Barbados Fire Industry News

The Phase 1 report of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, released Oct. 30, examines events of 14 June, 2017, when 71 people were killed in a high-rise building fire at Grenfell Tower, a residential tower block in North Kensington, London. The report finds London Fire Brigade’s planning and preparation for such a fire was “gravely inadequate.” The report reflects the first phase of the inquiry. Investigators will consider problems related to design, maintenance and renovation of Grenf...

The effective provision and management of on-site fire safety, prevention, response and protection is a core responsibility of operators of hazardous high-risk critical infrastructure and industrial manufacturing facilities around the world. Such services are typically found at airports, refineries and petrochemical plants, power stations and nuclear facilities, mines, manufacturing sites and port facilities. Driven by legislative requirements and international fire safety standards, many organ...

Fire chiefs have condemned an attack on firefighters in Sheffield, United Kingdom (UK). Firefighters from Central Fire Station were responding to reports of a fire on Wensley Street in Sheffield when their fire engine came under attack. Objects including eggs and fireworks were thrown at the fire engine and crew. No firefighters were injured in the incident, which happened at around 8.30 pm on 5 November. Firefighters withdrew until police arrived, before proceeding to tackle the blaze - which...

Brynx, Inc., a globally renowned provider of first responder technology, has been awarded a contract for fire station alerting at the Active US Army Installation, Presidio of Monterey. The high-performance alerting system, Bryx Station, will provide features such as lighting, sound, and station automation, designed to improve turn out times and keep teams informed. Bryx Station Bryx Station is a full-featured station alerting system that connects fire departments and EMS agencies around the gl...

Ethics should be considered in almost any decision in the fire industry. Here is an example: A customer asks a technician to forge a certificate saying the customer had previously passed a fire audit in order to validate his previous year’s insurance. What do you do? If a company has laid a strong ethical foundation, it’s much easier for the technician to refuse the customer’s request and cite the corporate Code of Ethics as a solid basis for the refusal. Chubb Fire and Securi...

Europe’s pioneer door provider, Hörmann UK, has launched its new FlexFire Protection Curtain, specifically designed to provide the construction and other industrial sectors with unrivalled smoke protection in the event of a fire. Equipped with an intelligent FSA-FLEXControl hold-open device as standard, the curtain closes reliably if smoke develops. When combined with optical smoke detectors that monitor the door area, the hold-open device is compliant with the requirements outlined...

Streamlight, Inc., a renowned provider of high-performance lighting, launched the compact and powerful FlipMate, a USB rechargeable light with a blade that rotates 270 degrees on its body to provide area lighting as well as color matching. Offering four lighting options, the new light delivers up to 500 lumens. The FlipMate includes cool white LEDs for bright area illumination and High Color Rendering Index (CRI) LEDs with Streamlight’s proprietary Color-Rite technology for automotive and...

The concept of firefighter cancer prevention has been the main topic these days around the fire service. The fire apparatus industry is taking a proactive stance when it comes to firefighter cancer prevention by designing new apparatus that makes it easier for firefighters to decontaminate after a fire. Not only does it make sense for firefighters to clean their gear after a fire but also to keep their apparatus clean as well. In the long run it may certainly be harmful to themselves while retu...

Central Pierce Fire & Rescue stepped away from a long history of purchasing fire apparatus from a sole manufacturer. With this step, the department chose KME Fire Apparatus and Cascade Fire & Emergency, WA to provide eight KME Custom Pumpers engineered to the department's exact specifications. Paul Stueve, Asst. Chief of Logistics for Central Pierce Fire & Rescue states, “Cascade Fire and KME have provided an experience of responsiveness, a willingness to meet high expectations...

The Viking Corporation, a global provider of fire protection and life safety systems, has added four new institutional sprinkler models specifically designed for use in correctional facilities, mental health occupancies, or anywhere that tampering with fire sprinklers is a concern. Available in both pendent and horizontal sidewall models, the quick response sprinklers are available in standard and extended coverage options. The sprinkler is designed to be installed with the protective cap attac...

Thermocable is proud to announce the addition of a new activation temperature to its range of EN54-28 certified range of products. The new linear heat detection cable with an alarm temperature of 88°C (190°F) has a low smoke zero halogen, UV resistant outer coat and can operate in ambient temperatures as low as -40°C (-40°F) and up to 65°C (149°F). Thermocable’s approved ProReact EN Digital range will be the first choice of digital linear heat detection in Europe.

FLIR Systems, Inc. announced the launch of the FLIR Fido® X4, the newest, most advanced version of its premium handheld explosives trace detector. The Fido X4 delivers unmatched sensitivity for a broad range of explosives, so users can easily detect threats at levels other devices cannot. FLIR Systems’ TrueTrace® detection technology features a new five-channel sensor array that delivers expanded threat coverage. TrueTrace can accurately detect a wide range of explosives at nanogr...

Perimeter Solutions, a global pioneer in the production of fire retardants, foams, and water enhancing gels, along with a wide range of services for managing wildland, industrial, municipal, and military fires, announced the commercialization of PHOS-CHEK® Class A/B foam concentrate, a new fluorine free firefighting foam capable of extinguishing Class A and B fuel fires with a single product. Structural and industrial fires demand swift action and suppression. Too much is at stake with unco...

The highly acclaimed Dubai Health, Safety & Environment Forum returns to Dubai from 24-25 November, with a stellar line-up of confirmed speakers from Ministry of Health & Prevention, UAE, Dubai Municipality, ADNOC, DEWA, Emirates Global Aluminum as well as senior executives from leading international and regional companies. On the agenda for this year’s forum are topical health, safety and environment issues. With a raft of infrastructure and construction developments underway in...

Zitko Consulting, the Fire and Security recruitment specialist, has announced the launch of its new Sales division, as part of its continuing offer to the fire and security industry. Dave Geddes has been recruited to lead the Zitko Sales division; bringing over 10 years of recruitment knowledge to the team, as well as wider commercial experience from Venator Recruitment. His expertise will be invaluable to ensure that Zitko meets the demand for sales roles with customers and clients and to ensu...

ISSEE’s Chairman, Alan Bates shared an open letter, in which he shared his key personal moment that lead to the establishment of the International School for Search and Explosives Education - ISSEE. Letter from the Chairman In the letter, Alan Bates said, “Some 20 years ago, I would enjoy my daily runs around and about in Henley-on-Thames. On a number of occasions, I would be joined by Alan Hatcher, who was a tall, talkative enthusiastic ex-RAF officer, who started to sow a seed in...

Acting Fire Chief Bill Johnson announces the provision of new, enhanced protective equipment for Cobb County firefighters. Cobb County and MSA Safety Incorporated, based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, released a $3.5 million joint contract to provide state-of-the-art respiratory equipment to the Cobb County Fire Department, which will replace the department’s ten-year-old equipment. “Our firefighters put their lives on the line every day to keep the residents of Cobb County safe, and...

APE Fire & Security were contracted by Vanguard Self Storage to implement a range of trusted fire and security systems that would ensure that their customers’ goods were always kept safe and sound under tight security, 24 hours a day. Security systems installed The Bristol storage facility project, valued at £70,000, included installing and maintaining CCTV, fire alarms, intruder alarms and disabled refuge systems, and took around 3 months with a team of four engineers to compl...

The Walsall-based electrical contractor didn’t hesitate to recommend Gent by Honeywell’s innovative Nano fire detection system. The Mint is a typically British restaurant set in an attractive century old building in Sutton Coldfield. It has an elegant boutique like interior and the right kind of alarm system had to fit in. Owner Daniel Ralley said: “We’ve spent a great deal of time working on the ambience of the restaurant so an obvious alarm box hanging off the wall was...

Extrication is an extremely complex discipline which requires a high level of skill, knowledge and understanding in order to ensure a safe and successful outcome. In the past 25 years, the demands on the rescuer and the expectations placed upon them has changed beyond all recognition. While basic extrication techniques haven’t massively changed, rescuers have had to refine their skills to face up to the newer, more challenging situations as the materials and technologies used in vehicles...

rotstahl GmbH has made a name for itself with its high-quality steel cabinets and furniture. In addition to meeting the special requirements of the emergency services, they are also ideal for schools and companies. The designers' know-how paves the way for special customized solutions and ensures everything is from a single source - from planning all the way through to installation. rotstahl's specialist customer advisors also carry out challenging projects in person on site. The company is sho...

Patol is returning to the Intersec 2019 exhibition, and will be showcasing its range of Firesense Linear Heat Detection Cables (LHDC), along with the Fire Thermal Infrared (FireTIR) detection system, on stand 4-G32.  Patol is a provider of LHDC, manufacturing cables from its UK facility which are used in prestigious projects throughout the world. Firesense LHDC and its associated controllers provide economical temperature monitoring at the point of risk in a range of commercial and industr...

The Association for the Promotion of German Fire Protection (vfdb) and the German Fire Brigade Association reacted with incomprehension to the prejudgment of the London Fire Brigade in connection with the Grenfell Tower fire in London. 72 people died in the disaster two years ago.  In numerous media reports, the fire brigade has now been blamed for the deaths of numerous people due to alleged serious errors of a 'systematic nature', citing the previously announced investigation report...

Before winter weather arrives, the USFA fire department should make plans with agencies and organizations responsible for snow removal and water distribution to ensure personnel has access to fire hydrants, buildings, and critical fire protection features, such as fire sprinklers and standpipe connections. The code The International Fire Code (IFC) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Uniform Fire Codes have requirements to ensure the safety of the public and firefighters....

Oil: still one of the most important raw materials today forms the basis of countless products, and thus has enormous influence on the world market. Prior to the final products being created, a large number of processes and process steps are often necessary: from extraction through various transport methods, to refining and further processing. The processes are associated with complex procedures, with the processing plants themselves being technologically sophisticated industrial complexes of w...

Amanda Kimball, an eight-year veteran of the Fire Protection Research Foundation (Research Foundation), was named Executive Director of the independent, non-profit research affiliate of the National Fire Protection Association. She replaces Casey Grant who is retiring in December after 16 years with NFPA, followed by 15 years directing Research Foundation efforts that support the NFPA mission of eliminating loss from fire, electrical and related hazards. Kimball is well-known in research circle...

Honeywell announced that Scott Zhang has been appointed as President of Honeywell China, effective Nov. 1, 2019. He will be responsible for executing Honeywell’s business objectives in the company’s single largest country market outside the U.S. global business growth Zhang has a long track record of highly effective leadership at Honeywell. He served as President of Honeywell Technology Solutions (HTS) for the past four years. He drove an internal innovation process along with ext...

The Canadian Commission on Building and Fire Codes (CCBFC) invites organizations and its members to take part in the fall 2019 public review from October 22 to December 23, 2019. Purpose of the review The responsible standing committee will consider each comment in its recommendations on the proposed changes The purpose of the public review is to provide users of the model codes and stakeholders with a detailed look at the changes being considered and to seek comments as t...

BAFE endorses the response to the Grenfell Review by the Fire Sector Federation and their call for action that this sort of tragedy never happens again. They must look ahead, including into Phase 2 of the Inquiry, to ensure that competent providers, at every stage of a building’s construction and use, keep residents and occupiers safe and that all means of fire protection are regularly monitored, with the full co-operation of owners, managers and residents. Making fire safety a priority...

The Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI) has announced the appointment of Michaela Campbell as the newest member of its staff. She has assumed the position of Director of Government Affairs, taking over for Sean Carroll, who left CFSI to become Associate Director of Government Relations with Kidde. New CFSI appointment Prior to joining the Congressional Fire Services Institute, Ms. Campbell served as a Legislative Assistant for Steptoe & Johnson LLP, where her portfolio included tr...