Fire Industry News for April 2020

Founded in August 1996, Dave Melton the inventor of Firetrace, could never have envisioned the success his simple invention would have grown to become. 23 years later sees Firetrace Ltd manufacture and install their 100,000th Firetrace Automatic Fire Suppression System. And not only this, it was exchanged to reinstate a system which had expired its lifespan at Discovery Park, Sandwich. Electrical control panels Dave Melton, Inventor of Firetrace says, “I don’t believe it. Original...

When performing decontamination, maintenance, inspection and cleaning work, handling oil or filling and transferring materials, concerned people often face the risk that their skin may come into contact with solid or liquid chemicals. Only a full body protective suit can prevent this from happening. Dräger (Drägerwerk Verwaltungs AG) has announced extending its portfolio with the new splash protective suits SPC 4400 and 4800 made from innovative coated CPM and CLF material, offering u...

The Fire Protection Association’s (FPA) Building a Safer Future Seminar, held on Monday, January 27th, 2020 in London (sponsored by BAFE), played out the on-going discussion of competency within both the combined construction and fire safety industries. Chair of the event and Managing Director of the FPA, Jonathan O’Neill OBE, opened the seminar affirming his continued “whole-hearted” support for Third Party Certification, stating “I have been banging the drum for...

FireMisting has just cut costs, improved productivity on site, reduced their admin and made their engineers very happy indeed… by getting all new tools on FLEET from Hilti. No more downtime, always the best technology and complete transparency of whose tool is who. The account manager from Hilti, Andrew Abernethy, managed the whole process for FireMisting and helped them streamline the tool inventory to their exact requirements. FireMisting prides themselves on giving the best service to...

A fire at a high-rise block of flats in North Wales has been successfully extinguished thanks to an effective sprinkler system. North Wales Fire and Rescue Service crews were called to a report of a fire at Bolingbroke Heights, Flint at 1749 – and appliances from Flint, Deeside and Holywell were mobilised to the incident. Firefighters rescued a man in his 70s from a heavily smoke logged flat within the building. He received a precautionary check for smoke inhalation at the scene. The fire...

A cooking oil fire in the kitchen of Flat 41 of the 12 storey residential block of 71 flats owned by Birmingham city Council was extinguished by a single sprinkler head actuation within five minutes, probably nearer 40 seconds. This is BS 2951 installation with a pump in the 2nd floor tank room. Apart from some smoke and water damage, minimal damage was caused. Without the sprinkler this could have caused more serious damage to persons and/or property.

The Viking Corporation, a global provider of fire protection and life safety systems, has enhanced the cULus listing for its 5.6 (80) K-factor quick response COIN sprinkler. The new listing allows the VK950 upright sprinkler to protect combustible concealed spaces without the use of draft curtains in most applications, making it an ideal replacement for competitive sprinklers that have more stringent and expensive draft curtain requirements. The new VK950 UL Listing applies when sprinkler spaci...

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on Jan 20, 2020 launched a consultation seeking views on ‘how to assess and prioritize fire safety risks and how to better understand the complexity of building risk’ to ensure that an appropriate level of safety is achieved in existing buildings. Assessing fire safety of buildings MHCLG (Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government) stated that they are commissioning research to develop an evidence base on fire saf...

Only a few short months after the opening of their Glasgow office, Checkmate Fire announces further expansion of the company, with a new Surrey branch now open in Redhill. With the region previously serviced by the company’s Harlow office, the new Redhill location will take responsibility for all business that falls south of the river Thames. This will enable them to provide their wide range of clients in the area with a more dedicated resource, further underlining Checkmate’s capab...

DuPont announces it has completed the 2019 acquisitions of Desalitech, inge GmbH, Memcor, and OxyMem Limited; adding to its portfolio of water purification and separation technologies, including ultrafiltration, reverse osmosis and ion exchange resins.   These four recent acquisitions support DuPont’s goal to increase access to the products and technologies needed to meet global customers’ current and future challenges, including the increased need to recycle water while r...

Towards the end of 2019, and already in 2020, sprinklers are operating efficiently and effectively saving lives, children’s education and businesses from fire. 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. wall-mounted sprinkler head A fire in an 8th floor flat in an 11 storey building was extinguished by one s...

SELECT has launched an essential guide to help the public understand new regulations about smoke, fire and carbon monoxide alarms in Scotland. New alarm regulations Under the new laws, all homes in Scotland must have an effective interlinked warning system in place by 1 February 2021.To help comply with the new ruling, which came into effect in February 2019, SELECT has produced an eight-page brochure that gives clear step-by-step guidance on exactly what is required. Designed to be handed ou...

Sepura staff have combined forces to raise over £4,000 for the Arthur Rank Hospice, bringing the charity closer to their £100,000 target for their Hospice at Home service. During the six month period when Arthur Rank was the company’s chosen charity, staff took part in various fundraising activities, including treasure quests, gin tasting and karting. active social programme Sepura chose to support Arthur Rank in memory of David Armitstead, a colleague who sadly died in the c...

Around five years ago, BAFE representatives went to see two Scottish Government civil servants to discuss fire safety and in particular Fire Risk Assessments. The responsibility for Tony Maskens, then BAFE Technical Schemes Manager, and Euan Robson, Governmental Adviser - Caledonia Public Affairs, was to explain that Fire Risk Assessors should be professionally qualified and certificated and at present there is no requirement for them to be so. When The Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 was published it...

Pierce Manufacturing Inc., an Oshkosh Corporation company, announced that it is partnering exclusively with Fotokite to provide situational awareness systems to firefighters and first responders. The introduction of the Pierce Situational Awareness System by Fotokite was announced at the Fire Department Instructors Conference (FDIC) in April 2019. Through a newly-established exclusive arrangement between Pierce and Fotokite, the vehicle-integrated situational awareness product will be available...

DuPont announced it has signed an agreement to acquire Desalitech Ltd., a closed-circuit reverse osmosis (CCRO) company. The transaction is expected to close in January 2020, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.   “As a global leader in innovative water solutions, we are committed to delivering ways to solve water challenges around the world,” said Rose Lee, President, DuPont Safety &...

Due to increasing cost pressures throughout operations, Viking will increase list prices by an average of three percent effective Monday, January 20, 2020. This price adjustment will impact Viking Corporation’s complete line of fire sprinklers, valves, systems, BlazeMaster CPVC products, and related devices. This announcement pertains to all global regions. List Price Adjustment  To receive current pricing, purchase orders must be accepted prior to the close of business on Friday, J...

Having identified that the passive fire protection industry had room for improvement in regards to apprenticeships, the HR department at Checkmate Fire created a 12-24 month trainee scheme to help introduce fresh talent to both the company and sector. Already an incredible success, the initial goal was to have 12 trainees committed to the scheme by November, however, that figure was quickly exceeded, with 17 trainees having signed up. Targeting people with transferable skills, the majority of C...

Pierce Manufacturing Inc., an Oshkosh Corporation company, announced that Finley Fire Equipment, the exclusive Pierce dealer for Ohio, Kentucky, and part of West Virginia, has secured an order for two Pierce Arrow XT pumpers for the Charleston, West Virginia Fire Department. The trucks will be procured through a partnership established with the West Virginia Purchasing Division using a National Association of State Procurement Officials (NASPO) contract. Streamlining the city’s purchasing...

What drives organizations with critical communications requirements to invest in new technology? It is likely that increased staff safety, improved performance and enhanced capability would be near the top of any organization’s reasons. Users of Sepura’s SC Series radios benefit from extended operational range and outstanding audio, meaning their users are better connected to the control room. Sepura’s flexible deployment options enable communications to be maintained even in...

The recent ban on combustible building materials by the government was for buildings over 18 meters – or six storeys high. The Cube student block in Bolton (providing student accommodation in a six storey block) which caught fire on Friday provides a stark reminder that the problem facing UK fire safety is the result of many issues and not just Grenfell style ACM cladding. Although the final details have not yet been released, there are a number of key issues reported, all of which are re...

Streamlight, a global provider of high-performance lighting tools, has announced that Kelly Swope has been promoted to the role of National Accounts Manager for the Industrial and Fire Division. In her new role as National Accounts Manager, Swope will be responsible for driving sales in the Industrial and Fire Division of the company, while also contributing to the overall sales plan. Additionally, she will be responsible for developing and managing relationships with key national distributor a...

Pierce Manufacturing Inc., an Oshkosh Corporation company, announced that Minuteman Fire and Rescue, its exclusive dealer for Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont, has been acquired by Allegiance Fire and Rescue, a division of Massachusetts-based Allegiance Trucks, LLC. Allegiance Fire and Rescue has retained all of Minuteman Fire and Rescue’s employees, and operations will continue to be conducted out of the existing facilities in Walpole, Massachusetts. “...

Checkmate Fire is delighted to announce that the company has gained the ISO27001 International Information Security Standard. Dedicated to providing the clients with excellent service, this is further proof of ongoing commitment to holding the business to account and maintaining best practice. This international standard underlines how effectively Checkmate handles client data, highlighting the vigilance with which they manage security. Extensive list of accreditations Companies that are awar...

The FPA Managing Director Jonathan O’Neill thought it was important to chair the Fire Sector Summit to stress his feelings towards the current state of the fire industry. He opened the event commending the Fire and Rescue Services but commented “Please don’t see Sir Martin [Moore-Bick]’s comments and recommendations [regarding the Grenfell Tower fire] as an attack. See them as an opportunity.” “If Dame Judith Hackitt gets her way you will likely to be asked t...

In partnership with London Fire Brigade, BAFSA will host a free to attend seminar on the 30th October at LFB HQ in Union Street, London SE1 0LL. This one day event will have a packed program of presentations, delivered by experts and practitioners focusing on the topic “Safer homes – safer communities”. It is beneficial for those people whose professional role encompasses the protection of people, their homes and communities from fire. This seminar is targeted towards those pe...

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...

Mr. Passey stated that they’re looking at a ‘new world order’, noting multiple changes recommended in Dame Judith Hackitt’s post-Grenfell Review that will dramatically alter the landscape of premises management which ‘some of us won’t recognize’. One of these changes he notes is that ‘duty holders should ensure that any recommendations outlined in the fire risk assessment are undertaken and completed in a timely manner.’ He adds to this, as...

Checkmate Fire, the supplier of passive fire solutions, appoints a regional manager, amid the firm’s expansion into Scotland. Having previously worked as a quantity surveyor at two passive fire specialists, Martyn Robinson brings over five years’ experience in managing commercial projects. He is set to head up Checkmate Fire’s expansion into Scotland. The firm’s launch into the region comes on the back of consistent year-on-year growth, underlining an outstanding period...

Pierce Manufacturing Inc., an Oshkosh Corporation company, announced that Ten-8 Fire Equipment, the exclusive Pierce dealer for Florida and Georgia, has opened a new service center conveniently located near I-75 at 16130 Lee Road in Fort Myers, Florida. As the company’s fifth service center in the state of Florida, the 11,000 square-foot service center will offer preventive maintenance and major repair work for apparatus, including aerial platforms. “Reducing fire apparatus downtime...