1869:1997. Our services cover the South of England including London, Berkshire, Bracknell, Windsor, Middlesex & Surrey, Oxfordshire, Hampshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Essex & Kent,
This Christmas we’re making a donation to Macmillian Cancer Support instead of gifts to customers and staff.
About Macmillian Cancer Support
In 2015, Macmillan Cancer Support reached 5.8 million people affected by cancer.
Macmillan is the leading expert on the numbers, needs and experiences of people affected by cancer in the UK
If you wish to make your own donation goto https://www.macmillan.org.uk/donate
Thank you
RES Systems Ltd
Fire stopping is an essential fire-prevention technique to stop a fire from spreading throughout a building. It involves the sealing of gaps or other openings through which fire, smoke and heat could pass through (either vertically or laterally). It is vital that the correct fire stopping methods are installed to prevent a fire from escalating.
Fire stopping prevents fire from spreading by creating fire resisting compartments that subdivide a building either vertically or horizontally. This ensures that a fire is contained within a compartment. For the fire to be contained however, any openings or gaps must be correctly sealed and fire-resistant walls and floors installed. Gaps must also be sealed between fire resisting constructions, i.e. gaps between walls and the floors above them. This ensures that a substantial barrier is constructed.
RES Fire Protection Engineers use various types of fire stopping methods, including:
Fire sleeves
A fire sleeve is intended to seal an aperture that has been created by electrical cabling or pipes passing through a fire-rated wall, ceiling or floor. If a fire breaks out and heat spreads, the sleeve opens out and expands to fill any gaps. If plastic pipes pass through a wall and a fire sleeve is installed near them, the sleeve will seal off the pipe by crushing it, preventing smoke and fire from passing through.
Fire collars
Fire collars cover pipes with flame retardant compounds that expand to stop the fire from reaching the pipes and potentially spreading to other areas.
Fire covers
Fire covers are designed to cover indoor luminaires. If a fire breaks out, the cover expands to fill space with a high level of insulation that is fire-resistant.
Gap fillers and fire sealants
These products expand upon contact with high heat or fire, and work to seal gaps and prevent the spreading of smoke and flame. Different sealants can be used for different purposes.
In order to keep the occupants of a building safe, it is important that a building has the proper fire stopping methods installed to prevent fire spread. RES is FIRAS certified for penetration sealing systems.
Fire stopping methods can save lives if implemented correctly. Every building layout is different, therefore different fire stopping methods will be required. A successful fire stopping system works when all fire stop products are working together to prevent fire from spreading. If one product fails, the rest of the system could fail. RES Fire Protection Engineers offer expert fire stopping services and advice as part of our Passive Fire Protection solutions to ensure that building gaps and voids are correctly sealed and fire resistant. We can advise on the correct fire stopping solutions for your premises. We cover the South of England including London, Berkshire, Bracknell, Windsor, Middlesex & Surrey, Oxfordshire, Hampshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Essex & Kent, West & East Sussex, Reading, Maidenhead, Slough, Newbury and the surrounding areas.
Smoke control and ventilation systems can be either natural or mechanical systems that vent smoke out of a building to enable low level escape routes to be kept clear of smoke, aiding visibility in the case of an emergency. This makes it easier for occupants to escape from a fire, and also prevents further damage to a building. Different premises will have different needs for smoke control and ventilation systems depending on their size, style and the number of occupants within them. According to statistics published by the UK Government, the most common cause of death in the instance of a fire is a person being overcome by gas or smoke, leading to loss of consciousness and eventual loss of life.
An effective smoke control and ventilation system is therefore crucial in order to keep smoke away from commonly used areas in a building such as corridors, safety routes, staircases and lobbies. If a fire breaks out, an effective smoke detector should activate on every floor of a building, ensuring that occupants can easily and safely escape while the fire is in a state of infancy.
There are two main types of smoke control and ventilation systems – natural and mechanical. Natural ventilation systems use the natural movement of hot gasses to vent smoke through a ventilator. Natural systems use windows, vents and automatic opening vents (AOVs), and are used as part of UK Building Regulations. Natural systems can also offer everyday air ventilation. Mechanical systems require extraction and removal of smoke by forcing it through fans.
It is essential to have a supply of replacement air that takes the place of gasses and smoke that is extracted from a building. If replacement air doesn’t come in to a building, it will become depressurised. This air supply can be sourced from natural ventilators that are in a remote position away from a fire, automatic doors or from inlet ventilators that are positioned near the floor.
Why install a smoke ventilation system?
A smoke control and ventilation system greatly reduces the chances of building occupants choking or being overwhelmed by smoke. It reduces the risk of smoke inhalation around escape routes such as corridors and staircases, and makes it easier for emergency services to access a building. A well-implemented smoke control and ventilation system can reduce the risk of a fire developing and limit smoke damage to a building (as well as the equipment inside it such as computers and other technical equipment, or even personal possessions).
How do smoke detectors work?
A smoke control and ventilation system is activated by smoke detectors. Once activated, the system should force a natural flow of air into a building while smoke is removed.
Smoke control and ventilation systems with RES Fire Protection Engineers
We can design and commission a smoke control and ventilation system to suit the needs of your premises whilst meeting UK Building Regulations. We work with systems manufacturers and accredited service and maintenance providers to ensure that all systems we install comply with current legislation. Our experienced installers ensure that your ventilation system is installed correctly and on time. Our highly trained engineers will thoroughly test the installed system before handover. We offer smoke control and ventilation systems services covering the South of England including London, Berkshire, Bracknell, Windsor, Middlesex & Surrey, Oxfordshire, Hampshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Essex & Kent, West & East Sussex, Reading, Maidenhead, Slough, Newbury and the surrounding areas.
At RES Fire Protection Engineers, we offer powder and CO2 extinguishers for electrical-based fires. A powder extinguisher can be used on electrical hazards when combustibility is a danger (including applications on engines and machinery). A CO2 extinguisher is ideal for instances where vast amounts of electrical equipment is on fire, i.e. in an office or server room full of computer components.
Powder extinguisher
Powder extinguishers are very versatile and can be used on class A, B and C fires. They can be used on fires involving electrical equipment, but there is a risk that the fire could reignite, as the extinguisher cannot cool the fire down. Powder extinguishers are only suitable for open spaces and should be used in areas where there is plenty of ventilation, as they can create breathing difficulties and loss of visibility (especially in smoke-shrouded locations). They shouldn’t be used indoors unless there is no other option. Powder fire extinguishers are marked with a blue label.
CO2 carbon dioxide extinguishers
If you need a fire extinguisher for a large space containing great volumes of electrical equipment (such as a server room with lots of computers, or a production line with lots of electrical machinery), the safest choice is a CO2 carbon dioxide extinguisher. This type of extinguisher can be used without leaving a residue (unlike powder and foam extinguishers). A CO2 extinguisher smothers a fire so that it doesn’t receive extra oxygen that can fuel it and cause it to spread. It reduces the supply of air to the fire, and is ideal for application to electrical equipment that is ablaze. CO2 extinguishers are marked with a black label.
RES Fire Protection Engineers offer both powder and CO2 fire extinguisher solutions for environments containing electrical equipment, including the following:
Fire extinguisher purchase and hire
Do you require powder or CO2 fire extinguishers for rooms holding electrical equipment? We can meet your requirements at RES Fire Protection Engineers. Our entire range of fire extinguishers are produced to adhere to European Standard EN3, and all have a five year guarantee. We offer discounts for large quantity orders. We also offer electrical fire extinguisher hire services for up to six months.
Servicing/refilling electrical fire extinguishers
If your electrical fire extinguisher needs maintenance or routine checks, we can service portable fire extinguishers, hose reels, trolley units and fire blankets to ensure that they are suitable for use in line with current legislation and British Standards. All extinguisher services are conducted by BAFE registered technicians. We also have an emergency call-out service, here for customers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Our engineers can also refill your fire extinguishers at either our premises or through our refilling service vans, 5 days a week from 8am-5pm.
Chrome and stainless steel fittings
We offer stainless steel and chrome fittings to indicate action signs, prohibition signs and fire-fighting signs in relation to your fire safety equipment and fire extinguishers. Single or double stands for your extinguishers can also be provided.
Purchase, hire and maintenance of electrical fire extinguishers from RES
Do you require an electrical fire extinguisher for your business so that your staff and premises can be kept safe? We provide a wide range of fire extinguishers for either purchase or hire, and can service and maintain them for you on an ongoing basis. Talk to RES about your business requirements today. We cover the South of England including London, Berkshire, Bracknell, Windsor, Middlesex & Surrey, Oxfordshire, Hampshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Essex & Kent, West & East Sussex, Reading, Maidenhead, Slough, Newbury and the surrounding areas.
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What should you use a water fire extinguisher for?
A water fire extinguisher should be used on textile fires, as well as fires caused by burning paper or wood materials. They are also suitable for any other ‘Class A’ graded fires. A water fire extinguisher is ideal for cooling down fires while extinguishing them. In the case of fires caused by burning textiles, the liquid water saturates the fabric to extinguish the flames. Because they do not contain any harsh chemicals, water fire extinguishers are ideal for children’s play areas, food-preparation areas and in areas where there may be vulnerable people. They are also environmentally friendly. Many businesses choose water fire extinguishers because they are easy to refill and cost-effective. That said, a large quantity of water fire extinguishers is needed to cover larger areas, as the water is very quickly used up within a single water fire extinguisher. Sizes available include capacities of 3 litres, 6 litres and 9 litres.
If you intend to use a water fire extinguisher to fight fires caused by electrical equipment, extinguishers with special chemicals inside them are available to prevent current flow and to ensure safe application without electrocution. Water fire extinguishers work well with CO2 extinguishers, and are suitable for home use.
What does a water fire extinguisher look like?
Water fire extinguishers are red in colour and match the body of the extinguisher. They usually have ‘water extinguisher’ marked on them. At RES Fire Protection Engineers, we always recommend installing signs next to your fire extinguishers to clearly indicate their purpose and nature.
Limitations of water fire extinguishers
Never use water fire extinguishers for the following types of fire:
How to use a water fire extinguisher
Water fire extinguishers are very simple and safe to use. Remove the safety pin to break the seal on the extinguisher, before pointing the nozzle at the base of the fire and spraying by squeezing the handle. Ensure that the fire is properly extinguished (keep spraying if you are unsure).
Water fire extinguisher purchase and hire from RES
If you require water fire extinguishers for your business, we can meet your requirements at RES Fire Protection Engineers. Our water fire extinguishers adhere to European Standard EN3, with a five year guarantee. We offer discounts for large quantity orders, and hire services for up to six months if you do not want to purchase an extinguisher. We can also refill and maintain your water fire extinguishers, either filling them at our premises or using our mobile vans.
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Talk to RES about your business requirements today. We cover the South of England including London, Berkshire, Bracknell, Windsor, Middlesex & Surrey, Oxfordshire, Hampshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Essex & Kent, West & East Sussex, Reading, Maidenhead, Slough, Newbury and the surrounding areas.
Having the correct lighting installed in a premise is very important to the health and safety of those using it particularly if it is a workplace. Correct LED emergency light installation makes it quicker and easier to identify hazards while making an environment easier and more comfortable for people to work in because of optimum light levels. Poor lighting can have a detrimental effect on employees’ and visitors’ health in an organisation’s premises, including:
Having the correct LED emergency lighting is essential for any business and or premises owner, especially in cases where a sudden loss of light would prevent safe escape from a building in an emergency. At RES Fire Protection Engineers, we offer the following services for LED Emergency light solutions:
LED emergency light solutions are a UK legal requirement in all non-domestic and certain types of residential premises, as they ensure that a building is compliant with relevant British Standards and the law (Regulatory Reform Fire Safety Order 2006). This is something we can check for you at RES. We can also advise on and provide emergency LED lighting for your business, so that you can have a bespoke solution based on your business requirements. Regulations regarding LED emergency lighting are very specific, and you need to adhere to the following areas in order for premises to be compliant:
LED emergency lighting needs to be activated for the entire period that a danger exists, or until normal lighting is restored for work to be undertaken as normal. If a normal lighting system fails in the event of a fire, a back-up power source is required for LED emergency lighting to fully function as necessary. This can be achieved by way of battery packs to each LED emergency light or by way of a centralised battery system To prevent glare, it is important to LED emergency lights should be mounted at least 2m from the floor so that effective light can illuminate all areas around a building and various escape routes.
Maintained – LED emergency lights that operate as a normal light fitting and can be controlled with all the other lights in the area, however when the power fails the maintained emergency fitting will continue to operate but at a lower light level.
Non Maintained – Is normally switched off, with its batteries being continuously charged and a green LED showing fully charged. When the power fails then the fitting switches on using its battery supply. Non-maintained fittings are not part of the general lighting but are fittings such as emergency exit signs
If you need LED emergency light solutions for your premises including installation, testing, maintenance or repairs, RES can carry out a comprehensive service to meet your requirements. We cover the South of England including London, Berkshire, Bracknell, Windsor, Middlesex & Surrey, Oxfordshire, Hampshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Essex & Kent, West & East Sussex, Reading, Maidenhead, Slough, Newbury and the surrounding areas.
Fire safety signs are essential for keeping those in a non-domestic building safe, ensuring that staff and visitors know what to do and where to go in the case of a fire. At RES Fire Protection Engineers, we have a range of signs that suit current fire safety regulations and offer installation as well as guidance, advice and training.
By having good quality fire safety signs that are in accordance with fire safety regulations, you can help reduce this figure and keep your staff and visitors safe. Our fire safety sign range includes fire exit signs, fire action signs, mandatory signs, emergency plan and procedure signs, warning signs, fire equipment signs, fire assembly point signs and fire extinguisher signs.
These fire safety signs are blue and circular in shape with a white pictogram that must be obeyed in accordance with UK fire safety law. Mandatory fire safety signs advise all people within a building on actions that must be followed to prevent fire or accidents, such as wearing a hard hat in a workshop. These signs should be displayed near entry points to a building, and on fire doors that must be kept shut, kept locked shut or automatic doors that are held open and must be kept clear.
Fire action notices indicate actions that building occupants must do in the event of a fire. These signs take the form of white text on a blue background, although they are not always in a circular format. The blue and white colours used on the signs emphasise their mandatory nature. A general-purpose mandatory sign is a white exclamation mark on a blue circle, which is most commonly positioned next to a fire action notice.
This type of fire safety sign takes a green rectangular form with a white pictogram and text located centrally. It indicates the nearest fire and emergency exits and escape routes, as well as first aid kits and other necessary safety equipment. These signs must always comply with Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996, current British Standards for fire safety signage and the 1974 Health and Safety at Work Act.
Red fire fighting signs indicate where safety equipment is located to tackle a fire, such as fire extinguishers. Fire fighting signs can also signal fire alarm activation points. They are often red and rectangular in shape with white writing and a pictogram.
These fire safety signs are triangular in shape, yellow in colour, and act as a warning to building occupants that there are dangers nearby that are a great risk in the event of a fire – such as the placement of a combustible liquid or radioactive material. These signs are required by the Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996 and in specific cases by the Dangerous Substances (Notification and Marking of Sites) Regulations 1990.
Prohibition signs are circular red signs with crossbars running through them, indicating that certain actions are prohibited due to their dangerous nature. For instance, in the case of a fire risk, a sign may indicate that smoking is prohibited in certain areas. All companies should make employees aware of prohibition signs and how they relate to their duties within an organisation.
Directional arrow signs in green, red and yellow colours are supplementary signs that point out safety exits or fire safety equipment.
RES offer an extensive range of JALITE fire safety signs and fire safety signage solutions that are designed to conform to British and international standards.
Why choose JALITE AAA photoluminescent signs and products?
Legislation states that all safety signs require illumination and must remain illuminated under a power loss. This requirement can be met by using JALITE AAA photoluminescent signs.
RES are an Authorised Distributor of the JALITE range of photoluminescent safety products which now include fire safety signs, health and safety signs, safety wayguidance systems and even photoluminescent paint.
We are proud to be an authorised distributor of Jalite signs and provide safety signs for the South of England including London, Berkshire, Bracknell, Windsor, Middlesex & Surrey, Oxfordshire, Hampshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Essex & Kent, West & East Sussex, Reading, Maidenhead, Slough, Newbury and the surrounding areas.
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