Fire Industry Association (FIA) - Experts & Thought Leaders

Hochiki Europe, a manufacturer of fire detection devices, is proud to announce its significant donation to the new Fire Training Association (FIA) training facility in Northwich. The company has provided cutting-edge fire detection equipment to equip the facility's practical bays, where students can gain hands-on experience with real-world fire system installations.  fire protection products Hochiki Europe’s donation to the new FIA training facility in Northwich includes major products, such as addressable surface-mounted MCPs, isolators, bases, programmable heat sensors, optical smoke sensors, and multi-sensors. These types of devices, recommended by numerous firefighting services across the UK, are designed to help reduce false alarms and ensure effective fire protection.  fire detection devices The donation includes VADs which are essential for aiding the evacuation of vulnerable people Additionally, the donation includes VADs (Voice Alarm Devices), which are essential for aiding the evacuation of vulnerable people in various settings such as schools, hospitals, and care homes. "We are thrilled to support the FIA in its mission to train the next generation of fire safety engineers," said Shinsuke Kubo, Managing Director of Hochiki Europe. "By providing our latest fire detection devices, we can help ensure that these future professionals have the skills and knowledge they need to safeguard lives and property." FIA's new training facility The FIA's new training facility in Northwich offers a convenient location for individuals based in the North of England, providing easier access to businesses and student engineers based in the region looking to the FIA for industry-recognized courses.  Founded in 1918 in Japan, Hochiki has a rich history of innovation in fire safety technology.  best practices FIA, established just two years earlier, is an organization representing the fire protection and fire safety industry The company's commitment to providing reliable and effective fire detection solutions has made it a trusted name in the industry. The FIA, established just two years earlier, is an organization representing the fire protection and fire safety industry in the United Kingdom. For over a century, the FIA has been dedicated to promoting best practices, providing training, and supporting the development of fire safety professionals. knowledge and skills The partnership between Hochiki Europe and the FIA brings together two organizations with a shared commitment to advancing fire safety. By combining Hochiki's expertise in fire detection technology with the FIA's extensive training experience, this collaboration will help equip the next generation of fire safety engineers with the knowledge and skills necessary to protect lives and property. 

The British Security Industry Association (BSIA) has appointed Martin Watson as its new Chair at the Association’s Spring Forum and Annual General Meeting. With a background in fire, security and engineering spanning 40 years, Martin is currently Industry Laison Director for BSIA members - Mitie Fire & Security Systems; he is also the Chair of the Fire Industry Association (FIA), and until recently, was Chair of the Association’s Security Systems section. BSIA’s New Chairman Martin Watson will take over the role from Simon Banks, who was appointed Chair in July 2018, overseeing significant changes over a six-year period. Simon departs as the BSIA’s longest serving Chairman in its 57-year history. Simon departs as the BSIA’s longest serving Chairman in its 57-year history Mike Reddington, Chief Executive, BSIA, said: "On behalf of the BSIA and its members, I would like to thank our outgoing Chair Simon Banks for his guidance, support and work over the last six years as we addressed many issues the BSIA were facing, and I am delighted with the progress we have made during this time in addressing those issues and truly establishing the BSIA as the recognized voice of the professional security industry." He adds, "We look forward to working with our new Chairman Martin Watson as we build on the strong foundations, we have built over the last six years and we further progress the BSIA in shaping and developing the Professional Security Industry on behalf of our members and the wider industry." Simon Banks' Achievements at BSIA Simon Banks, outgoing Chair, BSIA, said: “I am pleased to see the many achievements at BSIA over the last six years. Recent robust finances have allowed us to form the Special Project Fund that has invested £400k directly to Member Companies for their nominated projects and good causes. All profits from BSIA’s part-stake in Skills for Security (SfS) feed directly into this fund." He adds, "SfS has also transformed from a £300K loss in 2018 to a profitable enterprise with 85 staff, delivering essential skills to our sector with 1000 apprentices live on program. I remain as Executive Chairman for Skills for Security and am excited to continue our growth with the talented team we’ve built." Simon Banks continues, "In parting from the BSIA, I would like to thank the dedicated team for their efforts; I was a reluctant Chairman, turning down the role twice before getting onboard and changing out the CEOs of both Skills for Security and BSIA, both companies were suffering extreme financial turbulence. I wish everyone well and hope to see the association evolve in sync with an ever-changing sector." Opportunities and challenges Martin Watson, Chair, BSIA, said: "I am delighted to be taking over the reigns as Chair of this great Association and want to thank Simon, the BSIA team, the rest of the Board and all our contributing members for all their hard work. It is such important work that our member companies do and the BSIA works hard to provide valuable support to them." He adds, "It is an ever-changing landscape we operate in though, so we still have much to do, and I am looking forward to addressing both the opportunities and challenges our industry faces."

Ajax Systems has officially joined the Fire Industry Association (FIA). The FIA is the largest fire protection trade association in Europe, and its membership provides access to a wide network of industry professionals and resources that play a crucial role in improving fire safety standards. By joining the FIA, Ajax Systems develops credibility, visibility, and opportunities to collaborate with more than 1,000 industry members. Partnership with the FIA Paul Pope, Global Head of Fire & Life Safety Business at Ajax Systems and Board Member at the FIA, said "Ajax Systems is committed to investing in the UK fire safety market. As a leading global manufacturer, partnering with such a major contributor to the fire safety industry is essential. With over 200 working groups and extensive education initiatives benefiting 40,000 professionals, the FIA’s influence is indisputable." He adds, "Our partnership with the FIA is not just about mutual benefit; it signifies a shared commitment to enriching the fire safety community with cutting-edge technology and knowledge. Together, we are shaping a better industry that prioritizes safety and excellence." Fire protection with minimal features The company gained valuable experience from the wide application of FireProtect detectors Ajax Systems entered fire safety in 2016 with the release of the first Ajax fire detector, FireProtect, which was later evolved into a new model with an added CO sensor, FireProtect Plus. Over the years, the company gained valuable experience from the wide application of FireProtect detectors, which sparked the idea of revolutionizing the industry.  Ajax Systems studied the industry players who do not risk changing their products for years. The company came to realize that professionals tend to work with outdated equipment while users receive fire protection with minimal features passing the standards requirements. Various fire safety standards In 2022, after a year of devoted development, the FireProtect 2 series was introduced - next-gen fire detectors featuring innovative patented detection technologies, easy installation, minimal maintenance, and remote configuration and testing via Ajax apps.  The FireProtect 2 series is already available in 17 models with different sensor combinations and power supply options. The detectors are already certified according to various fire safety standards: EN 14604:2005/AC:2008 EN 50291-1:2018 EN 54-5:2017+A1:2018 BS 5839-6 (Grade F1) BS 5839-6 (Grade D1) AS 3786:2014 UL 268 CAN/ULC-S529 UL 2075 CAN/ULC-S588 And more certifications are on the way: BS 5446-2:2003 (in progress) BSI Kitemark (in progress) Prestigious British award Ajax Systems entered the UK market at the end of 2018 and quickly gained recognition in the British professional security community.  In 2023, the company won Security or Fire ESG Initiative Of The Year at the Security & Fire Excellence Awards, the most prestigious British award in the industry. In March 2024, Ajax Systems appointed Paul Pope as the new Global Head of the Fire & Life Safety Business.

COVID-19 dominated the headlines in 2020, and it had a profound impact on the fire industry. TheBigRedGuide.com published many articles about the pandemic and its impact, some of which were among the most-read articles of the year. This retrospective will highlight some of those pandemic-related articles, including links to the original content.  The Fire Industry Association (FIA) in the United Kingdom published a survey report on the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. The survey, conducted by FIA, sought to gain a greater understanding of how organizations have been impacted by COVID-19 and of the impact on the wider fire industry now and in the future. Resilience is a recurring theme in the FIA report. At the time of the survey (when the United Kingdom was just past the coronavirus peak), a total of 81% of respondents expected they could continue operating under current circumstances for three months or more. rapidly-spreading virus Roughly a fourth expected their business could continue for six months (23.4%), and another quarter of respondents expected they could last a year (23.4%). First responders were on the front lines of the latest COVID-19 health crisis. Around the United States - and around the world - EMS departments faced the uncertainties of a rapidly-spreading virus. One early problem was a shortage of face masks. As cases surged, it was also harder for ambulance companies to get other needed supplies. Around the United States - and around the world - EMS departments faced the uncertainties of a rapidly-spreading virus In King County, Wash., an early epicenter of COVID-19 cases in the United States, Kirkland, Wash., firefighters and Kirkland police officers were placed under quarantine after an outbreak at a senior care facility. Firefighters were either quarantined at home or at a local fire station. Fire stations are unique environments with conditions that could be conducive to the spread of the novel coronavirus/COVID-19. municipal fire departments Firefighters live in close quarters for 24-hour shifts, and then return home to their families. Reports about “hot” firehouses have helped to emphasize the need to follow best practices to avoid the spread of the disease. The Fire Department Safety Officers Association (FDSOA) compiled a list of guidelines that departments can put into practice to reduce and/or avoid cross-contamination of on-duty staff. Among other impacts on the fire industry, the COVID-19 global pandemic played havoc with the industry’s trade show schedule, with major events canceled or delayed. County and municipal fire departments were impacted as local governments respond to the COVID-19-induced economic downturn with spending freezes, hiring freezes and spending cuts. Some local governments are hoping for help from the state and/or federal level. address economic downturns Although some governments have “rainy day funds” to address economic downturns, not all of them do. Furthermore, the extent of the current economic crisis may exceed our worst fears. Proposed budget cuts for some fire and EMS departments are in the 10% to 25% range. A consequence of the coronavirus shutdown was cancellation of hundreds of volunteer fire department fundraisers across the United States - from fish fries to bingo to hog roasts to chicken barbecues. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the trend toward working from home accelerated No more carnivals or spaghetti suppers or gun raffles. And departments lost thousands of dollars. Firefighters are used to wearing protective gear, but one U.S. locale exempted first responders from adhering to a mask mandate to address coronavirus risks. The City Council of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, proposed an amendment to exempt first responders from complying with the city’s face mask ordinance. ensure social distancing Specifically, the proposed amendment states, “Exempted from the requirements of the ordinance requiring wearing of face coverings include law enforcement personnel, first responders or other workers, who are actively engaged in their tasks, if wearing a face covering may hinder their performance.” During the COVID-19 pandemic, the trend toward working from home accelerated. New technologies made it possible for 911 dispatchers to work from home, whether to ensure social distancing or to supplement operations during evolving emergencies. The computer-aided dispatch (CAD) systems offer web-based interfaces and mobile capabilities that enable public-safety answering point (PSAP) operators to work from anywhere. Other technologies that are paving the way for dispatchers to work from home include the cloud, virtual private networks (VPNs), and faster data speeds. blocking firefighter access Adapting workspaces to operate safely during a pandemic presents complications, not least of which is making sure that the measures taken to protect employees from infection do not undermine fire safety. In the course of altering a building to prevent infection spread, there are risks of introducing new life safety hazards and compromising emergency preparedness. It is also important to avoid blocking firefighter access and facilities As buildings adapt to new occupancy standards and requirements, it is critical that any protective measures do not interfere with operation of life safety systems. Might temporary partitions or barriers block escape routes during a fire emergency? Social distancing measures might entail blocking emergency exists and disrupting the flow of occupants looking to vacate a building. It is also important to avoid blocking firefighter access and facilities. career options The COVID-19 pandemic is disrupting every aspect of our business lives. But buried among the disruption was an opportunity. Newly idled workers could see this as an opportune time for training to expand their career options. Meanwhile, employees still on the job may find that a cancelled or postponed project means they have time on their hands. Training can enable them to make the most of that time. In-person training has come to a halt, of course, because of social distancing requirements. Filling the gap are new online learning opportunities.

COVID-19 has shaped and altered the fire protection industry in recent months, and the Fire Industry Association (FIA) in the United Kingdom has published a survey report on the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. The survey, conducted by FIA, sought to gain a greater understanding of how organizations have been impacted by COVID-19 and of the impact on the wider fire industry now and in the future. Resilience is a recurring theme in the FIA report. At the time of the survey (when the United Kingdom was just past the coronavirus peak), a total of 81% of respondents expected they could continue operating under current circumstances for three months or more. Roughly a fourth expected their business could continue for six months (23.4%), and another quarter of respondents expected they could last a year (23.4%). alternative learning models Although not offered as an option in the survey, some respondents commented that they could last longer than a year. It is unclear whether answers were provided before or after respondents had made organizational changes to adapt to COVID-19.  The companies surveyed by FIA appeared to be adaptable as well as resilient. In short, COVID-19 has changed how organizations work. More than 50% planned flexible working (55.9%) and/or remote working (50%) initiatives More than 50% planned flexible working (55.9%) and/or remote working (50%) initiatives. Other adaptation approaches include restructuring (45.4%), alternative learning models (36.9%), cross-training and knowledge transfer (33.3%), and reskilling or upskilling employees on new ways of working (32.1%). continuous professional development The United Kingdom’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme has allowed companies to keep their staff whilst they assess the impact of COVID-19 and not be forced into premature decisions on redundancies. Outside the survey, the FIA reports seeing many companies within the fire industry demonstrate their flexibility by engaging with the association’s new online training and exams. More than 450 fire professionals have been trained online since April 1, and over 100 online exams were completed since June 1. Over 2,000 fire safety professionals have embraced online continuous professional development (CPD) sessions from FIA as a way to invest time when not on the road or visiting customers. high financial impact The largest group of FIA survey respondents (47.6%) observed that COVID-19 had a high financial impact on their business, and another 39.3% noted a moderate impact. Only 10.7% saw a low financial impact on their business. COVID-19 has also had an impact on the management, retention and hiring of staff. Some 40% of survey respondents said they had placed 25% or less of their staff on furlough. Required access of fire professionals to customer premises was an issue during lockdown, and in the FIA survey However, at the other extreme, 27.7% reported they had placed 75-100% of staff on furlough. In the middle, 13.8% reported they had placed 25-50% on furlough, and 18.5% reported the number at 50-75%. On the optimistic side, 57.6% of respondents expect 75-100% of workers to return from furlough. Another 28.8% expect only 0-25% of employees to return from furlough. Required access of fire professionals to customer premises was an issue during lockdown, and in the FIA survey. fire safety professionals Some 72.5% of respondents reported they require access to customer premises. As the lockdown progressed, 75% saw improvement in access to customer premises. About 46.4% of respondents reported that 50% or more of site visits have been postponed or cancelled due to COVID-19. Arguably, even more site visits would have been cancelled or postponed if fire safety professionals had not been classified as key workers. The survey included respondents from the Fire Detection and Alarm (FD&A) sector (41%), as well as Fire Risk Assessors (26%) and the Extinguishing sector (13%). An “other” category (20% of respondents) included Housing Associations, Local Government, Insurers, and Quality and Competency Approval Bodies. There were 84 respondents.

With many businesses and facilities re-opening sites following the Coronavirus lockdown, fire safety may not seem high on the list to other worries and responsibilities. But here, Mandy Bowden, Fire Business Development Manager at Comelit Group UK, led by fire industry bodies, demonstrates why it must be a priority, ensuring installation of systems is guided by best practice in accordance with the development, and fire safety measures are maintained and regularly tested to ensure compliance. Fire safety is too often neglected. And in the midst of returning to work and implementing necessary fever screening solutions and social distancing policies, it may even fall further down the necessary requirements, for businesses who are naturally eager to open and ‘get going.’ Providing Fire Safety But the Government and leading authoritative fire industry bodies have made it absolutely clear that, “Coronavirus is not an excuse for disregarding your responsibilities and businesses must ensure that they have an adequate amount of competent people to help in the implementation of both preventative and protective fire safety measures.” Above all else, fire detection is there to save lives; but the way in which systems are presented, will depend on their surroundings. For many facilities it involves more than the best choice of products and services. It also requires compliance to standards, currently changing in light of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, and a need to consider the environment that it serves to keep safe. fire detection technology It is crucial that buildings are fitted with the highest quality life safety systems to ensure ultra-reliable protection Style of a fire detection system would be considered a priority for a hospitality environment, including hotel and restaurant facilities, to blend with the aesthetics and not impact on the ambience created. In any leisure facilities such as a Gym, it is essential fire detection measures and systems are in place that will provide customers, employees and the premises itself, with sufficient prevention against fire at all times. To keep up with demand, a system needs to be simple to install and operational as quickly as possible for the benefit of members and staff. However, a manufacturing vicinity will require latest fire detection technology to ensure the safety of its building, its specialist products and all personnel who operate on site. Similarly, an art studio is a specialist consideration when it comes to fire safety, especially with the use of different materials and substances in every day works by the artists on site.  ensure ultra-Reliable protection Both temporary and permanent healthcare facilities in this period have undoubtedly been key to fighting the Coronavirus pandemic, and experienced an expediential increased demand for patient care. With more people to treat and protect, those working or residing within these spaces have to be considered at greater risk in the event of a fire emergency. It is crucial that these buildings have been and continue to be fitted with the highest quality life safety systems to ensure ultra-reliable protection. And the same is true for care homes, a vulnerable group in the fight against coronavirus. They require critical and reliable, functioning fire detection equipment that presents high performance protection, avoiding false alarms to prevent moving elderly residents unnecessarily. In each of these scenarios, the need to act quickly is paramount.  Fire Detection Operations Fire safety must be kept a priority to ensure a return to work can occur seamlessly and successfully In healthcare, immediacy is a common theme through the industry, be it providing treatment or responding to a patient’s symptoms. This is no different in fire safety, with detection systems requiring an ease of use, by anyone operating on site. In businesses returning to work ‘post-lockdown’ the appointed Fire Marshalls and responsible persons may not be the ones returning to office locations, so others need to be trained with simple to operate solutions. In summary, fire safety must be kept a priority, arguably now more than ever to ensure a return to work can occur seamlessly and successfully, and with an obligation of care to workers coming back to operating establishments. By understanding these environments and choosing systems accordingly, duty holders can ensure they reduce risks across their premises and maintain a safe ‘new normal’. multi-Sensor detectors Comelit presents its third-party accredited family of ATENA and ERACLE fire detection and fire alarm systems, which offers a diverse portfolio of intelligent, addressable products that are feature-rich, easy to install, simple to operate and offer incomparable reliability. Tested to rigorous standards, the range encompasses smoke, heat and multi-sensor detectors as well as IP rated devices including sounders and callpoints, alongside accessories to complete installations. To support the installer, we have product specific basic and advanced commissioning training courses, together with a full suite of calculation tools for our ATENA addressable systems for both loop loading and battery standby calculations, helping to identify possible issues prior to installation. Comelit is a proud member of the Fire Industry Association (FIA) that insists on third-party certification; as a clear sign of a company’s quality. All demonstrating that we want to work in partnership with our customers to ensure manufacture, design and install of stylish (often bespoke) fire detection systems are a smooth operation for the benefit and peace of mind of businesses and facilities across the UK. All signs that we want to work in partnership with our customers to ensure manufacture, design and install of stylish (often bespoke) fire detection systems are a smooth operation for the benefit and peace of mind of businesses and facilities across the UK.