Fire Industry News for February 2025

At the LogiMAT in Stuttgart from 11th to 13th March, WAGNER will be presenting innovative fire protection technologies and individual solutions for deep-freeze warehouses, high-bay warehouses and compact storage systems in Hall 7, Stand 7C13. A key highlight is the latest advancements in the field of active fire protection with OxyReduct®. Active fire prevention is based on the principle of oxygen reduction: the OxyReduct® system generates nitrogen directly from the ambient air and dire...

The FIA is proud to announce the Passive & Active Fire Conference 2025, a landmark event bringing together fire safety professionals, regulators, and industry experts. This is the first-ever collaboration between the FIA, the Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP), and the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE), making it an essential gathering for those dedicated to improving fire protection standards. Active and passive fire protection Taking place on Tuesday, 25th March 20...

The Fire Industry Association (FIA) has been announced as a finalist for the Outstanding Organization award at the prestigious Fire Resilience Excellence Awards 2025, which will take place on 8th April 2025. This nomination recognizes the FIA’s commitment to improving fire safety standards across the UK and beyond. As the pioneering fire protection trade association, the FIA has continuously worked to enhance industry competence through technical guidance, training, research, and active e...

The UK Government has released Regulatory Position Statement (RPS) 221, outlining the rules for using waste fire extinguishers for training purposes. This guidance provides clarity on the conditions under which waste extinguishers can be used, placing limits on storage quantities and prohibiting the use of certain types of firefighting foam. Key Points of RPS 221 Controlled Use of Waste Fire Extinguishers – Organizations can use waste fire extinguishers for training purposes, but only...

Lithium-ion batteries are at the heart of modern technology, powering everything from mobile devices to electric vehicles. However, they come with a significant fire risk. The newly released Collaborative Reporting for Safer Structures (CROSS) paper delves into the fire safety concerns associated with these batteries, shedding light on the phenomenon known as thermal runaway. This self-sustaining reaction can trigger large-scale fires or even explosions, often set off by overcharging, short cir...

The FIA CEO has responded to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s announcement that responsibility for fire safety will move from the Home Office to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. Ian Moore (CEO of the FIA) said that this decision (that many of us have known was coming for some time) is common sense and he is glad to see that the Government is finally listening (after many years) to feedback from the fire industry. WMS 8-Machinery of Government Organizati...

Having a healthy and engaged workforce creates a successful, high-performing fire or EMS department. To help departments better support their members, the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) has released an updated, online version of the Psychologically Healthy Fire Departments: Implementation Toolkit.  A Psychologically Healthy Fire Department focuses on the well-being of its members to increase satisfaction, enhance retention and recruitment, and improve overall performance and succes...

Teledyne Gas & Flame Detection has released its Spyglass™ Xtend triple-infrared flame detector, a notable industry advance that offers the simultaneous detection of both hydrogen (H2) and hydrocarbon (HC) fires. This important innovation boosts safety in dense industrial environments where hydrogen flames can spread to other equipment and start fires involving hydrocarbon fuels that are invisible to an H2-only detector. Fire involving hydrocarbon fuels A hydrogen flame can spread an...

VIKING Life-Saving Equipment has signed a strategic agreement with HeliService USA, ensuring that the helicopter service provider has a single and continuous source of fully certified personal protective equipment to uphold offshore wind industry safety standards along the U.S. East Coast. Building on enduring relations between the companies, the agreement includes personal protective equipment (PPE) for the aircrews and service technicians who support turbine installation and maintenance. VIK...

VIKING Life-Saving Equipment, a pioneer in maritime safety solutions, has secured a new order for 11 ambulance boats from the Hellenic Coastguard, expanding the coverage provided by VIKING Norsafe vessels to support emergency services for Greek island communities. The new VIKING Norsafe Munin S-1200 ambulance boats will be used to support emergency services and auxiliary healthcare in remote areas, including the islands of Thassos, Psara, Agios Efstratios, Fournoi, Kea, Lipsi, Kasos, North Evia...

VIKING Life-Saving Equipment A/S is pleased to announce that its newly appointed CEO, Henrik Helsinghof, will start on 1 May 2024 – one month earlier than previously stated. This positive news will allow VIKING to accelerate its dynamic leadership transition as it looks to build on two years of recording breaking results. VIKING’s recent success Henrik Helsinghof began his career at VIKING in 2006 and remained with the company “I’m extremely pleased to be starting bac...

VIKING has appointed Mira Nielsen as the new CFO, effective from 4 March. This follows a thorough recruitment process that began in the autumn and was completed before Christmas when then-CEO Henrik Uhd Christensen and Mira Nielsen reached an agreement. With Mira Nielsen, VIKING adds a financial profile with extensive international experience. She has worked in several large companies in Europe and the USA, including as VP of Finance Management Support and part of the General Management Team in...

Marine Evacuation Systems (MES), served by liferafts, is an efficient and widely used method for mass evacuation at sea. With passenger ship capacities increasing, the ability of MES to evacuate hundreds of people in a matter of has been tested exhaustively in Beaufort Sea State 6 conditions. MES and liferafts–five things To be compliant, liferafts must be designed in accordance with SOLAS Chapter lll and the LSA Code. All VIKING liferafts are compliant with these standards and are ful...

When it comes to sustainability reporting, the so-called Scope 1, 2 and 3 definitions are slowly becoming the global standard by which companies account for their Green House Gas (GHG) emissions. In brief; Scope 1 emissions cover the Green House Gas emissions that are owned or controlled by a company. For example, emissions coming from owned vehicles and boilers are included in this Scope. Scope 2 emissions account for the indirect emissions originated from the purchased electricit...

Ever since VIKING was founded in 1960, they have led by example and have taken responsibility for the environment. In 2023, they continued this important work across all three ESG pillars: Environment, Social responsibility, and Governance. The sustainability efforts continue to be anchored in VIKING’s top management team, who have stood by the decision to execute a long-term sustainability strategy based on a structural approach to engage the entire global organization and value chain....

The Riverside Company, a global investment firm focused on the smaller end of the middle market, has invested in South Sound Fire & Security (South Sound) as an add-on to its fire and life safety platform, Performance Systems Integration (PSI). Based in Portland, Oregon, PSI is a major single source provider of fire and life safety services in the Pacific Northwest, Mountain West, Northern California and the Pacific. The company provides customers with fire and life safety services, includ...

Pierce Manufacturing Inc., an Oshkosh Corporation business, and the City of Madison Fire Department, announce the first Pierce® Volterra™ electric pumper production unit ordered is now in service with the City of Madison Fire Department in Wisconsin. This milestone represents the culmination of years of collaboration and commitment to advancing zero-emissions technology in the fire service industry. Evaluate the Pierce Volterra platform The City of Madison Fire Department becam...

Shipowners and operators of EU vessels must take steps to ensure that all new firefighting suits on board comply with changes to European regulations which enter into force from June 2025, according to urgent advice from VIKING Life-Saving Equipment. The leading life-saving equipment solutions provider is recommending fleet managers undertake a full risk assessment of their firefighting suits to verify compliance with requirements applying under MED regulations (EU) 2024/1975. New firefighting...

Hochiki, a pioneer in life safety solutions, is celebrating the first anniversary of its Training Academy. This milestone marks a significant achievement in Hochiki's commitment to education and advancement within the fire safety industry. With over a century of experience, Hochiki has earned a reputation for manufacturing reliable and innovative life safety products. The Training Academy builds upon this legacy, providing fire safety professionals with the knowledge and skills necessary to eff...

Frequentis marks the debut of its LifeX3020 solution in Southeast Asia, improving emergency call handling and response coordination across three major centers and nationwide blue light agencies. This effort supports Malaysia’s Next Generation Emergency Services 999 (NG999) project, an upgrade designed to replace the current Malaysian Emergency Response System (MERS999). The initiative underscores Malaysia’s strong commitment to enhancing public safety across the nation. Responses f...

The sensor solutions provider HENSOLDT has been awarded a contract extension for the Eurofighter Mk1 radar worth approximately 350 million euros. Following approval by the German and Spanish Ministries of Defence, further development tasks were commissioned by Airbus Defense and Space. next-generation E-Scan radar   The ECRS Mk1 project (Eurofighter Common Radar System Mark 1) is the next-generation Eurofighter radar that is to be fielded by the air forces of Germany and Spain.  T...

With the rapid rise of digitization, cloud computing, big data, artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things, data centers are becoming increasingly important. The expensive equipment deployed in data centers, the high economic importance and the often irreplaceable data make fire protection for data centers crucial. A new Euralarm guidance document provides insight on aspects to consider and some of the options available when protecting data centers. The document is now available in Eng...

Amthal Group Companies has appointed Richard Parker as its new Group Head of Sales. With over three decades of experience in the fire and security industry, Richard brings a wealth of expertise in sales leadership, business development and strategic growth to the company. Richard joins Amthal from Walker Fire UK Ltd., where he served as Group Sales Manager UK, successfully building and pioneering high-performing sales teams while driving business expansion across multiple sectors. Prior roles...

Dräger, an international pioneer in the fields of medical and safety technology, has appointed former Chief Fire Officer of East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, Gary Walsh, as its strategic advisor on fire and rescue services (FRS) matters to ensure that Dräger’s safety technology continues to serve and reflect the needs of modern firefighting. Prior roles of Gary  Gary, an operational firefighter for more than 30 years, was the NFCC respiratory protective equipment (RPE)...

A fire broke out on the roof of the gymnasium at Mashpee Middle-High School just after 9 a.m. Monday morning, prompting an immediate evacuation of students and staff. Thanks to regular fire drills and safety inspections, the evacuation was swift, with no injuries reported. Regular fire drills Mashpee Fire Chief Joseph Pelletier told WCVB he observed heavy smoke and fire emanating from the gym area upon arrival. Crews used a ladder truck to access the roof, where a heating unit had...

Euralarm has published a White Paper on multi-sensor fire detectors and how these devices can help to reduce false alarms. The document is intended for fire safety professionals, building managers, and regulatory authorities. Fire detection is a critical component of building safety systems in residential, commercial, and industrial settings. It is aimed at early identification and alerting of fire incidents to minimize damage and save lives. Non-fire-related particulates Traditional fire de...

The WAGNER Group GmbH is one of the most innovative medium-sized companies in Germany and has been awarded the prestigious TOP 100 seal of approval for the second time. This quality seal, which is awarded annually on behalf of Compamedia GmbH, honors outstanding achievements in innovation management. The official award ceremony for the TOP 100 of 2025 will take place on 27 June 2025 as part of the German SME Summit in Mainz. TOP 100 seal The TOP 100 seal is the only independent, scientificall...

When the George and Abbotsford Hotel in Melrose urgently required an upgrade to its existing fire alarm system, Safe Services installed a new Advanced MxPro 5 analog addressable fire panel to provide industry-pioneering protection. George and Abbotsford Hotel The George and Abbotsford Hotel is located a 5-minute walk from the historic St Cuthbert's Way and Melrose Abbey in the Scottish Borders. A popular, busy hotel it attracts guests who are keen to walk in the footsteps of St Cuthbert across...

Churches Fire & Security, the UK's only fully integrated fire safety company, has successfully transformed its customer service operations through an innovative AI-powered analysis program, revealing insights about customer behavior and creating significant opportunities for automation. The company, which provides comprehensive fire protection and security services nationwide, partnered with digital customer experience (CX) transformation specialists Sabio Group to conduct an insightful Int...

Allegion UK, a pioneer in fire safety hardware and manufacturer of ‘Briton’ door controls, has expanded its library of customer support materials with new installation videos for its highly popular 2003 and 2003V surface-mounted door closers.  Aim to publish a video Allegion’s newly published video series provides customers with an illustrative set of installation and adjustment instructions for door mount pull, transom mount, and parallel arm mount fixings across its ma...