United Kingdom (UK) Fire Industry News

The UK government announced further changes to the Building and Fire Safety Standards in England following the tragic Grenfell Tower fire. The changes include automatic fire sprinklers in high rise housing blocks over 11 meters, together with a raft of other fire safety measures. This marks some considerable success for BAFSA who have campaigned for automatic fire sprinklers in all high rise housing for the last fifteen years.

Crews were called to a five pump fire on the 25th floor of a four roomed flat of a 39 story high rise residential block in Southwark Bridge Road. The alarm was raised by the occupier to a kitchen fire, one sprinkler head activated and extinguished the fire prior to the arrivals of crews. Without AFSS the outcome of this incident may well have been more serious with the potential for a full compartment fire which would have seriously compromised the safety of residents and firefighters. No fire...

BAFSA one day, free to attend seminars are attracting record numbers. Working closely with host Fire & Rescue Services the dynamic programs, which have both regional and national relevance, are all delivered by BAFSA advisers – all fire sprinkler experts, Fire Officers, practitioners and end users. Seminars in February and March, in St Ives and Stone respectively sold out 3 weeks before the date of the event, and the third seminar of the year in Poole on the 24th is expected to be ful...

If one is looking for a particularly light transfer system, the PSM MINI Basic should be their first choice. Brandschutztechnik Müller GmbH’s system weighs just 34 kg and with its transport height of less than one meter, the PSM MINI Basic also finds its place in small service vehicles. Large wheels with roller bearings For fire extinguishers with filling openings from 28-77 mm Compact dimensions, especially portable fire extinguishing systems The PSM MINI Basic is the only m...

Reflecting their strong commitment to people’s development and growth as well as excellence in their business operations, Alberta’s Engineering and Technical Team, has recently undergone training on the design of sprinkler systems. The qualification, developed by the British Automatic Fire Sprinkler Association (BAFSA), is aimed at individuals employed in the fire sprinkler industry and is designed to help people employed in installing fire sprinklers to develop the knowledge and co...

Towards the end of 2019, and already in 2020, sprinklers are operating efficiently and effectively saving lives, children’s education, and businesses from fire. Office Block, London Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters were called to reports of a fire in the basement of an office block. The sprinkler system had actuated and helped to suppress the fire which was extinguished in just over an hour. Flat, Croydon A fire in an 8th floor flat in an 11-story building was extinguished...

In response to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, BAFSA can confirm that all college courses L2 Certificate in Fire Sprinkler Installation (Day Release, Block Release and EWR) are postponed until further notice as colleges avoid face to face tuition.

BAFSA is disappointed to report that, along with Staffordshire Fire & Rescue Service and Dorset and Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service & BAFSA, the organizations have made the difficult decision to postpone their joint sprinkler seminars on 18th and 24th March respectively due to the current Covid-19 fears. While disappointing for everyone involved, they have taken this step in line with NFCC guidance as far as reducing the chance of spreading the virus as much as is reasonably practic...

Burnt cooking in the kitchen of a residential block of flats of three floors in Waddon Court Road, was the cause of a fire which, from the limited information provided, was controlled by a Personal Protection system. The fire was all out on arrival with no firefighting action completed by crews. Local enquiries are currently being completed by the local fire safety team. One sprinkler head actuated in the kitchen of a five roomed flat on the 11th floor of a twenty-one story block of flats in Lan...

Automatic fire sprinklers systems are a reliable and effective means of saving lives, protecting firefighters, reducing fire damage and mitigating fire risk, provided the systems are properly designed, installed and maintained. Those responsible for buildings are reminded that even within this challenging situation of COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic. Critical Fire Suppression Systems/Life Safety Protection Systems must be tested and maintained. Postponing these checks, maintenance and servicing m...

The Government announced the implementation date for a number of changes to Approved Document B (ADB), including the requirement for automatic fire sprinklers in all flats above 11 meters, these changes will be required as from 26th November 2020. The change requiring automatic fire sprinklers in all new built flats over 11 meters will significantly increase the use of domestic and residential sprinklers in this sector which has already seen a large increase since the disastrous Grenfell Tower f...

In an increasingly competitive marketplace, businesses are looking for more and more ways to demonstrate excellence to their clients and stakeholders. One way of showcasing this, is through an externally verified quality management system, which illustrates that an organization has the processes in place to adhere to internationally recognized best practice standards. ISO 9001 is such a quality management systems certification. Followed and used widely across the world by government bodies and...

The PSM Junior powder suction machine has been a bestseller worldwide for more than 20 years. Its flexible expandability and extraordinary quality make the PSM Junior with its clever detailed solutions so unique. Electric reversing high-quality and durable motor includes 2 filling adapters for all standard fire extinguishers. Every detail of the PSM Junior shows the commitment to quality. Made In Germany From development to production. The brushless and powerful motor is extraordinarily dura...

For almost 30 years Emergency One has been at the forefront of specialist vehicle design and manufacture in the UK and the company is firmly established as a pioneer in the manufacture, service and support of specialist Fire and Rescue Service appliances.  Their bespoke build process can manufacture one of a kind solution. Clients are always looking for customized solutions that fit their needs and allow them to achieve far more than what they would normally achieve with a standard product...

Ampac was delighted to assist with the supply of a ZoneSense Plus Fire Control Panel for the Australian Nurses War Memorial Chapel. The Australian Nurses War Memorial Chapel is managed by the Prince Henry Hospital Trained Nurses Association (PHHTNA) and overlooks the stunning cliffs of Little Bay in NSW. The chapel first opened in 1967 and is a memorial to the women who paid the supreme sacrifice while serving during the wars. not for profit organization Carol Parker, Hon Secretary of the PHHT...

The Bosch AVIOTEC IP Starlight 8000 provides early and reliable fire detection for challenging environments. Featuring unique technology, the Bosch AVIOTEC can spot fire and disturbances, predicts behavior to reduce false alarms and speeds up reaction time. CSIRO Approved & ActivFire Listed, the AVIOTEC VFD offers proven detection reliability for all test fires (TF1 through TF8) as specified in the various ISO AS7240 and EN54 standards. Product Features Very fast fire and smoke detection...

Ampac were excited to exhibit at this year’s Marintec China Expo in Shanghai, promoting their suite of marine and offshore fire detection products. The Marintec China Expo has been running for over 40 years and is renowned for being one of the leading events in the global marine sector. The event sees over 65,000 visitors and provides the opportunity to showcase innovative products and services, whilst also keeping up-to-date with the latest maritime industry news. This year, Ampac, with...

Ampac introduces Nimbus, an innovative cloud-based fire alarm management system providing control and monitoring where the user needs it most. Managing any number of fire alarm systems can be time consuming and prone to errors, especially when spread over a large area that is serviced and maintained by different companies. Cloud based fire alarm management provides a solution, as it centralizes all of the fire alarm system activity through a single, common platform, detailing the electronic his...

Ampac were delighted to exhibit at this year’s Intersec Trade Show in Dubai, promoting their range of voice alarm and evacuation systems. Intersec is regarded as one of the world’s largest trade show for security, safety, and fire detection. The 22nd edition of Intersec welcomed over 1,000 exhibitors from 56 counties and 33,872 industry visitors. Intersec provided the perfect platform for Ampac to showcase their comprehensive range of voice alarm control and indicating equipment. Th...

Installing fire systems at the castle in Cirencester, Gloucestershire was a £3 million pound project that was complex from the offset, and A.P.E Fire & Security had to think outside the box in respect of how these bespoke systems would operate and work with the client’s very unique requirements. The project was carried out in several different phases and in total took around 12 months to complete, utilizing a team of four engineers at different stages throughout the year. The pr...

Frequently visited by Prince Charles, Royal Pavilion in Poundbury, Dorchester is a rather prestigious project located on Queen Mother Square for the Duchess of Cornwall, consisting of 20 luxury apartments with a retail area set to become a luxury spa facility. The main build is complete and A.P.E are just about to start the separate contract for the spa facility located on the ground floor. This contract will cover exactly the same disciplines under the spa’s control. Project length from...

Tyntesfield is a hugely historic site located in North Somerset, England. The house is a Grade I listed gothic style Victorian house and estate which in 2002 got put in the care of the national trust. The name Tyntesfield is derived from the owners the Tynte baronets who had owned the estate in the 1500s. A mansion was added to the grounds in 1830 and bought by Williams Gibbs shortly after. Gibbs commissioned an architect to design the main rooms inside the house using gilded paneling, woodwork...

The Ampac range of Warning Signs offer state of the art LED technology for a variety of applications in a highly aesthetic design. The slimline enclosure can easily be adapted to surface or semi-flush mounting while a range of standard fascia plates has been developed to suite Agent Release applications. A weatherproof version is also available along with custom legend fascia plates. A maximum of 6 Warning Signs can be connected to the output of each Agent Release module located within the Zone...

A.P.E Fire & Security has been working with Grove Place Retirement Village for over 10 years now under several annual maintenance contracts. The village is a beautiful Grade 1-listed retirement community offering independent living and various healthcare services in the Hampshire countryside. Grove Place was shortlisted for ‘Best Retirement Scheme 2013’ and offers an exceptional way of living across 27 acres of beautiful landscaped grounds.

Hard wired Intruder alarm system including three remote keypads, seven movement detectors, two panic buttons and three door contacts. This system completed within two days is fully monitored via Dualcom GPRS signaling through to a 24 hour alarm monitoring station. The engineer faced several challenges with hard floors & carpeted areas, where he had to work hard to hide all the cables to the clients satisfaction.

This is a £5.2m sports complex which has transformed facilities and provided opportunities for the whole community in Lockleaze. The first phase of development has seen the creation of a clubhouse, social space, two all-weather pitches, multi-use games area, provision for dog-walking, trim trail and cycle routes across currently underutilized fields near Bonnington Walk. The transformation has been dubbed a ‘great success story for the community’ by mayor Marvin Rees, who sees...

A.P.E Fire & Security got involved in this project from the early consultancy stage, helping them design the right systems for the project. This was a complete new build & facility for Dings Crusaders, a well-known Rugby side in Bristol, adjacent the M32 in Bristol. Their system installations included CCTV, Fire Alarms, Intruder Alarms, Disabled Refuge & Disabled WC Alarms. They had active project management from consultant through to the design & build project team. The project...

This is a really exciting time for Wiltshire Air Ambulance following the opening of their custom-built new airbase. The airbase will bring together the helicopter, aircrew and charity team on one site at Outmarsh Farm, Semington, near Melksham. Fire alarm system This is a perfect location in the center of Wiltshire and will allow the helicopter to reach all parts of the county within 11 minutes. The client received full planning permission for the new airbase in January 2017 and work commenced...

Cookpad is the largest recipe sharing community in the world and believe they can build a better world through encouraging even more people to cook. APE Fire & Security were asked by valued clients such as Cookpad to work with them on their new premises in Bristol. They were asked to do the installation and the continued maintenance of their fire & security systems throughout the properties. Upgrading addressable fire alarms APE Fire & Security were asked to upgrade the addressabl...

A.P.E Fire & Security completed refurbishment and new installation of Panic attack, Access Control, CCTV, Barrier Entry, Intercom, Electronic Turnstiles Entry & Disabled Refuge Systems of the iconic Grade II listed City Hall in Bristol. A full strip out of all existing finishes preceded a combined CAT A and CAT B fit out of 125,000 sq. ft. as the Council provided new and modern ways of working for 1,100 staff. On the ground floor, the original cash hall was stripped of a mezzanine floor...