Episode 46 of the Fire Safety Matters Podcast features exclusive interviews with Derrick Hall (director of sales and marketing) and Kevin Mears (head of product management) at Kentec Electronics, while Brian also hears from Spike Armstrong (business development manager for Thermocable).

Derrick and Kevin concentrate on the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 (ie Martyn’s Law) in relation to the fire safety sector and the impact it will exert on product development. There’s also a focus on the statutory guidance being produced by the Government.

A member of the Halma plc Catalyst Programme, Spike Armstrong discusses linear heat detection cable and its use in tandem with solar panel arrays, in turn outlining the key findings of Thermocable’s own research in this area.

As always, Brian and Mark analyse the latest fire sector news.Subjects covered include the Fire and Security Matters Awards 2026, the Women in Fire Safety Awards (which have just been acquired by Western Business Media) and the recent launch of the Fire Protection Association’s 2025 Policy Manifesto.

There’s also detail (courtesy of the London Fire Brigade) on the number of e-bike fires in the capital and news about the introduction of a mental health-focused pack for passive fire protection practitioners developed and issued by the Association for Specialist Fire Protection.

Episode 45 of the Fire Safety Matters Podcast features two exclusive interviews. Brian hears from Darren Ellis, qualifications manager at FireQual, and Stephen Marsh (head of sales at wireless fire detection and alarm systems manufacturer Cygnus).

Darren focuses his attentions on FireQual as an organisation, the importance of competence in the sector and qualifications for fire risk assessors, while Stephen explains why school holidays are an ideal time for education sector trusts and academies alike to evaluate their fire detection and alarm systems.

In addition, Brian and Mark review the latest fire sector news.Subjects covered include the most recent set of statistics on building safety remediation issued by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and an e-Learning programme on fire safety introduced for high-rise building managers.

There’s also detail on the news that Warringtonfire has just invested circa £4 million on two furnaces designed to increase the testing capacity at its Birchwood Park facility and an overview of BS 8674 (the recently published British Standard for fire risk assessors).

Episode 44 of the Fire Safety Matters Podcast includes Mark interviewing Mike Sutton, business development manager at Apollo Fire Detectors. Mike’s a proud member of the Institute of Fire Safety Managers (IFSM) and the Institution of Fire Engineers in addition to being an associate member of the National Association of Healthcare Fire Officers.

On this occasion, Mike focuses his attentions on ways in which to protect educational premises from fire.

In addition, Brian and Mark analyse the latest industry news. Topics covered include the eighth anniversary of the Grenfell Tower fire, the Industry and Regulators Committee seeking practitioners’ views on the Building Safety Regulator and the appointment of Dave White FIFSM (Life) MIFireE (chair of the IFSM) and Colin Todd MBE (managing director at C. S. Todd & Associates) to the Board at FireQual.

Brian and Mark also review the Fire and Security Matters Awards 2025 and Fire Safety Matters Live Coventry, reference Western Business Media’s new Ignite digital platform for CPD and look ahead to Fire Safety Matters Live Manchester on 1 October.

Episode 43 of the Fire Safety Matters Podcast sees Mark Sennett chatting with Warren Spencer about appealing Enforcement and Prohibition Notices.

Mark also sits down with Hochiki Europe's Martin Green and EA-RS Fire Enginering's Kevin Pullen to discuss key regulatory changes impacting fire safety system installations, the benefits of manufacturer-led training programs and much more.

In the news on this episode, Mark shares views put forwards by Industry bodies on the Government’s post-Grenfell plans, reaction to the news that Grenfell Tower is set to be demolished, FIRAS taking the decision to withdraw specific FIRAS active certification schemes, and more.

If you want to sign up to attend Warren Spencer's webinar on Enforcement and Prohibition Notices, visit https://wbm.streamgo.live/enforcement-notice-and-prohibition-notices

Episode 42 of the Fire Safety Matters Podcast features Mark chatting with our regular guest Warren Spencer (managing director of Blackhurst Budd Solicitors) about a specific Case Study in the healthcare sector and also why fines apportioned in the fire sector tend to be lower than for prosecutions in the Health and Safety domain. Brian interviews Lee Nichols (technical director at Siderise). Lee concentrates on several core areas, among them current market challenges, the attainment of competence and how system manufacturers can actively support collaboration between design teams and contractors on-site. In addition, Brian and Mark review the latest industry news. Topics covered include the Government establishing a dedicated building Remediation Enforcement Unit within the Building Safety Regulator at the Health and Safety Executive and the responsibility for fire transferring from the Home Office to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government from 1 April.

Episode 41 of the Fire Safety Matters Podcast includes interviews with Mark Whiteley (sales director for the UK and Ireland at asecos), Tony Smith (managing director of Vox Ignis) and Mandy Bowden (fire systems manager for Comelit-PAC).

Mark Whiteley discusses the dangers posed by lithium-ion batteries, while Tony Smith concentrates on standards development and the future roadmap for the voice alarms market. Mandy Bowden looks at wireless fire safety systems, the necessity for staff training and also the influence of new Government legislation on the sector.

As always, Brian and Mark review the latest industry news. Topics covered include the safety risks continuing to impact tall buildings in London and the Institution of Fire Engineers’ new strategy document entitled ‘Leading Fire Safety’.

Episode 40 of the Fire Safety Matters Podcast features a trio of exclusive interviews with our guests Warren Spencer (managing director of Blackhurst Budd Solicitors), Craig Wells (sales director at Quelfire) and Phil Kirkham (engineering manager for applied technology at Elta Fans).

Warren Spencer chats with Mark about the Mock Trial held at Fire Safety Matters Live Manchester in early October. Returning guest Craig Wells focuses on the new Quelfire campaign ‘Because It’s Your Job To Know’ and Phil Kirkham discusses the importance of smoke ventilation fans.

Brian and Mark also analyse the latest industry news. Topics covered include the Government’s cladding remediation programme and Mitie Group plc’s recent acquisition of Argus Fire.

Episode 39 of the Fire Safety Matters Podcast focuses on the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 final report. Mark and Brian take an in-depth look at the report and share comments from key stakeholders from across the UK fire sector.

This episode also contains two exclusive interviews featuring the opinions of Tom Brookes (managing director of Zzeus Training and chair of the Fire and Security Association) and Derrick Hall (sales and marketing director at Kentec Electronics).

In conversation with Brian, Tom touches on the qualifications landscape and also offers his thoughts on the Phase 2 final report from the Grenfell Tower Public Inquiry chaired by Sir Martin Moore-Bick.

Derrick Hall chats to Brian about fire alarm control panel redundancy, the current standards landscape and also the ongoing issue of false fire alarms.