IFSJ Exclusive: Say hello to Cygnus

by Breaking NewsFire DetectionIFSJ Exclusives

Austen Wells, Sales Manager at Cygnus, talks to International Fire & Safety Journal about the new brand

We are accustomed to using wireless technology in our every day lives. We use mobile phones with apps that allow us to turn our lighting on and off, switch on the TV, answer the doorbell and see who is outside, check our energy consumption and much, much more. However, when it comes to commercial building control, stakeholders have been sceptical about its use in their spaces.

Certainly, the wireless detection and fire alarm systems available on the market may not have had the capabilities and performance reliabilities required. But we are at now a point where wireless technology is robust enough and scalable enough to be used everywhere. 

Cygnus has harnessed its expertise with wireless technology to develop a game-changing, fully wireless and EN54 certified fire detection and alarm system called SmartNet. 

The name Cygnus derives from a constellation that was discovered in 1951 and is one of the strongest radio sources in the sky and reflects our development of the most powerful radio mesh network in any fire detection and alarm system. The brand has a strong heritage with over 10 years developing wireless technology, beginning with the launch of the original Cygnus radio evacuation systems for constructions sites, which became renowned for their range and reliability.

Launching SmartNet

The SmartNet range is designed to deliver a reliable and safe solution that offers significant reductions on fire alarm installation times as well as reduced costs for fire alarm installers, specifiers, M&E contractors and consultants. 

The system comprises of a comprehensive range of EN54 compliant and Construction Products Regulation (CPR 305/2011) certified fire detection and alarm devices suitable for permanent installation across all types of building environment.

Our intention for this wireless system is for it to be a game changer for installers. For the first time, it offers the sector a fully wireless system, which is quick and easy to install, and can be scaled effectively from small to large installations. SmartNet brings significant the operational and installation benefits of wireless technology to the market with no need for wired boosters, translators or any other wired element. It removes the often stressful first fix stage of an install.

By eliminating the need for cabling during installation, a SmartNet system can greatly reduce engineering time and the overall project cost.

Full training and support

The new system is designed to be fitted by SmartNet Certified Partners and Cygnus offers full training and technical support to its partners. The new Cygnus Academy is an in-person, high specification training hub for installers seeking to learn about the company’s new SmartNet wireless fire detection and alarm system.

Located at the company’s headquarters in Hereford, the Cygnus Academy provides a modern, fully equipped and comfortable environment where installers can complete the SmartNet one-day training course to become a Cygnus Certified Partner. The SmartNet course, combining both theoretical and practical training, provides detailed insights into SmartNet technology and the skills required to carry out a successful installation.

SmartNet is set to revolutionise the fire safety industry. It is a reliable, safe and a quick to install solution, built on wireless mesh network technology, that will transform the way you work, help you deal effectively with labour shortages and improve your business efficiency. It is also a highly sustainable solution that will substantially reduce the amount of copper wiring and other materials you use on a project.

Cygnus is not stopping with just launching SmartNet – our Cygnus Academy and our dedicated technical support services ensure we can offer our customers everything they need to deliver successful projects.

The Cygnus team will be at The Fire Safety Event on stand 3a/B10.

To become a Cygnus Certified Partner, installers need to attend training at the Cygnus Academy – for more details get in touch here: help@cygnus-academy.com. For more information visit, www.cygnus-systems.com.

This article was originally published in the April edition of IFSJ. To read your FREE digital copy, click here.

IFSJ Exclusive: Setting the standard for compliance with Profab Access

by Breaking NewsIFSJ ExclusivesPassive

Marcus Parnham, Commercial Director at Profab Access, explores the implication of The Building Safety Act

The Building Safety Act 2022 presents a new era of accountability for the construction industry that will improve the standards of buildings and secure the safety of people within them, and it comes with implications for professionals responsible for the specification, installation and maintenance of fire-critical building products.   

The Competence Steering Group’s Setting the Bar report aims to achieve a system of competence standards that all those in life-safety-critical disciplines working on higher-risk buildings should adopt, in line with Dame Judith Hackitt’s Building a Safer Future report.

For professionals responsible for the procurement, construction, inspection and maintenance of buildings, these objectives can be achieved in part by specifying and installing building components that are supplied with comprehensive third party certification, which helps to safeguard the suitability and safety of a building for its entire lifecycle.

Currently, some concerns remain in relation to ambiguities regarding guidelines and regulations for the testing of building materials. In relation to fire integrity riser doors for non-residential buildings, there are disparities between the guidelines outlined in BS EN 1634-1:2014+A1:2018 and clause C3 of Approved Document B2.

Where a door leaf is totally symmetrical, Part 1 of BS EN 1634-1:2014+A1:2018 allows for testing from one side only. In contrast, clause C3 of Approved Document B2 stipulates that each side of the door leaf should receive separate test exposure, irrespective of whether the door leaf is symmetrical.

Different manufacturers take different approaches to address this. Some may conduct product assessments via a third party once in the product lifecycle, whilst others may undertake third-party testing of both sides of the door leaf, supported by on going third party certification, to evidence their products are consistently suitable for installation.

While the National Construction Products Regulator will have the ability to conduct its own tests of building materials specified in fire-critical environments, it is the responsibility of the manufacturer to guarantee the products they supply are suitable for the proposed application.

It is the responsibility of the manufacturer to guarantee the products they supply are suitable for the proposed application.

However, this responsibility is also shared by the customer. Construction professionals need to make their own decision about how best to obtain assurance as to the performance of fire integrity riser doors. Certainly, third party assessment of performance is a minimum, but a higher degree of confidence can be obtained by specifying products from companies that have undergone third party accreditation and whose building products are supplied with comprehensive certification and test reports on an ongoing, rather than one off, basis. 

Due diligence

By evidencing comprehensive due diligence through the procurement of riser doors that have been bi-directionally tested by a third party and are supplied with ongoing certification and test reports, rather than single product assessments, construction professionals can be confident that no assumptions have been made regarding the suitability and performance of the materials installed, including whether the door set will perform effectively from both directions of exposure. This subsequently ensures the long-term suitability and safety of the building for its entire lifecycle.

One off product assessments alone do not provide continuous surveillance and assurance of consistency and quality.

This is because continuous testing programmes provide continued assurance with regard to the product being supplied, whereas one off product assessments alone do not provide continuous surveillance and assurance of consistency and quality.

This is further reflected in third-party testers’ continued involvement throughout the entire manufacturing process, which helps to ascertain that manufacturers are implementing appropriate measures to maintain manufacturing consistency and that the products tested are genuinely representative of production.

With regard to riser doors in particular, extensive third party bi-directional testing to BS EN 1634-1:2014+A1:2018 of both sides of the door leaf evidences that a manufacturer has gone above the minimum requirements detailed in BS EN 1634 to meet the requirements defined in clause C3 of Approved Document B2.

Professionals should also check that third-party testing has been undertaken for the complete doorset, including each individual component, to successfully validate overall performance.

Beyond the testing of the doorset itself, it is also critical that it is installed into an approved wall construction in a method consistent with the sample originally tested. This reflects points first raised in Dame Hackitt’s review that the fire resistance of a building product should be tested in ‘real-world conditions’, to be certain that all performance figures stated by the manufacturer are factual and representative of the likely performance of the final installation.

By specifying rising doors where both sides of the door leaf have been separately tested by an independent third-party passive fire product certification scheme, any ambiguity is removed, as the certification also states the approved application for each wall construction type, eliminating any requirement for interpretation.

Practical risks

In practice, the installation process of a riser door poses a number of risks to the overall fire integrity of the construction through variables such as the packer type and intumescent mastic bead application.

One solution to this could be by selecting steel riser doors that include adjustable frames with an integral intumescent strip to provide fire stopping between the wall and frame. This not only eliminates the requirement of packers and a dry liner’s reliance on the correct thickness of intumescent mastic bead, but also helps confirm the compliance and adequacy of the entire installation, as its fire integrity performance has been sufficiently documented by an independent assessor. This also subsequently increases the efficiencies of installation and reduces potential margins for error.

By considering the individual elements that forms part of the entire installation and ensuring that the relevant components have undergone the necessary testing and certification processes, professionals can not only streamline the initial design and specification stages, but can also benefit from an extensive digital audit trail that documents compliance and product suitability at every stage of the construction process.

For further information visit profabaccess.com

This article was originally published in the April edition of IFSJ. To read your FREE digital copy, click here.

Orama Group to make FIREX debut

by Breaking NewsEvents

Wireless fire safety solutions providers Ramtech and Hyfire will showcase their products at FIREX 2023 as part of The Orama Group, a collaboration that represents the industry’s commitment to working together.

The Orama Group was formed in 2022 through Halma Group’s investment and ownership, and already covers over 30 global geographies, utilising its combined expertise to develop new wireless technologies and solutions.

FIREX is one of Europe’s largest fire safety events and offers industry wide opportunity to connect, learn, source and discover the latest in life-saving technology. The group said it is confident that FIREX matches it mission to shape a safer world through innovation, with a culture built on thinking digitally, acting transparently, being accountable and staying close to customers.

The Orama Group first presented itself in the metaverse, to contextualise the technological vision, and FIREX will be its next appearance from 16 to18 May 2023.

Ramtech

Ramtech regularly launches new and improved versions of its most successful products – such as the audio recording feature on its REACT platform, which will be demonstrated live throughout FIREX – showcasing its commitment to seeking greater awareness and answers for its customers’ problems.

Adam Jurka, sales manager at Ramtech, said: “This year will be the first time that Ramtech and Hyfire attend FIREX under the collective group name. We hope this sends a message to our clients and competitors that collaboration is going to remain a key driver in achieving industry betterment.

“Everyone attending this year’s event cares deeply about protecting people and places, so we aim to remind the industry that there is a host of benefits to be shared by investing in technological solutions, which can save lives and protect firms from costly asset and reputational damage.”

Construction is one of Ramtech’s key sectors and its automatic 24/7 Water Leak Detection (WLD) offering, launched late last year, is an example of an integrated solution. Ramtech believes that the WLD system, combined with its established WES3 fire safety offering, is a significant stride forward in the digitisation of construction, as proven by a recent high-profile awards ceremony shortlisting.

Jurka added: “While fire is responsible for the largest insurance losses in construction, escape of water is still the most common – and most costly – for construction project teams. By extending functionality of our wireless solutions to also cover WLD, which can connect into our fire and evacuation WES system, construction professionals can begin improving site safety in a matter of minutes.”

Hyfire

Hyfire will present the Taurus wireless fire solution, including the TauREX software for programming and setting up the Taurus system. This year the firm is set to release an updated version of the configuration tool, which includes new features to empower users, save time and minimise effort when programming and maintaining the system.

Diana Cristin, head of marketing and international business development at Hyfire, said: “FIREX offers us an opportunity to present and communicate our own tried and tested solutions, while reaffirming our commitment to strategic industry alliances. Alongside Ramtech, we will be bringing Orama’s vision to FIREX with excitement and intrigue – opening up the floor to questions, feedback and new ideas which we know people will have.

The Formula for Competency with Quelfire

by Breaking NewsPassive

Craig Wells, Sales Director at Quelfire, talks competency, communication and doing your due diligence

In the Merriam-Webster dictionary, competency is defined as having a ‘possession of sufficient knowledge or skill.’

Although this is true, at Quelfire, we believe that there is more to competency than knowledge, skill, or experience. Whilst you can tangibly measure someone’s qualifications or skills, it is also about your personal attributes and how you use them to apply your skills that makes you competent. We often say that competency is knowing what you do not know and being prepared to ask for help.

This often works for those who find themselves in a situation where they understand that what is being asked of them is outside of their competence, but could find suitable assistance to complete the job. However, in other cases, it is also about knowing your limitations and when you are not the most suitable person for the project.

What can support competency?

Competency can be hard to measure, assess or evaluate directly because there is no benchmark to compare it to. Nevertheless, we believe that it can be observed indirectly through knowledge, and actions.

Qualifications: Qualifications work as a starting point so long as you build on them. While they do not make you fully competent, there is no doubt that they play an important role in establishing a foundation for initial skills, knowledge and understanding.

Training: No matter how competent you think you are, or how many years you have spent studying, everyone still needs to refresh their skills every once in a while, and keep up to date with current practices. Therefore, training and actively looking for opportunities to broaden your knowledge is highly recommended. This could be through attending CPDs or product-specific training, partaking in early engagement meetings, or reviewing sample boards as a benchmark for compliant installations.

Knowledge: Thirst for knowledge is key. Wanting to gain further knowledge about your niche sector, and even areas that go beyond, gives you a broader way of viewing challenges faced in the industry. This not only through third-party training, but by building and surrounding yourself with professional relations who support growth and have the right mindset when it comes to fire safety.

A culture of copy and paste

Competency is the act of understanding the why, thinking for yourself, and knowing how something works. Unfortunately, we have welcomed a culture of training people to copy and paste and then reference the source of information, without questioning it. We are not training people on the importance of doing their due diligence.

The construction industry can be fairly complacent in terms of assuming that everyone is competent. For example, a qualified electrician is competent to wire up a socket box but is then asked to firestop the socket using a putty pad. Whilst it is not hard to install a putty pad, does the electrician understand why they are installing it and that it is a life safety critical element? 

In another scenario, an architect is copying and pasting the tested details to their drawing, which is the correct thing to do when they have engaged with a competent manufacturer, but are they competent enough to understand why that is the most suitable firestopping tested detail and how it will work in the event of a fire?

Competency is not solely about whether you can do something, but whether you know the fundamentals of what you are being asked to do.

That is why transparency of fire testing and information in the construction industry is crucial. We understand that there is a lot of information out there and therefore, we cannot assume that all parties from architects to installers are masters of everything.

It is imperative that all parties communicate transparently, share competencies, and encourage questions. For example, in the context of fire testing certification, instead of merely relying on what the test certificate says – ask for the test report and any other relevant information that can evidence this.  

Communication, collaboration, and the sharing of knowledge. Working this way ensures that all parties are on the same page, working to best practices and showing that they are competent.

And what about ethics?

There is often a great deal of discussion around competency, but what is very rarely spoken about is ethics. In the Merriam-Webster dictionary, ethics is defined as ‘the principles of conduct governing an individual or a group.’

We believe it to be making decisions based on our company values. For example, if we do not have a firestopping tested solution, then we will not sell the product because this goes against everything we believe in which is protecting people and property. We also actively work to educate the construction industry on the importance of fire safety and why all firestopping products need to be installed compliantly.

When you work with other parties who are on the same page, striving for ultimate building compliance, your ethical stance will not be jeopardised. Again, it is about asking the right questions and establishing whose values line up with yours.

Competency and ethics work coherently together, you cannot have one without the other. For instance, if we did not have a tested solution for a customer’s application but proceeded to sell them a product for an untested application, then this would not be competent or ethical.

It would not make us competent as we proceeded to sell a product even when we were not the most suitable manufacturer for the application in question. It also would not make us ethical because we have acted from the perspective of financial gain rather than the interest of the safety of future occupants of the building.

Therefore, although it is harder to measure ethics as there are no qualifications you can obtain, it is equally as important as competency.

Know your limitations

The Passive Fire Protection Forum (PFPF) guide to ‘Undertaking Technical Assessments of Fire Performance of Construction Products Based on Fire Test Evidence’, Section 6, p.15, states: ‘Different levels of competency of individual assessor and reviewer have been identified with different levels of responsibility and remit in regard to the complexity level of assessment that they may undertake.’

This is a holistic way of approaching competency because it weighs up qualifications, experience, and knowledge and therefore, clearly sets competence boundaries and allows the relevant person to know their limitations.

For example, a Principal Assessor/ Reviewer requires a chartered engineer qualification (or equivalent) and five years of relevant testing and assessment experience. Whereas an Assessor needs either four years of relevant testing and assessment experience or two years of experience plus qualifications equivalent to a technical engineer or above.

This demonstrates that competency cannot be measured on one basis. Qualifications, knowledge, and experience need to be built into it and, of course, knowing when you are not competent enough to carry out the job.

It is important for people to also understand that there are manufacturers and system suppliers, like ourselves, who are willing to provide support and an evidence-based solution.

Help is available and it is not wrong to not know all the answers.

This article was originally published in the April edition of IFSJ. To read your FREE digital copy, click here.

IFSJ Exclusive: The Evolution of Fire Detection with GFE

by Breaking NewsFire DetectionIFSJ Exclusives

João Paulo Ajami, Managing Director and Founder at Global Fire Equipment (GFE), talks about the evolution of the fire detection company

How did you get started in the fire industry?

I first became interested in electronics when I was around 12. By the time I was 20 (in 1977), I started working in the electronics lab of a security company, working in repairs and development. In 1983, I launched my first company – a security manufacturing company – where we produced control panels for intrusion alarms. By 1986, we were supplying most of the security companies in Portugal before I sold the company.

I moved into fire detection through a collaboration between the company I was working for in Lisbon and I.A.S. Electronics in the early 1990s. Our plan was to establish a joint venture to manufacture fire alarm control panels in Lisbon. That fell through but I was then invited to move to England and help I.A.S. develop a new range of products. I stayed there until Spring 1993 when I moved to Denmark with my Danish fiancée.

In 1994, I established Global Fire Equipment, known as I.A.S. Denmark at that time. In 1998, the parent company I.A.S. Electronics was acquired, and our collaboration was left in limbo. I decided it was time to branch out on our own.

Why did you make the move to Portugal?

By 2000, we were doing a lot more manufacturing and needed to relocate to somewhere where it would be more cost effective to operate. I decided to move the company to Portugal – being Portuguese it was a natural move. Right from the beginning we opted to base the company in the Algarve. The quality of life in the south of Portugal is far better than in Lisbon. We were also in a place where there is very little other industry in terms of manufacturing which put us in a good position in terms of finding and retaining labour resources.

The fire safety sector is constantly evolving – how do you stay agile?

We keep re-inventing ourselves. The big difference between GFE and most of our competitors is that we are technology driven rather than commercially driven. We understand the importance of innovating and developing new products. We also understand that you always need to listen to customers – old and new – to understand the challenges they face. This is what sets GFE apart from our competition.

The challenging part is being able to continually innovate and deliver what the customers ask of us within their regulatory framework. We ensure that everything we do always conforms to the requirements of each customer’s regional regulation.

What different requirements are there in different regions and how you work to meet these?

The most important thing is listening to our customers. The big advantage we have against the larger corporations is that we work across more than 90 countries worldwide. This means we are fully versed in the differing requirements in countries all over the world.

What did you learn from working with them?

Well of course you need to understand the different legal systems. For example, in an unregulated market like Brazil almost anything goes. So, we spend a lot of time helping educate them so they understand that they are protecting lives and should pay attention to what the system is doing.

In comparison, our Scandinavian customers demand exceptionally high levels of functionality and reliability. There is a wide range of requirements, and we listen to all of them. It’s not easy, but it is a necessity and can be rewarding.

What are GFE’s biggest milestones as a company so far?

When we moved to the Algarve, we had been active for six years and we moved into a 200sq m facility. Seven years later, we moved to an industrial park where we had an 800sqm facility. In 2013, we moved again to an old mushroom canning facility that was 3,400sq m and at the start of 2023 we moved into a new estate converted from a cork transformation factory, which spans around 7,500 Sq m, with the option to expand up to 16,000sq m.

From a technology and staff point of view, we went from mainly supplying control panels to making our own range of sensors back in 2012. We decided we needed to have our own manufacturing facilities for everything in the fire detection system, so we parted with our detector supplier and designed and started making our own. This was the biggest milestone because it meant increasing our manufacturing by more than 60%. Today, we have a state-of-the art manufacturing facility and are able to cope with anything that is thrown at us.

What is GFE’s main focus for the years ahead?

Our goal is to strengthen our production capability – that is 100% necessary. We are looking to increase our autonomy and go into metal working because that’s the only thing we don’t do in-house currently.

Back in 2018, we acquired Createch, a company from the North of Portugal that specialises in emergency lighting. They were operating exclusively in Portugal and are the number two player in Portugal in their field. It’s an exciting opportunity that’s very much on the horizon but for now we are focused in growing the core fire safety business in new regions around the world.

This article was originally published in the April edition of IFSJ. To read your FREE digital copy, click here.

IFSJ Exclusive: Preliminary Exposure Reduction

by Breaking NewsIFSJ ExclusivesSafety

Tonya Herbert, President at Thin Red Line Decon, looks at building decontamination habits to reduce firefighter health risks

Today’s fires produce a toxic soup of dangerous chemicals, likely because of the changing landscape of building materials and furnishings. While turnout gear effectively protects against thermal exposure and hazardous fluids, it may not protect against absorption of soot. Emerging research suggests that dermal absorption of toxins is a greater route of exposure than inhalation or ingestion.

The NFPA 1851 standard encourages ‘Preliminary Exposure Reduction,’ defined as ‘techniques for reducing soiling and contamination levels … following incident operations.’ A recent study affirmed this need for fireground exposure reduction interventions. 

Changing your behavior to make preliminary exposure reduction a habit can seem daunting; however, making tiny marginal improvements consistently can yield significant results. A habit is a behavior that has been repeated enough to become automatic.

A habit is a behavior that has been repeated enough to become automatic

The first step in a habit loop is the cue. A cue gets your attention and tells you what to do next. It predicts a reward. Cravings are the second step. They are the motivational force behind every habit and without them, we have no reason to act. These first two steps compromise the “Problem Phase.” The third step of a habit loop is the response. This is the actual habit you form, the action you perform (in this case, decontaminating). The final step that closes the loop is the reward. This is the end goal of every habit. These last two steps form the ‘Solution Phase’. 

To build better habits, you need to build a better system, one that sets you up for success. At first, these tiny habit routines may seem insignificant, but they build on each other, compounding, and can lead to remarkable changes.

Make it obvious

The process of changing behavior starts with awareness. Start by analysing your current decontamination protocol. What do you do between coming out of an IDLH environment or ending suppression activities and returning to the station? By becoming aware of your habits, including whether or not you perform the desired habit, the time at which you perform the habit, and where you perform the habit, you raise them from an unconscious level to a conscious level.

When you make a specific plan for performing a new habit, you are more likely to follow through

To make a new habit obvious, create an implementation intention, which is a plan you make beforehand about how, where, and when you intend to act. For instance, your implementation intention may be ‘Before I come off air, I will enter the ‘green zone’ (or decontamination area) and perform preliminary exposure reduction.’ Or ‘As soon as I doff my gear, I will wash my hands and face with soap and water’. When you make a specific plan for performing a new habit, you are more likely to follow through.

A second strategy is to pair the new habit with a current habit. Habit stacking works by finding one you have mastered and concisely tying the new behavior into it. For instance, “After loading hose back on the truck, personnel will use wipes to remove soot from permeable areas of the body.”

To increase your odds of success, try designing your environment to provide multiple cues. Considering that over half of the brain is devoted to processing visual information, a visual cue may be the most important tool for making a new habit obvious. Try placing a sticker that reads “Did You Decon?” in a location where you will see it before climbing back onto the engine.

Make it attractive

Desire is what drives most behavior. The more attractive an opportunity is, the more likely it is to become habit-forming. If you anticipate that a particular habit will be rewarding, you are more motivated to repeat that action.

An improvement in long-term health is delayed gratification. To make post-fire decontamination more desirable, a firefighter must feel satisfied immediately. Therefore, it is important to develop a protocol where a firefighter feels clean. From the brand of wipes to the detergent you use, it is important to include the field personnel in the selection. Buy-in is critical.

Another way to make the new habit more enticing is to pair an action you need to do with the one you want to do. The first thing you want to do is get into rehab, cool down, and get a drink. If you pair your on-scene decontamination with your rehab routine, you will probably perform it more regularly. As you enter rehab and doff your gear, your next step should be immediately wiping down your skin, especially before you ingest any food or drink.

The desire to fit in within the fire service is strong. When unsure how to act, we look to the group we are a part of for clues. If our behavior is rewarded with approval, praise, or respect, it becomes more attractive. Inversely, when behavior is mocked or criticised, it is unattractive. Therefore, it is critical that influencers within the department, particularly the company officers, support and model the decontamination protocol.

While making a new habit attractive is one strategy, making a bad habit unattractive is another approach. The Boston Fire Department has employed this technique in their Memorial Wall, displaying hundreds of black and white photos of the members of their department who have died in the line of duty from cancer. By highlighting the consequences of a negative habit, they have made it much less desirable. It is an incredibly compelling tactic, one that is hard to ignore.

Make it easy

The key to mastering a habit is to start with repetition, not perfection. You may not have all the details of the decontamination protocol figured out; you just need to start practicing it. The more frequently you perform the behavior, the more automatic it will become. For instance, if you decontaminate every time you handle a nozzle, even for a dumpster fire, soon you will be decontaminating without even thinking about it.

The more friction there is to engage in a behavior, the less likely you are to act on it. Therefore, two other critical components in this third step of the habit loop are to make it convenient and to prime the environment. If your department uses a decontamination bucket, at the beginning of every shift, make sure the necessary components are in the bucket – wipes, a hose, a nozzle, cleaning detergent, a scrub brush, and clear bags for dirty gear, etc. Place the bucket where it is likely to be seen and utilised. Upon return to the station after a call, the bucket should be immediately reset after personnel and gear are fully decontaminated.

A habit is much more likely to stick if it takes less than two minutes to accomplish. If on-scene decontamination is too big of leap, start smaller. Place a wipe in the pocket of your bunker jacket or bunker pants. This makes it convenient, and you have primed the environment. If it doesn’t require much effort you are more likely to stick with it.

Make it satisfying

The final step of the habit loop is to make it satisfying – making it satisfying increases the likelihood of repetition. Additionally, and not surprisingly, the highest value is placed on instant gratification, not on future gratification.

The highest value is placed on instant gratification, not on future gratification

This can be accomplished in multiple ways. First, choose methods and products personnel find pleasing and effective. If you feel you are cleaner, smell better, and feel fresher, the positive sensory perception makes it easier to adopt the habit. The pleasure sends a signal to your brain to repeat this behavior.

Using a habit tracker can also provide instant gratification. There are multiple exposure reporting systems available to the fire service, such as NFORS (National Fire Operating Reporting System) Career Diary and Enviage’s Exposure Tracker. By utilising one of these exposure reporting systems on an individual level, not only are you documenting critical information should you ever be diagnosed with an occupational illness, but you can use them to track your preliminary exposure reduction habits.

Having an accountability partner, such as the company officer, can increase the chances of successfully establishing a habit. A company officer who models appropriate behavior or who calls out members who are not decontaminating can have tremendous influence on the process.

By creating a routine that is manageable, easy to do, and requires as little energy as possible, you can make a preliminary exposure reduction habit stick. When this habit sticks, you can reduce your risk of occupational illness giving you a better chance to live a quality life, long into retirement.

This article was originally published in the April edition of IFSJ. To read your FREE digital copy, click here.

IFSJ Exclusive: Private-public firefighting power

by Breaking NewsIFSJ Exclusives

By Kees Kappetijn, consultant at Kappeijn Safety Specialists and Jimi Korst, tactical commander and team leader at Unified Fire Service Amersterdam

The success of public-private fire safety and response largely depends on shared safety interests and mutual confidence between the partners involved, as is demonstrated in the Amsterdam Sea Port area. In April 2020 a public-private firefighting organisation was established in the Dutch capital for the extensive harbour- and industrial zone west of the city.

Public authorities and industry joined hands in order to raise the level of fire safety and incident response in this dynamic economic hub in The Netherlands. Three years after take-off the initiative proves to be very successful and the next steps for further development are taken.

Unified Fire Service Amsterdam started as collective company fire service for 15 industrial sites in the Amsterdam Sea Port. Three years later 16 new members joined the cooperation.

The intensive logistic and industrial activity and the mutual ‘chain dependency’ in a densely populated urban area lead to an accumulation of risks, requiring smart concepts for ensuring safety, security and incident response. The risk profile of the area runs from smaller fires and spills in logistic units and test-installations of start-ups, to fires in large solar fields and tank storage facilities.

Effective incident response by a dedicated industrial response team are a ‘must’ in this economic vital area.

Major incidents could cause extensive disruption to industrial continuity and logistical flows and also considerable financial loss for the port and industrial companies. Effective incident response by a dedicated industrial response team, trained and equipped for the typical risks in the area, are therefore a ‘must’ in this economic vital area.

Stakeholders and interests

GBA took shape in Amsterdam there was a mutual aid organisation in the area already, focussing on preparation for tank and bund fires. In 2009 five large oil storage terminals in the Amsterdam agglomeration joined forces in establishing the Amsterdam Mutual Aid System (AMAS). They collectively purchased large scale firefighting equipment, such as high-capacity pumps, water transportation hoses, foam supply and high-capacity monitors.

The public component was added by two adjacent public firefighting organisations (Amsterdam-Amstelland and Kennemerland) to form the AYMA-collaboration: Amsterdam-Ymond Mutual Aid, thus ensuring the availability of trained personnel for firefighting operations.

Until three years ago the Amsterdam western harbour area had very little facilities for basic industrial incident response. There was no fire station in the extended area and only a few companies were required to maintain a company fire brigade by law. They largely covered their risks by implementing stationary fire safety systems. In case of fires and accidents in the harbour area the public fire service had to respond from fire stations in the Amsterdam urban areas, often at far distances, especially in the western parts of the industrial zone.

In 2015 a study for improving the fire safety and incident response in the western harbour area resulted in an advisory report, concluding that a public-private mutual aid fire brigade was the best option to raise the preparedness level in the area. All stakeholders involved: the Safety Region Amsterdam, the City of Amsterdam and the Port of Amsterdam as ‘housekeeper’ in the port area, saw the need of investing in a dedicated 24/7 fire brigade, properly equipped and trained for industrial incident scenarios.

After three years of preparation GBA was established in 2020 with a formation of 30 firefighters and a flex pool of 10 industrial firefighting specialists, ensuring the first incident response 24/7 with a six-member operational team from a fire station within the harbour area. One standard fire engine and an industrial foam tender are at their disposal.

Port authority as partner

GBA is an independent incident response organisation, serving three ‘customers’: the industry collective, counting 31 member companies meanwhile, the Safety Region Amsterdam-Amstelland and the Port of Amsterdam. These three partners also form the board of the organisation, in a 6-seat model. Two seat for industry, two seats for the public fifi-service and two seats for the harbour authorities, being a PPP in itself. So there is no majority for public or private partners, all decisions must be discussed and need a PPP majority.

There is no majority for public or private partners, all decisions must be discussed and need a PPP majority.”

By providing swift and professional incident response in case of fires and accidents GBA contributes to that safe business environment. Apart from incident response GBA also provides proactive and preventive safety advice and maritime and shipping incident response. In the first three years of its existence GBA proved its value in terms of rapid incident suppression and limited damage. The safety in the industrial zone has improved considerably, making the area attractive for new industries to settle. Altogether the Amsterdam PPP-model is a win-win construction for all three stakeholders involved.

Added value for public and private partners

The Western Sea Port area of Amsterdam is the ideal environment for establishing a public-private mutual aid incident response organisation. The harbour area is situated on the border area of three public safety regions, contains an extended cluster of industrial and storage facilities and has an intricate infrastructure for transportation.

While the public and private stake holders rely on each other in process chains and logistics, they share strong interests of safety and security. For that reason they decided to also share the costs for investments in better preparedness, response capacity, training and maintenance. The three stake holders each contribute for one third in the costs. The industrial contribution is split over a total of 31 companies, minimising the costs for individual member companies. Moto for the industry: for 2% of the cost you get 100% of the services.

The growth of the GBA organisation to 31 companies within three years proves that the industry in the Amsterdam harbour area believes in the ppp-model. The key to success are the services GBA provides to its members. That service extends beyond quick response in case of fire and accidents. GBA offers added services like safety advice, preparation by joined exercises, educating CMT-teams and support for fire safety audits.

A fire brigade that is familiar with the company site, its risks and the values that have to be protected, is better prepared to set priorities in case of incidents and to apply the right strategy to control the incident and limit the effects. This approach makes GBA not only the ideal safety partner for high risk-companies but also for capital intensive companies such as a shipyard, consumer alcohol storage, large logistic storage facilities for luxury products and cocoa production companies.

Further evolution

GBA is the result of the joined ambition of the three stakeholders: Safety region Amsterdam-Amstelland, Port of Amsterdam and the collective of member companies, partners that dared to experiment with a smart and innovative organisation model without any management layers and with alternate duty schedules. In the design- and building phase, personnel were carefully selected, not only on operational skills but also on additional gifts like management capabilities.

GBA plays an important role in improving the safety in the harbour area of Amsterdam.

After being operational for three years it is clear that GBA plays an important role in improving the safety in the harbour area of Amsterdam. The number of responses is considerably higher than estimated in the design phase. In 2022 298 incidents were reported, most of which were relatively small and in the public area.

Meanwhile the Amsterdam PPP mutual aid initiative has its focus on the future, planning further evolution and added services. GBA hopes to extend the cooperation with other public services in the harbour regions in time, such as police and customs, in order to improve the integral safety in the area. Also, GBA has the intention to invest in the cooperation with other PPP-platforms in the Netherlands, by sharing knowledge and experiences and in time perhaps also their heavy-duty equipment and capacity in case of extensive industrial fires or temporary unavailability of equipment components. ‘Stronger together’ in specialised industrial incident response.

This article was originally published in the April edition of IFSJ. To read your FREE digital copy, click here.

Exclusive: The story of Burned Protecting the Protectors

by Breaking NewsSafety

IFSJ Editor Iain Hoey sat down with Elijah Yetter-Bowman to find out about the story behind their documentary Burned: Protecting the Protectors

Growing up, Elijah Yetter-Bowman was torn between two futures. Their childhood was spent engaging with the arts, theatre, and other spaces that intersected with creativity. However, when they were a teenager, they learned their mother had developed a rare autoimmune disease. This led to a revelation about the shortcomings of medicine for the treatment of rare diseases and so Yetter-Bowman shifted their focus to applied medical research.

Nearing the end of their education as a pre-med student, Yetter-Bowman became involved in the broader environmental issue of forever chemicals, also known as PFAS. In 2017, they learned that their hometown in North Carolina had been exposed to a myriad of PFAS through the local drinking water supply over the course of 40 years.

This served as the breaking point: “I had a background, both in arts and communication as well as the nitty gritty organic chemistry of how these things work. It felt like there was an opportunity to communicate and convey steps to take action for a really complicated problem. I didn’t really look back after that.”

Since that pivotal moment into what was intended to be a one-or-two year endeavour, now elongated into five and a half years and counting, Yetter-Bowman has dedicated themself to raising awareness of forever chemicals through documentary films including the recently released Burned: Protecting the Protectors.

The firefighter’s wife

The 30-minute documentary follows Diane Cotter, a hairdresser and wife of a lifetime firefighter Paul who developed cancer. Following Paul’s diagnosis Diane sought to understand why occupational disease such as cancer is such a common issue in the fire service and if there was more to the story than just exposure to the products of combustion.

Despite being neither college educated nor having a background in chemistry, Diane had a hunch that there might be something else going on and so began to research firefighter turnout gear and the prospect that it might contain harmful chemicals. She presented her research to Applied Nuclear Physicist Graham Peaslee who, touched by her story, decided to look into it.

“The initial test was horrible,” says Yetter-Bowman. Peaslee’s test revealed a high signature of PFAS in firefighter turnout gear. “This was not something that otherwise he had seen reported anywhere. There was no real disclosure within the fire service.”

“This was not something that otherwise he had seen reported anywhere. There was no real disclosure within the fire service.”

Diane and Peaslee found a non-profit who was willing to pitch in money. They carried out a peer reviewed study which was the real turning point. There is a clip in the documentary where Peaslee says he was nervous to report the findings, even though it was peer reviewed, because no one else had ever said this before.

The immense concentration of PFAS that were found in the turnout gear were some of the highest levels of fluorine Peaslee had ever seen in any kind of textile. They had discovered huge amounts of a well-established harmful compounds on all layers of turnout gear, that had likely been present in gear dating back to the 1970s.

Yetter-Bowman summarises: “Taking all that into perspective, we’re essentially saying that this person who did not go to college, had no chemistry background, but had a hunch that maybe there’s another contributor to firefighter cancer and occupational disease, decided to investigate. She was told not to, she was dismissed, she was gaslit for many, many years.

“They had discovered huge amounts of a well-established harmful compounds on all layers of turnout gear.”

“Her character was directly attacked by members of the fire service and she continued to persevere. She found a person to test it, the tests found that she was probably right, this was peer reviewed, and now it’s been published multiple times and replicated.”

Grant Peaslee’s peer reviewed study was followed up by one of his peers, Jennifer Field. Field carried out a different type of analysis which showed that the high level of PFAS found – shockingly – in the original study were far below the reality.

Securing Mark Ruffalo

The original intent, Yetter-Bowman tells, was to make a film that comprehensively covers the whole issue of forever chemicals, to disillusion it, and to make it accessible. That film is still in progress under the title Gen X. The initial plan saw the third act of Gen X serve as the big reveal of the presence of PFAS in firefighter turnout gear.

Yetter-Bowman said they felt an ethical quandary after filming had completed: “It didn’t make sense to wait. Feature documentaries take a long time to finish. We had a moment where we thought, ‘Why are we waiting with an indefinite timeline to get this out when we could just make a specific message for the people who desperately need it?’” The documentary team decided to put Gen X on pause and got to work on finishing Burned to get the message to firefighters as quickly as possible.

During the development of Burned, Yetter-Bowman worked closely with Rob Bilott, named by the New York Times as ‘The Lawyer Who became DuPont’s Worst Nightmare’ for taking on an environmental lawsuit into the company’s long history of chemical pollution, and the subject of 2019 film Dark Waters in which he is played by Mark Ruffalo.

“We had jokingly thought, oh, it’d be great to get Mark involved with Gen X,” Yetter-Bowman tells – and is it transpired, this is exactly what happened. When Ruffalo’s involvement was secured and the team were finally able to get in a room with him the idea to make Burned a standalone piece was not in motion. “The decision to make Burned essentially came at the end of the Gen X interview with Mark,” Yetter-Bowman reveals.

“When we finally got in a room with Mark it was very obvious that he only does this because he’s trying to fix this problem.”

“Clearly there’s a strong motivation that he has as an activist. He said, ‘I have this ability to reach the public, fix the problem’. When we finally got in a room with Mark it was very obvious that he only does this because he’s trying to fix this problem.’” Ruffalo is a named producer of the documentary.

‘Incredibly moved’

In January 2023, the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) hosted the world premier of Burned: Protecting the Protectors at the 2023 Affiliate Leadership Training Summit in Las Vegas. After the premiere the number of requests to access the film exploded. “A lot of people basically said, ‘I just saw this film and I want to take it across my community and continuously screen it’,” Yetter-Bowman tells.

They share a letter they received from an attendee of the screening which reads: “I was incredibly moved by this documentary … In fact, it has changed my life so much that I’m not even sure I can look at my job the same way. Today was the first day I put on my gear at work knowing the cancer I may be adding to my body. This has been a wake up call for me and I now feel morally obliged to inform every single person in my almost 3000 member department about the dangers of PFAS in our equipment.”

The production company, Ethereal Films, had originally planned to host their own screenings everywhere but due to the overwhelming response that has become impossible. Instead, Yetter-Bowman says they are providing the tools that they believe are most essential to host educational events to help spread the message as widely as possible: “If we can do that and can continue to work on this, this type of project and we’re happy.”

Yetter-Bowman adds the only thing that one thing they kept in mind during the making and distribution of the documentary is to try to be constructive about what can be controlled and how things can move forward: “PFAS is such a big deal. There’s a lot of different intersections, as Burned lays out – there is a huge level of particular exposure that firefighters face because of their gear – and it’s very actionable.

“There is so much collective bargaining power that firefighters had as an occupation and the union is already trying to stir this up to say, ‘Every manufacturer that makes gear or that makes the textiles stop using harmful substances’.”

Burned: Protecting the Protectors is now available for departments, non-profits and other organisations via www.etherealfilms.org/license-request.

This article was originally published in the April edition of IFSJ. To read your FREE digital copy, click here.

Exclusive: Complete component compatibility and connectability with GFE

by Breaking NewsFire DetectionIFSJ Exclusives

Paul Pope, Group Business Development Director at Global Fire Equipment (GFE) explains the crucial role of EN 54-13:2017+A1:2019 in fire detection and alarm system components

EN 54-13 was first published in 2005 and has since been through a number of technical revisions. The latest version of the standard – EN 54-13:2017+A1:2019 – was published in February 2017. It supersedes EN54-13:2017 and replaces EN54-13:2005 which was withdrawn on the date of the publication of the latest version. 

EN 54-13:2017+A1:2019 is one of 23 standards for fire detection and alarm (products) systems in the EN 54 series of standards. The European standards define the requirements, test methods and performance criteria required by various individual components making up fire detection and alarm systems (FDASs).

Whereas other standards are ‘product’ performance approval, EN 54-13 is a ‘system’ performance approval. This makes it a particularly important standard as it confirms – through assessments and tests – the compatibility and ‘connectability’ of all the individual components of a FDAS. Even though some products on the network are not defined by an EN 54 standard, to achieve the latest EN 54-13 approval, all the individual components which make up the FDAS must be compatible and all the requirements relating to the performance of the overall system must be fulfilled.

The BSI addressed the importance of compatibility and connectability of components in a blog, stating: “Conformity of an individual component to a recognised standard does not necessarily ensure that it will operate satisfactorily in conjunction with another component that conforms to the relevant standard for that component. It is essential that compatibility between components is taken into account by the designer of the system. BS EN 54-13 can be used to confirm system compatibility”.

More stringent assessment procedures

The main difference between earlier versions of EN 54-13 and the latest version relates to testing procedures. Although the earlier versions of the standard emphasised the documentation analysis of the different components of a FDAS, the latest version tests a real-life installation of the system for worst-case scenario performance. This means that realistic cable lengths and number of devices must be installed in the set up. At GFE, we already take this approach and test all our products under extreme conditions to ensure full system compatibility.

The test procedures then create various fault scenarios and there is an evaluation of system performance under stress. As the possible configurations of FDASs are unlimited, the assessment is only carried out on the configuration(s) declared by the applicant.

Within the latest standard, two different component types are defined: Type 1 components (covered by an EN 54 standard) and Type 2 components (not covered by an EN 54 standard). Type 1 components are assessed for their compatibility with other Type 1 components of the system. Type 2 components, such as building management systems, printers etc, are assessed for ‘connectability’ to the system and for their ability to operate without negatively affecting the performance of the system.

The latest EN 54-13 standard takes into account new techniques such as Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) communications and new interface technologies available on the market. 

Benefits of whole system compatibility

There are two different classifications of approval – component suppliers (such as detector or panel suppliers) and complete systems providers like GFE. GFE was awarded EN 54-13:2017+A1:2019 system compatibility approval by an international third-party accredited laboratory in March 2021 for our entry level and high-end addressable fire detection and alarm systems.

We chose to go down the route of applying for EN 54-13:2017+A1:2019 approval because we have seen a marked increase in the number of authorities, specifiers, installers and end users in certain markets requesting compliance with the latest standard. We are also seeing the standard being stated in the approval requirements for commercial installations in several European countries.

It is important to be aware that not all FDAS manufacturers will have the latest EN 54-13:2017+A1:2019 approval. There are a number of component suppliers who, unlike complete systems providers, will only be able to achieve approval for their whole system if one manufacturer (e.g. the fire control panel manufacturer) takes responsibility for the other’s products (e.g. the detector manufacturer). This complicates the approvals process and requires a more stringent communications process if there are any changes to the individual components.

You will not know if the whole system is compatible if you purchase different components for the FDAS from separate suppliers. If, one the other hand, you purchase from a complete systems provider who also has EN 54-13:2017+A1:2019 approval, you can be confident that they have independent certification of system compatibility.

It is easy to understand the growing interest in this latest standard, and there are a number of benefits of whole system compatibility for installers and end customers. A complete systems provider who has EN 54-13:2017+A1:2019 approval has far greater control and can test and maintain compliance/certification, including developing new products and making any adjustments to existing products – all under one roof.

Communications about any changes are made much easier which is really important for whole system compatibility. Ongoing systems testing is also much easier when the manufacturer is responsible for the full system. Regular testing of the whole system is key to ongoing compliance and if the system’s components are not tested regularly, there is a risk that you will drift away from compliance.

At GFE, as we manufacture our own components we can fully test the whole system on a regular basis to ensure it works. When we went through the application process for EN 54-13:2017+A1:2019 approval in 2020, the most difficult test scenarios were related to cable interruptions and short-circuits in critical areas of the installation.

EN 54-13:2017+A1:2019 compliance demonstrates the systems supplier has achieved the highest level of certification so customers and installers can have full confidence that the system has been tested under the harshest of conditions.

By choosing a manufacturer who has EN 54-13:2017+A1:2019 approval and using system designers to ensure compatibility is achieved, customers are guaranteed that each individual component of the FDAS will be compatible with the other components which, in turn, conform to their own relevant standards.

Furthermore, the manufacturer takes full responsibility for the system compatibility and regular conformance testing must be undertaken and communicated to third party approvals.

Customers also benefit from having technical support from a single, dedicated point of contact. This makes it far easier to get quick and easy resolutions for any warranty issues or component failures.

Finally, it is much easier to establish the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) of a FDAS if you buy the whole system from one manufacturer.

The advantages of choosing a manufacturer with EN 54-13:2017+A1:2019 approval are clear so we anticipate more FDAS manufacturers will apply for this latest approval over the coming years. We are proud to be one of the first fire safety equipment manufacturers to have been awarded this latest approval.

For further information on Global Fire Equipment, please visit www.globalfire-equipment.com.

A summary of the benefits associated with complete systems procurement

  • Total cost of ownership is much easier to establish the TCO of a FDAS if you buy the whole system from one manufacturer
  • System control is guaranteed as a complete systems manufacturer develops the entire system from scratch in-house and can therefore support full system design and advise on how all the different parts of the system interact. If you have separate suppliers, on the other hand, you don’t know where all the individual components are coming from and how they interact
  • Liability is through one company, whereas there is a question mark over where the liability lies if components are purchased from multiple suppliers
  • Independent testing is undertaken for the system as a whole whereas if you have different suppliers, none of them are responsible for whole system testing
  • Technical and service support is provided for the entire system instead of having multiple points of contact and being passed from pillar to post between different suppliers
  • Access to system information will be freely provided, ensuring easy access to all the required information about the system such as installation and commissioning manuals
  • A dedicated point of contact will be able to assist you with any required sales, technical, maintenance and warranty support
  • A competent trained fire alarm company will be able to install, commission and maintain the system, giving you greater choice of who to appoint 
  • Spare parts will be easier and often quicker to order as they come from one source

This article was originally published in the April edition of IFSJ. To read your FREE digital copy, click here.

FDIC International: Looking ahead to the ultimate firefighter conference

by Breaking NewsEventsIFSJ Exclusives

With new elements such as the Women in Fire Conference and IGNITE, there is a lot to look forward to at FDIC International 2023

FDIC International 2023 is one of the most anticipated events in the world for the firefighting community. The annual conference brings together thousands of fire and rescue professionals, world-class instructors, and industry experts from around the world to share knowledge, showcase innovative products and services, and participate in hands-on training and educational sessions. The 2023 event will be held from April 24-29 at the Indiana Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana.

With over 35,000 industry professionals expected to attend, FDIC International 2023 offers an incredible opportunity for attendees to develop stronger industry relationships, learn from other departments about the challenges they are facing, and bring back new insights to their own departments and businesses. The week-long event includes with interactive hands-on training sessions, where firefighters and fire and rescue professionals can participate in live training courses and pre-conference workshops.

Over 200 conference sessions will be taught by renowned instructors presenting new areas of interest within the fire service along with updated content on important topics. Attendees can learn about the latest tactics, techniques, and technologies designed to take their knowledge to the next level.

FDIC International 2023 also features special events, including the Women in Fire Conference, which provides training, support, and advocacy for women in the fire service, and IGNITE, an exhibiting destination for start-up businesses owned by emergency service entrepreneurs looking to make their debut at the show.

The North America region is expected to dominate the fire alarm and detection market at the event. The exhibition will showcase advancements in technology for fire protection, such as AI-powered and IoT-enabled fire detection systems. With its focus on learning, sharing, and innovation, FDIC International 2023 is an essential event for anyone involved in the firefighting industry.

IFSJ at FDIC

International Fire & Safety Journal will be present at the show at booth #4962. Feel free to stop by the stand and catch up with IFSJ Managing Editor Duncan J. White and the team who will be on hand to talk attendees. To arrange a meeting with Duncan at the show contact duncanj.white@intfireandsafetyjournal.com.

Duncan says: “FDIC International is a fire trade show like no other in the calendar. FDIC 2023 will mark my 21st visit to the Circle City and I can’t wait! The opportunity to engage with manufacturers, distributors, and end users in one place makes a trip to Indianapolis a must for global fire and rescue professionals. This year will be particularly poignant following the passing in December of Chief (Ret) Bobby Halton, editor in chief of Fire Engineering magazine and education director of the Fire Department Instructors Conference. I am sure that Bobby will be the focus of many conversations during the show. RIP my friend.”

Everything to look out for at FDIC International 2023

Hands on Training

The H.O.T. Evolutions offers the latest training on fire service technology and techniques, led by some of the most influential figures in the industry. These sessions take place on 25-25 April and are designed to improve the skills of firefighters who attend, equipping them with valuable knowledge to enhance the safety of their communities.

Instructor Chris Minichiello, a firefighter from the FDNY and East Coast Rescue Solutions, will lead an informative session titled ‘Conventional Forcible Entry: The “Keys to the Job”‘. This class is designed to teach the basics of forcible entry, as well as advanced techniques, with an emphasis on hands-on experience for each participant, where they will be given the opportunity to force inward/outward doors on props.

Ray McCormack, a retired lieutenant from the Fire Department of New York, will lead a class titled ‘H.O.S.E.: Hoisting, Operating, Stretching, Estimating’. This session combines traditional best practices and contemporary research, offering advanced engine skill development. The class focuses on flowing while advancing, water mapping, interior hose stretches, and attack. Attendees will rotate through multiple stations to gain knowledge and confidence.

Firefighter Aaron Fields from the Seattle Fire Department will lead a session called ‘Nozzle Forward’, aimed at improving engine operations through a technique-driven methodology. The class will cover various topics such as handline stretching, hose bed configuration options, fire attack theory, hose-line management, and keystone angle configurations. Attendees will learn hose handling and advancement techniques, allowing them to apply their new knowledge in real-world situations.

Elsewhere, Joseph Berchtold, Chief of Teaneck (NJ) Fire Department, will conduct a session titled ‘Flashover and Modern Fire Behaviour Training.’ This class provides firefighters with a valuable opportunity to observe fire behaviour and the telltale signs that lead up to a flashover. The course aims to equip firefighters with the knowledge and skill required to recognise flashovers, along with escape methods and safe fireground operations.

Getting into gear

Show attendees will have the opportunity to participate in a series of pre-conference workshops on Monday and Tuesday. These workshops, which last around four hours, offer a comprehensive exploration of specific topics within the fire service, both traditional and new. With a variety of topics to choose from, participants can expect to gain new insights, ideas and approaches to bring back to their departments.

Captain Steven Hamilton of Fort Jackson (SC) Fire Department will be hosting a workshop on ‘Active Shooter: Preplanning the Response’. This session aims to equip attendees with guidelines and recommended practices to identify and analyse high-risk target areas, as well as the required multiagency participation to create practical and effective pre-incident plans.

Another workshop, ‘Developing Firefighter Resiliences’ will be led by Firefighter Ric Jorge of Tactical Resiliency Training. This session is based on the book Developing Firefighter Resiliency by Fire Engineering, and includes video and photos of immersion training classes. Attendees will learn performance training techniques such as bio-metric monitoring, team pairing, mindset work, and emotional regulation.

Battalion Chief (Ret.) William Peters of Jersey City (NJ) Fire Department will be leading a session on the intricacies of apparatus purchasing. The course will provide guidance to participants through the challenging process of specifying fire apparatus. Peters will look at justification, the use of the National Fire Protection Association 1901 Standard for Automotive Fire Apparatus (including upcoming changes), conducting successful preconstruction conferences, thorough final factory inspections, and the delivery and acceptance of new apparatus.

Meanwhile, Assistant Chief David Polikoff of Frederick County (MD) Fire and Rescue will be hosting a workshop called “Command Under Fire”, designed to teach new and experienced incident commanders, as well as line officers, the art of commanding an incident. Students will learn to make sound decisions, convey their strategy over the radio, and run an effective functional fireground.

Bill Gustin, Captain of Miami-Dade (FL) Fire Rescue, will conduct a workshop titled ‘Management and Operations for Newly-Promoted Company Officers’. The main goal of this workshop is to equip newly-promoted company officers with the necessary leadership skills and confidence to manage their company when responding to alarms, when operating at roadway incidents, and when their company is first to arrive at fires in different types of buildings.

And for those looking to better understand fire through technology, Joseph DeVito, Captain/Paramedic of Fort Myers Beach (FL) Fire Control District, will delve into Fire Behaviour and Thermal Imaging. Students will learn how to scan with a thermal imager, recognise flow paths, and identify go/no-go situations based on their understanding of fire behaviour,

Knowledge is power

FDIC International provides an abundance of opportunities for learning the latest tactics, techniques, and technologies in the fire service. With world-renowned instructors, attendees can take their knowledge to the next level through a variety of courses offered throughout the week.

Terri Reid, Captain of Baltimore County (MD) Fire Department, will be presenting a seminar on ‘Recruiting for All the Right Reasons’, addressing the persistent issue of recruitment in the fire service. The class will analyse the latest statistics on fire and emergency services in comparison to data over the past several years, public perception surrounding why some individuals do not believe they have what it takes to join the service, and proven techniques to recruit and retain a more diverse fire service.

Denis Onieal, former Deputy US Fire Administrator, will be sharing his expertise on ‘Leadership Lessons Learned on the Line’. This presentation is a practical exercise designed for aspiring or current fire officers. Participants will identify the leadership traits they admire and those they want to develop in themselves in a confidential setting.

Mental health is a critical topic in the fire service, and Daniel DeGryse, retired Battalion Chief and Director of the Rosecrance Florian Program, will be leading a conversation about suicide with leaders in the fire service and mental health field. The aim is to facilitate thoughtful perspectives on suicide and to generate ideas on how to shift from reactive approaches to preventive ones.

Paul Shoemaker, Firefighter Paramedic and Owner of Next Level Extrication in Colorado, will discuss the causes, risks, and tactics surrounding lithium-ion battery fires in a session titled ‘Electric Vehicle Fires: Causes, Risks, and Tactics’. Students will gain knowledge about electric vehicle fires, fire behaviour associated with lithium battery fires, causes of the fires, proper steps to extinguish them and more.

Bobbie Scopa, Deputy Director for Fire Operations at the US Forest Service – Oregon, Washington, and Alaska, will host a seminar on ‘Leadership and Diversity’. Through entertaining stories based on 45 years in the fire service, the instructor will share experiences of a long and successful fire career, from being a tailboard firefighter to an assignment in Washington, DC. The class will encourage firefighters, company officers, and chiefs to reflect on their behaviour in relation to diversity in the workplace.

And Todd McNeal, Chief from Dixon (CA) Fire Department, will lead a seminar on harnessing data during wildland emergencies called ‘Data-Driven Decision Making for Wildland Emergencies’. The class will introduce attendees to the volume of data available at their fingertips and accessed in a split second related to wildland fires. Students will be taught how to harvest data, apply context and filters, convert information to intelligence that is actionable, and incorporate that intelligence into their decision making and crew briefings for safer operations and decisions in the wildland fire environment.

Women in Fire Conference

The Women in Fire Conference is set to return to FDIC International, starting with an opening ceremony and followed by a line-up of educational classes that offer training, support, and advocacy specifically tailored to women in the fire service.

On Monday 24th, the dedicated day-long conference will feature a session by Bradley Pinsky, Attorney at Law; Chief (Ret.) – Pinsky Law Group, PLLC; Manlius (NY) Fire Department, titled ‘Must-Have Policies and Practices for Every Fire Department’. This class focuses on the most essential administrative policies and operational practices required by every fire department in the US and Canada.

Patrick Kenny, Chief (Ret.) – Western Springs (IL) Fire Department will present ‘Why We Need to Put the Cape Back On’. In this presentation, Kenny shares a personal perspective on the challenges of mental illness in the fire service. He discusses how the stigma surrounding mental illness can prevent firefighters from seeking help, and how this can lead to tragic outcomes.

Elsewhere, Mike Gagliano, Captain (Ret.) – Seattle (WA) Fire Department will look at The Art of Go/No-Go. The goal that Gagliano outlines is to create a framework of three varying profiles: Rescue, Building, and Fire. The instructor will show how these profiles allow you to keep focused on your decisions and give you the ability to draw on what you have learned and react to changes in the dynamic fire environment.

Networking opportunities

FDIC International provides a unique opportunity for members of the fire service from all over the world to come together, connect, and share knowledge. With so much to offer, attendees can maximise their experience by attending a variety of special events planned throughout the week. One such event is the MATCH! Program, which has returned this year to facilitate networking.

The MATCH! Program is structured in a way that allows both parties to come prepared for a productive business conversation, saving precious time at the event. Meetings are pre-scheduled and mutually agreed upon, which ensures that participants get the most out of their experience. This program is a great way for participants to connect with the right people, make meaningful business connections, and grow your network.

Small business in focus

One of the most exciting features of FDIC International is IGNITE, a special exhibit area dedicated to start-up businesses founded by emergency service entrepreneurs who are making their debut at the show. These companies will be joining other small businesses to create a supportive community within the Lucas Oil Stadium exhibit hall.

Participating exhibitors will have the opportunity to establish relationships, connect with, and network among industry professionals, including fire chiefs, officers, firefighters, EMTs, paramedics, distributors, and manufacturers of all sizes. Do not miss out on IGNITE, where you can discover the latest innovations and cutting-edge technology in the industry from emerging entrepreneurs.

Fire Rescue Station of the Future

FDIC International will feature the “Fire Rescue Station of the Future” – an interactive showcase of cutting-edge design and products. Designed by H2M architects + engineers (H2M) and featuring more than 30 additional sponsors, this walk-through exhibit of a futuristic station will look at essential programmatic changes to the current fire station model.

The futuristic station is designed to look at how current fire/rescue station designs evolve to accommodate new needs such as the growing number of electric apparatus and support vehicles and managing the electric service of a building while dealing with local codes and ordinances for proper fire separation and fire suppression systems.

It will seek to answer: how fire stations can accommodate battery storage technology; if drones and robots become common; if biometrics will become the new standard for measuring the health and well-being of responders; how we can retrofit existing stations with these ideas and equipment so that all battalions are prepared for the future; and above all what a ‘futuristic’ station look like.

Attendees will be able to navigate through the exhibit, exploring exciting new building and room designs with new equipment/products in each. Explorable spaces will include: bays with brand new electric apparatus, robots, drones, and the state-of-the-art apparatus support; decontamination and transition zones and laundering facilities that will bring visitors from the traditionally “dirty/red” side of the building to the “clean/green” side; cutting-edge training rooms where presentations will be offered throughout the conference; a top of the line command and dispatch centre; modern living quarters and exercise room; and an outdoor/well-being area.

A tribute to Bobby Halton

An evening event will be held on Wednesday 26 April from 5:30-7:15 pm to remember the late Chief (Ret.) Bobby Halton. He served as the education director of FDIC and editor in chief of Fire Engineering, and his sudden passing on December 19, 2022, was deeply felt by the fire service community.

The is a celebration of Halton’s life and career by encouraging attendees to share their funny stories and reminiscences about Bobby’s 18 years of service in those roles. It will serve as an opportunity to pay tribute to the man who loved, served, and taught the fire service throughout his life, and everyone is welcome to attend.

This article was originally published in the April edition of IFSJ. To read your FREE digital copy, click here.