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.
In case of emergency
02 Jun 2009
Topics: Fire, Kitemark®
Emergency lighting is one of those things that you will hopefully never need, but if you do, it better work. "Escape lighting" ensures adequate visibility in escape routes from buildings so that people can get out easily and safely, even with a power loss.
The UK's Emergency Lighting and the New Fire Safety legislation - the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (FSO) - now requires shops, offices and other premises previously excluded from legislation to install additional emergency lighting. Premises must contain emergency lighting and escape route signposting, and the equipment installed must be the correct type and installed in the correct location, as well as satisfying the requirements of BS 5266 Lighting applications. Emergency lighting.
These systems are most commonly linked to Fire Detection and Alarm Systems and as such are mentioned in the FSO.
A new Emergency Lighting Kitemark scheme from BSI complements the Kitemark for Fire Alarm Systems Installations and the Kitemark for Electrical Installations.
The scheme inspects the quality and safety of work carried out by businesses engaged in the design and/or installation and/or inspection, test, certification and/or maintenance of emergency lighting systems, according to the various British Standards. Joining the BSI Kitemark Scheme demonstrates that an organization is fully compliant with the relevant parts of BS 5266 and recognizes it as an officially licensed Kitemark Emergency Lighting Installer. It also confirms that the emergency lighting in place has been installed to the highest possible standard - and that could mean the difference between life and death.
For more information on the Emergency Lighting Kitemark scheme, visit www.Kitemark.com/EmergencyLighting
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.
Sustainability: more than "green"
Sustainable development means taking into account the social, economic and environmental impacts of business activities, not only for the present but also for future generations.
Gerda, a leading developer and manufacturer of products for the security industry, has become the first company to be awarded the Kitemark for thief-resistant lock assemblies, in line with BS 10621:2007 Thief resistant dual-mode lock assembly.
Rising waters: revising PAS 1188
For those living in areas that are prone to flooding, having the right protection resources available is essential. While images of emergency sandbags holding back rivers of water may fill the media, there is a much wider range of products available for flood protection.
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.
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.
Question: Why is risk management important to business?
First, there's more to risk management than just managing risk. Most organizations will talk about risk assessments, but the question is: what are they assessing? If you don't know what the threats are, then how can you conduct an effective risk assessment?
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