South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service (SYFRS) has awarded iTrackPPE a three year contract to modernise the management of firefighter Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), Breathing Apparatus (BA) and wider operational assets.
iTrackPPE said that the partnership will introduce Zebra RFID and QR technology across the service in South Yorkshire.
The system is intended to support SYFRS’s move from personal issue PPE to a pooled stock model.
It is also expected to increase the availability of clean PPE, improve access to compliant kit and provide real time visibility across the organisation.
The programme includes the creation of British Standards-aligned PPE passports, full lifecycle traceability and compliance monitoring.
SYFRS will also onboard BA and other operational equipment through the same digital platform.
Service and supplier set out programme aims
Deputy Chief Fire Officer Andy Strelczenie, Strategic Sponsor, said: “Firefighter safety is central to every decision we make and strengthening how we manage PPE contaminants is an important part of that.
“We hope this technology will help us improve visibility and assurance across our PPE processes, supporting our move to a pooled model and ensuring continued compliance with national standards.
“This programme provides a scalable, modern platform for managing operational assets and reflects our commitment to clean, safe and effective firefighting.”
Steve Mclinden, Founder & CEO, iTrackPPE, said: “We are extremely proud to partner with South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service, a service demonstrating genuine leadership in tackling PPE contamination risks and investing in firefighter safety.
“iTrackPPE was built from real operational and command experience, and we remain committed to supporting SYFRS with the intelligence, compliance, and visibility they need to protect their people and modernise asset management for the long term.”
The company said its platform combines RFID and QR technologies with mobile workflows and configurable reporting to show asset location, condition, usage and cleaning status in real time.
It said the system supports PPE passporting, contamination control, intelligent distribution and long term optimisation through its iTrackCompleteCare service model.
The contract will run for three years and covers firefighter PPE, BA and additional operational equipment across SYFRS.
A proposal by Airservices Australia would transfer aviation rescue fire stations, specialised firefighting vehicles, training facilities and protective equipment to a third-party commercial entity under a long-term leaseback arrangement.
The United Firefighters Union of Australia – Aviation Branch (UFUAV) said the proposal would amount to the privatisation of the nation’s Aviation Rescue Fire Fighting Service and the transfer of critical emergency service infrastructure to a sovereign wealth fund.
The arrangement would see Airservices lease the assets back after the transfer.
UFUAV said the proposal would also move specialised emergency vehicle technicians and maintenance capability to the private asset owner.
The union said this would separate maintenance capability from operational firefighting functions within a system it described as an integrated emergency response capability.
UFUAV says proposal could affect readiness
UFUAV Branch Secretary Wes Garrett said the proposal would commercialise a frontline emergency service that exists to maintain public safety and save the lives of air travellers when disaster strikes.
Garrett said: “Aviation firefighting is not a money-making enterprise.
“It is a lifesaving emergency service.
“The moment you introduce a profit motive, safety stops being the first priority.
“Australians expect world-class aviation rescue firefighters to come to their aid when something goes wrong, not an emergency service run according to a lowest bidder mentality designed to maximise returns for an investment fund.
“Under the proposal, ownership and management of critical aviation safety assets would be transferred to a commercial operator whose primary obligation would be delivering a financial return to investors, not protecting the safety of air travellers or firefighters.”
He added: “We have seen this exercise attempted in other jurisdictions before.
“When profit becomes a central driver of decision-making, there is always inevitable pressure to cut costs.
“That will mean delaying maintenance on our specialised firefighting vehicles, reducing investment in equipment and facilities or underinvesting in operational readiness.”
Garrett said those risks carry catastrophic consequences in aviation firefighting.
He said: “In an aircraft fire, passengers typically have only minutes to survive.
“International aviation standards require firefighters to reach an incident within three minutes because every second counts.
“If operational preparedness is compromised by cost-cutting or delayed maintenance, the consequences could be fatal for passengers and devastating for firefighters who are sent into those situations.”
The union said long-term lease arrangements would lock the Commonwealth into escalating costs designed to deliver profits to investors and said it would oppose any attempt to privatise aviation rescue firefighting services.
Garrett said: “If aviation firefighting can be privatised, what emergency service is next?
“The travelling public deserves a world-class aviation rescue firefighting service that puts safety first every single time.
“They do not deserve a system where critical emergency infrastructure is run to maximise financial returns.”
He said: “Firefighters will never accept a future where lifesaving services are hollowed out to satisfy financial models.
“When safety fails, it is the travelling public and our firefighters who pay the price.
“We call on Airservices Australia to put the lives of Australia’s air travellers first by abandoning the proposal to privatise the aviation firefighting services they rely upon to keep them safe.”
A new Fire Risk Assessment qualification suite will launch through The Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) in its October 2026 exam session.
The IFE said the qualifications were developed in response to the UK government’s framework for the assessment of Fire Risk Assessor competency and align with BS 8674:2025.
The suite includes the Level 3 Award in Fire Risk Assessment and the Level 3 Certificate in Fire Risk Assessment.
It also includes the Level 4 Certificate in Fire Risk Assessment for professionals working in complex environments.
Successful candidates on the Level 3 and Level 4 Certificate in Fire Risk Assessment will gain access to the IFE’s Fire Risk Register.
Those candidates will also meet the academic requirements for the Technician (TIFireE) membership grade.
Fire Safety Event details and qualification pathway
The IFE will formally announce the qualifications at the Fire Safety Event at the NEC, Birmingham from 28 – 30 April.
Delegates can meet the IFE team on stand 4/A90 for more information about the qualifications.
Day 2 of the show will feature IFE Chief Executive Steve Hamm and IFE Member and Education Services Director Jo Tedd in the compliance theatre.
The session will cover professional standards and how the qualifications support the next phase of regulatory change.
Hamm said: “Our new fire risk assessment qualifications have been carefully developed by the IFE and our team of fire risk assessment and fire safety specialists from across the private and public sectors.
“These qualifications launch at a critical time and support the BS 8674 tiered framework – Foundation, Intermediate and Advanced – ensuring assessors demonstrate the skills, knowledge and behaviours required to meet nationally recognised competency benchmarks.
“The qualifications form the latest addition to the IFE’s online exam suite which has been developed over the past two years.
“This forward-thinking approach ensures greater flexibility and inclusivity, enabling candidates across the globe to complete their qualifications at a time and place that suits them.
“By removing barriers to access, the IFE is making professional development more convenient, equitable, and future-ready.”
October bookings open from June
According to David Escudier, Chair of the IFE’s Education Panel, the new exams provide a defined route for individual development and the wider profession.
Escudier added: “Clear, recognised qualifications are essential for maintaining trust and raising standards across the sector.
“The IFE’s new Fire Risk Assessment exams provide a much-needed pathway that supports both individual development and the wider profession.”
IFE exams use a self-study delivery model, allowing candidates to progress at their own pace alongside existing roles and responsibilities.
BIOEX has presented its wildland firefighting range, made up of ECOPOL F and BIOFOR, with both concentrates described as 100% fluorine-free and fully biodegradable for forest fire operations.
The French manufacturer BIOEX outlined the range as suitable for wildland firefighting across different terrains, seasons and delivery platforms.
ECOPOL F and BIOFOR are free of PFAs and are described as non-toxic to animals and vegetation.
Both products are stated to comply with current and future environmental regulations including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Stewardship Program and the European Groundwater Directive.
BIOEX details ECOPOL F applications
ECOPOL F operates at concentrations from 0.1% as a wetting agent to 1% as a foam agent.
Its surfactant technology is described as driving water into burning solids to extinguish embers and reduce re-ignition.
At 0.1% to 0.5%, the product is intended for wetting applications involving vegetation, timber, tyres, plastics, car fires and structure fires.
At 0.5% to 1%, it forms an adhesive foam blanket that clings to vertical surfaces at low, medium and high expansion.
It is also described as suitable for contained Class B hydrocarbon fire scenarios involving diesel, kerosene and petrol.
The concentrate is listed for aerial and ground delivery including airtankers, helicopters, compressed air foam systems and foam proportioners.
A nitrate-free corrosion inhibitor is included alongside a 10-year warranty.
ECOPOL F is listed on the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service QPL and is GreenScreen Certified.
BIOFOR is positioned for year-round use
BIOFOR is designed for wildland firefighting in remote terrain, cold weather and large-scale aerial coverage.
Its Newtonian viscosity enables pumping with standard proportioning equipment and its freeze-protection formula removes the need for heated storage.
The product supports low, medium and high expansion within a single concentrate.
Wetting properties are described as enabling water to penetrate burning solids more quickly, addressing embers at the fire’s core.
It also creates visible firebreaks on the ground to support tactical operations.
The formulation is suitable for use in winter and cold-climate zones without heated storage.
A low concentration rate is described as reducing storage requirements and supporting operational flexibility.
Zelim has opened new premises in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, with the site set to serve as its Atlantic Canada base from April 2026.
Zelim announced that the office will be located at the COVE ocean facility, which it described as a technology hub for maritime innovation.
The company said the site will support ongoing partnerships and future opportunities in the region for its AI-enabled technologies designed for safety and security operations at sea.
The move follows activity in the Canadian cruise, ferry and defence sectors.
In 2024, Zelim demonstrated its man-overboard detection and monitoring system, ZOE, to the Canadian Coast Guard and other maritime partners.
In 2025, the company was selected for the NATO DIANA Phase II programme, through which ZOE was used in a NATO naval exercise and introduced to the Royal Canadian Navy.
Zelim also secured a commercial contract with BC Ferries in February 2026 to equip four new-build ferries with its ZOE technology.
Leadership and regional plans
Zelim said the Canada office will be led by its newly appointed regional Vice President, Brigadier General (Retired) Tom Dunne.
Dunne has served as a search and rescue leader with the Royal Canadian Air Force and the United States Coast Guard.
Sam Mayall, Zelim’s Founder and CEO, said: “Given the scale and complexity of its maritime domain and the operational challenges associated with remote and harsh environments, Canada is a strategically important market for Zelim’s maritime detection and automated alerting capabilities.
“With a number of partnerships and agreements already in place in North America, and significant potential for future development, establishing this office base and bringing Tom on board were the next logical steps in our growth journey, with a view to a long-term presence and economic contribution in the region.”
Melanie Nadeau, CEO of COVE, said: “Zelim’s expansion into Canada is an important step for the maritime industry.
“Since first connecting with COVE in 2024 through Innovate UK’s Ocean ScaleUp Accelerator, Zelim has demonstrated the innovation and expertise that strengthen the sector.
“Its Canadian presence will enable new partnerships, foster collaboration, and deliver maritime detection and automated alerting solutions, with COVE supporting access to an ecosystem designed for growth and opportunity.”
Zelim said the new office follows the launch of a defence business unit and additions to its senior leadership team as it continues its international expansion.
Siemens Smart Infrastructure has unveiled the Cerberus Nova fire detector portfolio, a new range designed for connected buildings and intended for sectors including healthcare, higher education, data centres and commercial real estate.
Siemens said the detectors are designed to support operational safety, improve service team efficiency and enable cloud-connected digital services.
The portfolio includes continuous self-checking through Disturbance-Free Testing technology, alongside Smoke Entry Supervision technology that monitors smoke entry points in real time.
In healthcare settings, the detectors are intended to support continuous detection and reduce potential system downtime.
ASAplus technology uses multi-wavelength optical and dual thermal detection to reduce false alarms and unnecessary evacuations.
The detectors are also compatible with cloud-based applications including Siemens Building X Fire Apps, allowing real-time monitoring, remote diagnostics and predictive maintenance.
Siemens details use cases across sectors
In data centres, the detectors are positioned to address risks linked to overheating and electrical failures in environments with dense electrical infrastructure and continuous operational demands.
Automated self-checks, cloud-based monitoring and predictive maintenance are intended to help facility teams respond earlier and reduce disruption to critical IT and electrical assets.
Across higher education and commercial real estate, the portfolio is aimed at organisations managing multiple buildings across different sites.
Continuous monitoring and proactive maintenance are intended to help teams maintain consistent protection standards and reduce unnecessary disruption across dispersed estates.
Upgrade path and production details
Peter Nebiker, Head of Fire Safety at Siemens Smart Infrastructure Buildings, said: “The launch of our Cerberus Nova fire detection portfolio is a game-changer in ensuring all alarms are accurate.
“By moving from periodic checks to continuous, data-driven, self-supervising systems, we’re laying the foundation for truly human-centric, autonomous buildings.
“By automating testing, delivering real-time insights, and enabling remote action, these solutions protect people while freeing up staff to focus on strategic priorities.
“This shift isn’t just about innovation – it’s about smarter, safer, and more efficient operations.”
The detectors are designed for stepwise upgrades in both green- and brownfield projects.
Existing fire panels remain compatible, with plug-and-play integration and automatic transfer of configured settings intended to reduce installation time and risk.
Siemens said the detectors carry its EcoTech environmental product performance label, are made from recycled plastics and were developed and are produced in Switzerland.
Per Aredal of Firemiks AB explores proportioning challenges in transitioning to fluorine-free firefighting foams
The phase-out of fluorinated foams and the move towards synthetic fluorine-free firefighting concentrates (SFFF) is one of the most significant material shifts the fire protection industry has navigated in decades.
For those specifying or operating fixed suppression systems, the change raises an important and often underestimated question – not just which concentrate to use, but whether the proportioning system in place can handle what comes next.
Per Aredal, International Sales Director at Firemiks AB, makes the case that getting the proportioning system right is where future-proofing the installation begins.
Water driven volumetric proportioning
At its core, a water driven volumetric pump proportioner is ingeniously self-regulating.
The system relies on positive displacement for both its water motor and concentrate pump.
The water motor – driven entirely by the flow of extinguishing water – powers the concentrate pump, which injects the correct amount of firefighting concentrate into the water stream.
The dosing ratio is determined by the volumetric relationship between the two components, requiring no electricity, engines or power take-off (PTO) units.
This autonomy has direct operational consequences.
Start-up and commissioning are straightforward, and the system is less susceptible to the failure modes that come with dependence on external power or fuel.
Installation can be decentralised (placed close to the hazard) which can meaningfully reduce response times in demanding environments.
Four decades of refinement
The FIREMIKS system is rooted in the volumetric water motor design first developed in the late 1970s by the grandfather of the company’s current management.
What began as an innovative mechanical concept has been continuously refined over more than four decades, yielding a wide operating range across both flow and pressure.
The self-regulating nature of the system is one of its defining characteristics.
It accurately tracks flow changes and oscillations in real time, remaining largely unaffected by pressure variations across its operating range.
A single unit can cover varying fire area sizes or service multiple simultaneous fires and does so without requiring recalibration when conditions or concentrates change.
The concentrate storage arrangement adds further flexibility.
An atmospheric tank configuration makes it easy to inspect concentrate levels, take samples, and replenish or swap tanks even during active firefighting operations.
Fixed and mobile tanks – including IBC containers or tank trailers – can be combined for uninterrupted operation.
For installations requiring periodic performance verification, the optional Dosing/Return Valve (DRV) with dual flow meters allows accurate testing without releasing any concentrate to the environment, reducing both cost and disposal concerns.
Certified for variable viscosity
Perhaps the most significant aspect of the FIREMIKS range is its FM approval classification as a “Variable Viscosity Pump Proportioner.” Under FM Standard 5130 (May 2021), eighteen 3% models across seven flow sizes – 450, 800, 1800, 2400, 4000, 6000 and 8000 lpm – have been certified to maintain accurate dosing across a very wide viscosity range: from 1 cP up to 7,288 cP at a shear rate of 5 1/s.
This is particularly relevant as the industry transitions to SFFF concentrates, many of which are non-Newtonian and exhibit higher viscosity than their AFFF predecessors.
Unlike bladder tank systems, which are typically designed around a narrow viscosity window and require recalibration if the concentrate or its properties change, a FIREMIKS unit does not need recalibration when a different concentrate is introduced, provided its viscosity falls within the certified envelope.
The shear rate curves approved for our different FM-approved models are as follows:
Shear rate 1/s
Viscosity (cP)
450 & 800 lpm
1800, 2400 & 4000 lpm
6000 & 8000 lpm
5
3934
6422
7288
10
2141
3545
3942
20
1157
1945
2110
50
529
882
959
100
302
497
533
600
80
128
132
If a concentrate’s shear rate curve falls at or below the figures for a given unit size, it will perform within approved dosing tolerances, including the latest generation of fluorine-free concentrates.
For installations requiring flows above 8,000 lpm, two units can be configured in parallel, either on a base skid or in a “double-decker” arrangement, to reach 12,000 or 16,000 lpm.
Why proportioning system choice matters
The shift to SFFF is not a simple one-for-one swap.
It involves regulatory compliance, environmental assessment, logistics and equipment compatibility – each link in a long chain.
Firemiks focuses specifically on one critical link: ensuring that the proportioner can deliver the correct dosing rate regardless of viscosity, within approved limits.
The practical implications are straightforward.
A variable viscosity system means no need to replace or recalibrate the proportioner when switching concentrate suppliers or brands.
It means minimal downtime if a change becomes necessary for operational, commercial or regulatory reasons.
And it means reliable performance even as concentrate viscosity shifts due to ageing, temperature fluctuations or batch variation – provided the concentrate remains within the approved viscosity envelope.
For specifiers and end users planning installations that may span several decades, this is not a trivial consideration.
The concentrate landscape is still evolving, and future-proofing an installation against that uncertainty is a sound engineering decision.
Matching the pump to the application
One further differentiator in the FIREMIKS range is the availability of two concentrate pump types – piston and gear – each suited to distinct application profiles and viscosity characteristics.
Piston pump models use a reciprocating mechanism in which the plunger draws in and then expels concentrate in each revolution, taking the fluid from zero to maximum shear rate twice per cycle.
For low-viscosity or mildly non-Newtonian concentrates this works well, and the piston configuration performs particularly effectively in applications with low start-up flows relative to maximum flow, such as sprinkler systems.
The wide operating range makes it a versatile choice across many installation types.
Gear pump models take a different approach.
Counter-rotating gears generate a smooth, consistent flow without agitation, which makes them well-suited to handling very high-viscosity fluids -particularly those that exceed the shear rate envelope verified by FM approval for the piston pump models.
This characteristic makes gear pumps the preferred option for deluge systems, large fire monitor installations, and any application operating at the higher end of the maximum flow range.
When advising clients, Firemiks prioritises understanding the concentrate type and viscosity alongside flow and pressure requirements before recommending a pump type – ensuring that the specified system performs reliably across its full operating life.
Per Aredal is International Sales Director at Firemiks AB, with more than 35 years of experience in the design, production and global delivery of water driven volumetric pump proportioners. He can be reached at per.aredal@firemiks.com, +46 76 139 70 34, or via www.firemiks.com.
Dustin Gilson Clarke and Jon Turner of Avon Protection discuss how LiFePO₄ batteries are improving the safety and reliability of thermal imaging cameras for firefighters
Firefighting demands equipment that performs reliably in the most extreme and unpredictable conditions.
Central to this is safe, high-performance battery technology: lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO₄) batteries, which provide maximum safety for firefighters thanks to their chemical stability, thermal resilience and non-toxic nature.
LiFePO₄ batteries also offer practical advantages over standard lithium-ion technology, beyond their safety and reliability.
Dustin Gilson Clarke, Business Development Manager for Thermal Imaging, and Jon Turner, Technical Authority on TICs at Avon Protection, explain how these advantages translate into real-world benefits on the fireground.
LiFePO₄ batteries are being recognised for safety. Why does the chemical stability and thermal resilience make them an ideal firefighting application?
Jon Turner: They’re quite resilient to thermal runaway.
If you take a conventional lithium‑ion battery, once it gets hot you can’t stop it.
It will get hotter, burst into flames and eventually explode.
If you’re talking about a large battery or lots together, you get a cascade effect that when one cell goes, the next one will go and so on.
That’s why you see videos of scooters exploding, because they’ve got a battery pack that’s made-up of lots of traditional lithium-ion cells and any damage to one cell will make all of them go.
You can’t spray water or foam on it, it will just burn until it’s finished.
With LiFePO₄, it doesn’t suffer the thermal runaway.
If you damage it or short it out it could get hot temporarily, but then cool down.
How does LiFePO₄ technology reduce the risk of fire‑related incidents and what made you choose them for the camera?
JT: They’re not prone to self-ignition and to undergo thermal runaway, and it’s the thermal runaway which causes fires.
If you take something like a mobile phoneand bend it in half, the chances are when you put it down, you’d feel it starting to get hot after a while.
There would then be some smoke followed by a sort of fireball explosion.
If that device had been fitted with a LiFePO₄battery, potentially that just wouldn’t happen.
It would not undergo that thermal runaway.
In terms of why we would use it in a camera, we know it is going to be treated harshly.
During testing we deliberately do things to see whether we can induce anything bad to happen, the sort of things you’d traditionally do on a of more commercial type product.
But nevertheless, there are a lot of cameras out there that still use those traditional cells.
I’m not criticising them, but I feel more confident in our technology.
In emergency scenarios, non‑toxic and eco‑friendly battery chemistry can be critical. How does LiFePO₄ protect firefighters from harmful fumes?
Dustin Gilson‑Clarke: Firefighters already face enough hazardous chemicals at the scene but with this you’re not going to get thermal runaway from the battery whilst being used in that environment.
That’s the safety part of it and that’s why it has its own certification.
What advantages do LiFePO₄ batteries offer in terms of cycle life and reliability?
JT: The primary use of aLiFePO₄battery is long life applications, so you can charge them at least 2000 times without really seeing much degradation in the battery.
Whereas you’re going to start seeing degradation in a conventional lithium-ion battery after around 500 charges.
If I can equate this back to something like a mobile phone, after about two years the battery does not behave the same as on the day you bought it.
It still works, but its capacity has dropped off and it will continue to drop off.
With LiFePO₄, they’re a lot more stable and very resilient.
So, if you compare that to a nominal 500, that really is pushing the life span.
How do LiFePO₄ batteries perform under extreme heat conditions?
JT: They are a lot happier to still operate fully in high temperature conditions.
With lithium-ion, there’s this magic point at which it will go into thermal runaway and it will just get hotter and hotter.
Whereas the LiFePO₄shouldn’t ever reach that point.
It’s very resilient to any reactions like that.
In terms of performance, they’re very good and don’t degrade very much at all at high temperatures.
What feedback have you received so far?
DGC: Many end users may not notice a major difference between LiFePO₄ and standard lithium-ion batteries.
To them it’s all about the practicality and the fact that it can be mounted on the outside of the camera is a big benefit.
Adding to that, swapping these batteries out whilst wearing the fire equipment and fire gloves is also a big advantage.
It’ll probably take around three to four hours to fully charge them, but what that gives them is eight hours of operating time, because they’re able to take the camera with them and the spare battery in their pocket.
Swapping is easy, and within 5 seconds you’ve changed the battery and you’re up and running.
When you see a lot of the other cameras in the market that don’t have the certification we have, the battery must be done on the inside of the camera which means five seconds to swap could be five minutes.
It gives you a lot more flexibility on how the end user uses it.
JT: Just to pick up on that point, that is a mandatory requirement.
If you want to make a camera to meet the NFPA specification, it has to be locked into the camera with a tool that’s kept outside of the incident.
Not all cameras have to be made to the NFPA certification.
But it is the only true certification process that exists for thermal cameras for firefighting.
But everything that’s in there is in there for a well thought out reason.
It’s important that you should not allow people to remove a battery from a camera in a scene, either deliberately or accidentally because whenever you disconnect the battery from something, if it’s live, you’re going to generate a spark.
If you happen to be in the wrong sort of environment, that spark could be the last thing you see.
Hence our cameras are certified and tested externally to make sure that any chance of a detonation of explosive gas can when the battery is connected or disconnected from the camera.
LearnPro Group has acquired immersive training products and technologies from RiVR, adding new virtual reality and video-based learning tools across emergency services, healthcare, defence, industrial and other safety critical sectors.
LearnPro Group announced that the deal includes RiVR Link, described as a Classroom in a Box video-based training solution, alongside RiVR Fire Investigate and RiVR Crime Scene Investigate.
A team of nine specialists responsible for developing and operating the products has joined LearnPro Group as part of the acquisition.
The team is led by Bradley Woodward and will continue to work from its existing site in Southam, Warwickshire, within LearnPro Group’s global business operations.
LearnPro Group expands immersive training range
The acquisition adds the RiVR platform to LearnPro Group’s XVR simulation suite and broadens the group’s scenario-based learning offer.
RiVR’s technologies are used across the UK, North America, Asia and Australasia.
The products combine video with virtual reality and augmented reality environments built from real world burns, crime scenes and high risk scenarios.
The material states that these environments allow learners to practise decision making, evidence gathering and operational procedures in controlled settings.
RiVR Link is described as a tool that allows users to build video-based learning in an agile way.
Leaders outline the deal
LearnPro Group CEO Costi Karayannis said: “RiVR has earned a reputation for producing exciting immersive training tools and content to support a range of use cases across emergency, health, public and other high-risk settings.
“By bringing these innovations into LearnPro Group, we’re accelerating our mission to provide the most advanced, flexible, and impactful learning ecosystem available today.”
RiVR’s Bradley Friend Woodward added: “Joining LearnPro Group allows us to take the technologies we’ve built to the next level.
“This partnership gives our team the resources, reach, and strategic alignment we need to accelerate innovation and deliver even greater value to customers.
“It’s an exciting next step.”
The deal was supported by Elucid Partners’ Paul Turner and James Barraclough, who acted as sell-side corporate finance advisers to RiVR.
PlanRadar selected for fire remediation compliance
PlanRadar has been appointed by Errigal Sustainable Solutions (ESS) as its long-term digital partner for fire remediation projects, with the platform set to support building safety and compliance across ESS’s portfolio.
PlanRadar announced that ESS selected the platform after a six-month evaluation process.
ESS, a specialist residential contractor working for housing associations, local authorities and private developers, chose the system to simplify compliance with the Building Safety Act, especially at Gateway 2 and 3 stages.
The platform will be implemented from the ground up and will bring fire-stopping records and quality checks into one central digital hub.
ESS said this will give it visibility across its project portfolio and maintain a consistent Golden Thread of data through the building lifecycle.
PlanRadar to support quality monitoring
A key part of the appointment is the use of PlanRadar to digitise site inspections and strengthen quality monitoring on fire remediation work.
Ray Toft, Managing Director at Errigal Sustainable Solutions, said: “We are a quality-led, relationship-driven business that views itself as a service provider first.
“Partnering with PlanRadar allows us to embed Tier 1-level digital systems from the start, rather than retrofitting legacy technology.
“PlanRadar is not a ‘one-size-fits-all’ solution.
“Its adaptability means we can evolve the platform alongside our team.
“We were particularly impressed by its AI capabilities, having a system that learns from our data to validate compliance documentation could be a game-changer for fire remediation.”
ESS said the digitised inspection process is intended to reduce rework and help high-stakes fire safety tasks be completed correctly the first time.
PlanRadar partnership to cover project visibility
PlanRadar’s UK team said the partnership is intended to standardise quality monitoring and improve real-time visibility across projects.
Rob Norton, UK Director at PlanRadar, added: “We are pleased to partner with Errigal Sustainable Solutions.
“Their vision and experience demonstrate how technology can tackle the industry’s most pressing regulatory challenges.
“By using PlanRadar to standardise quality monitoring and gain real-time visibility across all projects, ESS is ideally positioned to minimise rework and drive operational efficiency.
“Together, we aim to not just meet compliance requirements but deliver superior transparency and service to their clients.”
The collaboration will also provide social landlords and developers with visibility over project progress and data to support building safety cases.