Fire Industry News for July 2023

Robert McBride Ltd of Hull was sentenced on 7 April for safety breaches after a 31-year-old worker suffered 13% superficial burns to his right arm and hand following the ignition of flammable vapors at the company’s site. Beverley Magistrates’ Court heard that on 21 August 2017, a batch of hairspray was being mixed in a 10,000-liter stainless steel mixing vessel. Flammable vapors were created within the mixing vessel as a result of heating. flammable vapors Ethanol was pumped dire...

Following a strategic review of its presence in Russia, Hempel has decided to initiate a controlled exit from Russia and is considering different scenarios. Hempel has had a presence in Russia since 1996 and employs 124 employees there. Hempel earlier announced the cessation of its operations in Russia, specifically stopping all deliveries into and out of Russia, stopping all deliveries in Russia, stopping taking orders in Russia, and completing a safe closure of its production in Ulyanovsk. H...

A landlord and the Responsible Person for an office block in Bedford have been fined over £40,000 for multiple and repeated breaches of the Fire Safety Order. issue of notice The owner of Broadway House, Mrs. J Lusty, and the Responsible Person, Mr. D Lusty, were given a Notice of Deficiencies letter in June 2019, after an audit under Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service’s (BFRS) Risk Based Inspection Programme (under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005). They were give...

The Scottish government, RICS, and the Fire Sector Federation have each issued new forms and guidance in relation to aspects of fire safety and building evacuation. Multiple new fire safety guides have been introduced in Scotland, including practical fire safety advice on how to prevent fires and reduce the risks in a variety of settings. Published by the Scottish government, the guidance provides practical guidance for existing high-rise domestic buildings, existing non-residential premis...

The Fire Protection Association’s InfoZone seminar theatre returns for 2022 with an agenda covering a wide range of crucial talking points in the fire safety industry for attendees at FIREX International. meetings and networking Alongside its welcome reception area, where the FPA will be available for meetings and networking with members and the full supply chain of fire safety professionals, the popular InfoZone seminar theatre returns for FIREX International 2022, at London’s ExC...

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan is spearheading vital fire safety improvements in the capital. innovative draft guidance The Mayor is launching a full public consultation on the innovative draft guidance to ensure all new developments are designed with the highest standards of fire safety from the earliest stage, keeping Londoners, their property, and the fire service safe. This new guidance will also ensure evacuation lifts are included in developments so that residents can evacuate building...

International Women’s Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity. Significant activity is witnessed worldwide as groups come together to celebrate women’s achievements or rally for women’s equality. International Women’s Day 2022 The campaign theme for International Women’s Day 2022 is ‘Break The Bias’. The campaign aims to achi...

New guidance on cleaning and maintaining industrial and commercial kitchen extraction and ventilation systems has been published by the National Association of Air Duct Specialists UK. NAAD21 The document – NAAD21 is a collaboration between industry experts and other associations, and covers both grease and air quality. The guidance is embedded throughout the GT0F 04 SCQF Level 5 (NVQ2): Ventilation Hygiene Certificate and forms the core of the qualification, covering the practices and...

External wall fire review process forms, known as EWS1 forms, were developed by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and are used as part of the valuation process for high-rise residential buildings with cladding. Seven mortgage lenders provide EWS1 data to the department and these represent most of the lending market, according to the data release published on 17 February. This is the second time the Department for Leveling Up has published EWS1 lender data on mortgage valuation...

Following another successful conference last November which saw over 400 delegates in attendance, FIRE 2022 is set to return later this year. Traditionally organized collaboratively between the Fire Protection Association (FPA), Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE), and the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC), the Fire 2022 team have now welcomed the Fire Sector Federation (FSF) as a key contributor and supporter of this event. The four parties will work closely together on the event program to...

The fire, which happened just before Christmas, was recently highlighted by Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFRS) to demonstrate the benefits of investing in sprinklers.   TWFRS said that a propane gas-powered forklift truck caught fire next to some wooden pallets, causing a large-scale fire in a large commercial warehouse. Firefighters from Gateshead and Swalwell Community Fire Stations were on the scene in a matter of minutes to assess the situation and extinguish the fire b...

A care home business run by private health and care provider - BUPA has been ordered to pay more than £1 million after a resident died in a fire, while smoking at one of its care homes. In what is thought to be the largest ever fine for fire safety breaches in the UK, BUPA Care Services (ANS) Ltd was fined £937,500 and ordered to pay £104,000 costs at Southwark Crown Court on 5 January. Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order London Fire Brigade brought the prosecution under t...

A new code of practice for the fire risk appraisal of external walls and cladding of multi-occupancy residential buildings has been published by BSI. The code has been developed to support the changes to the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 brought about by the Fire Safety Act 2021, which provides for the fire performance of exterior walls and cladding to be a material consideration. PAS 9980:2022 Fire risk appraisal The code, PAS 9980:2022 Fire risk appraisal of external wall...

Chate Singh pleaded guilty to six offenses under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. He was sentenced to eight months in prison, suspended for 18 months, at Nottingham Crown Court. According to the fire service, a judge said Singh's actions could have had 'catastrophic consequences'. Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service noted that the breaches included failing to provide adequate fire safety training for staff, failing to implement procedures such as safety drills, and failing to...

As an organization invested in industry-led qualifications developing the knowledge, skills, and behaviors of individuals working within the fire safety sector, FireQual sees the development of a fire and security apprenticeship in Wales as a key step forward in demonstrating the importance of education and training within fire safety. FireQual Chair, Lewis Ramsay, commented on this latest development, "Since its inception, FireQual has been keen to not only provide a new generation of qualific...

Over 70 colleagues from the fire sector gathered at the Oriental Club in Stratford Place, London to celebrate the FPA's platinum jubilee. Guests included current and former government ministers, and staff from the NFCC, IFE, and the London Fire Brigade, among many others. More than merely a victory lap or a gathering of old friends, the event was also a poignant reminder of what can be achieved within the sector with a collective and unified voice, and a singular message.  FPA C...

The Association for Specialist Fire Protection has announced the shortlist for its 2021 Passive Fire Protection Awards, with the winners due to be announced on 26 November at the Association’s Awards Lunch at the Edwardian Hotel in Manchester. The awards will be presented by broadcaster, naturalist, and marine biologist Monty Hall. The 2021 event will see awards presented in six categories, each recognizing excellence within the passive fire protection industry, at a company and...

Six fire engines and 2,000 sets of personal protective equipment (PPE) have started their journey across Europe to Ukraine.  The de-commissioned fire engines have been donated to Fire Aid by Kent Fire Rescue Service (KFRS), together with a vast array of equipment, including PPE donated by fire and rescue services from across the country. KFRS Supports Fire Aid Mission In Ukraine KFRS Station Manager, Mike Pitney, said: “Last year, hundreds of Ukrainian firefighters worked for weeks...

NTEA – The Association for the Work Truck Industry recently recognized Marion Body Works once again for completing a rigorous qualification process, demonstrating successful implementation of defined business standards and conformity to applicable government regulations. Reapplication to the MVP member status is conducted every three years and Marion Body Works is honored to have once again proven our commitment to excellence for another term. Achieving MVP status validates the efforts to...

National Housing Federation research shows that one in ten new affordable homes to rent or buy in England can no longer be built because of the costs of fixing fire safety defects.   The NHF surveyed 106 housing associations, with 61 reporting that they have discovered dangerous materials on their buildings since the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017. This is despite those buildings having been signed off as meeting building requirements at the time they were built. Author's quote The NHF est...

Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) has been awarded ServiceMark accreditation by the Institute of Customer Service (ICS), following record feedback from customers and colleagues. It’s the first time a fire and rescue service has achieved this recognition, and it’s a national standard, independently recognizing an organization’s customer service excellence. ServiceMark assessment report The ServiceMark assessment report noted that, KFRS has "turned customer culture completel...

BBC’s Newsnight devoted an entire program to the building safety crisis but could find no government or developer representative prepared to go on air. As Parliament returns next week to continue its examination of the Building Safety Bill, this program was a timely reminder of how many people are financially and physically trapped by fire safety defects in their homes. biggest public policy Introducing the program, Newsnight presenter, Emilly Maitlis said, “For many the wake-up c...

The Welsh Government has published new guidance on water mist systems aimed at local authority building control and installers to assist compliance with building regulations. Automatic water mist systems for domestic and residential premises was published on 27 August. This new guidance sets out how installers of water mist systems can satisfy the requirements of Regulation 37a of the Building Regulations 2010. Automatic fire suppression is mandatory in new residential premises in Wales....

The Association for Specialist Fire Protection has published three new Advisory Notes offering guidance on the fire protection of structural steel. 2021 version Addressing specific concerns identified by the industry, the ASFP's Advisory Note 19 sets out its position on the use of critical steel temperatures above 650°C. In an update to the previous edition from July 2020, the 2021 version notes: 'It is vital to ensure that the appropriate limiting temperature is used in the spe...

Gentoo is investing over £32 million over four years in internal refurbishment works across its housing stock for 60,000 residents. In an early notification published on Contracts Finder last month, Gentoo set out details of its intentions. The contract is divided into three lots with lot 3 focused on high-rise buildings and the installation of sprinkler systems and fire alarms. The value of lot 3 alone is £7 million and will be awarded on a framework basis for up to six providers...

Frontline Communications, a division of Pierce Manufacturing, Inc., and a subsidiary of Oshkosh Corporation announced that it has secured a purchase order for two highly customized vehicles from Pasco County Fire Rescue in Florida including a C-45 Velocity® mobile decontamination (decon) unit, and a C-45X-2 Velocity mobile rehabilitation (rehab) unit. These specialized vehicles will provide critical support at structural fires and long-duration deployments to aid with the removal of ha...

UL is investing in the installation of fire-resistance test furnaces at the FPA’s test laboratory. As part of the collaboration, tests for fire resistance, which form the basis of UK Regulations and support third-party product certification, will be processed quickly and effectively.  Negotiations and construction planning for the new laboratory facility have commenced, with the new lab due to open in early 2022. Author's quote FPA Managing Director, Jonathan O’Neill OBE said...

The FPA has published a technical questionnaire developed by RISCAuthority to be completed at the design stage of building planning. The questionnaire is designed to elicit technical information around quality assurance where Modular Building methods have been used, to assist insurers with understanding the building design and construction system. The key challenges addressed are the insurance perils of fire and water exposure. Technical Checklist for England Modules are large and heavy compo...

Fireworks can be beautiful, but they can be unpredictable and deadly. Numerous fires every year result from the use of personal fireworks. The possession, use or sale of any type of personal fireworks, including 'safe and sane' fireworks, is against the law in any part of the Big Bear Valley. “The use of illegal fireworks places the entire community, as well as our first responders at risk,” stated Big Bear Fire Marshal, Mike Maltby. Enforcing state and local fireworks laws With t...

Big Bear Fire Department received a report of an aircraft down in a residential area at the corner of Meadow Lane and Nana Avenue in Big Bear City. Upon arrival at the scene, a single-engine plane was found to have crashed into a vacant lot. Fire crews observed a fire to the aircraft, nearby fence, and outbuilding that sustained minor damage. The pilot and passenger were pulled to safety by nearby bystanders. Bear Valley Electric crews Help restore power The victims sustained moderate to seri...