Building Fire Safety - News

CISA has designated April as Emergency Communications Month to recognize the critical role of emergency communications personnel in public safety. Emergency communications have evolved to be so much more than just dialing 911. It is a complex ecosystem that allows people to share critical information in real time during an emergency. Today, emergency communicators include 911 telecommunicators, first responders and even cyber professionals. Throughout the month, CISA will highlight emergency c...

The nature of most businesses demands fieldwork and switching to a more suitable software can help them cater to the evolving industry demands. Specifically, in the automation and industry 4.0 era, most field service organizations have turned to field service software to manage their fieldwork processes and bridge the communications gap amongst field technicians, personnel, back office, etc. So, if the business involves fieldwork, they must consider the ways field service companies can benefit...

Hempel has had its emissions reduction targets approved by the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi).  The targets covering greenhouse gas emissions from Hempel’s operations (scopes 1 and 2) are consistent with reductions required to keep warming to 1.5°C, what the latest climate science has told us is needed to prevent the most damaging effects of climate change.  Emission goals Hempel’s target for the emissions from its value chain (scope 3) meets the SBTi’...

A recruitment roadshow to attract more community first responders (CFRs) starts in North Norfolk. Andrew Barlow, the Community Response Manager in Norfolk and Waveney, will be on hand at various locations across North Norfolk to explain the role of CFRs in supporting their local community and the East of England Ambulance Service (EEAST). Community first responders (CFRs) are volunteers who work alongside colleagues from the ambulance service and respond to situations within their local communi...

Johnson Controls, the globally renowned company for smart, healthy and sustainable building solutions, is pleased to announce new UL 162 and ULC-S564 equipment listings for CHEMGUARD Non-Fluorinated NFF 3x3 UL201 Alcohol Resistant Synthetic Foam Concentrate. CHEMGUARD NFF 3x3 UL201 Concentrate provides fast and effective fire suppression on most Class B hydrocarbon and polar solvent fuel fires. It passes the UL 162 synthetic foam concentrate protocol and the UL 162 AR-AFFF test protocol for Typ...

Johnson Controls, the globally renowned company for smart, healthy, and sustainable building solutions, has announced the acquisition of Xcell Misting Ltd, an expert fire protection company that designs and installs innovative fire suppression and detection systems. Xcell Misting Ltd specializes in innovative water mist technologies. Johnson Controls’ customers will benefit from Xcell’s wealth of experience within fire protection and security, with access to the latest fire suppress...

Ramtech’s Content Marketing Manager, Jon Bennett looks at how safety protection has evolved over the years, starting with the tragedy at the Iroquois Theater in Chicago, USA. Would this awful event still have happened in modern times? Jon explains more. Iroquois Theater fire As the new year festivities approached on December 30th 1903, a theater in Illinois, United States, was packed full of an excited audience ready to watch a matinee performance of ‘Mr Blue Beard’. Little...

The World Economic Forum’s ‘Global Risks Report 22’, which was just released in February 2022, no longer includes water or water-related issues among the top five threats lurking within the next ten years. Unfortunately, it's not because the world has come to grips with water infrastructure. Other threats have just come along and seem more plausible. Climate action failure - the greatest threat to human safety Climate action failure is now considered the greatest threat to h...

For over 40 years, Post-it Brand, the creator of the original Post-it Note, has served as a canvas to help bring ideas to life. In 2022, the classic Post-it Notes that everyone knows and loves are getting a colorful refresh, thanks to a creative partnership with The Pantone Color Institute, the globally renowned color authority. New assortment of tones The new assortment of tones and color-ways will help bring people’s thoughts and ideas into the world, in a truly bold way The new asso...

The Fire Protection Association (FPA) announces the departure of its long-standing Technical and RISCAuthority Director, Dr. Jim Glockling, who has decided to step down from his position for lifestyle reasons. Dr. Jim Glockling will remain with the company until the end of June. positive influence Commenting on the news, the FPA’s Managing Director, Jonathan O’Neill OBE said, “Having worked with Jim for more than 20 years, I have seen firsthand the positive influence he has...

The clubhouse at Beaverbrook Golf Club in Leatherhead, Surrey, United Kingdom (UK) was destroyed by a catastrophic fire on the evening of Monday, 7 March, fortunately causing no injuries. Firefighters were called to the scene at 10 pm, with eight fire engines in attendance. The fire was found to have caused damage to 'the entirety of the building and its basement'. Surrey Fire and Rescue Service have not yet revealed a cause of the fire at this point, and while an investigation has been launch...

16 emergency responders have been killed in struck-by incidents in the first 3 months of 2022. Last year, 65 emergency responders were struck and killed while assisting others on roadways. An unknown number of others were injured. One can help reduce these tragic incidents by sharing the “In Our Boots” public service announcements (PSAs) widely with the public in the community, through social media, local news outlets, and community events. Public education on safe driving practice...

The UK government has presented amendments to the Building Safety Bill, including the removal of clauses 82 to 86, relating to the appointment of a Building Safety Manager. The amendments were made in the House of Lords in the Report Stage prior to the Third Reading. Prior to these amends, the Building Safety Manager had a significant role in the Bill, with responsibilities to manage the Part 4 building safety risk for higher risk buildings, which is outlined in clauses 60 to 81. These clause...

When a permanent fire safety alarm system fails, a temporary solution must be sourced quickly to prevent a gap in protection, while it is being fixed or replaced. Challenging scenarios are becoming more common for building owners. Whether that is damage to a permanent fire alarm system that leaves it in need of repair, or unexpected malfunctions that mean a replacement is necessary. Wireless fire alarm A temporary system is a quick solution that will afford building owners precious time and p...

The MOBOTIX M16 VdS Thermal TR solution, consisting of a thermal imaging camera, special firmware, and additional components has been approved by VdS Schadenverhütung GmbH, Europe's largest institute for corporate security, since March 2022. MOBOTIX customers can, therefore, be sure that they will be warned of fire damage, as early and as effectively as possible, and know that, despite the optimum protection, any damage that occurs will be settled quickly and comprehensively, by the insura...

The Scottish government, RICS, and the Fire Sector Federation have each issued new forms and guidance in relation to aspects of fire safety and building evacuation. Multiple new fire safety guides have been introduced in Scotland, including practical fire safety advice on how to prevent fires and reduce the risks in a variety of settings. Published by the Scottish government, the guidance provides practical guidance for existing high-rise domestic buildings, existing non-residential premis...

The increase in natural disasters has already noticeably changed the daily lives of many aid and rescue workers. In addition, there was the Corona pandemic and the humanitarian emergencies caused by political conflicts - most recently as a result of the Russian war on Ukraine. Given the current challenges, the topics of INTERSCHUTZ are more relevant than ever before. 1,000 companies from 50 countries as well as the participating associations and organizations will present the solutions for the...

An Isle of Man care home has been fined £46,000 for health and safety breaches after a 95-year-old died as a result of a fire in 2019. Elder Healthcare, which runs the care home, also provides emergency assistance to residents in the adjacent apartments. The court heard Elder Healthcare was not to blame for the death of Olive Renecle, who lived in a sheltered flat connected to the care home in Douglas. However, Deemster Graeme Cook said ‘shortcomings’ were found in f...

De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited (De Havilland Canada) announces that Big Charter Private Limited has signed a Letter of Intent to purchase up to ten new Twin Otter Series 400 aircraft for operation by its promoted airline, flybig. The companies will work towards a definitive purchase agreement that would include five firm-ordered aircraft and options for another five. Twin Otter Series 400 "In conjunction with the UDAN initiative, the Indian Government’s recently released policy...

The Fire Protection Association’s InfoZone seminar theatre returns for 2022 with an agenda covering a wide range of crucial talking points in the fire safety industry for attendees at FIREX International. meetings and networking Alongside its welcome reception area, where the FPA will be available for meetings and networking with members and the full supply chain of fire safety professionals, the popular InfoZone seminar theatre returns for FIREX International 2022, at London’s ExC...

Following more than 25 wildfire incidents in the last weekend of March 2022 alone, the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) is urging the public to take additional precautions. In one of the incidents, a large-scale wildfire in Devon and Somerset has called in ten fire appliances in attendance, with alerts out for similar fires in both South Wales and Lancashire, in the United Kingdom (UK). In addition, a six hectare wildfire in East Sussex has also been reported on Tuesday, March 22, 2022. Till...

A team of fundraisers from Hardstaff Barriers are seeking support from colleagues and clients, as they complete the final leg of a virtual walk from Nottinghamshire, in the United Kingdom to Ukraine, in order to raise money for the humanitarian effort. On March 8, 2022, the colleagues began collectively walking the distance from their office, in central England, to the center of Ukraine, covering a distance of 1,610 miles. Spurred on by the atrocities in the country caused by the Russian aggres...

The biggest UK fire service convoy – made up of 22 vehicles and more than 5,000 items of kit and equipment, donated by UK fire and rescue services, has been deployed to support firefighters in Ukraine, on Saturday, March 19, 2022.  More than 60 volunteers from FIRE AID and fire and rescue services are taking the convoy into Poland. It will then make its way into Ukraine, providing vitally needed equipment to support firefighters, emergency services and volunteers, battling together o...

Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) has been awarded for its innovative work in embedding a customer-centric culture throughout the organisation - tailoring services for everyone in the county to help keep them safe. Customer-Centric culture The accolade of achieving bronze in the Customer Focus category of the iESE Public Sector Transformation Awards on 9 March, acts as a springboard for KFRS as it embarks on a pioneering project to really get to know the people it serves. The insight gather...

Tom Morgan, Josh Hollebon, Tom Woods and Stuart Long from the Yare Valley Churches running club have each run 92 miles during February to complete the virtual challenge by surpassing the mileage an ambulance covers on an average shift. The team chose the mileage clocked-up by crews at their local station in Longwater. Completing the target We have completed similar feats previously and were keen for something new" Tom Woods said: “We have completed similar feats previously and were kee...

The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) has announced that the Data Management Fire Standard is now open for consultation, closing 27th April, 2022.  Data Management Fire Standard The Data Management Fire Standard has been developed with expert input from the NFCC Digital and Data Program, NFCC Leads for Data, Apollo Gerolymbos and Andy Hopkinson, Government Digital Services and colleagues, with data expertise from a wide range of fire and rescue services. 

The East of England Ambulance Service (EEAST) is the first NHS Trust to have signed up to UNISON’s new Anti-Racism Charter, which aims to help tackle racism in the public sector. The charter commits organizations and their leaders to a raft of pledges designed to prevent all forms of conscious or unconscious racial bias.  This includes championing a racially diverse workforce, recognizing the impact of racism on staff well-being and regularly reviewing its strategies to improve racia...

The Senior Coroner for Hertfordshire, Geoffrey Sullivan, has taken the step of submitting a Prevention of Future Deaths report concerning care home sprinkler systems and building standards to Michael Gove, the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, following the conclusion of his inquest into the deaths of two women at a care home fire in 2017.  Resistive heating Resistive heating in the electrical wiring of a linen cupboard caused the blaze that quickly spread thro...

The Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP) has launched a new website which features a contemporary design and improved functionality and navigation, aimed at enhancing the visitor experience to ensure they find the passive fire protection advice and information they need. The newly created site uses clear navigation to ensure the visitor can quickly access the information they are looking for, whether this is the ASFP’s extensive range of guidance documents and webinars in the...

Miller Knight is delighted to announce the expansion of its operations with the opening of a new Midlands Head Office, located in Nottinghamshire. The expansion comes as a result of significant growth in all our active contracting sectors; including the Major and Minor Remedial Projects market, and the Specialist Passive and Structural Fire Protection market, where it work as a Specialist Sub-contractor to some of the UK’s largest Principal Contractors. New location details  With o...