Dräger launches ‘Health for the Firefighter’ campaign in response to firefighters’ health concerns

Dräger is launching its ‘Health for the Firefighter’ campaign to support fire services in driving the cultural changes that are required to protect firefighter health.

The launch follows a survey* of UK firefighters that found considerable concern over the impact of exposure to contaminants on long-term health. Some 84% admitted they were concerned about the risk of cancer – a disease highlighted in some scientific reports to be the leading cause of death within the service.

The International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) reports that nearly two out of three (61%) firefighter line-of-duty deaths between 2002 and 2017 were caused by cancer. Embedded carcinogens in any equipment can easily be absorbed by the men and women using it.

The survey by Dräger also found that more than two thirds (68%) of firefighters fear the impact of Covid-19 on their long-term health, a point picked up by Brian Hesler, Consultant and Specialist Advisor at Draeger Safety UK and former Chief Fire Officer for the Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service:

“The Covid-19 pandemic, and the ongoing fears over cancer, have highlighted the critical importance of hygiene, and a significant cultural change is required. We need to move away from firefighters wearing dirty kit like a badge of honour that proves their hard work and value, to understanding that clean and well-maintained kit supported by detailed and robust hygiene processes that mitigate every contact with contaminants are essential.

“One firefighter surveyed said ‘they had always been a bit blasé about invisible contaminants’. This has got to change.”

The Health for the Firefighter campaign will support the fire services in helping to communicate and provide training on the importance of detailed hygiene processes; from the handling and storage of masks and breathing apparatus (BA) equipment through to the subsequent cleaning of the kit after an incident has occurred.

It will also provide bespoke workshop solutions that guide the potentially contaminated kit from entering the station, to washing and drying processes through to leaving the station to be used again.

In addition to providing detailed advice for manual washing processes including on detergent use and drying techniques, Dräger is the first company in the Emergency Services space to launch specialist BA and mask cleaning equipment and dedicated solutions, including mechanical washing systems that provide complete consistency in washing temperatures, the amount of detergent used, speed and temperature of drying – which can all work together to disinfect contaminants and to protect the longevity of the kit.  Support also encompasses logistical support for installation, the ongoing maintenance of equipment and the quantity of stock required.

The survey revealed the most important factors in combating firefighter concerns over contaminants were the cleaning of masks with 97% rating this as very or extremely important, closely followed by the cleaning of BA equipment (95%) and cleaning of PPE (94%).

While manual cleaning of equipment is still generally the norm within UK Fire Services, the survey revealed three quarters (75%) believed that mechanical equipment washing would improve their health, and 80% agreed that as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic more emphasis should be placed on cleaning equipment and hygiene control. However, only 23% said that the pandemic had significantly changed their approach to cleaning equipment.

“There is obvious concern over cleaning of equipment following the pandemic,” adds Brian. “One surveyed firefighter said ‘they clean to the best of their ability’ – the point is that a person’s ability should not be a factor in the cleaning process. Consistency has to be key and manufacturers of medical and safety technology products have a responsibility to innovate solutions that support change. We are not here to tell brigades how to operate, rather to provide a range of solutions that support them and their firefighters’ health.”

*Survey conducted in July 2020, including 122 responses from people working in the UK Fire Services.

www.draeger.com/en_uk/Home

New ASSA ABLOY white paper explains why architects and specifiers should care about inclusive design

With misunderstandings around inclusive design potentially leading to discrimination charges, costly legal disputes and damaged brand reputations, ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions UK & Ireland has published a free new white paper advising architects and specifiers on the standards door opening solutions need to meet.

Titled ‘Inclusive design – why should you care?’, the new white paper can be downloaded here. The paper provides best practice advice on how to ensure door opening solutions can meet the requirements for inclusive building designs, and the risks of not complying with these.

When talking about inclusive design, many people immediately think of those with a disability or specific, specialist requirements. While inclusive design encompasses the needs of these people, its key objective is to make a site inclusive for all, no matter what. In fact, despite public perception and the wheelchair being the symbol for accessibility, less than 8 per cent of disabilities require the use of a wheelchair[1]. Whether it’s the elderly, disabled or children, everyone should be able to access and use a building and its facilities easily and safely.

Inclusive design is a key consideration for most architects and specifiers today, ensuring any barriers that might prevent an individual from using an environment freely and easily are removed. This approach must be reviewed in line with the guidelines governing inclusive design, which includes Approved Document M, the Equality Act 2010 and, crucially, BS 8300-1 and 8300-2:2018, which sets out how buildings should be designed, constructed and maintained to create an accessible and inclusive environment for all. It applies to both new builds and refurbishments.

The white paper explains the factors that architects and specifiers need to take into account for door opening solutions to be inclusive. It also covers some of the common issues with many door opening solutions available on the market, which might claim to comply with standards such as BS 8300-1 and 8300-2:2018 but do not.

For instance, many suppliers will claim to offer compliant solutions by ‘winding down’ a door closer and its spring to power setting EN1. However, while this may help people open a door more easily, it will not provide the necessary closing force. As a result, the door will not deliver the safety and security assurances demanded of an inclusive environment. It is also important to note that fire doors must have a minimum power setting of EN3 at all times, to meet these needs.

In addition to covering what the guidelines governing inclusive design state for door opening solutions, the white paper advises on how architects and specifiers can ensure these meet the necessary fire safety standards too. While fire safety has always been critical, incidents such as the Grenfell tragedy have highlighted how this issue can never afford to be an afterthought.

“Inclusive design is viewed by most architects and specifiers nowadays as a non-negotiable,” explains Eryl Jones, Manging Director of the ASSA ABLOY Door Hardware Group. “While it is the owner that ultimately bears responsibility for the design of a building, should a legal dispute arise then an architect or specifier would be called upon to explain why a solution was recommended. In the event of a discrimination claim, those that can demonstrate that they have adhered to standards such as BS 8300-1 and 8300-2:2018 will be on safer ground than those that cannot.

“Our new white paper aims to offer architects and specifiers a helpful and informative overview of why inclusive design is so important, what the guidelines governing this state, and the considerations that they need to think about when specifying a door opening solution. This means they can be confident when recommending door opening solutions for projects, ensuring everyone – from the elderly to those with a disability and children – can access and use a building and its facilities safely.

“Furthermore, with some architects and specifiers potentially facing clients that might want to do the bare legal minimum when it comes to inclusive design, the white paper also helps outline why the approach is not only the right thing to do from a social point of view, but the impact it can have commercially too. Market drivers such as an ageing population and consumer buying power mean brands that prioritise inclusive building design can enjoy greater consumer loyalty and spending opportunities, as well as increased differentiation, credibility and brand awareness. We hope that the findings included in the white paper can help support this case for architects and specifiers, when having these conversations with clients.”

Douglas Masterson, Technical Manager at the Guild of Architectural Ironmongers (GAI), adds: “It is refreshing in the current climate to see accessibility being placed firmly on the agenda through this white paper. At the moment, the headlines are rightly dominated by fire safety – following the Grenfell tragedy – and on-going issues related to the Covid-19 pandemic. While these are of huge importance, accessibility must always have room in any discussion relating to the construction industry.

“This paper states: ‘All those involved in the design and construction of a building should not simply be working towards inclusivity but demanding it every single time.’ The GAI is firmly in favour of this statement, and the correct specification of hardware in a building must have the issues of accessibility and inclusive design at its heart.”

Bob Perry, CEO of the Door Hardware Federation (DHF), comments: “It’s really good to see such an important message being highlighted in this white paper. Our society is changing – both in its demographics and its attitudes – and it is clear that any company that fails on inclusivity will be left behind. At the same time, however, the requirements around inclusive design are somewhat opaque and there is still much confusion in the industry.

“What this white paper from ASSA ABLOY does is present everything the industry needs to know about the issue. It outlines the relevant standards, explains what they really mean, and tells them exactly what they need to do to make sure their door hardware is compliant. On behalf of DHF, I recommend that it is essential reading.”

[1] Disability Sport, ‘Facts and Figures About Disabled People in the UK’, http://www.disabilitysport.org.uk/facts-and-figures-about-disabled-people-in-the-uk.html

Diesel train catches fire in Llangennech, Wales

Homes have been evacuated in south Wales after a large diesel train caught fire. British Transport police said crews were called to the blaze at Llangennech, near Llanelli, around 11.20pm on Wednesday 26th August.

Three carriages of the train were alight and an evacuation zone was put in place, according to Dyfed-Powys police.

Two employees were on board the freight train but no injuries have been reported, the British Transport Police said.

Gary Jones, a county Councillor in Carmarthenshire, wrote that “a major incident on the railway line has been declared.”

The transport police said: “Emergency services are currently dealing with an incident on the railway near Llangennech Wales. A large diesel freight train has caught fire.

“A cordon is in place, with roads closed and surrounding homes being evacuated. Please avoid the area.”

Dyfed-Powys police said officers were contacting people living in the evacuation area and asking them to leave their homes and convene at Bryn school.

Superintendent Ross Evans said: “This is a fast-moving situation, which has been declared a major incident.

“There are a significant number of emergency services personnel at the scene and an evacuation zone has been put in place.

“Officers are in contact with people within that area asking them to leave their homes, and we urge people to comply with officers’ requests to ensure a swift and efficient evacuation.”

Smart elevated skin temperature scanning solutions from Johnson Controls

The safe return of occupants to buildings requires strategies for controlling disease transmission, providing a safe work environment for employees while maintaining healthy business operations. Johnson Controls believe there is nothing more important than the health, security and safety of individuals in a working facility and current events have made securing facilities more complex than ever.

Thermal imaging systems have quickly become an important tool in the detection of elevated skin temperatures, a potential indicator for the presence of contagious individuals. A rapid diagnostic tool, thermal cameras can provide commercial buildings with a quickly scalable and highly efficient means of scanning building occupants. The thermal camera passively scans employees and visitors as they enter your building so as not to impede operations. If an elevated temperature is detected, a local team is alerted for further secondary assessment.

This solution is ideal when the need to minimise human contact is essential. Secondary screening with a thermometer
is required to verify an elevated temperature. Having this solution and the appropriate procedures in place will give
your employees and visitors peace of mind.

Elevated Skin Temperature Scanning

Johnson Control’s goal is to deliver a solution that helps to enhance facility efficiency and occupant safety, wellness and productivity. The image sensor with thermal detector paired with a black body calibration accurately scan a person’s forehead to detect elevated skin temperatures to within +/-0.3°C or +/-0.5°F.

Sophisticated software analytics evaluate employees and guests as they passively enter the camera’s field of view. The
system is capable of scanning 30 people per minute, one person at a time, in accordance with FDA guidelines.

The passive nature of the scanning results in reduced manual effort, reinforces social distancing between individuals and protects your employees charged with monitoring the system. The system can be setup with wall, ceiling
or a tripod mount. The configuration can be designed for portability for maximum flexibility or integrated to work seamlessly with your existing building systems. Event triggers can be customized to alert locally and remotely.

Smart facial temperature detection ties individual skin temperature, live video, and a built-in sound-light alarm. Elevated
temperature anomalies trigger an alarm to signal to your local team to take appropriate action. Powerful analysis tools also contain video-based analytics for perimeter protection (line crossing, region entrance, exit or intrusion), as well as blaze and smoke detection.

www.johnsoncontrols.com

Larry Lacefield named Telgian Fire Safety President

Telgian Fire Safety (TFS) recently announced the appointment of Larry L. Lacefield as President. In this position, Lacefield will maintain strategic and operational responsibility for all TFS business operations.

Lacefield is a dynamic and proven business leader with more than 20 years of successful experience leading high-impact, operational initiatives. As an innovative and growth-focused executive, he has an extensive background in guiding cross-functional teams and in the effective delivery of program objectives and quality service.

“Highly skilled in the development and implementation of strategy, operational capacity, risk management, and performance metrics, Larry’s leadership will ensure Telgian Fire Safety’s ongoing commitment to quality service,” says Telgian CEO James Tomes.

A retired U.S. Navy Master Chief, his military career in the Special Warfare Command included various global operational roles. In addition, he completed combat tours in the Middle East, Asia and many other areas around the world. Lacefield is the recipient of numerous military awards, including Meritorious Service Medals, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medals and multiple combat operational award medals. As a keynote speaker for civilian and military organisations, he continues to demonstrate a strong commitment to our country and community.

In addition, he is a member of the Medical Science Liaison Society, as well as the American College of Healthcare Executives. Lacefield also holds the designation of Project Management Professional (PMP), is a Lean 6 Sigma Green Belt and holds Top Secret Clearance SCI.

Lacefield earned a Bachelor of Science from Touro TUI University and graduated from the US Naval War College with a degree in Executive Leadership and Organizational Leadership. Additionally, he holds a Master’s Degree in Global Business Leadership from the University of San Diego and completed the Management Development Program at the Harvard Business School San Diego Alumni Association.

www.telgian.com/

Bureau Veritas USA launches 5G Device Certification Testing

Bureau Veritas, a Testing, Inspection and Certification provider has announced its Silicon Valley laboratory in Sunnyvale, it is now fully equipped and ready to offer 5G certification service for GCF/PTCRB and key carrier requirements such as Verizon Wireless and AT&T. The new location in California extends Bureau Veritas’ existing portfolio of 5G laboratories located in China, Taiwan and Korea.

The collaboration enables Bureau Veritas to address a wide range of radio frequency (RF), radio resource management (RRM) and performance/protocol test cases validated by the Global Certification Forum (GCF) and PTCRB. With its regulatory test and global market access services and a full suite of wireless conformance testing, module developers, device manufacturers as well as 5G technology integrators can now access global market access services from Bureau Veritas’ Bay Area technical competence center.

“We’re pleased to extend our close collaboration with Keysight, a leader in 5G technology, to better serve the wireless device market,” stated Sebastian Doose, Vice President of Bureau Veritas’ Electrical & Electronics, Automotive and Wireless business in USA, Europe, Middle East & Africa. “Keysight’s end-to-end test solutions enable Bureau Veritas to offer 5G solutions to our existing clients, but also support new integrators of 5G technology across diverse industries such as new mobility, medical devices, gaming, manufacturing and agriculture. Our Keysight platform, TP168, is validated by both GCF and PTCRB meaning we can support all clients who wish to integrate 5G technology, both FR1 and FR2.”

“We are excited to enable Bureau Veritas for 5G conformance and device certification test as mandated by major US mobile operators like Verizon,” said Scott Bryden, Vice President Mobile Network Operator Industry Solutions at Keysight Technologies. “With the 5G industry experiencing accelerated investment, Keysight’s leading 5G conformance and device acceptance solutions are playing an instrumental role in bringing new 5G devices to market.”

“To enable our 5G business, it is essential that Bureau Veritas partners with industry leaders like Keysight who can deliver against aggressive timelines and experience a quality out-of-the box experience,” said Clive Bax , Senior Director Testing & Engineering Services at Bureau Veritas.

FR1 (4.1 GHz to 7.125 GHz) band of frequencies are used for carrying most of the traditional cellular mobile communications traffic, while the FR2 (24.25 GHz to 52.6 GHz) band of frequencies are focused on short-range, high data rate capabilities.

https://group.bureauveritas.com/

Northwich Fire Station to host virtual open day

Northwich residents can find out about the lifesaving work of their local firefighters this weekend – without leaving the comfort of their own homes.

With many events around the country going virtual because of the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, the annual open day at Northwich Fire Station is determined to do likewise.

The station will open its virtual doors at 10am on Saturday, August 29, with a wide range of informative and fun things for members of the community to enjoy via the Northwich Fire Station Facebook and Twitter accounts.

Station Manager Duncan Palin said: “We hold an open day every year, and we are not going to let the coronavirus pandemic stop us.

“The current restrictions prevent us from holding an open day in its usual form, so we have organised our first ever virtual open day to safely show Northwich residents the work that we do and the equipment we use.

“There will be a range of videos and other informative and fun things for people to enjoy via social media from the comfort of their own homes.

“You will learn a lot about the life of a firefighter and the roles that our crews play in serving the community, and you will also pick up some vital safety messages to keep you and your family safe.

“So please go online at https://www.facebook.com/NorthwichFS/ or https://twitter.com/NorthwichFS between 10am and 4pm this Saturday.”

For more information, visit https://www.cheshirefire.gov.uk/about-us/local-fire-stations/northwich-fire-station

Arcus Fire launch clean-sheet F-45 turboprop

UK start-up, Arcus Fire has joined forces with New Zealand firms Flight Structures and Pacific Aerospace to develop the F-45, a clean-sheet single-engined turboprop targeted at the firefighting, cargo and commuter airline markets.

The first prototype is now under construction with the trio aiming for first flight of the Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6-67F-powered F-45 in 2023. Deliveries are planned to start in 2024.

The partners are also creating the F-25, a firefighting version of Pacific’s Super-Pac XL utility turbine-single. The F-25, is scheduled to secure its supplemental type certificate in 2021.

The first F-45 variant under development is an air tanker branded Firecatcher, which will be capable of carrying 4,500 litres (1,190 USgal) of water or fire retardant, says Arcus Fire founder and chief executive Nicholas Davis.

Hamilton-based Flight Structures has designed the F-45 and, along wiith local airframer Pacific, will supply parts for the short-take-off-and-landing aircraft family. Pacific will also house final assembly.

“We will certificate the Firecatcher under the New Zealand civil aviation authority’s restricted category, as the process is simple and quick and will enable us to begin delivering aircraft as soon as possible,” Davis says.

The $4.2 million F-45 Firecatcher will fill a gap for a modern, versatile and cost-efficient air tanker competing against established out-of-production designs including Bombardier’s CL-215 and Grumman’s S-2AT.

The $2.2 million F-25 will be pitched against “long-in-the-tooth” types including the Polish-made PZL Dromader.

“Many firefighting aircraft in service today are around 30 years old, and we see an extensive replacement market of around 1,000 units worldwide for the F-45 over the next 10 to 15 years, with a particular focus on Asia, Australasia, Europe and the USA,” says Davis. “The F-25 market will amount to around 100 units within five years.”

David concedes that securing sales of both variants from governments and local providers in the current economic climate is proving challenging. Although operators do see “tremendous value in a modern, simple and versatile firefighting fleet, they are not seen as a spending priority at the moment”, he says.

The F-45 prototype’s fuselage has been built by Flight Structures and is now awaiting wings from Pacific. “The fire gate is now going through leak testing and [we] aim to launch flight testing in Hamilton in 2023,” Davis says.

Conversion of the Super-Pac into a F-25 includes installation of a new hydraulics pack, fire gate and a 300kg (600lb) increase in payload, to 240kg. That work is now underway at Pacific’s Hamilton airport base. Flight testing will begin shortly, and Davis hopes to secure a supplemental flight certificate by year end, he says.

The partners will pursue certification of cargo and passenger F-45 variants following validation of the Firecatcher, scheduled for 2024.

Dubbed an “oversized Cessna Caravan”, the cargo version will have a large cargo door with a flat-floor cabin that can accommodate three LD-3 containers, with maximum payload of 2,500kg. The aircraft’s operating cost will be 27 cents per 100lb of cargo per nautical mile, the company says.

The passenger model will seat 19 people a full stand-up cabin, says Davis.

“The F-45 is not going to win any prizes in a beauty contest, but operationally nothing will touch this aircraft,” he adds.

The aircraft’s cargo and passenger variants will cost $4.5 million each.

The F-45 is projected to have a maximum cruise speed of 190kt (350km/h) and range of 1,000nm (1,852km), which is “ideal” for short, regional hops lasting 45-90min, says Davis.

“It is very basic aircraft, simple to operate easy to maintain, and you will be able to land anywhere in the world to get [it] fixed,” he adds.

www.arcusfire.com/

FIA Course: Carl Bryan speaks about advantages of hypoxic fire prevention systems online

Carl Bryan, Managing Director WAGNER UK, offers CPD accredited training as part of the Fire Industry Association (FIA) online training on 10 September 2020. For one hour, he will talk about the fire prevention solution with oxygen reduction. He will explain the technology behind and the advantages of using a hypoxic environment as a fire prevention solution. Participants will also be informed about the key considerations when specifying, designing and operating such systems.

Interested parties should book the training course online: https://www.fia.uk.com/event/a-guide-to-understanding-hypoxic-fire-prevention-environments.html

The FIA offers industry-recognised courses and qualifications for fire safety professionals. According to their own admission, more than 35,000 professionals have increased their skills through FIA trainings. The learning courses cover all aspects of fire protection and cover Fundamental Qualification, Advanced Qualifications as well as trainings and courses. If you need more information, go and visit https://www.fia.uk.com/training.html.

California wildfires: ‘a major disaster’

Over 14,000 firefighters are battling 585 fires that have now burnt nearly one million acres (400,000 hectares) as President Trump has declared that wildfires burning through homes and devastating precious forestry in parts of California are a major disaster and has released federal aid.

Forecast high winds are threatening to drive flames into more populated areas as foul air blankets the state. At least six people have died and thousands have evacuated.

Most of the destruction has been caused by three large fire complexes in mountainous and wooded rural areas.

On Saturday 22nd August, California Governor Gavin Newsom said the SCU Lightning Complex fire south and east of San Francisco was the third-largest in the state’s history.

Video tweeted by the governor showed burnt tree stumps against the reddened fumes-filled sky and plumes of white smoke rising from ash-laden ground.

An evacuation order on Saturday extended to thousands of people in the Bay area near San Jose and warned others to be prepared to abandon their homes at short notice.

Exhausted firefighters continue to battle the flames, with some working 72-hour shifts in the dangerous, hot conditions, reports AP news agency. “They’re scrambling for bodies” to help fight the fires, an official in the city of Fresno told Reuters news agency.

In California’s oldest state park, flames scorched redwood trees that began their lives more than 2,000 years ago. The historic visitor centre of Big Basin State Park was burnt to the ground and officials say some trees, which tower as high as 330ft (100 metres), have fallen as the area was “extensively damaged”.

The state faces a more acute shortage of personnel than usual – the coronavirus pandemic has depleted a fire-fighting corps made up of prisoners, which has helped the state battle blazes since World War Two, due to early releases from jail.

At least 43 people including firefighters have been injured, and hundreds of buildings have burned down and thousands more are threatened.

After doubling in size on Friday, the fires continued to grow moderately on Saturday and firefighters made some progress in containing the flames.

More than 12,000 dry lightning strikes started the blazes last week during a historic heat wave in which thermometers in Death Valley National Park reached what could be the highest ever temperature reliably recorded.

The largest wildfire, called the LNU Lightning complex, is in the prominent wine-growing areas of Napa and Sonoma north of San Francisco and is just 15% contained, CalFire said on Saturday.

Further south in Santa Cruz county, 115 homes have been destroyed and some residents evacuated.

Firefighters dug a fireline around the University of California Santa Cruz campus as flames came within a mile of the buildings and surrounding area.

Gov Newsom has requested help from as far afield as Australia and Canada. Firefighters, engines and surveillance planes raced in from US states including Oregon, New Mexico and Texas.

Although California is used to wildfire, the governor called the fires unlike anything the state had seen before. “If you don’t believe in climate change, come to California,” he tweeted on Saturday.

With more than 650,000 coronavirus cases, California also has the highest number of infections in the US, and some evacuees have said they are afraid to go to emergency shelters.

US agencies have updated disaster preparedness and evacuation guidance in light of Covid-19. People who may be required to flee have been to told to carry at least two face masks per person, as well as hand sanitiser, soap and disinfectant wipes.

Emergency shelters are enforcing social distancing rules and mask wearing, and have even given individual tents to families to self-isolate. Some counties are seeking to set up separate shelters for sick evacuees or anyone who is found to have a high temperature.