Protective coating market to reach $16.7bn by 2030

by Featured NewsSafety

The global protective coatings market size, which was valued at USD $12.2 billion in 2021, is expected to reach USD $16.7 billion by 2030, recording an estimated CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of 3.40% over the forecast period (2022–2030), according to Straits Research.

The protective coating is widely used in construction, oil & gas, aerospace, industrial, marine, automotive, power generation, mining, and protects a range of surfaces from the elements, which could jeopardise an item’s operation or integrity. The building industry’s global expansion has boosted demand for protective coatings dramatically.

A growing demand for green coatings has driven the market. Green coatings are formulations that have been designed to have the least amount of environmental impact possible throughout their supply chain. These coatings are eco-friendly throughout their entire life cycle and in addition to raw materials and emissions, green coatings have reduced fire risk during handling and storage.

Asia-Pacific now has the dominant position in the global protective coatings market and is expected to witness the highest CAGR during the 2022-2030 forecast period. It is predicted to reach a value of USD $8,825 million by 2030 at a CAGR of 4.3%.

China is a key hub for chemical processing in the Asia-Pacific and accounts for a significant proportion of the chemicals produced globally. With the increasing need for various chemicals worldwide, the demand for protective coating from this sector is expected to rise during the forecast period.

North America holds the second-largest share in the regional market and is estimated to reach a predicted value of USD $3,475 million by 2030 at a CAGR of 2.9%. Protective coatings have a significant demand from the United States construction sector compared to the other countries in North America due to their larger market size and active investments in the development of the construction sector.

Europe takes third place in the market with estimated value to reach of USD $2,750 million by 2030 at a CAGR of 2.7%. The chemical industry in Germany is the largest in Europe. Germany is the primary chemical manufacturer, accounting for more than 70% of all chemical exports from Europe.

In the future years, the industry is predicted to expand, which will increase demand for the market under consideration. The market analysed is expected to grow over the projection period, thanks to increased demand from major end-user industries.

National Fire Protection Association announced theme for Fire Prevention Week

by ActiveFeatured News

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has announced “Fire Won’t Wait. Plan Your Escape” as the theme for Fire Prevention Week which takes place on 9-15 October. The initiative is designed to reinforce the critical importance of developing a home escape plan with all members of the household and practicing it regularly.

According to NFPA data, home is where people are at greatest risk, with three-quarters (74 percent) of all US fire deaths occurring in homes. When a home fire does occur, it’s more likely to be serious; people are more likely to die in a home fire today than they were in 1980.

“Today’s homes burn faster and hotter than they used to, minimizing the amount of time they have to escape safely,” aid Lorraine Carli, vice president of the NFPA Outreach and Advocacy division. “In a typical home fire, you may have as little as two minutes to get out from the time the smoke alarms sounds.”

The Fire Prevention Week 2022 theme, “Fire Won’t Wait. Plan Your Escape,” promotes messages that the NFPA said could mean the difference between life and death in a fire. Developing a home escape plan with all members of the household and practicing it regularly ensures that everyone knows what to do when the smoke alarm sounds and uses that time wisely.

Following are key messages behind this year’s “Fire Won’t Wait. Plan Your Escape” theme:

  • Make sure your home escape plan meets the needs of all your family members, including those with sensory or physical disabilities.
  • Smoke alarms should be installed inside every sleeping room, outside each separate sleeping area, and on every level of your home. Smoke alarms should be interconnected so when one sounds, they all sound.
  • Know at least two ways out of every room, if possible. Make sure all doors and windows open easily.
  • Have an outside meeting place a safe distance from your home where everyone should meet.
  • Practice your home fire drill at least twice a year with everyone in the household, including guests. Practice at least once during the day and at night.

As the biggest annual campaign at NFPA, Fire Prevention Week works to educate people about the leading risks to home fires and ways they can better protect themselves and their loved ones. Local fire departments are invited to play a key role in bringing Fire Prevention Week to life in their communities each year and spreading basic but critical fire safety messages.

To learn more about Fire Prevention Week, its 100th anniversary, and this year’s theme, “Fire Won’t Wait. Plan Your Escape,” visit www.nfpa.org/fpw.

Europe to suffer as Freeport LNG extends outage predications after fire

by Featured NewsIndustry SectorsUtilities

Freeport LNG, operator of one of the largest US export plants producing liquefied natural gas (LNG), which initially said it would be shut for at least three weeks following an explosion at its Texas Gulf Coast facility, raising the risk of shortages especially in Europe, now expects to see a delays of up to six months until full operation resumes.

The explosion occurred from a breach in pressurized pipes that transfer LNG from storage tanks to nearby dock facilities, the company said. The incident is being investigated by the company, US energy and pipeline regulators, and the US Coast Guard. A company spokesperson declined to comment on whether investigators are looking at potential design or structural flaws.

The extended delay of about six months in the return to full operation is an indication that investigators want to understand the cause of the explosion to avoid another fire, according to outside experts said.

Natural gas prices slumped in the United States and soared in Europe on news of an extended shutdown. The facility accounts for about 20% of US LNG exports and has been a major supplier to European buyers seeking alternatives to Russian gas since its invasion of Ukraine. US natural gas markets have fallen as traders anticipated the outage would lower domestic demand.

“This is a significant production outage at a major US facility,” said Alex Munton, director of global gas and LNG at research firm Rapidan Energy. Freeport LNG ships about four cargoes per week and a three-week shutdown will take at least 1 million tonnes of LNG off the market, he said. “It’s going to mean one thing: shortages. The competition for spot LNG is going to drive global LNG prices higher.”

The Freeport facility can process 2.1 billion cubic feet per day of natural gas into a supercooled liquid for shipping, and had been running near capacity in recent months, according to consultancy Rystad Energy.

“It’s very serious,” said Alex Munton, director of natural gas and LNG at consultants Rapidan Energy. “We now have a much larger and much more extensive outage at Freeport LNG that will remove more supply from the market than was anticipated.”

“We expect Europe will be the region most impacted by this incident,” analysts at Rystad Energy said this week. The loss of production through September will remove another 2.8 million tonnes from the market, said Alex Froley, LNG analyst at ICIS.

Rosenbauer showcases PANTHER electric at INTERSCHUTZ

by EventsFeatured NewsProductsVehicles

Rosenbauer is showcasing the first PANTHER 6×6 with electric driveline at Interschutz this week.

The development of the electric model follows an agreement among International Air Transport Association (IATA), the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the Airports Council International (ACI), and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on the goal of net zero emissions by 2050 in global aviation.

According to the ACI, some airports 100 want to be climate-neutral as early as 2030, including, for example, Amsterdam, Delhi, London City, Marseille, Rome, Vancouver and all Norwegian and Finnish airports. The ADV airports in Germany are aiming for a joint CO2 reduction of 65%, and by 2045 they want to have achieved the goal of “climate neutrality”.

The electrification of ground support (ground vehicles), which includes the fleet of ARFF vehicles, promises to be one of the biggest levers in this regard. Rosenbauer is also convinced that this measure will play a key role in the “green recovery” of airports after the Covid 19 pandemic.

Safety and performance

Airport operators and fire departments from all over the world were involved in the design of the PANTHER 6×6 electric right from the start.

Safety is also the top priority for the PANTHER electric, and there can be no compromises in performance either. Rosenbauer said it was clear from the very beginning that the PANTHER electric had to meet all global standards for ARFF vehicles and that no compromises would be made with regard to the performance of the overall system, even in purely electric operation.

According to Rosenbauer, the development of the PANTHER 6×6 electric was only made possible by the fact that drivelines, on-board networks and electrical components are now available that can also meet the high performance requirements of an ARFF vehicle.

Despite the increasing electrification in the commercial vehicle sector, the required electrical power demand proved to be a challenge.

Rosenbauer decided to create its own e-drive platform for the PANTHER electric in order to get the best out of the electric components.

The vehicle manufacturer’s development partner is Magna, one of the world’s largest automotive suppliers and mobility technology groups. Rosenbauer and Magna will further develop a scalable modular system for the PANTHER, which can be used to electrify not only the PANTHER 6×6 but also other variants in the future.

Refined design

Compared to its predecessor, the PANTHER Electric emphasizes the sheer power and permanent operational readiness of the vehicle with a somewhat more angular and aggressive front as well as clear, simply defined lines and surfaces.

It features a new lighting concept from the airfield projector lamp and the scene lighting to the rear lighting makes the PANTHER electric more visible and safer. The paintwork of the technological leader also symbolizes the transition from the last PANTHER generation, presented at Interschutz 2015, to the new one.

At the front, the PANTHER 6×6 electric is still decorated in black, similar to the trade fair vehicle at the time. From the rear, practically from the engine compartment, comes the new energy, which is expressed with the colour turquoise.

The next steps

Rosenbauer said: “The transition of the concept vehicle to series development will take place over the next two years, with sales of the PANTHER 6×6 electric starting in 2024. For the pre-series, too, Rosenbauer will cooperate with innovation partners, as it has successfully done with the RT, and will incorporate the findings from the test operations under real conditions into the development work and the set-up of series production.”

Ziegler to field test Z6 Hybrid at Frankfurt Airport

by Featured NewsProductsVehicles

International supplier of vehicles for firefighting, civil protection and the police, ZIEGLER, is set to put its new aircraft firefighting vehicle Z6 Hybrid through its paces with a prototype field test of the vehicle at Frankfurt Airport FRAPORT from 2023.

ZIEGLER has more than 50 years of experience in the production of aircraft firefighting and rescue vehicles and has since now delivered more than 300 Z-Class of different types to national and international airports. Most recently, ZIEGLER introduced the new Z-Class in 2020 as part of the Innovation Rollout.

The new Z6 Hybrid can be driven in three different ways: Exclusively with electric motor, conventionally
with combustion engine (diesel) or with Hybrid Drive Technology. In the latter, the electric motor and
combustion engine work hand in hand in an intelligent network, meaning the Z6 Hybrid is usually powered purely electrically at airports. Depending on the driving profile, a corresponding range even allows over 80% of the journeys to be made electrically.

For situations where every second counts, the Z6 Hybrid’s electric motor and combustion engine accelerate the 39 ton vehicle, to its top speed with values are on a par with an 8×8 chassis with diesel drive.

If the battery is empty and has has to be charged, the full drive power of the diesel engine of a conventional Z6 is available. In contrast to the market, ZIEGLER does not follow the downsizing trend here and thus ensures full and long-lasting reliability for the operation and so if the power of the electric motor is unavailable, all normative requirements are still met.

ZIEGLER has solved the challenge of developing the world’s best alternative drive concept for aircraft firefighting and rescue vehicles. It combines aspects of sustainability, is faster than any comparable product and ensures the usual reliable operation. Thanks to its modularity, the hybrid concept can also be extended to other types of the Z-Class.

The Frankfurt Airport field test will among other things involve testing the operational suitability of the electric drive train and the recording of a wide range of measurement data to optimize the operating concept.

Online courses to reduce wildfire risk to property launched by NFPA

by Featured NewsTraining

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is helping serve the need for information and knowledge toward wildfire safety with the launch of two new online learning courses thanks to a Fire Prevention and Safety Grant from FEMA.

Developed with the help of wildfire safety experts and based on the latest structure ignition research, the new courses are hoped to reach millions of Americans living and working in areas prone to wildfire, motivating them to take action to help reduce structure loss and community devastation.

The new courses supplement NFPA’s wildfire safety programs, including the national Firewise USA Recognition Program, and support the tenets of its Outthink Wildfire policy initiative by dramatically increasing public access to wildfire risk reduction education.

“There are nearly 45 million American homes at high risk to damage from wildfire, and many people in these areas have no easy access to risk reduction training or education,” said NFPA Wildfire Division Director Michele Steinberg.

“Digital delivery can reach millions directly, helping expand their knowledge of wildfire causes and disaster prevention strategies. Most importantly, the trainings engage people in safety actions long before a fire starts, spurring much needed risk-reduction measures at the property and neighborhood levels.”

Reducing Wildfire Risk to Property: Protecting Your Home or Business

This course is designed to educate homeowners, business owners, and property managers on the key factors that determine risk to property from wildfire, steps they can take to protect their homes and businesses, and tips on how to share the information with other community members. An Individual Property Protection Plan is built into the course, which offers tailored, practical steps to help prevent the destruction of property.

The course also comes with a mobile app, the “NFPA Wildfire Risk Simulator” that includes an interactive 3D and augmented reality (AR) tool illustrating wildfire risk to structures. Users can select the environment, type of structure, and other details that most closely match their own scenario. As the simulated wildfire approaches, users will see the variables that help contribute to the destruction of their virtual home or building. Based on this learning, users can then adjust those variables for a more successful outcome.

Reducing Wildfire Risk to Property: Professional Online Training

This course is designed for wildfire mitigation professionals who want to increase their knowledge and confidence in evaluating wildfire risk in their communities and effectively communicating with property owners and community leaders.

The two-hour self-guided online training includes dynamic videos, animations, and graphics that illustrate key concepts of wildfire spread, structure ignition, and risk reduction. Interactive exercises help users practice how to communicate risk and mitigation options to home and business owners and guide them to take effective steps to protect their property.

This course provides continuing education units that can support job requirements as well as the maintenance of the NFPA Certified Wildfire Mitigation Specialist (CWMS) credential.

To learn more about reducing wildfire risk to property and to register for these free courses, visit nfpa.org/wildfirepreparedness.

Officials break ground on $3.5m fire station in Edinburgh, Indiana

by Americas - ProjectsFeatured News

Edinburgh officials have broken ground on the new Edinburgh Fire Station 41 in Indiana on County Road 900 North. The town’s fire operations are set to be relocated to the new property from its current location at 203 S. Walnut Street when works are completed.

The project is expected to cost $3.5 million dollars and is being funded by the down with a Build Operate Transfer (BOT) agreement. The agreement will mean that a developer funds and arranges financing for the project and when it is complete it becomes the property of the town. The town will then pay back the financed amount over 10 years at a 2.5% interest rate, said Dan Cartwright, town manager.

Cartwright said that the new building will provide more space for equipment and personal space for each of the firefighters, following the decision in recent years to have firefighters on duty 24/7. The new site will give firefighters have a modern living space with separate sleeping rooms.

“Well, our firefighters have been living in really substandard conditions. It’s a really old fire station, with no separate sleeping rooms, and it’s just very jam packed so they were in desperate need of a new one,” said Cartwright.

Edinburgh Fire Chief John Henderson said: “I couldn’t be happier that the council has supported the idea of really giving these guys proper accommodations to consolidate our equipment and to make them feel more comfortable while working.”

He added: “We hope this is a recruitment opportunity, we’ve talked to other departments and they have invested like this as well and were able to recruit more. We hope that happens, we are going to start another fire training program in July to train some of our own.”

Construction on the station is expected start in July and the station is expected to be complete by May 2023, Cartwright added.

Head of Trinidad and Tobago Fire Services Association calls wage increase ‘woefully inadequate’

by Featured News

Commenting on the four per cent wage hike proposed on Wednesday by Chief Personnel Officer (CPO) Dr Daryl Dindial, Trinidad and Tobago Fire Services Association head Leo Ramkissoon said the proposal was ‘disappointing’.

Speaking to Newsday after meeting with Dindial, Ramikssoon noted that whilst the increase was an improvement of the CPO’s previous offer of two per cent (to all public sector workers) but fell short of the 15 per cent sought by the association.

He told Newsday: “What was offered was two per cent in 2016 and two per cent in 2019. The remainder of the years is zero, zero, zero, zero. It is a four per cent over six years.

“It is an improvement from the initial offer of two percent over eight years.

“But it is woefully inadequate in meeting the buying power which would have eroded well by over 40 per cent.”

He said the association will now respond to the CPO and then move the negotiating process forward and that the association was unfazed by the CPO allegedly saying that any failure of these negotiations would lead to the matter ending up in court, adding: “There is always the court of public opinion.”

On the sought after 15 per cent rise, Ramikssoon said under the Industrial Relations Act, his association would calculate their due wage-hike based on other workers such as estate police in the public sector, in bodies such as TTEC, TSTT and the Airport Authority. “Based on the average market shift for a comparable period, you can the market in TT had on average a 15 per cent market shift, a 15 per cent shift in salaries over that period,” he explained.

He added: “We are hoping the government really maintains dialogue and continues to negotiate in good faith. I must admit that starting off at this point does not lend itself to a very promising process, but we are still hoping good sense will prevail and the State will take on board all of the circumstances that employees face and treat with us fairly.”

Bollé Safety publishes its first carbon footprint

by Featured NewsProducts

In the wake of the launch of its Go Green ESG approach, the Bollé Safety brand, leader in eye protection, published its first carbon footprint (scope 1, 2 & 3), which was evaluated at 25,000 tons per year. The first observation will help inform what steps to take to transform a market in which Bollé Safety has said it wishes to position itself as a leader.

In 2021, the global eye protection brand launched its Go Green plan. One of the first steps of this plan was to have its CO2 emissions (scope 1, 2 & 3) assessed by UTOPIES, an independent consulting firm. What the carbon footprint shows: To develop and produce eyewear for 20 million wearers worldwide, the brand emits 25,000 tons of Co2 per year.

The emissions are divided between the use of raw materials (39%), production (35%),  transport (15%), distribution (6%) and the end of the products’ life (5%). This first significant insight into its greenhouse gas emissions will serve as a reference for the company for future assessments. Beyond its environmental impact, the company’s CSR program, which is aiming for B Corp certification in 2024, is built around a true corporate vision.

Participating in the transformation of its market towards a more responsible industry is one of Bollé Safety’s ambitions. The company has set itself the goal of reducing its carbon emissions by 30% by 2027. As a member of the UN Global Compact (a United Nations initiative encouraging companies to have a responsible attitude), the company has developed a plan in three axes: Measure, Act and Transform. It is based on several pillars and concrete actions.

“As a major player in the market, Bollé Safety has a real role to play in the transformation of the market. Internal initiatives as well as innovation around the manufacturing, packaging, routing, and recycling of our products are crucial,” commented Quentin Chapelain, Bollé Safety’s ESG Manager.

MSA Safety launches new line of Firefighter Protective Clothing

by Americas - Featured NewsFeatured NewsPPEProducts

MSA Safety Incorporated, a global leader in firefighter safety equipment and technology, today marked the opening of Interschutz 2022 with the unveiling of a new line of firefighter protective clothing (FPC) that is specifically designed to meet the needs of firefighters in Germany, the Netherlands and across continental Europe, offering enhanced comfort and compatibility with MSA’s advanced safety equipment and solutions. 

MSA Bristol X4 is the new line of FPC integrates MSA Bristol’s expertise in creating high-performance protective clothing with MSA’s market-leading experience in firefighting technologies and connected solutions. 

The result is a range of new FPC options that are designed to provide enhanced comfort, ergonomics and full compatibility with MSA’s suite of firefighter equipment, from helmets and self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), to the very latest in monitoring accountability and communication devices. 

“The development of the MSA Bristol X4 line represents a great new addition to the MSA portfolio of innovative safety solutions for firefighters,” said Bob Leenen, President of MSA’s International Business Segment. “We’re excited to be back at Interschutz because we will be able to demonstrate how the new X4 line of FPC integrates with other MSA products to provide additional capabilities for use in extreme environments.”

Working seamlessly with the company’s Gallet F1XF structural helmet and the M1 SCBA, both of which are widely used among fire services across continental Europe, the MSA Bristol X4 has been created with input from hundreds of firefighters in Germany and the Netherlands to deliver a solution designed for these specific markets.

As an example, the German fire service market requires an Integrated Harness System and Drag Rescue Device.  To meet this need, the X4’s Integrated Harness System offers added safety when working at heights.  The X4 jacket features an integral belt, lanyard and carabiner that can be easily accessed via a pocket and flap.  The Drag Rescue Device, accessed from the upper back of the jacket and via a pocket near the knee, can be used to carry or pull a downed firefighter to safety in an emergency. 

In the Netherlands, firefighters expressed the need for stronger kneepads for comfort when crawling or operating in confined spaces, and special reflective elements for additional visibility.  To address this customer preference, MSA Bristol designers incorporated ergonomic shaping and a streamlined fit, reducing bulk and weight, all while maintaining full range of motion.

Jason Traynor, General Manager of MSA’s Global Fire Service Products, noted that with the launch of the new X4 line, MSA is now able to provide a full line of fire service products  to firefighters Germany, the Netherlands and throughout continental Europe. He said: “We will continue to listen to the needs of our customers and develop the innovative products and solutions they want – and need.”  

The X4 line is manufactured with the latest high quality fabric combinations from leading fiber and fabric manufacturers, including WL Gore, PBI Performance Products and Hainsworth.  The line has been designed to meet the requirements of CEN standard EN469 Level 2, is available in a wide range of color combinations to suit regional preferences, and can be customized with a selection of optional pockets and loops to accommodate specific equipment. 

Connected Firefighter Platform

At INTERSCHUTZ, MSA Safety is also showcasing its Connected Firefighter Platform – a suite of advanced safety technologies that work in concert to significantly improve firefighter monitoring, accountability and communication. Two key components of the Connected Firefighter Platform are the LUNAR Connected Device and MSA’s FireGrid software services.

A multifunctional handheld device, LUNAR provides personal thermal imaging and several other innovative features that are designed to enhance firefighter safety and accountability.  These innovations include MSA’s proprietary Firefighting Assisting Search Technology (F.A.S.T.) network, which alerts and guides teammates to downed team members. 

In addition, cloud connectivity provides incident command with an overview of on-scene operations by aggregating data from other MSA devices, such as the M1 breathing apparatus.  In use, it can transmit key self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) information such as cylinder air pressure, battery status and various alarm indicators. FireGrid gives incident commanders the ability to evaluate and manage multiple situations in real time and from any location.

Finally, at this year’s show, MSA is previewing several enhancements to some of its leading-edge technologies:

M1 Control Module – LUNAR Compatibility: Leveraging the integrated Bluetooth capabilities of the M1 Control Module, cylinder air pressure and other alarm indicators can be aggregated by LUNAR and transmitted to FireGrid to provide incident commanders with real time fireground information.  Additionally, incoming alerts from incident command (such as evacuation requests) can be relayed through LUNAR to the M1 Control Module to alert firefighters to immediately exit the structure.  The M1 Control Module and LUNAR devices are designed to work together as one system – when paired, LUNAR’s motion alarm capabilities will default to the M1 Control Module to not distract firefighters with have to managing two motion sensing devices.

Map View: Leveraging the GPS capability in devices such as LUNAR, incident commanders will now be able to monitor their crew’s location in the FireGrid application.

Fotokite Partnership: Tethered drone technology from Fotokite will be on display, featuring its aerial video capabilities that will be integrated into MSA’s Connected Firefighter Platform through future development projects to help increase situational awareness.

“Firefighting is a challenging profession, requiring courage and composure in the face of highly dangerous situations,” Mr. Traynor said. “To operate effectively, firefighters must have confidence in themselves, in their crew and in their safety equipment. At MSA we pride ourselves on listening to the needs of firefighters on the ground, and providing them with innovative solutions and technologies, so that when they arrive at an incident they know we have them covered.” 

MSA is at Interschutz in Hall 14, Booth H20 or visit www.MSAsafety.com/Interschutz. 

Read IFSJ’s exclusive interview with Jason Traynor, General Manager at MSA from our latest issue.