LINKfire doubles number of invoices with Uptick

by Featured NewsPassive

Uptick Workforce is helping LINKfire transform and serve customers. The implementation of the software has given the team at LINKfire access to job management tools to get jobs done faster, win more business and eliminate paperwork.

LINKfire began as a small business, a one-person operation which grew in the fire protection maintenance industry, now servicing over 7000 properties across Victoria and employing over 70 staff. Alistair has been in the fire protection business for over 20 years and knows first-hand that there are limited technology solutions designed specifically for the fire safety industry. There are many fire protection companies still using pen and paper to manage fire protection assets of complex commercial and residential buildings; it’s a scary thought. LINKfire realised early on that this needed to change.

The Challenge

LINKfire digitised their operations early on was using generic job management software, Pronto. Although the software automated some manual process, it didn’t drive the efficiencies that the business needed to continue to grow. It was creating inefficiencies that were costing the business money. Field staff were not getting the information they need to get the job done, resulting in productivity roadblocks and technicians wasting time on non-revenue generating activities.

Connecting field and office staff with the right information

LINKfire aimed to improve the productivity of field technicians and enhance the customer experience. To deliver on this goal, it needed accurate, comprehensive data available in the technicians’ hands at all time. It also required a holistic view of business operations and transparency of technicians behaviour to reveal pockets of inefficiencies and drive change. Uptick gave LINKfire access to specialised software that is designed for the fire protection industry, helping staff and technicians deliver a better service at every touchpoint. Uptick enabled technicians to manage assets and jobs effortlessly on any device. It also enabled office staff to assign the right technician to the right job with real-time GPS tracking and mapping information. Uptick smart schedulers were used to assign technicians based on their availability, location and skill set.

Connecting customers with their data

The use of the Uptick Customer Portal gave LINKfire customers access to their building data, reducing the number of touchpoints needed for customers to get an update on jobs, invoices or assets. It also enabled LINKfire to have meaningful conversations with clients about long terms goals, asset lifecycle forecasts and value-led interactions as opposed to transactional communications about pending or upcoming jobs.

PEEPS could be dropped from UK’s upcoming building safety bill

by Featured NewsSafety

The UK government is likely to reject a requirement for personal emergency evacuation plans (PEEPs) for disabled people in high-rise buildings.

The FPA reported that the recommendation came from the first phase of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry. Lord Stephen Greenhalgh, building safety minister, said that a consultation from July 2021 concerning PEEPs “made clear the substantial difficulties of mandating PEEPs in high-rise buildings around practicality, proportionality, and safety.”

The government had shown signs of resistance to implementing PEEPs, prior to the family of Sakina Afraeshabi, a disabled victim of the Grenfell fire, writing to the Home Office in October 2020 threatening legal action.

However, it looks as though the government’s stance has changed again, as on Monday, Lord Greenhalgh said: “On practicality, how can you evacuate a mobility-impaired person from a tall building before the professionals from the fire and rescue service arrive?

“On proportionality, how much is it reasonable to spend to do this at the same time as we seek to protect residents and taxpayers from excessive costs?

“On safety, how can you ensure that an evacuation of mobility-impaired people is carried out in a way that does not hinder others in evacuating or the fire service in fighting the fire.”

Lord Greenhalgh has also stated that the government is committing to a new consultation that will include “emergency evacuation information sharing” (EEIS), and saying the government is “acutely aware of the need to ensure the safety of residents with mobility concerns.” The government has confirmed that it is planning to publish its response to the PEEPs consultation, along with its new consultation on its EEIS plan, and commence the Fire Safety Act 2021 on the same day in May.

Claddag, the leaseholder disability action group, said in a statement that it is “unconscionable” that the government has dismissed the recommendation. They also commented further, saying that Lord Greenhalgh is “wrong to assert that mobility-impaired people” cannot evacuate without the fire and rescue service, and that the group was “sickened” to hear the minister question whether any associated costs of evacuation plans are reasonable as he “seeks to protect residents and taxpayers from costs.”

“Radio and TV awareness campaigns encourage us all to have plans in place should our homes catch fire – the government clearly believes this caution and responsibility should only extend to non-disabled people.

“The final blow was Lord Greenhalgh’s attempt to shame disabled people into ‘staying put’ in a fire to avoid ‘hindering others’ from evacuating. Please let that sink in.

“It is preposterous for the government to assert that it is ‘committed to supporting the fire safety of disabled people’ when it rejects the use of evacuation plans on the basis of costs, convenience, and ableism.”

NFPA reiterates mandatory sprinkler installation guidance

by Featured NewsFire SuppressionProducts

The NFPA has reiterated that fire sprinkler systems should be installed according to NFPA 13D, the standard for one- and two-family dwellings and manufactured homes. Regardless of whether fire sprinklers are mandated in new one- or two-family dwellings by the use of a code or ordinance, or if sprinklers are installed voluntarily by the developer, builder or homeowner.

The intent of NFPA 13D, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems in One- and Two-Family Dwellings and Manufactured Homes, is to provide an affordable sprinkler system in homes while maintaining a high level of life safety. NFPA 13D is intended to prevent injury and life loss. It requires sprinklers to be installed in living areas, sprinklers are not required in smaller bathrooms or closets, pantries, garages or carports, attached open structures, attics, and other concealed non-living spaces.

The standard requires at least 10 minutes of sprinkler water on the fire in its initial stage of development. That controls the fire early, giving residents the time to safely escape and the fire department time to respond. A typical home fire will be controlled and may even be extinguished by the time the fire department arrives.

NFPA 13D has been around for more than 45 years and is constantly being reviewed, tweaked, and republished to reflect the latest in technology and our experiences with fires.

The 2022 Edition contains an important new feature, Annex B, to provide the fire service and other fire sprinkler advocates with informative tools to expand the use of installed sprinklers in new homes.

Annex B contains valuable resources for helping advocates educate planning officials, community leaders, developers, builders, and consumers about the value of home fire sprinklers in new homes.  However, like all annexes within NFPA standards, Annex B in NFPA 13D is not a mandatory part of the standard and it would not be included as part of any incorporation by reference within a statewide code or local ordinance.   

Annex B contains six important sections:

  1. Community process and infrastructure
  2. Site planning and development
  3. Building construction
  4. Community risk reduction
  5. Environmental stewardship
  6. Sustainability of homes and affordable housing

While the fire service and fire sprinkler advocates will recognize most, if not all, of the key points, resources and references contained within Annex B, this is the first time all this valuable information has been gathered and categorized in a single document. 

The Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition (HFSC) offers free resources based on the information in Annex B, that AHJs can use to educate stakeholders involved in new home developments. Visit www.HomeFireSprinkler.org/CRR for more information.

NEBOSH joins OneWISH Coalition

by Featured NewsPeople

The National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health (NEBOSH) has joined the OneWISH Coalition, which unites organisations and women’s networks. These networks are all working towards the aim of improving the prominence and influence of women in health and safety.

Women make up 60% of NEBOSH’s senior leadership team and 65% of the all employees. Julia Whiting, Director of Marketing and Communications said: “Here at NEBOSH we have great female representation; I’m proud to work alongside some passionate and tenacious women that share the same determination I do to be the best they can be.

“By joining OneWISH it is my hope that NEBOSH will be able to amplify this message of inclusivity. We want to encourage and enable even more women – and people of all gender identities – to achieve their ambitions and contribute towards the progress of the health and safety profession.”

Anne Gardner-Aston, Chair of OneWISH added; “We are delighted that NEBOSH are becoming part of the OneWISH Coalition to support women in the health and safety profession. We look forward to working with them and supporting their efforts to improve inclusivity in our profession.”

Nominations open for IAFC Ben Franklin Award for Valor

by EventsFeatured NewsPeople

The International Fire Chiefs Association has opened nominations for the IAFC Ben Franklin Award for Valor. Since 1970, the IAFC’s most prestigious award has recognized the spirit of service, courage and heroism that is a proud tradition among the world’s fire and emergency service. The program is named for one of the first fire chiefs in the United States, Benjamin Franklin. An inventor, statesman and humanitarian, Mr. Franklin was a prime contributor to the wealth of tradition that symbolizes the fire and emergency service worldwide.

Presented annually at Fire-Rescue International (FRI) by the IAFC and Motorola Solutions, the award honors a firefighter(s) for their expert training, professional service and dedication to duty displayed in saving human life. More than that, the program helps raise public awareness and support for the fire and emergency service.

“We look forward to honoring the award recipients at FRI 2022 and every firefighter nominated for their heroic actions,” said Chris Lonnett, vice president of Central Region Sales, Motorola Solutions. “Motorola Solutions takes great pride in supporting the Ben Franklin Award for Valor.”

All active firefighters, career or volunteer, are eligible for award consideration, whether the event occurred while on or off duty. They need only to be nominated by their fire chief for an incident in which they saved a human life.

An individual or a team of up to four may be nominated. The chief must submit the nomination via the nomination link. The incident must have occurred between April 1, 2020, and December 31, 2021, to qualify for consideration. All nominations are reviewed by a committee of IAFC members.

The 2022 nomination period closes June 15 at 11:59 PM ET. Winner and regret notifications will be issued in July.

The winners will be announced Monday, August 22, 2022 and honored on Thursday, August, 25, 2022 at Fire-Rescue International in San Antonio, Texas.

Johnson Controls named to prominent Climate Leaders 2022 list

by Building ManagementFeatured NewsIndustry Sectors

Johnson Controls has been named to the FT Climate Leaders in Europe list for a second consecutive year.

Europe’s 2022 Climate Leaders list recognizes companies across Europe that have shown the highest reduction of their emissions intensity between 2015 and 2020, which is measured by greenhouse gas emissions relative to revenue. Johnson Controls was one of only 400 companies selected from more than 4,000 across Europe.

“Being recognized by the Financial Times for a second consecutive year as a climate leader in Europe is a particularly meaningful and illustrious honor for us,” said Tomas Brannemo, vice president and president, Building Solutions Europe, Middle East, Africa and Latin America, Johnson Controls. “Sustainability has always been one of our key strategic pillars and as the critical climate change battle continues, it is important for Johnson Controls to keep leading the way in cutting emissions and delivering clean, smart and sustainable solutions for our customers and communities around the world.”

For the second time, FT and research firm Statista compiled a list of European invited companies that have achieved the greatest reduction in emissions intensity. Additionally, Statista analyzed publicly available data from financial and non-financial reports to determine Europe’s climate leaders.

Among the earliest industrial companies to report emissions and pledge emission reductions, Johnson Controls has made tremendous progress – reducing carbon emissions and energy intensity by more than 70 percent since 2002. It was recently named #1 in its industry group and #12 overall as one of the 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World and is one of just 45 corporations awarded the Terra Carta Seal which recognizes private sector companies who are creating genuinely sustainable markets.

While Johnson Controls reports their emissions in all three scopes, the ranking accounts for scope 1 and scope 2 emissions only since not all companies named to the list publish their scope 3 emissions. Since 2017, Johnson Controls has achieved a 38% reduction of scope 1 and 2 emissions, eliminating more than 415,000 metric tons of CO2e.

Research shows that almost 40% of greenhouse gases come from buildings, and as the EU seeks to become carbon neutral by 2050, Johnson Controls remains at the forefront of effectively turning the ambition into a reality through the decarbonization of buildings. Last year, the European Commission committed to cut greenhouse gas emissions from their 1990 levels by at least 55% by 2030 under the European Green Deal. The European Energy Performance of Buildings Directive will be an important pathway on how to drive down carbon emissions from buildings.

Through the deployment of its OpenBlue digital platform, Johnson Controls utilizes digitalization as a key enabler for the building renovation wave in Europe and the rest of the world. OpenBlue net zero solutions allow for the sustainable optimization of buildings, and Johnson Controls has seen a significant improvement in environmental impact by helping customers consume less energy, conserve resources, and identify pathways to achieving healthy, net zero carbon communities.

“Our Sustainability efforts boost our customers’ bottom line and help protect the planet by enhancing efficiency and cutting waste. We put the best technology to work so that buildings become flexible assets that are part of the smart, clean infrastructure needed to meet carbon reduction goals,” said Katie McGinty, vice president & chief sustainability and external relations officer at Johnson Controls. “Being at the forefront helping to drive efforts to tackle global climate change is part of our DNA, and we are dedicated to supporting a healthy planet, healthy people and healthy places.”

Johnson Controls continues to take significant steps to further improve its environmental impact and has committed to achieving net zero Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions by 2040 – ten years ahead of the Paris Climate Agreement goal. By 2030, the company aims to cut its Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 55 percent and Scope 3 emissions by 16 percent. These ambitious 2030 emissions reduction targets have been approved by the Science Based Targets initiative.

ASFP expands administrative team with new appointment

by Featured NewsPeople

The Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP) has further expanded its team with the appointment of Lauren Smith as Operations Administrator.

Lauren will provide clerical and administrative support to the ASFP’s training, membership and technical departments, taking responsibility for a range of projects. She will play a key role in managing and maintaining data in the ASFP’s new Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system, website and on-line store and will ensure office procedures are followed at all times.

Lauren joins the ASFP team having previously provided maternity cover for the British Coatings Federation. Prior to this, she worked for five years in automotive purchasing and buying, including at Jaguar Land Rover. In a previous buyer position, she bought parts for James Bond’s Aston Martin from the film, No Time to Die.

Welcoming Lauren to the team, ASFP CEO Steve Davies stated: “The ASFP is growing rapidly and we are expanding the range of services and support we offer to members. Lauren will play a key role in maintaining close contact with our members to ensure we provide tailored services and support. We are delighted to welcome Lauren to the ASFP team and look forward to encouraging her in the development of this important new role.”

Johnson Controls acquires UK’s Xcell Misting

by Featured NewsFirefighting EquipmentProducts

Johnson Controls has acquired Xcell Misting Ltd, an expert fire protection company that designs and installs fire suppression and detection systems. Xcell Misting Ltd specializes in water mist technologies.

The acquisition will benefit Johnson Controls’ customers from Xcell’s expertise within fire protection and security, with access to the latest fire suppression technologies. Xcell Misting operates in a multitude of different sectors that include food, technology, data centers, high-hazard and gas turbines, car plants, residential, and waste management.

Xcell is headquartered in Norfolk, UK and employs fire professionals, engineers, installers and managers to design and deploy fire protection systems across the UK, along with providing support 24/7.

Sarah Dixon, general manager fire suppression UK and Ireland, Johnson Controls said: “Xcell Misting’s specialist watermist capabilities will allow us to maximise on our watermist opportunities, and in turn expand our current suppression offering to our customers.

“With a well-deserved reputation for the strong levels of customer care and expertise, we look forward to working with Xcell Misting Ltd’s talented team and welcoming them to the Johnson Controls family.”

In addition, Xcell Misting’s owners Kevin Musk, Andy Cooke and Deborah Bingham said: “This is a fantastic moment for all, including our employees who will to be part of a larger group with its associated opportunities and our customers who will continue to benefit from the best quality products and the best service at the best price. Xcell Misting will continue to thrive within Johnson Controls and the envisaged growth will be one that we can all be proud of as we move forward together.”

Nittan celebrates 50th anniversary in the UK at Firex 2022

by EventsFeatured NewsUncategorized

Nittan Europe, a manufacturer of conventional and addressable fire detection products – will be celebrating its 50th anniversary at this year’s FIREX International which is being held at London’s ExCeL 17-19th May. Nittan will be exhibiting its foremost products from the Evolution range, along with previewing several new additions.

The Evolution range combines reliable fire detection with a high degree of protection against unwanted false alarms. Evolution’s extremely flexible protocol is resistant to interference and allows for substantial amounts of information to be transmitted at high speed.

Evolution products on display at FIREX will include Analogue Addressable and Conventional detectors (including patented, award winning Dual Optical technology), plus Audio Visual Devices, Bases, Manual Call Points, Isolators and Modules. The latest addition to the Evolution range, making its debut at FIREX, is the EV-PYSVAD Visual Alarm Base for use with Nittan’s EV-PYS Photoelectric smoke detector. The new EV-PYSVAD is a Type A Indoor Beacon Base VAD with enhanced performance. It features 12 high power white LEDs which provide the required light output to meet the EN 54-23 Category C (Ceiling) certification requirements with a rating of C 3.0 x 5.0.

Also on display will be Nittan’s interactive touch screen evolution1 single loop fire alarm panel with intuitive menu structure, and the evo+ multi-loop EN54 Fire Alarm panel for larger systems. Both panel ranges have been designed to be flexible and powerful by incorporating the latest dual flash-based microprocessor technology. With a host of features for maximum flexibility and ease of installation and system set up, both the evolution 1 and evo+ ranges are compatible with the full range of Nittan Evolution analogue addressable fire detection devices.

The Nittan Group has supplied the international fire protection industry since 1954 and was formally established in the UK in 1972. A series of events are being held this year to mark Nittan UK’s 50th birthday, Nittan will be present at FI2330 at FIREX.

Kent Firefighters urge residents to install working fire alarms

by Featured News

The Kent Fire and Rescue Service, in South England embarked on its Fight Against Fire mission, to install and test as many smoke alarms as possible in one day, in homes across Kent and Medway.

Hundreds of uniformed firefighters with ID knocked on doors offering free home fire safety visit service, to help keep people safe.

Someone who fully supports the initiative, and owes his life and the lives of his family to working smoke alarms, is 40-year-old Dominic Plumb from Maidstone.

During a game of charades after dinner, with his wife, Nicki, his parents and his two teenage sons, Dominic heard the smoke alarm sounding.

“My first thought was ‘what is Nicki cooking now, we’re so full from dinner’ – thinking the oven had triggered the alarm” said Dominic.

“I went into the hallway to stop the beeping and it wouldn’t go off. Then the upstairs one started to sound as well so I went to take a look up there.

“I smelt smoke coming from one of my son’s bedrooms, opened the door and immediately felt extreme heat and then saw the bed was on fire and flames spreading across the room. I straight away realised how bad it was and closed to door to hold the fire back from the rest of the house.

“I got everyone outside, and then we heard a loud bang as the windows blew out.”

Dominic called 999 just before 7.30pm and six fire engines, a height vehicle and the volunteer response team swiftly arrived at the scene. Crews tackled the blaze, however there was considerable fire damage to the bedroom, landing and roof space, and smoke damage throughout the upper floor.

Dominic said: “The fire service came really quickly and they were amazing. They were very reassuring and supportive.

“Luckily no one was hurt though, and we really have the smoke alarms to thank for alerting us early on, before the flames could break through the bedroom door and spread around the house – without working smoke alarms we might not have realised until it was too late to escape safely.

“It’s really scary to think if the fire had started just a few hours later, my son would have been in that bed.”

The cause of the fire has been linked to an electrical fault with a charging docking station device placed on the bed, which was in use for the first time having been a stocking filler gift opened just that morning.

Since the blaze, the Plumb family has moved between six properties, while their home is restored.

Dominic said: “The thing we have learnt from this awful experience is that smoke alarms save lives. Also never leave anything charging on a bed, and avoid charging items overnight or when you’re not around – top tips from the firefighters that we will now be living by.”