Chair of the Fire Sub Group, Peter Seal, was delighted with the attendance figures being over 50 this year "delegates found it extremely beneficial to network with colleagues from the UK and overseas. We have instigated some important initiatives and will be reviewing the annual Fire Statistics Data and looking at University Fire Officer training with the FPA."

Jeremy French ,"We are proud to have sponsored the USHA Fire Seminar at Warwick University. It represented an opportunity for us to meet with the various professionals in attendance, responsible for fire safety within various  universities Estate Management Departments. By discussing their operations  with us we are now able to design bespoke Survey, Repair  and Maintenance packages giving efficient and cost effective solutions to constant  fire door compliancy. " 

One of the presenters at this year’s Fire Seminar was Karen Firth, from the University of East Anglia,  who oversees the Annual Fire Statistics for USHA.

Karen says “This year’s conference produced some very positive developments and potential improvements in the process of collation, interpretation and use of the annual fire statistics. 

This was an excellent opportunity for the group to discuss in some depth, many issues surrounding the statistics and led to an agreed change to the collation period from the current January to December to October to September in line with the academic year, which was welcomed by all.  

 Discussions also led to the agreed establishment of a working group tasked with the challenge of improving the accuracy of data submitted and improving the way it is manipulated to provide useful and meaningful statistics that will be of even greater benefit to the sector in assessing its performance. 

This is an overdue and significant move forward for these statistics.  

The group will meet several times in the coming months and is scheduled to report back to the Fire Group with recommendations at the next Fire Seminar in 2011. There will be a period of consultation before any final changes are implemented.”

For more photos and to review this year’s presentations click on the Fire Sub Group page.