United Kingdom (UK) Fire Industry News

On September 20, 2022, three Cummins Inc. employees received National Safety Council (NSC) awards. The NSC presented the Marion Martin Award to Maude McGraw, the Distinguished Service to Safety Award to Pat Cunningham, and the Rising Stars of Safety Award to Jolene Chong at the opening session of the 2022 NSC Congress and Expo and the National Award Ceremony in San Diego, California. All three Cummins employees received these prestigious awards for their continued dedication to safety.  l...

MSA Safety Incorporated, a pioneer in firefighter safety equipment and technology, will be taking center stage at the upcoming Emergency Services Show (ESS) in Birmingham, on September 21 and 22, by demonstrating its full suite of cutting-edge, compatible personal protective equipment (PPE) for the first responder market. The MSA team will demonstrate how its fire protective clothing, helmets, breathing apparatus, advanced communications, and gas detection systems work seamlessly together in a...

Ron Alalouff reviews the tighter regulation of fire safety in the design and construction of buildings coming into effect on 1 December. In the last twelve months, the government has moved to strengthen a range of fire safety provisions in building regulations and guidance, including drawing up tougher standards on the use of combustible materials on medium-rise blocks of flats between 11m and 18m high. Changes in Act The changes are being brought about by the Building Etc (Amendment) (Englan...

At 3:18 am this morning, CFS crews were called to a structure fire on Upper Yorke Road, Kulpara on the northern end of the state’s Yorke Peninsula. CFS crews from four trucks, along with a bulk water carrier, arrived on the scene to find the house fully alight. Thankfully the sole occupant was able to evacuate and was checked over by SAAS on the scene, however, there are no reported injuries. SAPOL is also on the scene assisting CFS crews. Damages are estimated at over $200,000,...

Google realized it early on when adopting its tagline “Don’t be evil”. Having control over a vast amount of data will mean a vast amount of power in the hands of one company. In a position of power, it is paramount to use that power for the greater good of the people. In 2022, that tagline has never been more relevant as the debate is oftentimes portrayed as binary. Either a company is good and collects no data or a company is bad (or evil) because it collects data. But the de...

Large-scale and prolonged power outages, waste piling up as waste disposal ceases to function, disruptions to water or gas supplies, and successful cyber attacks on critical infrastructures, especially the power grid, can have serious consequences.  Holistically conceived cyber security is necessary to prevent such scenarios. As part of the Fraunhofer Center for Digital Energy, Fraunhofer FKIE is working with partners to increase IT security and make the sector resilient to attacks....

At 3:18 am in the morning, CFS crews were called to a structure fire on Upper Yorke Road, Kulpara on the northern end of the state’s Yorke Peninsula. CFS crews from four trucks, along with a bulk water carrier, arrived on the scene to find the house fully alight. Damage caused Thankfully the sole occupant was able to evacuate and was checked over by SAAS on the scene, however, there are no reported injuries. SAPOL is also on the scene assisting CFS crews. Damages are estimated at over...

Hempel, the coatings supplier to the wind energy industry, announced the launch of Hempablade Edge 171, a new coating for renowned edge protection (LEP) on wind turbine rotor blades.  With the highest rain erosion performance data on the market for a liquid LEP and some of the lowest dry film thicknesses, Hempablade Edge 171 provides long-term protection against rain erosion and reduces time and costs during application. wind turbine blade The leading edge of a wind turbine blade is expo...

Ramtech’s Content Marketing Manager Jon Bennett looks at how safety protection has evolved over time. In this series, Jon looks back 41 years to an infamous fire in Las Vegas. Would or could this disaster still happen now? Background It’s a Friday morning in November 1980 at the MGM Grand hotel and casino in Las Vegas. No doubt it was a busy time, especially heading into the weekend. In fact, there were around 5,000 people on site that morning, across the casino, entertainment, and...

The Electronic Security Association’s Certified Fire Alarm Technician (CFAT) Fire certification provides an alternative equivalency to the NICET requirement for industry professionals that perform installation, inspection, testing, maintenance, and programming of fire alarm systems. The flexibility of ESA’s training options is an asset in an industry where those who need training spend most of their time in the field.  codes and standards To put together training courses, E...

The value of customer service management portals in the field industry is growing. Businesses are increasingly investing in digital experiences for customers not only to cut costs, but also to drive customer satisfaction. Customers do not have the patience or time to make phone calls, so they seek self-service portals to seamlessly schedule a repair, track the status of their service, or report an issue. The evolving customer demands, coupled with the growing need of businesses to free up reso...

Four CFS trucks and a bulk water carrier, supported by MFS crews, responded to a truck fire on the city-bound side of the South Eastern Freeway at 8:55 this morning. The truck which was transporting scaffolding, has been extinguished by firefighters, with the fire contained to the truck. Damages incurred Specialist HazMat-trained CFS volunteers are on the scene helping to clean up and contain any diesel and oil, that dropped from the truck during the fire. No one has been injured and traffic...

Megan Jenkins has recently joined as a Recruitment Consultant in the Zitko Contracting team. With nine years of recruitment experience under her belt, Megan is joining Zitko from a role in the healthcare sector, where she began as an Administrator and progressed all the way to a Senior Recruitment Consultant. Now fully immersed in her new role, Megan is looking forward to learning a completely different industry by getting to speak to a vast range of candidates each day and the variation that w...

A stark warning about the risks of taking shortcuts in an attempt to save fuel costs has been given by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. Group Commander - David Girrity told a meeting of the Midlothian Police, Fire and Rescue Board that fires in homes will increase as the cost-of-living crisis hits households, according to the Edinburgh Evening News. Single occupancy households Group Commander - David Girrity said: “The poverty of fuel, I can see that exacerbating the issues in rela...

On September 6, 2022, Jinhong gas signed a strategic cooperation agreement with a partner company to establish a strategic partnership in the field of silane. This cooperation has greatly increased the resources of Jinhong Gas silane products, enhanced the competitive advantage of the industry, and provided effective assistance to better serve the semiconductor industry at home and abroad and expand the foreign trade business of special gas in Southeast Asia. Pan-Semiconductor industries Sil...

False alarms cost the London Fire Brigade around £37 million each year. In turn, this costs the UK economy in lost productivity of around 1 billion pounds a year. In saying this, to make up for lost funds, the London Fire Brigade can charge a business for call-outs, if they attend more than 10 false alarms in a 12-month period.  To ensure that the premises are not charged for false alarm call-outs, users must install and up-keep all the correct fire systems for their property. ...

Fire risk is one of the biggest threats to Construction sites. John Harrison, Sales Director at Ramtech, explains the dynamic security needs of construction sites, including how fire during construction, alteration, or demolition operations can be eliminated or controlled through early planning, scheduling, rapid communication, and on-site security. It is no secret that construction sites are full of potential hazards, and without the right protection, it is generally accepted that a constructi...

While fire safety may seem obvious for occupied properties, there is often more risk of a blaze starting in an empty building, despite the common assumption that damage may be minimal. There is remote monitoring technology out there to help safeguard these sites, and as more spaces lie empty in the wake of the pandemic, adopting these systems should be considered. Adam Kovics, the Export Sales Manager – Europe, at wireless solutions firm, Ramtech, discusses. Building Safety  Across...

Implementing a Fire Drill in the workplace is not only a legal requirement, but is also essential to protect individuals and their companies from being charged with major fire safety breaches, resulting in unlimited fines and up to 2 years imprisonment.  In this article, users will learn why implementing a fire drill is so important, how to implement one, and what procedures they must introduce to uphold these standards long term.  Regular fire drills  It is not only essential...

In this article, A&E will introduce the importance of installing and maintaining a compliant Fire Alarm System in the care home. A&E will review everything from who is responsible for the Fire Safety care, to the specific requirements of Fire Wardens and Fire Extinguishers.  It is crucial to first note the importance of fitting the correct Fire Alarm System for the premises, and why care homes, in particular, need specific systems. As an occupant with at-risk residents, the user mu...

Four CFS trucks and a bulk water carrier, supported by MFS crews, responded to a truck fire on the city-bound side of the South Eastern Freeway at 8:55 in the morning. The truck which was transporting scaffolding, has been extinguished by firefighters, with the fire contained to the truck. Damage incurred Specialist HazMat-trained CFS volunteers are on the scene helping to clean up and contain any diesel and oil, which dropped from the truck during the fire. No one has been injured. Traffic...

The UK’s biggest housebuilder, Barratt, reported costs of £412m to deal with “legacy property costs associated with building safety-related remediation activities” that reduced its pre-tax profit by 20.9%. The amount set aside by the company has doubled from that originally announced when Barratt signed up to the pledge in April.  The company also set the timeline to complete the outstanding remediation and repair work at three-to-five years but admitted it did not...

The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) and the Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association (Metro Chiefs) released a joint statement PDF warning firefighters that synthetic chemicals in their protective gear are associated with various health risks, including an increased risk of liver and kidney cancer. The chemicals responsible are a group of fluorinated compounds called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances commonly referred to as PFAS. They are used in firefighter turnout gear to incr...

The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) and the Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association (Metro Chiefs) released a joint statement PDF warning firefighters that synthetic chemicals in their protective gear are associated with various health risks, including an increased risk of liver and kidney cancer. The chemicals responsible are a group of fluorinated compounds called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances commonly referred to as PFAS. They are used in firefighter turnout gear to incr...

A fire evacuation plan is both a document and a physical task that users must abide by and carry out in the instance that a fire alarm sounds within the premises.  If there comes a time that the fire brigade must enter the premises in the case of a fire, they will ask the user where their fire Eevacuation plan is. This means that users not only need to practice their correct fire evacuation regularly but should also keep a written document containing the means of escape.  The Importa...

A Fire Risk Assessment is a legal requirement that ensures the user, as the Responsible Person for a premise, has identified all possible hazards and risks that may hinder the successful evacuation of a building in the occurrence of a fire.  assess and demonstrate risks One of the professionals will be able to assess and demonstrate where the risks are located, and whether the risks identified are acceptable or may need to be looked at closer to take further precautions to keep the premis...

In the heart of Franciacorta, at the top of the hill overlooking Bornato, sits the historic headquarters of the Società Agricola Monte Rossa srl. Owned by the Rabotti family since 1972, the Winery is famous for its fine wines that can satisfy even the most demanding palates. Producing 500,000 bottles per year and with 70 hectares of managed vineyards, Monte Rossa is considered a pioneer for the quality level of the Franciacorta wines it produces. Fire detection system Last May, the new...

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...

The construction industry is consistently ranked as one of the most dangerous environments to work in around the world. OSHA reports that 1 in 5 deaths among U.S. workers occurs in the sector. And, according to the World Risk Poll, the second highest reported workplace injury rate globally (22%), was among those who worked in construction, manufacturing, or production. In this high-risk context, accurate, real-time monitoring of safety conditions can protect workers and equipment from damage en...

With more than one million helmets sold in over 140 countries, Rosenbauer’s HEROS firefighting helmets are one of the most successful firefighting helmets in the world. The HEROS’ success story began in 1992. After communicating intensively with fire departments, as well as a development phase lasting several years, Rosenbauer presented its first own firefighting helmet based on a new type of helmet shell made of plastic. This makes it one of the most modern helmets on the market, f...