A typically asked question by property managers, building owners and those accountable for managing fire safety is– can I do my own fire risk evaluation?

In this article, we’re going to discuss why it is feasible– but may not normally be the proper choice to make. Who are we?  Find Out More

The short answer is ‘Of course – you can conduct your own fire risk evaluation’, there is nothing stopping you from Googling an online design template for a fire risk evaluation and filling out the areas to define your property, what you do, and any risks you can identify from the limited expertise you have. If in doubt get in touch  Find Out More

You could possibly even do your own research, perhaps even go to a fire safety program. This may have been reasonable prior to 2005, as the fire service used to visit your property and carry out an audit to provide you with a fire certificate. But, since then, the requirements and law for fire safety became much more rigorous and things changed substantially.

The law for fire safety – The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, which was really introduced in 2006– was created to remodel fire safety in England & Wales, to introduce the requirement for a suitable and adequate fire risk evaluation to be carried out for all non-domestic premises.

The words ‘suitable and sufficient’ when used in law, were undoubtedly brought under scrutiny, but the interpretation has since been made very obvious:
A suitable and sufficient fire risk evaluation can only be carried out by a competent person.

‘Competent’ can be defined as someone with enough training, credentials, experience and attitude. A competent person needs to have obtained specific training in relation to fire risk analyses, they must have some form of qualification to back that up, experience in assessing your type of property, and the right approach to ensure they’re able to communicate the results effectively. All of the above can be achieved for your fire risk evaluation by using outside assessors.

Find out More about our Fire risk assessments  Fire Risk Assessment

Parents are usually well-versed in getting their child to the dentist early on. Establishing oral health routines for your toddlers is standard – but many parents have questions about getting their child set up with first orthodontist visit. What about their first visit to the orthodontist? When should they go? Is my child too young for the orthodontist? Is my child too young for braces? Luckily, all these questions have simple answers.

 The Lucky Number Seven

Age seven is the magic number for a orthodontist. This is because, at seven, your child’s first set of molars should have come in. This first set of molars erupts between ages six and seven and are in the lower jaw and do not replace any baby teeth.

The seven-year molars are a good indicator of future dental issues once they have fully grown in. Seeing your child right after this growth occurs allows your orthodontist to get a more accurate picture of your child’s mouth and treatment plan than if they were seen before the molars grew in but give them enough time to address possible issues before it’s too late.

 Benefits of Early Orthodontic Treatment – Short Term

Having crooked teeth or a skewed bite is hard on your self-confidence. Sadly, many children with these dental issues experience teasing and bullying from their peers. It’s the reason so many are eager to visit the orthodontist when the time comes. When treatment begins it can take a while to complete, but most patients tend to see gradual improvements well before their appliances come off.

It can be hard for kids to wait months or years for results, so some short-term benefits of early treatment that are equally as great as the long-term results are an easier time at the dentist. Better oral health will certainly help in that regard and improve self-esteem.

Seeing an first orthodontist visit for an initial evaluation does not necessarily mean treatment begins right away. Your orthodontist may recommend a treatment plan that starts a year down the road. The most important part is that your child’s mouth moves at its own pace to a beautiful and healthy smile!

Benefits of Early Orthodontic Treatment – Long Term

Early orthodontic treatment is a proactive step parents can take to promote their children’s long term oral health. Because early orthodontic treatment occurs when your child has a mixture of adult and baby teeth, there are countless issues in the long run that can be avoided. One example of this is early treatment can regulate the width of the dental arch before they progress into more serious orthodontic issues. The dental arch is the part of the jaw that houses your teeth. - in the treatment of problems in the dental arch and what is called malocclusions, or the improper alignment of the upper and lower teeth.

Proactive treatment also makes sure your child has fewer impacted teeth, fewer future tooth extraction procedures, and may resolve speech problems. Procedures to correct these issues once the teeth fully develop are costly and time-consuming. The early treatment approach may be the preventative measure that stops their occurrence.