Warning Lights & Sirens news

Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS) is supporting the month-long Fire Kills Smoke Alarm Purchasing campaign, encouraging households across the County to purchase enough smoke alarms to cover their entire household.  A common reason for a smoke alarm failing to activate is because the smoke didn’t reach the detector, meaning that one smoke alarm may not be enough to provide the best chance of escaping a fire in the home. Having numerous smoke alarms offers better protecti...

Hotter, drier climates in the western United States are causing larger and more frequent wildland fires. Smoke from western wildfires can span a much larger area, significantly impacting air quality across the entire United States. The spread of wildfire smoke highlights how important it is to have up-to-date information on air quality hazards. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) released updates in 2021 to the popular AirNow Fire and Smoke Map. The map...

Two seven-story residential apartment buildings in the cultural and social hot-spot of Cardiff Bay are now protected by evacuation alert systems from UK manufacturer, Advanced. The EvacGo panels have been installed to meet the criteria set out in the BS 8629 Code of Practice for the design, installation, commissioning, and maintenance of evacuation alert systems for use by fire and rescue services in England and Wales. Audible warning in emergencies Situated in Cardiff Bay’s Tiger Quay...

The kids are due back at school which means the long haul of home-schooling is over. Although many people may be still working from home which means their children will not need to unlock or lock the house by themselves, some kids will. It might be the kids have just got their own house key or they might be used to staying at home alone after school. Either way, it is worth reminding kids about basic home security so everyone can feel and keep safe. Here are 3 tips to help kids to keep home se...

Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service has invested in two new turntable ladders to add to the fleet. The new specialist appliances will assist in the Service’s response to incidents involving working at height. Replacing two multi-star aerial appliances, the new high-spec vehicles will be based at Stanground, in the north of the county, and at Cambridge, in the south. Both are a Magirus32L/AS, which have been supplied by Emergency One and are mounted on a Scania chassis, which was chose...

As the property market has increased many people are turning to live in flats and apartments as a more affordable option. Whilst there are many benefits to living in this sort of dwelling, there are also many things that need to be considered. One of the biggest considerations is security. With communal entrances and corridors, there are plenty of opportunities for burglars to look for easy pickings. Here in this blog, we are going to discuss how users can increase the level of security in flat...

Most types of professionally installed security systems can be monitored, and they can all bring different benefits. The idea of the monitoring on the alarm is that when it is triggered, whether an intruder or fire alarm system, it immediately notifies a monitoring center. This means there is always someone watching over users' home, whether users are home or not. Whether users have an existing monitored alarm or would like to upgrade their current system to monitored, in this article, APE disc...

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Fire Authority appointed a new chair and vice chair at their first meeting since the latest round of council elections. Councillor Edna Murphy has been appointed the new chair of the authority, with Councillor Mohammed Jamil appointed vice chair. Liberal Democrat councillor Murphy, who has recently joined the authority, is the first woman chair in the authority’s history. She takes over from Councillor Kevin Reynolds, who remains on the authority after cha...

Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service (CFRS) has been recognized for its work in promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion at the Asian Fire Service Association (AFSA) Personal Fair and Diverse Awards. The award celebrates Services that demonstrate strategic and operational awareness and understanding of how to challenge, promote and advance equality, diversity, and inclusion at senior levels of their organization, as well as for demonstrating visionary leadership, capacity, capability, and...

Have users avoided having an intruder alarm as they think it will be difficult to use it day to day? Think it will be complicated and take the user much longer to leave the house in the morning? A.P.E have a wide range of end-users, varying in age and technical ability. Its systems are easy to use and it will help users learn all the basics of the system.  A.P.E also have a range of elderly customers who can use their security alarm systems with just as much ease. How can A.P.E help? A.P...

My Honeywell Buildings University is now live. The single location for all ones training support. One can browse a global catalog of training modules once one is in the portal, access on-demand training and self-help videos, register for instructor-led sessions and review training history.My Honeywell Buildings University currently supports 20 Honeywell brands and offers more than 700 hours of on-demand content, includes more than 200 instructor-led courses, and is accessible for the partners on...

Award-winning Taktis fire panels, manufactured by Kentec Electronics Ltd., a globally renowned manufacturer of life-critical control systems, are protecting students and property at the University of Nicosia’s (UNIC) new state-of-the-art student residences, located in Cyprus. Integrated fire system The integrated fire system was installed by Kentec Installation Partner (KIP) Glosec Dragon Ltd. (GLOSEC), a Cyprus-based business that specializes in the design, installation and maintenance...

Safety Technology International announces that it will be attending the very first virtual event as Europe’s largest gathering of fire safety professionals goes digital. FIREX 2021 FIREX International Connect 2021 will bring the fire safety community together online throughout the entire month of June – two years on from FIREX International 2019, its last fire industry tradeshow in the UK. The virtual online event is a unique opportunity for buyers to browse fire safety...

A fire alarm system’s purpose is for the protection of property but, more importantly, life! A fire alarm system consists of many components, the majority providing either detection or alarm functionality. One of these components being the fire alarm sounder. The fire alarm sounder was always assumed to be one of the best methods for alerting occupants of a fire scenario. But is it? Over recent years the sounder with integrated beacon has been the favored solution as they offer both audib...

Honeywell presents a brand new and updated LIFE-X 138 portfolio. The portfolio is unique in the market, with many functions and opportunities.  With the emergency luminaires, one will have the opportunity to use the same luminaire series for several different solutions. One will have the freedom to choose which solution suits the building. The LIFE-X series is suitable for all types of buildings. Updated new functions LIFE-X 138 comes with the option of choosing 1, 3, or 8 hour...

Usually, if the application requires acoustic and visual notification, the market offers two separate products. Nevertheless, sometimes for public buildings, hotels, and hospitals, but also for industry and other verticals, it may be necessary to have a combination of visual and acoustic alarms in one device. AVENAR all-in-one 4000 Bosch Security System’s AVENAR all-in-one 4000 is one product that can provide such a solution. This product is able to combine not only a sounder and a strob...

MANN+HUMMEL air filters for room ventilation systems comply with the latest fire safety standard EN 13501 class E (normal flammability). An external fire safety assessment confirms that MANN+HUMMEL air filters, both individual components and the filter as a whole, do not increase the risk of fire spreading or the development of smoke gases in the case of a fire. “In order to guarantee the efficient and, above all, safe operation of an HVAC system, building operators should definitely con...

With the launch of the new version of the fire protection system, Cerberus FIT, Siemens Smart Infrastructure expands its offering for the small to medium-sized buildings market. Various small to medium-sized buildings can now be covered with a simple and cost-efficient solution. auto-configured solution  Cerberus FIT maximizes fire safety, due to greater functionality and enhanced productivity for those working on protecting the buildings. The intuitive interface as well as the auto-conf...

C-TEC has launched an innovative new vibrating pillow pad alarm. Designed to warn the hearing impaired of a potential fire alarm or evacuation alert condition, the BF320 vibrates and pulses on and off when triggered as per the requirements of BS 5446-3. Features of Pillow Pad Alarm Featuring a wide 10-30V DC voltage range, the stylishly compact device is ideal for residential, leisure, and commercial projects and can be used in conjunction with the BF320JP, a new connection plate that allows...

Student halls of residence are synonymous with false fire alarms; burnt toast, drunken accidents, or reckless pranks, every false alarm contributes towards the dangerous effects of alarm fatigue. Alarm fatigue occurs when a person becomes desensitized to an alarm due to repeated false alarms and as a result fails to react appropriately in an emergency, having potentially fatal effects. false fire alarms Recent Home Office data revealed that false fire alarms remained the largest inc...

Task Force Tips revolutionized portable monitors over 20 years ago with the introduction of its BLITZFIRE. BLITZTAC joins TFT BLITZTAC joins TFT’s product offering with fire service best features that include: SAFETY of crew. Unlike competitors’ models, the BLITZTAC has a standard integrated safety valve that engages if there is unintentional movement, yet minimizes any water hammer.  Once engaged, the firefighter can quickly and easily re-align the hose line in an instant...

Roadmap to ease COVID-19 lockdown restrictions should prompt reviews on building fire safety. Prime Minister Boris Johnson outlined the Government roadmap “to cautiously ease lockdown restrictions”. Step two of this roadmap, to occur no earlier than 12th April, notes the return of mass non-essential businesses opening for customers. BAFE must stress once again that fire safety obligations continue as normal. What is important about this roadmap is that buildings opening soon contin...

Fire safety logbooks are critical for all non-domestic premises with fire alarm systems. A fire alarm logbook should remain on business and commercial premises at all times for a fast and efficient overview of existing fire systems, condition, testing history, and more. Although there is no statutory requirement to have a fire alarm logbook, having one is pivotal to remaining compliant and meeting requirements for relevant fire regulations. To help businesses understand the regulations concer...

Staff at the Columbia-Richland Fire Department encourage citizens to not waste the opportunity to check their smoke alarms when it comes time to ‘Spring Forward’ on Sunday, March 14th. “When you set your clocks forward one hour this Sunday for Daylight Savings Time also be sure to change the batteries in ALL the smoke alarms in your home or business. It’s a perfect reminder to help ensure that you and your loved ones are safe in the event a fire breaks out,” said C...

Geofire has launched a new website providing German-speaking distributors and customers with an online platform to access translated literature and speak directly to the expert team. German-language site Due to the increasing demand for high-quality fire safety products and the widespread need to safely hold open doors to support infection control, Geofire has developed a German-language site to support the growing European presence. In an industry as critical as fire safety and prevention, i...

A home from home, 3,500 miles from Airport Road, Waterford, the USA to Airport Business Park, Waterford, Ireland; Safety Technology International announces the acquisition of a new European Distribution Hub. Sharing striking similarities with the address of the US Headquarters, the new European Distribution Hub in Waterford, Ireland boasts circa 100 square meters of modern office space, together with 420 square meters of warehouse and storage – providing almost 230 pallet spaces. Strateg...

Disrupting vital teaching time, interfering with crucial exams, and causing unnecessary evacuations, false fire alarms remain a troublesome nuisance within the education sector creating a barrier to learning. Recent Home Office figures revealed that false fire alarms remained the largest incident type attended by the Fire and Rescue Services in England for 2019/20, with educational establishments amongst some of the worst offenders for unwanted fire alarm signals. Recoverin...

1 in 6 people in the UK are deaf or have hearing loss, therefore it is critical that safety systems in domestic and commercial buildings cater to this large group of people otherwise left at risk in the event of incidents. As specialist fire and security solution installers with over 40 years’ experience, the team at A.P.E Fire and Security has put together this guide to fire alarms for the deaf and hard of hearing. Fire Alarms for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Fire alarms play a crucial...

Hush ActiV, C-TEC’s innovative new BS 5839-6 domestic fire alarm system, is providing first-class fire protection at a luxury apartment block in Bolton, United Kingdom. Set in stunning landscaped gardens in Horwich, a small town on the edge of the West Pennine Moors, Swallowfields is a collection of 28 contemporary new-build apartments featuring spacious living spaces and high-specification fittings. Hush ActiV smoke detectors Each dwelling has been equipped with Hush ActiV smoke detect...

The Allen-Stevenson School is a private school located on the Upper East Side locality in Manhattan, New York City, occupying two inter-connected buildings. Due to a need for additional space, the school expanded the existing buildings vertically, while renovating the remaining floors and constructed a new inter-connected building, adjacent to the original. The project proceeded in a phased manner and services included advising the client on appropriate phasing and implementation of the fire al...