Knowledge Transfer Partnership

The LIFEBID project has its roots in research conducted by Kent Fire & Rescue Service on human behaviour in dwelling fires. From this work, a knowledge transfer partnership (KTP) developed between Kent Fire & Rescue Service and the University of Greenwich, in particular its Fire Safety Engineering Group. LIFEBID has continued to evolve beyond the KTP.

KTPs exist to facilitate the transfer of knowledge, skills, technology and to bring about innovative change resulting in societal and commercial benefits. The above KTP ran from 1st May 2013 to 30th April 2016 and was jointly funded by Innovate UK (Technology Strategy Board) and the Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).

Core KTP team members (from 2013 to 2016):

Knowledge Base Partner

The Fire Safety Engineering Group at the University of Greenwich (UoG) is the UK’s largest academic group dedicated to the modelling and analysis of fire and evacuation behaviour. Some of its work is ranked as “world leading” (RAE2008, REF2014). The group recognises the need to understand human behaviour in fires as well as fire hazards and the physical environment, and is experienced in conducting surveys with people who have encountered emergencies in their homes or other buildings.

• Dr Lynn Hulse (KTP Associate): Psychologist who joined UoG’s Fire Safety Engineering Group in 2005. In both her prior studies and her work with UoG Lynn has investigated how people respond to emergency situations. She is using her experience in this area to assist LIFEBID with its aims.
  
• Professor Ed Galea (Lead Academic): Director of UoG’s Fire Safety Engineering Group. Ed’s research interests include the modelling of evacuation, people movement, fire/smoke spread, combustion and fire suppression in the built and other environments. He serves on a number of national and international standards and safety committees concerned with fire and evacuation.

Company

Kent Fire & Rescue Service (KFRS) provides a range of community and emergency response services within Kent and Medway in the South East of England.  Its aim is “to save lives and reduce risks”. Every year KFRS firefighters handle more than 16,000 incidents, including over 700 dwelling fires. One of KFRS’ key objectives is to reduce the number of these and other fires as well as reduce the number of fire-related injuries and deaths.

• David Wales (Company Supervisor): Research Manager of KFRS’ Communications & Commissioning Team. David has many years’ experience of attending and managing operational incidents. His work involves liaising with regional and national fire and rescue service groups plus engaging with senior representatives of other sectors (e.g. academia, burns and accident prevention).

• Owain Thompson (Technical Advisor): Research Officer with KFRS’ Communications & Commissioning Team. Educated at King’s College London and the London School of Economics, Owain has several years’ experience of undertaking research within the fire service. His current work is focused on human behaviour in dwelling fires.