Honeywell launches gas sensor for fixed and portable detectors

by Featured NewsFire DetectionGas DetectionProducts

Gas sensor launch for industrial detection

Honeywell has introduced a new gas sensor that uses optical non-dispersive infrared technology to detect flammable gases in industrial settings.

The NDIR Hydrocarbon Gas Sensor is designed to detect gases such as methane, propane and butane in sectors including mining, oil and gas, petrochemical and plastics manufacturing.

The company said the 4-Series NDIR Hydrocarbon Gas Sensor is designed to integrate into fixed gas detectors and portable units carried by workers in the field, deep underground or within a processing facility.

Honeywell stated that the sensor is intended for use in detectors that alert workers to potential exposure to hazardous gases.

Gas sensor design details for harsh settings

According to Honeywell, the sensor is designed for harsh conditions including dust in mines, methane leaks and extreme indoor versus outdoor temperature fluctuations.

The company said it includes an integrated condensation reduction system to clear excess moisture and maintain performance in humid environments and confined spaces such as refineries.

Honeywell also stated that the sensor has high poisoning resistance, which it said limits the risk of sensor failure and reduces instances of false positives.

The company said the infrared technology allows the sensor to consume less power than traditional flammable gas sensors, extending operational lifespan and prolonging a portable gas detector’s battery.

Former Fire Administrator Lori Moore-Merrell joins UL Research Institutes’ FSRI

by Featured NewsPeople

Fire Administrator joins FSRI leadership

Dr Lori Moore-Merrell has joined UL Research Institutes’ Fire Safety Research Institute as Principal Fire Safety Strategist after serving as US Fire Administrator from 2021 to 2025.

UL Research Institutes’ Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI) announced the appointment in a LinkedIn post.

In the role, Moore-Merrell guides research strategy and international reach.

Her work includes global fire safety collaboration, risk assessment methodologies and emerging technology adoption.

FSRI said her role also includes leadership in the World Fire Congress Communities of Practice and support for the newly formed US Wildland Fire Service.

Background to the Fire Administrator appointment

According to FSRI’s published biography, Moore-Merrell oversaw the launch of NERIS during her time as US Fire Administrator.

She also co-chaired the Commission on Wildfire Mitigation and Management and founded the Inaugural World Fire Congress.

Before that post, she served as President and CEO of the International Public Safety Data Institute.

The biography states that she also spent 25 years at the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) as Chief Executive of Research and Data Analytics.

Moore-Merrell holds a Doctorate in Public Health focused on Emergency Response System Quality Performance Metrics and a Master of Public Health in Epidemiology from The George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health.

Lori Moore-Merrell sets out priorities

In a LinkedIn post, Moore-Merrell said she was joining a team focused on linking rigorous science with practical use in communities.

She said wildfire resilience needs policy that moves at the pace of the threat and that the global fire service needs research that translates into practice on the ground.

Moore-Merrell also said the global fire safety community is ready for deeper collaboration and shared leadership.

Two Bulgarian installations highlight Hochiki fire detection range

by Featured NewsFire DetectionProjects

Hochiki projects in Bulgaria

Hochiki Europe has published details of two completed fire detection installations in Bulgaria, covering a logistics warehouse in Radinovo and a mixed-use tower in Sofia.

The company said the projects were delivered by partners MCM Engineering and Sectron, using different parts of the Hochiki product range to match each building’s layout and fire detection needs.

At the BULTEX 99 logistics centre in Radinovo, a 270,000 square foot facility storing large volumes of flammable clothing materials, MCM Engineering installed 350 ESP intelligent devices with Hochiki’s 6-loop Latitude fire control panel.

The site’s dense racking storage systems were protected using FIREbeam Xtra addressable beam smoke detectors positioned along warehouse corridors.

Georgi Georgiev said: “Hochiki’s ESP open protocol gives us the flexibility when dealing with such a large and complex facility, BULTEX 99 now have a centralised system that is simple to monitor and designed to support future expansion.”

Smart Tower installation in Sofia

In Sofia, Hochiki Europe said Sectron completed an installation at Smart Tower, a development with 30 floors of luxury apartments, 12 levels of commercial space and a four-storey underground car park.

The estimated occupancy across the two connected buildings is 2,552.

More than 10,000 Hochiki devices were installed across the development.

The commercial areas used the ESP addressable range, individual apartments used the Conventional CDX range and the basement car park used Hochiki’s Linear Heat Detection Cable where exhaust fumes made conventional smoke detection unsuitable.

Elena Pencheva, Design Engineer, Sectron, said: “Hochiki’s multiple solutions made overcoming the challenges with Smart Tower’s infrastructure straightforward.

“The open-protocol capabilities provided ultimate flexibility when integrating multiple, tailored solutions across the building.”

The two installations were presented as examples of how different Hochiki systems can be applied across large warehouse and mixed-use residential developments.

Bureau of Fire Protection issues Philippines fire safety reminder

by Featured News

Philippines fire safety advice for homes and firms

The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in Antique has urged households and business establishments to follow fire prevention and safety measures during the dry season after Fire Prevention Month in March.

In San Jose, Antique, the Philippines Bureau of Fire Protection said high temperatures can raise the risk of grass fires and forest fires and can also lead to heavier use of electrical appliances.

BFP Antique Senior Fire Officer II Jefferson A. Cordero said fire incidents can happen more easily during the dry season because extreme heat can trigger outdoor fires and increase electrical use.

The bureau said it is continuing several programmes in the province, including Oplan Ligtas na Pamayanan, which involves household inspections to identify fire hazards and explain safety measures such as exit drills.

Fire Officer II and information officer Euly Mae Raymaro reminded households to close gas stoves securely, put out charcoal or wood after cooking and avoid overusing extension wires that can lead to octopus wiring and short circuits.

Philippines business checks and emergency contact advice

The BFP said business owners must obtain fire safety inspection certificates before business permits are issued so buildings can be checked for fire safety compliance.

Requirements listed for a fire safety certificate include unobstructed exits with enough space for people to pass through and at least one fire extinguisher in the building.

The bureau also said evacuation plans must be displayed clearly so occupants can identify exit points during an emergency.

Good housekeeping also forms part of the requirements because organised belongings can help limit fire spread.

Raymaro said people visiting forestlands and grasslands in Antique should take care when using open flames in areas that are vulnerable to fire.

The BFP said contact numbers for each municipal fire station are listed on official Facebook pages and in barangay halls, and the public can also call 911 during fire incidents or other emergencies.

Fire incident figures in Antique

Antique recorded 243 fire incidents in 2025, according to the BFP.

From January to February 2025, the province recorded 28 fire incidents.

From January to February 2026, that figure fell to 20 fire incidents.

BFP Antique said it is continuing its fire prevention and mitigation awareness work across the community as the dry season begins.

C-TEC launches FastConvert zone converter for system upgrades

by Featured NewsFire DetectionProducts

C-TEC FastConvert is built for retrofit upgrades

C-TEC has launched FastConvert, a four to eight-way conventional to addressable zone converter designed to upgrade multi-zone conventional fire systems to an addressable CAST system using existing wiring.

The manufacturer said the new product is fully compatible with its XFP and ZFP CAST fire systems and its CAST-PRO combined fire detection and alarm devices.

FastConvert is intended to support faster upgrades from conventional systems to addressable systems without replacing pre-existing zone wiring.

C-TEC said the product is designed to maintain zone circuit integrity without extending it into a loop or fitting end of line devices.

The company said this could reduce upgrade costs for fire alarm installers and sites.

C-TEC sets out target applications and webinar date

According to C-TEC, FastConvert is aimed at sites seeking to replace older conventional fire systems with addressable alternatives.

Andy Green, C-TEC’s Marketing Director said: “FastConvert is a clever innovation designed with the installer in mind.

“As fire detection and alarm technology has improved, more and more sites are looking to upgrade their old conventional systems to addressable, not just because the conventional devices are reaching end of life, but also because an addressable system can identify the precise location of a fire or fault, facilitate sophisticated cause and effects and reduce false alarms.

“We are definitely seeing this in schools, care homes and hotels where FastConvert is coming into its own as an ingenious retrofit upgrade solution which can utilise a conventional system’s existing zone wiring whilst maintaining compliance with BS 5839-1.”

C-TEC will host a webinar on FastConvert’s features on 23 April titled Need to upgrade your fire detection and alarm systems? We can save you thousands!.

The company has also published a datasheet covering the product’s zone circuit integrity function and installation detail.

Mitsubishi Electric technology powers Fire GO mobile fire trainer

by Featured NewsProjectsTraining

Fire trainer controls mobile aircraft simulation

Fire GO GmbH has implemented Mitsubishi Electric industrial automation systems to manage a mobile aircraft fire trainer built for airport firefighter training.

The German manufacturer said the system was developed to create realistic training environments for airport crews and to support safer emergency response preparation at different airport locations.

Fire GO GmbH, based in Alsdorf, Germany, manufactures fire simulation systems for emergency services worldwide.

The company builds fireproof structures that simulate real aircraft fires through controlled gas systems that react to firefighting foam and water.

Jochen Schürgers, Managing Director of Fire GO, said: “Everything that can catch fire in reality and requires fire brigade intervention, we build from fireproof materials and allow it to burn realistically.”

“The system is computer-controlled, gas-powered, and it reacts to extinguishing agents just like a real fire.”

Its latest project uses ten 20-foot containers to form a full-scale aircraft replica with 28 fire simulation points covering scenarios including cockpit fires and engine blazes.

The aim was to create a mobile simulator that could be deployed quickly at different airports, as stationary systems did not offer the same flexibility for training programmes across multiple locations.

Mitsubishi Electric systems manage training scenarios

Working with Siebers Mechanical Engineering from Marsberg, Fire GO selected Mitsubishi Electric automation technology to control the simulator.

The MELSEC System-Q control system manages simulator functions across an A320/B737 aircraft layout with cockpit, passenger cabin and cargo hold environments.

It also manages gas flows, safety systems and fire behaviour settings during training scenarios.

Mitsubishi Electric’s GOT2000 Graphic Operation Terminal allows instructors to monitor sessions and adjust scenarios in real time, including flame intensity and wind direction.

The GENESIS data monitoring platform records activity during training, including response times and which techniques proved most effective.

Jörg Springsguth, Sales Engineer at Mitsubishi Electric Europe, said: “The reliability of our MELSEC System-Q platform, combined with the HMI GOT interface and the data collection, provides a robust foundation for training systems where consistent performance is essential.”

“When firefighters depend on their training to save lives, every component must function reliably.”

Mobile deployment supports airport-based firefighter training

Fire GO said the automation system has improved training capability by keeping fire simulations realistic and safe while allowing dangerous techniques to be practised without injury or equipment damage.

The mobile design means training can take place at operational airports, giving firefighters access to the aircraft types and layouts they may face in real incidents.

The 28 fire simulation points support scenarios including engine fires, landing gear incidents, cabin emergencies and fuel spills.

Data from training sessions can be used by instructors to identify where firefighters need more practice and to review which methods are most effective.

Schürgers said: “Regular preventive maintenance, a smooth supply of spare parts, and a reliable troubleshooting service keep our systems fully operational and ready for use.”

Fire GO also said the simulator model could be relevant to sites such as chemical production, energy facilities, transport infrastructure and logistics hubs where controlled, repeatable emergency training is required.

Consultation outlines exemption route for some fire door approvals in England and Wales

by Featured NewsFire DoorsPassiveSafety

Exemption proposal covers fire door work

Fire door installation and maintenance work in England and Wales could be allowed to bypass formal approval from building control bodies under proposals from the Building Safety Regulator (BSR).

Inside Housing reported that the BSR has proposed a self-certification scheme for fire door work in both high-risk and lower-risk buildings.

The change would allow landlords to show that safety work complies with building regulations without going through the BSR gateway process.

The regulator said this would save “significant time and cost for those carrying out this type of work” and keep standards in place while improving transparency.

Last autumn, Lord Roe, chair of the BSR, told Inside Housing that minor work should be removed from the regulator’s oversight.

In January, the government launched a consultation on removing work linked to phone masts and fibre optic cables from the regulator’s scope after it was deemed lower risk.

Exemption sits within wider self-certification review

Inside Housing reported that the proposed changes to fire doors form part of a wider BSR review of self-certification.

Building work can already be self-certified and avoid checks from building inspectors if installers belong to a competent person scheme.

The BSR is reviewing the conditions of authorisation, a set of rules drawn up in 2016 that all competent person schemes must follow.

Its call for evidence covers governance and accountability, along with competence and training standards.

It also covers data reporting and enforcement.

In a statement published alongside the survey, the BSR said recent reviews had shown “persistent weaknesses” in the oversight of groups running the self-certification system.

The regulator also said it will consider how lessons from government retrofit schemes examined in the National Audit Office report from last autumn could be reflected in the conditions of authorisation.

It also referred to findings from the Competition and Markets Authority in 2023 on weak consumer understanding in the green heating and insulation sector.

Inside Housing reported that the regulator also referred to calls from the National Home Improvement Council last summer for stronger safeguards.

Consultation runs for three months

The consultation opened last Friday and will run for three months.

Government recommendations are expected before the end of the year.

Inside Housing also reported that the sector is still waiting for a formal plan to speed up remediation decisions.

Figures published this month showed decision times on these schemes had nearly halved to around 18 weeks for the most recent applications from late 2025 and early 2026.

A backlog remains.

Daejeon factory blaze in Korea leaves 14 dead and dozens injured

by Featured NewsIncidents

Korea factory fire kills 14

A fire at a car parts factory in Daejeon, South Korea, killed 14 people and injured nearly 60 others after breaking out on Friday afternoon.

The Guardian reported that about 170 workers were believed to have been inside the three-storey building when the fire started.

Firefighters later confirmed that all of the people initially reported missing had been accounted for after a search of the wreckage.

The fire was not fully extinguished until Saturday afternoon local time.

Video footage from the scene appeared to show workers jumping from the first floor as the fire spread through the building.

Nam Deuk-woo, a local fire chief, told the New York Times that the fire had spread so quickly that by the time firefighters arrived, workers had already started jumping out of windows.

Response delayed by collapse risk and chemicals

The Guardian reported that firefighters faced delays in reaching the building because of concerns that the structure could collapse and because sodium stored on site had to be removed before water could be applied.

Sodium can explode when mixed with water, according to the report.

More than 200kg of highly reactive chemicals were recovered from the site.

Large plumes of black smoke were seen rising from the steel-framed building as crews used cranes to direct water onto the fire.

More than 500 firefighters, police and emergency personnel were deployed to the scene.

Two unmanned firefighting robots were also used to cool the building and reach areas that were too dangerous or difficult for rescuers to access.

Emergency workers said some of the injured suffered smoke inhalation and others were hurt after jumping from the building.

Nine of the 14 victims were found in a third-floor space reportedly used as a gym locker room.

Some of the deceased were so badly burned that DNA testing was required to confirm their identities, according to the New York Times.

Investigation continues after deadly Korea blaze

The Guardian reported that the cause of the fire remains under investigation and that a witness told Yonhap news agency they had heard an explosion before the blaze.

Fire officials told Reuters that the factory is owned by car parts supplier Anjun Industrial, which makes engine valves and supplies companies including Hyundai and Kia.

The incident is the deadliest factory fire in South Korea since 2024, when 23 workers died at a lithium battery plant in Hwaseong near Seoul.

Following that incident, the chief executive of battery manufacturer Aricell was sentenced to 15 years in prison.

South Korea’s president, Lee Jae Myung, has called for improved worker protections, with official statistics showing that more than 10,000 people died at work in the country between 2000 and 2024.

In a statement on the company’s website, chief executive Sohn Ju-hwan said that the company would fully cooperate with authorities, investigate the cause of the accident, review its safety systems and inspections and swiftly implement all necessary measures to prevent a recurrence.

Michelle Skeer to lead HMICFRS on interim basis from April

by Featured NewsPeople

First woman named interim HMICFRS Chief Inspector

Michelle Skeer OBE QPM has been appointed interim Chief Inspector of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services and will take up the role on 1 April 2026.

His Majesty’s Chief Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) announced that His Majesty the King had approved the appointment, with Skeer succeeding Sir Andy Cooke after he leaves office in March 2026.

Skeer joined HMICFRS in 2023 as His Majesty’s Inspector.

She has overseen inspections of police forces and fire and rescue services across the north of England.

She has also held national responsibility for inspecting domestic abuse, child protection and police engagement with women and girls.

HMICFRS said Skeer brings 36 years of combined experience across policing and fire and rescue.

She will be the first woman to hold the position of His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services.

In 2018, she became the first woman appointed Chief Constable at Cumbria Constabulary.

Her national roles have included serving as Vice Chair of the National Police Chiefs’ Council and leading the management of violent and sexual offenders.

In 2017, she received the Queen’s Policing Medal for distinguished service.

In 2019, she became President of the British Association of Women in Policing.

She was awarded an OBE in the King’s 2023 Birthday Honours List.

Appointment takes effect in April 2026

HMICFRS said Skeer was designated as interim chief inspector by the Home Secretary following an expression-of-interest process open to serving His Majesty’s Inspectors.

The interim appointment was made in line with the Governance Code on Public Appointments.

Skeer said: “I am honoured to be appointed to this important role at a pivotal time for police forces and fire & rescue services.

“The inspectorate plays a vital role in identifying problems early, supporting sustainable improvements and promoting best practice.

“I look forward to building on the strong foundations established by Sir Andy Cooke.

“I am committed to making sure HMICFRS continues to provide independent, evidence-based oversight, firmly focused on ensuring the public receives the service they expect and deserve.

“Our work is essential to making communities safer.”

The appointment process for a permanent chief inspector is being managed by the Home Office.

HMICFRS independently assesses the effectiveness and efficiency of police forces and fire and rescue services.

Britannia Fire appoints health and safety manager in Norfolk expansion

by Featured NewsFire SuppressionPeople

Britannia Fire appoints Phil Hodge

Britannia Fire has appointed Phil Hodge as Health and Safety Manager as it expands its manufacturing facility in Norfolk, UK, and responds to rising demand for its composite fire extinguishers.

Britannia Fire announced that Hodge will oversee health, safety and compliance, and support the business as it works towards ISO 14001 accreditation and its environmental targets.

He joins the company with experience in manufacturing environments, including work on ISO systems and sustainability measures aimed at reducing waste and carbon emissions.

Hodge previously spent 12 years as an explosives and weapons technician in the Royal Air Force (RAF), where he oversaw health and safety compliance in what the company described as an extremely hazardous environment.

He later worked at MSI-Defence Systems, where Britannia Fire said he helped build a safety culture across two sites with more than 200 employees and supported continuous improvement.

Britannia Fire links role to environmental targets

In the same announcement, Britannia Fire said Hodge will also support the business in preparing for a potential ban on PFAS and in managing disposal requirements for those chemicals.

Hodge said: “I have worked for 20 years in some of the most challenging and hazardous environments, and I bring a huge amount of knowledge and experience to Britannia Fire at a time of rapid business expansion and transformation.

“As well as ensuring operational safety and compliance, I will be implementing IS0 14001 systems across the business and building on the great work the team has already done to reduce its environmental impact.

“With a PFAS ban expected to be announced early next year, I will also ensure that these ‘forever chemicals’ are disposed of correctly and responsibly.”

Managing Director Andy Spence said: “We are thrilled to welcome Phil to Britannia at an exciting time for the business when we are rapidly expanding and demand is increasing.

“His expertise and commitment to a safe and healthy workplace will be invaluable as we continue to prioritise sustainability and the well-being of our team and uphold the highest safety standards.

“He joins our business as we work towards ISO 14001 accreditation and prepare for a potential ban on PFAS.”