A Day Packed with Innovation and Networking

Set against the backdrop of Harrogate, FIM Expo brought together a dynamic mix of fire safety professionals from manufacturers and consultants, to installers and end users for a day of technical discovery and knowledge exchange.

Attendees browsed exhibitor stands showcasing the very latest in fire detection, emergency lighting, alarm systems, and suppression technology. With live demonstrations and hands-on displays, the event gave professionals a chance to interact with cutting-edge products, ask direct questions, and share experiences with peers and suppliers alike.

Karen Byard’s Presentation: A Standout Session on Mental Health Fire Safety

Among the CPD-accredited conference sessions, one talk stood out for its relevance, thoughtfulness, and depth: Karen Byard, Fire Safety Lead from Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, delivered a deeply insightful session on the practical challenges of managing fire safety within mental health settings.

Drawing from years of experience and her academic research, Karen walked attendees through the complex balance between compliance, compassion, and care. Her presentation built upon her well-regarded work, including how her Trust has tackled everything from passive fire protection to safe ward design, all while safeguarding service users’ dignity and wellbeing.

Topics highlighted were:

• Innovative alarm systems using silent pagers to reduce patient distress.
• Specialist door solutions balancing fire integrity and accessibility.
• Challenges around ligature resistance and fire signage.
• The importance of fire-resistant materials like flaxboard core doors.
• Real-life incidents and the Trust’s layered response — from fire-stopping to targeted staff training.
• Preventative actions in community care, including risk assessments for service users in their own homes.

A Career Rooted in Real-World Impact

Karen Byard isn’t just a fire safety professional; she’s a specialist working at the sharp end of care. As Fire Safety Lead at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, she’s responsible for ensuring the fire safety of both inpatient mental health facilities and community-based settings. Her work spans fire risk assessments, compliance strategies, fire protection design, and hands-on staff training, all tailored to the unique demands of mental health care.

“Fire safety in any healthcare building is critical to the safety of patients, visitors, staff, and the ability of the building to enable staff to provide ongoing care,” Karen explained. “Fires in mental health hospitals pose unique challenges due to the specific needs and vulnerabilities of the patients. They may also lack capacity to respond to emergencies effectively or in an expected way, making them particularly vulnerable during any fire incident.

There is also an increased risk of fires being deliberately set by patients, which means that we need to be confident that the preventive measures in place are in a good state of repair and checked or tested regularly.

The evacuation of a ward during a fire incident can also present additional challenges as staff need to ensure that the service users are safe and in a secure area.”

For many attendees at FIM Expo, Karen’s presentation wasn’t just informative, it was eye-opening. Her message, underpinned by real-world examples and practical wisdom, offered a clear reminder: fire safety isn’t just about products or protocols, it’s about people.

Her message was clear: fire safety isn’t just about meeting standards, it’s about designing systems and environments that work for the people they’re meant to protect, particularly in complex, high-risk healthcare settings.

If you weren’t able to attend this time, keep an eye out for our future FIM events.