Building Fire Safety - News

Ron Alalouff reviews the tighter regulation of fire safety in the design and construction of buildings coming into effect on 1 December. In the last twelve months, the government has moved to strengthen a range of fire safety provisions in building regulations and guidance, including drawing up tougher standards on the use of combustible materials on medium-rise blocks of flats between 11m and 18m high. Changes in Act The changes are being brought about by the Building Etc (Amendment) (Englan...

Hempel, the coatings supplier to the wind energy industry, announced the launch of Hempablade Edge 171, a new coating for renowned edge protection (LEP) on wind turbine rotor blades.  With the highest rain erosion performance data on the market for a liquid LEP and some of the lowest dry film thicknesses, Hempablade Edge 171 provides long-term protection against rain erosion and reduces time and costs during application. wind turbine blade The leading edge of a wind turbine blade is expo...

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...

A stark warning about the risks of taking shortcuts in an attempt to save fuel costs has been given by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. Group Commander - David Girrity told a meeting of the Midlothian Police, Fire and Rescue Board that fires in homes will increase as the cost-of-living crisis hits households, according to the Edinburgh Evening News. Single occupancy households Group Commander - David Girrity said: “The poverty of fuel, I can see that exacerbating the issues in rela...

On September 6, 2022, Jinhong gas signed a strategic cooperation agreement with a partner company to establish a strategic partnership in the field of silane. This cooperation has greatly increased the resources of Jinhong Gas silane products, enhanced the competitive advantage of the industry, and provided effective assistance to better serve the semiconductor industry at home and abroad and expand the foreign trade business of special gas in Southeast Asia. Pan-Semiconductor industries Sil...

False alarms cost the London Fire Brigade around £37 million each year. In turn, this costs the UK economy in lost productivity of around 1 billion pounds a year. In saying this, to make up for lost funds, the London Fire Brigade can charge a business for call-outs, if they attend more than 10 false alarms in a 12-month period.  To ensure that the premises are not charged for false alarm call-outs, users must install and up-keep all the correct fire systems for their property. ...

Fire risk is one of the biggest threats to Construction sites. John Harrison, Sales Director at Ramtech, explains the dynamic security needs of construction sites, including how fire during construction, alteration, or demolition operations can be eliminated or controlled through early planning, scheduling, rapid communication, and on-site security. It is no secret that construction sites are full of potential hazards, and without the right protection, it is generally accepted that a constructi...

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...

Implementing a Fire Drill in the workplace is not only a legal requirement, but is also essential to protect individuals and their companies from being charged with major fire safety breaches, resulting in unlimited fines and up to 2 years imprisonment.  In this article, users will learn why implementing a fire drill is so important, how to implement one, and what procedures they must introduce to uphold these standards long term.  Regular fire drills  It is not only essential...

Four CFS trucks and a bulk water carrier, supported by MFS crews, responded to a truck fire on the city-bound side of the South Eastern Freeway at 8:55 in the morning. The truck which was transporting scaffolding, has been extinguished by firefighters, with the fire contained to the truck. Damage incurred Specialist HazMat-trained CFS volunteers are on the scene helping to clean up and contain any diesel and oil, which dropped from the truck during the fire. No one has been injured. Traffic...

The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) and the Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association (Metro Chiefs) released a joint statement PDF warning firefighters that synthetic chemicals in their protective gear are associated with various health risks, including an increased risk of liver and kidney cancer. The chemicals responsible are a group of fluorinated compounds called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances commonly referred to as PFAS. They are used in firefighter turnout gear to incr...

Nittan took part in another successful FIM Expo, the FIM Expo Cardiff 2022, which took place at Principality Stadium in Cardiff, United Kingdom (UK) on 13th September 2022. Run by the Fire Industry Association (FIA), FIM Expo is a free to enter event that allows visitors to get hands-on with the latest fire detection and alarm products in an informal setting. FIM Expo Cardiff 2022 Nittan’s General Manager EMEA Sales, Robin Edmunds and Regional Sales Manager UK South, Darren Saunders w...

With more than one million helmets sold in over 140 countries, Rosenbauer’s HEROS firefighting helmets are one of the most successful firefighting helmets in the world. The HEROS’ success story began in 1992. After communicating intensively with fire departments, as well as a development phase lasting several years, Rosenbauer presented its first own firefighting helmet based on a new type of helmet shell made of plastic. This makes it one of the most modern helmets on the market, f...

Johnson Controls, the pioneer for smart, healthy, and sustainable buildings, offers an alternative approach to fire detection through its FireClass range, a class of open-protocol fire detection products, and is seen as a step away from its previously perceived perception in the market of only offering managed or closed-protocol systems. FireClass consists of a comprehensive range of industry-approved products for use in commercial, residential, corporate, retail, leisure, care home, manufactur...

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...

Both FireQual and BAFE are deeply saddened by the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The Queen was a bastion of integrity and service to the United Kingdom, which both FireQual and BAFE profoundly respected. Her death is a huge loss for everyone. respects and condolences The Queen had a strong link to the Fire Service College in Moreton-in-Marsh (where FireQual and BAFE are based), having officially opened the site in May 1974. Both give respects and condolences go out to The Royal Fam...

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) authorized the use of federal funds to help with firefighting costs for the Ross Fork Fire burning in Blaine County, Idaho, USA. The US state of Idaho’s request for a federal Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) was approved by FEMA Region 10 Administrator Willie G. Nunn on Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022, at 4:09 p.m. PT. He determined that the Ross Fork Fire threatened to cause such destruction as would constitute a major disaster. This is the se...

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...

A new fire detection and alarm systems competition to enable apprentice engineers to boost their skills has been launched by the charity, WorldSkills UK. Program training  Run in partnership with Skills for Security, apprentice engineers will have the opportunity to undergo training ahead of the national final in November, with a chance to compete at the international ‘Skills Olympics’ in France in 2024. The program builds on WorldSkills UK’s electronic security systems...

Mann McGowan is pleased to announce an agreement with Emirates Technotrade LLC to expand further the distribution of Mann McGowan intumescent fire, acoustic, and smoke seals to the construction and passive fire protection industries in the United Arab Emirates and throughout the Middle East. Fire seal distribution Mann McGowan already has a successful existing distribution and customer network in the region, and the agreement further strengthens the company’s ambition to become a pioneer...

At approximately 16:30 in the afternoon on Friday, 2 September 2022, SACFS personnel were alerted to a truck fire on the Port Wakefield Highway, approximately 25km south of Port Wakefield, South Australia. The SACFS dispatched 9 fire trucks to respond to the vehicle fire. Upon arrival, the fire crews found a cement powder distribution truck ablaze on the side of the highway.  Damage caused The crews worked to contain the fire and to ensure that there were no hazardous materials contained...

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...

Water mist systems use finely dispersed water to fight fires, thus displacing oxygen and absorbing heat – combining the effects of gas extinguishing and traditional sprinkler systems. The small droplet sizes (≤1 mm diameter) significantly enhance the effect of the water used, also minimizing water damage. VdS now backs up manufacturers, as well as users with a basic product standard, systematically testing effectiveness and reliability. New regulations for Water mist systems Until no...

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...

Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service will be recruiting for Wholetime Firefighters this autumn. Ahead of the portal opening for applications, the Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service is encouraging members of the public to consider a career in the Fire and Rescue Service, by joining them for a Firefighter ‘Have a Go’ day. ‘Have a Go’ events give an insight into the life as a firefighter, the opportunity to speak to current firefighters to find out more, and the chanc...

Preparing for all fire exposures, not picking and choosing only one, is vital for improving the home and building survival chances. What the community needs to know Wildfires spread primarily by: Ember generation and deposition. Burning or smoldering pieces of material generated during a wildfire event can land on combustible material. Radiant heat. The heat from the fire raises the temperature of a combustible material until that material reaches ignition temperature and burns....

The London Fire Brigade has issued another e-bike safety warning after five people were rescued from a flat fire in St John’s Wood. Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters attended the scene at around 2am, which was under control by 02:56. Around half of the flat on the second floor of a block on Frampton Street was damaged by the fire. One resident was taken to hospital as a result. Correct safety standards The fire is believed to have been accidental and caused by a lithium-ion b...

FireQual are proud to support the WorldSkills UK Fire Detection and Alarm Systems Competition. WorldSkills UK is delighted to launch the new Fire Detection and Alarm Systems Competition, run in partnership with Skills for Security. As well offering apprentices the chance to boost their skills, they also have the unique possibility of competing at the ‘international skills Olympics’ in France in 2024. Undergoing intensive training The competition, which kicked off in May at the IFS...

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...