International Fire and Safety Journal is truly saddened to learn that Bobby Halton, Editor of Fire Engineering magazine and Vice President of Education and Training for FDIC, has passed away.
Halton was a truly influential figure in the industry and will be greatly missed by many.
Our thoughts are with Halton’s close friends and family during this difficult time.
Rest in peace, Bobby.
Photo courtesy of Fire Engineering
Mann McGowan has announced an agreement with Emirates Technotrade LLC to further expand the distribution of Mann McGowan intumescent fire, acoustic and smoke seals to the construction and passive fire protection industries in the United Arab Emirates and throughout the Middle East.
Mann McGowan already has a successful existing distribution and customer network in the region and the agreement further strengthens the company’s ambition to become the leading fire seal manufacturer throughout the Middle East.
The deal also extends Mann McGowan’s partnerships within the Emirates group of companies, with Falcon Acoustics & Passive Fire Solutions Pvt. Ltd distributor of Mann McGowan products in the Indian sub-continent.
Jamie Scott, Managing Director of Mann McGowan, commented: “We are excited to strengthen our position in the Middle East with this agreement with Emirates Technotrade. Their wealth of commercial and technical knowledge perfectly complements the existing distribution network for our high quality, third-party tested and certified seal solutions. This is another important step in Mann McGowan’s global business development strategy.”
Emirates Technotrade and its group of companies has been supplying Passive Fire Protection solutions to the construction industry in both the GCC and Indian sub-continent for more than 15 years and service the Middle East region through their sales office and warehouse in Dubai. Their Managing Director, Varghese Joseph Parackal, said: “Having worked closely with Mann McGowan in India and knowing full well their product testing regime, production capabilities and fast track delivery performance, it was the optimal choice for us to partner with Mann McGowan for the UAE and Middle East markets.”
Mann McGowan design, manufacture and supply a comprehensive range of fire, smoke and acoustic seals to meet industry requirements and customers’ needs and specifications. To ensure the safe compliance on all fire doors and to develop their product range, they work closely with door, glass and hardware manufacturers. Every product is subjected to rigorous quality control and most importantly independent third-party evaluation and testing to various national and international standards.
For further information, please contact Tim Foster on +44 (0)783 3052920 or tim@mannmcgowan.co.uk
Apollo Fire Detectors Ltd are launching their latest range of hybrid-wireless fire detectors and accessories, REACH Wireless. REACH Wireless offers a range of wireless alternatives to many fire safety products, providing flexibility and convenience in system design, as well as confidence from an established name in fire detection.
Why wireless? Traditionally, wireless fire detectors were seen as a last resort where cabling was not an option due to access issues or the fabric of the building being too fragile. Technology has come a long way since those days and now a wireless fire detection system is just as reliable as a wired one.
REACH Wireless is a hybrid system that can add wireless devices to any existing Apollo addressable wired system, giving you the best of both worlds. It provides flexibility for the user to extend their existing system into heritage sites, extensions and temporary buildings to name a few.
For more information, visit: www.apollo-fire.co.uk
It has been announced that MSA Safety Incorporated has been selected for a $9 million contract to supply firefighters with the new M1 Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus and telemetry technology, by London Fire Brigade. The delivery of equipment is expected to start towards the end of 2022.
This also marks the commencing of a multi-phase SCBA training and deployment process, including more than 4,500 of the Brigade’s firefighters.
The decision to upgrade London’s SCBA technology was made after an extensive and comprehensive evaluation process.
“The M1 SCBA represents the most advanced, ergonomic and modular SCBA that MSA has ever introduced to the European and International markets,” said Nish Vartanian, MSA Chairman, President and CEO. “We are incredibly proud to establish this new partnership with one of the oldest and most respected fire brigades in the world. Most importantly, we’re honoured that the London Fire Brigade has entrusted MSA with the responsibility of protecting the men and women who keep the residents of London safe each day.”
London Fire Brigade Deputy Commissioner Richard Mills said: “following a competitive tender process, we’re really looking forward to developing our exciting partnership with MSA. The new state-of-the-art breathing apparatus equipment will be lighter and easier to carry and provide enhanced safety for our firefighters. The improved equipment shows how we are transforming as a fire service and investing in the latest technology to help protect London and Londoners.”
The groundbreaking design of the MSA M1 SCBA was a key factor in London’s selection of the new SCBA platform. The breathing apparatus includes several patented and customisable features that help to enhance ergonomics and improve firefighter comfort and hygiene. These include the industry’s lightest-weight backplate with a unique one-handed height adjustment; an advanced hip belt that evenly distributes the weight of the SCBA; and a padded harness that is fully water-repellent, making the entire SCBA system machine washable without disassembly.
Other features that factored into the Brigade’s selection of the M1 SCBA include a high-pressure cylinder connection for fast cylinder exchanges; compatibility with MSA’s industry-leading G1 facepiece; and integration with FireGrid, which gives incident commanders the ability to evaluate and manage multiple situations in real time and from any location.
MSA’s Entry Control Board (ECB), designed specifically to meet the unique needs of the UK fire service, also played a key part in the Brigade’s decision to choose the MSA brand. Serving as a cloud-connected fire-ground management tool that provides Incident Commanders with air and alarm status of all telemetry-enabled breathing apparatus on scene, MSA’s ECB is also capable of providing post-incident reporting and automated documentation.
As part of the contract, MSA will also provide London with a new communications system that provides enhanced voice communications. Called the C1 Headset, the device attaches easily to the outside of the SCBA facepiece.
Vartanian commented that the SCBA contract with London represents the beginning of a new and exciting partnership. “As a company whose only mission is worker safety, we are incredibly proud to be associated with a brigade that is regarded as a genuine industry leader and advocate for firefighter safety. London is one of the most progressive and respected fire brigades in the world and as part of our Voice of the Customer process, we will certainly be seeking their input on future product development initiatives,” he concluded.
For more information, visit: gb.msasafety.com
The Extinguishing Section of Euralarm has published a guidance document explaining the differences between approved gaseous extinguishing systems and components. The aim of the guideline is to make any person involved in the choice of a gaseous extinguishing system aware of the major differences between quality marks and to help them make a decision based on clear and balanced information.
Gaseous fire extinguishing systems are a very effective way to protect critical hazards and high value assets, when it is important to have no collateral damage caused by the extinguishant or residues. For any kind of electric risk (Data Centre, IT rooms, Control rooms, Switchgear rooms, etc.) or very sensitive/valuable assets or materials (Art, Antiques, Rare books, etc.), they are often the first choice. An additional factor is personal safety as many of these applications are occupied, either permanently or occasionally.
The correct performance of a gaseous fire extinguishing system is therefore essential not only to quickly extinguish a fire but also to protect human life. It is important to understand how to assess the efficiency and reliability of a gaseous fire extinguishing system.
Numerous quality marks are available to validate the compliance to rules and standards. However, it may be difficult for non-specialists such as end users to get a good understanding of the meaning of all these marks before selecting a particular gaseous extinguishing system. The new guidance note of Euralarm aims on making any person involved in the choice of a system aware of the major differences between quality marks and to help them make a decision based on clear and balanced information.
Although the document specifically covers gaseous fire extinguishing systems only, the content may also be applicable to other fire extinguishing or fire prevention systems.
Copies of the Guidance on Gaseous Systems: approved system versus approved components can be downloaded from the Euralarm website – https://euralarm.org/euralarm-publications/public-guidelines/download/187_8a6d3896404db4b40ee26910fdd964bf.
Nittan Europe has had its Evolution analogue addressable fire detection system installed into a new student accommodation development in Beeston, Nottingham. The system was installed by Nottinghamshire based integrated safety and security solutions provider, TIS.
Dagfa House is a unique development of townhouses, clusters and studios adjacent to The University of Nottingham campus. It provides accommodation to 229 students and a range of leisure and study amenities. At the heart of the development is a Grade two listed building that dates back to the 18th-century and was converted into a school in 1948. This latest development has been undertaken by the Cassidy Group, which has over 30 years of experience in construction and property.
One of the key fire safety challenges posed by the Dagfa House development was the mix of accommodation blocks, with some being relatively small. A cost-effective fire detection system was required that could potentially evacuate each site in the event of a fire and that would also be future proof, with spares readily available.
A Nittan Evolution analogue addressable fire alarm system, comprising two individually networked systems, each utilising eight Evolution1 panels and Nittan devices was chosen as the solution.
Chris Mills, Head of Fire Division at TIS explains: “TIS carried out market research of a number of fire alarm manufacturers before finally settling on the Nittan Evolution panel with Nittan devices which provided a single source approach while providing a cost effective and reliable solution.”
Evolution is Nittan’s advanced, premium fire system. Evolution uses ASIC technology in the sensors and sophisticated detection algorithms, combining extremely reliable fire detection together with a very high degree of protection against unwanted false alarms. Its advanced, highly flexible protocol allows for substantial amounts of information to be transmitted at high speed and is not affected by the number of devices on the loop.
At Dagfa House, the Nittan Evolution1 Panel was selected because of its built-in network connectivity, making it extremely cost effective, plus its ease of installation and cause & effect configuration.
For the primary detection in the majority of locations, Nittan’s EV-PYS Optical Detector with built-in sounder was selected for convenience, due to the reduced cost and time required compared to installing separate detectors and sounders, as well as the combined detector/sounder providing a more aesthetically pleasing solution.
In the open areas, such as the cinema room, games room, common room and the communal garden terrace, Nittan EV-HIOP-SB High Output Sounder Beacon VADs were installed. These devices provide high volume sound, EN 54-23 compliant visual alarm and are waterproofed to IP65, making them suitable for the outdoor areas.
One of the most important devices in any fire alarm system is Manual Call Points, which are strategically located in the Dagfa House development at points of evacuation. Nittan EV-MCP2-SCI Call Point with built in short circuit isolators were chosen to ensure the loops were adequately protected, so the system remains compliant even under short circuit fault conditions. Each Call Point was also fitted with a hinged front cover for compliance with BS-5839-1: 2017, the code of practice for designing, installing, commissioning and maintaining fire detection and alarm systems.
Nittan fire detection systems are a popular choice for student accommodation, with many applications around the UK.
International Fire and Safety Journal speaks exclusively with Jim Pauley, President and Chief Executive Officer of the NFPA.
In the US, the term ‘fire code’ is defined as a code adopted by the state or local jurisdiction and enforced by fire prevention officers within municipal fire departments – a familiar term that ensures a systematic safety procedure.
While local, state and federal authorities establish their own fire prevention and emergency laws, they pretty much all base their rulemaking on the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) codes and standards. With more than 300 technical codes staffed by more than 9,000 volunteer experts from 43 different countries, the non-profit organisation continuously provides information based on the latest research, lessons learned and emerging issues.
International Fire and Safety Journal spoke exclusively with Jim Pauley, President and Chief Executive Officer of NFPA to find out more about the importance of codes and standards and how after nearly 125 years in the industry, the association plans on meeting the various fire and safety demands of today.
Adapting to current needs
Discussing today’s standards and safety values, Pauley stated: “I believe we have now let it get to the point where people take standards for granted. Yes, they still exist and are implemented when buildings are being constructed, but we at NFPA are trying to raise the level of awareness surrounding these standards by constantly providing information and by staying relevant to today’s issues.
“Like any business organisation, you must adapt and adjust – we have hundreds of different codes and standards that are updated with time. The vast majority are revised every three years or so. Having correct codes and standards is critical to meeting the fire safety demands of today. NFPA codes and standards ultimately cover a wide range of topics and thus the reason we have a broad spectrum of stakeholders.”
For example, NFPA’s research affiliate, The Fire Protection Research Foundation, has been doing research into enhanced cleaning of fire personnel protective equipment (PPE) – specifically looking into how clean their equipment is after an incident and how it is protecting firefighters appropriately from the toxins that naturally occur in those environments. With occupational exposure being such a big focus in recent years and, more recently, COVID-19 raising new concerns, the topic of PPE cleaning is certainly relevant.
Pauley also spoke about the association’s fire protection efforts: “We are looking at cybersecurity for fire protection systems, as well as technology trends. Another good example is NFPA 855 Standard for the Installation of Stationary Energy Storage Systems. The topic of ESS has become more popular today, but NFPA developed the world’s first ESS training more than five years ago and then it was updated last spring.
“The Research Foundation also recently released new research on sprinkler energy storage units. We have found that by staying connected and adjusting to whatever the most pressing fire and safety issues are today, we are able to successfully transfer the right information to the people that need it the most.”
Fire & Life Ecosystem: Broadening the lens
To further minimise the risk of fire, the organisation developed the NFPA Fire & Life Ecosystem – a unique framework that works to prevent loss, injuries and death from fire, electrical and other hazards. The impetus for the Ecosystem began when Pauley was travelling around parts of the world in 2017, discussing different catastrophic fire events that were occurring at the time.
He explained: “We were seeing these tragic events occur around the same time as Grenfell; the wildfires in Portugal, the ship fire in the US, the Notre Dame fire in Paris – all of these made us think ‘are we really looking at these through the right lens?’
“We found that everybody was looking at these events through a singular lens based on their particular fire safety component – for example, fire suppressant manufacturers would be blamed for the lack of appropriate suppressant solutions, an enforcer would be criticised for not implementing the correct rules and labour skills were often scrutinised. We were mistakenly looking at safety in a vacuum. The Ecosystem was created to encourage people to take a holistic approach to safety.”
The Ecosystem consists of eight integral components; Government Responsibility, Development and Use of Current Codes, Referenced Standards, Investment in Safety, Skilled Workforce, Code Compliance, Preparedness and Emergency Response and an Informed Public. NFPA challenges different authorities to determine which Ecosystem element or series of elements did not perform to the level they should have when a disaster occurs.
“I think the best way to describe the Ecosystem is to foster the mindset that safety is a system rather than a singular element. I have to admit the Ecosystem has been a very successful barometer for the fire and safety sector and has fostered forward-thinking conversations,” Pauley added. “It has been translated into eight different languages now and the most exciting part is hearing people say, ‘this is exactly what I have been wanting to see in the market, but have never been able to vocalise.’ We have broadened the approach to fire risk management and I think that’s what makes this such a unique framework.”
Conduct through COVID
As the threat of coronavirus began to grow in the US this past spring, NFPA quickly mobilised to ensure that people in various safety roles had the information they needed to help mitigate impact and protect communities. This content was designed to help policy makers, emergency responders, code officials, health care officials, facility managers and the public navigate the new normal that came with COVID-19. It delved into ITM (inspection, testing and maintenance) of fire protections systems, closing and reopening buildings, dealing with new 911 protocol and even the dangers that might accompany hand sanitisers.
“We had a lot of situations where temporary hospitals needed to be constructed so we had to generate real world guidance that covered the important life safety elements that need to be implemented in a medical environment,” Pauley explained.
“I suspect that when our technical committees start to get back together, we are going to see more discussions about temporary hospitals. But the environment was not going to wait on the committee recommendations, so it was ultimately about us trying to gather the relevant insights and sharing that information via our social media channels, articles, blogs, press releases and media interviews so that people charged with moving forward in the interest of safety had the right information to do so.”
With more and more people working remotely this year, NFPA worked hard to ensure that there would not be a decrease in the ITM of fire and life safety systems, such as sprinklers, throughout office buildings.
Pauley said: “People were saying, ‘the building is empty so what is the urgency?’ So, we began putting out information about the critical role that ITM personnel play and the fact that they should be deemed essential workers during the pandemic.
“Additionally, we had to consider school strategies during COVID-19. For example, how to conduct a fire drill while trying to maintain social distancing. For this, schools need to work with local officials to think in terms of what is a reasonable exiting time and potentially creating temporary distance markers so students can congregate at their assembly points at a safe proximity.
“In general, it has been less about big alterations for standards and more about responding to needs very quickly as they arise; and I think those needs will get carried over as the standards go back into their cycles.”
Middle Eastern presence
NFPA has a long-standing presence in the Middle East – for decades, the organisation has been working with government officials and private entities responsible for building, fire and life safety in the Gulf region.
“I was in a jurisdiction in the Middle East and we were talking to the people responsible for enforcement and one of the questions was, ‘how do you handle a sudden change of occupancy? For example, a bakery owner wanted his business to become a night club the next day. Now, if this were to happen in the US or the UK, new permits and requirements would have to be put in place and it would definitely need to be re-inspected.”
Pauley continued: “This element is missing in the Middle East enforcement system so we had a long discussion about how this change could be implemented properly. It is ultimately not standards that they should be focused on, it is all of the supporting elements of the system.
“Their use of standards is moving forward but it is very technical and that’s when discussion becomes even more important. You need to consider all of the other safety elements in the Eco-system – just having the standard is not the only answer.”
Outlining NFPA’s plans for the next year, Pauley stated: “Our focus is going to be on how we deliver information and knowledge to our stakeholders across the globe. We just launched a brand-new, digital information platform called NFPA LiNK. NFPA LiNK is a prime example of how NFPA is innovating. Despite being over a century old, our organisation knows that we can no longer simply offer a code or a standard. More importantly, we need to provide a wide range of people with the information and insights that will help them solve problems and do their jobs more successfully.”
Pauley concluded: “We are changing how we deliver critical safety information – how it is packaged, how people can gain access to it. We are revisiting the way people can use our codes and standards on a daily basis – I can tell you, it is an exciting time at NFPA because we know that with each innovation, we are meeting our stakeholders where they are.”
This article was published in the latest edition of International Fire and Safety Journal. Pick up your FREE digital copy here
Emergency One has announced the immediate availability of The E1 Ev0, enabling customers to place orders and enquire about the product.
“We are excited to unveil our E1 Ev0 – the world’s first all-electric Pumping Appliance and our innovative contribution towards a low-carbon economy. We look forward to seeing the reaction from our customer base and the wider public,” said Mike Madsen, Managing Director at Emergency One Group Limited.
Designed with the protection of fire fighters and the environment in mind, Emergency One has exceeded expectations by delivering a world first of its kind.
However, with zero emissions comes zero compromise in terms of innovation and safety. Not only does the E1 Ev0 produce zero emissions for a positive impact on the environment but customers will benefit from a range of improved safety features including clean cab filtration systems that addresses the health issue of residual particulates. The development of a product that plays such a pivotal role in public safety was a sizeable task, but as a manufacturer of emergency service vehicles, it was a task that was necessary.
Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity, Michael Matheson said: “Alongside our ambition to phase out new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2032, we have set out ambitious targets for the Scottish Public Sector to decarbonise their vehicle fleets. It’s great to see Emergency One innovating to bring a cutting edge zero emission fire appliance to the market, manufactured here in Scotland.
“I look forward to seeing further innovations in the zero-emission marketplace as we work towards our net-zero targets and air quality objectives.”
Linda Hanna, Managing Director at Scottish Enterprise, commented: “Emergency One is a fantastic example of a Scottish manufacturer with export ambitions. We want to inspire more businesses to explore innovation, sustainability and exporting because we know this will help both their business recovery and Scotland’s green economic recovery. Scottish Enterprise is proud to have worked with this company over many years and to have supported this project to create the world’s first net-zero fire engine built in Cumnock, that will not only save lives in the role it will serve but also contribute to Scotland’s wider low carbon targets.”
The E1 Ev0 has been developed due to the increased concern of the effects that carbon and other emissions, have on the planet and our health. The use of fire appliances is an essential tool in keeping the public safe, hence the importance placed on reducing the environmental impact of these vehicles. The result of this product shows Emergency One’s continued commitment to deliver the latest in product development and the desire to protect future generations in more ways than just one.
The E1 Ev0 is not a concept vehicle but a fully functioning frontline protection, prevention and intervention tool.
To receive more information on the E1 Ev0, visit e1group.co.uk or contact info@emergencyone.co.uk
E-ONE, a subsidiary of REV Group and a manufacturer of fire apparatus, has announced the delivery of two E-ONE Custom Pumpers to Daytona Beach Fire Department in Florida. With the recent addition of these two pumpers, Daytona Beach now has an all E-ONE fleet.
Key features of Daytona Beach Fire Department’s E-ONE Custom Pumpers include:
“These custom pumpers are the newest members of our fleet for a total of six all-matching E-ONE Typhoon pumpers. This provides our crews with the latest and greatest tools that meet NFPA compliance so they can be successful on the fire scene,” said Daytona Beach Fire Chief Dru Driscoll. “We hope to continue our relationship with E-ONE and REV Technical Centre for years to come as our needs continue to grow as Daytona Beach grows.”
“With apparatus built to Daytona’s specific requirements, E-ONE is grateful that the department now has an all E-ONE fleet to serve its community,” said Larry Daniels, E-ONE’s Director of Sales. “We are honoured that Daytona continues to trust E-ONE for all of its fire apparatus needs.”
Streamlight Inc., a provider of high-performance lighting devices, has launched the intrinsically safe Vulcan 180 HAZ-LO ATEX, a multifunction and rechargeable high-performance lantern designed for use in hazardous environments. Featuring a 24-hour run time on low, a 180° articulating head and two ultra-bright blue taillights for visibility in thick smoke, the new model is ATEX and IECEx-certified for use in Zone 0 locations faced by many first responders.
“The Vulcan 180 HAZ-LO ATEX is the ideal lantern for working in dangerous environments such as those with smoke, industrial hazards or inclement weather,” said Streamlight Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Michael F. Dineen. “With its 180° articulating head, first responders and other users can aim the light beam precisely where it is needed for task lighting purposes. And because it is powered by a lithium ion battery, it is one of the lightest-weight lanterns in its category.”
Including a triangular-shaped face cap and rotating head, the Vulcan 180 HAZ-LO ATEX uses three white power LEDs for extreme brightness. Three deep-dish parabolic reflectors produce a tight spot beam with optimum peripheral illumination to aid in navigation, while two ultra-bright blue LEDs illuminate the lantern’s taillights. The flat base area also allows the light to stand on its own for scene lighting.
It delivers 400 lumens, 25,000 candela, a 316-metre beam distance and a run time of 10 hours on the high setting. On low, it provides 130 lumens, 8,000 candela, a 128-metre beam distance and a run time of 24 hours.
The light’s rotating head tilts 180° and features a locking mechanism to lock it in the upright position. The lantern’s large rubberised cushioned-grip handle enables smooth handoffs even with gloves and offers a nonslip grip for easy carrying. Powered by a rechargeable 7.8Ahr lithium ion battery, the Vulcan 180 HAZ-LO ATEX fully recharges in 15 hours. Its quick install charge rack fits the same footprint as other lanterns in the Vulcan and LiteBox series. Encased in durable, super-tough nylon with reinforced D-Rings, it is IPX4-rated for water resistant operation and is also impact-resistance tested to 2 metres.