Software news

Governments across the United Kingdom (UK) have been increasing their efforts in recent years to improve electrical safety standards in dwellings. The significance of inspecting and testing electrical installations in homes is clear, given that taking England alone, there were 12,851 accidental electrical fires in 2021/22. Regulations have been introduced UK wide, with Scotland introducing legislation for mandatory electrical safety checks in the Private Rented Sector in 2015, England following...

The NATO Science and Technology Organization (STO) has honored Dr. Michael Wunder, Head of the Research Department 'Information Technology for Command and Control Systems' (ITF) at Fraunhofer FKIE, with the NATO STO Excellence Award 2022. The organization recognizes his outstanding contributions to the Information Systems Technology (IST) Panel, which the engineer and scientist most recently led for eight years as Vice-Chair and Chair. Emerging technologies "Dr. Michael Wunder's dedicated con...

The Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP) has announced offering three new member benefits in conjunction with the British Standards Institution (BSI). The Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP) has signed a series of agreements with the British Standards Institution (BSI), the national standards body of the UK. Under the agreements, the ASFP is able to offer British standards for sale at discounted rates to members, free standards to SME members and free onboarding to th...

Warringtonfire, a pioneer in fire testing, inspection, and certification, has welcomed four new engineers as part of its inaugural graduate recruitment scheme. The company, which is part of Element Materials Technology, launched the scheme to help future-proof the fire safety industry and coincides with the 50th anniversary of the first commercial fire test at its fire testing laboratory in High Wycombe. The extensive history and experience of Warringtonfire’s multiple laboratories enabl...

Southwark Council has been criticized for failing to carry out adequate fire risk assessments in a block of flats despite being located next to another tower block where six people died in a blaze in 2009. The independent report, published in September 2022, found that unqualified contractors had been hired at Marie Curie House in Camberwell and that the council had allowed “inadequate” assessments to be carried out. independent Report findings  “There appears to be lim...

In 2021, the VdS FireSafety Conference had to be cancelled due to the COVID-19 global pandemic. This year, the conference is scheduled to take place again in Cologne, Germany from December 7th to December 8th, 2022. Fire protection solutions are ever evolving – also in times like these. However, fire hazards remain. It is important to stay on top of new technological advancements and regulations, in order to optimize fire protection solutions. VdS FireSafety Conference 2022 Rosenbauer&r...

AxisGo is the new-generation, single-loop fire panel from Advanced that is versatile and packed with premium features. It provides cost-effective access to Axis EN range performance, quality and ease of use, in a simpler, non-networkable format for complete fire protection peace of mind. Available to order in a range of countries where EN Standards apply, AxisGo is the ideal solution for single-panel sites, from restaurants, bars and villas to small offices, shops, salons and surgeries. AxisGo...

At the Light + Building 2022 trade fair in Frankfurt, Germany, Siemens will showcase its vision of digitalization as a key pillar of the infrastructure transition required to tackle climate change and global sustainability challenges. The company’s motto at the show is “Smart infrastructure is sustainable infrastructure”, and Siemens will be demonstrating products, solutions, and services to make the transition of buildings and grids possible. Digitalization “Digi...

In August 2022, the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) conducted a survey to determine the impact that high gas prices and inflation are having on local volunteer emergency service organizations. In total, 608 respondents completed the survey. The following provides an overview of the survey results. Respondents The majority of respondents were fire chiefs (40.36%), followed by officers (16.47%), firefighters (14%) and firefighter/EMS (13.51%). They represented every U.S. state except for...

Large-scale and prolonged power outages, waste piling up as waste disposal ceases to function, disruptions to water or gas supplies, and successful cyber attacks on critical infrastructures, especially the power grid, can have serious consequences.  Holistically conceived cyber security is necessary to prevent such scenarios. As part of the Fraunhofer Center for Digital Energy, Fraunhofer FKIE is working with partners to increase IT security and make the sector resilient to attacks....

The Electronic Security Association’s Certified Fire Alarm Technician (CFAT) Fire certification provides an alternative equivalency to the NICET requirement for industry professionals that perform installation, inspection, testing, maintenance, and programming of fire alarm systems. The flexibility of ESA’s training options is an asset in an industry where those who need training spend most of their time in the field.  codes and standards To put together training courses, E...

The value of customer service management portals in the field industry is growing. Businesses are increasingly investing in digital experiences for customers not only to cut costs, but also to drive customer satisfaction. Customers do not have the patience or time to make phone calls, so they seek self-service portals to seamlessly schedule a repair, track the status of their service, or report an issue. The evolving customer demands, coupled with the growing need of businesses to free up reso...

While fire safety may seem obvious for occupied properties, there is often more risk of a blaze starting in an empty building, despite the common assumption that damage may be minimal. There is remote monitoring technology out there to help safeguard these sites, and as more spaces lie empty in the wake of the pandemic, adopting these systems should be considered. Adam Kovics, the Export Sales Manager – Europe, at wireless solutions firm, Ramtech, discusses. Building Safety  Across...

The construction industry is consistently ranked as one of the most dangerous environments to work in around the world. OSHA reports that 1 in 5 deaths among U.S. workers occurs in the sector. And, according to the World Risk Poll, the second highest reported workplace injury rate globally (22%), was among those who worked in construction, manufacturing, or production. In this high-risk context, accurate, real-time monitoring of safety conditions can protect workers and equipment from damage en...

The Building Safety Regulator has reported that the new, more stringent regime for higher-risk buildings is already affecting planning applications. Planning Gateway One (PGO) Planning Gateway One (PGO) was the first step in changing the regulatory framework for building safety in England, following the Grenfell Tower tragedy. In making the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) a statutory consultee for planning applications for high-rise residential buildings, it aims to ensure that planning app...

First place in the Femtec Award 2022 for Macarena Varela, a Scientist at the Fraunhofer Institute for Communication, Information Processing, and Ergonomics FKIE. In the category 'Innovation' she prevailed in public voting and accepted the award from Femtec Managing Director Marion Zeßner at the Femtec summer party in Berlin. In the category 'Leadership', Prof. Dr. Angela Ittel, President of the TU Braunschweig, was awarded, and the prize in the category 'Social Impact' went to the DokFo...

Everyone comes to expect personal tech like cell phones to advance with every update and, occasionally, for a breakthrough to occur. The addition of touchscreens in 1992 giving birth to the first 'smartphone' was one of them.  Safety technology is no different but gas detection for shutdowns and turnarounds hasn’t seen a significant breakthrough in a very long time. That has changed. single-gas detectors When it comes to single-gas detectors for short-term projects in the oil and g...

Teledyne FLIR, part of Teledyne Technologies Incorporated launched SIRAS™, a professional drone that includes a quick-connect dual radiometric thermal and visible camera payload. Engineered for data security, performance, and affordability, SIRAS is optimized for industrial and utility inspection, public safety, firefighting, and search and rescue missions.  Geofence-free flight experience “Designed to provide pilots with the flexibility to get the job done, SIRAS d...

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) is pleased to announce that it will host its signature health and safety focused educational conference, the NVFC Training Summit 2023, from June 23 to June 24, 2023, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA. The NVFC is now accepting proposals from qualified instructors and speakers for presentations to educate first responders about critical issues in the fire and emergency services. Submit proposal by September 30, 2022. NVFC Training Summit 2023 The theme...

Dräger, an internationally renowned company in the fields of medical and safety technology, will showcase five fire safety technologies designed to further firefighter health and well-being at The Emergency Services Show (ESS) 2022, including the FireGround Accountability System; the newly launched BG ProAir (Long Duration); the PSS® AirBoss; Dräger’s cleaning solution; and the FireCore® thermal imaging camera. With a focus on how connectivity and firefighter communicati...

Inventory management is often a colossal gatekeeper to field service cash flow. Strategic inventory management is essential to any successful field service business. A few distinct features separate traditional inventory management from intelligent inventory management software solutions. Let’s take a look at the challenges of field spare parts inventory management and how users can get the right parts, in the right places, at the right times. Inventory Tracking and Visibility Intellige...

A development for three new blocks of flats near Totterdown, Bristol, United Kingdom (UK) has been approved despite serious fire safety concerns. Housing developers - Donard have been granted permission to construct 221 flats over three blocks between York Street and Mead Street, two of which will be 11 storeys tall. The third tower, however, has only one escape route, and is at the centre of calls for a design overhaul. Council planning officers The apartments form a part of the wider Mead S...

WAGNER, based in Langenhagen, near Hanover, Germany, will be showing its holistic solutions for individual fire protection at Security Essen 2022, taking place in Essen, Germany, from September 20 to September 23, 2022. Particular focus will be on the TITANUS aspirating smoke detection systems for early fire detection and the WinGuard system for organization/hazard management. The fire protection solution provider will be presenting its innovative technologies in the Fire/Intrusion/Systems sect...

The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), in partnership with Pierce Manufacturing Inc., announced the 2022 IAFC Fire Chief of the Year honorees. Volunteer Fire Chief, Marshall Turbeville, of the Northern Sonoma FPD in Sonoma County, California, and career Fire Chief, Gary Ludwig, of the Champaign Fire Department in Champaign, Illinois, have been named this year’s honorees. The IAFC began recognizing one volunteer and one career Fire Chief of the Year in 1996. A selection commi...

Technology and change do not need to be dirty words in the fire service. There are limitless applications of using technology, like virtual reality, to address the most pressing and potentially catastrophic challenges facing the fire service. From recruiting the next generation of firefighters to dealing with the unknowns of mental health, the National Volunteer Fire Council’s (NVFC) Recruitment, Training, And Mental Health: How To Embrace Immersive Learning Technology webinar, which is...

In April 2013, an explosion at a fertilizer plant in West, TX, just north of Waco, killed 12 firefighters and three residents of the West community. The firefighters who lost their lives were all volunteer first responders. According to federal officials and investigators from the Texas State Fire Marshal’s Office, the source of the blast was ammonium nitrate, which detonated with the force of 15,000 to 20,000 pounds of TNT. (It’s believed a small fire initially triggered the disast...

Experience tomorrow's smart solutions today: From October 2 to 6, 2022, Bosch will present digital services and connected solutions for the entire building lifecycle at Light + Building in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, using real-world examples. In Hall 11.0, Booth B30, Bosch experts will provide insights into how IoT, connectivity, and the intelligent use of data can help to optimize the control of commercial buildings, operate them in a resource-efficient and sustainable manner, and provide a h...

Mike Cottam has been appointed as Sales Director at the globally renowned fire protection solutions company, Advanced. He joins Advanced from global science-based technology company, 3M, where, over the past 19 years, he has held a variety of roles covering sales and marketing, integration and Lean Six Sigma. In his latest position as EMEA Segment and Channel Leader within 3M’s Abrasive Systems Division, based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Mike Cottam successfully headed up the sa...

Every business aspires to grow and stay relevant in this competitive world, but it can be challenging to keep up with multiple contract entitlements and SLAs (Service Level Agreements) without a contract management system. Businesses need a holistic contract management system (CMS), which can automate the complete contract lifecycle right from initiation to renewal. This blog will discuss the key benefits of adopting a contract management system and software with powerful capabilities, SLA KPI...

FASQUAL is a fire and security Contractor registration scheme developed by the BSIA and the FIA. The scheme aims to provide reassurance to employers, offering the peace of mind necessary when hiring contractors who prove they are qualified, suitable, and low-risk.  Although often an arduous and time-consuming task, vetting candidates and making sure the right one is hired is paramount in this industry. national database FASQUAL is a national database that stores all the information emplo...