Global Fire Equipment to showcase latest products at Intersec

by Breaking NewsFire Detection

European manufacturer of complete fire safety systems, Global Fire Equipment (GFE), is gearing up showcase the latest additions to its product portfolio on Stand F10 in Hall 3 at Intersec 2023 which takes place in Dubai from 17 – 19 January.  

Visitors to the stand will be able to find out about GFE’s range of advanced addressable fire alarm control panels and talk to GFE’s specialists about the benefits of working with a complete systems provider which has EN 54-13:2017+A1:2019 approval.

The manufacturer will also be showcasing the latest product innovation across its industry-leading detectors, emergency lighting and graphical fire alarm monitoring, control and communications software. One of the core products GFE will launch at the event is its new ZEOS 2 detector range.

Commenting on the company’s plans for Intersec, Paul Pope, Group Business Development Director at GFE, said: “Intersec is widely regarded as one of the most important industry exhibitions in the Middle East and as it’s such a strategically important market for us we are delighted to have a strong presence again at this year’s show. We are also particularly pleased to have Intersec as a platform to showcase our new ZEOS 2 range of detectors which we believe will generate a lot of interest in the market.

“We look forward to welcoming customers – new and old – on stand and bringing them up to speed on our latest product innovation, our projects in the Middle East and our future plans.”  

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

Fire safety management good practice guide released by Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management

by Breaking News

The Institute of Workplace Facilities Management (IWFM) has released a newly updated Fire safety management good practice guide(GPG), in partnership with PlanRadar.  

The guide sets out the key requirements for managing fire safety in England where the Regulatory (Reform) Fire Safety Order 2005 applies, providing core good practice and signposting for facilities management professionals, those with Responsible Persons duties, and those acting on behalf of Responsible Persons.

The GPG has been updated to include requirements from the Fire Safety Act 2021, the Building Act 2022, and the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022, and provides guidance on the relevant legislation for Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.

Sofie Hooper, Head of Policy at IWFM, commented: “Workplace and facilities managers play a critical role in driving fire safety within workplaces and residential buildings. As a professional body, our own duty is to support our members when keeping people safe.

“This in-depth fire safety guidance could not be timelier with new requirements from the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 coming into force in weeks. Upskilling people and driving competence was a core pillar of Dame Judith Hackitt’s Grenfell report; providing guidance is one such route towards continuous learning and becoming more competent.”

NFCC calls for multiple fire escapes on high-rise residential buildings

by Breaking NewsSafety

The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) has released a statement calling on the Government to make it a requirement for all new high rise residential buildings over 18 metres or seven storeys to have more than one staircase. In England, there is currently no maximum height for residential buildings with only one staircase.

NFCC is urging the Government to adopt the following changes for high rise residential buildings over 18 metres or seven storeys: All new buildings must have more than one protected staircase, all existing buildings must be retrofitted with sprinklers, and lifts in existing buildings should be installed or replaced for use in an evacuation.

Gavin Tomlinson, NFCC Protection and Business Safety Scrutiny Committee Chair said: “We are calling on the Government to ensure that all new high rise residential buildings over 18 metres, or seven storeys, have more than one fire escape staircase. In the event of a fire, a correctly designed second staircase removes the risk of a single point of failure, buying critical time for firefighting activities, and providing residents with multiple escape routes.”

NFCC’s recommendations could be reinforced by amending building regulations or the key Government guidance, Approved Document B.

Mark Hardingham, NFCC Chair added: “The Government should be commended on the improvements it has made, such as banning combustible cladding and requiring sprinklers at 11 metres. However, we urge the Government to now publish an updated workplan for the review of Approved Document B to give regulators, the public, and the wider fire safety industry confidence that the Government is still committed to reform.”

Mayor welcomes enhanced monitoring of London Fire Brigade

by Breaking News

Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has welcomed the additional scrutiny and support His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) will provide to the deep-rooted cultural reform that has already started within the London Fire Brigade.

Khan said: “I have long been clear that wide-ranging changes are urgently needed within the Brigade and that’s why I appointed Andy Roe as a reforming Commissioner to transform the Brigade inside and out and fully supported the Commissioner in commissioning the recent Cultural Review.

“The Commissioner and I both agree that all of the review’s recommendations and findings must be acted upon with urgency and conviction to rebuild public trust and the confidence of LFB staff and firefighters who have been failed for far too long. Huge changes to policies, procedures and equipment mean that the Brigade are now better prepared, organised and equipped to fight fires and keep all Londoners safe.

“A new independent service has now been set up to investigate complaints and London Fire Brigade will be the first service in the country to issue body-worn cameras to their crews, both to protect them but also to ensure public safety and reassurance, as part of a landmark pilot.

“These changes were necessary and will help improve standards and rebuild public confidence but I have always been clear that despite the progress, there is still much more to do. That’s why I will continue to support and hold the Fire Commissioner to account on delivering a Brigade that is trusted to serve and protect London, fit for the challenges of modern firefighting, and a workplace where Londoners of all backgrounds can thrive.”

London Fire Brigade Response

London Fire Commissioner Andy Roe commented: “I recognised that LFB’s culture needed to improve which is why I commissioned the Independent Culture Review and took immediate actions when it was published last month. Our external complaints service is supporting colleagues and a zero-tolerance approach to discrimination, harassment and bullying means all staff know what behaviours aren’t tolerated.

“Change is happening now and from the face to face meetings I’ve been having with firefighters and other staff shows there is a passion to make sure our culture works for everyone. We welcome the additional support as part of the Inspectorate’s enhanced monitoring programme and I look forward to working with them and other partners to monitor progress and change in the future.”

Scott Vavra to take over Darley’s Pump Customer Support and Applications Engineering Team

by Breaking NewsPeople

Darley has announced that Scott Vavra will assume leadership of the Pump Customer Support and Applications Engineering Team effective January 9, 2023.

Vavra is an accomplished leader in global customer support. Before joining Darley, he spent over 15 years with Cummins, where he successfully held a range of customer support leadership roles with increasing levels of responsibility. He improved total customer support experience by developing and implementing innovative and comprehensive operations and training programs. He also received the Silver Drop Award for Outstanding Customer Service from the Cummins Engine Company in 2010.

Vavra is succeeding Lairy Normand, who is retiring on January 6, 2023, after 30 years of service. 

Greg Field, Pump Division General Manager commented: “We are thrilled Scott has joined Darley to lead one of the most vital parts of our business to put our customers first and exceed expectations.

“We’re confident our customers will be in good hands with Scott and his team as we continue to take the total customer care experience to the next level.”

He added: “On behalf of the entire organization, I want to thank Lairy for his many contributions to Darley over the past 30 years, and I wish him all the best.”

Vavra also serves in the Army National Guard and received a leadership award while stationed at Fort Knox in Kentucky. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin-Stout in Industrial Technology, Technical Sales and Service. He also earned an Automotive Technology degree from Chippewa Valley Technical College and a teaching certificate from Mount Senario College. He lives in Holcombe, WI, with his wife of 27 years, Holly, and his three daughters.

NFPA calls for added caution around holiday season

by Breaking NewsSafety

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has called for added caution this holiday season, as Christmas Day and Christmas Eve are among the leading days of the year for US home fires.

Lorraine Carli, NFPA vice president of Outreach and Advocacy, said: “December is a leading month for home fires, in large part because many of the activities we engage in during the holiday season reflect leading causes of home fires year-round. Plus, as colder temperatures impact much of the country, use of heating equipment increases significantly.”

The latest NFPA statistics underscore the increased risk of fire during the holiday season and beyond:

Christmas trees

  • An estimated average of 160 home fires involving Christmas trees caused two civilian deaths, 11  civilian injuries, and $12 million in direct property damage per year between 2016 and 2020.
  • Some type of electrical distribution or lighting equipment, including decorative lights, was involved in more than two of five (44 percent) of home Christmas tree fires. Nearly one in five Christmas tree fires (19 percent) were started by decorative lights.
  • The majority (74 percent) of Christmas tree fires occur in December and January.

Decorations

  • An estimated average of 790 home fires that began when decorations (other than Christmas trees) caught fire caused an average of one civilian death, 26 civilian injuries and $13 million in direct property damage per year between 2015 and 2019.
  • One in five home decoration fires occurred in December.
  • Year-round, 35 percent of home decoration fires began with candles; in December, the number jumped to 45 percent.
  • In more than two of every five fires (44 percent) involving decorations, the decoration was too close to a heat source such as a candle, cooking or heating equipment.

Candles

  • An estimated average of 7,400 home fires (2 percent) started by candles caused an average of 90 civilian deaths (three percent), 670 civilian injuries (6 percent), and $291 million (4 percent) in direct property damage per year between 2015 and 2019.
  • Candle fires peak in December and January with 11 percent of candle fires in each of these months.
  • In three of every five candle fires, the candle was too close to something that could catch fire.
  • Christmas is the peak day for candle fires with roughly 2.5 times the daily average; Christmas Eve ranked second.     
  • Falling asleep was a factor in 10 percent of the home candle fires and 12 percent of the associated deaths.

Cooking

  • Cooking is the leading cause of reported home fires (49 percent) and home fire injuries and the second-leading cause of home fire deaths.
  • Unattended cooking is the leading cause of home cooking fires.
  • Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires, followed by Christmas Day and Christmas Eve.

The NFPA Winter Holidays page offers a wide variety of tips and resources to reduce the risk of fires.

AI-enabled fire-readiness project launches in Dubai

by Breaking News

Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai’s Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management, has commended the General Directorate of Dubai Civil Defense (DCD) for deploying advanced technology and innovative solutions to enhance public safety and making Dubai “the world’s safest city” for citizens, residents and visitors.

Sheikh Mansoor praised the efforts of the DCD, under the leadership of Lieutenant General Expert Rashid Thani Al Matrooshi, Director-General, DCD, for developing the DCD Readiness Programme, the world’s first Artificial Intelligence-enabled fire-readiness programme.

The Programme, which relies on big data, links data sources in most government departments. The smart programme analyses the data using AI and, based on incidents over the past five years, predicts the probability of fire incidents in various regions in Dubai.

Once it has analysed every fire incident, the system sends awareness and actionable messages addressing the most common reasons to avoid future incidents, focusing on pre-emptive fire management. The US-based National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has supported DCD’s internationally acclaimed fire prevention programme.

Al Matrooshi facilitated the project’s manager, Captain Essa Ahmed Al Mutawa, who is director of the DCD’s Control and Monitoring Department, and commended creative ideas that enhance the Department’s ability to carry out its duties in conformation with international standards and best practices.

The Director-General thanked the leadership for appreciating creative employees and affirmed the DCD’s keenness to celebrate their contributions that would enhance the capabilities of fire and rescue teams and develop services that guarantee the community’s safety.

Farm fire costs in the UK reach over £95 million

by Breaking NewsSafety

Leading rural insurer NFU Mutual has called on farmers to be prepared and have fire control plans in place as the cost of farm fires rose to £95.6m in 2021.

Electrical faults were the biggest known cause of blazes last year and large-scale farm arson attacks worryingly shot up from £4.7m in 2020 to £8.4m in 2021. Biomass boiler fires also continued to increase last year and as many installations begin to age, people are being urged to carry out regular maintenance checks.

Andy Manson, Head of Risk Management Services at NFU Mutual, said: “Farm fires put lives at risk, as well as cause disruptive and devastating damage to farm businesses.

“To help protect their businesses, farmers should put fire prevention and control plans in place, such as regularly reviewing their fire risk assessment and acting on the findings.

“Most fires are preventable by carrying out routine maintenance and inspection on heating systems, electrical installations and machinery, and controlling hot works within farm workshops.

“Implementing and maintaining good standards of housekeeping, particularly around the storage of combustibles and flammables such as hay, straw and fuels, will also reduce the risk of a fire spreading.”

NFU Mutual Rural Affairs Specialist, Hannah Binns, added: “We are very concerned about the risig cost of arson attacks, which is a frightening prospect considering farms are not only farmers’ place of work but often their family home.

“We are urging everyone to be on their guard and improve their security to help prevent their business going up in smoke.”

Five fire safety tips from NFU Mutual Risk Management Services

Have a plan in place – Put people at the heart of your fire plan and ensure everyone on site knows what to do in the event of a fire. The biggest priority in the event of a fire is to evacuate everyone safely, including people working in or living around the premises, taking special care to assist any vulnerable persons. 

Don’t mess with electrics – Electrical faults are a major cause of fire whilst electric shock can cause death or severe injury. Don’t try and attempt electrical work yourself and always use a qualified and competent electrician for work and inspections. DIY modifications, poor environmental conditions (such as wet, damp or acidic atmospheres), rodents, overloaded sockets and simple wear and tear are common causes of electrical fires on farms.

Suppress the risk – suppression systems are a major game changer for the industry and play a critical role in detecting, containing and extinguishing fire. Whether you have a biomass boiler or a combine harvester, working in hot, dry conditions, fire suppression systems can save lives and property. 

Keep on top of your housekeeping – Good housekeeping is absolutely essential to ensure materials and machinery are stored correctly and to eliminate dust and debris. The build-up of waste and materials not only adds to the fuel that can burn in a fire, but can block escape routes and cause trip hazards in an emergency.

Control hot work – Welding, cutting or grinding equipment, along with blow lamps and blow torches can produce sparks which can turn into fires if they hit a combustible material. If work can’t be done outside, ensure you are in a clear, open area and far away from combustible materials (including combustible building structures). Anyone carrying out hot works on your farm should be subject to a strict ‘Permit to Work’ system.

US Fire Administration to lead Arson Investigation Program in Dubai

by Breaking NewsMiddle East - Breaking News

The US Fire Administration and National Fire Academy have announced they are set to train and lead an arson investigation program in Dubai.

US Fire Administrator Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell traveled to Dubai, United Arab Emirates.  The Administrator conducted introductory meetings with the General Directorate of Civil Defense in Dubai and met with the Dubai Police Department to prepare for the formal launch of the U.S Arson Investigation Training program in Dubai.

The training program is expected to launch in 2023. At the Dubai Police Department meeting, the Administrator met with senior officials and toured the facility where the trainings will take place.

As part of the training program, the US Fire Administration (USFA) and the National Fire Academy (NFA) will send qualified instructors to the UAE to train 50 new investigators.

Dr. Moore-Merrell commented: “This partnership with the Dubai Police Department is an example of how our two governments can work together to better protect our communities. We appreciate the opportunity to train the Dubai Police Department’s arson investigators and share best practices to enhance their capabilities, scale their expertise and increase overall security against bad actors.”

FEMA, through the USFA, continues to strengthen its international relationships and identify new opportunities to share ideas and information to protect the communities of firefighters across the nation and world.

Global fire protection industry to gather at Intersec

by Breaking NewsEvents

More than 1,000 exhibitors from 120+ countries will unite at the 24th edition of Intersec, the world’s leading trade fair for safety, security, and fire protection. Fire, safety and security industry professionals from around the world are expected in Dubai in January to explore the strategies and advanced technologies that will future-proof global safety.

The show will take place at the Dubai World Trade Centre from January 17-19, 2023, with exhibitors providing access to more than 10,000 products across the complete security value chain.

Advanced technological innovation will dominate the exhibition’s five key segments, followed by Commercial & Perimeter Security, the second largest sector represented. Homeland security is supported by Dubai Police and Security Industry Regulatory Agency (SIRA) and is dedicated to products and solutions for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Airport, and Aviation Security.

Fire and rescue will showcase the latest firefighting technologies, the best international standards, and practices, and is supported by the Dubai Civil Defense. Safety and health will be divided into environmental, industrial, and public health and safety, and lastly, Cyber security will host cyber solutions, experts, from national leaders to public and private sector professionals, from cyber connoisseurs to advisors, hackers to responders, and cyber economists to corporate buyers.

“We anticipate up to 30,000 security, emergency response, safety and cybersecurity professionals attending Intersec 2023, where technological breakthroughs will take centre stage and attract an influential participant profile,” said Alex Nicholl, Show Director, Messe Frankfurt Middle East. “Industry experts, influencers, decision and policymakers, and distributors are uniting to explore the strategies and technologies that will govern the safety and wellbeing of future generations.”

The event takes place against a backdrop of anticipated sector growth. Research firm 6W Research forecast the Middle East’s commercial security market will grow 16 per cent a year until 2025 to reach US$8.4 billion, while the region’s fire and safety sector will advance 7.5 per cent annually to reach US$16.76bn by 2026.

“This huge potential has attracted a line-up of leading industry heavyweights, including Honeywell, Bosh, Hochiki, Drager and AXIS Communications,” added Nicholl.

The conference think tank

The Intersec 2023 Conference will be a think tank for future industry strategies, with four focused segments. The conference streams will feature the Intersec Security Leaders’ Summit, and dedicated seminar streams focusing on safety and health, fire and rescue, and tackling ever-growing sophisticated cyber security threats.

The 2023 Intersec Security Leaders’ Summit is a high-level strategic summit for the leaders and stakeholders of the security industry to collaborate, innovate and actively seek new technologies to meet the rapidly changing needs of the industry.

Tackling cybercrime

The Middle East and Africa’s cybersecurity market size was valued at USD 5.92 Billion in 2021 and is projected to reach USD 19.79 Billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 14.35% from 2022 to 2030. The Intersec Cybersecurity Seminars will feature the latest trends, drivers, challenges and successful case studies across industries that are playing a substantial role in shaping the cybersecurity industry growth.

“The Cybersecurity Seminars will provide a platform of expertise, best practices, and solutions that cater to those working in and managing cyber defence. With key themes including resilience, risk and future-tech among others, the presents a rare opportunity for industry players to network with global CTOs, CISOs, heads of cybersecurity, and system integrators with real purchasing power,” said Nicholl.

Intersec 2023 has the support of Dubai Police, the Directorate General of Dubai Civil Defence, The Security Industry Regulatory Agency and Dubai Municipality.