Fire Industry Association (FIA) News

A convoy of UK fire and rescue services delivering over 15,000 pieces of life-saving firefighting equipment to Ukrainian firefighters is leaving now. 30 fire and rescue vehicles, including 26 fire engines, will also be donated. 18 fire and rescue services from across the UK are participating in the convoy, organized by FIRE AID, National Resilience and International Search and Rescue (based out of Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service), HM Government, National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) and the Fi...

The largest UK fire and rescue service convoy is set to deliver more than 15,000 pieces of life-saving firefighting equipment to Ukrainian firefighters. Donated by UK fire and rescue services, working with FIRE AID, the eighth convoy - including 26 donated fire engines - will make its way across Europe next month (April). This eighth convoy adds to the 119 vehicles that have been donated, alongside 200,000 pieces of equipment since the invasion began. Full-scale invasion in 2022 The war...

The FIA is proud to announce the Passive & Active Fire Conference 2025, a landmark event bringing together fire safety professionals, regulators, and industry experts. This is the first-ever collaboration between the FIA, the Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP), and the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE), making it an essential gathering for those dedicated to improving fire protection standards. Active and passive fire protection Taking place on Tuesday, 25th March 20...

The Fire Industry Association (FIA) has been announced as a finalist for the Outstanding Organization award at the prestigious Fire Resilience Excellence Awards 2025, which will take place on 8th April 2025. This nomination recognizes the FIA’s commitment to improving fire safety standards across the UK and beyond. As the pioneering fire protection trade association, the FIA has continuously worked to enhance industry competence through technical guidance, training, research, and active e...

The UK Government has released Regulatory Position Statement (RPS) 221, outlining the rules for using waste fire extinguishers for training purposes. This guidance provides clarity on the conditions under which waste extinguishers can be used, placing limits on storage quantities and prohibiting the use of certain types of firefighting foam. Key Points of RPS 221 Controlled Use of Waste Fire Extinguishers – Organizations can use waste fire extinguishers for training purposes, but only...

Lithium-ion batteries are at the heart of modern technology, powering everything from mobile devices to electric vehicles. However, they come with a significant fire risk. The newly released Collaborative Reporting for Safer Structures (CROSS) paper delves into the fire safety concerns associated with these batteries, shedding light on the phenomenon known as thermal runaway. This self-sustaining reaction can trigger large-scale fires or even explosions, often set off by overcharging, short cir...

The FIA CEO has responded to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s announcement that responsibility for fire safety will move from the Home Office to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. Ian Moore (CEO of the FIA) said that this decision (that many of us have known was coming for some time) is common sense and he is glad to see that the Government is finally listening (after many years) to feedback from the fire industry. WMS 8-Machinery of Government Organizati...

Hochiki Europe, a manufacturer of fire detection devices, is proud to announce its significant donation to the new Fire Training Association (FIA) training facility in Northwich. The company has provided cutting-edge fire detection equipment to equip the facility's practical bays, where students can gain hands-on experience with real-world fire system installations.  fire protection products Hochiki Europe’s donation to the new FIA training facility in Northwich includes major prod...

The British Security Industry Association (BSIA) has appointed Martin Watson as its new Chair at the Association’s Spring Forum and Annual General Meeting. With a background in fire, security and engineering spanning 40 years, Martin is currently Industry Laison Director for BSIA members - Mitie Fire & Security Systems; he is also the Chair of the Fire Industry Association (FIA), and until recently, was Chair of the Association’s Security Systems section. BSIA’s New Chair...

Ajax Systems has officially joined the Fire Industry Association (FIA). The FIA is the largest fire protection trade association in Europe, and its membership provides access to a wide network of industry professionals and resources that play a crucial role in improving fire safety standards. By joining the FIA, Ajax Systems develops credibility, visibility, and opportunities to collaborate with more than 1,000 industry members. Partnership with the FIA Paul Pope, Global Head of Fire & Li...

The largest convoy from UK fire and rescue services to date will next week deliver essential firefighting equipment to Ukrainian fire and rescue services. The scale of this convoy is unprecedented, comprising 30 fire and rescue vehicles, two mechanics vehicles, and an HGV carrying over 2,800 items of surplus equipment. Amongst the 30 fire and rescue vehicles are 20 fire engines, eight incident command units, one aerial ladder platform, and one 4x4 vehicle. Donated equipment The Home Office wo...

Where school groups are faced with budgetary constraints, decision-makers can’t afford to neglect fire safety. Sue Corrick of Allegion UK explains how responsible persons can use the summer break to extend the service life of fire doors in school buildings.  By the time August arrives, it’s official - school is out for summer. For students and staff alike, the summer holiday is a precious period of recreation and recuperation, but for most education facilities, the annual break...

From 1 July 2023, the Scottish Fire & Rescue Service is adopting a new ‘Call Challenge’ policy, whereby it will stop attending automatic fire alarm (AFA) call-outs to commercial premises, such as factories, offices, shops, and leisure facilities unless a fire has been confirmed. This policy step-change is to reduce unwanted false fire alarms. False fire alarm systems  Fire alarm systems provide an early warning of fire and are one of the most effective ways to keep peopl...

Coopers Fire is proud to announce that they have achieved FIA approval for CPD material for active curtain barriers. Continuous Professional Development (CPD) plays a vital role within the fire safety industry, keeping industry professionals updated with the latest knowledge and advancements. Coopers Fire recently received approval from the Fire Industry Association (FIA) for their CPD material. This achievement reinforces Coopers Fire’s commitment to educating fire safety professionals a...

More than 400 items of firefighting kit are traveling from West Yorkshire to Ukraine in a bid to support those battling on the frontline.  West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS) has contributed hundreds of items to the latest convoy, which leaves the UK (May 3rd, 2023). Among the items are 120 fire helmets and over 300 items of structural fire kit, which includes firefighting clothing, to offer as much protection as possible to firefighters in Ukraine. appliances and eq...

Delegates attending this free to attend seminar, which is scheduled to be held on Wednesday, 22nd February, 2023, in Hamilton, Scotland, will participate in an intense 3 hours of presentation, delivered by experts, focusing on automatic fire suppression standards and regulations. Water Mist Roadshows This is the second in the series of Water Mist Roadshows hosted by the British Automatic Fire Sprinkler Association (BAFSA) and the Fire Industry Association (FIA). Earn valuable CPD hours for fr...

Having the right fire alarm system installed could not only prevent serious damage to a property, but it could also save lives. In this guide, they discuss the various fire alarm systems suited to office environments. As a business owner or office manager, the priority is the safety of the staff and visitors to the office. With the amount of electrical equipment in offices, it is essential that users have installed an adequate fire alarm system. Good Fire Alarm System Why it is Important to h...

Carrier is pleased to announce that they have launched a revised and refreshed program for Continuing Professional Development, or CPD. As a part of the company ethos and commitment to sharing knowledge, Carrier has developed a number of engaging seminar modules that can be delivered remotely or in person at the offices or premises. These modules have been certified for content and accredited by the Fire Industry Association (FIA) and will be delivered by experts to impart and share in...

Carrier is pleased to announce that they have launched a revised and refreshed program for Continuing Professional Development, or CPD. As part of the company ethos and commitment to sharing knowledge, they have developed a number of engaging seminar modules, which can be delivered remotely, or in person, at offices or premises. Continuing Professional Development/CPD modules These modules have been certified for content and accredited by the Fire Industry Association (FIA) These modules hav...

Nittan took part in another successful FIM Expo, the FIM Expo Cardiff 2022, which took place at Principality Stadium in Cardiff, United Kingdom (UK) on 13th September 2022. Run by the Fire Industry Association (FIA), FIM Expo is a free to enter event that allows visitors to get hands-on with the latest fire detection and alarm products in an informal setting. FIM Expo Cardiff 2022 Nittan’s General Manager EMEA Sales, Robin Edmunds and Regional Sales Manager UK South, Darren Saunders w...

FASQUAL is a fire and security Contractor registration scheme developed by the BSIA and the FIA. The scheme aims to provide reassurance to employers, offering the peace of mind necessary when hiring contractors who prove they are qualified, suitable, and low-risk.  Although often an arduous and time-consuming task, vetting candidates and making sure the right one is hired is paramount in this industry. national database FASQUAL is a national database that stores all the information emplo...

In May 2022, the Environment Agency’s Waste Industry Regulatory Services and Chemical Compliance Team (EA) advised the Fire Industry Association (FIA) that they are applying a restriction on persistent organic pollutants entering sewerage systems and the water environment. This group of chemicals is known to have adverse long-term effects on the environment and human health, and can be found in some fire extinguishers. Chemicals in fire extinguishers The chemicals, often known as POPs,...

Firstly, the type of detection being installed has continued to evolve. From the conversations held on the stand, it seems ASD systems continue to rise in popularity with a significant number of visitors coming to their stand to talk about the sites where they have installed these systems and the challenge of then ensuring ongoing testing and maintenance. From the customer survey’s they’ve known that the use of multi-sensor detectors has also been on the rise, this trend was confirm...

The portable fire extinguisher that has been a staple requirement for commercial buildings for decades is playing an increasing role in putting out fires according to the results of a recent survey. As Chair of the Fire Industry Association (FIA) Services Council, Chubb’s Guy Middleton was elected to head up the group conducting the Fire Extinguisher Use Survey. Aim of the survey This involved bringing together technicians from companies in the four main trade associations in the U...

Advanced has been recognized in two categories at the FSM (Fire and Security Matters) Awards. From a shortlist of worthy nominees, Advanced was named Fire Safety Systems Manufacturer of the Year and also received recognition in the Fire Innovation of the Year category for its BS 8629-compliant evacuation alert system EvacGo. Fire and Security Matters Awards The winners were announced at a gala dinner at the CBS Arena in Coventry, with over 400 members of the fire and security...

BSI, the business improvement and standards company, has announces the launch of a collaboration with the FIA (Fire Industry Association) at the fire safety exhibition, FIREX INTERNATIONAL on 17 May 2022. The partnership will provide members of the FIA with discounts on certification to the BSI Kitemark™ for IoT Devices, which is designed to help consumers confidently and easily identify the IoT devices they can trust to be safe, secure, and functional. As part of this launch and to provi...

A further convoy of UK fire service kit and equipment has now left the UK and is on its way to Ukraine to provide vital support to the Ukrainian firefighters who are hard-pressed dealing with the throes of war. The convoy which has been supported by the Home Office has been organized by UK charity FIRE AID and International Development, the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC), and the wider fire industry. Difficult conditions imaginable This second deployment to provide life-saving kit and eq...

A recent article released by the Fire Industry Association (FIA) underlines the importance of fire extinguishers in commercial and public buildings and the need for fully working and most importantly, commissioned extinguishers, to be available. Following a survey commissioned by the FIA in 2003, 2008, and then most recently in 2021, some key trends have emerged, and most importantly the number of fires being successfully extinguished by portable extinguishers has increased from 80% in 200...

Third-Party Certification means that goods or services have been tested by an independent body and found to be compliant for the industry. But it doesn’t just stop there. The same goods or services are checked, and the business audited on an annual basis. Third-party certification A product has been third-party certified can be determined from the testers mark printed on it In this sense, third-party certification can be regarded as a consumer protection scheme. Certainly, in the Unite...

The biggest UK fire service convoy – made up of 22 vehicles and more than 5,000 items of kit and equipment, donated by UK fire and rescue services, has been deployed to support firefighters in Ukraine, on Saturday, March 19, 2022.  More than 60 volunteers from FIRE AID and fire and rescue services are taking the convoy into Poland. It will then make its way into Ukraine, providing vitally needed equipment to support firefighters, emergency services and volunteers, battling together o...