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Talk presented by HBC member Sarah of Actifire Ltd, who delivered a practical and wide-ranging presentation on fire safety for businesses at July’s Hucknall Business Club meeting.
Sarah’s talk mixed professional experience, real-world examples and plenty of useful reminders for anyone responsible for a workplace, premises, team or public-facing space. It was also a chance for members to learn more about the person behind the business.
Away from work, Sarah is a mum of three and a lifelong Mansfield Town fan, having been a season ticket holder since the age of seven. Her career has taken her through a range of roles, including youth work at Nottinghamshire County Council, before moving into fire doors, training, course development and fire safety.
That mix of practical training, people skills and fire industry experience helped shape Actifire, which she now runs with business partner Keiran. The company is around two and a half years old, but its customer list already includes some very recognisable names, including Cadbury World and Noble Foods.
From Fire Doors to Community Projects
Sarah also shared the story behind Gardens of Giving, a community interest project that began with offcuts from a fire door factory. The team turned manufacturing waste into planters, grew produce and donated it to food banks.
Although they no longer run the factory, the principle continues: taking manufacturing waste and turning it into something useful for local communities. The project has also received recognition, including being named among Mansfield Museum’s Green Heroes.
It was a nice reminder that Actifire’s work is not only about compliance and equipment. There is a clear community thread running through the business too.
Fire Safety: What Businesses Need to Keep an Eye On
The main part of Sarah’s presentation focused on practical fire safety responsibilities.
One of the biggest messages was that fire safety should not be treated as a one-off tick box. A fire risk assessment may last up to five years, but it should still be reviewed regularly, especially after major changes to the building, layout, team or way the premises is used.
Sarah also talked through common fire safety equipment and the importance of regular checks, including extinguishers, alarms, emergency lighting and fire doors.
Extinguishers, for example, should be serviced annually even if the pressure gauge appears to be in the green. Powder extinguishers can cake inside, so turning them upside down and listening for a trickling sound rather than a dull thump can give a clue that something may not be right.
Alarms should be professionally checked, and businesses should not ignore a fault warning. Leaving a system in fault mode can make the eventual repair more costly and may affect the protection in place.
Emergency lighting was another key point. It needs to work when people need it most, and Sarah explained that systems should be checked to ensure they can stay on long enough during an emergency.
Fire Doors, Electrical Safety and Due Diligence
Sarah also gave a useful explanation of the difference between fire exits and fire-rated doors. Fire-rated doors are designed and installed to hold back fire for a set period, such as FD30, FD60 or FD90. The intumescent strips around the door and frame are a key part of that protection, expanding when exposed to heat to help seal the gap.
Electrical safety was also discussed. PAT testing is not always a legal requirement, but Sarah explained why it still matters as part of due diligence, especially when it comes to insurance and reducing fire risk. Fixed wiring checks, often referred to as EICR checks, are also an important part of keeping business premises safe.
Responsibility Still Sits With the Business
Sarah touched on how fire safety expectations have changed significantly in recent years, particularly following Grenfell. Guidance has become firmer, legal responsibilities are clearer, and businesses need to be able to show they have taken suitable steps.
One important takeaway was that you can bring in a competent fire safety specialist, but responsibility does not simply disappear. Business owners and responsible persons still need to make sure checks are happening, records are kept and issues are acted on.
That point landed well with the room. It is easy to assume “someone else has sorted it”, but fire safety relies on evidence, maintenance and follow-up.
How Compliant Is Your Business?
Actifire provides fire safety services across Nottinghamshire and surrounding areas, including fire extinguishers, fire alarm services and installation, emergency lighting, PAT testing, fire risk assessments and fire safety consultation. Their website also includes a short Fire Safety Score Card, designed to help businesses check how compliant they are and receive feedback.
FIRE SAFETY QUIZ: https://www.actifire.co.uk/how-compliant-is-your-business
The session closed with a clear message: fire safety is not about scaremongering. It is about being prepared, keeping people safe and being able to show that your business has done what it reasonably should.
If you are unsure where your business stands, Actifire’s quick compliance check is a useful place to start, and Sarah and the team would be happy to help with any questions using the contact details below:
