Bells and Two Tones are a commercial fire service providing fire safety for the TV and film industry as well as other sensitive sites nation wide. Operating small vans, 4x4s, HGV fire engines and water carriers all designed and built for firefighting and carry the equipment required to get the job done.
By law, all commercial fire services operating HGV vehicles are required to hold an Operator's Licence. Unlike public fire services, commercial providers do not benefit from exemptions under the Fire Services Act. At BTTFRS, we ensure full compliance by conducting six-weekly safety inspections on all vehicles, maintaining valid MOTs, and ensuring our drivers adhere to tachograph regulations.
If your current fire safety provider claims exemption from these requirements, they may not be providing you with the full picture and could be operating illegally, potentially putting your organization in a vulnerable position.
With BTTFRS, you can rest assured that we operate with complete compliance and transparency.
All our HGVs have DVS permits allowing us to work in and around London, ensuring the safety of London cyclists.
How does our TACHO effect you?
Tachograph regulations are strict, and the number of drivers or operators required for your production depends on the location and the duration of the working day or night. By law, our drivers can be on duty for a maximum of 15 hours, with a limit of 9 hours of driving within that period. While the driving time is typically manageable, as we usually only drive a few hours to and from the location, it is the 15-hour duty limit that can present challenges.
For example, if your location is two hours from our yard, that results in 4 hours of driving time (to and from the site). A standard shoot day lasts 10 hours, and upon returning, each bowser requires an additional hour to refuel and refill with water for the next day. This totals 15 hours, leaving no margin for overtime or unforeseen delays.
It is essential to take this into account, as any overtime requests from the director would place us beyond the legal operating limit.
The map below shows our Reading and Bristol yards and is a rough guide for you, anything inside the circles can normally serve a 10 hour work day with one driver, anything outside the circle will need either a shorter day (for instance if we aren't required until later in the day) or a second relief driver booked. Please feel free to call if you want to chat and find out any more information.
History
Bells and Two Tones is owned and operated by experienced, time-served firefighters. We have a proven track record of providing fire cover, fire wardens, and fire marshals to the TV and film industry, as well as to some of the nation’s largest industrial sites, railway stations, and residential tower blocks.
Additionally, we offer comprehensive staff training services for businesses of all sizes.
Our extensive list of satisfied clients includes industry leaders such as Disney, Warner Bros Pictures, Netflix, and the BBC. We are equipped to provide fire and medical cover for productions of any scale, alongside expert health and safety advisory services.
At Bells and Two Tones, we pride ourselves on being staffed by professional firefighters, not merely fire service enthusiasts. This ensures that the information and advice we provide are fully compliant with current regulations.
All of our officers are highly trained professionals, many of whom hold instructor-level qualifications and possess in-depth knowledge of the latest legislation. Furthermore, we have a dedicated team of CAA-qualified firefighters, allowing us to assist with any aviation-related fire cover requirements.
For any inquiries regarding fire cover for TV and film productions, please feel free to contact us for expert advice.
Our Fleet
We currently have a large fleet of fire fighting vehicles, These include:
1 x Iveco Fully London compliant wetdown vehicle
2 x 20,000 litre water carriers with DVS permits
1 x 16,000 litre water carrier with DVS permits
1 x 10,000 litre water carrier with DVS permits
4 x Mercedes "Atigo 2" fire engines with DVS permits
1 Mercedes X-Class Stunt Rescue fire fighting vehicle
1 x Ford Ranger 4x4 Fire Fighting Vehicle
1 x Landrover 4x4 fire fighting vehicles
1 x Mercedes Vito Man and Van
1 x Mercedes Vito with firefighting capabilities
1 x Ford Transit Van with firefighting capabilities
1 x Ford Fiesta Man and Van
1 x Warm Rain trailer
