Fire Industry News for August 2020

In the wake of the hugely damaging fire at one of the world’s most culturally significant and iconic landmarks, Notre-Dame, the importance of fire safety has once again seen a resurgence in the national press. March month also saw 78 people perish in a fire-related blast at a chemical plant in China – injuring hundreds of others. Both of these tragic events now serve as a stark and unfortunate reminder of how devastating an out of control fire can truly be. Due to the widespread inc...

When it comes to protecting businesses against disruption, water damage can pose a serious threat, especially in the modern age where electrical systems are ingrained in almost every aspect of daily life. Advanced moisture detection systems can help building owners mitigate the risks to their bottom line. Building owners and facilities managers have an almost all-encompassing role to play in keeping businesses running. For these professionals, ensuring downtime is minimized by staying ahead of...

Now, more than ever, healthcare facilities are experiencing an increased demand for patient care. And with more people to treat and protect, those working or residing within these spaces are at an even greater risk in the event of a fire emergency. Moving patients unnecessarily, such as in the event of a false alarm, can seriously impact their recovery. Therefore, it is crucial that these buildings are fitted with the highest quality life safety systems to ensure ultra-reliable protection. Whil...

Life safety devices, such as detectors and beacons, need to be as dependable as possible. While manufacturers may state that their products meet the industry agreed standards, the small print may say otherwise and require the meeting of more complex certification. For multi-sensors, this is of particular importance. In the face of constant technological innovation, multi-sensors have been hailed as one of the most advanced forms of life safety detection. Defined by BS 5839 as “a fire dete...

Fomtec FP 3% Plus an ultra-high performance Fluoroprotein foam has been tested to the Lastfire standard with very good results. Fomtec FP 3% Plus is suitable for use in large storage tank fires and has also been tested against fires in Gasoline MTBE mixtures with very good performance. For more information please contact the Fomtec Sales team or have a look at the datasheet.

Fomtec has received FM approvals for two products. Both Fomtec AFFF 3% S and Fomtec ARC 3x3 S has been tested according to FM test standard 5130 with a series of Viking Sprinkler heads. Fomtec AFFF 3% S: was on Heptane using Viking VK 100, VK 102, VK 200 & VK 202. Fomtec ARC 3x3 S: was on Heptane, IPA and Acetone using VK 100, VK 102, VK 200 & VK 202.

Evaluation of Fluorine Free Foams was performed by Dynax and Resource Protection International (RPI) with the logistic support by Fomtec and Falk Nutec. This is a summary of ICAO Level B and EN 1568 fire test results. Dynax Corporation is a major producer of C6-telomer-based fluorosurfactants and fluorochemical foam stabilizers for use in AFFF, AR-AFFF, FP, FFFP and AR-FFFP agents, and a founding member of the Fire Fighting Foam Coalition (FFFC). Independent and comparative evaluation In the...

Along with the transformation of the homepage Fomtec has also released new versions of datasheet for Foam and Equipment. Material safety data sheets Datasheets for Foam has been updated with some new features and information, for example Fire performance and Foaming, Environmental impact and Technical data. They have also added information about Product Part no under Packaging to help when ordering. Material Safety Data Sheets are updated to CLP-standard with latest hazard pictograms. These a...

The following information is reprinted from an April 1995 brochure published by the National Swimming Pool Foundation in cooperation with the National Spa and Pool Institute and the National Safety Council. Think Ahead Once the diver starts their dive, they don’t have time to think. Know the depth of the water. Plan the dive path. Never dive where they don’t know the water depth or where there may be hidden obstructions. Steer Up When the diver dive down, they must be rea...

The world’s event for the maritime industry: SMM, is the place where the maritime industry meets to find answers to the challenges of today and tomorrow. Its claim to provide insights is reflected in more than 90,000 square meters of exhibition space and a whole series of top-class specialist conferences. More than 2,200 exhibitors from 67 countries, including 29 national pavilions, and around 50,000 visitors from 125 nations made SMM 2018 an important industry event....

Behind every great firefighter is a department and behind every great department is Firehouse Expo, the trade show and expo for the fire industry, offering all the behind-the-scenes tools, training, equipment and exposure to the ideas and inspiration firefighters need to be bright and brave in the business. Amkus recommends not to miss the event that everyone is talking about. Firehouse Expo, the fire-service event in North America, is bigger than ever. 2020’s event includes 32 hands-on t...

At the sound of the gun, six lifeguards (four men and two women) jump into the water with red rescue buoys in their hands. As the life guards swim toward the six struggling victims 25 yards away, their rescue buoys trail along behind them. As contact is made with the drowning victims, the lifeguards talk to them and then tow them back to safety toward the shallow end of the swimming pool. While all this is going on, the bleachers, stands, and pool deck are filled with excited and cheering spect...

There is no evidence that the virus that causes COVID-19 can be spread to people through the water in pools, hot tubs, spas, or water play areas. Proper operation and maintenance (including disinfection with chlorine and bromine) of these facilities should inactivate the virus in the water. Ensuring health and safety While there is ongoing community spread of COVID-19 of the virus that causes COVID-19, it is important for individuals as well as owners and operators of these facilities to take...

The Standard of Care in Lifeguarding law requires lifeguards to act or behave toward other individuals in a certain, definable way, and, under given circumstances, the lifeguard has a duty to act or refrain from acting. Generally speaking, the lifeguard must be concerned about the safety and welfare of other individuals when his or her behavior or activities have the potential for causing others injury or harm. The manner in which a lifeguard is expected to act or behave is referred to as the &l...

Because of the major health concerns today, there is a major reluctance among emergency service personnel to perform direct mouth-to-mouth rescue breathing on an unknown victim. When confronted with a resuscitation emergency, response personnel do not always have the luxury of using a resuscitation unit, which would be carried on a fire engine or in a police car. Even if the equipment is available, they can’t always wait to obtain the equipment before resuscitation efforts are begun. The...

Local governments are beginning to allow swimming pools and other aquatic facilities to reopen as restrictions ease across the United States of America. Lifesaving Resources Inc. provides guidance and training to aquatic facilities looking to safely reopen their doors and resume operations. The guidelines issues by the company are based on current advice from the Scientific Advisory Council on COVID-19 and Aquatics. The primary factor is to determine laws in the local community. The federal gov...

With changes to pool operations as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, there are also recommended changes to how lifeguards respond to medical emergencies. Based on current recommendations, Lifesaving Resources Inc. has outlined Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for swimming pools, waterparks and other aquatic venues to follow for lifeguard training. Importance of effective lifeguard training Lifesaving Resources believes that preparing the staff with the new COVID-19 restrictions in mind i...

Responding to Cardiac Arrest calls during the Coronavirus pandemic has required First Responders to modify protocols to reduce risk to responding personnel while providing lifesaving care to patients. Throughout this COVID-19 pandemic, Lifesaving Resources will continue to update best practice protocols for EMS, Fire, Law Enforcement, Lifeguards and other responding personnel. As scientists and medical teams continue to research the COVID-19 Coronavirus, new information is frequently released r...

Milipol Qatar 2020, the Middle East’s international event for Homeland Security and Civil Defense which returns to Doha this October, will feature a powerful three-day seminar program in which decision makers and security experts will outline major strategies for a safer post-COVID-19 world amongst other main foresights. The program will run alongside the 13th Milipol Qatar at the Doha International Exhibition and Convention Center from October 26-28. biometrics, Cybersecurity And C...

Fireco has released its newest innovation, Germgard, a smart sanitizer combined with digital signage. Germgard has been designed to promote awareness of the importance of hand sanitization to all building users. With the outbreak of COVID-19, good hygiene practice has become more important than ever before. Fireco has already helped many customers improve their infection control with their hold-open devices, which can reduce the need to touch door handles. However, they wanted to help their cus...

UL Firefighter Safety Research Institute (FSRI) released a report detailing a deflagration incident at a 2.16 MWh lithium-ion battery energy storage system (ESS) facility in Surprise, Arizona. The report provides a detailed technical account of the explosion and fire service response, along with recommendations on how to improve codes, standards, and emergency response training to better protect first responders, maintenance personnel and nearby communities. "The ability to study lithium-ion ba...

The government is seeking views on proposals to strengthen the Fire Safety Order, implement Grenfell Tower Inquiry recommendations, and strengthen the regulatory framework for how building control bodies consult with Fire and Rescue Authorities. The government is determined to continue to learn the lessons from the Grenfell Tower fire, and reform building and fire safety to ensure that such a tragedy can never happen again. Fire safety consultation proposals To strengthen the Regulatory Ref...

FIA has just published a new guide that reviews best practice and the Standards underpinning contemporary fire detection systems for use in high airflow environments, including those used to automatically activate fixed gaseous fire extinguishing systems. It focuses on UK practice, identifying relevant codes, and describing how they are used to achieve effective detection systems in these challenging environments. The document does not consider special hazards with liquid fuel fires and fast fl...

The multi-year agreement will see the launch of the Fire and Security Matters Awards, which take place at the Ricoh Arena in 2022 with entries for the event set to open in the year 2022. The event aims to recognize excellence and innovation in the fire and security sectors and will be supported by the industries’ publications Fire Safety Matters and Security Matters. Fire Safety Matters will also publish an essential annual guide to the UK’s fire safety sector in...

With the Grenfell Tower fire exposing serious flaws ‘across the whole system of building and managing high-rise homes’. Resultantly, the government asked Dame Judith Hackitt to ‘carry out an independent review of building regulations and fire safety to understand the causes of the fire’. The report found that ‘the whole system needed major reform and that residents’ safety needed to be a greater priority through the entire life cycle of a building – fro...

In connection with the COVID-19 pandemic, Dräger has received an order from the British government to deliver respiratory protection masks (FFP3). The delivery of the order will start in 2020 and will stretch until the end of 2021. The expected net sales are roughly EUR 100 million. For this purpose, a mask production will be set up in the UK, in the Blyth area of Northumberland. There, Dräger has had a development and production site for respiratory protection technology for firefig...

The Fire Industry Association (FIA) announces the launch of the new Level 3 qualification on BS 5839-6, “FIA AO Fundamentals of Fire Detection and Alarm Systems in Domestic Premises.” The new OFQUAL recognized qualification has been carefully designed to deliver a great introduction to a key part of the Fire Detection & Alarm (FD&A) sector. British Standard, BS 5839-6:2019 provides detailed recommendations for fire detection and fire alarm systems in all domestic premises la...

The Z-Control of the latest generation by ZIEGLER was nominated for the UX Design Awards in the category "Product" of the year 2020. The UX Design Awards are a global competition for user and customer experience, organized by the International Design Center Berlin (IDZ). The list of previous winners resembles a "Who is Who" of the industry. The intuitive and user-guided operating concept Z-Control by ZIEGLER is the central element of every firefighting vehicle and the basis of a successful oper...

In July 2020, the municipality of Planegg received three identical HLF 20 with extensive equipment. Within the municipality the vehicles will be distributed to two locations. Planegg has been a ZIEGLER customer for many years and continues to rely on ZIEGLER quality. The vehicles are part of procurement in accordance with Bavarian funding guidelines, together with a further HLF 20 for the municipality of Krailling. Thus the total order consists of four vehicles. The three HLF 20 are mounted on...

COVID-19 has overwhelmingly been the biggest issue to shape and change the industry, lives, and world in recent history. The FIA has been asked directly by the Government to consult with their members as they are keen to hear how the industry has been affected and how they can work with their industry to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19. fire industry professionals The company has put together this survey addressed to fire industry professionals so that the industry can effectively gather the...