ONE of the main factors which caused the death of two firefighters in Southampton could be a thing of the past, thanks to a new legal ruling which was fought for by Hampshire Fire and Rescue.
New regulations aimed at preventing fatalities from getting tangled in cables during fires will save lives, bosses at the fire service say.
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It follows the deaths of firefighters Jim Shears and Alan Bannon at an inferno at Shirley Towers in Southampton in 2010.
An inquest into the two men's deaths ruled that fallen cables and melted plastic trunking which was meant to hold it in place were found to be a contributory factor in their deaths.
Former Hampshire coroner Keith Wiseman was among those lobbying for changes in wiring regulations along with Hampshire fire chiefs and neighbouring forces.
The new requirement compels all new wiring systems to use metal, rather than plastic, to support cables in escape routes.
This will stop cables from falling down and blocking the emergency exits.
Dave Curry, chief officer at Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: "Following the death of our two colleagues, Alan Bannon and Jim Shears at Shirley Towers, the coroner found that fallen cables hampered their attempts to escape and proved a key factor in the tragedy.
"He recommended a change to the legislation on cable support and we have lobbied hard over the last two years, through the Chief Fire Officers Association (CFOA), to bring this about.
"While we cannot undo what happened at Shirley Towers or other fatal fires where cables have been a factor, this small but vital regulatory change will help protect both the public and firefighters, and prevent them facing similar dangers in the future."
Lobbying by fire and rescue services to effect the change in regulation BS 7671 - which covers electrical installations in the UK - has taken place in conjunction with charity Electrical Safety First.
The new requirement will apply only to cables within escape routes fixed to walls or ceilings.
Martyn Allen, the head of the charity's electro-technical division said: "Past experience has shown that where cables supported by plastic cable clips or trunking are installed at high level in corridors, stairways and other escape routes, particularly in high-rise blocks, they can pose a significant risk during a fire."
Andy Reynolds, lead officer for electrical safety at CFOA, added: "This regulatory change is a significant life-saving improvement and has been brought about thanks to the hard work of Electrical Safety First and a successful partnership with CFOA."
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