Fire Industry News for January 2021

With the ever expanding construction of refrigerated food distribution warehouses, owners are maximizing building heights in order to increase storage rack heights and the amount of product that can be retained. This sets the stage for large high-challenge fires to develop. Traditional fire protection of these refrigerated and freezer type facilities was limited to double interlock pre-action systems with rows of fire sprinklers also being included in the storage racks. In-rack type sprinklers...

Congratulations to Cory Fry from the AFPG Jackson office for achieving his NICET IV Fire Alarm System Certification. The NICET Level IV Fire Alarm certification is a robust credential, based on inter-related elements of fire alarm system designs, installation, maintenance, and inspections. Most AHJ’s have accepted it as evidence of qualification to perform maintenance and periodic inspections of fire alarm systems. Recognized certification programs Each of NICET’s nationally recog...

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) has announced that they recognize achievement in the volunteer fire and emergency services through its annual awards program. Nominations for the Lifetime Achievement Award, Chief James P. Seavey Sr., Health and Wellness Leadership Award, Junior Firefighter of the Year Award, and Junior Firefighter Program of the Year Award are due by January 29, 2021. The NVFC annual awards program features: NVFC Lifetime Achievement Award: Sponsored by ADT, this a...

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), in partnership with the American Psychological Association (APA) and the Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance, launched the Psychologically Healthy Fire Departments (PHFD) toolkit to support firefighters and EMS providers and create healthy, successful departments. A new implementation toolkit is now available to help fire department leaders promote and foster health and wellbeing among their members. Maintaining a psychologically healthy fire depar...

The final three recipients have been announced in the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), MSA Security Incorporated and DuPont’s 2020 Globe Gear Giveaway. The White River (ON, Canada) Fire Department, New Baltimore Volunteer Fire and Rescue Company (Warrenton, VA), and the Central Hardin Fire Department (Elizabethtown, KY) will each receive four sets of state-of-the-art turnout gear and four helmets to increase the safety of their members. MSA Safety Incorporated, DuPont, and NVFC tea...

An Advanced fire alarm control panel has been selected to protect Marsham House, a high-end apartment building in Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire. Installed to ensure the safety of the 50 luxury apartments at Marsham House is a four-loop MxPro 4 panel covering all public areas and the underground car park of the six-storey building. Hertfordshire-based Amida Fire – responsible for the installation, integration, programming, commissioning and handover of the fire system – specificall...

AVIOTEC's front-line technology offers flame and smoke detection for locations with no light. Thanks to separate additional infrared illumination unlit applications can be monitored with video-based fire detection delivering pin-sharp images. During the daytime, the device shows colored pictures and shifts to monochrome night mode when visibility drops below a pre-defined level. When daylight returns it automatically switches back to color mode. The video-based fire detection AVIOTEC IP starli...

The new Blavantik School of Government’s mission is to inspire and promote better government across the world. Estimated to cost £55 million, it is located right in the heart of Oxford. With high-profile dignitaries and leading academics visiting from all over the world, plus a growing staff and student cohort of over 200 people, its security has to be outstanding. The brief was to design and install a multi-layered intruder, CCTV and access control system to protect the public and...

Over the coming weeks and months, AW Technology will be featuring a series of blogs and articles that will focus on the truly global nature of the internationally renowned company’s operations. Global projects installations Each article will profile a specific country that AW Technology operates in and will also demonstrate the team’s capability and experience of successfully delivering the company’s state-of-the-art products and solutions in that nation. Following AW Techno...

Choice Fire & Security Solutions is using its combined fire and security expertise in assuming unified responsibility for upgrading, extending and maintaining security and fire alarm systems at the multi-site campus of the Sussex Coast College in Hastings (SCCH). fire alarm systems Maintenance The further education college’s two main buildings, opened in 2010, are the town center located Station Plaza (22,000 sq. meters) and Ore Valley (7,000 sq. meters), which is less than a mile aw...

AW Technology’s business is a truly global operation. With customers across every continent, AW Technology has a commitment to not only deliver its world class test tunnels and equipment, but to also provide a detailed program of aftercare and support. This commitment to customers sits at the heart of AW Technology’s core business philosophy and has undoubtedly played a huge part in the company’s continued growth and development. 3800 optical heat and smoke detector calibrati...

Over the coming weeks and months, AW Technology will be featuring a series of blogs and articles that focus on the truly global nature of its operations. Each article will profile a specific country that AW Technology operates in and demonstrate the team’s capability and experience of successfully delivering its state-of-the-art products in that nation. This first article is focused on India, AW Technology’s previous work in this exciting, dynamic and emerging country and the potent...

A significant platform that brings together safety and security industry players under one roof, Secutech India 2021 is set to be held in September at the Bombay Exhibition Center, Mumbai. The edition will be a hotbed of strong business opportunities and knowledge-exchange among channel players. With the combined expertise of Messe Frankfurt New Era Business Ltd in organizing security and fire safety shows across Asia, Messe Frankfurt India is set to host the ninth edition of Secutech India fro...

Swedish Sea Rescue Society (SSRS) in Sweden have enhanced their existing Sepura critical communications solution by upgrading to include Over the Air Programming, saving the team time and reducing costs while improving their programming capability. Sepura SC Series radio terminals Supported by Sepura’s Swedish partner, Northcomm Technologies (Northcomm), the rescue organization has been able to implement powerful changes to its programming capability by programming radios wirelessly, wit...

AW Technology are delighted to announce their attendance at the upcoming FIREX International Exhibition. The three-day event runs from 18-20 June 2019 and is held at the world renowned ExCel Centre in the heart of London. FIREX International is Europe's only dedicated fire safety event, with 18,000 fire prevention and protection professionals attending, and provides AW Technology with the ideal platform to showcase its products, capabilities and potential future growth. opportunity to exhibit...

AW Technology’s business is truly global. The fire safety and alarm industry is one that impacts billions of people across the world and therefore it’s crucial that AW’s dedicated team are able to connect with key clients wherever they are based. Already in 2019, the team has completed various international engagements, including the recent visit to a client based in Russia. The latest trip has taken them to the fabulous nation of India and more specifically they have visited...

In the lead up to Christmas, Coopers Fire have been running a collection for Waterlooville Food Bank. Waterlooville Food Bank work alongside recognized organizations such as the Citizens Advice Bureau, Children Services, Schools, Housing Association, and more to supply items to those in need in the local area. For many this year has been especially challenging and the region’s food banks are reporting a shocking rise in the number of people relying on the donation of food. Demand More T...

Fire rating systems are a way of determining how much time a passive fire protection system can withstand a fire. There are several international variations, but they all follow a plotted curve of time over temperature. What are the standards and ratings - and what do they mean in real-world situations? There are several testing standards for fire curtains, which can vary internationally. These include BS 8524-1, BS EN 1634-1 and UL 10D. Since 2014, the UL 10D product safety standard has become...

Avon Protection has received an order to supply two NATO Nations and one Partner, Belgium, Finland, and Norway with their foremost CBRN respiratory protection including FM50 mask systems, filters, spares, and accessories.  FM50 Air Purifying Respirator The FM50 provides operational flexibility required by NATO Allies and Partners forces; designed to protect troops in the most demanding of environments. Developed in conjunction with the United States Department of Défense to counte...

Since the Grenfell tower tragedy in 2017, residential high-rise fire safety has become a top priority for tower block building managers. If a high-rise building is found to contain combustible cladding, then the standard ‘stay put’ policy is no longer considered safe, and instead a temporary ‘simultaneous evacuation’ strategy must be put in place until the cladding issue is resolved. Currently a Waking Watch protocol is the preferred option for ensuring resident’s...

It is well reported that incident numbers attended by the UK Fire and Rescue Services have reduced over the last decade, partially as a result of the improved fire safety education conducted by dedicated teams in community fire safety, and other related activities. In particular, during the period 2008-2018, there was a 20% reduction in total fire calls. However, in 2019, there was a small annual rise in the number of fires attended, and in particular, secondary fires. (Home Office, 2020). As a...

Even with slightly relaxed COVID-19 restrictions, Christmas in 2020 will be very different from the ones everyone is used to celebrating. Not everyone will be able to gather together under the same roof to spend the festive period together. Some will be in isolation or stuck abroad, away from family and friends. Together or apart, fires can still happen at Christmas time; in fact, it’s statistically the worst time of year for fires - which sadly can be some of the most destructive. In 202...

A fire in a utility room at MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center was quickly extinguished, Baltimore County fire officials said. Fire officials said firefighters were called around 3:09 p.m. for a fire on the third floor of the hospital in Rossville. Hospital alarm system Fire officials said the hospital alarm system sounded and as firefighters were en route, the sprinkler system activated. Officials said firefighters found heavy smoke on the third floor and it took about 45 minutes to put...

A one-alarm fire at a northwest Houston hotel forced guests to evacuate early Saturday morning, according to the Cy-Fair Fire Department. At approximately 4:40 a.m., fire crews were dispatched to a Holiday Inn Express hotel located in the 9100 block of West Road on reports of a fire. On arrival, crews observed fire and smoke visible from a third-story unit. Sustaining smoke damage Firefighters attacked the blaze and extinguished it quickly, said Captain Daniel Arizpe, a public information off...

2020 was a big year for Coopers Fire. The company has relocated its headquarters to a purpose-built, state-of-the-art new facility in Waterlooville, and reimagined its website for the next phase of Coopers Fire’s growth. The company has even managed to complete work on some exciting fire curtain installation projects. But 2020 will forever be remembered as the year of COVID-19 - the disease that spread around the world and brought life as everyone knows it to a complete standstill. As all...

It’s tougher to beat the heat on job sites than at backyard barbecues. Teammates need to be informed and equipped to take preventative measures against heat stress, such as finding shade, drinking plenty of water, wearing loose and light clothing, and/or taking regular breaks. Heat-related occupational Risks Safety professionals know that exposure to hot conditions presents a real threat to teammates. According to the most recent U.S. Heat Fatalities Map from the Occupational Safety and...

American Fire Protection Group (AFPG) is sharing a daily fire protection guideline designed to educate on different aspects of the fire protection system that one may not be aware of. Day 1: Fire Alarm Monitoring Uses Analog Technology A lot of facilities utilize telephone lines for alarm monitoring. Plain Old Telephone Systems lines (POTS) are being sunset very soon, leaving the fire alarm monitoring at risk. This technology will leave thousands of facilities without monitoring capabiliti...

Maryland State Fire Marshal Brian Geraci has long been a vocal advocate of residential fire sprinkler legislation in Maryland. Throughout his career in the Maryland fire service, he has excelled in educating about the importance of fire sprinklers from the perspective of the fire service as a life-saving tool that is not only beneficial, but necessary. For all his contributions to the fire protection industry, the American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) is proud to honor Geraci with its 2020...

American Fire Protection Group, Inc. (APFG) was recently recognized at the annual APi Group Leadership Summit. The Leadership Summit provides an opportunity to recognize the achievements of all APi Group companies and team members. AFPG gets APi Synergy Award American Fire Protection Group, Inc. was presented with the ‘Synergy Award’ which recognizes the APi Group company that has been the most dedicated to collaborating with their APi Group sister companies. One of the core values...

The American Fire Sprinkler Association is pleased to announce that Jason Williams, C.E.T., manager of ITM technical training, and Tom Noble, C.E.T., technical programs specialist, have been appointed to several 2017 National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) technical committees. Jason Williams has been appointed to serve on the technical committee for NFPA 25, Standard for the Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems. He has nearly 20 years of extensive han...