Fire Industry News for November 2021

Elkhart Brass is proud to announce an update to our Unibody Valve Configurator. The new, enhanced configurator has been redesigned to be more user-friendly and easier to navigate. Functional enhancement A significant improvement of this new design moves the configurator away from a downloadable application to an online, easy-access, web-based tool. Moving the configurator to the web eliminates the need to download or update the configurator, thus ensuring you always have access to the lates...

The UK’s electric bus fleet is set to become the largest in Europe by 2024, with numbers projected to grow by almost 180%. Risks associated with fire safety The primary technology fuelling our electric buses is the lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery, and, although much more sustainable, these batteries are bringing about fresh fire safety risks to the transport sector. If they become damaged in any way – through overcharging, mechanical failure, physical impact, or overvoltage, for examp...

The UK Fire Service is called out to extinguish fires in approximately 1,500 UK schools per year. Regardless of their size, these incidents disrupt the education of around 90,000 students each year, not to mention the economic strain caused by building damages. But most significant of all, these fires compromise safety. The government recently opened a consultation on proposed revisions to its non-statutory fire safety guidance in schools. Building Bulletin 100 The Building Bulletin 100 (BB10...

The National Fire Protect Association (NFPA) launched its 125th Anniversary Quiz Sweepstakes to test participants’ knowledge of the association, and to celebrate the collective work, energy, and commitment of the countless groups and individuals who have contributed to the association’s achievements over the past 125 years. In honor of NFPA’s birthday (the association was founded in November 1896), the quiz features 10 questions that address NFPA history, milestones, and resou...

MSA Safety, the global pioneer in the development, manufacture, and supply of sophisticated safety solutions that protect people and facility infrastructures, is exhibiting at this year’s ADIPEC event in Abu Dhabi from 15-18 November. Hosted by the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), ADIPEC is the world’s most influential meeting place where oil, gas, and energy companies and professionals convene to engage and identify opportunities that will unlock new value in an evolving ene...

A successful prosecution was brought by Royal Berkshire Fire Authority against a restaurant in Cookham, which resulted in an £85,000 fine following a number of serious fire safety breaches under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. Beta UK Limited was sentenced for fire safety breaches found by Fire Safety Inspecting Officers following an incident at Malik’s Restaurant, Cookham in Maidenhead. Fire safety deficiencies On 23 October 2020, Reading Magistrates’ Court...

RBFRS is delighted to say that they will be holding the first in-person Armed Forces Veterans’ Hub on Wednesday, 17 November from 10:30am-12:30pm at Crowthorne Community Fire Station. The Armed Forces Veterans’ Hub is designed to offer a place for veterans to come together, listen to speakers and meet organizations that can provide them with advice or support them and meet each other. The Veterans’ Hub forms part of the Royal Berkshire Fire Authority’s commitment to supp...

The Max Fire Box is a training tool that evolved from a need to fill the gap between ‘classroom’ training and a rookie firefighter’s first working structure fire exercise. In effect, the Max Fire Box enables firemen to learn about fire and smoke behavior from a live fire at a smaller scale. It can help trainee firefighters understand fire flow-path, how to isolate doors, how to close a fire off, and how to slow it down.  Fire training environment “It’s crit...

In the plenary meeting, the participants discussed Russian-Finnish cooperation in economy, industry, power, technology, and transport. The Minister of Finland Ville Skinner pointed out that the Russian Federation was one of the most important markets for Finland and due to this fact a major goal for both countries was to further develop cooperation and enhance the linkages. COVID-19 pandemic became a great challenge for global cooperation, and today it was the time to increase the joint effor...

Envirograf recent fire test on aluminum composite panels proved successful with the protection of the water-based, fire-resistant coating. The first test piece, held in a vice with 2 pieces of softwood on the back, tested the integrity of the composite panel. A bench test using a triple-headed gas burning torch over the aluminum composite panel heated at 700°C. The panel continued to burn for 60 minutes in total. The flames did not ignite the core, and therefore the wood samples remained i...

Envirograf announced that it was great to finally return to exhibition events. Now that COVID-19 lockdown restrictions have been lifted, Envirograf was able to return to exhibiting products at numerous exhibitions taking place across the United Kingdom. UK Construction Week 2021 Envirograf was present at the UK Construction Week 2021 (UKCW 2021) exhibition Envirograf was present at the UK Construction Week 2021 (UKCW 2021) exhibition, which was held from October 5 - 7, 2021, in Birmingham, UK...

The Nomination Committee for Saab AB for the Annual General Meeting 2022 has now been appointed, based on the shareholder structure on August 31, 2021. Members of the Saab Nomination Committee are: Marcus Wallenberg, Chairman of the Board of Saab AB Petra Hedengran, Investor AB Peter Wallenberg Jr, Wallenberg Investments AB Ossian Ekdahl, Första AP-fonden Anders Algotsson, AFA Försäkring Nomination Committee for Saab AB The Nomination Committee represents approximately...

With the New Year underway, Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS) is supporting this month’s Fire Kills smoke alarm purchasing campaign, urging households across the County to make sure they fit smoke alarms on every level of their home. Many people see January as an opportunity for a fresh start, making it the perfect time to ensure prioritizing fire safety in 2021.  The latest fire statistics reveal that one smoke alarm may not be enough to provide the best chance of esca...

Saab (Saab AB) has shipped its third aft airframe section for use in the T-7A Red Hawk flight test program for the United States Air Force. The shipment on September 10, 2021 was from Saab’s Linköping site in Sweden to Boeing, in St. Louis, Missouri, USA and arrived there a few days later. The production and shipment of this aft airframe section is the latest milestone in Saab’s contribution to the Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) phase of the T-7A Red Hawk train...

The installation of fire-stopping products provides effective passive fire protection for buildings of all types. Installing the correct products ensures that buildings meet the criteria of Document B – UK Building Regulations. In the event that the requirements of Document B and UK Building Regulations are not met, you may be served with an enforcement notice, as well as putting lives and property at risk. However, meeting these regulations prevents serious damage to property and moreove...

In light of Fire Door Safety Week, it’s imperative to comply with UK Building Regulations in delivering high-quality, fire-resistant doors for buildings and properties. Envirograf manufactures an intumescent door upgrade kit to assist with upgrading doors to 30-60 minute Fire Door ratings. Paints are delivered to numerous project sites, and works are carried out by certified installers. Andrew of Barrett & Son Decorators dusted and cleaned the doors as preparation befo...

Saab’s Giraffe 1X radar and a Command and Control (C2) system successfully participated in the multinational Arctic Challenge Exercise 2021 (ACE 21) from June 7 to 18. They were operating alongside more than 70 military aircraft from eight different countries, which gathered in Norway, Finland, and Sweden to develop air combat tactics, techniques, and procedures. Giraffe 1X together with a packaged, scalable C2 system was used to securely plan, monitor, and evaluate flights, as well as pa...

Saab, together with Swedish aviation industry partners and universities, will lead a project aiming to establish a technical roadmap towards fossil-free aviation. The project is supported by the Swedish Energy Agency and focuses primarily on the Swedish and Nordic markets. Fossil-free aviation is a major challenge within the aviation industry and several crossroads for aircraft technology and infrastructure must be taken into consideration. Achieving fossil-free aviation The project aims to p...

Fire Rescue Services (FRSs) respond to thousands of fire incidents every year, with a large number of incidents not being directly linked to fires. Fire incidents will often lead to casualties and in worst-case scenarios, fatalities, where occupants are unable to escape ravaging smoke and fire. UK Building Regulations compliance Envirograf urges all building structures to be in compliance with UK Building Regulations, which ensures the structures are built to a high standard, complete with ade...

Previously paramedics have turned to police colleagues to force entry to a locked property so they can provide vital first aid care. However, a year-long trial across Thames Valley has demonstrated that involving firefighters in the first-call attendance can result in faster response times, less damage to property, and most importantly, improved outcomes for residents requiring emergency medical treatment. Reduce damage In a collaboration involving the three fire and rescue services of Thames...

Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS) joins the Business Disability Forum, further solidifying its commitment to supporting disabled people within the Service and the communities. About Business Disability Forum The Business Disability Forum is a not-for-profit membership organization, aiming to help other organizations become fully accessible to disabled service users and employees. They promote best practices and work with organizations to set and influence policy so that it benefi...

Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS) is reminding residents, as part of a month-long Fire Kills campaign, to put it out, right out if they smoke. Fires caused by smoking products kill more people than fires caused by any other item, but there are simple steps that residents can take to reduce the chances of smoking leading to a fire, including not smoking while tired, using a proper and secure ashtray, and stubbing out cigarettes properly. All of these steps can greatly reduce the ri...

Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS) is urging Berkshire residents to ‘Be Water Aware’ as part of the National Fire Chiefs Council’s (NFCC) Drowning Prevention and Water Safety Week (26 April – 2 May).  Accidental drownings In 2019, 223 people tragically lost their lives in accidental drownings and 44% of those people had no intention of ever being in the water. More people died in the UK in 2019 from accidental drowning than cyclists did on the road. R...

Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS) has teamed up with Thames Valley Police (TVP), South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS) the Environment Agency and local councils to support the Royal Life Saving Society’s (RLSS) national Drowning Prevention Week campaign, running from 19-26 June. Over 400 people tragically lose their lives in accidental drownings each year in the UK and Ireland and many more suffer life-changing injuries. In order to reduce the number of accidental drownings...

New vehicles have been deployed at Maidenhead, Hungerford, Lambourn, Crowthorne, Mortimer, and Caversham Road fire stations. They are a standard Ford Ranger Crew Cab (5 seats) fitted with a permanently installed canopy over the rear bed for safety and security. The vehicles are all fitted with a towbar as standard a blue light emergency response package and scene lighting. Improving logistics The new Ford Ranger vehicles will provide logistical support at incidents and improve the resilience...

Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service is supporting this week’s National Fire Chiefs Council’s (NFCC) National Sprinkler Week campaign (17 – 23 May), promoting the benefits of sprinklers in keeping people and buildings safe from fire. Sprinklers are widely recognized as the single most effective method for fighting the spread of fires in their early stages. Fire sprinkler systems Sprinkler systems can also protect property and increase sustainability, but more critically,...

Climate change is a crisis the UK is unable to ignore. In recent years, the impact of construction on climate change has affected atmospheric temperatures, increased the risk of flooding, and caused the destruction of natural habitat areas through the consumption of resources, poor design, and land degradation. Currently, the housing crisis present in the UK urges the need for new build homes due to the increasing human population, with hundreds of new construction projects scattered across the...

Since 1997, San Bernardino International Airport (SBD) has been home to the U.S. Forest Service Airtanker base which serves as the backbone of aerial firefighting in Southern California. The Airport's operational support is more critical than ever. Wildfire activity has increased significantly in recent years and could continue to worsen, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE). Fighting these blazes takes a cooperative effort, and peak operations will...

Four fire engines have been deployed at fire stations in Royal Berkshire, as part of ongoing investment by the Royal Berkshire Fire Authority. Bracknell, Ascot, and Wokingham Road (in Reading) are the latest fire stations to receive a new Volvo fire engine, as part of a joint procurement process project between Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS), Buckinghamshire & Milton Keynes, and Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue Service. Upgrading to new engines The Volvo fire en...

With more people planning to spend time outdoors over the coming weeks, Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS) is urging residents to take some simple steps, in order to reduce the risk of a wildfire breaking out. Wildfire awareness campaign A week-long wildfire awareness campaign (running 26 July – 1 August) is taking place, following a period of warm and dry weather, and with more people expected to be outside, enjoying the countryside, due to COVID-19 restrictions easing and...