BUSINESS STANDARDS
is the quarterly magazine of BSI Group, highlighting the vital role that standards play in today's business environment. Regular features include interviews with leading business figures, as well as news on the latest developments in management systems and standards.
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 © 2007. 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.
Castrol and Kitemark:
spreading the word
Castrol and BSI Product Services have teamed up for a joint marketing campaign to spread the word about the Kitemark scheme for Garage Services, which ensures that the standards of PAS 80 and the Kitemark are met and maintained.
Fast glass: Kitemark® for Norvik
Barnsley based Norvik PVCu Window Systems Ltd has achieved Kitemark certification to BS EN 1279 for its new range of double-glazed sealed units in record time, following assessment from BSI Product Services.
Given the forthcoming revision to ISO 9001 Quality management systems, it's a good time to remind everyone that 13 November 2008 is World Quality Day.
World Standards Day 2008 was on 14 October and this year, the theme was "Intelligent and Sustainable Buildings". The day highlighted the role of standards in everything from safety requirements to new technologies in the design and construction of such buildings.
BSI Management Systems has been awarded global ISO/IEC 17021 accreditation by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service and the ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board in the US.
We are under increasing pressure to comply with a growing number of regulations and to maintain growth - while under greater scrutiny than ever before. How can this be good for business?
We are all in the risk management business. In the current climate, as consumers we are encouraged to claim compensation or sue for damages for almost any negative incident we encounter.
Have a standards-related question for BSI or a comment on the website? We'll find the right person to answer.
