Matt Head – Page 5 – International Fire & Safety Journal

ASFP publishes independent guidance on active fire curtains

The Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP) has published its new Black Book: Active Fire Curtains: Compartmentation and Protected Routes, 1st Edition: Guidance on specification, use and application of product. This is the most up-to-date independent guide to the provision of proprietary active fire curtains.

The new Black Book outlines how to select a suitable fire curtain, as well as best practice considerations for all involved in the specification, installation and maintenance of such products. It also provides details of recognised test methods and the classification system from EN 13501-1 and EN 13501-2 for Operable Fabric Curtains tested to European standards. In addition it features listings of products that have been fully tested to the appropriate British or European standards.

The active fire curtain industry is relatively young and until recently there were no dedicated fire test methods to determine the fire performance of active fire curtain products, or harmonised methods of assessing oversized dimensions. This new guide was developed to provide independent guidance on the advantages and limitations of these products and advice to help stakeholders to evaluate the diverse marketing data and claims made by manufacturers.

With active fire curtains increasingly being considered as an alternative to conventional compartmentation elements as designers seek to create more open plan buildings, the Black Book will be of interest to all involved in the manufacture, specification, purchase, commissioning or maintenance of fire curtains. It also offers useful guidance to inspection authorities, risk assessors, facilities managers and business owners, providing a useful introduction to all the requirements related to maintaining active fire curtains.

The document also references the ASFP’s latest Technical Guidance Document, TGD 21: CE Marking of Operable Fabric Curtains, which explains some of the complexity behind CE marking of active curtains and highlights where BS 8524 (Active Fire Curtain) differs from BS EN 16034 (Operable fire curtain).

The documents were launched in a webinar on Wednesday 9 September, which described the essential factors relating to the design and installation of active fire curtains in accordance with UK and EU legislation.

www.asfp.org.uk

Fire Door Safety Week: 60% of local authorities delay fire door programmes

Fire Door Safety Week exists to stamp out the legacy of fire door neglect and to educate on the importance of fire door safety. To launch this year’s campaign, the British Woodworking Federation (BWF) have shared research into the state of fire door maintenance, inspection and replacement programmes across local authority owned and managed housing in the UK.

Over half (52%) of UK local authorities responding to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request reported delays to planned fire door maintenance and replacement in the first half of 2020. The number rises to 60% when inspection delays are also factored in.

According to the data obtained from 147 local authorities that own and manage their own housing stock, at least 26,318 fire doors were scheduled for maintenance or replacement between January and June 2020, but 16,580 did not progress – meaning 63% of individual planned works were delayed until at least the second half of the year, affecting a minimum of 9,954 individual properties.

In addition to delays to maintenance and replacement in the first half of the year, 31% of all responding local authorities stated their fire door inspection programmes were delayed, affecting at least 12,596 fire doors.

Not all responding local authorities provided reasons for delay, but over half (53%) of those experiencing delays cited COVID-19-related restrictions, including limited property access and availability of contractors due to social distancing guidelines. However, it was positive that several local authorities proactively mentioned that emergency repair works to fire doors continued throughout the lockdown period to maintain the safety of residents.

Of those local authorities that experienced delays, 65% intend to commence works by the end of the year. This signals that the majority recognise the importance of properly fitted and maintained fire doors. However, worryingly 31% of local authorities stated that they are yet to define a date for recommencing the planned works.

The findings follow an open letter from the London Fire Brigade to all housing providers in the Capital urging them to put plans in place ahead of new fire safety legislation coming into effect. The letter strongly advises building owners to consider the risks of existing fire doors in their fire risk assessments, regardless of the height of the building.

Fire’s don’t stop – it’s time to prioritise fire doors

It’s clear COVID-19 has understandably impacted on service delivery across a variety of sectors, but fires don’t stop. With the UK lockdown period forcing many people to spend more time at home, people without fit for purpose fire doors have been put at risk. There is a need for continued and urgent focus on ensuring the safety of all building occupants whether in local authority or privately-rented accommodation, workplaces or other building types.

Whilst we have focused upon local authority owned and managed housing stock, we strongly suspect that our insight reflects the wider market. We hope that through this years’ Fire Door Safety Week, we can draw attention to these important issues and encourage all with responsibility for fire doors to take urgent action across fire door maintenance, inspection and replacement.

When it comes to fire door inspections, fire doors can become damaged at any time, especially where they are frequently used. If a damaged door goes unidentified it cannot perform its life-saving role. Like previous years, this year’s Fire Door Safety Week campaign will emphasise the importance of regular inspections, carried out by trained and competent professionals.

https://www.bwf.org.uk/

NFCC calls for ‘sustained’ FRS funding amid safety check data

The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) has called for ‘sustained funding’ for England’s fire and rescue services (FRSs) after the Home Office released its latest prevention and protection statistics.

The data, covering the year from April 2019 to March 2020, includes statistics on home fire safety checks and fire safety audits, and revealed that in the last year FRSs have undertaken 581,917 home fire safety checks (HFSCs), with 489,922 of these for disabled people or those aged 65 and over. The NFCC said this was ‘testament to the focus’ that FRSs have ‘placed on targeted interventions and advice to those who are most at risk of fire’.

These checks are, the NFCC noted, ‘one part of FRSs’ prevention work to manage community risk as part of their individual’ integrated risk management plans, alongside adopting a ‘person-centred approach to identify and address the underlying cause of fire’. Around 48,414 fire safety audits were undertaken in 2019/20, with shops most commonly audited at 7,800 or 16% of the total, and care homes second – 66% of audits, or 31,9778, were ‘deemed as satisfactory’.

FRSs also carried out 83,348 other fire safety activities, an increase of 11% compared to 75,306 in 2018/19, and issued 2,295 formal notices – a smaller number than in 2018/19 – comprising 347 enforcement notices, 788 prohibition notices, 108 alteration notices and 52 prosecutions.

NFCC chair Roy Wilsher said: ‘As the latest figures show, [FRSs] continue to work extremely hard, delivering excellent prevention and protection work and carrying out an additional 8,312 other fire safety activities during 2019/20. Although these latest Home Office figures reveal an 8% reduction in HFSCs, [FRSs] are better at targeting the work and are committed to delivering an improved risk focus to ensure the most vulnerable in our communities receive the best possible fire safety advice and support.

‘This year’s stats have also highlighted a very small decline in fire safety audits. Reduced protection capacity is an area which has been highlighted consistently by HMICFRS, which is directly related to austerity and the subsequent 23% reduction in wholetime firefighters since 2010. This year, fire protection in English [FRSs] received £16m investment from government, plus another £4m to the NFCC Protection Hub to improve central co-ordination, guidance and input to issues like the new fire safety bill.

‘We welcome the extra Home Office and Ministry of Housing Community and Local Government funding this year but would want to see that base lined through the spending review. We currently do not know what the economic impact of COVID-19 will be on the public sector, but it is essential people continue to receive an excellent level of service.

‘Resourcing to risk, maintaining the number of firefighters, better resilience, investing in people and vital prevention and protection work are all areas the government must consider to ensure [FRSs] can continue to provide the services communities need and have come to expect.’

Despite this perspective, many regional FRSs were reported to have carried out ‘record-low’ or lower numbers of safety checks on buildings, with Chelmsford Weekly News, Stroud News and Journal, Telegraph and Argus, Northumberland Gazette and MiltonKeynes.co.uk all reporting on their local FRSs’ figures.

Essex Fire and Rescue Service was said to have undertaken a ‘record-low number’ of building safety checks, with 824 fire safety audits completed – ‘the lowest number of inspections since comparable records began in 2010-11’, while Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service completed 610, 758 fewer than the 1,368 undertaken in 2010-11. Of those, 80 or 13% resulted in an ‘unsatisfactory’ rating, while 74 informal notifications were handed to premises that failed audits.

West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service carried out 646 audits, again ‘the lowest number of inspections since comparable records began’ in 2010-11, with 301 or 47% resulting in ‘unsatisfactory ratings, and 210 informal notifications handed out alongside 81 enforcement notices and 11 prohibition notices.

Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service undertook 427 audits, 1,133 fewer than the 1,560 recorded in 2010-11, with 146 or 34% ‘unsatisfactory’, and 133 informal notifications and four prohibition notices handed out. Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Fire and Rescue Service completed 267 audits, ‘the lowest number’ since 2010-11, with 79 or 30% ‘unsatisfactory’ and 101 information notifications handed out, alongside 11 enforcement and 13 prohibition notices, and one prosecution.

Finally, South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service undertook ‘over 1,000 fewer’ checks compared to 2010-11, and Fire Brigades Union (FBU) general secretary Matt Wrack, stated that over a decade of government cuts had led to preventative work being ‘slashed’: ‘The Grenfell Tower fire exposed the shameful state of building safety in the UK. The scale of the building safety crisis is beyond all current comprehension – and firefighters have a crucial role to play in tackling it.’

While the FBU supported the building and fire safety bills, Mr Wrack commented that ‘to be effective, the [FRSs] must be properly funded. As things stand, the government is trying to do public safety on the cheap’.

A Home Office spokeswoman meanwhile said that the government ‘was committed to providing’ FRSs with ‘the resources they need’, stating: ‘Funding for standalone [FRSs] has increased by 3.2% in 2020-21. We’ve also made more than £20 million of funding available to the sector to support fire protection work – £16 million of which is being invested directly to increase the number of audits and qualified officers.’

www.thefpa.co.uk/

Brazil’s Pantanal tropical fires causes wildlife devastation

There have been more than 15,000 fires in Brazil’s Pantanal wetlands so far this year, causing widespread devastation. That is triple the number recorded in the same period in 2019, according to data collected by Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research (Inpe).

Since the middle of July, a fire has been burning in the wetlands of west-central Brazil, leaving a burned area that is larger than New York City.

The wetlands, known as the Pantanal, are smaller and less-known than the Amazon jungle. But the area attracts many different animals because of where it is in South America. It is between the rainforest, Brazil’s grasslands and Paraguay’s dry forests.

The fires are now threatening one of the most diverse environments on the planet, biologists say. The Pantanal is about 150,000 square kilometers in size. The wetland is home to 1,200 vertebrate animal species. Thirty-six of those species are close to dying off completely.

Fire is not new there, but the current fires are historic. The biggest ones in the Pantanal this year are four times the size of the largest fire in Brazil’s Amazon rainforest, NASA satellites show.

A record 23,490 square kilometers have burned through September 6. A study by the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro said that represents nearly 16 percent of the Brazilian Pantanal.

The Pantanal is known for being wet, not dry. The world’s largest floodplain normally fills with water during the rainy season, which lasts from November to April.

This year, the floods never came. The Paraguay River, which crosses the Pantanal, fell to its lowest level since 1973. That estimate comes from Julia Arieira, a climate researcher at Brazil’s Federal University of Espirito Santo.

Scientists blame the dry weather on warming in the Atlantic Ocean. That warming takes moisture away from South America and sends it north where it can form hurricanes.

Doug Morton is a scientist with the U.S. space agency NASA. He said this process is caused by changes in ocean temperatures. These changes are known as the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation.

This weather event is to the Atlantic Ocean what El Niño is to the Pacific Ocean. Unlike El Niño, however, which usually happens every two to seven years, the oscillation changes between hot and cold every 30 to 40 years.

Changing ocean temperatures are “a likely driver of the dry conditions we’ve seen so far this year in the Pantanal,” said NASA’s Morton.

Morton is concerned global warming could change the Oscillation and leave it permanently warm – possibly leading to more fires.

Even if that does not happen, scientists fear global temperature increases could make large fires more common.

Philip Fearnside is an ecologist at Brazil’s National Institute of Amazonian Research. He said destruction of the Amazon rainforest is worsening dry conditions in the Pantanal over the long-term. He said jungle trees take rain and push the moisture back into the air. This moisture is then carried by winds to nearby areas.

Amazon deforestation – the act of cutting down forests – has increased 34.5 percent in the 12 months through July, compared to the same period a year earlier. That increase comes from early estimates released by the government space research agency Inpe.

Telgian Fire Safety appoints Ryan Smith as Senior Vice President of Sales

Telgian Fire Safety recently announced the promotion of Ryan Smith to Senior Vice President of Sales. In this position, Smith will align the sales organisation’s objectives with business strategy through strategic planning, sales strategy development, forecasting, resource planning and budgeting. Smith will also develop sales strategies with operations and account executives to ensure successful onboarding of new accounts, implement marketing programs to increase brand awareness, and improve the customer’s experience.

Smith’s career spans more than 25 years as an effective corporate executive. His extensive knowledge of management, business development and operations includes forecasting, market intelligence, data analysis, operations and team management.

In his 17-year career at Telgian, he has been a vital contributor to the company’s strategic planning and corporate initiatives. This includes developing fire protection and life safety solutions for a wide range of business sectors such as commercial real estate, retail and grocery, warehousing and distribution, government, healthcare facilities, and education, among others.

Smith’s professional accreditations include a Certified Fire Protection Specialist (CFPS) designation from National Fire Protection Association, a Facility Management Professional (FMP) designation from International Facility Management Association and a Certified Product Owner (CPO) certification from the Scrum Alliance, as well as licenses for Property and Casualty Insurance and Life and Health Insurance License, both from the State of California.

In addition, he plays an integral role in international codes and standards training programs and is a member of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), as well as the International Facility Management Association (IFMA).

Smith conducted his Fire Sprinkler Inspector Training at Oklahoma State University. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Economics from the University of California, Santa Barbara, as well as an MBA from Arizona State University’s W.P. Carey School of Business.

www.telgian.com/

New reports reveal fire safety checks halved in last decade

DORSET and Wiltshire firefighters carried out nearly 1,000 fewer safety checks on buildings last year compared with a decade ago, new figures reveal.

Fire services conduct audits on most public buildings and the shared areas of residential properties such as flats to make sure they are in line with safety laws.

But with inspections hitting a record low across England last year, the Fire Brigades Union warns the scale of the building safety crisis – exposed by the Grenfell Tower fire – is “beyond all current comprehension”.

Home Office data shows the Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service completed 1,040 fire safety audits on buildings in 2019-20. This was 958 fewer than the 1,998 inspections recorded in 2010-11, when comparable records began.

Across England, the number of audits completed fell to a record low of 48,400 last year – 43% fewer than in 2010-11. Buildings tested include care homes, hospitals and high-rises, as well as schools and shops.

Local breakdowns on the type of buildings checked were unavailable, but nationally 3,500 were undertaken on blocks of flats. This was a slight decrease on 2018-19 and far fewer than the 6,500 done in 2017-18.

The Home Office said the higher number that year was likely to be in response to the Grenfell Tower disaster, which killed 72 people in June 2017.

Matt Wrack, Fire Brigades Union general secretary, said more than a decade of government cuts had led to preventative work being slashed.

“The Grenfell Tower fire exposed the shameful state of building safety in the UK,” he said.

“The scale of the building safety crisis is beyond all current comprehension – and firefighters have a crucial role to play in tackling it.”

Mr Wrack said the union supports the Government’s new bills on fire safety and building safety, which aim to expand firefighters’ prevention and protection work.

“But to be effective, the fire and rescue service must be properly funded,” he added. “As things stand, the Government is trying to do public safety on the cheap.”

Of the audits undertaken in Dorset and Wiltshire last year, 476 (46 per cent) resulted in an “unsatisfactory” rating.

Crews issued 441 informal notifications to premises that had failed an audit, explaining what action needed to be taken.

If informal notifications fail, they can take tougher action and Dorset and Wiltshire crews handed out eight enforcement notices – formal warnings that a building breaches the law.

Prohibition notices, ordering access to a building to be restricted or for it to be closed altogether, were issued on 11 occasions.

A Home Office spokeswoman said the Government was committed to providing fire services with the resources they need.

She said: “Funding for standalone fire and rescue services has increased by 3.2 per cent in 2020-21.

“We’ve also made more than £20 million of funding available to the sector to support fire protection work – £16 million of which is being invested directly to increase the number of audits and qualified officers.”

Chevron Phillips Chemical names Justine Smith senior vice president, petrochemicals

Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LLC (CPChem) announced that Justine Smith has joined the company as senior vice president, petrochemicals. Smith replaces Ron Corn, who will retire after more than 40 years with CPChem and Chevron Corporation.

“Ron’s leadership has helped put CPChem on a path for sustainable growth in our business and in how we view diversity and inclusion, people development and safety,” said Mark Lashier, president and CEO. “He was instrumental in the inception, development, construction and safe startup of our U.S. Gulf Coast Petrochemicals Project assets in Baytown and Old Ocean, Texas. His efforts to enhance safety performance through respect and collaboration at all levels of the workforce and advance the company’s focus on developing a diverse talent pipeline leave a lasting impact on our future.”

Smith joins the company from BASF Corporation where she was vice president of intermediates, amines and specialties. During her tenure with BASF, she held numerous roles of increasing responsibility including vice president of global oilfield solutions; vice president of regional business management plastics additives in Asia Pacific; and head of strategic marketing and projects in Asia Pacific. Smith began her career with Air Products, where she served in various engineering and commercial operations roles. She holds a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Pennsylvania State University and a master’s degree in chemical engineering from Villanova University.

“Justine brings to CPChem her deep industry knowledge, demonstrated strategic business acumen and extensive leadership experience in the U.S. and abroad,” said Lashier. “She has a proven track record of driving business results and fostering people development and organizational growth, both of which will help CPChem as we grow and work to achieve our vision to be the employer, supplier, neighbour and investment of choice in our industry.”

https://www.cpchem.com/

The Tall Building Fire Safety Conference goes virtual

The Tall Building Fire Safety Conference, which typically runs alongside FIREX International at ExCeL London, is moving online. The Tall Building Fire Safety Network, in partnership with Informa Markets, has developed a unique opportunity to learn about key issues and trends from high-level international speakers on an accessible, online platform.

The virtual conference will take place across three days: Wednesday 30 September, Wednesday 7 October and Wednesday 14 October, and will coincide with the release of the Building Safety Bill coming into force in the UK, representing an exclusive opportunity to discuss major issues at the very forefront of the fire safety sector.

As such, attendees will be able to enjoy timely and relevant content delivered by both UK and international experts, with a chance to engage and network via the digital platform’s Q&A feature.

Book your ticket here

Each day has a unique theme and a different conference chair drawn from the highest level of the fire safety profession:

Wednesday 30 September – Crisis Management in Tall Buildings Conference

This session considers pandemic, drones and terrorism
It will be chaired by Andy Baker, QPM, LLB (Hons), AKC and will include preeminent speakers, case studies and threat assessments
Magda Popescu from Facebook Dublin to discuss crisis management in a high-profile high rise
Shane McMahon from Horizonscan will explore practical pandemic planning

Wednesday 7 October – International High-Rise Firefighting Conference

Firefighters from around the world gather to discuss high-rise firefighting techniques and best practice
The conference will be chaired by Roy Wilsher, OBE QFSM and will include techniques, case studies, innovation and best practice
International speakers including Mark Reilly, Michael Reick and Brent Brooks providing case studies from Australia, Germany and Canada

Wednesday 14 October – International Construction Fire Safety Conference

The conference will be chaired by Martin Wilshire and will include expert insights, latest thinking, case studies and networking
Sandra Tomlinson HSE Inspector discusses what they are looking for in construction sites
Raymond O’Brocki explores the role of building and fire inspectors during construction from a US perspective

To download the brochures and find out more, visit the FIREX website here.

CheckFire introduces Rapid-10, ensuring people return to work safely

As the UK continues to ease out of lockdown and people return to the workplace, employers and building owners must consider detailed risk assessment and plan how daily working will continue under government guidelines.

CheckFire have introduced Rapid-10, a new portable sanitising solution with antimicrobial properties for protection of all types of hard surfaces.

An anti-viral surface disinfectant, it’s been laboratory-tested against ‘enveloped’ viruses similar to COVID-19 and achieves a 99.9-99.99% kill ratio across the testing range.

Tested against a number of viruses, including herpes simplex virus type 1, H1N1, HIV and Hepatitis B – it’s proven to kill microorganisms in under five minutes. Plus, Rapid-10’s active ingredient has known virocidal activity against the SARS-CoV variant.

In its large portable unit, with a shoulder strap, this is an easy way to spray sanitise large or small areas. Rapid-10 is also kind on the environment thanks to its all-natural formulation process – containing zero alcohol.

This high-performance antimicrobial agent is suitable for various of different environments, including; offices, warehouses, schools, supermarkets, care homes and wedding venues are safe for workers and visitors. Transport vehicles, like buses and trains, or emergency vehicles can also be sanitised thoroughly within minutes.

For the fire trade, Rapid-10 comes highly recommended. Engineers can benefit from this source of practical, mobile protection as they work across various settings and carry out extinguisher installations and inspections. The spray is simple to use yet puts engineers in control of their own safety and gives them peace of mind they’re leaving behind protected surfaces for further use.

CheckFire recommends Rapid-10 to all returning businesses and work environments. The fire trade can play its part in helping the UK resume as normal a service as possible – while protecting its employees.

www.checkfire.co.uk/

CCS develops revolutionary fire safety solution

Contactless Check Solutions (CCS) has developed an industry-first solution to “transform” the fire safety sector in the wake of the Grenfell Tower tragedy.

According to the company, its “simple” solution to make fire safety inspections faster and more accurate will reportedly ensure fire door compliance in line with UK regulations.

The method involves using a pin containing a unique identifier that is then installed into a fire door at manufacture or retrofitted.

The company’s fire inspection app can then be installed on a smartphone or tablet and is used to scan the pin and give the inspector access to the door’s manufacturing and maintenance history in real time.

The app will then prompt the inspector to complete a checklist with compulsory photos which automatically update the record stored on the cloud.

Building owners and managers will have quick and easy access to see a complete overview of all their fire door stock, site by site, floor by floor, using a simple traffic light system, and the history of each and every door, the Maryport firm said.

Andy Tyas, managing director, said: “The fire safety industry is under intense scrutiny after Grenfell. The government is looking closely at how and when fire doors are inspected, maintained and managed.

“The development of this project will benefit the people responsible for the building as well as the regulatory authority to ensure correct inspections are being carried out in accordance with building regs.”

CCS is being supported by the Made Smarter North West adoption pilot, which helps SME manufacturers to adopt digital technologies.

Mr Tyas added: “Made Smarter funding and advice has accelerated development of the technology by two years and dramatically increased our chances of being first to market with a technology that could transform the fire safety sector.”

CCS said the innovation will make it easier for owners and managers to ensure compliance with UK regulations by establishing a consistent system for fire door inspection programmes, regardless of the type of building.

With nothing similar currently on the market, CCS said it is targeting manufacturers of the six million new fire doors produced every year in the UK, as well as the managers of the hundreds of millions of fire doors currently installed.

CCS directors Sean Parnaby, David Reay and Andrew Tyas have been manufacturing fire doors for almost 20 years.

According to CCS, it isn’t just focussed on the UK market and has already had discussions with building managers in Europe and the Middle East.

The company are also discussion with door manufacturers, inspectors and local authorities regarding applying the solution to refuse chutes in high rise buildings and sprinkler systems.

https://ccs-fire.com/