Introducing SiteSmart – The Smart Information and Data Hub

Wednesday 26th October saw the launch of BRE’s new resource hub for the smart construction professional – SiteSmart. This centralised hub unites our current software tools, SmartWaste and Yellow Jacket, in addition to providing a platform for relevant construction industry resources and information; ensuring the provision of enhanced performance across the industry. To get a … Continue reading “Introducing SiteSmart – The Smart Information and Data Hub”

BRE’s Peter Bonfield on BBC Radio 4’s You and Yours

The BRE Group’s CEO Dr Peter Bonfield OBE FREng appeared today on BBC Radio 4’s You and Yours to talk about the publication of The Property Flood Resilience Action Plan, an independent report commissioned by Defra and chaired by Dr Bonfield. Being recorded @BBCRadio4 You and Yours with @BritishInsurers Mark Shepherd @DefraGovUK Flood Resilience Action Plan … Continue reading “BRE’s Peter Bonfield on BBC Radio 4’s You and Yours”

Fire safety issues with Balconies

Many dwellings, especially high-rise dwellings or blocks of flats, are now provided with a balcony.  With high demand for housing and limited space, there is likely to be a continued increase in high-rise developments.  As such, balconies are considered an important amenity in modern living. Indications are that fires on balconies are increasing. Download the … Continue reading “Fire safety issues with Balconies”

External Fire Spread

BRE Global has been awarded a contract by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) to continue fire investigation activities on behalf of DCLG until 2018.  An important element of this contract is to ensure that findings from fire investigations are made available to the fire community, and other stakeholders. The articles below addresses … Continue reading “External Fire Spread”

Heat release and smoke production from burning Mobility Scooters

Ensuring fire safety for the residents of care homes and sheltered accommodation for the elderly is one of the biggest challenges facing the fire safety community in the coming decades.   The need to maintain fire safety provisions in such buildings often conflicts with the every-day life of the occupants. But, as well as the potential … Continue reading “Heat release and smoke production from burning Mobility Scooters”

London Fire Brigade and BRE have published new guidance for assessing and identifying vulnerable people

In response, London Fire Brigade and BRE have published new guidance for assessing and identifying ‘priority’ people whose level of fire risk warrants additional measures such as a PPS (Personal Protection System). PPS are an automatic fire suppression device, designed to protect against specific fire risks in a domestic environment. It automatically activates over a … Continue reading “London Fire Brigade and BRE have published new guidance for assessing and identifying vulnerable people”

Fire compartmentation in roof voids

Fire and smoke spread in concealed spaces within buildings can present both a life risk to occupants and fire-fighters, and cause widespread damage with extensive, difficult, and expensive clean-up and re-instatement.  Indeed, in some cases, smoke deposits (and their resulting odour) can never be adequately removed and buildings have had to be demolished. One such … Continue reading “Fire compartmentation in roof voids”

A series of experiments to assess the effect of fire on a selection of electrical cable supports and fixings

BRE Global carries out fire investigation activities on behalf of the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG). An important element of this contract with DCLG is to ensure that findings from fire investigations are made available to the fire community, and other stakeholders. In addition to the continued investigative work carried out by BRE … Continue reading “A series of experiments to assess the effect of fire on a selection of electrical cable supports and fixings”

Causes of false fire alarms in buildings (BRE Trust briefing paper)

The purpose of this project was to collate information about the causes of false alarms observed in buildings and to identify approaches that could be developed and used to reduce their occurrence. Identifying contributors and obtaining false alarm data proved to be a difficult exercise, however, two different contributors were identified- Kings College London and … Continue reading “Causes of false fire alarms in buildings (BRE Trust briefing paper)”