The legal framework governing the provision of fire safety in buildings has developed in a piecemeal fashion over time. Its direction has been driven partly by the advice of specialists, partly by European Directives and in part by major tragedies such as the Bradford Stadium fire in May 1985 in which 58 people lost their lives and the King's Cross disaster two years later which claimed 31 lives.

There are now over 60 statutes, regulations, Home Office guides and European Directives concerned with fire safety. Add to these the relevant British and European Standards and Codes of Practice and you can soon see why pressure has been growing for the UK government to codify the law into a single Fire Safety Act.

The legal documents place great emphasis on the importance of containing the spread of fire through buildings - with very good reason. Whether the building is used as a factory, office, hotel, educational or leisure facility, residential tower block, hospital or nursing home, it makes sense that the longer a fire can be contained, the more time is available for occupants to escape and for the emergency services to assist.

This is why Sealmaster has developed a series of innovative fire and smoke seals which are built into the weakest points of fire compartments and which are activated during a fire to buy extra time - when it is most needed.

Our Fire Safety Days at Pampisford, near Cambridge are provided without charge and are designed to bring our guests up to date with the latest developments. They are designed for architects, members of the fire services, environmental health officers, contractors and other construction professionals.

At Sealmaster Fire Safety Seminars held at our Pampisford site, you are invited to witness a fire test and you are free to inspect the test specimen, ask questions etc. We run a modern gas fired full-sized fire test rig capable of indicative BS 476 tests.

Fire Safety Days are held at our Pampisford site, just south of Cambridge, on a regular basis. They run between 10am and 3.15pm with a free buffet lunch. They are divided into 20 minute modules with the opportunity for questions and discussions as well as short breaks. Each event includes the opportunity to view a fire test and to inspect the test specimen.

Tailor-made seminars can also be arranged with Institutes, Practices or other organisations which prefer an in-house or local venue.

Other formats of seminar are available, covering for instance, the principles of Weather Sealing Doors and Windows, Sound Transmission and Part M of the Building Regulations for England & Wales.

Please contact our seminar co-ordinator at our main address or at seminars@sealmaster.co.uk for further help.

• A history and assessment of current fire test procedures.
  

• The role of Intumescent Technology in Fire Door Sets.
  

• Upgrading doors in Listed Buildings to fire standards.
  

• The role of Intumescents in fire-resistant glazing.
  

• The role of Intumescents in concealed spaces and gaps.
  

• A review of Legislation & Codes of Practice.
  

• Applied fire protection coatings.
  

• Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations.
  

Sealmaster Fire Safety Seminars have been accredited for Continuing Professional Development by:

The RIBA Providers Network.
The Institute of Building Control.