Honeywell acquire Sparta Systems for $1.3 billion

Honeywell (NYSE: HON) have announced it has agreed to acquire privately held Sparta Systems for $1.3 billion in an all-cash transaction from New Mountain Capital. Sparta Systems is a leading provider of enterprise quality management software (QMS), including a next-generation SaaS platform, for the life sciences industry.

The acquisition further strengthens Honeywell’s leadership in industrial automation, digital transformation solutions and enterprise performance management software.

Honeywell will leverage its global presence, Honeywell Forge and Sparta’s expertise to introduce new, integrated solutions, including QMS offerings, for life sciences and adjacent industries. Honeywell’s customers will benefit from advanced digital QMS solutions to help them proactively achieve better quality, which results in improved new therapies, faster time to market, better business and patient outcomes, and effective regulatory compliance.

“Sparta’s TrackWise Digital® and QualityWise.aiSM are a welcome addition to Honeywell’s enterprise performance management software, Honeywell Forge, and will further enhance the link between quality and production data for life sciences manufacturers,” said Que Dallara, president and chief executive officer of Honeywell Connected Enterprise. “Our combined offerings will make it easier for customers to gain critical insights from manufacturing and quality data that can improve their manufacturing processes while ensuring product quality, patient safety, and supply chain continuity.”

Honeywell has provided the world’s leading drug manufacturers and biomedical firms with consistently innovative advancements in automation technologies, systems and services for more than 30 years. Honeywell’s portfolio includes advanced automation and process controls for consistency and oversight of both continuous and batch processing; data capture and recording solutions that simplify and safeguard compliance; and technologies that help maintain auditability, optimize production, and speed time to market while ensuring quality and repeatability. Honeywell’s Fast Track Automation helps life science manufacturers expedite development and production of vital vaccines and medical therapies.

“Sparta Systems is an ideal complement to our life sciences portfolio,” said Rajeev Gautam, president and chief executive officer of Honeywell Performance Materials and Technologies. “While Sparta’s capabilities will initially help us expand our capabilities for our existing breakthrough initiative in life sciences, we plan to leverage Honeywell’s global footprint and expertise to quickly expand Sparta’s capabilities to serve other markets. We have strong conviction in the growth opportunities in the life sciences and pharmaceuticals space and in the synergies between Sparta and Honeywell both for Honeywell Connected Enterprise and Honeywell Forge as well as for Honeywell Process Solutions.”

Sparta Systems is headquartered in Hamilton, N.J., and has approximately 250 employees globally. Sparta serves more than 400 customers, including 42 of the world’s top 50 pharma companies and 33 of the top 50 medical device companies.

“Organizations need a quality management software solution with advanced digital capabilities that effectively automates, optimizes and standardizes quality processes across the board,” said Dana Jones, chief executive officer of Sparta Systems. “When you combine Sparta’s leading QMS platform with Honeywell’s existing process automation and software offerings, you create a highly differentiated, comprehensive solution that allows customers to focus more on the value-add activities that will accelerate their growth.”

Honeywell will continue to enhance TrackWise Digital QMS by adding AI and machine learning capabilities that augment human decision making. Honeywell will also add new IoT-enabled connectivity between quality and operational data to detect manufacturing anomalies and triage quality events in near real time. These continuing innovations will help customers proactively address quality to improve patient safety and effective regulatory compliance.

Pete Masucci, managing director of New Mountain Capital, said, “Since we partnered with Sparta in 2017, the company launched its TrackWise Digital platform – the only AI-enabled QMS solution, expanded its SaaS customer base by two-and-a-half times, and significantly invested in product development and R&D. We are excited to watch Sparta continue to thrive within the Honeywell organization.”

The acquisition is expected to close by the end of the first quarter of 2021 and is subject to certain regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. There is no change to Honeywell’s 2020 financial outlook as a result of the acquisition.

Honeywell (www.honeywell.com) is a Fortune 100 technology company that delivers industry specific solutions that include aerospace products and services; control technologies for buildings and industry; and performance materials globally. Our technologies help everything from aircraft, buildings, manufacturing plants, supply chains, and workers become more connected to make our world smarter, safer, and more sustainable. For more news and information on Honeywell, please visit www.honeywell.com/newsroom.

Telstra and Motorola Solutions to provide mission critical communications to first responders

Telstra and Motorola Solutions will provide Tasmania’s emergency responders and government organisations with a highly advanced, state-wide mission critical communications network to effectively respond to emergencies.

The contract to design, build, operate and maintain Tasmania’s Government Radio Network (TasGRN) will provide enhanced digital communication and vastly improved radio network coverage for Tasmania’s public safety and essential services personnel throughout the state.

The innovative network will be built on a feature-rich technology platform to provide a variety of additional capabilities for today and the future. These include broadband push-to-talk services enabling seamless communication between radios, smartphones and other devices as well as enhanced integration between existing communication centres’ operating systems and Motorola Solutions’ consoles.

In delivering the contract, Telstra will draw on its extensive experience in delivering wireless communications services and managing radio systems for public safety agencies.

Telstra Enterprise Executive Gretchen Cooke said “TasGRN will be the largest single project Telstra has ever carried out in Tasmania and will transform the way government agencies communicate.”

“This new radio network will be more reliable, more resilient, more secure and will replace five separate systems so Tasmania’s emergency services can communicate with confidence to help keep Tasmanians safe,” Ms Cooke said. 

“The new communications service will enable Tasmania’s emergency services to manage increasingly complex operational requirements – from combating natural disasters, to dealing with the evolving security landscape and beyond,” said Con Balaskas, vice president Motorola Solutions Australia and New Zealand.

“In addition to instant and interoperable communications across multiple government organisations, the contract will provide managed services to keep all of TasGRN’s critical technology, infrastructure and features up to date.

“Our involvement in this significant project for Tasmania demonstrates our commitment to ensuring the highest levels of safety for communities as well as the emergency responders that put their lives on the line every day to protect them,” Balaskas said.

The Government Radio Network will be constructed over the next three years with associated services running over 12 years.

Telstra and Motorola Solutions have a long history of working together and delivering services for mission critical environments. In addition to TasGRN, Telstra and Motorola Solutions have delivered many successful public safety projects throughout Australia. This includes designing, building, operating and maintaining Queensland’s Government Wireless Network and partnering to deliver a number of communications networks and services for Victorian public safety agencies.

ISD Solutions provide fast-track firewall for vaccine centre

Fire safety construction specialists ISD Solutions are delivering a fast-track firewall element at the UK’s new Vaccines Manufacturing and Innovation Centre (VMIC) at Harwell in Oxfordshire.

The firewall division of the Gloucester firm was recently contracted to provide the two-storey building with almost 5,000m2of extensive certified fireproof separation walls.

VMIC was established to provide the UK’s first strategic vaccine development and advanced manufacturing capability. It has taken a leading role in advising Government teams on vaccines manufacturing in response to Covid-19.

Once operationally ready, the 7,400m2 facility, at the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, will have capacity to manufacture up to 70 million doses of a pandemic vaccine within a six  month timeframe.

Demand for the site accelerated when the pandemic started, construction was backed by UK Government and Prime Minister Boris Johnson visited the site in September.

It was around this time that ISD was selected through a tender process as the supplier of the fireproofing elements of the building.

The VMIC facility is due to open in summer 2021, a year ahead of schedule.

Brett Harrington, Manager of ISD Solutions’ Firewall Division, said: “The VMIC facility is a vital weapon in the UK’s fight against coronavirus and, as such, security and safety is crucial.

“This was an exciting opportunity to be involved in a project of such importance. The compressed timelines have added to the challenge but we have sufficient resources in house and quickly mobilised our design and project management teams. Working with our supply chain we were able to support the synchronisation of material ordering and delivery, even while the design phase was ongoing.”

“We are all proud to have played a role in the nation’s future recovery from the pandemic.”

During the past 12 months ISD Solutions has doubled down on its in-house fire expertise, part of its strategy to provide specialist services required by the market. Both Mr Harrington and managing director Adrian Smith becoming among the first worldwide to have passed the new Level 3 Certificate in Passive Fire Protection from the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE).

The qualifications put ISD Solutions as one of a select group of UK construction contractors to be at the pinnacle of fire safety expertise.

“Our expertise is becoming more widely recognised and, combined with our relationships with product suppliers, this makes ISD a reliable provider for such urgent work,” said Mr Harrington.

“Our clients receive surety in our installations, which are designed and installed to LPS 1500/1531 standards from the BRE, with a third party backed certificate of conformity.”

Glencar Construction is the main contractor at VMIC in Harwell and began on-site ground works in early April, with the basebuild ready for access for fit-out a few weeks ago.

Eddie McGillycuddy, Managing Director of Glencar Construction said: “Glencar is pleased to collaborate with stakeholders including ISD Solutions to deliver this critical project. We have made an accelerated start and reduced our construction programme with the support of our partners, making this project an excellent example of all that is good about our industry.”

Chris Lucas, Chief Operating Officer at VMIC said: “The programme acceleration to allow VMIC to open its doors in 2021, a year ahead of schedule, has been made possible by an extraordinary level of cooperation by all concerned.

“We have focussed on collaboration to deliver this critical resource both in the battle against pandemic viruses and the rejuvenation of the vaccines industry in the UK.”

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Rosenbauer upgrades its airport rescue stairs

A medical emergency, smoke in the cabin, or an evacuation – in the event of an incident on board an aircraft, action must be taken quickly and efficiently. And that’s exactly why Rosenbauer has once again improved its rescue stairs.

When it comes to operations on or around the runway, time is of the essence: Rosenbauer developed Aircraft Interior Access Vehicle, better known as rescue stairs in order to be able to come to the aid of passengers and crew as quickly as possible in the event of an emergency.

The vehicles have been designed to arrive on the scene of the emergency quickly and dock with the aircraft equally fast. This is not only to enable evacuations in a controlled manner, but also to allow firefighting and rescue teams quick and safe access.

Minimal set-up times, maximum security

The E5000 and E8000 rescue stairs have already proven to be the ideal vehicles that are optimally equipped for such scenarios. During the development, particular focus was placed on safety, simple operation, and the quickest possible setup time.

As a result, the crew can select the respective type of aircraft, in order to automatically extend the rescue platform to the correct height. The approach to the aircraft is supported by aids, such as distance sensors, camera imaging, and an overhead window, to ensure the best possible view in every scenario. The platform can be adjusted to match the aircraft fuselage, and the side rails can be manually docked onto it. This makes alignment easier and ensures gap-free and secure access.

Thanks to sophisticated technology, the platform and steps are held in a horizontal position regardless of the incline of the staircase. This means that both evacuations and rapid access by rescue teams can be undertaken safely.

Even easier to operate

At Rosenbauer, however, we continuously strive to improve products that have already been refined. This is precisely why the operating concept of the rescue stairs have been revised and the latest lighting technology integrated. Feedback from Rosenbauer’s customers has had a significant impact upon this further development.

The crew is now given a modern 10-inch touchscreen display, both in the driver’s cab and on the rescue platform, through which the rescue stairs can be controlled even more easily and intuitively. With the RBC LCS operating system, the rescue stairs fits seamlessly into the Rosenbauer product family.

This makes it easier for crew members to switch between the different vehicle types. The control panel in the driver’s cab is also mounted on a swivel arm that can be rotated to either the driver’s or passenger’s side. In this way you can have everything exactly where you want it to be. Not only the operation has been overhauled, but the intelligent CAN bus system has also been implemented on new, future-proof control units. With these safety-certified modules, it was possible to simplify the control architecture and reduce complex dependencies – true to the motto “less is more.”

Fine-tuning for optics and lighting

Rosenbauer’s engineers have also further improved the scene and staircase lighting systems. Instead of the previous LED spotlights, the latest LED light strip technology is now used, which ensures more homogeneous and improved illumination of the steps and the surrounding area.

This further increases the safety of passengers and emergency crews, especially when operating in the dark. The rescue stair’s rear has also been given a facelift: the lighting has been adapted to the appearance of the rest of the Rosenbauer fleet, and thus fits seamlessly into the modern and visually appealing vehicle range.

The innovations integrated into the rescue stairs are yet another example of how consistently Rosenbauer works on the further development of existing products and the introduction of new technologies. Rosenbauer is committed to providing maximum safety and efficiency in emergencies to emergency crews around the world with the best products for their daily work.

Honeywell and Signify team up to deliver smart lighting solutions

Honeywell and Signify have announced a strategic alliance to deploy integrated, smart lighting solutions for commercial buildings. Together, the companies aim to improve the occupant experience – focusing on productivity and well-being – and to reduce energy consumption.

The collaboration integrates Signify’s Interact connected smart lighting system and software, and its UV-C disinfection lighting, with Honeywell Building Management Systems and the Honeywell Forge enterprise performance management platform.

The combined offerings will manage energy consumption while factoring in occupancy along with air quality indicators such as temperature and humidity. Signify’s smart lighting solutions* will complement Honeywell’s Healthy Buildings air quality solutions beginning in early 2021, and can be controlled, measured and monitored via the Healthy Buildings dashboard to understand air and surface cleaning compliance and metrics.

Signify offers additional elements to improve productivity and well-being. These elements include human-centric lighting, such as NatureConnect, and UV-C disinfection lighting. UV-C breaks down the DNA or RNA of micro-organisms, including viruses and bacteria, rendering them harmless. In laboratory testing, Signify’s UV-C light sources reduced SARS-CoV-2 virus infectivity on a surface to below detectable levels in as few as 9 seconds.[i]

Additionally, building owners and operators will be able to better manage their smart lighting systems and energy efficiency with smart LED lighting systems. Lighting represents 17% of all electricity used in U.S. commercial buildings according to the Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey,[ii] making it the largest end use of electricity in buildings. Similar usage rates are seen globally.[iii]

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Signify’s connected LED smart lighting system Interact Office can save up to 70% of the energy used for lighting[iv] and deploying advanced building controls and sensing, like those from Honeywell, can save up to 30% in facility energy costs.[v]

“Increasingly we see lighting systems playing a critical role in buildings to improve occupant comfort, well-being and productivity; helping to meet energy savings goals outlined by regional government agendas. We anticipate this trend will continue to grow,” said George Bou Mitri, vice president and general manager, Honeywell Building Technologies, Middle East, Turkey and Africa.

Smart lighting will “help building owners improve environment”

“Our collaboration with Signify will enable our customers in the region to implement integrated lighting solutions, helping improve the occupant experience with customizable, personal lighting options that can be integrated into our Honeywell Forge and Building Management Systems platforms.”

“There are known benefits of how lighting can improve occupant experience and well-being,” said Harsh Chitale, leader of Signify’s Digital Solutions. “Many of our customers expect our solutions to deliver value beyond the scope of lighting.

“We look forward to capitalizing on this collaboration with Honeywell to jointly develop products and systems that provide greater value to our customers. We aim to deliver end-user benefits to building occupants, such as increased well-being and productivity, while providing channel partners with products that are easier to commission and maintain.”

The integrated Honeywell and Signify products can support the needs of any building and feature specific solutions for premium commercial buildings, airports, hospitality, healthcare, education, retail and stadia sectors. Honeywell and Signify are also currently deploying the integrated solutions, including Signify’s Philips UV-C disinfection upper air luminaires, in several Honeywell global offices.

Honeywell’s Healthy Buildings solutions help building owners improve their building environments, operate more cleanly and safely, comply with social distancing policies, and help reassure occupants that it is safer to return to the workplace.

By integrating air quality, safety and security technologies along with advanced analytics, Honeywell’s Healthy Buildings solutions are designed to help building owners minimize potential risks of contamination and improve business continuity by monitoring both the building environment and building occupants’ behaviors.

For more information on the smart lighting solutions, and a wider range of other solutions offered by Honeywell and Signify, visit their respective websites:

https://www.signify.com/en-gb

https://buildings.honeywell.com

Parrot ANAFI UAV platform now compatible with UgCS

SPH Engineering, the world’s premier UgCS software developer, announced today that the Parrot ANAFI UAV platform is now compatible with UgCS. ANAFI users now have access to the program’s vast range of tools to enhance professional drone operations and streamline land surveying and mapping processes.

The world’s premier UgCS (Universal ground Control Software) is a tool for enhanced UAV mission planning and data collection suitable for land surveying and industrial inspections. It is an industry-standard data acquisition instrument for professional drone pilots doing their job with a mixed multi-vendor drone fleet in large scale surveying projects.

It allows to plan and fly drone survey missions to safely collect high-quality data, providing convenient technics for aerial and linear surveys and enabling direct drone control. UgCS also offers key features including custom elevation data import, terrain following mode and georeferenced video streaming.

“UgCS is one of the most advanced mission planning software for drones. Its unique features make it the perfect tool to complete complex and large-scale mapping projects,” said Jerome Bouvard, Parrot Director of Strategic Partnership. “This partnership will broaden the mapping capabilities and software options available to professional ANAFI users as a whole.”

Through its SDK Partner program, Parrot is working to create a global ecosystem of drone software providers to serve the unique and ever-evolving needs of its enterprise and professional users.

“Parrot’s professional verticals include some of the most demanding users from public safety, construction, inspection, enterprise and government. To achieve their daily extensive and at times complex missions, they expect not only class-leading, proven secure drone technology that Parrot has the experience and is renowned for, but powerful software solutions that extend their advance usages and requirements,” said Chris Roberts, Parrot Vice President & Chief Sales & Marketing Officer.

“When combining UgCS mission planning with the Parrot ANAFI drone platform this is achieved– enabling safe and efficient in-depth capabilities with powerful survey planning tools, custom elevation data import and terrain following.”

UgCS users’ global network unites private, public and educational organisations, as well as resellers in +150 countries since 2013. The software is regularly updated to support new drone types, while Parrot ANAFI support was added to new UgCS v.4.0. UgCS is offered as a monthly subscription or perpetual license, and new customers have the opportunity to take advantage of a 14-day free trial.

“SPH Engineering is excited to partner with Parrot in building the global drone ecosystem for consumers and professionals and support Parrot ANAFI in UgCS with safe and versatile UAV mission planning,” Alexei Yankelevich, R&D Director of SPH Engineering, comments. “This is a great line of drones with very competitive characteristics for construction, agriculture, S&R and other applications.”

London Fire Brigade ‘welcome’ Waking Watch Fund announcement

London Fire Brigade have responded to the Governments announcement that funds of £30 million will pay for costs of installing an alarm system in buildings with unsafe cladding.

London Fire Brigade Commissioner Andy Roe said: “The announcement of the Waking Watch Relief Fund is a welcome step in the right direction towards reducing some of the costs to leaseholders for remediation work to make their buildings safer.

“The deadline for building owners to apply for support to remove dangerous cladding from their buildings has also been extended and while we welcome the opportunity this gives for more people to apply, we remain concerned about the length of time people are still being forced to live in buildings with dangerous cladding.

“The number of buildings in London with waking watches in place continues to rise as more work is done to uncover potential fire safety risks in the built environment. We are deeply concerned about the scale of the issues being uncovered and will continue our work with building owners and those responsible for fire safety to identify and address risks and keep Londoners safe.

“We should all feel safe in our homes and those responsible for residential buildings have a legal obligation to meet their responsibilities and address all fire safety risks identified. We will continue to work with Government around how this fund can be best used to ensure the safety of buildings now and in future.”

For more information, visit the London Fire Brigade website

IJsselland Safety Region secure 3 fire fighting aerial platforms

The Safety Region of Ijsselland in Netherlands has sealed the deal for three new fire fighting aerial platforms with Bronto Skylift’s local distributor, Kenbri Fire Fighting. The public tender regarding the supply and maintenance of 3 new fire-fighting platforms was awarded to Kenbri and the contract was signed in Zwolle on Tuesday 8th December.

The IJsselland safety region had issued the tender because the current rescue vehicles need to be replaced. The new 32-meter Bronto F32RPX aerials will be mounted on Scania P320 6×2 / 4 chassis and are expected to be delivered in early 2022. They are to be stationed at the fire stations in Hardenberg, Kampen and Zwolle. The F32RPX features 32 meter working height, over 24 meter working outreach, spacious 500kg rescue cage and 3800l water capacity.

The chassis are produced in the Scania factory in Zwolle. They will roll off the production line around April 2021 and will be sent to Bronto Skylift’s manufacturing facilities in Finland. In addition to local chassis, Kenbri opened a service location for the Northern Netherlands in Dedemsvaart earlier this year, which means the brand new Bronto’s will have a local service and maintenance facility.

About the IJsselland Safety Region

More than 500,000 residents in 11 municipalities live, work and enjoy recreation in the IJsselland Safety Region. These are the municipalities of Dalfsen, Deventer, Hardenberg, Kampen, Ommen, Olst-Wijhe, Raalte, Staphorst, Steenwijkerland, Zwartewaterland and Zwolle.

The IJsselland Safety Region is an organization in which emergency services and partners join forces in the field of fire services, crisis management and disaster relief and medical assistance in the event of accidents and disasters.

The IJsselland Fire Service , part of the IJsselland Safety Region, consists of 35 fire stations. 

Rosenbauer receive major order for PANTHER vehicles from Spanish airports

Rosenbauer have received a major order from Spain just before the end of the year. Airport operator AENA ordered 22 PANTHER 6×6 vehicles, including a multi-year maintenance contract. The vehicles are destined for twelve of the largest airports in Spain and will be delivered by the end of 2022. The Spanish airport operator ordered an additional seven rescue vehicles from Rosenbauer in another project.

High-end technology for AENA
The PANTHER is one of the most powerful and safest ARFF vehicles in the world. Its impressive features include optimal system integration of chassis, superstructure and fire extinguishing systems and a multiple-award-winning design.

The 22 vehicles for AENA are built on Rosenbauer 6×6 chassis, are powered by a Volvo engine with 700 hp (552 kW) and can achieve a top speed of 120 km/h with a working weight of 37 t. The crash-tested safety cabin can accommodate six emergency services personnel, and the extinguishing agent tanks can carry 10,000 liters of water and 1,200 liters of foam concentrate.

The vehicles’ fire extinguishing systems consist of the N80 high-performance pump with a rated output of 8,000 l/min at 10 bar (up to 9,000 l/min at 14 bar), the FIXMIX 2.0 automatic around-the-pump foam proportioning system and a powder extinguishing system with 250 kg of extinguishing powder.

The extinguishing agents can be applied while the vehicle is in motion (pump-and-roll operation) via both the RM80 roof turret and the RM15 front turret. The RM80 has a capacity of up to 9,500 l/min (water) and is equipped with a combined water/powder nozzle through which up to 15 kg/s of extinguishing powder can be conveyed by water jet.

Longstanding partnership
The partnership between the Spanish airport operator and Rosenbauer goes back decades. The first ARFF vehicles were delivered in the 1980s, with the first PANTHER supplied to AENA in 2006.

In the years that followed, a further 41 vehicles (21 PANTHER 6x6s, 20 PANTHER 8x8s) were delivered and in 2018 and 2019, ARFF vehicles from the BUFFALO series (11 BUFFALO 6x6s, 4 BUFFALO 4x4s) were also supplied.

AENA’s fleet also features Rosenbauer fire extinguishing tankers for building fire protection, and the second new order adds new rescue vehicles for technical operations. The latter, like the BUFFALO vehicles, originate from the Ciansa plant in Linares, Spain, while the PANTHER vehicles are manufactured at the Group’s Austrian headquarters in Leonding.

On-site support
AENA is supported by Rosenbauer Española, who is also responsible for maintaining the 22 PANTHER vehicles for their first three years in service (with an extension option for up to ten years) to ensure their continued operational capability.

The Rosenbauer subsidiary is headquartered in Madrid and employs 85 people, around 50 of whom work in service and production. It is the center of competence for forest firefighting and recovery vehicles in the Rosenbauer Group, and produces municipal fire extinguishing and rescue vehicles as well as industrial and ARFF vehicles at its Ciansa plant.

In addition to AENA, Rosenbauer Española’s key customers also include numerous municipal professional fire departments (such as Cuerpo de Bomberos Madrid), the Spanish forest fire authorities and the Spanish Armed Forces with its emergency response unit Unidad Militar de Emergencias, which plays an important role in fighting forest fires.

World’s largest airport operator
AENA operates 46 airports throughout Spain, including the major airports of Madrid-Barajas, Barcelona-El Prat, Palma de Mallorca, Málaga-Costa del Sol, Alicante-Elche, Gran Canaria and Tenerife Sur.

The company also holds a 51% stake in London-Luton Airport and has stakes in a further 22 airports (twelve in Mexico, six in Brazil, and two each in Colombia and Jamaica). AENA is the world’s largest airport operator, handling 293.4 million passengers in 2019 (all Spanish airports including London-Luton).In connection with this press release, the following media material is at your disposal: PDF press article PDF 

ASFP membership to make qualifications in Passive Fire Protection mandatory

The Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP) will be introducing new membership requirements from 1 January 2021, which will make it mandatory for member companies to demonstrate that a proportion of their employees have been suitably trained and/or have achieved appropriate qualifications in Passive Fire Protection.

The new requirements are intended to further assist the Association and its members to clearly demonstrate that ASFP members are more professional than non-members and exceed the current competency expectations of the passive fire industry. By meeting the ASFP’s strict entry requirements, members will be able to clearly demonstrate their skills, competence and professionalism.

The requirements, which will be implemented over a period of three years, will require member companies to demonstrate that certain relevant staff in defined roles have obtained Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) Level 2 or 3 qualifications; NVQ Level 2 qualifications in passive fire protection via manufacturer training and relevant CSCS cards; or have undertaken the ASFP Online Introduction to Passive Fire Protection.

Commenting on the new requirements, ASFP CEO Niall Rowan declared:

“The ASFP has long been the standard bearer for technical excellence in passive fire protection, for instance with our requirement that installer members hold third party certification for products that they install.

Passive Fire Protection
Niall Rowan

“The Grenfell tragedy has further triggered significant change in the way fire safety is perceived. Improving the quality of installation and demonstrating the competency of those involved in manufacturing, testing, installing and maintaining fire protection products is now seen as vital.

“The ASFP’s new requirements will enable members to clearly demonstrate their skills, competence and professionalism. This will offer architects, specifiers, fire engineers and Tier One contractors further peace of mind that by specifying ASFP members for all passive fire protection products, services and installations quality and professionalism is assured.”

The ASFP Foundation Course in Passive Fire Protection courses offer a foundation in fire safety and fire science, as well as units on different forms of passive fire protection. The courses and the IFE Level 2 and Level 3 qualifications were developed in partnership by the ASFP and the IFE to provide recognition of individuals who have attained the essential knowledge and understanding to work efficiently and safely in passive fire protection roles.

The Level 2 and Level 3 qualifications are the only passive fire qualifications in the UK and Ireland recognised by regulator Ofqual. Furthermore, those who obtain the IFE Level 3 Certificate are eligible to apply to join the IFE at Technician grade enabling them to gain professional recognition in the global fire sector and use the post nominal TIFireE.

The ASFP Online Introduction to Passive Fire Protection provides a basic overview of passive fire protection covering key elements of design, installation and inspection. Delivered in 13 video modules, it is intended to provide a first step for those considering a career in the passive fire protection industry.  On successful completion of an online test, candidates are awarded 3 hours CPD.