FBU Scotland: zero budget increase will put communities ‘in great danger’

by Featured NewsSafety

Scotland’s firefighters have responded to the Scottish finance secretary’s statement on the Scottish spending review, which sees zero increase in the budget of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service over the next five years.

The Fire Brigades Union Scotland has said the lack of increase will mean a potential large real terms cut, especially given the currently rampant rate of inflation.

Responding to the finance secretary’s statement on the spending review, John McKenzie, FBU Scotland regional secretary, said: “The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has already suffered the loss of a thousand members of staff, cuts to crewing levels and stagnation of pay.

“The announcement by Kate Forbes shows a zero increase in the budget for the service over the next five years. If enacted this will put our communities and our members who serve them in greater danger. The FBU in Scotland will be seeking an urgent meeting with the Justice Secretary to discuss the future funding of the Fire and Rescue service.”

CIOB updates Code of Practice to reflect construction industry changes

by ConstructionFeatured NewsIndustry Sectors

The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) has updated the Code of Practice for Project Management for the Built Environment to reflect changes in the practices and processes of construction and the increasing pressures of the industry.

 The guidance from the world’s largest and most influential professional body for construction management and leadership aims to equip construction and project managers with insight into a whole life-cycle approach, where assets can be delivered not only to meet the expected quality, cost and time targets, but where other broader, but equally important, notions of value can be incorporated.

The updated Code of Practice ” acknowledges the many challenges in the construction industry and sets the scene in the new version with a set of strategic drivers, such as sustainability, quality, competence and skills, the golden thread of information, and some guiding principles including health and safety, EDI (equality, diversity and inclusion), ethics, sustainability, whole-life perspective, project management as a strategic enabler, building information, and leadership.

The eight themes included in each chapter are designed to ensure they are embedded throughout all decision-making processes at every stage of the project. These are: quality, sustainability, value, productivity, leadership, collaboration, knowledge and risk.

Dr Gina Al-Talal FCIOB, CIOB’s Head of Technical and Standards Development, said: “I am pleased to see this publication undergoing a total revamp at a time when it’s needed more than ever, given the extraordinary pressures on the industry around the world. I have no doubt that this edition will prove an invaluable reference to built environment professionals at all levels. It was not an easy task and my gratitude goes to the construction professionals and academics who contributed so much time and effort into helping us deliver this updated resource.”

Fire safety guidance strengthened for new high-rise homes in England

by ConstructionFeatured NewsIndustry Sectors

New improvements to fire safety guidance and building regulations to ensure tall buildings are made safer in England have been introduced as part of a wider package of reforms, meeting recommendations from Phase One of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry and will strengthen the information available to fire and rescue services.

All new residential buildings over 11 metres will now have to include a Secure Information Box that will give fire and rescue services access to important details about a building in the event of a fire. New residential developments over 18 metres will also have to incorporate an Evacuation Alert System to help fire and rescue services inform residents of a change in evacuation strategy, during an incident.

It forms part of a wider update to tighten building regulations and provide clearer fire safety rules for the design or construction of residential developments.

Building and Fire Safety Minister Lord Greenhalgh said: “We have introduced the biggest improvements to building safety in a generation, under the Building Safety Act. These changes will support our tough new regulatory regime – ensuring fire safety measures are incorporated into new high-rise homes and all new residential buildings meet the same safety standards. It does not end here and I urge the industry act quickly to update their practises in line with these new rules.”

The National Fire Chief’s Council (NFCC) Protection and Business Safety Committee Chair, Gavin Tomlinson, said: “NFCC especially welcomes the introduction of emergency evacuation alert systems in new buildings over 18 metres. We also support the inclusion of Secure Information Boxes in buildings over 11 metres, which will give fire and rescue services access to important details about a building and its residents in the event of a fire.

On the changes to building regulations, we are encouraged that unsafe MCM PE cladding panels are banned on all buildings and that the government has promised stronger safety standards for the use of combustible materials on external walls.

At least 49 killed in Bangladesh container fire

by ActiveFeatured News

Firefighters worked for a second day on Sunday (5 June) to extinguish a large fire that has killed at least 49 people at a container depot in southeast Bangladesh at Sitakunda, 40 km (25 miles) from the port city of Chittagong, injuring more than 200 after breaking out at the shipping container facility on Saturday night, triggering a huge blast and multiple container explosions.

Chemical-filled containers were still exploding on Sunday as firefighters attempted to douse the fire and officials said the army had joined the mission. Drone footage showed thick columns of smoke and rows of burnt-out containers and local residents commented that the explosions had shaken the neighbourhood and shattered windows in nearby buildings

Chittagong civil surgeon Mohammed Elias Hossain said that the death toll could rise as some injured were in critical condition and the rescue operations were ongoing. All doctors in the district had been called in to help tackle the situation, while social media was flooded with appeals for emergency blood donations.

Five firefighters have been confirmed as among the deceased.

It has not yet been confirmed as to the cause of the fire, but fire service officials said they suspected it may have originated in a container of hydrogen peroxide and spread quickly to other containers.

Newton Das, a fire service official, said there were still explosions on Sunday afternoon of containers containing hydrogen peroxide and others containing sulphur. “It’s really getting harder as toxic fumes engulfed the area,” he said.

LFB ‘in serious need of funding’ to tackle building safety crisis

by Featured NewsSafety

The London Fire Brigade (LFB) commissioner Andy Roe has said the fire service is in serious need of funding if it is to effectively tackle the building safety crisis.

At a City Hall Plenary meeting in February, LFB Commissioner Roe said that to inspect just 10% or 20% of London’s approximately 95,000 mid-rise buildings for fire safety defects, the LFB would need to recruit a “significant labour force” of “a couple of hundred” additional specialist fire safety inspecting officers. He also said that there is an £8 million budget gap expected for the LFB in 2022/23.

During Mayor’s Question Time on 19 May, Labour’s London Assembly Fire and Resilience Spokesperson, Anne Clarke AM, entreated the government to support people living in residential blocks of all heights and called for proper funding for the LFB to tackle the building safety scandal, seeking compensation for leaseholders who have already paid out of their own pocket to fix potentially deadly fire risks.

Secretary of State for the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC), Michael Gove, stated developers will pay for mid-rise buildings between 11 and 18 metres with dangerous cladding, and funding has been provided for 8,500 high rise buildings above 18 meters in London.

Blocks below 11 metres that have been deemed in need of remediation work will be assessed on a case-by-case basis, but the government has stopped short of providing blanket protection under the Building Safety Act as revealed by Housing Minister Stuart Andrew in the Commons last month. In response to a question from Ms Clarke, Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, stated: “I think the height requirement should go, either your building is safe, or it isn’t”.

Ms Clarke said: “Nearly five years on from the Grenfell tragedy it’s completely unacceptable that so many Londoners are living in unsafe homes. Ministers must extend remediation support to all residential buildings with safety defects or combustible cladding. Regardless of height, if leaseholders have already paid, they are owed compensation.

“Londoners are being let down. They’re dealing with this on top of an unprecedented cost of living crisis. It’s disgusting so many have been left to sit with this hanging over their heads. This is a building safety scandal, not just a cladding scandal. The Fire Brigade needs more funding from the government so it can recruit hundreds of specialist fire safety officers to make London safe.”

Fire Safety Enforcement in NYC strengthened by new bill

by Americas - Featured NewsConstructionFeatured NewsIndustry SectorsSafety

New York City Mayor Eric Adams has signed five pieces of fire safety legislation into law aimed at strengthening enforcement, education, and outreach efforts in the wake of the tragic Bronx apartment fire in January which saw the death of 17 people.

The new laws include shortening the timeline of re-inspection for self-closing door violations, increasing the fine for building owners who do not fix violations, banning the sale of certain space heaters that do not meet certain safety standards and codifying increased fire safety outreach.

“More than a dozen New Yorkers, some just children, were killed in the fire at the Twin Parks apartments. We mourn their passing but that is not enough — we must ensure that a tragedy at that level never happens again,” said Mayor Adams. “In March, I signed an executive order to immediately improve fire safety coordination and outreach. Today, I’m proud to work with the City Council to create long-term solutions that strengthen enforcement and education and will keep all New Yorkers safe.”

The mayor signed the following bills into law:

Intro. 104 which clarifies the definition of a self-closing door to mean a door equipped with a device that will ensure the door, when opened and released, returns to the closed position and self-latches shut.

Intro. 105 which shortens the timeline for correction of self-closing door violations from 21 days to 14 days, requires HPD to reinspect a self-closing door violation no later than 20 days after the expiration of the 14-day correction period, and increases penalties for building owners who do not cure those violations. It also establishes a civil penalty range of $250-$500 for the violation of the self-closing door requirement and a $250/day penalty from the date set for correction of the violation until it is corrected, increases civil penalties for the false certification of corrections for Class A, B, and C violations of the Housing Maintenance Code.

Intro. 106 which bans the sale of electric space heaters that do not have automatic shut off capabilities if the heater falls over or overheats, and requires that space heaters sold in New York City be labeled by a nationally recognized testing laboratory.

Intro. 131 which expands fire safety education to require FDNY to provide educational materials and conduct outreach relating to the safe use of electric space heaters in residences. The law — which takes effect as FDNY continues to conduct a robust fire safety education program — also requires that such educational materials be made available to tenants in the top 10 most common languages in New York City.

Intro. 155 which prohibits the DOB from charging filing fees for a permit to repair fire damaged conditions of one-, two- or three-family homes. If construction defects are discovered at such fire-damaged locations, this fee exemption would extend to other dwellings within the same homeowner or cooperative association to correct the same construction defect. The law will diminish repair costs for owners remediating fire-damaged properties and construction defects found during the remediation process and task DOB with conducting targeted outreach showcasing the fee-exemption program.

Commenting on the new legislation, New York City Fire Department (FDNY) Acting Commissioner Laura Kavanagh said: “Educating New Yorkers on fire safety and prevention is key to the Department’s lifesaving mission. These bills, and the mayor’s Executive Order increasing coordination between our department and HPD, will strengthen the FDNY’s ability to reach the neediest residents in our city with critical messages of fire education and prevention.”

Patol: origins of the business and plans going forward

by Breaking NewsFeatured News

The company was founded in 1968 with an original focus on alarm annunciation. Back then Patol was heavily involved in supplying alarm solutions for the shipping industry but building on this experience in alarms and employing engineers with specific knowledge of the fire sector enabled the business to move swiftly into wider applications.

Less than a decade later, in association with Sterling Cables, Patol developed and started the manufacture of linear heat detection cables (LHDC) to offer the opportunity for early detection of fire and overheating in applications where other forms of detection were not viable due to the environmental challenges of a given site or the costs being prohibitive.

In fact, the technology is still used today. And its success is illustrated by the fact that LHDC is still manufactured and sold globally by Patol. In the early days it was quickly adopted as a preferred detection method in the new nuclear power stations that were being built. A notable project was its use in protecting the Thames Barrier when it was constructed in 1985 and it has also been used extensively on the London Underground network, particularly on escalators following the Kings Cross fire in 1987.

The technology involved in developing the original cable was sound and while there have inevitably been innovations over the years, we have always looked to build on this solid foundation. We now offer a range of options: analogue, digital and fibre optic. Recognising the different requirements of applications and the temperatures at which detection is required, we have extended the range to offer temperature ratings from 70°C to 240°C.”

Innovations

We recently introduced FibreSense, a Fibre Optic distributed temperature sensing solution.  The Fibre Optic sensing cable is available in two primary forms, Thermoplastic Tube (TT) and Armoured Tube (AT), with both versions providing cost effective fire detection for a wide range of different applications.  The Thermoplastic Tube cable is suited to many environments including those characterised by high levels of electro-magnetic (EMC) activity. The cable is Flame-Retardant Non-Corrosive (FRNC) and Low Smoke Zero Halogen (LSOH), with a Kevlar strength layer protecting a central structure comprising a gel-filled thermoplastic loose tube.  It measures temperature profiles at thousands of points simultaneously along the length of the cable and, given that it is immune to electro-magnetic interference (EMI), signal quality is unaffected in hostile environments.

Other fire safety solutions

Over the years Patol has also moved into different areas of specialised detection, adding IR Infrared Transit Heat and Flame Sensors, Securiton Aspirating Smoke Detection (ASD), and Vision TIR Thermal Imaging Fire Detection to its portfolio. The company has also expanded its role in international markets, including setting up a dedicated sales operation in India which is actively involved in many markets, including the country’s expanding power generation and industrial applications.

In addition to the power generation sector, Patol solutions are being widely adopted in many diverse projects, from waste recycling and petrochemical sites to car parks, tunnels and the food industry.

This article was originally published in the May edition of IFSJ. To read your FREE digital copy, click here

Exclusive: TLX Technologies talk adding value to suppression systems

by Featured NewsFire SuppressionProducts

With an approach towards product development to add value to suppression systems, TLX Technologies highlights some key innovations from the firm

As the fire protection industry gathers this summer for Interschutz 2022 in Germany, it is interesting to look back on how much has changed since the last event was held seven years ago.

While there has been development and growth across all aspects of the industry, TLX Fire & Security, a division of TLX Technologies, has been focused on the changes in standards as well as the adoption of better security features on fire suppression systems worldwide.

In January 2016, shortly after the last Interschutz show, NFPA 2001: Sec. 4.3.4.1 (a standard for supervision on actuation devices for fixed gaseous fire suppression systems) went to effect. The goal behind the introduction of this standard was to provide a means for ensuring that the actuating device would be correctly installed on the system, at both initial installation and also after periodic maintenance, by providing a visible and audible signal at the fire panel when the actuator was either disconnected or not installed properly.   

TLX showcased its first product that met this new standard for supervision at Interschutz 2015. Since that time, system manufacturers across the globe have been adopting this standard for their actuating devices to ensure proper installation, especially for those systems that would be sold into areas where the NFPA guidelines are observed. Additionally, other regions have seen the benefit of updating their own standards in like manner. For example, later this year the European standard (EN 15004) will be changing to require supervision of actuating devices to better align with the NFPA standard that has been in effect for the last six years. While the initial NFPA standard was designated specifically for fixed gaseous fire suppression systems, NFPA recently expanded that standard to water systems with the update to standard NFPA 13: Sec. 8.3.1.2.1 that went into effect in January of last year.

Although TLX has been designing and producing actuation devices for fixed gaseous fire suppression systems for over 20 years, they have seen marked growth since developing their first product that met NFPA standards for supervision. They expect that growth to continue in the coming years as regulatory standards further align globally across the fire suppression industry.

Since their first product introduction, TLX has added several additional actuators to their portfolio to meet the requirements of suppression systems with higher operating pressures. They also added manual actuation and reset options for their actuators along with a pneumatic actuator that pairs with their electric actuators to provide customers with a full system solution. All their electric actuators are UL 864 Recognized and meet the NFPA requirements for supervision. 

New Products Showcased

TLX approaches product development with the goal of giving system manufacturers access to solutions that will add value to their suppression systems. This year TLX Fire & Security will be showcasing their new patented Explosion Proof Actuator with Supervision and their Liquid Level Sensor at both the NFPA and Interschutz shows in June. 

Fire suppression systems for hazardous environments typically rely on an actuation device and additional tubing between the actuation device and the storage tank to route discharge pressure through the system. This creates the potential for a number of leak points. Additionally, such systems require an enclosure so that if flammable gas were to make its way into the actuation device and ignite, any fire would be contained within the enclosure and would not cause combustion of any flammable substances in the atmosphere.

TLX had received numerous inquiries about possible solutions that would satisfy safety requirements for hazardous locations. Their team decided to develop a top-mounted linear actuator that acted as its own enclosure. The result was the Explosion Proof Actuator with Supervision, which is UL HazLoc, ATEX, and IECEx certified for use in hazardous locations and meets NFPA requirements for supervision.

The actuator’s top-mounted design means that it does not act as a pressure vessel on the discharge valve. This eliminates the extra connections that other solutions rely on to connect the actuator to the storage tank and route discharge pressure through the system. As a result, the only potential leak point at the tank is at the top of the discharge valve. Additionally, special design features and material grade selection allow the actuator to act as its own enclosure. All potential flame paths are specifically designed to prevent flame egress in the event a spark were to ignite any gas found in the actuator.

Because every system is unique, the actuator can be customized to fit any system. The internal components can be configured during production to match any operating pressure up to 300 bar. The interface can also be fully customized: mounting thread, connection type (male or female), firing pin stick out, and firing pin geometry can all be configured according to the customer’s specifications.

The Explosion Proof Actuator with Supervision provides an all-in-one solution for hazardous locations that simplifies installation and maintenance and helps improve system reliability.

While TLX has long specialized in producing the most innovative actuation devices, they have taken their technological expertise and applied it to integrated sensing to satisfy other needs in the fire suppression industry. Most recently, they developed a liquid level measuring device that offers a better alternative to current methods of determining the level of extinguishing agent in a system’s storage tanks.

Most solutions for measuring the level of extinguishing agent require a technician to take a manual reading and calculate the weight using a conversion table. Accurately calculating the weight of the extinguishing agent is crucial for keeping the system operating, and manually calculating conversion table data creates the potential for errors.

TLX Fire & Security developed a solution that would eliminate the potential for human error that is inherent in many of the methods currently being used. The Liquid Level Sensor automatically provides a thermally compensated weight reading of the extinguishing agent in the fire suppression system’s storage tanks. The sensor is comprised of a sealed tube with a magnetic float mounted on the outside of the tube. This tube is installed in each tank prior to being filled with the extinguishing agent. There is another magnetic float inside the tube that interlocks with the float outside the tube, providing an accurate measurement of the fluid level inside the tank. At the end of the tube at the top of the tank is a sensor that sends float position and temperature data to a microcontroller that is preprogrammed with a conversion table for that specific tank and extinguishing agent configuration. The microcontroller then automatically calculates the weight of the extinguishing agent inside the storage tank.

The weight of the extinguishing agent can be displayed directly at the tank on a digital display or transmitted to the fire control panel via hardwired or wireless connection. Data can also be accessed remotely or downloaded using a USB connection. Additionally, a simple GO/NO-GO status can be displayed with a green/red LED to indicate the status of the storage tank.

While the Liquid Level Sensor is an ideal solution for many fire suppression systems, some systems require the tanks to be weighed. For such systems, TLX is currently developing the Hanging Weight Sensor and Platform Weighing Sensor. These sensors will feature continuous monitoring, high accuracy (100 g resolution), and 500 kg maximum capacity. These weighing sensors are scheduled to be available to the market in the second half of 2022. 

The Future of the Industry

Data collection and the Internet of Things (IoT) has revolutionized the way businesses operate in nearly every industry. Everything from warehouses to manufacturing has used this technology to add value and improve efficiency. Warehouses have dramatically improved inventory accuracy and pick and ship times. Data can be collected and analyzed on manufacturing equipment for predictive and preventative maintenance, minimizing downtime.

However, the fire suppression industry has been slow to explore the ways that data collection and remote monitoring can improve safety and efficiency and bring value to their fire suppression systems. The changes brought to the world by the COVID-19 pandemic, often resulting in fewer people on-site and the explosion of remote work, has caused the industry to more seriously consider how IoT can be best used.

Data collection and IoT can make fire suppression systems safer and more efficient than they have ever been. Typically, fire suppression systems are only inspected biannually. If there is a fault in the system, it may not be detected until one of these inspections. But with remote monitoring, system faults can be detected almost immediately and addressed in the most efficient manner possible. This makes for a safer, more valuable system.

This technology promises to bring considerable value to all stakeholders. It is critical that the industry begins considering how data collection and IoT can be deployed. As customers begin to realize how this technology is benefitting other systems they rely on, they will look to the fire suppression industry for similar solutions for their fire suppression systems. If the industry fails to seize the opportunity to utilize this technology, another industry may step in and fill the void. The HVAC industry is already using this technology, and they may begin to include fire suppression data collection in their monitoring systems. By investing in this technology, the fire suppression industry can take an important step to ensure its growth and profitability.

This article was originally published in the May edition of IFSJ. To read your FREE digital copy, click here

Exclusive: The Value and Growth of Monitored Fire Alarm Signalling Systems

by Featured NewsFire DetectionProducts

John Coleman, Head of Sales UK & Ireland at CSL, discusses the latest developments around professionally monitored fire alarm signalling systems.

Historically, Fire Systems have been designed to protect lives when the building is occupied. But increasingly, we have seen examples where fires have occurred in empty premises. 60 fires a day occur in or beside vacant or derelict properties in the UK (Home Office Statistics). When a fire occurs and the premises are empty, it will not be reported unless someone nearby sees it or hears the alarm.

The Benefits of Monitoring

Statistics suggest that only around 6% of fire systems have a monitored alarm, yet 67% of fires occur when premises are empty. A Fire System with Professional Signalling reports any faults or alarms to a Monitoring Centre, providing 24/7 365 peace of mind for premises owners. In addition, arson – just like criminal damage and theft – is much more common in empty buildings as opposed to those which are occupied. Monitored Fire Systems allow for faster reporting of incidents as well as acting as a deterrent.

Recent Examples

In February this year, 130 firefighters were called to tackle a blaze at the Armadillo Self Storage Unit in Cheadle, Greater Manchester. The fire, which started at 1 am, destroyed 40% of the building and many companies using the facility lost everything they had on-site. In these instances, every second counts. A professionally monitored fire alarm would immediately alert the Alarm Receiving Centre and the Fire Brigade, to ensure the fastest possible response to such incidents. In doing so, this would minimise the impact of the fire as best as possible.  

European Standards

EN54 certification is the most important aspect in terms of signalling for fire detection and alarm systems. However, the cost of products has always been an issue, with most fire systems having no monitoring at all despite many fires occurring when the premises are empty.

Over the past few years, we have seen an increased industry demand for EN54 (Fire) certified signalling products that offer the flexibility of installation, increased reliability, and cost-effectiveness. We are confident that all criteria have now been satisfied with the new DualCom Pro Fire products.

The DualCom Pro 2 Fire Range

We recently announced the arrival of the new DualCom Pro 2 Fire variants. These latest innovations, which include DigiAir Pro 2 and GradeShift Pro 2, are now available to order from your chosen ARC. DigiAir Pro 2 Fire offers a wireless single-path solution, whilst GradeShift Pro 2 Fire offers dual-path, dual-radio signalling via 2 separate radio modules. Both solutions come with multiple 4G WorldSIMs, providing the most reliable fire signalling systems ever, whilst the wireless signalling options mean the installation is not limited to the infrastructure of the premises.

Our Fire variants enable devices to signal alerts directly to a professional monitoring station 24/7 when the premises are left unattended. This is one of the reasons CSL’s Fire variants are now trusted in over 7,000 professional fire installations across Europe.

Wireless 4G Connectivity

All variants of the DualCom Pro 2 Fire Range are wireless 4G solutions. This means that the device can be placed in whatever position is best for the installer and radio coverage. The Range is supplied with High Gain Aerials and extension cables are available to ensure that the best signal can be accessed every time.

Value

In the past, fire monitoring has been cost-prohibitive as was not often pushed by insurers, and therefore installers didn’t see the benefits of doing this. Today, the options available via CSL are cost-effective and accessible for all. Many Installers are not include monitoring for fire systems as standard. It offers increased value for Installers in terms of insights on faults and performance. Take control of your professional fire installations and access this instant information using the My Base App.

All IP

The UK and Ireland’s Communications Providers are in the process of upgrading their customers from the existing analogue phone service to an enhanced IP service, with the plan to migrate to a fully digital phone service by the end of 2025. The change will affect anything that currently plugs into the existing analogue telephone wall sockets, including Fire signalling systems. The project is well underway, and the impact is already being seen at premises nationwide. For more information, please visit the CSL website!

Fire & Security Matters Awards 2022

We are delighted to announce that DualCom Pro Fire 2 has been announced as a finalist for the upcoming Fire & Security Matters Awards in the Fire Innovation of the Year category! Another reflection of how well this innovation has been received by the industry.

Case Study – Black Box

Black Box is a fully accredited BAFE (SP203) Fire Alarm System Service Provider with an extensive portfolio of installations. On every one of these systems, Black Box install the highest grade of professional fire monitoring with connections into an ARC. As part of this, they are installing GradeShift Pro 2 Fire as standard for all new and existing customers. GradeShift Pro Fire is a DP2 graded, radio/radio dual-path signalling solution, with a catastrophic failure reporting time of 31 minutes. With analogue telephone (PSTN) lines soon to be redundant, Black Box is using GradeShift Pro Fire to upgrade any legacy systems that rely on this older technology.

EN54 certified monitored signalling forms an essential part of a fully compliant system, that can report any faults or issues in a much shorter period, providing peace of mind for customers. The addition of the My Base App for remote configuration changes, allows Black Box to manage its entire DualCom Pro signalling base.

“GradeShift Pro Fire provides us with an ideal dual-radio, EN54 alarm signalling solution. It enables us to install to the latest and highest standards, whilst overcoming any on-site issues we may face such as no availability of IP or PSTN connections.”

David Barnes, Managing Director of Black Box

Case Study – Moray Fire

Moray Fire Protection provides personal and comprehensive fire detection and protection services to companies, government organisations and individuals throughout Scotland. The company is BAFE registered and operates under industry recognised standards. Located in Elgin, they are ideally situated to service clients throughout the whole of Scotland including Moray, the Highlands, Aberdeen, and Aberdeenshire.

Moray Fire Protection has recently taken over a contract to maintain eight care homes across Moray and the Highlands. Having inherited these sites from a previous contractor, Moray Fire Protection decided to upgrade and replace the installations with new equipment including the latest alarm signalling. With analogue telephone (PSTN) lines soon to be redundant, Moray Fire Protection reached out to CSL as they felt that the DigiAir Pro 2 Fire was the best-suited signalling product for these installations.

DigiAir Pro 2 Fire is an SP3 graded, radio only single-path signalling solution, utilising all mobile networks via our WorldSIM to signal an alarm. As a tailor-made fire signalling solution, DigiAir Pro 2 Fire also offers a faster catastrophic failure reporting time of 31 minutes.

With EN54 certified monitored signalling, Moray Fire Protection now have a fully compliant system, that can report any faults or issues in a much shorter period, providing peace of mind for their customers. The addition of the My Base App for remote configuration changes, allows Moray Fire Protection to manage their devices for their customers and ensure the service is always working correctly.

“DigiAir Pro Fire provides us with the perfect radio solution for upgrading all our legacy, monitored single-path sites. It is enabling us to future-proof our estate as part of the ongoing All IP transition and ahead of the ‘Big Switch Off’ in 2025.”

Neil Hughes, Alarm Engineer, Moray Fire Protection

In summary

Why wouldn’t you add professional alarm signalling to your fire systems? For more information, please visit our website:

www.csl-group.com/uk/sectors/fire

This article was originally published in the May edition of IFSJ. To read your FREE digital copy, click here

National Volunteer Fire Council appoints Deputy CEO

by Featured NewsPeople

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) has announced that Dr. Candice McDonald will join staff as deputy chief executive officer.

In this role, she will assist CEO Sarah Lee in managing the internal operations of the NVFC, including grants oversight, budget development, organisational planning, and more.  

“We are very excited for Dr. Candice McDonald to join the NVFC as a key part of our staff leadership team,” said Lee. “Candice brings a myriad of experience and expertise that will help the NVFC grow and move our initiatives forward. I am confident she will be an asset to our team and to the emergency responder community that we serve.”  

McDonald’s involvement in the NVFC dates to 2010, when she became one of the organisation’s first Fire Corps State Advocates. In addition to her work with Fire Corps, she has served as an instructor for the NVFC, facilitated webinars and online events, written numerous articles, and provided subject matter expertise in various areas. 

McDonald holds a doctorate in business administration with a specialty in homeland security, a master’s degree in organisational leadership, and a bachelor’s degree in organizational management. She also has an extensive professional background in marketing.

She currently works as a federal special agent for NASA in the Office of Protective Services, where she utilizes skills including grant and project management, budgeting, and staff management. In addition, she is an adjunct professor at Eastern Gateway Community College, serves as a recruitment and retention expert for the U.S. Fire Administration, and has taught recruitment and retention courses across the U.S.  

McDonald has been active in the volunteer fire and emergency services for almost two decades, serving as a volunteer firefighter, EMS chief officer, instructor, and fire inspector. She is the incoming president of the Cumberland Valley Volunteer Firemen’s Association, a trustee for Women in Fire, and a member of the FDIC/Fire Engineering Advisory Board.