Fire Safety Risk Assessment - News
Congratulations are in order for Luther Pringle of the American Fire Protection Group’s (AFPG) Los Angeles Division, who placed 15th out of 150 total contestants in the Design Technician Competition held at the National Fire Sprinkler Association conference in Nashville, Tennessee, USA. Design Technician Competition NFSA’s Design Technician Competition pits engineers from around the country against one another in a competition of skill, accuracy and precision pertaining to the desi...
The commercial and military aircraft are extremely expensive pieces of equipment. From a fire protection standpoint, the aircraft hangars where these high-value airplanes are stored are unique facilities for several reasons. There typically will be a significant amount of flammable liquid aircraft fuel present. The regularly occurring maintenance activities provide several potential ignition sources. Also, the airplanes themselves have large main bodies and wings, which create sizeable obstruct...
American Fire Protection Group, Inc. (AFPG) is the expert when it comes to detecting and identifying Microbiologic Corrosion in fire sprinkler systems. There are several types of corrosion that can form in sprinkler pipe. Microbiologic Corrosion (MIC) When a pipe is leaking, it cannot be automatically assumed that the cause is Microbiologic Corrosion (commonly referred to as ‘MIC’). The following is a list of common corrosions: Galvanic Corrosion MIC Corrosion Localized Corros...
‘Simple and worry-free Life Safety compliance’, this is what American Fire Protection Group, Inc. (AFPG) delivers every single day, even during a global pandemic such as the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. The current uncertain environment has required everyone to change the way they do business. One thing that has not changed, however, is the requirement to have a licensed Life Safety company conduct annual, quarterly, and other code-compliant inspections of Life Safety systems and equipm...
In March of 2020, the Federal government signed into effect the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. One of CARES’ purposes is to provide relief to businesses affected by the Coronavirus with accelerated tax savings on “qualified improvements” to their business properties. Under Section 168 of the CARES Act, the cost of upgrades to the user’s commercial fire sprinkler, fire alarm, special hazard, or security system may be fully deducted as a busine...
Derbyshire becomes latest Fire & Rescue Service to select Infographics’ renowned FireWatch software suite to manage resources and support agile working Infographics announced that Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service (DFRS) is the latest UK FRS to adopt their FireWatch fire service management suite, in another major client ‘win’. The FireWatch deployment will include modules to support Human Resource Planning and Management, Holidays/ Absence/ Sickness Management, Time Manag...
Incident Response Technologies, a Denver-based company specializing in developing web-based solutions for public safety responders, is excited to announce a partnership with Hangar 14 Solutions. Hangar 14 produces the StreetWise CADLink mobile application for tablets and smartphones. Hangar 14 will develop an interface to IRT’s Rhodium Incident Management Suite, allowing responder locations and other details from StreetWise-enabled mobile devices to stream into Rhodium’s robust comm...
Why should end users use third party certificated companies when sourcing contractors for the design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of firefighting, fire detection and alarm systems. Even with the best equipment, fire detection, fire suppression, gas extinguishing and passive fire protection systems are only effective if they are correctly designed, installed, commissioned and maintained. It is therefore vitally important that specifiers select only competent installation companie...
When a fire broke out on site, more than 400 staff were evacuated in less than three minutes from the Hull factory of offsite specialist Walker Modular. Five fire engines were called to the scene after the alarm was raised at the bathroom pod manufacturer. Company owner Shane Walker told the Enquirer: “I’m so proud of my staff and the fire service for dealing so well with a difficult situation. We liaised with the fire service when we designed the factory and all the fire suppressio...
The BSI has made available a number of standards to help guide businesses through these difficult times. They have also a number of free to watch seminars. One can see the details of the standards available and the webinars on the company’s official website. “Following the outbreak of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), BSI has examined how we can support the collective efforts to mitigate the risks to organizations, caused by this global health issue. After careful consideration, we have...
The UK government announced further changes to the Building and Fire Safety Standards in England following the tragic Grenfell Tower fire. The changes include automatic fire sprinklers in high rise housing blocks over 11 meters, together with a raft of other fire safety measures. This marks some considerable success for BAFSA who have campaigned for automatic fire sprinklers in all high rise housing for the last fifteen years.
Burnt cooking in the kitchen of a residential block of flats of three floors in Waddon Court Road, was the cause of a fire which, from the limited information provided, was controlled by a Personal Protection system. The fire was all out on arrival with no firefighting action completed by crews. Local enquiries are currently being completed by the local fire safety team. One sprinkler head actuated in the kitchen of a five roomed flat on the 11th floor of a twenty-one story block of flats in Lan...
In an increasingly competitive marketplace, businesses are looking for more and more ways to demonstrate excellence to their clients and stakeholders. One way of showcasing this, is through an externally verified quality management system, which illustrates that an organization has the processes in place to adhere to internationally recognized best practice standards. ISO 9001 is such a quality management systems certification. Followed and used widely across the world by government bodies and...
Ampac introduces Nimbus, an innovative cloud-based fire alarm management system providing control and monitoring where the user needs it most. Managing any number of fire alarm systems can be time consuming and prone to errors, especially when spread over a large area that is serviced and maintained by different companies. Cloud based fire alarm management provides a solution, as it centralizes all of the fire alarm system activity through a single, common platform, detailing the electronic his...
Apsana Begum, Labor MP for Poplar and Limehouse, has asked the UK Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government that “Whether he plans to provide funding for remedial work to buildings which do not comply with fire safety regulations but do not have problems relating to cladding.” Fire safety legislation The Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) Christopher Pincher, Conservative MP for Tamworth, reminded building owners and premises manage...
The International Association of Fire Chiefs, International Association of Fire Fighters, National Association of State Fire Marshals, and National Volunteer Fire Council urge governors and state health officials to make career and volunteer firefighters, EMTs, and paramedics a top priority level for COVID-19 vaccines. They are vital parts of the national public health system and should be treated at the same priority as other frontline healthcare workers and hospital staff. The nation’s...
VIKING Life-Saving Equipment is driving more investment into its marine fire service business. The inauguration of VIKING’s Foam Lab Odense, which specializes in the testing of a vessel’s reserves of firefighting foam, intensifies the company’s focus on marine fire service, a segment earmarked for significant growth in the coming years. Marine Firefighting Equipment “Our ambition is to cover all aspects of marine firefighting equipment, and our new state-of-the-art lab...
Bristol Uniforms, a globally renowned designer and manufacturer of protective clothing for emergency services across the globe, has launched a brand new, state-of-the-art PPE design for structural firefighting, offering advanced protection to combat the new and emerging risks faced by modern day firefighters. EOS, PPE for structural fighting EOS, named after the Greek goddess of the dawn, builds on the success of Bristol’s XFlex and UK Collaborative Framework ranges, retaining the popula...
The FIA has unveiled its participation as a founding member in a new, industry-wide initiative designed to attract and develop a new generation of fire protection engineers. Zitko Talent Zitko Talent is an alliance of major manufacturers, installation companies and educators Zitko Talent is an alliance of major manufacturers, installation companies and educators, who will be providing an intensive 12-month program of salaried work experience, training, and development. The program is s...
In the recently published Fire and rescue incident statistics (England) it is documented that in the year ending June 2020 “FRSs attended 231,510 fire false alarms, a one percent increase with the previous year (229,961), a seven percent increase compared with five years ago (215,857) and a 19 percent decrease compared with ten years ago (285,368).” While the information published does note that “the number of fire false alarms attended by fire and rescue servic...
A father of three is urging Kent residents to test their smoke alarms once a week, after a fire that left him and his daughter fearing for their lives, destroyed the family home. David Sercombe and his 22-year-old daughter Bronte, were the only ones home on the morning of 18 November, when a fire broke out in the stairwell leading to the basement of the property off Sandling Lane, in Saltwood, Hythe. Their smoke alarms didn’t sound, and instead, a builder made David aware of smoke...
The Association for the Promotion of German Fire Protection (vfdb) has warned against the improper handling of candles given the upcoming Advent season. “Unfortunately, the number of fires increases significantly every year around Christmas,” said vfdb President, Dirk Aschenbrenner in Dortmund, citing figures from the General Association of the German Insurance Industry. In 2019 alone there were 29,000 fires, around 9,000 more than in a comparable month in spring or autumn....
Rapidrop is pleased to announce that they have successfully attained accreditation to the Made in Britain (MiB) organization. Made in Britain (MiB) Made in Britain brings together the British manufacturing community, united with the use of the registered collective mark. The mark is protected and can only be used by members of the Made in Britain organization. The Made in Britain membership organization aims to prove, wherever possible, that products made in Britain by MiB members are of the...
BAFE and BSI are pleased to announce that the first registration and Third Party Certification has been achieved for the new wet and dry riser service and maintenance scheme. A crucial service for high-rise buildings and the tall building environment to ensure these remain effective in the event of an emergency. Evidence Of Competency The Scheme, known as BAFE SP105 Service & Maintenance of Dry and Wet Riser/Falling Installations, offers evidence of competency for organizations who delive...
A team of fire safety inspectors is embarking on an ambitious project to inspect all high-rise residential buildings across South Yorkshire, over 18 meters or with six or more storeys, by the end of next year. This comes as part of a Government-driven ‘Building Risk Review’ program that seeks to ‘significantly increase’ the pace of high-rise residential inspection activity across the country. Made up of staff from South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue’s (SYFR) bus...
BAFE are an official supporting partner of the BSI virtual event. BSI will be hosting a one-day free virtual event that will be looking at “the rapidly growing fire safety market and answers key questions around what’s changing, the likely impacts, emerging trends, and how knowledge can be shared between the fire and construction sectors to help meet the new challenges.” The event has been created for multiple people with roles directly linked to fire safety within an organiza...
Global safety equipment manufacturer MSA Safety Incorporated announced that its next-generation Advantage 290 LS Air-Purifying Respirator (APR) is the first of its kind designed without an exhalation valve to receive approval from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). An elastomeric half-mask device, the Advantage 290 LS Respirator covers a wearer’s nose and mouth and utilizes twin filters to provide respiratory protection. elastomeric half-mask respirators...
It will all be over by Christmas, at least that’s what everyone thought (and hoped) when COVID-19 first hit back in the spring season. However, adapting to life and work in a COVID-19 world has proved a longer and harder road than many ever anticipated. For many unlucky COVID-19 sufferers too, the effects of the virus have been long-term. Whether symptoms are very mild, or more problematic, for most people, COVID-19 infection is a brief, acute illness. However, it is now medically recogni...
In the run-up to the festive period, the HSE is working with local authorities to inspect businesses in the transport and logistics industry to ensure they are managing the risk of coronavirus. With the current lockdown restrictions, the demand for online shopping is already high and is expected to increase over the next few weeks. This will also increase demand in the supply chain for the sector. HSE inspectors and local authority officers will be visiting warehouses and distribution centers...
Global safety equipment manufacturer, MSA Safety Incorporated has announced that its next-generation Advantage 290 LS Air-Purifying Respirator (APR) is the first of its kind, designed without an exhalation valve, to receive approval from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Advantage 290 LS APR An elastomeric half-mask device, the Advantage 290 LS Respirator covers a wearer’s nose and mouth and utilizes twin filters to provide respiratory protection. The U....
