Texas gas detection partnership announced by Teledyne and Andon Specialties

Teledyne Gas and Flame Detection has announced a Texas gas detection partnership with Andon Specialties to expand distribution and technical support for fixed gas detection solutions across the state’s oil and gas sector

Teledyne Gas and Flame Detection (Teledyne GFD) has announced a Texas gas detection partnership with Andon Specialties to expand access to its Teledyne Detcon fixed gas detection solutions across the state’s oil and gas sector.

Effective immediately, Andon Specialties will provide local sales and technical support for Teledyne Detcon’s fixed gas detection portfolio, helping operators protect personnel, assets and critical infrastructure in demanding industrial environments. The partnership combines Teledyne Detcon’s manufacturing and engineering expertise with Andon Specialties’ established customer relationships and technical support network throughout Texas.

Shannon Sanders, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Americas at Teledyne Gas and Flame Detection, said: “We are delighted to partner with Andon Specialties to strengthen our support for customers across the Texas market. By blending Teledyne Detcon’s proven fixed gas detection technologies with Andon’s extensive local knowledge and technical expertise, we are making it easier for operators to access dependable safety solutions backed by responsive service and application support.”

Teledyne Detcon has designed and manufactured industrial-grade gas detection systems for more than 40 years from its ISO 9001-certified manufacturing facility in Cypress, Texas. The site produces more than 15,000 gas detectors annually, supplying customers worldwide with US-manufactured gas detection solutions.

Together, Teledyne Detcon and Andon Specialties bring more than 70 years of combined experience serving the oil and gas industry. Through the partnership, the companies aim to help operators meet stringent safety requirements with local technical expertise and proven gas detection technologies.

Among the products available through the agreement is the GD10P infrared point gas detector, designed for combustible gas detection applications. The detector offers rapid response times, long-term stability and low maintenance requirements.

Kent Kesler, Vice President of Business Development at Andon Specialties, said: “We are pleased to partner with Teledyne Gas and Flame Detection to expand access to the Teledyne Detcon fixed gas detection portfolio across Texas. Together, we can provide customers with dependable safety solutions backed by responsive technical support and a shared commitment to protecting people, facilities, and operations.”

Lithium-ion battery fires: Why prevention alone is no longer enough

As lithium-ion battery fires become more frequent, Juho Toukola, CSO of Latauspolku Oy, examines why fire safety strategies must move beyond prevention and address the consequences of thermal runaway

Lithium-ion batteries are everywhere. They power e-bike commutes, cordless tools on every construction site and robot mowers in groundskeeping fleets. Their numbers grow every year and so do the number of fires they cause. In January 2026, a DSV logistics terminal in Poland burned to the ground.

In Finland, a country of roughly 5.7 million people, two battery fires made national news within this spring. In Oulu in April 2026, a family of two adults and four children were forced to evacuate their home and were subsequently hospitalised, while neighbouring apartments suffered smoke damage.

In Espoo in May 2026, a tenant noticed an e-scooter battery beginning to overheat and did exactly what every safety guideline instructs: he moved to take it away from everything else. It exploded in his face and the fire spread to an e-bike battery beside it.

Apartment destroyed, building and other apartments suffered massive smoke damages. These are not exotic events anymore. More batteries mean more failures and a failing lithium-ion battery is unlike anything else in our buildings and workplaces. Once thermal runaway begins, there is no practical way for an ordinary person to put it out.

What happens when a lithium-ion battery fails

Thermal runaway is a self-accelerating chain reaction inside the battery cell. Heat generates more heat, cell by cell and the battery becomes its own fuel and its own oxygen source. This is why a battery fire behaves so differently from a bin fire. It reignites.

It ejects burning material. Cells can rupture violently, turning the battery into a source of projectiles as the Espoo tenant learned at close range. The fire itself is only part of the danger.

A burning lithium-ion battery releases a cocktail of toxic gases, most notably hydrogen fluoride. It is dangerous even at low concentrations. In large quantities it penetrates skin and tissue, but even in the light smoke we see before visible ignition it attacks the lungs and can cause severe injury to people who never see a flame. The Oulu family were hospitalised not because flames reached them, but because smoke and gas did. This combination of unstoppable fire, violent failure and toxic gas is what makes the lithium-ion problem categorically different from the fire risks our buildings were designed for.

Three pillars of lithium-ion battery fire safety, two of which fail at the critical moment

Society currently governs this risk with three tools: guidelines, restrictions and technology. It is worth being honest about what each one can and cannot do.

Guidelines are genuinely valuable. Charge with the original charger, inspect batteries for damage, do not charge unattended, do not charge near exits. Followed properly, they greatly reduce the already small probability of a fire.

But probability reduction is all they do. Guidelines do not stop thermal runaway once it begins and they quietly assume a level of supervision that does not exist in real life. The standard instruction to “supervise charging” asks a resident to watch a battery for seven hours or a logistics operator to assign a human to every charging shelf.

Nobody does this. Everybody knows nobody does this. And as Espoo showed, even the person who notices the problem early and follows the guidance to the letter can end up in the path of the failure. Restrictions are the newer instrument and they deserve more scrutiny than they get.

Housing companies and facility operators across Europe are responding to the risk by banning e-bike and e-scooter charging indoors. On paper, the risk disappears. In practice, it goes underground.

People do not stop charging the device they depend on for their commute. They charge it in their apartment, behind a closed door, where no policy reaches and no detection exists. A prohibited risk that everyone quietly takes is not a managed risk.

It is a denied one and it surfaces exactly the way the Espoo and Oulu fires did: inside homes, where people live and sleep.

A wild west of lithium-ion battery fires solutions

Walk through any fire safety exhibition and you will find an expanding catalogue of products marketed against battery fires. Many of them solve a fraction of the problem and leave the rest untouched.

Fire pouches, blankets and battery tarps can be useful for small consumer cells, but an e-mobility battery pack in full thermal runaway generates enough sustained energy to defeat most of them in seconds rather than contain them for minutes.

Specialised battery extinguishers exist but using one effectively means approaching a device that is ejecting flame, gas and potentially projectiles. For a trained responder in protective equipment with self-contained breathing apparatus, that is workable.

For a resident, a warehouse worker or a night-shift caretaker, in normal clothing it is not a realistic instruction. Passive fireproof cabinets are a step up.

They contain the fire and protect the surrounding space from flame spread. But containment is not suppression. The reaction continues inside and the toxic gases still need somewhere to go.

The effect to people problem remains unsolved. Active suppression systems based on aerosols go further and attempt to interrupt the fire. The difficulty is that aerosols suppress visible flame without reliably stopping the chain reaction underneath it and testing has shown that suppressing the flame while the cells continue venting flammable gas can create explosive conditions. Slowing the reaction is not the same as ending it.

Stop arguing probability. Engineer for consequence of lithium-ion battery fires

The uncomfortable truth is that these fires cannot be prevented. As long as lithium-ion chemistry surrounds us, a small number of failures is a statistical certainty. The meaningful question is not ‘how to reach zero probability’, because we cannot.

It is what happens in the building when the failure occurs. Research within Finland’s national LION project points to a clear answer: water immersion.

Bordeaux wildfires: What we know so far

Bordeaux wildfires force thousands to evacuate as firefighters battle to contain flames

Firefighters are continuing efforts to contain wildfires across the Gironde region in south-west France as extreme weather conditions fuel one of the country’s most serious wildfire emergencies in recent years.

Driven by a combination of extreme heat, prolonged drought and strong winds, the fires have spread rapidly through areas of dry vegetation and pine forest, forcing mass evacuations and placing communities across the region on alert.

Here’s what we know so far about the Bordeaux wildfires.

Where are the Bordeaux wildfires?

The largest fires are burning in the Gironde department, west of Bordeaux, where extensive areas of pine forest have provided significant fuel for the flames.

Authorities have reported that the main fire front has moved to within around 15 kilometres of the Bordeaux metropolitan area. Several nearby communities have been evacuated.

How many people have been evacuated?

More than 250,000 have been evacuated across the Gironde region as the fires have intensified.

How large is the fire?

Authorities estimate that approximately 42,000 hectares of land have been affected by the fires.

The combination of dry vegetation, resin-rich pine forests and strong winds is said to have allowed the flames to spread quickly.

Firefighting response

More than 2,500 firefighters have been deployed, supported by water-bombing aircraft, helicopters and military resources.

France has also received assistance from European partners as crews work to slow the spread of the fires, defend homes and critical infrastructure and prevent further expansion towards populated areas.

The scale of the response highlights the growing challenge posed by wildland-urban interface (WUI) fires, where fast-moving vegetation fires increasingly threaten communities, businesses and essential infrastructure.

What is causing the fires?

Authorities have linked the severity of the fires to a combination of prolonged drought, exceptionally high temperatures and strong winds, creating conditions where fires can ignite and spread rapidly.

While investigations into the causes of individual fires are ongoing, officials have warned that weather conditions remain the biggest challenge for firefighting operations.

Forecasters expect temperatures to remain high this week, with parts of south-west France approaching 40°C. Any increase in wind speed could further accelerate the spread of active fire fronts.

Travel disruption

The wildfires have caused widespread disruption across the Gironde region.

Several roads have been closed, with travellers advised to check the latest transport updates before setting out. Bordeaux Airport remains operational, although precautionary measures have been introduced in surrounding areas.

Government response

French President Emmanuel Macron has chaired crisis meetings as the government coordinates the national response to the wildfire emergency.

Emergency services remain on heightened alert, with additional resources deployed to protect communities and critical infrastructure as conditions continue to change.

A growing challenge for fire and rescue services

The Bordeaux wildfires are part of a wider wildfire crisis affecting several countries across southern Europe.

For fire and rescue services, the incident highlights the increasing operational challenges created by prolonged heatwaves, drought and more extreme fire behaviour. It also reinforces the need for robust wildfire preparedness, effective inter-agency coordination, aerial firefighting capability and stronger protection for communities located at the wildland-urban interface.

With hot and dry conditions expected to continue, firefighters face a challenging task in containing the fires and preventing further destruction in the days ahead.

Discover the new Sensitron gas detection control panel

Strong heritage, new design.

Sensitron is a global gas detection company whose product range includes fixed gas detection systems, detectors, and control panels for all applications.

Committed to innovation, Sensitron previews its new control panel for reliable gas detection systems with up to eight gas detectors, which will be commercially available within 2026.

Grounded in Sensitron’s heritage, it evolves from the best-selling PL4+, preserving the proven reliability that has always defined Sensitron systems. Built around the needs of those who work with it every day, the new control panel introduces a new user-oriented design approach, expressed through an essential form and a completely redesigned interface: more modern, readable, and intuitive, delivering a simpler operation and a tangible improvement in the on-site user experience.

“We chose design as a strategy to complement our technical expertise, adding an element of differentiation in a highly competitive market.” explains Marco Passadori, Managing Director of Sensitron. “The decision to introduce design stems from listening to those who use the product. From our ongoing dialogue with customers came the desire to create a control panel truly designed for its users.”

Beyond design, the new control panel introduces a completely redesigned interface. New elements — including graphics, pop-ups, directional arrows, on/off switches, drop-down menus and contextual buttons — help users understand how the control panel works more quickly, without the need for prior knowledge. Menus are organised according to a logical tree structure, enabling intuitive navigation and immediate access to functions exactly where users expect to find them.

It complies with ATEX Directive 2014/34/EU, as well as the main performance and functional safety standards, including EN IEC 60079-29-1 and EN 61508 / EN 50402 (SIL1).

With this new control panel, Sensitron introduces a new language into the world of gas detection, continuing to demonstrate its ability to innovate within a highly specialised and regulated market, without losing sight of its roots.

Fire doorset testing: Why integrated fire resistance and smoke leakage testing matters

Peter Barker of Element Materials Technology explains how integrated fire doorset testing helps manufacturers demonstrate fire resistance, smoke leakage performance and prepare for future EN classification requirements

Fire-resisting doorsets play an important role in compartmentation, helping to limit the spread of fire and smoke throughout a building. Fire resistance has traditionally been perceived as the primary performance characteristic for fire doors, but smoke control is coming into sharper focus when assessing how a doorset performs as a complete assembly.

The planned withdrawal of BS 476 classifications from Approved Document B in September 2029 and adoption of EN-based classification is prompting manufacturers to review how fire and smoke performance is evidenced and classified.

For many manufacturers, that means taking a more joined-up approach to testing, combining fire resistance and smoke leakage programmes to build a clearer picture of overall doorset performance.

Why fire doorset testing is changing

Smoke leakage testing has traditionally focused on sealing systems fitted to the head and jambs of a doorset.

While that approach remains aligned with the current regulatory guidance for smoke control doors, there is now greater attention on understanding the performance of the complete assembly, including how smoke may pass through gaps at the threshold.

More recent guidance, such as BS 8214:2026 has encouraged wider consideration of threshold sealing and the contribution that the bottom gap can make to smoke leakage.

This reflects a broader move towards assessing the complete doorset rather than individual components and ensuring performance clearly links to realworld applications.

Smoke leakage testing and complete doorset performance

Many organisations still approach smoke leakage testing and fire resistance testing through separate programmes. There can be good reasons for working in this way. Product development rarely follows a straight line and designs can evolve.

However, the risk of working in this way is that important design details may be missed that need to be evaluated for both fire and smoke performance characteristics.

The result is that when smoke leakage testing has been carried out on one design and fire resistance testing on another, additional work may be required to establish how those results apply to the final doorset being offered to the market.

The process can become even more complicated when multiple product variations, sizes or hardware options are involved. Manufacturers may find themselves managing several test reports, assessments and supporting documents to demonstrate that a doorset can deliver both fire resistance and smoke control performance.

Benefits of integrated fire doorset testing

Planning smoke leakage and fire resistance testing together in a coordinated programme reduces duplication, testing schedules and project management activities. It can also help manufacturers build a more coherent technical package while reducing the risk of gaps emerging later in the process.

This becomes particularly valuable when results are intended to support extended field of application reports and classifications using the EN 13501-2 framework for doorsets. Integrated programmes can also provide greater confidence when supporting future product developments, particularly where manufacturers plan to introduce additional sizes, hardware arrangements or design variations.

Integrated testing at Warringtonfire Birchwood

Demand for more joined-up testing programmes is one of the reasons Element has expanded its smoke leakage testing capability at the Warringtonfire Birchwood facility. The facility forms part of Element’s £24 million investment in fire testing infrastructure and was opened in January 2025 to support growing demand for construction product testing.

The site includes an indicative furnace for small-scale rapid testing, as well as two horizontal furnaces, two vertical furnaces and 18 preparation bays including confidentiality shields, providing capacity to support a broad range of testing requirements.

Dedicated witnessing facilities and meeting spaces also allow manufacturers to work closely with technical specialists throughout a programme. It also includes a solution that enables both fire resistance and smoke leakage testing from a single test buildup, providing manufacturers with performance data more efficiently.

The addition of smoke leakage testing allows manufacturers to access both fire and smoke testing for doorsets through a single facility and technical team. Alongside testing, Warringtonfire also provides support with technical assessments, extended field of application reports and classification services, helping manufacturers build a clearer route from testing through to the final evidence package.

Preparing for future fire doorset classification

Establishing the fire resistance performance of doorsets remains fundamental, however organisations are increasingly being asked to demonstrate how complete doorset assemblies perform across a range of characteristics, including smoke control.

Testing is also being considered alongside other conformity assessment activities, including sampling, factory production control and audit testing which are designed to provide added assurance of product performance and form the basis of accredited third-party certification schemes, such as Q-Mark and Certifire.

The Warringtonfire-Birchwood facility provides Fire doorset testing

Manufacturers are being asked not only to demonstrate how products perform, but also how that performance is evidenced and maintained throughout the supply chain. Early engagement with testing specialists is also important.

By discussing intended applications, certification objectives and future product development plans before a programme begins, manufacturers can identify potential limitations and opportunities much earlier in the process.

In many cases, this helps avoid additional cost, project delays and unplanned testing further down the line. By considering fire resistance and smoke leakage together from the outset, organisations can simplify assessment and classification activities while building stronger foundations for future product development.

Supporting manufacturers from fire doorset testing to classification

The Warringtonfire Birchwood facility provides fire resistance testing, smoke leakage testing, technical assessment, extended field of application and classification support from a single location.

Whether the objective is supporting a new product launch, extending an existing product range or preparing for future classification requirements, Warringtonfire’s technical specialists can help develop testing programmes aligned with commercial and compliance objectives.

To find out more about Warringtonfire’s fire resistance and smoke leakage testing services at Birchwood, visit warringtonfire.com to discuss your requirements.

NFPA appoints new Regional Sales Manager for MENA

Romnish Kapoor has joined NFPA as Regional Sales Manager for MENA

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has appointed Romnish Kapoor as Regional Sales Manager for MENA, strengthening its presence across the Middle East and North Africa as it continues to promote fire, electrical and life safety throughout the region.

Based in Dubai, Kapoor will lead its business development efforts across MENA, expanding customer relationships and supporting organisations seeking to improve fire and life safety through the association’s internationally recognised codes and standards, training, certifications and related solutions.

The appointment reflects NFPA’s continued investment in the region, where rapid infrastructure growth and increasing regulatory focus are driving demand for fire and life safety expertise.

Mike Brunzell, Vice President of Global Business Development, said: “The Middle East and North Africa remain a strategic priority for NFPA, and we are pleased to welcome Romnish to our regional team.

“His extensive experience working with customers, regulators and industry leaders across the region will help us continue delivering the knowledge, resources and solutions that support safer communities and resilient built environments.”

Kapoor brings more than 20 years of experience in fire and life safety, testing, inspection and certification, regulatory compliance, strategic account management and business development.

Before joining, he held a series of commercial leadership positions with UL Solutions, where he led regional sales and strategic account growth initiatives across the Middle East and Africa. Throughout his career, he has worked closely with manufacturers, contractors, government authorities, regulatory agencies, developers, consultants and other industry stakeholders to advance safety, compliance and market development across emerging markets.

Kapoor said: “I’m excited to join NFPA at a time of tremendous opportunity across the MENA region.

“Governments, regulators and businesses continue to place greater emphasis on fire and life safety, and I look forward to working with our existing and new customers to help them advance their efforts with the world-class resources and solutions that NFPA has to offer.”

NFPA has worked across the Middle East and North Africa for decades, supporting governments and industry through its codes and standards, training and certification programmes, research and public education initiatives aimed at improving fire and life safety and helping to prevent fire-related loss.

Maritime lithium-ion battery fire detection starts with heat

AP Sensing explains how fibre optic Linear Heat Detection enables earlier lithium-ion battery fire detection on ships through continuous thermal monitoring

On the open ocean, where a ship’s hull is its entire world, fire is one of the few threats that can escalate faster than a crew can respond. Today, that threat is increasingly linked to lithium ion batteries.

Once specialty cargo, they now move through global supply chains in huge volumes, powering electric vehicles, e-bikes, tools, laptops and portable electronics. The maritime industry understands how lithium ion batteries behave under failure conditions.

The chemistry is well studied and the progression from defect to thermal runaway is familiar. What remains difficult is spotting developing thermal events early enough to act. Conventional systems often react only once smoke or fire is visible.

At sea, earlier automatic detection and precise situational awareness can make a critical difference.

How lithium-ion battery fires begin at sea

A lithium ion battery failure usually begins quietly. A defect, manufacturing flaw or Lithium-Ion Battery Fires “The maritime industry understands how lithium ion batteries behave under failure conditions.” impact can cause a small, localised rise in temperature. Inside a battery pack or sealed container, that heat can build slowly and invisibly.

On ships, where containers are tightly stacked and airflow is limited, early detection is difficult. Monitoring still often relies on inspections and fire watches, but thermal events can develop between checks, especially where visibility is restricted.

This is why maritime fire safety is shifting from reacting to visible fire toward continuous, automated awareness of developing thermal conditions.

How fibre optic Linear Heat Detection works

Fibre optic Linear Heat Detection addresses this challenge by continuously monitoring temperature along the protected area.

AP Sensing uses a passive fibre optic sensor cable routed through the ship or cargo zone, creating a continuous sensing line rather than isolated detection points. Wherever the cable runs, temperature is measured.

The system provides thousands of temperature readings along the cable, creating a real time thermal map that updates every few seconds. If thresholds or abnormal thermal developments are detected, it automatically alarms on the bridge, helping crews assess and respond earlier.

How fibre optic sensing detects heat before fire

At the centre of the system is a controller that sends short laser pulses into an optical fibre. As light travels through the fibre, a tiny portion scatters back from every point along the sensor cable.

Part of these backscattered light changes with temperature, while another part remains stable. By comparing the two, the system calculates temperature at every point along the cable. It also measures how long the light takes to return, allowing localised temperature changes to be precisely located.

This creates a complete, real-time temperature profile across the monitored area, not just a reading at one hotspot. Operators can see where heat is developing, how temperatures change and whether a thermal event is spreading.

For lithium-ion battery cargo, where conditions can escalate rapidly, continuous awareness is critical.

Maritime lithium-ion battery fire detection proven at sea

Technology is already proven in demanding environments.

Fibre optic Linear Heat Detection has long been used as a certified special detector within fire alarm systems. Before lithium-ion batteries became a growing maritime concern, it was deployed across road and rail tunnels, parking garages, large photovoltaic installations and storage facilities.

In these settings, reliability is essential. Detection systems must perform despite contamination, electromagnetic interference, vibration, weather and other harsh influences.

Fibre optic LHD has demonstrated this resilience while helping operators maintain safety and avoid unnecessary interruptions. This history is important because the technology is not new to challenging conditions.

At sea, however, airflow, motion and operational constraints create a distinct detection challenge. To explore this, AP Sensing’s system was evaluated alongside conventional and alternative detection technologies in a major European and insurance research initiative focused on fire safety on RoRo (Roll on, roll off) and container vessels. Testing included laboratory work and long-term onboard trials under real operating conditions.

The findings contributed to the inclusion of fibre optic Linear Heat Detection in the maritime SOLAS Fire Safety Systems (FFS) Code in early 2026, reflecting growing recognition of continuous thermal monitoring in maritime fire protection.

AP Sensing’s solution is also DNV-approved for safety-critical ship environments. The results highlighted the limits of traditional smoke detection on ships. In controlled settings, smoke detectors performed well. At sea, airflow, humidity, salt aerosols and engine related particles could delay detection or increase nuisance alarms.

Fibre optic Linear Heat Detection was unaffected by these challenges. Because it measures temperature directly along the cable, it remained reliable regardless of airflow or airborne contaminants.

The trials also showed that the system can reveal how a thermal event develops. It pinpointed the heat source and helped operators track spread and direction, giving crews precise, real-time information instead of a general alarm.

Why fibre optic heat detection suits maritime fire safety

Beyond detection performance, fibre optic Linear Heat Detectors fit maritime operations. The sensing cable is passive and needs no electrical power along its length, simplifying installation and removing potential ignition sources.

The system also remains active during loading and unloading, when cargo handling introduces added risk.

How early heat detection improves maritime fire response

Detecting heat early is only part of the equation. What matters is how quickly and effectively that information becomes action. In a maritime environment, where response time is critical and access can be limited, crews need to know where something is happening and how it is evolving.

Fibre optic sensing provides this insight in real time. Temperature data is processed in the measuring unit and visualised through a graphical user interface (GUI), giving operators a continuous view of conditions across the vessel.

Alarm strategies can be configured around absolute temperatures or temperature gradients, enabling early warnings of abnormal developments before a localised issue escalates.

Lithium-ion battery fire detection beyond maritime transport

With lithium-ion batteries, the challenge does not begin or end at sea. A battery’s journey spans storage, transport, use and recycling. Across these stages, the pattern remains the same: heat develops before fire.

Fibre optic Linear Heat Detection applies this principle consistently. A continuous sensing cable enables early detection and precise localisation, supporting a unified approach to fire safety beyond maritime transport.

This is especially relevant in battery storage facilities, where large volumes of cells are concentrated in confined spaces and in recycling operations, where damaged or unstable batteries add risk during handling and processing.

Across these environments, the value is consistent: early insight enables faster, better-informed decisions and safer operations.

Meet AP Sensing at SMM Hamburg

At SMM maritime exhibition in Hamburg, September 1-4, discussions around lithium-ion battery safety and early fire detection will continue across the industry.

AP Sensing’s fire detection expert, Felix Heck, will be on site to present how fibre optic Linear Heat Detection and Distributed Fibre Optic Sensing are applied in real maritime environments. He will share how continuous thermal monitoring supports earlier detection and more informed response strategies.

Decontex joins NFCC National Firefighter PPE Framework for specialist decontamination

Decontex’s appointment to the NFCC National Firefighter PPE Framework follows a comprehensive evaluation process, in which Decontex achieved an outstanding score of 98.5/100 in the National Fire Chiefs Council’s assessment

Decontex, the Global specialist in the decontamination and maintenance of firefighter personal protective equipment (PPE), has been awarded a place on Lot 9 (Specialist Decontamination) of the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) National Firefighter PPE Framework, following a competitive procurement process conducted by Kent & Medway Towns Fire & Rescue Authority on behalf of the NFCC.

The appointment enables Decontex to provide decontamination services for Fire Structural Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Lightweight Firefighting PPE through the national framework.

The award followed an extensive assessment process in which suppliers’ decontamination capabilities were evaluated against technical and quality criteria set by the NFCC. The framework is designed to help fire and rescue services access approved suppliers that meet recognised standards for firefighter PPE maintenance and safety.

During the evaluation, Decontex achieved an outstanding score of 98.5% , earning a weighted result  of 192.50 out of 195.50 and a raw totalscore of 217 out of 220. This  provides independent validation of the quality and reliability of its decontamination service.

Contaminant removal

Decontex is a leading developer of proprietary supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO₂) decontamination technologies for firefighter personal protective equipment (PPE), combining superior decontamination performance with preservation of protective functionality and environmental sustainability.

The process removes contaminants, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), heavy metals and other carcinogenic residues, from deep within fabric and membrane layers that may not be fully addressed through conventional water-based washing methods.

The technology is designed to preserve the protective performance of garments while operating in line with the decontamination tier of NFPA1850 and BS ISO 23616, the international standard covering the care and maintenance of firefighter PPE.

Decontex is currently preparing to introduce its proprietary supercritical CO₂ technology to UK fire and rescue services through a dedicated PPE decontamination service, with operations scheduled to commence latest in the fourth quarter of 2026.The rollout is expected to provide firefighters with access to specialist decontamination technology aimed at reducing long-term exposure to potentially harmful contaminants encountered during operational duties.

The company said it looks forward to working with fire and rescue services across the UK to support firefighter health and safety through enhanced PPE decontamination.

Fire safety: from a compliance obligation to a strategic enabler of autonomous buildings

Susanne Seitz, CEO of Buildings Smart Infrastructure at Siemens , explains why digital, IoT-enabled fire safety systems are transforming fire protection

For decades, fire safety systems have been viewed primarily through the lens of compliance. Essential, yes – but rarely seen as a contributor to performance, resilience or sustainability. As buildings become smarter and more autonomous, that perspective needs to change.

Across industries, aging fire safety infrastructure often hides significant inefficiencies: high false alarm rates, disconnected systems, rising maintenance effort and limited ability to use data effectively. Facility teams spend up to 60% of their time validating false alarms rather than focusing on value-adding tasks.

In a world of tight budgets and skilled labor shortages, this is no longer sustainable. As energy systems evolve – for example, with the increased use of lithium-ion batteries in data centers – modern fire detection and protection become even more critical.

Modern, IoT-enabled fire safety systems fundamentally shift this reality. By embedding intelligence and connectivity, fire safety moves beyond an isolated layer to become an integral part of the digital building ecosystem.

This deeper integration allows fire safety data and events to inform and interact with other critical building systems – from triggering HVAC adjustments to contain smoke, to coordinating with access control for safe evacuation, or even informing building automation for optimized emergency responses.

The impact is tangible. Reactive maintenance becomes predictive planning. Periodic testing evolves into continuous, silent monitoring.

And with solutions like Building X Fire Apps, single-building oversight expands to portfolio-wide visibility, enabling consolidated management and insights across multiple sites.

This digital transformation also helps reduce false alarms by approximately 80%, significantly improving operational efficiency and occupant experience.

Digital fire safety also unlocks a new generation of services. Cloud connectivity, remote diagnostics, and advanced analytics allow technicians to arrive prepared, resolve issues faster, and reduce repeat visits – helping organizations cope with ongoing talent shortages.

At the same time, predictive insights enable smarter investment and data-driven lifecycle decisions.

Sustainability is another critical dimension. Targeted upgrades instead of full system replacements reduce electronic waste. Remote management lowers emissions by minimising the number of site visits. And advanced detection algorithms help avoid unnecessary emergency responses triggered by false alarms.

New technology is already beginning to deliver value across sectors. In healthcare, digital fire safety supports uptime and patient safety through data-driven operations. In higher education, it simplifies the management of complex campuses with diverse building types.

And in commercial real estate, it forms a foundation for more autonomous, scalable building operations.

The conclusion is clear: the question is no longer whether fire safety systems should be modernised, but how strategically can organisations approach it.

As we move toward autonomous buildings, fire safety must be digital-native, cybersecure and seamlessly integrated into the building’s intelligence layer. Those who rethink fire safety beyond compliance will unlock meaningful gains in operational performance, sustainability and long-term resilience.

This article was originally published on LinkedIn. The original article can be found here.

5 of the biggest fire safety news stories of 2026 so far

2026 has already delivered no shortage of headlines in terms of fire safety news. As fire risks continue to evolve, so too does the industry’s response, with innovation, regulation and investment shaping the future of fire protection and life safety.

In this roundup, we look back at five of the biggest fire safety news stories of 2026 so far. These developments have captured the attention of fire safety professionals worldwide, influencing policy, operations and the technologies protecting people, property and critical infrastructure.

KiddeFenwal expands NATURA line with Micro fire protection for small assets

In January, KiddeFenwal launched NATURA Micro, a compact inert gas fire suppression system offered through its Kidde Fire Systems brand.

The system was introduced at Intersec in Dubai, which took place from 12 to 14 January. NATURA Micro forms part of the company’s inert gas systems portfolio and is intended to protect enclosed, small-sized assets.

Swiss ski resort fire at Le Constellation

January also saw a devastating fire break out at Le Constellation, Crans-Montana, Switzerland, during New Year celebrations in the early hours of 01/01/2026.

Police said the fire started at around 1:30am local time, when the basement bar was busy with revellers marking the turn of the year.

Click here for our coverage on timeline, casualties and investigation.

New Class L created specifically for lithium-ion battery fires

February kicked off with the launch of a new classification for lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery fires. BSI confirmed the update reflects the growing use of Li-ion batteries across the built environment, from large energy storage systems to electric vehicles and personal mobility devices.

Fire safety news

The standard classifies fires according to the nature of the material undergoing combustion.

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

Standards and regulations were also on the mind in terms of fire safety news in March, with UL Standards & Solutions publishing 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.

Philippines launches Fire Prevention Month

Meanwhile, March saw the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) officially launch Fire Prevention Month in the Philippines with an assembly of more than 3,000 people and over 300 vehicles on March 1.

The Manila Bulletin reported that the event was led by BFP chief Director Jesus Fernandez.

The launch brought together BFP personnel, national government agencies, local and barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices, fire volunteers, fire brigades, private partners and non-government organisations.