Fire Industry News for May 2022

3M and Discovery Education are excited to announce that the 2022 3M Young Scientist Challenge (#YoungScientist) is now open to entries. As the nation's premier middle school science competition, the annual 3M Young Scientist Challenge invites students in grades 5-8 to compete for an exclusive mentorship with a 3M scientist, a $25,000 grand prize, and the chance to earn the title of ‘America's Top Young Scientist.’ Competition entries are accepted at the YoungScientistLab website unt...

As the Omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus spreads rapidly, 3M has been providing information about the company’s 3M N95 respirators, including information on where to buy them, how to ensure a proper fit, and why they are considered the standard equipment for protection. “As we have throughout the pandemic, 3M is committed to making sure everyone who needs an N95 has access,” said Raymond Eby, the President of 3M’s Personal Safety Division, adding”3M's N95 respi...

The past 18 months have been transformational in many ways. Events such as the COVID-19 pandemic, increasing safety legislation, and a squeeze on profit margins have been a catalyst for change, thereby leading to significant investments in new software. It’s also put the spotlight on productivity and efficiency. According to ONS figures, productivity levels in construction have remained consistently below the UK average, until more recently. New digital strategy However, civil engineeri...

Continuing to invest in the training and development of colleagues, Checkmate Fire Solutions (Checkmate Fire) is delighted to finish 2021 in style – with a veritable bouquet of new qualifications and accreditations! As an ongoing process, the company ensures that their people have the opportunity to further both their careers and their expertise within the business. Through additional training and qualifications, Checkmate Fire aim to have the most motivated and knowledgeable team possibl...

With ‘big data’ capture now firmly on the agenda for many organizations, digital tools such as NFC tags offer a way to record detailed information accurately and efficiently – especially when the accuracy of location is important. Near field communication is nothing new. It is a subset of the RFID technology behind contactless bank cards, and is essentially a type of communication technology that allows the secure transfer of information between two chips. Logging employee at...

But in a sector where technology is moving quickly, asset owners can sometimes feel ‘out of the loop’ when it comes to the digital tools being used by building contractors, many of which are delivering great improvements in terms of safety and compliance. For those who consider themselves in that camp, now is the time to get up to speed. As they have seen over the past year with the announcement of the Building Safety Regulator, the Building Safety Bill will usher in major changes a...

NEOGEN Corporation and 3M announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement pursuant to which 3M will separate its Food Safety business and simultaneously combine it with NEOGEN in a transaction that is intended to be tax-efficient to 3M and its shareholders for U.S. federal and income tax purposes. The combination will create an innovative pioneer in the food safety sector with a comprehensive product range and a strategic focus on the category's long-term growth opportunities. Tra...

Whilst users may not have completed the transition to the new normal, or ‘post-pandemic environment,’ employees and teams who had flirted with heading back to the office full time have found themselves creating flexible arrangements. This interim ‘new normal’ makes seemingly simple questions such as ‘how many people are in the building today,” more complex to answer.  Remote monitoring for fire and security Security teams into 2022 can benefit from tec...

Checkmate Fire Solutions announce that Kieran Carlisle has been shortlisted for the Individual Rising Star at the prestigious Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP) Awards taking place on 26th November 2021. Joining Checkmate Fire in 2017, Kieran rose quickly from his initial role as Graduate Contract Manager to his current role as Senior Contract Manager. Kieran's experience  As a real self-starter, Kieran has fully taken advantage of all the training opportunities that have...

3M and Mobileye, an Intel Company, have joined forces to advance road safety by bringing crowdsourced infrastructure asset data to transportation agencies through the 3M™ Roadway Safety Asset Manager platform, and to further their common commitments to reduce traffic fatalities and severe injuries, starting with projects in the United States. The 3M™ Roadway Safety Asset Manager puts roadway safety assets in one, easy-to-navigate cloud-based solution and helps transportation authori...

Events such as the Grenfell Tower disaster have had a profound impact on the way the construction industry reviews its building standards. Matt Ryan, the UK Country Manager at PlanRadar, explains how digital tools are providing the next step in fire safety inspection and compliance. The revelations uncovered by the ongoing Grenfell Inquiry show that, worryingly, UK housing is still falling short of the mark, when it comes to fire safety protocols. Recently, the London Fire Commissioner called f...

As Americans prepare for much-anticipated travel in the coming months, the safety of transportation and roadways is a concern for most travelers, according to a new survey facilitated by 3M. Nearly half—or 47 percent—of U.S. respondents plan to travel for a vacation or trip, within the next six months, and more than 3 out of 4 plan to travel by car. At the same time, 53 percent are concerned about the safety of transportation and roadways, when traveling outside their community. 3M...

The 3M Board of Directors declared a dividend on the company's common stock of $1.48 per share for the fourth quarter of 2021. The dividend is payable on Dec. 12, 2021, to shareholders of record at the close of business on Nov.19, 2021. 3M has paid dividends to its shareholders without interruption for more than 100 years. As of Sept. 30, 2021, 3M had 576,252,803 common shares outstanding and 66,384 shareholders of record.

3M is reinventing the sandpaper game with the introduction of the 3M Xtract™ Cubitron™ II 710W Net Abrasive Disc which provides twice the life and cut rate, while removing up to 97% of dust particles as it sands metal, wood, and composite surfaces.  The new product recently hit the market in the US and Canada and is already the talk of the internet as users eager to give it a test-run, have shared demonstrations on platforms like YouTube with fantastic results. The 3M Xtract&tr...

3M will highlight the unique challenges and opportunities manufacturers face in combatting climate change in a candid conversation with global peers at the Conference of the Parties (COP26) on Nov. 10, 2021, from 2:00-3:30 pm GMT. strategic partnership The event will take place within the United Nations Climate Change (UNFCCC) pavilion as part of its new strategic partnership with 3M. In addition to featuring insights from international sustainability leaders, the conversation...

PlanRadar has announced a new partnership with Geoffrey Robinson Ltd, one of the largest mechanical, electrical, and construction building services contractors in the North East. quality assurance, snagging, and document control From October 2021, Geoffrey Robinson will utilize PlanRadar across existing and new projects for quality assurance, snagging, and document control in their construction division, which was launched three years ago to complement their existing M&E expertis...

With just days to go before World Mental Health Day, EMCOR UK has become the first organization globally to prove it prioritizes its people and be certified against BSI’s new scheme which is based on the international standard ISO 45003:2021 Occupational health and safety management — Psychological health and safety at work — Guidelines for managing psychosocial risks. The new international standard, which was published earlier this year, provides guidelines on how to improve...

A game-changing moment for international standards will enable a real acceleration in government and industry transition to net zero. Led by BSI, and approved by the ISO members, the London Declaration is a commitment to ensure global standards will support climate action and advance international initiatives to achieve our global climate goals. Meeting climate change targets Following recent research that shows fewer than one in four of the world’s largest companies are on tr...

Apollo announces that it is the Headline Sponsor for The Women in Fire Safety Awards on 4th November. New to 2021, the awards have been set up to honor the outstanding achievements and contributions of women within the fire safety community. These awards will also be supported by some key industry names such as IFSM, the FPA, and the ASFP. Recognize, motivate and promote women The purpose of the awards is to address a historical gender imbalance and champion a more progressive industry t...

PlanRadar has announced a new partnership with IFC Group (International Fire Consultants), one of the United Kingdom’s renowned fire safety consultancies. From the end of August 2021, IFC Group will use PlanRadar in the field to manage inspections, fire risk assessments and audits, across their projects globally. The company supports its clients at every stage of their projects, from design to delivery and maintenance, and on projects of all sizes and levels of complexity. PlanRadar &nda...

BSI Group (BSI), in its role as the UK National Standards Body, has published a new set of requirements for the implementation of Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) in development projects, including individual house-builds, large-scale developments and estate management. The loss of biodiversity as a result of human activity is having increasingly severe impacts. As a result, governments, businesses and organizations of all types are acting, not only to protect biodiversity, but to ensure it thrives....

Apollo is dedicated to keeping people safe from fire and that’s why it offers free ongoing advice to building managers, housing associations, and others on choosing appropriate fire protection for buildings with fire safety concerns such as flammable cladding or compartmentation. Apollo works closely with its partners across the country who are doing a tremendous job at installing fire detection and alarm systems into the affected buildings. Apollo’s partner Pacific Fire and Securit...

They are delighted to announce the addition of Rosse Systems Ltd into the Checkmate Fire Group. Together they are creating an unparalleled portfolio of solutions for the active and passive fire protection industry. Established in 1989, Checkmate Fire is the UK’s passive fire protection specialist, supplying a comprehensive range of third-party accredited survey, installation and compliance services to public and private sector organizations across the country. Life safety solutions With...

Recently, Apollo discussed the passing of the Fire Safety Act 2021 (FSA), its implications for the fire sector and for Responsible Persons (RP), as well as the fact that it will form the basis for further legislation, most likely based on the final recommendations of the Grenfell Inquiry. Apollo wanted to dig further into the revamped regulatory environment created by the FSA, the implications for existing legislation, and what the timescales are for implementing the new requirements....

BS5839-1: 2019 confirms that it is essential that the fire alarm system be tested every 12 months.  During that testing, automatic fire detectors such as smoke detectors, optical beam detectors, and aspirating systems will be functionally tested with ‘real’ stimuli like smoke.  Don’t forget that flame detectors and other industrial products need to have the same routine testing with real stimuli such as a naked flame to prove they are operating properly and per the d...

The Mircom Group of Companies, a global designer, manufacturer, and distributor of life safety products and solutions announced that its fire alarm product data and customized specifications are available through the Product MasterSpec software application utilized by architects, engineers, and design professionals around the globe. Product specifications Mircom’s newly listed product specifications are designed to meet MasterSpec’s highly utilized and respected industry standards....

It’s nearly that time of the year when schools break up for their six-week summer break, the perfect opportunity for schools to get on top of their maintenance, cleaning, and even upgrading their fire alarm system. Major works to the system are often done in the summer holidays as it causes huge disruption to the site and can require several weeks or even months to complete. Something to bear in mind when working on educational premises is that they are one of the biggest culprits for fal...

The new Fire Safety Bill (FSB) for England and Wales has been lauded by some in the fire industry, as the answer to many of the challenges faced post the Grenfell tragedy era, but it may not be as far-reaching as many had expected. Stacey Adams, the Market Development Manager at Apollo Fire Detectors Ltd, takes a look at the Fire Safety Bill, what it contains, what it aims to achieve, and its implications for the fire industry. New Fire Safety Bill for England and Wales The new Fire Safety Bi...

Dedicated to employee development, they’d like to say huge congratulations to Stephen Matthews for passing the Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP) Foundation Course in Passive Fire Protection. Stephen is the first person to complete this course, using the half-day training entitlement available to all employees to support the investment in people. Employee engagement roadmap Rapidly following in his footsteps, all of the colleagues, across every business function (includin...

BSI, the business improvement and standards company launches BSI Connect, an integrated platform supporting audit, risk governance, and supply chain services, for improved operational visibility, commercial efficiency, and organizational resilience. Organizations can choose from a range of tools to manage internal and supplier risk. Features include the ability to review audit findings, and performance analytics and manage information for their critical business functions and suppliers whilst o...