The safe protection of a building, and the people who occupy it, from the hazards of smoke and fire relies upon a wide range of factors. From design of the building itself to fire safety mechanisms (fire alarms, smoke detectors, extinguishers etc.), emergency lighting, fire alarm signs and fire exit signage. The whole process and procedure of ensuring fire safety is a complex issue and unless you’re trained to identify all these fire protection products you may have a hard time trying to spot them all.

Building construction is usually carried out using materials such as steel, concrete or wood and ensuring fire is contained within the design is critical to fire performance. This in-built fire protection is typically hidden and within the fabric of the building. Many people are aware of the visible fire protection systems such as alarms, sprinklers and fire extinguishers and will have a basic knowledge of their function, however fire containment and fire stopping is not so obvious.

Have a look around the walls and flooring next time you’re in a building. You’ll notice all the service pipe work such as drainage pipes and electrics disappearing into a surface and reappearing who knows where. What appears as a simple hole in the wall to allow these pipes to weave throughout the building can have the potential to be a smoke, gas or fire hazard if not constructed in the correct way.

Media coverage of a building fire will typically report such statements as ‘the fire spread throughout the building quickly’ so the question to ask is was there adequate fire containment in the fabric of the building in the first place. It’s true that ensuring the successful compartmentalisation of a premises to prevent fire spreading in such a way may only be determined after a fire- but at what cost? There is no financial figure to put on the loss of life but statistically more than 80% of businesses that suffer a major fire go out of business 12-18 months later.

The cost of fire damage to the UK economy each year exceeds £7billion and yet many people still see fire as a low risk and passive fire protection as something that is automatically there or unnecessary. If your business is responsible for the construction or management of a building then passive fire protection should be fit for purpose using products that are certified and installed by professionals.

Simple checks should be made to ensure intumescent door seals, fire collars and fire door hardware amongst others are in place throughout the fabric of the building. The temptation in constructing or maintaining a building is to keep essential fire protection to a minimum but if you fall short on these measures there is no way to rectify them after a fire has completely gutted the premises.

Murcia golf properties

Location of Los Olivos Resort

Los Olivos residential resort is situated within the main golf resort of Mosa Trajectum in the Murcia region of Spain. Currently the San Javier airport is the closest to the resort and a mere 20 minute journey by hire car or taxi. From 2010, the new Corvera airport will open close to Los Olivos substantially cutting that journey time. The Polaris World resorts of El Valle, Hacienda Riquelme, La Torre and Mar Menor are a short journey from Los Olivos and the beautiful beaches of the Costa Calida and crystal clear waters of the Mar Menor lagoon are within a 15 minute drive.

Los Olivos Facilities

As this exclusive residential resort is within the established Mosa Trajectum Golf Resort, many of the facilities are fully open and operational while others will open in the near future.

At the heart of the resort is the 300 year-old Parador farm building which has been converted to a restaurant, Tapas bar and guest-house. Two more hotels are planned for the resort – a 5 star hotel overlooking the Parador and a 4-star sports hotel which will be adjacent to the sports academy (where you’ll find tennis courts and other sporting facilities).

Next to the Parador is a 19^th century chapel available for wedding ceremonies and worship. The shopping village has recently opened and is spread across nine buildings. Here you’ll find various shops along with restaurants serving Spanish and Italian cuisine. There is also a music venue planned and Billi’s Sports Bar has recently opened offering snacks, drinks and Sky TV.

Los Olivos Golfing

Before we talk about the golf courses available to Los Olivos residents we should mention the conservation of nature and the surrounding environment which has played an important role in implementing three golf courses that are the most ecological in Spain. The courses at Mosa Trajectum use biodegradable foam and slow release fertilisers to avoid contaminating groundwater while also helping to reduce water evaporation by 70%. The lakes around the resort are the first in the world to be free from legionella and both wastewater and rainwater is purified at the on-site plant.

Mosa Trajectum boasts three nine-hole courses with a combined 27-holes offering the possibility of three separate rounds of 18-hole golfing. Each course has been given a different name and each presents a unique challenge to your game. There is also a par-3 practice course and driving range.

The Stone Course – If your game is suited to a technical challenge and plenty of strategy then the Stone Course will provide a real test of those skills. The nine holes here offer a breathtaking landscape created using over 8,000 palm tress and over 20,000 cacti.

The Olive Course – These nine holes characterise a typical Spanish countryside meandering through olive trees and designed in a links style resemble courses found in the UK.

The Pine Course – At the highest point of the resort you’ll find the Pine Course and its stunning views across Mosa Trajectum and the landscape beyond. The fairways and greens are guarded by over 3,000 pine tress and the hidden water hazards will test your course management skills.

Los Olivos Villas

The Los Olivos development at Mosa Trajectum has 27 villas with just 16 currently left for sale. The villas have private communal swimming pools and many have front line views of the golf course. The villas have been built in a typical Spanish style and finished to a high standard.

Recommended properties

	This beautiful three bedroom villa has full air conditioning, central heating, garage, private garden and access to a communal swimming pool. The property also benefits from a piped music system throughout and a video entry system. It is currently discounted by 15% with further discounts available on quick completion.
	This 3-bed, 3-bathroom villa has all the benefits of the property above with the same great discounts. The communal pool for this property is shared with only six other villas.
	Another great three bedroom villa, this property backs on to the golf course and offers the same features as the first two properties. Favourable discounts are also available on quick completion.