UK’s national fire safety organisation. Its comprehensive services include consultancy, fire safety audits and fire risk assessments. It promotes high standards of fire safety management by working with fire, security and safety professionals in industry and commerce in both the public and private sectors. The FPA liaises closely with the government and the fire service. (Visit www.thefpa.co.uk).

Fire Division of Building Research Establishment. It carries out fire testing, fire research and provides fire and crime consultancy.

The extent to which material is fire resistant is measured by the time that the material or construction will withstand fire exposure as determined by a fire test that conforms with standard methods of testing. The measurements become standards for buildings regulations and other codes, e.g. 30 minutes fire resistant for internal walls in certain premises, or for insurers, e.g. four hours to achieve a fire division in a given risk.

A follow-up survey of premises by a fire surveyor. It may be to check: if suggested improvements have been carried out; that accumulated waste has been removed; on new features, e.g. machinery, not installed at time of first survey; on changes notified to the insurer since the first survey. The whole premises are checked during a resurvey.

Provides for a system of safety certification by local authorities for certain covered stands- known as ‘regulated stands’ – at sports grounds, and for subsequent inspections. This Act applies to all outdoor sports grounds, whatever their use, where there is a covered stand (i.e. with seated or standing accommodation) which can accommodate at least 500 spectators.

Prepared by a fire surveyor to assist an underwriter in considering the risk. The report, with plan, describes the premises and covers: fire hazards; fire protection; management; claims history; recommendations for risk improvement; reference to any special perils that be required and the susmay ceptibility of the risk to those perils.

Economic loss to society caused by fire. It embraces the direct loss of property and material damage, plus the time and cost in manufacture and other consequential losses, e.g. unemployment. The ABI and Lloyd’s work closely with the Building Research Establishment and others on fire waste reduction.

A natural or constructed barrier, such as a fire wall that stops or checks the progress of a fire. See FIREBREAK DOORS WARRANTY; FIRE DIVISION.

Fire insurance warranty that all firebreak doors are closed at the end of business each day.

Literally means material or a structure that will withstand damage by fire. In practical terms in regard to a building it is taken to mean a structure built with steel and concrete or other non-combustible material that will significantly reduce both the probability of fire and its effects once started.