Safety Technology International (STI) Europe News

Following a decision of its Board, Euralarm has welcomed Safety Technology International as a new member. The company will join the Fire Section of Euralarm, which monitors and analyzes the developments and reviews what the impact of new technologies can be. This not only will help members to better understand the topics and their impact but also act as a guidance on prioritizing the actions and the work regarding standardization and certification. Understanding of the EU policy Companies jo...

Safety Technology International (STI) has donated protective covers to help a local community charity with false alarms at a time when they need it most. Wildgoose Rural Training is a charitable care farm in Hallow, just outside of Worcester, that supports adults and young people with a variety of learning disabilities. Starting in 2000 with just a handful of students, Wildgoose has grown into a 42-acre site with a thriving 6-acre farm where students from all backgrounds can learn horticulture,...

Fire Chiefs and Fire & Rescue Services across the United Kingdom have recognized the emerging practice of ‘wedging fire doors open’ as an increased threat to fire safety in a post-COVID world. Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said, “We have identified that some premises are wedging open self-closing fire doors as a COVID-19 control measure intended to reduce the need to touch locks and door handles. Self-closing fire doors are fitted within your premises to...

Safety Technology International announces that it will be attending the very first virtual event as Europe’s largest gathering of fire safety professionals goes digital. FIREX 2021 FIREX International Connect 2021 will bring the fire safety community together online throughout the entire month of June – two years on from FIREX International 2019, its last fire industry tradeshow in the UK. The virtual online event is a unique opportunity for buyers to browse fire safety...

In times of crisis, people look to secure their safety; as the world prepares for “the new normal” it is vital to move from a reactive mindset to a proactive one, with health and safety at the forefront of people’s minds. Access control systems As businesses begin to reopen and the public sector unlocks, access control will play a key role in infection control – keeping employees, customers, and the general public safe from the transmission. Post-COVID research di...

Student halls of residence are synonymous with false fire alarms; burnt toast, drunken accidents, or reckless pranks, every false alarm contributes towards the dangerous effects of alarm fatigue. Alarm fatigue occurs when a person becomes desensitized to an alarm due to repeated false alarms and as a result fails to react appropriately in an emergency, having potentially fatal effects. false fire alarms Recent Home Office data revealed that false fire alarms remained the largest inc...

A home from home, 3,500 miles from Airport Road, Waterford, the USA to Airport Business Park, Waterford, Ireland; Safety Technology International announces the acquisition of a new European Distribution Hub. Sharing striking similarities with the address of the US Headquarters, the new European Distribution Hub in Waterford, Ireland boasts circa 100 square meters of modern office space, together with 420 square meters of warehouse and storage – providing almost 230 pallet spaces. Strateg...

Disrupting vital teaching time, interfering with crucial exams, and causing unnecessary evacuations, false fire alarms remain a troublesome nuisance within the education sector creating a barrier to learning. Recent Home Office figures revealed that false fire alarms remained the largest incident type attended by the Fire and Rescue Services in England for 2019/20, with educational establishments amongst some of the worst offenders for unwanted fire alarm signals. Recoverin...

An international issue, alarm fatigue occurs when a person becomes desensitized to an alarm due to repeated false alarms and as a result fails to react appropriately in an emergency, having potentially fatal effects. False fire alarms allow for a laissez-faire attitude towards evacuations however, they can be prevented. Recommended in BS 5839-1:2017 manual call points can be fitted with a protective cover preventing false alarms whether accidental or malicious. Effect of alarm fatigue A Briti...

More than 2,600 false fire alarms were maliciously activated across England in 2019/20 – disrupting schools and businesses, placing unnecessary strain on emergency services, and reducing the confidence the general public has in fire alarms. The latest Home Office figures reveal that there were a total of 2,650 false fire alarms caused by the “malicious activation of (a) fire call point/alarm” in England for the year ending June 2020 – surpassing hoax calls as t...

Fire alarms are a vital part of a life safety plan, but for children and young people with sending a fire alarm can be an extremely distressing experience; overwhelming senses, causing physical pain, and ultimately creating a barrier to learning – even during planned fire drills. For individuals with hypersensitivity and sensory difficulties, unplanned and unwanted fire alarms can be even more upsetting evoking panic, confusion, and lasting anxiety, jeopardizing means of escape, and hinde...

False fire alarms have risen by nearly 30% in just five years at NHS trusts across England; stretching resources, unsettling patients, and disrupting vital healthcare. Figures from NHS Digital reveal there were 21,635 false fire alarms at NHS trusts throughout 2019/20 marking a decade high – several trusts recorded upwards of 500 false alarms. Unnecessary evacuation The worrying results reveal that both in the past year and historically, several patients have sustained ‘injur...

Safety Technology International welcomes Esther Cottrell back to the company after more than seven years of absence. Having worked for the company almost 13 years before leaving, Esther brings a wealth of industry experience and product knowledge with her. The family owners in the USA have welcomed Esther’s return and Managing Director Steve Hunt said, “It is unfortunate Esther left STI when I arrived in 2013, as I am sure her career would have developed with the growth of the compa...

A fire door is much more than ‘just a door’; forming a crucial cog in the life safety wheel, a fire door is pivotal in providing the passive fire protection that is often the difference between life and death. However, it is worryingly common for fire doors to be dangerously held ajar risking the safety of occupants with fire and smoke-free to spread unhindered. 64% of premises visited by the Fire Service had their fire doors wedged open – universities halls of residence, hote...

It is common for fire extinguishers to be used as temporary doorstops, but they’re also prone to theft and when discharged unnecessarily can cause harm to the environment. Fire extinguisher regulations state that extinguishers should be either mounted to a wall or placed in a stand to discourage people from moving them around, however, this advice is often ignored with extinguishers commonly used to prop open doors, especially in warmer summer months. Required by the Regul...

At Textron Systems, their engineers push themselves daily to rapidly evolve current technologies and meet their customers’ future needs. As part of their team, they are innovators, thinkers, and doers, creating the solutions their customers count on to accomplish their missions. Throughout Engineering Week, Textron highlights engineers from across their family of brands, including Textron Systems, Howe & Howe, TRU Simulation + Training, and Lycoming. Join them as they celebrate the gr...

More than 3,100 false fire alarms were maliciously activated across England in 2018/19 disrupting schools and businesses, placing unnecessary strain on the emergency services, and reducing the confidence the general public has in fire alarms. The latest Home Office figures reveal that there were a total of 3,139 false fire alarms caused by the “malicious activation of (a) fire call point/alarm” in England during 2018/19. This demonstrates an increase of 111 on the previous...

Experts have frequently warned of a ‘cry wolf’ attitude towards fire alarms in the UAE, and with one out of three GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) residents who ignore fire alarms coming from the UAE, is the country suffering from alarm fatigue? Every false fire alarm is costly and disruptive; an avoidable amount of money is wasted and unnecessary strain is placed on emergency services as a result of false fire alarm call-outs. A false alarm causes inconvenient evacuations; affecting...

A false fire alarm can prove a costly exercise for bars; an evacuation means unhappy customers, wasted drinks, and potential fines amounting to a significant loss in revenue. Malicious activations of manual call points hit a record high during 2018/19 contributing to the £1 billion lost every year in the UK due to false alarms, with each incident costing businesses an estimated average of £2.4k. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 dictates a ‘re...

After a fantastic show in 2018, STI will once again be exhibiting at FIREX International hosted at the ExCeL, London in June. Joined by 18,000 fire prevention and protection professionals, STI will be showcasing some exciting product updates. Exhibiting at last year’s show, Steve Hunt, STI Managing Director, said, “FIREX gives the industry and certainly STI an opportunity to showcase its products, both current and new.” Networking “In addition, it’s a great place...

The Fire Safety Event 2019 and its co-located shows have enjoyed the most successful event to date welcoming over 11,733 visitors across three days at the NEC, Birmingham. The Fire Safety Event has firmly cemented itself as the fastest growing exhibition in the UK for the industry, providing a platform that ensures its visitors are equipped to maintain the highest fire safety standards. High-profile incidents in recent years have put a spotlight on the industry and The Fire Safety Event recogni...

Western Business Events (WBE), host of The Fire Safety Event, is in the final week of preparations before it opens the doors at the NEC on 9th-11th April for its largest edition yet. Now in its third year, The Fire Safety Event has seen phenomenal growth since its inception in 2016. The event, which began with 16 exhibitors now boasts over 50 exhibitors for its 2019 edition. High-profile incidents in recent years have put a spotlight on the industry and The Fire Safety Event recognises it has a...

More than 14,000 false fire alarms were accidentally triggered across England in 2017/18 – disrupting schools and businesses, placing unnecessary strain on emergency services, and reducing the confidence the general public has in fire alarms. The latest Home Office figures reveal that; there were a total of 14,366 false fire alarms caused by a person ‘accidentally or carelessly’ activating a manual call point in England for the period September 2017 to September 2018...

It is not unheard of to see fire extinguishers being used as temporary doorstops, especially in conjunction with exit door misuse – but they are also prone to theft and when discharged unnecessarily can cause harm to the environment. Providing a solution for this common issue, STI created a series of products to help keep in line with emergency exit door and fire extinguisher regulations.   Exit Stopper® door alarm The Exit Stopper® door alarm is a unique and...

False fire alarms have risen by 20 per cent in just three years at NHS Trusts across England; stretching resources, unsettling patients and disrupting vital care. Figures from NHS Digital reveal there were 20,126 false fire alarms at NHS Trusts in England throughout 2017/18, compared with 16,847 in 2015/16 and 19,777 in 2016/17 – one Trust alone recorded upwards of 500 false alarms. Disrupting important care The worrying figures show that a number of patient’s sustained ‘inj...

More than 3,000 false fire alarms were maliciously triggered across England in 2017/18 – disrupting schools and businesses, placing unnecessary strain on our emergency services, and reducing the confidence the general public has in alarms. The latest Home Office figures reveal that; there were a total of 3,029 false alarms caused by a ‘malicious activation of fire call point/alarm’ in England for the period July 1 2017 to June 30, 2018, an increase of 160 on the previous...

The Awards will be presented at a special cocktail reception on April 11, 2013 during ISC West in Las Vegas Mission 500, a non-profit initiative focusing on the security industry and dedicated to serving the needs of children and communities in crisis, is seeking applicants for the 2013 Mission 500 Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Award and Humanitarian Award. The Awards will be presented at a special cocktail reception on April 11, 2013 during ISC West in Las V...