About Murfitts Industries
Murfitts Industries specialises in the collection and recycling of end-of-life tyres across the UK. Alongside its main processing facilities, Murfitts operates several hub sites that act as transfer points, storing tyres temporarily before they are moved on to larger treatment sites in places such as Lakenheath, Peterborough, Dunbar, Wednesbury, Oldbury, and Breighton.
These hubs are essential to keeping tyres moving efficiently through the recycling system. However, because tyres are classed as a combustible waste, storing them in large volumes brings increased fire risk and tighter regulatory requirements, making strong fire prevention and control measures a critical part of site operations.
As Murfitts expanded and formalised operations at its transfer hubs, Fire Prevention Plans became a key part of the Standard Rules Permit application process. Each site stored tyres differently, operated within its own physical constraints, and faced unique fire and environmental risks. Rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all solution, Murfitts needed Fire Prevention Plans that reflected how each site actually worked — practical, realistic, and aligned with Environment Agency expectations.
Wiser Environment’s Role
To meet regulatory requirements in a practical and site-specific way, Murfitts partnered with Wiser Environment to develop tailored Fire Prevention Plans for three of their hub facilities.
We worked closely with Murfitts’ site teams, taking time to understand how each hub operates day to day. This meant walking the sites, observing workflows, and learning how tyres are received, stored, moved across the yard, and ultimately transported onward. By understanding the realities of storage times, space constraints, and logistical pressures, we were able to shape Fire Prevention Plans that reflected how the sites actually function, not just how they look on paper.
This operational insight allowed us to balance fire safety, environmental protection, and commercial practicality, while ensuring full alignment with Environment Agency requirements.
What We Delivered Across the Three Hubs
Site-Specific Fire Risk & Operations Assessment
We reviewed site activities, tyre storage methods, equipment, and daily operations to identify potential fire risks and ignition sources. Existing prevention measures including site security, electrical systems, and equipment management were assessed to confirm that risks were being effectively controlled.
Tyre Storage, Capacity & Fire Spread Management
Tyre quantities, stockpile sizes, storage durations, pile heights, and overall site capacity were assessed to ensure storage remained within regulatory limits. Separation distances between stockpiles, buildings, site boundaries, and other combustible materials were reviewed to reduce fire spread risk. Where standard distances could not be met, we developed practical mitigation measures, such as revised layouts or engineered controls, to maintain safety without disrupting operations.
Drainage, Firewater & Environmental Protection
We evaluated drainage infrastructure, firewater containment capacity, and access to water supplies to ensure contaminated runoff could be safely managed in the event of a fire. This helped demonstrate Murfitts’ ability to protect the environment and prevent pollution of sensitive receptors.
Bespoke Fire Prevention Plan Development
Using insights from each site assessment, we developed tailored Fire Prevention Plans that clearly set out:
- How and where tyres are stored
- Maximum stockpile sizes and layouts
- Fire prevention and detection measures
- Emergency response procedures
- Firewater containment and environmental protection controls
All mitigation strategies were discussed and agreed with Murfitts to ensure the plans were both regulator-ready and realistic to implement on site.
Permit Support & Regulatory Liaison
We supported the Fire Prevention Plan submissions as part of Murfitts’ wider Standard Rules Permit applications and managed regulator queries throughout the process, ensuring each plan aligned with Environment Agency guidance.
Rather than producing a purely technical document, we worked collaboratively with Murfitts to develop solutions that made sense in practice, helping translate regulatory expectations into workable, on-the-ground controls.
As a result, Murfitts now has three tailored Fire Prevention Plans in place across their transfer hubs, strengthening fire risk management and supporting ongoing permit compliance. The plans provide confidence to both Murfitts and regulators that tyre storage risks are being managed responsibly without slowing logistics or disrupting recycling operations.
For Murfitts, this project wasn’t just about meeting compliance requirements. It was about supporting the safe, sustainable growth of their tyre recycling network. For us, it demonstrated that Fire Prevention Plans can be practical, proportionate, and grounded in real operational needs, not just regulatory paperwork.