Britannia Fire appoints health and safety manager in Norfolk expansion

Britannia Fire appoints Phil Hodge

Britannia Fire has appointed Phil Hodge as Health and Safety Manager as it expands its manufacturing facility in Norfolk, UK, and responds to rising demand for its composite fire extinguishers.

Britannia Fire announced that Hodge will oversee health, safety and compliance, and support the business as it works towards ISO 14001 accreditation and its environmental targets.

He joins the company with experience in manufacturing environments, including work on ISO systems and sustainability measures aimed at reducing waste and carbon emissions.

Hodge previously spent 12 years as an explosives and weapons technician in the Royal Air Force (RAF), where he oversaw health and safety compliance in what the company described as an extremely hazardous environment.

He later worked at MSI-Defence Systems, where Britannia Fire said he helped build a safety culture across two sites with more than 200 employees and supported continuous improvement.

Britannia Fire links role to environmental targets

In the same announcement, Britannia Fire said Hodge will also support the business in preparing for a potential ban on PFAS and in managing disposal requirements for those chemicals.

Hodge said: “I have worked for 20 years in some of the most challenging and hazardous environments, and I bring a huge amount of knowledge and experience to Britannia Fire at a time of rapid business expansion and transformation.

“As well as ensuring operational safety and compliance, I will be implementing IS0 14001 systems across the business and building on the great work the team has already done to reduce its environmental impact.

“With a PFAS ban expected to be announced early next year, I will also ensure that these ‘forever chemicals’ are disposed of correctly and responsibly.”

Managing Director Andy Spence said: “We are thrilled to welcome Phil to Britannia at an exciting time for the business when we are rapidly expanding and demand is increasing.

“His expertise and commitment to a safe and healthy workplace will be invaluable as we continue to prioritise sustainability and the well-being of our team and uphold the highest safety standards.

“He joins our business as we work towards ISO 14001 accreditation and prepare for a potential ban on PFAS.”

Fire compliance margins rise with end-market focus and early engagement

Compliance report sets out market structure and performance gaps

A new analysis from OC&C Strategy Consultants outlines how fire compliance businesses can improve margins in a competitive UK market.

The report says the sector is attracting strong investor interest, driven by regulation, structural demand and a fragmented supplier base.

It says more than ten private equity-backed platforms are pursuing buy-and-build strategies across the sector.

Performance varies across operators, with leading businesses achieving EBITDA margins 5 – 10% higher than the industry average through clearer strategy and execution.

End-market focus is identified as a key factor, with social housing and data centres able to support stronger pricing due to complexity, regulation and service sensitivity.

Defence and healthcare are also highlighted as specialist environments with higher barriers to entry, where operators that meet vetting, clinical or security requirements can secure higher-margin contracts.

Compliance sales approach and delivery models shape outcomes

The report says earlier customer engagement can reduce reliance on competitive tenders that compress margins.

It highlights seminars, surveys and proactive business development as routes to build relationships before formal procurement begins.

Surveys and fire risk assessments are increasingly used as entry points that lead to remediation work and long-term maintenance contracts.

Disciplined bidding and stronger cost data are also identified as important for avoiding underpriced tenders in a fragmented market.

Selective subcontracting remains part of scaling capacity, with operators advised to deliver around 60 – 80% of work in-house while using subcontractors for larger projects and geographic coverage.

Matt Flood outlines strategic choices for operators

Matt Flood, B2B Partner at OC&C Strategy Consultants, said: “Fire compliance is an attractive market for investors, but performance varies significantly between operators.

“The strongest businesses are those that make deliberate choices about where to specialise, how they win work and how they scale delivery, rather than trying to compete across every part of the market.”

Flood added: “Many providers rely heavily on competitive tenders, but the most successful operators are engaging customers earlier.

“Surveys and compliance assessments can act as a commercial entry point, helping operators build relationships and expand into remediation and long-term maintenance work.”

Sequoia protection bill advances fire resilience measures in forests

Bipartisan sequoia legislation advances with focus on fire risk reduction

The US House of Representatives passed the bipartisan Save Our Sequoias Act by a voice vote on 16 March in Washington, DC, advancing legislation focused on the protection and conservation of giant sequoia trees.

Megafire Action comments on the House passage and said the bill would support coordination between federal, state, tribal and local land managers through shared agreements and the codification of the Giant Sequoia Lands Coalition.

The bill would create a Giant Sequoia Health and Resiliency Assessment to identify wildfire risk reduction treatments in the highest-risk groves and track the progress of scientific forest management activities.

It would also declare an emergency to speed environmental reviews and consultations, retain scientific analysis, allow the National Park Foundation and National Forest Foundation to accept private donations and establish a reforestation strategy for areas destroyed by recent catastrophic wildfires.

Fire measures and Senate companion bill

The legislation also directs the Department of the Interior to implement a Giant Sequoia Reforestation and Rehabilitation Strategy supported by new specialised programmes and funding.

Matt Weiner, founder and CEO of Megafire Action, said: “Today’s vote is a major win for forest health.

“The Save Our Sequoias Act builds on successful action USFS took to ramp up the pace and scale of resilience work after losing 20% of our iconic sequoia groves to extreme wildfire in 2022.

“The Giant Sequoias Land Coalition has made incredible progress and this bill will help finish the job and save these iconic forests.

“Like the Fix Our Forests Act, which would take a similar approach to expediting resilience work on federal land, the Save Our Sequoias Act is bipartisan, targeted, and essential.

“We urge the Senate to maintain this momentum and get these complementary reforms across the finish line without delay.”

In the wake of the House vote, a Senate companion bill was introduced later that day by Senators Alex Padilla and John Curtis.

Fire legislation alongside Fix Our Forests Act

Megafire Action also linked the bill to the Fix Our Forests Act (S. 1462), which is awaiting consideration by the full US Senate.

The group said both bills have bipartisan support and noted that the US Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry advanced the Fix Our Forests Act on a bipartisan basis in October 2025.

According to Megafire Action, that bill would modernise management policies, streamline permitting for high-priority safety projects and establish a Wildfire Intelligence Center to improve inter-agency data sharing.

The group said it wants the Senate to pass both bills as part of longer-term forest resilience planning.

Gear Wash announces 14th facility with new California opening

Gear Wash expands in California

Gear Wash has opened a new facility in Santa Fe Springs, California, marking its second location in the state and its 14th facility nationwide.

The company announced that the site will provide National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) compliant personal protective equipment (PPE) care for fire departments in the Santa Fe Springs region.

California’s adherence to NFPA cleaning and repair guidelines is a legal mandate and the new facility will offer cleaning, inspection, repair and alteration services for PPE.

Gear Wash cites demand from fire departments

Taylor Burke Gilman, President of Gear Wash, said: “Thanks to strong partnerships with major departments like LA County and San Francisco, we’ve seen firsthand the growing need for reliable, compliant PPE care throughout California.

“This expansion helps us be closer to the people we serve.

“It means tighter pickup routes, faster turnarounds and the capacity to serve everyone—from the largest departments to volunteer agencies.”

Gear Wash said it also provides temporary gear rentals so departments can continue operating while equipment is out for service.

Gilman added: “What makes Gear Wash different is that we’re tied directly to the people who build modern turnout gear.

“Our connection to Fire-Dex keeps us close to the design and performance intent behind the gear, so we can identify issues faster and make smarter repairs.

“We see and service more gear than anyone, from every manufacturer regardless of the label, so we know what ‘normal’ wear looks like versus early warning signs that something more serious is wrong.”

The opening gives Gear Wash a second California base as it expands its PPE care network in the state.

Battery storage standard UL 9540A updated with large-scale fire testing

Battery storage standard adds large-scale fire testing

UL Standards & Solutions has published the sixth edition of UL 9540A, adding large-scale fire testing requirements to the standard for evaluating thermal runaway fire propagation in battery energy storage systems.

The new edition was published on 13 March and is described it as a key standard for battery energy storage systems (BESS), including lithium-ion systems.

The standard is titled UL 9540A, Standard for Test Method for Evaluating Thermal Runaway Fire Propagation in Battery Energy Storage Systems, and is identified by UL as the American and Canadian national standard for assessing fire propagation related to thermal runaway events in energy storage systems (ESS).

UL said testing to the standard is an essential element of due diligence when the design or installation conditions of an ESS exceed the limits set by National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 855, NFPA 1, the International Fire Code (IFC) or the International Residential Code (IRC).

UL 9540A is the only consensus standard explicitly cited in NFPA 855 for large-scale fire testing and the only national standard in the US and Canada for fire safety testing methods for battery ESS.

UL also said it offers testing aligned with both the fifth and sixth editions of UL 9540A.

Battery storage testing and CSA Group response

CSA Group published comment from Dana Parmenter, Commercial Vice President, Industrial at CSA Group, on what the sixth edition may mean for manufacturers and authorities having jurisdiction.

Parmenter said: “The release of the 6th Edition of UL 9540A in March 2026 establishes a new precedent in the energy storage system (ESS) testing and certification ecosystem.

“This change will raise many questions for manufacturers around enforcement timelines, jurisdictional adoption, and how updated requirements may be interpreted by AHJs.

“This edition expands testing expectations and introduces large scale fire (LSFT) testing requirements within the certification process.

“Section 10 requires LSFT to demonstrate that fire will not propagate between ESS units.

“This change is part of a larger trend across ESS standards, placing greater emphasis on LSFT as it relates to system level safety.”

CSA Group said NFPA 855 Section 9.2.1.2.1 requires large-scale fire testing to characterise gas composition and demonstrate non-propagation between ESS units, which involves gas analysis and calorimetric data such as heat release rate (HRR).

It added that previous editions of UL 9540A did not explicitly incorporate large-scale fire testing, and said the sixth edition now addresses spacing and fire propagation as safety considerations within the certification framework.

CSA Group said CSA/ANSI C800:25 continues to address performance-based characterisation, including heat release rate, target unit measurements such as heat flux, operation of detection systems, battery management system data, and a framework for acquiring data for fire protection engineer analysis.

Complementary roles in ESS approvals

CSA Group said NFPA 855 Section 9.2.2.2 requires interpretation of test results by a registered fire protection engineer, and added that many engineers recommend HRR and other measurements in CSA/ANSI C800:25 to support their analysis.

It said CSA/ANSI C800:25 can be used alongside UL 9540A to provide additional performance and engineering-based data for site-specific installation requirements, engineering approvals and AHJ review.

Parmenter added: “UL 9540A and CSA/ANSI C800:25 now serve more distinct, yet complementary, roles within the ESS testing and approvals process.

“Looking ahead, both standards may be applied to support demonstration of alignment with NFPA 855.

“UL’s recent revisions to UL 9540A expand the scope of safety focused requirements by incorporating certain performance-based considerations, such as those informing spacing and propagation mitigation, into the certification framework.

“CSA/ANSI C800:25 continues to provide additional performance and engineering-based characterization, including data elements that remain optional or out of scope under UL 9540A.”

Alerter Group to launch fire alarm devices for hearing loss at Birmingham event

Fire alarm devices to be shown at Birmingham event

Alerter Group will launch its next generation Deaf Alerter devices at The Fire Safety Event, which runs from 28 to 30 April at the NEC in Birmingham.

The company confirmed that the redeveloped devices, designed to provide fire alarm notifications for people who are deaf or hard of hearing, will be displayed on Stand J36 in Hall 4.

The new devices are rechargeable and include a larger LCD backlit screen for improved readability.

Notifications sent to the devices can also be delivered to Bluetooth-connected smart phones.

Fire alarm system compliance and product details

Alerter Group stated that the Deaf Alerter systems are compliant with BS 5839-1:2025 and use a National Roaming feature.

This allows the devices to receive notifications in any UK building displaying the Deaf Alerter sign.

BS 5839-1 Section 18 covers the special requirements for fire alarm warnings for people with impaired hearing.

Section 18 is described as the minimum acceptable standard by industry experts and is considered safe to use.

Company background and wider product range

Alerter Group has 25 years of experience in designing, manufacturing and installing radio-based emergency communication systems.

Its product range also includes Refuge Alerter, a wireless Emergency Voice Communication System enabling two-way communication between building management and refuge points.

New Fire Cadets branch supports youth development and safety awareness in Gateshead

Fire Cadets branch opens in Gateshead

Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFRS) has launched a new Fire Cadets branch at Gateshead Community Fire Station, where the first cohort of young people has joined the programme.

TWFRS said the new branch delivers a Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP) 2024-2027 action to increase the number of Fire Cadet branches from four to five, with one in each local authority area.

The programme supports young people aged 11-17 by helping them build life skills, confidence and awareness of fire safety, road safety and water safety.

Opening night included drill yard demonstrations, classroom activities and chances for guests to meet cadets and instructors.

What the programme includes

The Fire Cadets programme offers personal development and teamwork, alongside opportunities to build self discipline and leadership, with a route into volunteering and possible future careers in the fire and rescue sector.

Deputy Chief Fire Officer Stewart Nicholson said: “Launching the new Fire Cadets branch is a key step in our commitment to early youth engagement and community safety.

“The programme gives young people the chance to grow in confidence, develop life skills and experience the teamwork that sits at the heart of our Service.

“By supporting young people at this stage, we can help create safer communities and encourage the next generation to understand the vital role of the Fire and Rescue Service.”

Councillor Gary Haley, Vice Chair of Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Authority, added: “It’s a pleasure to welcome the new cohort of cadets as they begin their journey with the Service.

“Fire Cadets provides young people with valuable skills, positive opportunities, and a sense of achievement, while also supporting community safety across Tyne and Wear.

“Seeing this new branch open in Gateshead reinforces the importance of engaging with young people early and helping them build strong foundations for the future.”

Wider youth engagement work

TWFRS said the Fire Cadets programme forms part of its wider youth engagement work, which also includes schools education programmes and the SafetyWorks! interactive learning centre.

Temperature tolerance: How Dafo Fomtec’s Enviro NEO performs across fuel types

The development of Dafo Fomtec Enviro NEO’s and where it fits high-hazard industrial response planning

In January 2026, Dafo Fomtec launched Enviro NEO, a synthetic fluorine-free firefighting foam developed for petrochemical, oil and gas, marine and other high-hazard industries.

The product forms part of the company’s Enviro Programme, which has focused on fluorine-free foam development since 2010.

Development through full-scale testing

Enviro NEO is the result of thousands of full-scale fire tests carried out under the Enviro Programme.

The testing programme evaluated performance across a range of fuel types, water qualities and discharge systems.

According to Fomtec, the aim was to deliver consistent extinguishing capability in demanding industrial environments such as offshore platforms, tank farms and marine terminals.

The product was validated against recognised international standards including EN 1568, UL 162, ICAO, IMO and LASTFIRE.

Testing covered both hydrocarbon and polar solvent fuels under varying application conditions.

Fully hydrated polymer technology

Enviro NEO uses 100% hydrated polymers in its formulation.

This approach removes the need for partially hydrated or unhydrated polymers, which can lead to viscosity changes if water enters the concentrate during storage or handling.

In some fluorine-free formulations, partially hydrated polymers may thicken rapidly when exposed to additional water.

This can result in increased viscosity, separation or gum formation.

By contrast, Enviro NEO is designed to maintain stable viscosity and reliable proportioning throughout discharge.

The objective is to support predictable foam generation from the start of application to final extinguishment.

Performance profile

Enviro 3×3 NEO is a sixth-generation alcohol-resistant synthetic fluorine-free foam concentrate within the Enviro NEO range.

It contains no intentionally added fluorinated surfactants or polymers.

The product is designed for use at a 3% proportioning rate on both hydrocarbon and polar solvent fuel fires.

It has demonstrated performance on fuels including heptane, Jet A-1, hexane, acetone, ethanol, methanol, isopropyl alcohol, methyl ethyl ketone and ethyl and butyl acetate.

It is also suitable for severe foam-destroying liquids such as MTBE.

The suppression mechanism is based on the formation of a foam blanket that blocks oxygen from the fuel surface while the water content cools the fuel and reduces vapour release.

When applied to polar solvents, a polymeric membrane forms between the fuel and the foam blanket, enabling extinguishment and helping to prevent re-ignition.

Enviro 3×3 NEO can be applied as low or medium expansion foam in mobile firefighting operations or in fixed systems designed to recommended application rates and discharge durations.

It can also be used on Class A fires involving wood, paper and textiles at induction rates between 0.3% and 1%.

Technical characteristics and storage

Enviro 3×3 NEO is suitable for use with fresh water, brackish water and seawater, making it appropriate for coastal, offshore and marine installations.

Typical physical data includes a clear yellowish liquid appearance, specific gravity of 1.06 ± 0.02 g/ml at 20°C, pseudoplastic viscosity and pH between 6.5 and 8.5.

The freezing point is -14.6°C and the recommended storage temperature range is -14°C to 55°C.

Surface tension is ≤ 30.0 mN/m.

When stored in original unopened packaging under appropriate conditions, the product is expected to achieve a shelf life in excess of 10 years in temperate climates.

Shelf life depends on storage temperature and conditions.

Find out more about Envrio NEW here: https://www.fomtec.com/enviro-neo/

This was originally published in the March 2026 Edition of International Fire & Safety Journal. To read your FREE copy, click here.

Motorola Guardian Hub command centre connects multi-agency fire response

Command centre links three fire services

Fire and rescue teams in Norfolk, Suffolk and Hertfordshire are using Motorola Solutions’ Guardian Hub command centre platform to support joint incident management across more than 100 stations and a population of over 2.5 million people.

Motorola Solutions said the cloud-based system allows the three fire and rescue services (FRSs) to jointly manage 999 calls, dispatch crews and track incidents during mutual aid scenarios.

The platform is designed to support each agency’s daily operations and enable collaboration across the lifecycle of an incident at short notice.

Bringing control room operations into a shared hub means the three services can work more closely during major incidents.

The system also removes the need for each FRS to maintain separate IT systems, which the company said could reduce duplication and ease pressure on call handlers during busy periods.

Darren Cook, assistant chief fire officer at Hertfordshire FRS, said: “Emergencies aren’t restricted by borders, and our responses shouldn’t be either.

“Working closely with Norfolk and Suffolk is already leading to more efficient and effective responses, and the chance to share knowledge on how we’re using this new technology has been incredibly valuable.

“Within hours of the hub going live, we saw the benefits, as Suffolk FRS operators took calls and managed dispatch for Hertfordshire FRS during a large structure fire incident.”

Command centre supports mutual aid and training

The company said the shared hub gives neighbouring FRSs visibility into ongoing incidents and supports closer coordination during periods of high demand.

Scott Norman, deputy chief fire officer at Norfolk FRS, said: “During extreme weather events and major fires, it’s crucial that we can share call handling and frontline resources with neighbouring FRSs.

“The system gives us visibility into our partners’ ongoing incidents to mobilise our own crews faster and respond more effectively.

“Ultimately, we can provide a better service for our community, when and where they need it.”

Jon Lacey, chief fire officer at Suffolk FRS, said: “Our work can often be a matter of life or death – we needed a system which would hit the ground running and enable entirely new ways of working with our neighbouring FRSs.

“Motorola Solutions fit the bill perfectly.

“The Hub model has already proven its value with call handlers able to manage extremely high call volumes and allowing each FRS to seamlessly provide additional support when needed.

“We’ve also found unexpected benefits, such as allowing all control room staff to take part in planned training exercises, without disrupting active operations.”

David Shorland, U.K. and Ireland sales director, Motorola Solutions, said: “Fire and rescue services are there for their communities, but the pressure they face continues to grow.

“Guardian Hub gives services a better way to connect, coordinate and respond.

“With agencies increasingly required to do more with less, we’re providing a resilient, scalable model to help serve and protect communities.”

Barking project prompts sprinkler warning from Business Sprinkler Alliance

Sprinkler strategy and building use

A multi-storey industrial building in Barking has been cited by the Business Sprinkler Alliance (BSA) as an example of how a compliant fire strategy can still restrict building use.

Tom Roche, Secretary of the Business Sprinkler Alliance, said the development was designed as a multi-storey industrial and warehousing scheme and described as a pioneer project, yet most of it remained empty two years after completion.

The building was presented as flexible workspace with tall ceilings, roller shutters and vehicle access to upper levels.

Only a small fraction of the available space has been let. The issue was linked to the fire strategy.

The sprinkler system was designed for industrial use rather than storage use.

Flammable materials can therefore only be stored to a height of around 1.2 metres.

In units capable of accommodating storage at much greater height, that restriction limited the range of occupiers the space could support.

Barking and Dagenham Council described the sprinkler system as having been “value engineered” to “balance cost, compliance and anticipated use”.

The system complied with fire safety regulations, went beyond the guidance in fitting the sprinklers and passed the required checks before sign-off.

Business Sprinkler Alliance sets out wider concern

Roche said the case showed how fire engineering strategies can shape what can be stored, how space is used and whether a building remains commercially viable.

He wrote that fire engineering strategies are often agreed early and then rarely revisited.

He also said further value engineering can alter the long-term use of a building even when a strategy is later updated.

In this case, the property is reported to need an additional £2.2 million to allow it to be used in the way intended.

Roche also referred to other examples including schools with atria that cannot hold events and large warehouses with clear heights that cannot be protected with ceiling-only automatic sprinklers.

He said: “A building that cannot be let because its fire strategy restricts its use is not a success.

“A development that requires millions of pounds of remedial work shortly after completion is not a success.

“A scheme that looks right, feels right, but functions incorrectly has failed at a fundamental level.”

He added: “If a building looks like a warehouse, is marketed as a warehouse and is priced as a warehouse, then it should be able to operate as one.”

The Business Sprinkler Alliance said it would continue to argue for fire safety approaches that place protection, resilience and continuity alongside life safety.