Hochiki Europe to host webinar on I.S. systems

by Featured News

Life safety manufacturer, Hochiki Europe is continuing its successful series of webinars, with an online session focusing on demystifying Intrinsically Safe (I.S.) systems. The webinar will take place on Thursday 20 August at 11am and is free-to-attend for those looking to enhance their knowledge and expertise of these integral life safety systems.

There is some confusion around the use of I.S. equipment due to the misconception that they are simply ‘bolt on’ products that can be added to life safety systems to provide protection in more dangerous environments. However, this is not the case and there are many instances where specially developed I.S. equipment is required due to the level of protection that they can offer and the hazardous nature of the environment in which they are to be used. Throughout the online session, experts from Hochiki will take attendees through the key issues, considerations and requirements, covering the technical makeup of I.S. devices, the different classifications of hazardous areas as well as common and uncommon applications where I.S. equipment would be best suited.

The host of the webinar, Rob Head, Commercial Project Manager at Hochiki Europe, said: “Helping our customers understand the place of I.S. equipment within the field of life safety technology is incredibly important due to the misunderstanding that currently surrounds them. With more buildings being left unoccupied or having fewer occupants, fire detection and prevention, particularly in hazardous environments, must remain ultra-dependable.

“So, if you’re an installer, facility manager, end user, life safety professional, or anyone responsible for hazardous environments looking to update your knowledge and expertise, join us on 20 August.”

Paul Adams, Marketing Manager at Hochiki Europe, added: “In this new, socially-distant world, webinars are an effective way of delivering vital training and technical information to our audiences helping ensure our industry remains in the know about the latest developments. Our previous sessions have received some really positive feedback and so we’re excited to see what this next chapter will bring.”

To reserve your place on this webinar, register here: https://www.hochikieurope.com/event/

For more information about Hochiki Europe’s I.S products, visit: https://www.hochikieurope.com/is.

C-TEC’s CAST XFP addressable fire alarm system protects retail development in Yorkshire

by Featured News

C-TEC’s revolutionary CAST XFP addressable fire alarm system is protecting a refurbished retail development in West Yorkshire.

Situated in the heart of Cleckheaton, Victoria Court has recently undergone a £2.5M transformation and is now home to two floors of offices and an array of retail and commercial outlets including Dominos Pizza and the Halifax Bank. With its cutting-edge control panels, detection and alarm devices, C-TEC’s new CAST XFP system provides the highest levels of fire protection at the multi-purpose site.

Featuring all the top notch qualities of C-TEC’s existing panels plus distributed intelligence, autonomous decision making, high speed data transmission and a powerful group activation command for the rapid deployment of alarm signals, CAST is designed for fast and easy install. In addition, its capacity for displaying detailed data on all system activity was also a key factor in its specification for this particular site.

Said Nathan Douglas-Smith of Centurion Fire and Security Ltd, the specialist fire company that completed the installation of the life-safety systems in just under five weeks: “Fire alarm panel feedback is crucial so engineers and end users can ascertain all site activity. CAST XFP provides the responsible person with vital information on system activity in complete contrast to the old fire alarm system it replaced. As a result, engineers and end users can see exactly what is happening on site.”

“CAST XFP is a great product – it’s easy-to-install, well manufactured and very reliable on all the current installation sites. From a customer support point of view, C-TEC are very responsive to enquires, requests and the occasional technical support call. For example, at a late stage in the installation, the client decided they wanted the smoke detectors in a specific area to be black. We simply called C-TEC and they manufactured them to order.”

Said David Armstrong, Centurion’s MD: “CAST is powerful, feature-rich and intuitive. We’ve installed ten systems to date and have many more projects in the pipeline. Going forwards, we can’t wait for it to be rolled out to C-TEC’s larger panels particularly the ZFP over the coming months.”

www.c-tec.com/

Early fire detection with TITANUS® air sampling smoke detectors

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Every second counts where fire is concerned. The faster a fire is detected, the faster action can be taken in order to prevent more serious damage. The head start that WAGNER’S TITANUS® air sampling smoke detectors offer can be crucial to a company’s continued existence. After all, fire is an ever-present risk that is not to be underestimated. Material assets, operational processes, people and the environment are always exposed to this threat, which is why appropriate fire protection solutions are so important.

According to statistics by Siegfried Bussenius, the majority of damaging fires (68 %) develop from prolonged smouldering fires. Conventional smoke detectors have a crucial disadvantage there: depending on whether they are optical fire detectors or heat detectors, these smoke detectors will only react to high concentrations of smoke or increased temperatures within the protected area. By that time it is often too late to implement countermeasures.

WAGNER’s highly sensitive air sampling smoke detection systems (previously known as aspirating smoke detection systems) offer early smoke detection in the pyrolysis phase along with graduated alarms. High response sensitivity, continuous air sampling, and a graded alarm-activation concept ensure early detection of smouldering and incipient fires, so that users have time to react to alarms appropriately.

www.wagnergroup.com

North Wales fire chief issues safety warning after laptop battery sparks house fire in Rhuddlan

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A senior fire safety officer has issued a safety warning following a fire involving a replacement laptop battery in Rhuddlan last night (6th July).

Crews from Rhyl and St Asaph attended the fire at Tan yr Eglwys, Rhuddlan at shortly before 10.40pm.

The fire caused damage to the laptop, the kitchen table where the laptop was charging and blackening to the wall. Firefighters used one hose reel to extinguish the fire.

Simon Bromley, Community Safety Manager for Conwy and Denbighshire, said: “With more and more people working from home, we’re using laptops and other electrical items more often.

“Everyday electrical items pose fire risks – but there are things we can do to reduce these risks and help keep safe.

“Batteries can present a fire risk when over-charged, short-circuited, submerged in water or if they are damaged. If replacing a battery, always buy branded items from reputable suppliers.

“It is really important to charge them safely too, and avoid charging overnight or covering chargers or electrical items.

“The occupant was in the room when the fire broke out – thankfully they also had working smoke alarms fitted which sounded and would have raised the alarm.

“Electrical fires can strike anytime, anywhere so having working smoke alarms fitted in your home will help protect you and your family.”

The fire service has provided the following tips on staying safe when using batteries and chargers:

  • Always use the charger that came with your phone, tablet, e-cigarette or mobile device.
  • If you need to buy a replacement battery or charger, always choose a branded, genuine product from a supplier you can trust. There are lots of fakes out there, and it can be difficult to spot the difference. Counterfeit electrical chargers can be deadly – many fail to meet UK safety regulations leading to fires and injury.
  • Avoid storing, using or charging batteries at very high or low temperatures.
  • Protect batteries against being damaged – that’s crushed, punctured or immersed in water.
  • Don’t leave items continuously on charge after the charge cycle is complete – don’t leave chargers plugged in overnight.
  • Never cover chargers or charging devices – that includes using your laptop power lead in bed.
  • When you travel, avoid keeping all your items containing lithium ion batteries together, especially on a plane. Check with your flight carrier for additional information or advice.

Henry Brothers appointed to build £18.5 million joint police and fire HQ

by Featured NewsProjects

Henry Brothers Midlands has won a contract to build a new £18.5 million joint headquarters for Nottinghamshire Police and Nottinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service. The three-storey facility will be constructed on land behind the existing Nottinghamshire Police headquarters at Sherwood Lodge and is scheduled to open by the end of 2021.

Work on the new building, which will include a control room, training centre, changing rooms, gym, canteen and shared offices, is expected to begin next month. Once complete it will form part of a wider joint campus that will also include all of the existing police headquarters.

After a competitive tendering process Nottingham-based Henry Brothers Midlands has been chosen to construct the new three-storey building. A formal contract was agreed on 29th June.

Since planning permission was granted in December 2019, a considerable amount of work has already taken place on this multi-phase project under the direction of construction consultancy Gleeds.

The site, which will include a new access road, additional car parking and improvements to existing facilities, has already been levelled and cleared – ahead of time and below budget.

Ian Taylor, Managing Director of Henry Brothers Midlands, said: “As a local company, we are delighted to have been appointed to build this new joint headquarters building for Nottinghamshire Police and Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service.”

The joint headquarters project is the next step in a series of collaboration projects between the two services, which already share premises at Highfields, West Bridgford and London Road fire stations, and at the new tri-service hub in Hucknall. The two organisations also jointly procure fuel, have a shared drone and incident welfare vehicle, and conduct joint safety and educational initiatives.

Chief Constable Craig Guildford said: “This is a significant day in the history of this project and also a good time to reflect on the huge amount of work that has taken place since we began preparing the ground once we got the planning decision at the back end of last year.”

Chair of the Fire Authority, Cllr Michael Payne, added: “This is fantastic news in what has, in recent months, undoubtedly been an extremely challenging time for our police and fire staff, the wider public sector and our communities across the whole of the city and county.

“The appointment of a local company to build our new joint headquarters reinforces our commitment to the people of Nottinghamshire, and I look forward to the next phase of the project where we will start to see the redevelopment of Sherwood Lodge taking shape, and the relationship between the two organisations going from strength to strength.”

United Safety acquires QTEC Fire Services PTY Ltd

by Featured NewsProjects

United Safety, a global manufacturer of safety and survivability solutions, has announced the acquisition of QTEC Fire Services Pty Ltd, effective from 1st July. QTEC, an Australian-based manufacturer of pre-engineered fire suppression systems for mobile plant and equipment for the mining, construction, transportation, and forestry industries is the second fire protection acquisition the company has made in recent years.

United Safety President and CEO Joe Mirabile stated, “We are extremely excited to welcome QTEC Fire Services into the United Safety family. QTEC will significantly increase our available offerings and allow us to provide multiple high-quality fire suppression products to our global customers. This is a continuation of our mission to deliver many more lifesaving products to those who need them.”

QTEC Fire Services Pty Ltd was founded in 1992 with a focus on manufacturing Australia’s highest quality fire suppression systems. The company continues to shape the fire suppression industry as the only Australian based company to continually develop and manufacture products in Australia for both domestic and international applications. Mike Hompesch, partner at Dubin Clark, United Safety’s ownership firm stated, “United Safety continues to be a dramatic growth story that delivers groundbreaking products that save lives around the world. We are proud to have recognized a great opportunity with this team and we look forward to continuing to partner with and support management to expand the company further.”

“It is with great excitement we announce that United Safety & Survivability Corporation has completed the acquisition of QTEC Fire Services and I am excited about the future,” QTEC founder, Mark Ivanovic said. Ivanovic has been highly successful in manufacturing fire suppression products for over 28 years, founded on the principal of high-quality Australian manufacturing.

The news comes after last year’s acquisition of Firestorm Fire Protection, another Australian based fire protection company, further widening the reach of United Safety’s focus on fire safety and strengthening the company’s portfolio of product offerings. Firestorm CEO Kristian Bischoff commented, “The ability to own and operate a first-class Australian manufactured fire suppression group such as QTEC Fire Services is fantastic and complements the Fogmaker misting system and the service and installation of Firestorm. Our future looks extremely promising and 2020 is shaping up to be a record year.”

www.unitedsafety.net/

Prime Minister warns £25m cut to London Fire Brigade

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The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has vowed to fight “unthinkable” proposals to cut the budget for the London Fire Brigade by £25m over two years, as part of the Mayor of London’s £500m saving plans.

The FBU has condemned the “huge damage to the fire service” left over from Boris Johnson’s time as Mayor of London. Central government have so far refused to bail out the GLA’s budget shortfall accrued during the coronavirus pandemic.

The union has criticised Mayor Sadiq Kahn for “passing on Tory cuts to the very emergency services that keep people safe” and has vowed to hold him to his commitment to protect frontline services.

David Shek, FBU executive council member for London said, “London is the epicentre of the UK’s building safety crisis and there is no safe way to manage funding cuts of this magnitude. A £25 million cut to London Fire Brigade’s funding is unthinkable and we will fight it to the bitter end.

“We have just marked the third anniversary of the Grenfell Tower fire and in the years since have dealt with a number of fires in buildings with similar combustible materials. The dangers of cutting the fire and rescue service right now are blatantly obvious.

“The Mayor has committed to protected frontline emergency services and we will hold him to that. We will not accept any reduction in frontline services – whether that be crewing reductions, shift changes, or a recruitment freeze. Make no mistake – any reduction in fire cover will put lives at risk.”

Matt Wrack, FBU general secretary said, “The scale of these cuts is devastating and is a gross insult to firefighters in London who have gone above and beyond to support their communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. The public will not support these cuts, and we intend to fight them.

“Sadiq Khan made a commitment to protect vital frontline services and he must do that. The government should support regions facing financial difficulties as a result of COVID-19 but there is no excuse for a Labour Mayor to be passing on Tory cuts to the very emergency services that keep people safe across the capital.

“Boris Johnson did huge damage to the fire and rescue service as London Mayor by pushing through the biggest cuts in history. These cuts impacted the response on the night of the Grenfell Tower fire and the London Fire Brigade has still not fully recovered. To be considering more spending cuts is downright reckless and would show contempt for the public’s safety.

“This pandemic has demonstrated the value of the fire and rescue service and we should actually be talking about new investment to make the service better and safer. The government must step up to provide whatever financial support is necessary or the prime minister’s talk of ending austerity will ring hollow across London. If that support is not forthcoming, the Mayor must pledge to scrap these dangerous cuts.”

www.london-fire.gov.uk/

Fire Shield installs SRF fire safety systems

by Featured NewsProducts

Fire Shield Systems has provided waste management company Hamilton Waste and Recycling and cement company Tarmac with “specialised and technical” fire safety systems to safeguard the production and storage of solid recovered fuel (SRF).

Fire Shield was engaged by the two companies last year after Tarmac partnered with Hamilton Waste in spring 2019 with to boost the sustainability of its cement plant in Dunbar, Scotland.

This included using SRF produced at Hamilton Waste’s Edinburgh site from non-recyclable waste material, to fuel Tarmac’s Dunbar plant’s operations.

Director of Fire Shield Systems James Mountain underlined that “the production of SRF carries a high fire risk, which, if not managed properly, can impact on the safety of people, machinery and other resources. The safe storage of any flammable materials also requires careful planning and consideration.”

Accordingly, Field Shield Systems surveyed the relevant fire risks at the process and storage areas of the two sites and designed two “bespoke, automatic systems” approved by Tarmac and Hamilton Waste’s insurers and the Environment Agency.

At Hamilton Waste’s production site, Fire Shield Systems installed a fire cannon and organic class A wetting agency, operated by a multi-zonal, flame-detection system to target suppression, offer fast protection and minimal clean up.

A standalone fire suppression Dafo system was also installed to protect the machinery-drive enclosure, which Mountain said “offers robust and reliable, linear, heat detection, using mains power and a stored-nitrogen cartridge to operate the foam hybrid wetting agent to provide maximum protection.”

At Tarmac’s plant, Field Shield Systems designed a type-tested, water spray system, designed for its efficiency in water usage and reduction in contaminated run offs. The water spray system operates with fast-acting, IR3 flame detection which means, in the event of activation, any operations downtime is minimised.

Commenting on the results of Fire Shield’s fire protection system, David Hamilton, Director of Hamilton Waste, said:  “We’ve used other systems in the past, but this situation required a more specialised and technical solution. Fire Shield’s experience in installing similar systems gave us confidence in the team’s expertise.

“From start to finish, Fire Shield has been very professional. We couldn’t fault the service.  They’ve delivered the best-in-class and most cost-effective solution to a very high standard. We would absolutely recommend Fire Shield Systems to other businesses looking to improve the fire safety of their operations. We couldn’t be happier with the results.”

Nightingale Hospital Bristol installs Nittan fire detectors

by Featured NewsProducts

Built in less than three weeks at the University of West of England Frenchay Campus, Nittan Europe is proud to have its Evolution analogue addressable fire detectors installed into the recently opened NHS Nightingale Hospital Bristol.

Having the capacity to provide up to 300 intensive care beds for coronavirus patients, if local services need them, the new facility is one of seven Nightingale hospitals to be set up around the country as part of a massive NHS effort to respond to the COVID-19 health emergency.

The Nittan fire detectors have been incorporated into Ramtech Electronics’WES wireless firm alarm system, which is designed to provide a simple, fast and secure method of communicating fire and medical emergencies in the complex environmental conditions of construction sites.

Whilst WES has been designed to provide temporary protection on construction sites, its ease of use, reliability and quality made it ideal for use in the temporary Nightingale Hospital.

Wireless fire alarm systems are ideal for temporary sites as they don’t require specialist trades to set up, and any number of call points can be deployed in minutes and linked wirelessly to cover large or small sites. The signal passes through all commonly found materials including steel, concrete and stone.

Nittan Evolution EVC-DP dual optical detectors are incorporated into the WES system.  These award-winning detectors feature dual optical technology to reduce false alarms caused by non-combustion products such as steam, dust and aerosols.

According to the manufacturer, the EVC-DP effectively measures the actual particle size in the chamber via its combined IR and blue LED technology. As steam and dust are much larger particles than smoke, the detector won’t false alarm. This makes the EVC-DP detector ideally suited to use in hospitals, hotels and other areas of multiple occupancy which are prone to steam and dust.

The WES wireless fire alarm system, featuring the Nittan detectors, has also been installed into the communal and welfare areas of NHS Nightingale Hospital Bristol.

Oxfordshire firefighters launch new lightweight uniform

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Thanks to a new lightweight, fire resistant uniforms, Oxfordshire firefighters will be better equipped to keep residents safe.

The new highly visible ‘rescue jackets’ with updated safety tunics offer enhanced fire protection and are available in a wide range of sizes to accommodate both male and female firefighters. They are reportedly lighter to wear; essential as crews often attend incidents for lengthy periods of time.

Rob MacDougall, Chief Fire Officer, Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue Service, said: “Our crews need first-class uniforms to protect them when fighting fires, freeing people trapped in cars, during water rescues, and entering collapsed structures.

“It is essential they are wearing kit that’s designed with the latest safety features. A uniform that gives them complete confidence.”

The gold-coloured kit clearly shows signs of dirt, such as soot or other contamination, meaning it can be spotted quickly and removed; a simple but innovative feature.

Firefighters begin wearing the new kit, designed and supplied by Bristol Uniforms, this month. The uniforms will be standard across the region, following a national collaborative procurement process.