is the online magazine of BSI Group, highlighting the vital role that standards play in today's business environment - delivering ROI, saving costs, improving quality and mitigating risk. Features include interviews with leading business figures, as well as news on the latest developments in management systems, standards, testing, healthcare and certification.
Fire conscious:
BS 9999
21 Oct 2008
Topics: Fire
With over 30,000 commercial fires handled by the fire service in the UK every year, the demand for a more fire-safety conscious approach to commercial buildings has been high for years.
At the same time, the introduction of the new Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act in April 2008 removed the biggest blocks to legal action against directors in the case of fires: the need to find a senior representative guilty of manslaughter in order to prosecute their company.
Perceived corporate negligence was often one of the key reasons for prosecution, which has made it more imperative for company directors to take fire safety into account in their places of business.
The publication of BS 9999 Code of practice for fire safety in the design, construction and use of buildings in September 2008 was developed to help safeguard the lives of commercial building occupants and fire-fighters, and by extension those using or working in buildings.
The standard covers the construction and use of buildings to maximize fire safety, including precautions and means of escape. It is applicable to new and existing buildings, especially when alterations to the structure of an existing building or to its use are being considered, and covers the entire life cycle of a building.
As part of the launch, a conference will be held in November 2008, to introduce the new standard and provide information on other guidance, as well as updates on legislation and where BS 9999 fits within this context.
For more information on standards: www.bsigroup.com/oct08firestandards
For more information on the conference: www.bsigroup.com/oct08fireconference
Business Standards © 2010. Editorial produced by Caspian Publishing in association with The British Standards Institution. Editorial opinions expressed on are not necessarily those of BSI Group or Caspian Publishing. Neither Caspian Publishing nor BSI Group accept responsibility for advertising or editorial content, nor for that appearing on linked third-party websites. Reproduction in whole or in part is forbidden without written permission from BSI Group or Caspian Publishing.
Until now, there has been no strict guidance in the UK relating to how audiovisual (AV) installations are carried out. This includes everything from computers and projectors to interactive whiteboards, plasma screens and loud speakers. For AV installation companies, processes can vary significantly.
Sapphire earns a standards hat-trick
Sapphire Energy Recovery, the waste processing and resource recovery business owned by Lafarge Cement, has achieved certification to three management systems standards (ISO 9001 Quality management, ISO 14001 Environmental management and BS OHSAS 18001 Health and safety management) from BSI. Sapphire is the UK's leading processor of used tyres, and sources and manages the logistics of a range of waste-derived fuels and raw materials for the cement industry.
A little bit extra for Kitemark® bodyshops and garages
It's all well and good for an automotive bodyshop to earn the Thatcham BSI Kitemark® for Vehicle Body Repair, but it won't have as much impact if potential clients don't know about it. As a consequence, BSI decided to offer an Extras marketing toolkit to bodyshops and garages that have earned the Kitemark.
A clear case for carbon neutrality
"Carbon neutral" sounds good on paper, but what does it really mean? Organizations are making claims about carbon neutrality for everything from products to travel, events, projects and buildings. The problem is that no one quite agrees what "carbon neutral" means or how far it extends.
While there was a time when companies would never consider working alongside the competition, today's marketplace demands a more flexible approach. Collaboration is fast becoming par for the course. For example, large government contracts often require expertise that goes far beyond any one company's capacity to deliver. Forming a consortium brings together the right experience in the right place, and it can mean the difference between winning or losing a tender.
Question: This year marks the 25th anniversary of data protection regulation in the UK. Does the fact that such legislation exists mean that standards do not have a big role to play in the data protection puzzle?
First of all, the fact that there is legislation in place does not mean standards do not have a role to play. Quite the contrary: in many cases, standards offer a framework for businesses to better prepare and comply with legislation.
Have a standards-related question for BSI or a comment on the website? We'll find the right person to answer.
