Hochiki Europe buys multi-million pound facility in Kent

by Breaking NewsFire Detection

Global life safety company, Hochiki Europe has announced the purchase of multi-million-pound facility in Chatham, Kent representing an investment of £5.5 million by the group.

Residing on a site of 1.92 acres, the new building is over 24,000 square feet and will be in addition to the European Headquarters and Research and Development Centre in Gillingham, Kent.

The building is part of the ongoing strategic expansion of footprint for the European arm of the group and will afford the company space to expand the existing operations in warehousing, production and distribution as well as the sales and administrative teams.

2023 marks the 30th anniversary of Hochiki’s operations in Europe. Hochiki said the news can be seen as a significant investment in the future infrastructure of the company. The new facility will ensure future demand is met and order volume is delivered efficiently and effectively to customers in the UK, across Europe, the Middle East, India and Africa.

Speaking about the expansion plans Graham Lowe, Managing Director at Hochiki Europe said: “Despite the challenging few years we have faced as a global community, I am proud of the efforts our teams have made to ensure our continued growth and I would like to thank each team member. Over the last six months we have been able to expand our teams to strengthen the expertise we offer our customers and now, with this new building, we can continue to deliver a world class service in fire safety to existing loyal customers and ever-growing pool of new customers”

Globally Hochiki employ over 2000 employees who work across six manufacturing plants, 38 sales offices and 14 subsidiaries. The new facility will bring with it new employment opportunities to the South-East, adding to the 180 strong staff already employed at the Head Office in Kent.

Lithium-Ion battery market to quadruple by 2030

by Breaking News

The brainy Insights estimates that the lithium-ion battery market, valued at USD 45.67 billion in 2022 will reach USD 200.73 billion by 2030 according to The Brainy Insights, partly as a consequence of Government policies changing to become more sustainable and environment-friendly in response to growing concerns about climate change.

The report said that the need for energy is growing in line with worries about climate change. It is projected that global energy consumption will increase as developing nations industrialise. Smart power networks are being built along with the growing adoption of renewable energy sources for electricity production to combat climate change and satisfy growing energy demands.

The growing adoption of renewable energy sources to combat climate change will augment the lithium-ion battery market as it is used as an energy storage system in these energy sources.

Growth in the Asia Pacific

The report said that Asia Pacific is expected to have the largest market share in the lithium-ion battery market. China will dominate the Asia Pacific lithium-ion battery market as China is the world’s largest manufacturer and consumer of electric vehicles, explaining the area’s dominance in the market. 

Governments in both China and India are to meet consumer demand with manufacturing of electric vehicles through subsidies and incentives are doing well for the local market. The regional lithium-ion battery market will be driven by the increased push toward constructing renewable energy infrastructure.

A potential consumer market for electronics and electric cars exists due to the region’s large population and expanding economy. Technology advancements in the Chinese and Japanese sectors will drive the regional lithium-ion battery industry.

Overheating

Lithium-ion batteries are increasingly known for their fire risk, which may limit growth of the market. Batteries must be stored in dry, shaded areas because they cannot withstand high temperatures. These safety precautions are occasionally disregarded because of carelessness, which results in fires.

As negative media coverage damages the product’s reputation and reduces its adoption rate the market’s expansion will be constrained by the rising number of lithium-ion battery fires.

About the report

All the segments have been analysed worldwide, regional, and country basis. The study includes the analysis of more than 30 countries for each part. The report analysed driving factors, opportunities, restraints, and challenges for gaining critical insight into the market.

IFSJ Exclusive: Practical water mist applications with IWMA

by Breaking NewsFire SuppressionIFSJ Exclusives

The International Water Mist Association looks at the growing use of water mist suppression across various industries

It all started with marine and offshore applications. However, for many years water mist systems have been installed in buildings on land. When it comes to the different classes of fires, water mist ticks more boxes than any other kind of fire suppression system. This is due to the smaller droplets that interact with the fire in a different way than the larger droplets from traditional sprinkler systems. Water mist systems deal with heat and oxygen, whereas sprinkler systems only deal with heat. This is reflected in the list of applications that – over the years – has grown to considerable length.

Healthcare

One typical area is the health sector. Hospitals, health centre, care homes. Derek Killaspy, managing director of Fireworks Fire Protection and IWMA (International Water Mist Association) member, explains: “While fire sprinklers have been the traditionally chosen solution in the past, we saw the beginnings of the transition to water mist fire protection around a decade ago. Private clinics were amongst the first to benefit from the superior life-saving properties offered by water mist.”

One hospital which is equipped with a water mist system is the VUmc University Medical Centre in Amsterdam, one of the largest high-pressure water mist projects in the Netherlands. Provider of the system is the German company Fogtec (also an IWMA member). Rüdiger Kopp, Fogtec’s managing director fixed systems, says: “We believe that high-pressure water mist offers the best fire protection for the hospital environment. Two points in favour of this technology are the high cooling effect and the minimal water usage. The result is an easy evacuation in case of a fire and limited fire and water damage to the valuable equipment and the building.”

Particularly in retrofit situations to existing hospitals, the small pipe diameters and reduced water storage requirements render a flexible and space saving installation of the system possible.

In 2020, the installation process started. The system was selected as an integral part of the buildings’ engineering scheme to lift the hospital complex’ fire safety concept to the highest level. It was installed while the medical centre was in full operation, which means that installation works were carried out while patients were taken care of and doctors, nurses and students were on duty.

Special installation concepts had been developed by Fogtec to ensure as little interference as possible to the daily routine in the hospital. The use of flexible high-pressure stainless-steel hoses in conjunction with high-pressure press fittings reduces the site presence to a minimum and guarantees a quiet and clean system integration.

Data centres

Two further, nowadays typical and common applications are the protection of data centres and archives. Regarding the protection of data centres, IWMA member Marioff can report about two projects in the Dutch cities Groningen and Eindhoven.

The facility at Groningen is a multi-tenant data centre with customers across industries. One significant client is Overheids Datacenter (ODC) Noord, one of the four government data centres in the Netherlands, underscoring the need for uninterrupted operation.

Business continuity at NorthC Groningen, as for all data centres, is paramount. Fire suppression in the facility is particularly challenging because of the need for the high airflow and high-power density. NorthC Groningen ultimately chose Marioff HI-FOG as the fire suppression solution to protect their critical infrastructure through Marioff’s partner FireX with a complete suppression and detection system.

The facility at Eindhoven is the first carbon-negative data centre in the world that also holds a Tier 4 certification, the highest guarantee of reliability possible, which means failure of their digital systems must be avoided at all costs. All systems and installations at the 1,200 square-metre facility must be redundant and separate.

This meant thinking through the fire protection plan from the ground up, while simultaneously meeting the fire suppression challenges of high airflow and power density presented by data centres. Finally, Eindhoven’s commitment to cradle-to-cradle sustainability principles meant accounting for water usage.

The fire safety concept for the facility was developed in collaboration with RHDHV and FireX. For Eindhoven, detection was made highly sensitive, with automatic and localized discharge to protect the data centre’s business continuity — a tailor-made fire protection solution for protecting the most critical data.

HI-FOG discharges high-pressure water mist that effectively suppresses, controls and cools fires. It uses less water than traditional sprinkler systems, minimising water damage in the event of fire and reduces the possibility of a false discharge when compared to gas suppression.

Public buildings

One famous archive which is protected with water mist is the Bodleian Library at Oxford University. Another example: the Hubei Provincial Archives. They maintain the province’s collection of nearly one million extremely valuable books, paintings, calligraphies, and other historical documents – many dating back to the Ming Dynasty.

“When the government built the new 60,000 square-metre building to house these very flammable treasures, the responsible engineers selected amongst others Danfoss PAH (Pump Axial-Piston High-Pressure) pumps to power our advanced high-pressure water mist fire suppression system,” says Amin Hadian, application manager at Danfoss High-Pressure Pumps.

The focus lay on providing a compact, reliable, simple to maintain high-pressure water mist system that would protect these historical treasures. Because the collection is largely paper-based, engineers from fire-suppression specialist HeFei KDLian proposed installing a water mist system, which reduces water damage significantly better than traditional sprinklers.

Hadian explains: “For this project, high-pressure pumps by Danfoss were definitely part of the solution.” Based on project requirements and positive past experience with Danfoss products, the HeFei KDLian engineers specified 85 PAH 80 pumps to provide misting pressure. They also selected Danfoss solenoid, check, and pressure relief valves.”

Protecting businesses

Of course, in most cases, what is protected are lives, properties, and jobs. In other cases, it is seemingly small things like labels on wine bottles. “But if that is your business, it is also your livelihood”, says Bettina McDowell, IWMA general manager.

Valuable bottles of wine lose their value if the label is flawed by – for example – activated sprinkler systems that can impair or even wash labels off wine bottles. IWMA member BFL Baltic Fire Laboratory was contracted by Ultra Fog – also a member of IWMA – to check nozzle capacity against storage racks with a very high fire load.

To validate the damage on goods, the Baltic Fire Laboratory suggested making the test more realistic by placing a bottle of wine in the rack next to the burning one to make sure it did not explode due to heat exposure (which it did not) but also to make sure the water would not wash the label off the bottle (which also it did not happen). 

The aim was to design a protection for a medium-sized storage with a height of 5.25 metres. The Baltic Fire Laboratory (where the test was performed in August 2022) used – as a base – FM 5560 HC-2 with the difference that the storage height was slightly changed to three instead of two racks.

The data and conclusion that could be drawn from this test underlined the cooling effect and radiation shielding water mist provides.

Other applications

Over the years, speakers at the International Water Mist Conference have introduced their projects: The Spanish Congress Palace in Madrid, the Hungarian Parliament in Budapest, St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice and St. Patrick’s Church in New York. They talked about safeguarding escape routes in high-rise buildings, about the protection of industrial oil cookers, saunas and wooden churches and sensitive roof structures.

“It will be interesting to see what topics will be submitted for the 22nd International Water Mist Conference”, adds Bettina McDowell. This event will take place in Copenhagen, Denmark, on 11th and 12th October 2023. The conference hotel will be the Copenhagen Marriott. The call for papers will be released on 1st February, the deadline by which abstract should be submitted and the date from which onwards delegates can purchase their tickets is 15th May.

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

IFSJ Exclusive: Controlling the Burn with Drone Amplified

by Breaking NewsIFSJ ExclusivesWildland Fire

IFSJ takes an in-depth look at Drone Amplified, the controlled burning tool being used as a preventative measure against wildfire

In 2020, Drone Amplified, a company that pioneered wildfire fighting using drones, signed a contract with the US Forest Service to source and vet US-made drones to fight wildfires with Drone Amplified’s aerial ignition system. The $750,000 contract was designed to increase and scale the utilisation of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) for aerial ignitions in fire management and develop the next generation of aerial ignition capabilities.

The deal followed the successful development and deployment of Drone Amplified’s aerial ignition system called IGNIS – the only UAS-based aerial ignitions payload available to the US market that is approved for use on Federal prescribed fires and wildfires.

IGNIS’s patented technology carries a payload of standard ping-pong ball sized chemical spheres and can be integrated with infrared and other types of cameras. The spheres are pre-loaded with potassium permanganate and later injected with antifreeze prior to being released. The spheres then, ignite after hitting the ground, set off back burns to create defensive lines for firefighters in rugged and sometimes unreachable terrain.

Carrick Detweiler, co-Founder and CEO of Drone Amplified and Professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) started Drone Amplified based on technology initially developed at the university works. IFSJ caught up with Detweiler to learn more about the innovative approach to controlled burning.

Prescribed burning

Drone Amplified is the pioneer in developing a drone-based aerial ignition system that is able to ignite backburns to contain wildfires and prescribed fires to help better manage our lands and reduce the risk of wildfires.

Detweiler explains: “On wildfires, backburns are used to burn the fuel (dead wood, leaves, etc) in a controlled way in advance of the main wildfire front so that when the main wildfire arrives, it does not have fuel and is easier to put out.

“Traditional techniques for conducting these burns either require putting people on the ground near fire or using expensive helicopters for aerial ignition. Our system, called IGNIS, is less costly to operate, more readily available than helicopters, and keeps firefighters safer.”

IGNIS attaches to a modified Freefly Alta X drone, which is made in the USA, and is equipped with a thermal and visual camera for situational awareness. IGNIS is tightly integrated with the drone to make easy to use in the complex fire environment.

“The ability to quickly get an eye in the sky to identify and track the fire provides an increased level of situational awareness that keeps firefighters safer,” says Detweiler. “Combining these real-time observations with the ability to quickly and safely set backburns, while keeping a distance from the fire, is changing the way that fires are managed. Firefighters do not need to just react to the fire, they can observe and change its behaviour through strategic aerial ignition.”

How it works

IGNIS uses small “ping-pong” ball ignition spheres that are also used by full sized helicopter ignition systems. “The way this works is that the ignition spheres have one chemical in them and shortly before we drop them, we puncture the ball and inject a second chemical,” Detweiler explains. “The balls then ignite 30-60 seconds after we drop them. IGNIS can drop anywhere from 10-120 ignition spheres per minute to adapt to the needs of the firefighters.”

The spheres set off backburns to create defensive lines for firefighters in rugged and sometimes unreachable terrain. IGNIS is controlled and automated with a custom app and allows drone operators to release the spheres with a high degree of accuracy in terrain that is often difficult to navigate with helicopters or airplanes. The drone’s dynamic ability to fly in densely smoky, high-altitude areas makes it extremely useful.

IGNIS ALTA X

In 2022, Drone Amplified launched IGNIS for the Freefly Systems ALTA X, the newest development in unmanned aerial ignition. Drone Amplified modified the ALTA X and IGNIS to integrate thermal and visual cameras, a customised ground station based on the Herelink Blue, and ADS-B in for situational awareness of other nearby aircraft.

Combined with the app that was designed by firefighters, the IGNIS ALTA X package comes as a ready to go field kit for the most demanding firefighting missions. It is capable of laying down miles of fire line in only a few minutes of flight. Durability and ruggedness drove the design of IGNIS ALTA X and required aggressive testing to assure dependability in high temperature, dusty and ashy environments and extreme conditions of the wildland fire environment.

Detweiler says that feedback from UAS fire operators helped refine the system into the powerful tool that has quickly gained a reputation for high performance and dependability in the field.

The IGNIS app

With features for firefighters and other organisations that need knowledge of land elevations, altitude and mapping, the IGNIS App allows firefighting teams to easily plan and execute waypoint missions to let the drone fly itself and ignite precise burn lines or use full manual operation.

It has multiple layers of safety built in, including a geofence that disallows ignitions outside the specified area, enhances safety by monitoring other aircraft in the area with ADS-B In, and maintain situational awareness by importing burn plans and maps with geo[1]referenced PDFs, KML/KMZs, and other formats for offline use.

By providing a bird’s eye map view, live video and telemetry, gimbal control, and the ability to take photos and video, the app has a range of features making it possible to interface with a range of drones, including the Freefly ALTA X, Inspired Flight IF1200, DJI drones, and others.

Firefighting teams can download elevation maps for terrain-aware flight and missions to the app which uses the maps to calculate the drone’s altitude above ground level, enabling safer flight and easier compliance with airspace regulations. Teams can see a side view of the planned waypoint mission and adjust the altitude of individual waypoints to avoid obstacles and maintain a constant altitude above the ground.

It is also possible to import shapefiles from Google Earth or georeferenced PDF files from ArcGIS, as the IGNIS app will display them as overlays on the map whilst flying and allows editing of custom KML/KMZ files. Users can configure a variety of settings on the drone and remote controller, and also perform compass calibrations with via the app. The app automatically logs flights and ignition locations to a file on the connected mobile device that can be opened by common spreadsheet programs.

Future plans

Drone Amplified is currently on the 2nd major version of IGNIS. Detweiler says they are continuously improving and advancing IGNIS and the associated software to advance firefighting technologies based on the feedback they receive from firefighters.

He adds: “We aim to continue to support wildland firefighters in any way that we can. US Firefighters have already started to change how they combat wildland fires and how they perform prescribed fire by leveraging our IGNIS system. We expect to expand more broadly to the worldwide market to help mitigate some of the risk of wildfires that we are seeing worldwide as the climate changes.”

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

Images from Drone Amplified

UK firefighters postpone strike action following pay offer

by Breaking News

Firefighters in the UK have postponed plans for strike action after a pay increase offer of 7% was put forward of during talks between the Fire Brigades Union and Fire and Rescue Service employers.

The offer is for 7% on nationally negotiated rates and Continuous Professional Development (CPD) backdated to 1 July 2022, and then another 5% from 1 July 2023. 

The Executive Committee of the Fire Brigades Union said it has now decided to put this offer to a ballot of its members, and has postponed the announcement of strike dates pending the outcome of the ballot.

Last week, 88% of firefighters and control room staff in England, Scotland and Wales voted in favour of strike action on pay on a 73% turnout. In Northern Ireland, 94% voted in favour.

The union has said it will have an “honest and sober” discussion of the offer, which still amounts to a real terms pay cut given the rate of inflation.

Matt Wrack, FBU general secretary, said: “Today, firefighters were given a new pay offer.

“This offer is testament to the power of collective action through the Fire Brigades Union. Last year we were offered an insulting 2%. The employers have now revised their position.

“We have achieved this increase because of the massive vote in favour of strike action by firefighters and control staff across the country, which made clear the strength of feeling among firefighters about cuts to their wages.

“Since 2010, the average firefighter has lost at least 12% of the value of their pay.

“We will now ballot our members. Frontline firefighters and control room staff will make the decision on whether this pay offer is considered a real improvement.

“Our internal discussions will be honest and sober. While the offer is improved from last year, it still amounts to a real terms pay cut.

“Meanwhile, plans to announce a series of strike dates and industrial action will be postponed, pending the outcome of the ballot.

“88% of firefighters voted for industrial in our ballot. The mandate for strike action by firefighters remains.”

IFSJ Leaders in Fire & Safety Conference 2023 announces call for papers

by Breaking NewsIFSJ ExclusivesIFSJ Leaders

Are you a senior fire and safety manager, expert, director or business owner operating in the Middle East & Africa region? If so, then we want to hear from you about the challenges you currently face in operating and managing your business – and, what solutions you seek to help make your task easier, more informed and more efficient!

Call for Papers deadline – 24th March 2023

The deadline for speaker submissions for the IFSJ Leaders in Fire & Safety conference is 24th March 2023. Don’t miss this opportunity to share your thoughts and views and help shape the conference topics and agenda to your own needs.

Equally, if you have experience and skills that you would like to share in order to help other professionals within the region, why not consider applying to join our fantastic line-up of speakers or indeed apply to be one of our panel experts?

The IFSJ Leaders in Fire & Safety Conference 2023, held in association with MSA Safety, will bring together 100+ of the region’s senior fire and safety professionals to network and share ideas on the latest trends and developments impacting the fire and safety sectors in the Middle East. Subjects such as building safety, fire and life safety systems, airport and industrial firefighting, firefighter equipment, training, logistics, public events and more!

Contact Iain Hoey at iain.hoey@intfireandsafetyjournal.com to share your thoughts about subject matters for the conference agenda and/or to find out how you or a member of your team can share their knowledge and expertise at the event on Thursday 11 May, taking place at the Grosvenor House Hotel in Dubai, UAE.

For more information about the event visit the official IFSJ Leaders in Fire & Safety Conference website and subscribe to the IFSJ for all the latest updates.

IFSJ Exclusive: Handheld gas detection with Blackline Safety

by Breaking NewsFirefighting Equipment

Simon Rich, Sales Director for Europe at Blackline Safety Europe talks portable gas detection

Can you tell me about your background in the safety sector?

I have been working in industrial safety and gas detection sales for over 25 years and joined as one of the founding team members of Blackline Safety Europe following roles with Honeywell, Drager and ICI Chemicals. I oversee the entire sales function for Europe, from business development to customer support and channel management. Essentially, my role is to ensure Blackline Safety continues its international growth trajectory while maintaining the agility and care needed to support our customers and people at a local level.

Can you tell me about Blackline Safety: who you are and your place in the Fire and Safety market?

Blackline Safety is a global connected safety technology leader. We are headquartered in Calgary, with offices in Colchester, Lille, Houston and Dubai, we design and manufacture an award-winning range of gas detectors, area monitors and lone worker devices. Our ultimate goal is to ensure every worker returns home safely, every day, and connectivity is at the heart of this. Unique to Blackline, every product we produce has integrated direct-to-cloud connectivity. Couple that with our safety software, data analytics, reporting and optional 24/7 monitoring, and you have a scalable solution that can adapt quickly for any application in any organisation.

When an incident occurs we know that the speed of the response is critical. Because all Blackline Safety devices work straight out of the box and automatically stream data in real-time using integrated cellular connectivity, response teams are able to focus on the task at hand rather than dealing with a long and complex equipment deployment. There is no need for additional IT infrastructure or MESH networks – simply drop-and-go.

Emergency responses in the fire and safety industry are unpredictable and Blackline’s ATEX-certified technology is designed to be durable. All our devices are built for extremes and to function even in the toughest conditions, GPS-enabled location technology means you get real-time visibility of the conditions faced by each responder.

What is the BS 8484:2022 – why was it developed and what does it do?

Employers are legally obliged to manage any health and safety risks before their employees can work alone. Using a lone worker monitor enables you to ensure your workers’ safety.

BS 8484:2022 defines the industry-leading code of practice for lone worker equipment and monitoring services in the UK. The standard provides lone worker product and service providers with a code of practice that allows the despatch of a police Level 1 response, offering the highest level of emergency response and bypassing the central 999 system to make the process as efficient as possible.

Blackline Safety Europe is among the first businesses in the UK to be accredited to the new upgraded BS8484:2022 standard. Blackline’s G7c personal wearable is the world’s first connected gas detector and lone worker safety monitor certified to the newly upgraded BS 8484:2022, which is the standard that underpins the UK’s lone worker safety leadership.

How does it improve upon what came before it?

BS 8484:2022 is the British industry standard for providers of lone working safety services. Although it is not a legal requirement, BS8484 accreditation acts as a mark of quality for our product and proves to our consumers that Blackline Safety Europe has met the UK government’s strict standards.

BS8484:2016 was upgraded to BS8484:2022 to reflect changing technologies, and to improve safety. Included in the changes introduced in BS8484:2022 were: an acknowledgement that those working in pairs or small groups may be seen as “at risk” and so may benefit from the use of a lone worker system. There was also an acknowledgement that those working from home should be seen as “lone workers” and could benefit from using a lone working system.

In addition, there was new wording that accepts that calls with lone workers may be made via data, rather than the “traditional” call network. Finally, a new ruling states that to be BS8484 compliant, staff involved in delivering lone working services are to be screened in accordance with BS7858 (the UK standard for vetting of people employed in the security sector).

What special features does it have?

The standard provides lone worker product and service providers with a code of practice that allows the despatch of a police Level 1 response, offering the highest level of emergency response and bypassing the central 999 system to make the process as efficient as possible.

Where does G7c fit into Blackline Safety’s product portfolio?

Blackline’s G7c is an all-in-one cloud-connected monitoring solution integrating 4G connectivity and industry-first capabilities, from efficient and reliable lone worker monitoring to industry-leading multi-gas detection. We ensure no call for help goes unanswered by connecting workers directly with live monitoring personnel, from wherever they are working.

Is there anything else Blackline Safety has been working on recently?

We recently partnered with Vlahi Systems to extend our offering by providing cloud-hosted, sensor driven gas plume modelling. Vlahi are integrating the real-time, location-enabled data from Blackline’s G7 EXO portable area gas monitors into their web- and smartphone-based CERES plume modelling software — an ideal solution for managing chemical release and gas cloud scenarios that can harm personnel and surrounding communities, or trigger fires or explosions.

Using G7 EXO gas readings, CERES is able to automate and deliver the most accurate, up-to-date mapping of a gas plume, based on real-world conditions, to assist emergency personnel in their response.

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

Rescue efforts continue in Turkey and Syria as death toll rises

by Breaking News

Rescue efforts in Turkey and Syria are ongoing as, two days after a massive earthquake, the death toll has risen to more than 9,600.

Rescuers in both countries warned that the death toll would keep rising as some survivors said help had yet to arrive.

The death toll rose above 7,100 in Turkey. In Syria, already devastated by 11 years of war, the confirmed toll climbed to more than 2,500 overnight, according to the Syrian government and a rescue service operating in the rebel-held northwest.

Turkish authorities said 13.5 million people were affected in an area spanning roughly 450 km (280 miles) from Adana in the west to Diyarbakir in the east. In Syria, the quake killed people as far south as Hama, 100km from the epicentre. Turkey’s disaster management agency said the number of injured was above 38,000.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan declared a state of emergency in 10 provinces. Residents in several damaged Turkish cities have voiced anger and despair at what they said was a slow and inadequate response by the authorities.

A lack of resources

Rescue workers have had difficulties reaching the worst-hit areas being held back by destroyed roads, poor weather, a lack of resources and heavy equipment.

The head of the World Health Organization said the rescue efforts face a race against time, with the chances of finding survivors alive diminishing with every passing minute.

Global HSE adopts PlanRadar to improve fire safety reporting efficiency

by Breaking NewsSafety

PlanRadar, a digital construction, real estate and facilities management platform, has announced that it has been adopted by leading fire safety and passive fire protection measures consultancy, Global HSE Solutions.

PlanRadar’s software will support the company’s Global Technical Services (GTS) division, which provides fire engineering advice and expertise to both Tier 1 contractors and Global HSE’s own contracting arm as well as hosting fire door inspection courses through its in-house Global Academy.

The software will assist in the delivery of more efficient, detailed and accessible fire safety information. The service will also help its clients to navigate the UK’s legislative landscape – including new fire door assessments regulations that came into effect on the 23 January 2023. The complete approach for delivering surveys and inspection results and will be rolled out across GTS’s entire inspection and surveying team.

Commenting on the partnership, PlanRadar Co-CEO, Ibrahim Imam says: “Global HSE and GTS has a well-established reputation for delivering exceptional results in a highly niche, specialised and increasingly important field. Given the stringent requirements around fire safety, there is no margin for error, and a missed record or lack of clarity in inspection reports could have huge ramifications.

“That’s why we’ve invested in making our tools fit-for-purpose for accurate, compliant and easy to understand data collation fire reporting, specifically for fire professionals. It also ensures that ‘Golden Thread’ principles are being followed throughout, for greater fire safety compliance.

“Global HSE’s confidence in our offering is a massive endorsement for PlanRadar’s relevance and efficacy. We look forward to collaborating with them going forward to deliver safe and secure commercial and residential environments.”

The efficient secret

GTS said that they became aware of PlanRadar’s digital solutions at FIREX 2022, where they saw the potential for its platform to address an ongoing pain point within the business: The creation and user-friendly presentation of fire surveys and inspection results.

The group reconised that the software could also tackle another persistent challenge faced by the business: recruiting enough highly-trained professionals to fill roles required.

They saw PlanRadar’s suite of services as a way of streamlining the amount of resource existing staff spent on this important, but time-consuming activity.

As Ross O’Loughlin, Head of Global Technical Services at HSE Global explained: “My main concern was how we could speed up our surveys without losing the value within the survey. I wanted to improve the working life of my staff. Reporting, writing, and collating information around a survey has always been a laborious task. If we can consolidate that in any way, it allows us to focus our energy on delivering our expertise.”

Large-scale useability

The team at GTS highlighted PlanRadar’s ability to record video and integrate BIM, which could support the division’s compliance requirements around the Building Safety Act and increased expectations for data collection in line with the Golden Thread of Information.

Following initial discussion, the platform was tested in a real-world environment to see how the software performed on a project from start to finish.

The test was based in a university in Northern England, where the surveying team were carrying out a fire damper inspection survey. With thousands of dampers to inspect, it was a daunting task requiring meticulous record-keeping.

The team’s feedback was unanimously positive, with users highlighting how the platform significantly sped up reporting in an easy-to-use way, vindicating the decision to trial it.

Better outcomes

Following the test, Global HSE and GTS decided to adopt PlanRadar’s platform, with the intention of rolling it out across all its inspection and surveying teams, providing them with an easy way to record and report.

O’Loughlin added: “With GTS users already being onboarded, we’re exploring how PlanRadar could be used across other parts of the company,” he says. “From a business perspective, uploading as many documents, photos or jpegs at no extra cost is a massive win in comparison to competitors in this space. It’s an incredibly useful tool, and the opportunity we can gain from getting to grips with, and using, all its functions would significantly improve our day-to-day operations.

Since introduction, PlanRadar has been brought onto over 20 GTS project, with the intention of using it as the standard reporting tool across the entire portfolio over the course of 2023.

Read IFSJ’s exclusive article from Robert Norton, UK Team Leader at PlanRadar, who talks the digitisation of The Golden Thread.

Dubai Airports launches emergency services recruitment drive

by Breaking NewsTraining

Dubai Airports has launched a recruitment drive seeking ‘young, ambitious, and dynamic’ Emiratis to enrol in its state-of-the-art emergency services training programme to take up the role of frontline heroes at the world’s busiest international airport.

As part of a recruitment drive, Dubai Airports is actively seeking a new cohort of Emiratis to join its intensive training programme.

The programme comprises English-language training provided in partnership with the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT), followed by an intensive firefighting training programme, provided through the International Fire Training Centre, Serco, at Dubai World Central (DWC) airport.

A path to professional experience

With many school graduates now looking for careers that offer more personal meaning and satisfaction, firefighting at one of the world’s leading aviation hubs offers a path to a different professional experience – one based on dedication and commitment that Dubai Airports said invokes a sense of honour that comes from public service for the good of the nation.

With one of the largest airport fire services departments in the world across two airports, a firefighting career with Dubai Airports will offer a variety of challenges and work experience.

The department is fully equipped with a fleet of top-class vehicles armed with the latest aircraft firefighting technologies and safety controls, domestic vehicles, a mobile incident command vehicle to monitor incidents, water tankers, as well as rescue stairs vehicles at each location.

‘An enormous sense of pride’

Majed Al Joker, Chief Operating Officer of Dubai Airports, commented on the recruitment drive: “We are looking for young motivated, self-confident and driven Emiratis to help us protect the ‘Gateway to Dubai’. Young people today are attracted to careers where they can make a tangible difference to Dubai and its long-term development agenda.

“It gives me an enormous sense of pride to invite these young Emirati leaders to apply to become part of a world-class team that ensures the safety and well-being of millions of passengers who use our airports every year.”

UAE nationals can join the Dubai Airports’ fire services training programme via this link: https://careers.dubaiairports.ae/