SFPE releases 6th Edition Fire Protection Engineering Handbook

by Breaking NewsCommunicationsProducts

The Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE) has released the 6th Edition of the ‘SFPE Handbook of Fire Protection Engineering‘, with new sections and updated chapters addressing current developments in fire protection engineering, science and technology.

First published in 1988, the handbook is widely used by fire protection engineers, researchers, code officials and students. SFPE said the sixth edition includes significant revisions and expanded content to reflect issues now facing the profession.

The latest edition introduces two new sections: Fire Test Data for Engineering Methods, which includes four new chapters, and Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) Fires and Environmental Impacts, which includes seven new chapters.

It also includes new and updated chapters on fire walls, fire investigations, flame extinction by active suppression, structural fire engineering, lithium-ion batteries and energy storage, refrigerants, warehouse storage challenges, and fire and life safety during modifications, additions and demolition.

According to SFPE, the handbook also covers emerging topics such as wildland-urban interface fire dynamics and evacuation, lithium-ion battery storage risks, engineering methods using fire test data, sustainable and resilient fire protection strategies, and risk analysis in the healthcare, nuclear and mass transportation sectors.

Chris Jelenewicz, CEO of SFPE, said: “The 6th Edition of the SFPE Handbook reflects the evolution of fire protection engineering and addresses the critical challenges facing our industry today.”

SFPE said the new edition will serve as the primary reference for its Fire Protection Professional Engineer (PE) Exam Review Course from this year. It will also be incorporated into the organisation’s forthcoming Introduction to Principles of Fire Protection Engineering eLearning course.

The publication was developed with input from more than 130 contributors from academia, research institutions, consulting firms and industry organisations worldwide, supported by section editors across 11 technical subject areas.

The handbook remains one of the leading global technical references for fire protection engineering and is likely to be familiar to many fire engineers working on major projects across the Gulf.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand: If you light a fire, you are responsible for it

by Breaking NewsCommunicationsWildland Fire

Landowners whose unattended burn piles caused a string of vegetation fires across the district of Canterbury in New Zealand last Saturday are being visited by Fire and Emergency New Zealand to ensure they understand their responsibilities for land management fires.

District Commander Dave Stackhouse said that 11 fires escaped and spread quickly in the severe nor-westerly winds. As a result, almost all the district’s firefighters were stretched to levels normally only seen in mid-summer.

“I am very disappointed at the number of fires that had been left unattended,” Stackhouse said. “If it hadn’t rained later on Saturday, we would have been calling on brigades from other districts to assist.”

While Canterbury is currently in an open fire season, meaning permits are not required for outdoor fires, landowners are always responsible for the fires that they light on their properties. The same applies to forestry managers.

Under Section 60 of the Fire and Emergency New Zealand Act, it is an offence to cause or allow a fire to get out of control and to spread to vegetation or property. The penalties for individuals include a fine of up to $300,000 and up to two years imprisonment.

The message was very simple, Commander Stackhouse said: if you light a fire, you are responsible for it.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand says that fires must not be left unattended and must be completely extinguished, not left to smoulder. When strong winds are forecast, anyone who has lit a fire should be checking for hotspots that could be reignited.

There is extensive advice at www.checkitsalright.nz.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand adds that vegetation across Canterbury is already unusually dry for this time of year, and the outlook suggests a very high risk of wildfire in spring and summer because of the predicted El Nino weather pattern.

IFE celebrates women in fire engineering for INWED 2026

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The Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) has launched a week-long campaign to celebrate women working across the fire engineering profession as part of International Women in Engineering Day (INWED) 2026.

Running from 21-28 June, the campaign highlights female fire engineers from across the IFE’s global membership community, recognising their expertise, leadership and innovation in helping to create a safer built environment.

International Women in Engineering Day, held annually on 23 June, celebrates the achievements of women engineers around the world. The 2026 theme, Engineering Intelligence, focuses on the expertise, judgement and leadership women bring to engineering across every sector.

Throughout the week, the IFE will share member stories from women working in different countries, career stages and professional specialisms. The spotlights will explore how females are advancing fire safety, supporting professional standards and inspiring future generations of fire engineers.

The campaign will also examine how IFE membership has supported the development of female fire engineers by providing access to peer networks, learning resources, professional recognition and wider opportunities to contribute to the fire safety community.

The IFE, which represents more than 15,000 members globally, said the campaign reflects its commitment to supporting greater diversity across the fire sector. Women from the United Kingdom, Australia, the United States and South Africa will feature during the campaign.

Professionals are also being encouraged to join the IFE Women’s Networking Group, which provides a supportive community for females across the fire sector to connect, share experiences, develop professionally and help inspire the next generation.

The IFE said the campaign aims to highlight the expertise strengthening fire safety today while encouraging the females who will help shape the sector in the future.

House passes First Responder Network Authority Reauthorization Act of 2026

by Americas - Featured NewsBreaking NewsCommunications

How the First Responder Network Authority Reauthorization Act of 2026 protects emergency communications

The U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 7386 on 20 April 2026 to extend the legal authority of the nationwide public safety broadband network through 30 September 2037.

The First Responder Network Authority Reauthorization Act of 2026 amends the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012.

This legislation replaces the previous 15-year statutory sunset with a fixed end date to prevent the termination of the federal First Responder Network (FirstNet) Authority in February 2027.

The bill removes the independent status of the Authority and places it under closer oversight by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).

NTIA approval is now required for most actions taken by the Authority – including management and investment decisions.

Defined operational activities such as emergency deployment and budgeting may proceed without prior NTIA approval.

The Act establishes an NTIA Associate Administrator role to oversee the Authority and manage day-to-day operations.

This new position acts as a liaison with the NTIA and is subject to annual performance reviews in consultation with the Board.

Annual reports to Congress must now include data on cyberattacks, cyber defence activity and unscheduled service outages.

Adoption rates by profession and geographic area are also included in the expanded reporting requirements.

Enhanced operational oversight and first responder representation

The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) noted that the legislation reinforces the ability to deploy emergency response capabilities and resources to disasters.

Board composition requirements are updated to ensure five members represent state, local or Tribal public safety professionals within three years of enactment.

These representatives will include active personnel from fire, emergency medical, emergency management, law enforcement and 9-1-1 services.

The IAFC said: “The FirstNet Authority ensures that first responders stay connected during the most chaotic times.

“First responders need to be able to have confidence in their communications, because at the end of the day, lives are on the line.

“FirstNet provides a nationwide broadband network that allows fire, EMS, and law enforcement to stay connected within and across jurisdictions.”

The FirstNet contractor must submit a business continuity and disaster recovery plan to the NTIA for approval within 180 days.

This recovery plan must be resubmitted every five years thereafter to maintain operational resilience.

New requirements mandate that the contractor inform the Authority of any confirmed service outage within 30 minutes of discovery.

A network status tool with up-to-date information must be maintained for subscriber agencies to track outages.

The bill moved to the U.S. Senate for consideration following the voice vote in the House.

LearnPro wins London Fire Brigade contract for risk information platform

by CommunicationsEvacuationFeatured NewsProjectsSearch and Rescue

LearnPro selected for OneRisk platform

London Fire Brigade (LFB) has selected Prevent + Protect from LearnPro Group, working with Softcat, for its OneRisk project to modernise and integrate building-related fire risk information.

LearnPro announced that the platform was chosen through LFB’s competitive OneRisk procurement process after a tender for a commercial off the shelf platform to replace multiple legacy systems.

LFB identified Prevent + Protect as its preferred system for prevention, protection, operational risk and hydrant management.

The project is intended to consolidate risk information systems and bring risk data into a single cloud hosted platform.

According to LearnPro, the system is designed to remove data silos, improve mobile capability and give teams across departments access to shared risk information.

What the platform will replace

The source material states that LFB sought a sector-ready platform to replace multiple legacy systems and support work across Prevention, Protection and Hydrant Management teams.

Prevent + Protect is described as a mobile-first system with specialist CRM functionality that keeps touchpoint and job history records where individuals move location or are linked to more than one premises or business.

It also supports the management of parent and child premises structures.

LearnPro said the platform includes workflow automation and Microsoft integration, including support for artificial intelligence capabilities.

Comments on the contract award

Pamela Oparaocha, London Fire Brigade Assistant Commissioner for Prevention and Protection, said: “We are committed to strengthening how we manage, share and use risk information across our organisation.

“We have a unified and accurate picture of risk is essential for the way we plan our work, engage with communities and support our firefighters on the ground.

“This new platform will replace several legacy systems and give our teams a more consistent and accessible view of the information they need.

“This is a long term investment in innovation, digital capability and improved service delivery for London, and an important part of our ambition to build a more modern, data enabled fire and rescue service.”

Costi Karayannis, Chief Executive Officer of LearnPro Group, said: “We are incredibly proud that Prevent + Protect has been selected by London Fire Brigade to deliver its OneRisk vision.

“We look forward to partnering closely with LFB as part of their continuous effort to reduce risk and optimise the critical services they provide to the public across our capital city.”

Russell Wood, UK Market Lead at LearnPro Group, added: “This award reaffirms Prevent + Protect as the leading modern Prevention and Protection platform for Fire and Rescue Services and follows several additional new FRS contracts secured in recent months.

“We are excited to support London Fire Brigade on its transformative OneRisk journey.”

Regulator introduces social media channels to share building safety guidance and news

by Building ManagementCommunicationsConstructionFeatured NewsSafety

Regulator launches digital channels for communication

The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) has launched dedicated social media channels to provide updates on building safety guidance, news and events.

BSR stated that the new channels follow its transition to a standalone organisation earlier this year and are intended to create a direct line of communication with industry and residents.

The channels will share building safety guidance, resources and information on online webinars and events.

They will complement the organisation’s GOV.UK page and its existing campaign website.

BSR stated: “The new channels will allow us to provide a direct, focused line of communication to everyone interested in building safety and the work of BSR.”

Access to information, updates and training

Following the new BSR channels will provide access to information for high-rise residents across England and updates on building safety reforms and legislation.

Users will be able to view links to transparency data and official guidance, alongside campaign updates and technical information for the construction sector.

The channels will also include details of free training, toolkits and webinars, along with opportunities to take part in BSR research projects.

BSR produces three regular ebulletins for industry, responsible persons and high-rise residents, providing updates on guidance, recent developments and opportunities to contribute feedback.

More than 21,000 subscribers currently receive these updates, with sign-up available for further users.

BSR stated that it will continue to expand its digital presence and update its website as additional platforms are introduced.

Whitepaper assesses mission-critical voice options for UK emergency services

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Whitepaper compares emergency voice systems

A whitepaper published by Analysys Mason compares TETRA and LTE-based systems for mission-critical voice communications used in public protection and disaster relief operations.

The paper is written by Charles Murray, Sviat Novik and Fabio Amann Fernández and examines whether LTE-based systems, including the Emergency Services Network (ESN), can replace TETRA for emergency service voice communications.

It assesses the two systems across coverage, resilience, operational features and future readiness.

The paper states that TETRA delivers more consistent and predictable coverage because it operates on lower-frequency spectrum, allowing signals to travel further, penetrate buildings more effectively and degrade more gradually at the edge of coverage.

LTE-based systems are described as more susceptible to attenuation, with signals weakening more abruptly, especially indoors and behind obstacles.

It adds that TETRA users already understand known weak spots through operational experience, whereas LTE coverage remains dependent on future upgrades, testing and infrastructure expansion.

Whitepaper details resilience and operational differences

According to the whitepaper, TETRA is inherently more resilient because it is designed specifically for emergency services and runs on dedicated spectrum with hardened infrastructure and redundancy across power and backhaul.

The paper states that this leads to more predictable behaviour during outages, with failures typically limited to local areas.

LTE-based systems are described as more exposed to shared infrastructure dependencies because they rely on commercial mobile networks.

The paper notes that faults affecting shared exchanges or fibre routes can cause wider disruption across multiple sites at the same time.

It also states that TETRA maintains stable voice communication during major incidents, power outages and high-demand scenarios because it does not carry public traffic.

LTE-based systems can face congestion from public users in dense areas or during large events, which may delay responders trying to connect before priority mechanisms are applied.

Whitepaper points to hybrid approach

The whitepaper identifies direct mode operation and ground-to-air communication as two operational areas where TETRA currently retains an advantage.

It states that LTE-based equivalents exist in technical standards, though they remain in development, require additional certification and have not been deployed at national scale.

The paper also reviews programme costs and delivery timelines linked to ESN, stating that deployment depends on large-scale infrastructure upgrades, extended testing periods and uncertain timelines for full operational readiness.

It includes figures showing that TETRA operates at around 400 MHz compared with around 800 MHz for LTE, and that LTE experiences 5 – 6 dB higher path loss than TETRA.

The paper also states that around 1500 buildings have already been identified for ESN in-building upgrades, that historic Airwave costs were approximately £450 million per year and that ESN costs are estimated at £370 – £420 million per year once operational.

This year marks ten years since Motorola Solutions acquired Airwave.

It concludes that TETRA remains the most reliable platform for mission-critical voice communication and presents a hybrid model, with TETRA for assured voice and LTE for data and supplementary services, as the most practical strategy for the foreseeable future.

Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority renews long-term deal with Telent

by CommunicationsFeatured NewsProjects

Telent contract begins in March 2026

Telent has signed a new long-term contract with Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority (MFRA), extending a 25-year working relationship and continuing ICT managed services across the authority’s estate and frontline vehicles.

Telent said the contract began on 1 March 2026 and will run for an initial five-year period, with an option to extend by two years.

The agreement covers End User Services and Networks. It also includes Command and Control Systems, along with Compute and Cloud Services.

The contract applies across MFRA’s offices, stations, control room and frontline vehicles.

Service Level Agreements have been enhanced with new Key Performance Indicators to align with MFRA’s ICT requirements.

The agreement also includes support for MFRA’s future ICT strategy and project requirements.

Telent has previously supported business change projects for MFRA, such as a state-of-the-art operational training centre, along with command and control systems and voice communications infrastructure upgrades.

Telent’s ICT Service Desk remains based within an MFRA building.

The team supports ITIL-based delivery.

The service desk was originally created for MFRA.

It now also supports East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service and provides internal ICT support for Telent nationally.

Telent and MFRA comments on the agreement

Peter Moir, Managing Director, Network Services at Telent, said: “This long-term partnership is built on trust, shared purpose, and delivery without disruption.

“We know what it takes to serve blue-light ICT Services, and we’re proud to continue supporting MFRA with reliable, secure and future-ready services.

“Telent remain focused on providing the technology backbone and services that let frontline teams focus on fire prevention and saving lives.”

Chief Fire Officer Nick Searle, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority, said: “Telent has been a valued partner for more than two decades, and their team has become a trusted extension of ours.

“This contract award reflects the strength of that relationship following a competitive tender process.

“It provides the continuity we rely on, with the flexibility to evolve as our operational needs change.

“Their understanding of our environment and the demands we face remains critical to how we protect communities and respond when it matters most.”

Kev Pilkington, Head of IT Managed Services at Telent, commented: “This contract demonstrates the strength of our longstanding partnership with Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority, built on 25 years of trust and collaboration.

“We remain committed to delivering ICT services that enable MFRA to focus on protecting lives and supporting vital fire prevention work.”

The new agreement was announced ahead of the BAPCO Annual Event in March 2026, where public safety technology will be showcased to the UK’s emergency services.

Why Multitone Electronics is focusing on role-based messaging

by CommunicationsFeatured NewsIndustry Comment

Multitone Electronics commentary on Nucleus and compliance

Multitone Electronics has published commentary from Product Manager Colin Azevedo on his first six months in the role, setting out how the Nucleus platform is being developed around role-based messaging, NHS compliance and future AI use.

In an interview published by the company, Azevedo said he joined the business in July 2025 and identified NHS DCB – 0129 compliance as one of his early milestones, alongside work on the Nucleus roadmap and meetings with NHS teams using the platform.

He said Nucleus is designed to address fragmented communication in hospitals and other organisations where multiple systems do not connect, adding that the platform brings messaging into one place and supports both paging and newer app-based workflows.

Azevedo said one of the main operational benefits for NHS staff is role-based messaging, which allows alerts to follow a role rather than an individual when frontline staff change wards, duties or responsibilities during a shift.

Multitone Electronics sets out platform direction

Azevedo said the main design challenge is maintaining an always-on system across different customer environments, including legacy pagers, cloud systems, local IT policies and varied workflows.

He said AI is expected to support a shift towards predictive and intelligent workflows, with Nucleus being developed to identify patterns, anticipate needs and provide decision support linked to escalation paths, risk visibility and routine communications.

On future compliance requirements, Azevedo said organisations are likely to require evidence that systems have delivered messages, recorded acknowledgements and prompted action within defined timeframes.

He added that systems will also be expected to remain secure, auditable and traceable as cyber risks increase, with tighter standards around interoperability and resilience.

Company comments and BAPCO appearance

Multitone also included comments from Peter Lomax, Multitone’s Sales and Marketing Director, on Azevedo’s appointment and the company’s direction ahead of the BAPCO Show at the Coventry Building Society Arena on 25 – 26 March 2026.

Lomax said: “Technology is only as effective as both the strategy – and the people – behind it.

“Colin Azevedo is an excellent addition to the Multitone team, bringing product insight, proven experience and a passion for innovative solutions.

“We are delighted to have Colin on board.”

The interview also states that Multitone is exhibiting at the annual BAPCO Show on stand F25.Why Multitone Electronics is focusing on role-based messaging

Motorola Guardian Hub command centre connects multi-agency fire response

by CommunicationsFeatured NewsProjects

Command centre links three fire services

Fire and rescue teams in Norfolk, Suffolk and Hertfordshire are using Motorola Solutions’ Guardian Hub command centre platform to support joint incident management across more than 100 stations and a population of over 2.5 million people.

Motorola Solutions said the cloud-based system allows the three fire and rescue services (FRSs) to jointly manage 999 calls, dispatch crews and track incidents during mutual aid scenarios.

The platform is designed to support each agency’s daily operations and enable collaboration across the lifecycle of an incident at short notice.

Bringing control room operations into a shared hub means the three services can work more closely during major incidents.

The system also removes the need for each FRS to maintain separate IT systems, which the company said could reduce duplication and ease pressure on call handlers during busy periods.

Darren Cook, assistant chief fire officer at Hertfordshire FRS, said: “Emergencies aren’t restricted by borders, and our responses shouldn’t be either.

“Working closely with Norfolk and Suffolk is already leading to more efficient and effective responses, and the chance to share knowledge on how we’re using this new technology has been incredibly valuable.

“Within hours of the hub going live, we saw the benefits, as Suffolk FRS operators took calls and managed dispatch for Hertfordshire FRS during a large structure fire incident.”

Command centre supports mutual aid and training

The company said the shared hub gives neighbouring FRSs visibility into ongoing incidents and supports closer coordination during periods of high demand.

Scott Norman, deputy chief fire officer at Norfolk FRS, said: “During extreme weather events and major fires, it’s crucial that we can share call handling and frontline resources with neighbouring FRSs.

“The system gives us visibility into our partners’ ongoing incidents to mobilise our own crews faster and respond more effectively.

“Ultimately, we can provide a better service for our community, when and where they need it.”

Jon Lacey, chief fire officer at Suffolk FRS, said: “Our work can often be a matter of life or death – we needed a system which would hit the ground running and enable entirely new ways of working with our neighbouring FRSs.

“Motorola Solutions fit the bill perfectly.

“The Hub model has already proven its value with call handlers able to manage extremely high call volumes and allowing each FRS to seamlessly provide additional support when needed.

“We’ve also found unexpected benefits, such as allowing all control room staff to take part in planned training exercises, without disrupting active operations.”

David Shorland, U.K. and Ireland sales director, Motorola Solutions, said: “Fire and rescue services are there for their communities, but the pressure they face continues to grow.

“Guardian Hub gives services a better way to connect, coordinate and respond.

“With agencies increasingly required to do more with less, we’re providing a resilient, scalable model to help serve and protect communities.”