Public Education - News

When it comes to vehicle fire protection, there is only one chance to put out a fire. At the very least, cutting corners can lead to putting machines at risk and, in the worst cases, operators’ lives. It’s not about having a fire suppression system. It’s about having the right system for the machine and the environment in which it operates. vehicle fire suppression failure Under-specified and incorrect fire suppression systems are considered to be the primary cause of vehicle...

There are news articles on fire deaths too many times during any given calendar year. Witnessing this unnecessary pain and suffering in person or through the news media is truly heartbreaking. Most often these fires originate in mobile or permanent homes causing nearly 4,000 deaths and many more disfiguring injuries each and every year in the United States. The larger death tolls occur in nightclubs, motels and factories that are unequipped with fire sprinkler systems. Mandatory installation o...

Roddy Bieber, a senior executive at American Fire Protection Group, is riding around in style these days in a new Jaguar F-PACE after winning ADI Global Distribution’s 2018 Customer Appreciation Car Giveaway Sweepstakes. For over 16 years, the company has been showing appreciation to its customers by presenting one lucky dealer each year with a new car. Entries for the Customer Appreciation Car Giveaway Sweepstakes are collected at all U.S. ADI Expos, and major industry trade shows throug...

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...

The safety, health and well-being of all the American Fire Protection Group employees and customers is one of the company’s core values. Because the COVID-19 virus situation continues to evolve, everyone feels that it is necessary to take additional precautions to prevent further spread of the disease. American Fire Protection Group is taking the following precautions while working at the client’s job site: Social Distancing - Maintain a distance of 6 ft. between individuals. Do n...

AFPG’s Houston division recently achieved the Champion Level Endorsement from Construction Career Collaborative (C3). The Craft Training Endorsement (CTE) program has rigorous standards that measure a company’s Craft Training Program against a training framework. This endorsement is achieved through the development, implementation, and evaluation of robust craft training connected to career paths for craft professionals. Recognition to Construction firms Launched in 2018, C3&rsqu...

To keep the company’s clients and staff safe in these challenging times, Infographics is taking their 2020 FireWatch and Prevent + Protect User Conferences online for a virtual meet-up, and rolling over their residential conference until May 2021. The virtual FireWatch event, taking place on September 7 and Prevent + Protect event, following on September 10, will focus on the overall Evolution 2020 theme of supporting flexible and remote working within the modern FRS. The company’s...

Towards the end of 2019, and already in 2020, sprinklers are operating efficiently and effectively saving lives, children’s education, and businesses from fire. Office Block, London Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters were called to reports of a fire in the basement of an office block. The sprinkler system had actuated and helped to suppress the fire which was extinguished in just over an hour. Flat, Croydon A fire in an 8th floor flat in an 11-story building was extinguished...

BAFSA is disappointed to report that, along with Staffordshire Fire & Rescue Service and Dorset and Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service & BAFSA, the organizations have made the difficult decision to postpone their joint sprinkler seminars on 18th and 24th March respectively due to the current Covid-19 fears. While disappointing for everyone involved, they have taken this step in line with NFCC guidance as far as reducing the chance of spreading the virus as much as is reasonably practic...

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...

The PSM Junior powder suction machine has been a bestseller worldwide for more than 20 years. Its flexible expandability and extraordinary quality make the PSM Junior with its clever detailed solutions so unique. Electric reversing high-quality and durable motor includes 2 filling adapters for all standard fire extinguishers. Every detail of the PSM Junior shows the commitment to quality. Made In Germany From development to production. The brushless and powerful motor is extraordinarily dura...

SmartView is a fully featured graphical event management system that has been designed to complement the Ampac range of fire control panels while presenting clear and precise alarm information to the operators enabling them to make emergency decisions with minimal delay. SmartView is a truly extensible web-based, a client-server application whose primary role is dedicated to the monitoring of fire detection systems, from a single building installation employing one fire detection system to a la...

It’s a fact that a fire sprinkler system can help control fires and reduce injury, deaths, and damages, often by 80% or more. But it’s never just as simple as a quick design and implementation. The quality of the fire sprinkler installation will affect its ability to keep oneself and tenants safe. To such an extent that one might even be better having no system in place than holding onto a false sense of security with a faulty one. Fire Protection Strategy Creating a reliable bui...

Knowing the different types of fire extinguishers available and what they are used for can ensure one is better prepared to have the right one nearby when one needs it. Fire safety is important and many people with homes or businesses already acknowledge that keeping an extinguisher close is at hand is a vital step in making sure their properties are prepared for the worst. But not many people know that there are 5 different versions of extinguishers, each one for a different class of fire. C...

Ampac has introduced a new range of Electro-Magnetic Door Holders to our ancillaries’ range of products. From surface to floor mount, Ampac’s extensive selection is applicable for a range of applications. The surface mount door holders combine good looks, high performance, and economy in a low-profile package. Easy To Install And Commission Designed to allow doors to be held open under normal conditions and released during a fire alarm condition, the surface mount door holders are...

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...

FIA announced a new course in Evacuation Alert Systems (BS 8629), this training is the first of its kind and emanates from the work that has been done since the Grenfell Tower tragedy. The training course can be taken online and, in the future, it will be able to be taken in class to enable learners to choose a teaching style that suits their needs. Evacuation Of Residents Ian Moore CEO of the FIA added, “The FIA has been involved from day one with the Evacuation Alert System concept."...

PACCAR recognizes its Columbus, Mississippi engine factory for 10 years of manufacturing excellence and a strong commitment to its community. “PACCAR is very proud of the Columbus, Mississippi engine factory’s achievements in the first 10 years,” said Preston Feight, PACCAR Chief Executive Officer. “Our excellent employees and the plant’s advanced manufacturing capabilities have created a great environment for building the industry’s best engines.” Pl...

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...

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...

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...

Unused office space after coronavirus could cost London-based businesses almost £13bn, according to a new report by SpaceThreeTwo, a new office timeshare marketplace born out of lockdown. According to a survey of London office workers, employees want to spend an average of 2.7 days back in the office once all COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted, assuming they have the resources to work from home comfortably (e.g. the right equipment, home office set-up, etc). One in ten workers (11%) s...

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....

Chief Robert Valentine and Groveland Firefighters Association President Dave Evans are pleased to announce that members of the Groveland Fire Department delivered turkeys to dozens of residents in a modified version of its annual Turkey Night. Firefighters Traditional Event Traditionally, the Groveland Firefighters Association raffles off 40 turkeys at its annual Turkey Night the Saturday before Thanksgiving. Though the event had to be canceled this year due to safety concerns amid COVID-19, m...

Ground-breaking research has revealed the serious health risks to UK firefighters following exposure to toxic fire effluents, the chemicals emitted during a fire, in an independent University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) report commissioned by the Fire Brigades Union (FBU). The work is the UK's first and the latest in a growing body of international evidence suggesting an increased risk of firefighters developing cancer and other diseases. Fires produce a cocktail of toxic, irritant, and carci...

A firefighter needs to evaporate about 1 liter of sweat per hour to be able to regulate the body temperature when exposed to extreme heat. The human body is designed to function within a very specific temperature range between 36.5 and 37.5 Celsius. However, fighting fires test these limits and can increase a firefighter’s body temperature to over 38 degrees. Selection Of PPE While there are many factors to consider to reduce the impact of heat stress on firefighters – such...