Published 15 Dec 2025
Siderise delivers expert building fire safety training to South Wales Fire Service
At Siderise, we believe that meaningful change in passive fire protection must start with educating the industry and we welcome opportunities for valuable collaboration with other members of the fire safety sector, especially those on the front line.
Earlier this year, South Wales Fire approached Siderise for bespoke training materials to support their internal development. Rather than simply supplying resources, Training Manager, Elan Penn, offered to deliver onsite training that was tailored to their needs. The initial visit received positive feedback from the service, and on 17 September 2025, Elan was invited back to deliver two further training sessions to senior members of staff from multiple departments.
The training was designed to give attendees a clear understanding of how high-rise buildings present fire risks and the products that can be used to reduce these risks. Topics covered during the sessions included:
Common façade types used on high-rise construction.
The role of cavity barriers and firestops in high-rise construction.
Functional performance of cavity barriers in preventing fire spread through tall buildings.
Key terminology used within passive fire protection.
Installation requirements of cavity barriers and firestops.
Jason Lamport, Group Manager, High-Rise Team, South Wales Fire Service said:
"We learned so much and really welcomed not only the training but also the hospitality. The training will be passed on to our crews and commanders and has been invaluable to us as a team."
Richard Higson, Fire Officer, High-Rise Team, South Wales Fire Service also added:
"The feedback from our fire service personnel has been excellent, the length of time and quality content was appreciated by all. We are fortunate to have Siderise as a resource within our Service area."
Elan Penn added:
“When fire services and manufacturers work together, we raise the standard for safety and accountability. We are delighted to support South Wales Fire as it seeks to expand the knowledge and skills of its service workers. We’re not just sharing product knowledge – we’re helping to build competency across the fire sector and the country at a time when education around building safety is needed more than ever.”
The training is now being formally integrated into South Wales Fire Service’s competency framework, with attendees receiving a certification of attendance from Siderise and a formal certificate from South Wales Fire Service. This is a significant step forward towards aligning real-world fire scenarios with technical understanding. It also sets a precedent for how manufacturers can support frontline fire services with meaningful, tailored training.
