Fire Industry News for August 2024

Environment Canada and Climate Change have issued a Special Weather Statement for Greater Victoria, forecasting unseasonably hot weather developing over coastal BC, beginning Friday, May 12 through to Tuesday, May 16. Daytime highs will reach into the high 20s to low 30s, with overnight lows in the low to mid-teens. The highest temperatures are expected on Sunday and Monday. Tips to address hot weather Get VictoriaReady for the heat and remember these tips: Stay hydrated (carry a refillabl...

The City of Victoria’s new state-of-the-art, post-seismic Victoria Fire Department Headquarters, located at 1025 Johnson Street, is officially open. The 3,762 square-meter (40,500 square-foot) downtown facility replaces the 2,480 square-meter (26,700 square-foot) former Fire and Rescue headquarters on Yates Street that has served Victoria since 1959. The new public safety facility meets BC Building Code standards for buildings designed to remain operable post-disaster. This means it was b...

Victoria Mayor - Marianne Alto has released the following statement in response to the 2023 federal budget: "The federal budget includes measures that will safeguard and improve the livability and sustainability of Victoria. The budget commitments to help cities fight climate change, build affordable housing, and protect our communities from natural disasters are especially notable. But rapid implementation of those commitments, in close collaboration with municipal governments, is essential."...

To help everyone get where they are going safely, the City of Victoria is reducing speed limits on all local streets from 50 kilometers per hour to 30 kilometers per hour. Slower speeds help reduce the frequency and severity of crashes and contribute to quieter, more livable neighborhoods. 30 km/h signs New 30 km/h signs will be added to local streets as the bylaw takes effect over an approximately two-year period, starting in the Hillside Quadra neighborhood this spring. The lower speed limi...

RIBA and seven built environment bodies, fire safety organizations and disability rights groups have signed a joint letter to the Secretary of State for Leveling Up, Housing and Communities, Rt Hon Michael Gove MP. The united call urges the Government to reduce the height threshold for more than one staircase in new residential buildings to 18 meters (approximately six storeys), from the government’s current proposed 30 meters (approximately ten storeys). new residential buildings Yest...

Building a Safer Future has announced the first group of organizations to be awarded BSF Champion status, having successfully completed its new building safety culture change assessment scheme. The BSF Champion assessment process gives companies detailed insight into their existing leadership and culture around building safety and equips them with actionable data and practical tools to help review and upgrade processes, driving meaningful and measurable improvement in leadership and culture aro...

CONIAC was established in 2003, to advise the HSE on the protection of people from health and safety hazards within the building, civil engineering, and engineering construction industries. Its membership comes from the HSE, employers, employees, and key industry stakeholders, including small and medium-sized enterprises. It is chaired by the Chief Inspector of Construction. This is their first website which is an important step in helping the industry move forward post-pandemic as CONIAC seek...

To keep Victoria’s roads safe and smooth, the City is piloting a new pothole finder software that scans roads for damage to help locate and fix potholes as they develop. pothole finder tech Data from the new tool builds on city-wide road condition assessments conducted every three years and has significantly increased the number of potholes detected and repaired in Victoria. The pothole finder tech complements increased paving and road upgrades supported by additional funding for road m...

Seek Thermal, a major provider of thermal imaging technology, is proud to announce that it has achieved ISO 9001:2015 certification. This certification is a testament to the company's commitment to quality management and customer satisfaction. ISO 9001:2015 certification ISO 9001:2015 is a globally recognized standard for quality management systems, and it requires companies to demonstrate their ability to consistently provide products and services that meet customer and regulatory requiremen...

Get in the holiday spirit by coming out to enjoy the Island Equipment Owners Association Truck Light Parade.  Date: Saturday, December 3, 2022. Location: The Truck Light Parade starts in Victoria at the Breakwater District at 5:40 p.m. and finishes in Langford at 8:30 p.m.  Event details: The Truck Light Parade will travel from James Bay to Langford, bringing Christmas cheer and collecting food bank donations along the way. Learn more and donate to a local food bank onli...

The Passive Fire Knowledge Group (PFKG), has been launched to drive culture change through the design and construction process to improve fire safety in buildings. The Passive Fire Knowledge Group (PFKG) brings together Tier 1 contractors, specialist installers, and relevant trade associations to promote passive fire protection guidance and so improve the delivery of well-designed, specified and installed passive fire protection. Tier 1 contractors comprise the largest stakeholder group and hav...

Most people in construction are familiar with Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) cards. It is the card (either physical or digital), that provides proof that individuals working on construction sites have the appropriate training and qualifications for the job they do on-site. CSCS licence However, not everyone is aware that CSCS cards are made up of an alliance of 38 different organizations representing not just the traditional construction trades but the many specialist o...

It’s the 100th anniversary of Fire Prevention Week and the Victoria Fire Department is again partnering with the National Fire Protection Association to promote the public safety campaign - 'Fire won’t wait. Plan the escape™.' The campaign runs October 9 - 15 to raise awareness on how to plan to keep users and their families safe in the event of a fire. Tips for a safe household safe Follow these tips to prepare the household to be safe: Install smoke alarms in sleeping a...

The City of Victoria has opened its first neighborhood electric vehicle (EV) fast charging station in Victoria West, as part of a program to expand EV infrastructure across the city. Two 50 kilowatt Direct Current Fast Chargers have opened in the Bay Street parking lot at Vic West Park and are the first of many fast charging stations coming to Victoria neighborhoods. 30 EV fast chargers To support the transition to electric and make EV charging more accessible for everyone, the City will inst...

With increasing focus on the importance of both the technical aspects and management of fire safety, the FPA is introducing four new training courses to help meet the demand for trained and competent fire safety professionals. The new courses cover a range of topics – mathematics for engineering, the fundamental principles of fire risk assessment, fire risk management in residential properties, and fire in non-loadbearing external walls. Updated range of courses Launching these addition...

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...

Projects to tackle fire safety risks on high-rise residential buildings have been boosted by the publication of a new model insurance clause covering fire safety risks. The wording has been developed by the International Underwriting Association (IUA) and the Department for Leveling Up, Housing and Communities for use in work being completed under the government’s £4.5 billion Building Safety Fund.  It will help speed up the removal of unsafe cladding, encourage a greater saf...

The Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) has issued an urgent warning after annual inspections carried out by maintenance contractors found a potential safety weakness in a large number of building ventilation systems due to the incorrect installation of fire dampers. BESA Head of Technical - Graeme Fox said that many did not comply with manufacturers’ instructions and needed remedial action 'without delay'. fire damper inspections Graeme Fox said: "We have been alerted to t...

Every business aspires to grow and stay relevant in this competitive world, but it can be challenging to keep up with multiple contract entitlements and SLAs (Service Level Agreements) without a contract management system. Businesses need a holistic contract management system (CMS), which can automate the complete contract lifecycle right from initiation to renewal. This blog will discuss the key benefits of adopting a contract management system and software with powerful capabilities, SLA KPI...

To raise the standards of competence across the built environment sector and improve the safety of residents and the workforce, BSI has developed a suite of standards, supported by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities (DLUHC). The three new Publicly Available Specifications (PAS) will make it easier for different parts of the built environment industry to work together by establishing agreed core principles, terminology, and requirements on competence, providing a shared u...

The FPA’s expert surveyors have been conducting comprehensive, non-destructive fire compartmentation surveys and delivering detailed reports for several years. They are delighted to announce that they have recently developed new technology to significantly improve the outputs for the customers. New technology benefits Using a tablet device, the software application enables the surveyors to upload building floor plans which are used to describe the compartmentation strategy, and identif...

Seek Thermal, a major manufacturer of affordable, high-performance thermal sensors, announced Micro Core won the 2022 Best of Sensors award in the ‘Optical and Cameras’ category. The awards program is presented by Sensors Converge and Fierce Electronics and honors the best in sensor technologies and the sensor ecosystem, people, and companies. The awards ceremony took place at Sensors Converge, June 27-29 at the McEnery Convention Center in San Jose, California, USA. Micro Core &l...

One of UK construction’s most recognized executives has been chosen to succeed Andy Mitchell as the new Co-Chair of the Construction Leadership Council. Following an open recruitment process, an independent panel comprising industry, members of the CLC’s Senior Advisors Group and Government officials, recommended Mark Reynolds (Mace Group Chairman and CEO) to lead the CLC in partnership with Lee Rowley MP (BEIS Minister for Industry). The panel also recommended Richard Robinson (C...

Improving the quality of the built environment is one of the core objectives of the Fire Protection Association and to support this they have created one of the most versatile and comprehensive fire testing and research facilities in the UK. They have recently expanded the testing capabilities at the laboratory in Gloucestershire by investing in a new material identification testing service to help identify the type of insulation material used on a building. How are samples tested? A total of...

Seek Thermal, the globally renowned supplier of thermal sensors for the public safety market, introduces Seek AttackPRO™ – the new decision-making weapon of choice for captains and commanding officers. AttackPRO AttackPRO combines a high-resolution 320 x 240 thermal sensor with enhanced clarity and detailed colorization in a robust, heat-resistant housing. Additionally, a truck charging dock will be available as an accessory for $599. assessment situations AttackPRO eliminates t...

As the world prepares for COP26, the time for action and concrete agreement to reduce carbon emissions and invest in the future. Government and industry have a crucial opportunity to agree on tangible commitments, that benefit future generations across the world. The role as part of the Built Environment and Construction Sector (which accounts for 38% of global carbon emissions) is vital. The Construction Leadership Council’s Construct Zero program is heading the industry’s drive to...

CIC has been welcomed by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) as its newest and twentieth Member, following a positive vote at the UKAS AGM, which took place on 19 October 2021. certification, and inspection UKAS is the government-appointed sole National Accreditation Body, whose role is to provide oversight of testing, certification, and inspection organizations across the full spectrum of economic activity. UKAS is a not-for-profit, non-profit-distributing independent company ope...

CIC will be at COP26 on 11 November to present on ‘Carbon Zero: the professional institutions’ climate action plan’. The presentation is in support of the Construction Leadership Council’s Construct Zero session which will take place in the Green Zone as part of the COP26 Cities, Regions, and Built Environment Day. reduce carbon emissions The built environment and construction sector accounts for 38% of global carbon emissions and it has been estimated that collectivel...

The Business Model workstream of the Construction Leadership Council publishes a refreshed suite of guidance on managing COVID-19 within construction contracts. The updated documents now include revised information on future-proofing JCT / NEC amendments for new contracts to ensure that if circumstances change parties take a collaborative approach. The suite also provides templates to allow parties to formally record how they can avoid disputes. Provides additional templates The COVID-19 pand...

A global coalition of over 80 fire safety leadership organizations has launched a new Decade of Action for Fire Safety 2022-2032, to ensure an internationally consistent approach to the safety and management of buildings, infrastructure, and more to save lives by reducing risk and preventing devastating fires. Decade of Action for Fire Safety The launch of the Decade of Action for Fire Safety is backed by the UN and builds on the International Fire Safety Standard - Common Principles...