Sertus Live 2: Industry unites to bridge the gap between design, building safety, and real-world firefighter experience

More than 100 professionals from across fire safety, M&E, architecture, and building services came together at the Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service Training & Development Academy on 2 October for Sertus Live 2: Smoke Control in Action – a hands-on learning day bringing the smoke control supply chain together for a rare, live look at how systems perform under fire conditions.

Hosted by Sertus, a UK-based manufacturer of smoke ventilation products, the event explored one of the industry’s most pressing challenges: bridging the gap between design intent and real-world firefighter experience.

Through live smoke control and fire demonstrations, technical CPD sessions, and honest discussion, the day exposed a critical truth - that what’s designed and specified at the top of the supply chain still doesn’t always support those on the front line when it matters most.

A call for collaboration and culture change 

The highlight of the day was a keynote address from Dame Judith Hackitt DBE FREng, whose independent review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety following the Grenfell Tower tragedy continues to shape the UK’s building safety landscape.

Her address, “Building Safety: Changing Thinking and Culture,” urged professionals to go beyond compliance and embed competence, accountability, and collaboration across every stage of the building lifecycle. 

Dame Judith Hackitt DBE FREng said:

Real change doesn’t come from legislation alone – it comes from mindset. Every part of the supply chain has a responsibility to design, specify, and deliver with safety at its heart. Events like Sertus Live 2 help turn that principle into practice.

The day’s discussions and live demonstrations reinforced that compliance only works when systems are joined up – and when those designing buildings understand how smoke control affects firefighter safety in real conditions.

Phil Byrne, Area Manager at Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service, commented:

What’s designed on paper doesn’t always work in the heat of an incident. Sertus Live 2 gave people a unique chance to see that reality, to talk openly, and to start closing the gap between design and operational effectiveness. That dialogue is essential if we’re serious about safer buildings.

An environment built for realism and learning

Sertus Live 2 was held at the Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service Training and Development Academy in Aintree – a state-of-the-art, national centre of excellence supporting the National Resilience Assurance Team (NRAT), UK International Search and Rescue Team (UKISAR), and secondary Fire Control.

The facility enables firefighters to train for complex high-rise and urban fire scenarios in realistic conditions, making it the ideal location for live smoke control demonstrations and hands-on learning.

Sertus supplied a range of smoke ventilation products for the Academy’s construction, all of which help simulate real-world smoke and airflow behaviour in a controlled environment.

Building competence through connection

The event featured CPD sessions from Sertus (“The Future of Smoke Control Shafts”) and Quelfire (“Passive Fire Protection for Service Penetrations”), highlighting how active and passive fire systems must work hand in hand to safeguard lives and property.

The day closed with an interactive fireside panel, where speakers and attendees reflected on how design, manufacturing, regulation, and firefighting can better align.

Driving industry standards

Now in its second edition, Sertus Live has quickly become a leading forum for knowledge sharing and collaboration in the fire safety sector – with more events in the series planned for the future.

Shane White, Managing Director at Sertus, said:

Our mission is simple – to safeguard lives and property through unequivocally compliant, expertly engineered smoke control products. Sertus Live brings that mission to life. By connecting manufacturers, contractors, consultants, and firefighters, we’re not just talking about compliance – we’re building competence and changing culture.

Fraser Ruthven, Marketing Manager at Sertus, added:

Hearing the firefighter perspective first-hand was eye-opening for many attendees. It’s not about pointing fingers; it’s about recognising where systems fail in real-world use and working together to fix it. That honesty and collaboration are what Sertus Live is all about.

Supporting those who protect others

In line with its core values of responsibility and community, Sertus used the event to support The Fire Fighters Charity, which provides vital mental, physical, and social wellbeing services to the UK fire and rescue community.

About Sertus

Sertus is a UK-based manufacturer of smoke ventilation products, dedicated to safeguarding lives and property through unequivocally compliant, expertly engineered, and reliably manufactured solutions. Driven by our vision to be the UK’s manufacturer of choice for smoke ventilation, we’re setting the standard – leading, not following – with products that combine innovation, performance, and quality. From early-stage design through to post-install support, we partner with contractors, architects, consultants, and developers to deliver smoke control that works – every time.

At Sertus, Make It Simple isn’t just a tagline – it’s our promise. We simplify the complex world of fire safety through intelligent design, clear guidance, and comprehensive support, helping our customers achieve compliant, high-performance buildings with confidence.

Learn more at sertus.uk. For media enquiries, contact hello@sertus.uk or call 01483 269999.