Building Fire Safety - News

A Peterborough-based fire station has donated more than £1,000 to a local hospice. Staff at Dogsthorpe Fire Station raised the money through their sports and social club. After seeing a social media post from Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall Hospice highlighting the need for support, White Watch agreed with the rest of the station to arrange a donation. Donations  Firefighter Matthew Johnson from White Watch presented the donation of £1,250 to the hospice. Matthew Johnson said, “...

Suffolk County Council has made sprinkler systems mandatory in all new special schools after the DfE refused to fund them. Education chiefs in Suffolk have approved plans which mean all new-build special educational needs schools must be equipped with sprinkler systems, after it emerged the Department for Education did not make the system mandatory. Suffolk County Council Labour education spokesman Jack Abbott said he was "deeply concerned" it wasn't mandatory for mainstream schools too. A repo...

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) created a survey to better understand the experiences of volunteer and combination fire, EMS, and rescue departments dealing with the outbreak of COVID-19 and related social distancing measures. NVFC asks that all take a few minutes to complete the survey, and that to re-take the survey each week so that NVFC can track changes over time. Based on survey and other feedback from NVFC members, answer choices related to responder mental health, morale, fun...

Firefighters are helping two young girls to spread a little positivity across their community by flying their homemade flag. Crews at Tunbridge Wells Fire Station were presented with the colorful rainbow flag by sisters Kitti, 12, and Iris, 10. The duo, with the help of their dad Rupert, came up with the ‘together apart’ message, with the use of three linked rainbows.  Purpose Rupert said, “We created a flag to encourage social distancing and to celebrate how we can all...

Production has started again at a Norfolk factory making vital fire safety equipment for ambulances, hospitals, police, the Ministry of Defence, and the rail network across the UK. A skeleton staff of 12 workers has been drafted to Britannia Fire at Ashwellthorpe after a three-week covid-19 shutdown to meet the demand for extinguishers and fire suppression systems from the MOD, NHS, fire and rescue services, and Network Rail. extinguishers and fire systems Staff at the UK’s only composi...

Holmatro introduces the new powerful Door Ram 200 (DR200), designed in cooperation with the United States Military. This compact tool is suitable for breaching doors in multiple situations, both by tactical units and by fire and rescue teams. The DR200 combines a high spreading force with a long stroke and is designed for inward opening doors with multiple locks. When used in combination with a manual breaching tool it is also suitable for outward opening doors. Enhanced safety for operator W...

Fire Sector Federation provides an update on the work undertaken to reform building safety regulations. The early April announcements of the results of the Building Safety Proposals consultation linked to the two published outcomes, Response and Economic Impact BSP Response BSP Impact offer considerable insight into the government's intent to: improve the current system; advance remediation of unsafe cladding, and update Approved Document B. New building safety system More recently in an...

Infographics fire and rescue clients adapt to undertaking expanded duties as part of the Coronavirus response, Infographics has extended an invitation to seek support with new ways of managing, monitoring, and reporting on COVID-19-related tasks and absence. Infographics responded quickly to a number of client assistance requests and are offering complimentary client advice and assistance with the following areas: Managing resources, working code configuration, and dynamic views for COVID-19...

Viking Corporation, a global provider in fire protection and life safety systems, announced that its K28 ESFR sprinkler is now FM Approved to protect high-piled storage up to 50 feet (15,2 m) in storage facilities with ceilings as high as 55 feet (16,7 m), without requiring an in-rack sprinkler system. As a result, the Model VK514 pendent sprinkler can significantly reduce installation and maintenance costs while increasing racking flexibility in warehouses as high as 55 feet (16,7 m). The new...

Due to the escalating coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), Messe Frankfurt New Era Business Media Ltd and ABEC Exhibitions and Conferences P Ltd, have decided that Secutech India will not take place in 2020. The decision is the result of travel restrictions and strict social distancing guidelines currently in place across India, and a lack of availability at the fair’s venue – the Bombay Exhibition Centre – during an appropriate time later this year. The fair will take place at th...

Following popular demand, Apollo Fire Detectors will be recommencing supply of their XP95 Three Channel Input / Output Module. The XP95 Three Channel Input / Output Module (55000-588APO) was removed from the product portfolio in 2018 after the introduction of the Intelligent Interface range. After receiving feedback from customers, Apollo has taken the decision to reintroduce the product to their sales portfolio with immediate effect. The product offers the benefit of using a single address for...

Fire Safety Matters Magazine has launched a new podcast for the fire safety industry. Fire Safety Matters (FSM) launched their inaugural podcast episode featuring the new BAFE campaign.    The Don’t Just Specify, Verify! campaign focuses on the important verification stage of Third Party Certification when sourcing a competent provider to help meet fire safety obligations.    Verification is extremely important, as BAFE Registration or any Third Party Certification...

BAFE announces that the Furlough scheme cut-off date has been extended to 19 March, 2020. Thousands of more employees will able to receive support through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), after the eligibility date was extended to 19 March 2020, the government announced recently.

The Construction Industry Council are providing two opportunities that may be of benefit. The first is a Webinar on Employment and Jobs during the current COVID-19 (Coronavirus) crisis focusing on the self-employed and freelance workers, which will take place today (15/04/2020) at 2pm. The webinar will last for one hour and is being led by Charles Homan of UHY Hacker Young. Zoom webinar 15 April 2020 02:00 PM on the topic of: Help for the self-employed in the age of Coronavirus. The second is t...

Big Bear Fire Department announces that it will suspend its popular chipping program for the 2020 season. This grant-funded program has been highly successful in helping residents create defensible space around their structures.  denied grant letters The Fire Department actively researches and applies for hazardous fuel reduction grants to keep the chipping program and the hazardous tree removal program going. The Department recently received denial letters for the three grants appl...

BAFE, British Approvals for Fire Equipment has announced that it welcomes the statement from the UK Home Office, regarding the Key Worker status for all fire industry employees, providing essential services, as published by the FIA, Fire Industry Association. The BAFE statement added that the organization was grateful for the FIA initiative to clarify this. Key Worker Status directly to FIA The Minister of State for Security, the Rt. Hon James Brokenshire, MP in the UK Parliament, has written...

Infographics running one-to-one demos online for Fire and Rescue Services throughout the summer, featuring FireWatch integrated Fire & Rescue management suite. The resource planning and management solution connect teams, tasks, and data to provide the complete picture of your operations. The Cloud access model, new Mobile Phone App, and Web Client enable to manage operations and self-serve from anywhere, anytime, all in one integrated location and user experience. Features Flexible clo...

Avon Fire & Rescue Service (AF&RS) warns against deliberate fires after several callouts since lockdown began.    Despite the current government guidance on staying at home to help alleviate the Coronavirus pandemic, AF&RS continues to be called to mindless cases of arson that put both crews and the community in danger.  Since the start of the government’s stay at home directive on Monday 23rd March, crews have attended 58 deliberate fires across...

SSAIB were overcome with pride upon discovering that registered firm PLP Fire Protection have been providing invaluable assistance in the building of the Government’s first emergency field hospital at the ExCel in London. The temporary NHS Nightingale hospital has been set up to treat up to 4,000 coronavirus patients, with Dorset-based PLP Fire Protection helping to transform the ExCel exhibition space – which was due to host IFSEC International and FIREX International next month, be...

Kent firefighters are supporting their blue light colleagues in the fight against COVID-19 by lending their services to the wider community. Crews and staff at Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) are working alongside South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAmb) to help meet the growing demand for medical response across the county, as a result of the worldwide pandemic.  Firefighters will undergo training before being deployed to drive ambulances, while other KFRS employees have been...

G4S announces the release of the G4S facility disinfection solution that helps provide a healthier and safer environment for staff and visitors. G4S facility disinfection solution G4S offers a complete range of sanitization and disinfection services for workplace, vehicles and commercial spaces. Regular sanitization of the facility between shifts; as directed in the government guidelines, can help reduce the risk of infections, thus helping to reduce employee sick days. Some key features of...

The Gorman-Rupp Company (Gorman-Rupp) has announced a change in the format of its 2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (‘Annual Meeting’), from in-person to virtual-only meeting. Due to the emerging public health impact of the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic and to support the health and well-being of the company’s shareholders, employees, and their families, Gorman-Rupp will hold its annual meeting in a virtual meeting format only, via webcast. 2020 Annual Meeting of Sharehol...

The City of Orlando continues to take necessary precautions to help prevent the spread of the COVID-19 (Coronavirus), while maintaining business to keep city projects, programs, and services moving ahead. In keeping with this goal, the Orlando City Council will hold its regular meeting by teleconference on Monday, April 13, at 2 p.m. The teleconference meeting format allows for social distancing among council members, staff, and the public in accordance with policies from federal, state, and co...

While the Grenfell Inquiry has been paused due to COVID-19, ministers have announced another overhaul of building regulation with the aim to improve fire safety. The measures, which will apply to all new builds over 11 meters, come as part of a wider government initiative to improve fire safety following the tragic Grenfell Tower. This new fire safety program comes a month after Rishi Sunak announced £1bn to remove all types of dangerous cladding with the new Building Safety Fund. announc...

Around 200 delegates from the building and design industries in the United Kingdom region and beyond attended a one-day business seminar themed - “Sprinklers Save Lives” on providing a fire resilient environment for everyone. It was held at The Burgess Hall in St Ives, United Kingdom.  “Sprinklers Save Lives” seminar Organized by BAFSA (British Automatic Fire Sprinkler Association Ltd.) in collaboration with, and hosted by, Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service, t...

The BAFSA Executive have now written to its members and outlined immediate action as a result of the Coronavirus outbreak. BAFSA (British Automatic Fire Sprinkler Association Ltd.) announced in a statement that they will continue to work within the current Government guidelines (both national and devolved) throughout this COVID19 pandemic outbreak. They have provided links below to HM Government advice, Scottish Government advice, Welsh Government advice and Northern Ireland Government advice we...

Sprinklers protect life, protect buildings and keep firefighters safer. This was confirmed in a parliamentary debate on fire safety and sprinkler systems at Westminster Hall recently by a wealth of experts.   They work and make complete sense as an important layer of safety, but why is one not making use of them? Is now not the time to finally act on this?  Overall fire safety  Requested by Sir David Amess MP, and former firefighter and MP Jim Fitzpatrick (Chairman and Secretar...

Cabinet Office moves to further protect suppliers after COVID-19 (Coronavirus). A new Procurement Policy Note (PPN) has been published by the Cabinet Office to further protect suppliers during and after the Coronavirus outbreak. BAFE welcomes this initiative to protect the vital provision of fire safety services during the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak. Many companies are suffering the financial consequences of being unable to carry out routine work. However, they recognize that when more no...

For businesses and organizations using unheated warehouses or other structures, where freezing temperatures could cause the pipes in an automatic sprinkler system to burst, chances are, the system is equipped with a dry-pipe fire sprinkler system. Dry-pipe sprinkler systems Dry-pipe sprinkler systems are used in settings where a temperature above 40°F (4°C) cannot be reliably maintained. Unlike wet-pipe systems in which the pipes are filled with water, the pipes in a dry-pipe system ar...

Big Bear Fire Department personnel are wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) during 911 medical calls for service, as a part of their updated safety procedures, due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Out of an abundance of safety, Big Bear Fire Department staff members are wearing PPE that includes, masks, eye protection, gowns, and gloves, during many patient contacts. They feel it was important to let the public know, that although their appearance might not be typically what they...