Posts in category: Fire Detection

More elderly and disabled people will be helped to install fire alarms that save lives and meet new building standards rules thanks to an additional £500,000 in funding.

This doubles the funding already given to Care and Repair Scotland to help older and disabled people to install the alarms. Together with the £1 million already provided to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to install alarms in the homes of people at highest risk, the Scottish Government is providing £2 million to help people to meet the new standards.

The new rules require all homes in Scotland to have interlinked fire alarms, which communicate with each other so that a fire in one room sets off alarms throughout the property, giving people more time to escape and call emergency services.

The requirements have been in place for new-build and private-rented homes for a decade, and will come into effect for owner-occupied homes and those in the social rented sector on Tuesday 1 February. They place a legal duty on councils to monitor how many homes are compliant. Homeowners will not be penalised if they haven’t had the alarms installed in time but are encouraged to do so.

Housing Secretary Shona Robison said: “We’re introducing these new standards because interlinked fire alarms will save more lives. One death from fire is one too many, but tragically last year alone 44 people died in house fires in Scotland. We would encourage all homeowners to install the alarms as soon as they are able – long life battery-powered interlinked alarms are as easy to install as traditional standalone ones.

“We know that some homeowners may not be able to meet the cost of fitting the necessary alarms so had already provided £500,000 funding through Care and Repair Scotland to help elderly and disabled people. We don’t want funding to be a barrier to this important work, which is why we’re now doubling this funding, taking our total support to help people install these alarms to £2 million. We are in discussions with Care and Repair to ensure support continues up to and beyond the 1 February deadline, so that elderly and disabled people can make this fire safety improvement.”

Robert Thomson, National Director for Care and Repair Scotland, said: “We are delighted by this announcement as this has been a very popular scheme and the additional funding will allow local Care and Repair services to continue to support older and disabled people. We intend to target some of this additional funding to Council areas that do not have a Care and Repair service. It is also helpful that we are able to continue to provide support beyond the 1 February deadline.”  

Following a decision of its Board, Euralarm has welcomed its newest member Kidde Fire Protection. The company will join the Extinguishing Section of Euralarm. The section monitors the technical and political trends and takes action to guide, influence their development and improve them. The section collaborates with a diverse number of stakeholders in Europe on finding solutions for today’s challenges as well as tomorrow’s challenges for fire safety in a digitised world.

Companies joining Euralarm get a unique insight into what is happening on other European markets and the opportunities that they might offer. They not only tap into the political expertise and understanding of the EU policy but can also make personal connections with technical and political experts and potential business partners.

Being a member of Euralarm enables companies and associations to gain expertise on standardisation. Members have their voice heard in Brussels and can support and direct standardisation and legislative processes.

Kidde Fire Protection will now benefit from Euralarm’s services in terms of representation towards European Institutions and Standardisation Organisations. This includes the monitoring of legislative and standardisation issues relevant to the Industry. Kidde will have access to the extended network of national associations and major companies in the electronic fire safety and security sectors, which form Euralarm’s membership.

Kidde Fire Protection

Kidde Fire Protection, headquartered in the UK, is a world leader in Clean Agent & Inert Gas fire suppression systems for special fire hazards, serving industries such as marine/offshore, oil and gas, commercial cooking, manufacturing & industrial, power-gen and data centres since 1917.

Kidde Fire Protection is part of Carrier (NYSE: CARR) a leading provider of heating, air conditioning and refrigeration systems, building controls and automation, and fire and security systems leading to safer, smarter, sustainable and high-performance buildings.  More information on Kidde can be found on www.kfp.co.uk.

Kentec Electronics, a leading manufacturer of life-critical control systems, has launched K-Mesh, a next-generation wireless detection system that uses self-healing and configuring Mesh technology to deliver optimum levels of reliability. 

Launched at Intersec 2022, K-Mesh is a new development and new name for Kentec’s Ekho wireless system. Kentec’s sister company, Hochiki Europe, will retain the Ekho brand for their Hybrid wireless offering. This will enable Kentec Installation Partners (KIPs) to promote and sell a system that is bespoke to them, and which has a series of additional product features to give them a further competitive advantage. 

New UNIQUE technology within K-Mesh is SmartGuide, which supports safe and strategic building evacuation by wirelessly utilising sound, light and voice command functionality to provide the utmost clarity in evacuation instructions. The sound/light and voice command functions all exist in a single device that is also a detector. 

K-Mesh uses a self-healing dynamic Mesh network, which makes it easy to use, install and commission – and ultimately provides robust assurance that fire incidents are detected and communicated immediately. It is available as part of a complete fire detection system with Kentec-manufactured panels to provide optimum performance.  

A wireless translator module, which sits at the centre of the K-Mesh system, is hard-wired to the fire alarm control panel loop and communicates continuously with the wireless devices. Sensors are supplied in three variants: optical; thermal; and multi-criteria, with the optical and multi-criteria sensors featuring adaptive signal processing and double dust traps to prevent false alarms. Thermal detectors can respond to a fixed temperature threshold or detect a rate of rise in temperature. Wireless sounders, call points and testing kits are also available within the range.   

K-Mesh has a seven-to-ten-year battery life, which is approximately twice that of the industry standard. The technology is also fully-expandable, and configurable from anything from two to 2,000 devices so even the largest, most disparate and complex sites can now be protected wirelessly. Further capabilities include a communication range of up to 1,200 metres and immunity to hacking.   

Kevin Swann, Managing Director of Kentec Electronics, says wireless fire detection is the future of detector technology: “It is fast to install and less invasive to a building’s structure, and by utilising the most advanced Mesh technology previous concerns over reliability are a thing of the past,” he says.  

“The K-Mesh launch puts us in a strong position to provide our installers with a one-stop-shop for all the fire detection needs,” Kevin adds. “We’re very pleased to utilise Intersec to launch the product, and indeed take full advantage of the extensive networking opportunities the show offers.” 

In addition to LPCB and EN-54 approval, K-Mesh has the radio equipment directive (RED) approval, which sets essential requirements for safety and health, electromagnetic compatibility, and the efficient use of the radio spectrum.  

Kentec will continue to provide technical support for customers who have already installed the Ekho wireless brand. 

Life safety systems are some of the most sophisticated and innovative pieces of product designs. These powerful pieces of kit are designed and manufactured to protect people, buildings, and assets in often complex applications and with multiple users.  

For over 100 years Hochiki has designed and manufactured innovative life safety solutions. Its leading edge commercial and industrial fire detection and emergency lighting products have acquired global acceptance as the benchmark for high-integrity and long-term reliability.  

Sophisticated design combined with powerful customer insight 

Huge investments have been made into research and development at Hochiki, a good example is in the L@titude product. Led by customer insight, this latest model of fire control panel combines the very latest in hardware and software and is the company’s market leading control and indication system.  

Sophisticated enough to operate anywhere in the world, in multiple languages, across all manner of applications – from schools and hospitals, skyscrapers filled with thousands of office workers, apartment blocks and entertainment venues, cultural and commercial spaces as well as international travel ports, manufacturing warehouses and logistics hubs. The system has been designed to be simple to configure and easy to use by anyone, utilising touchscreen technology with a graphical user interface to help display vital information. It is EN approved and recently DBI certified for the Danish market following EN54 Part 13 approval. 

Greener life safety products 

We cannot escape the fact that the climate is top of the agenda, so reducing your company’s emissions makes sense, not only for future generations but also for financial gains too. For businesses looking to improve their energy consumption, moving away from bulk heads and central battery systems could be the answer. Hochiki offers a completely unique, cost effective and fully compliant emergency lighting system.

The power saving and environmentally friendly LED-based FIREscape emergency lighting system consumes only 0.1W once fully charged, the lower energy consumption directly correlates with lower CO₂e emissions; providing building owners with a greener and more cost-effective solution.  

A new generation of Hybrid Wireless Fire Detection 

Hochiki’s next generation of hybrid wireless fire detection products, Ekho is also one to investigate or indeed seek out a demo. At the core of the system is the wireless Translator module. It is hard-wired to the fire alarm control panel loop and communicates continuously with the wireless devices. Wireless Expander modules are used to extend the radio mesh network, increasing the reach and capacity of the overall system. The Ekho system is completely compatible with L@titude. 

This January, Hochiki will be exhibiting at the Intersec 2022 event at the Dubai World Trade Centre, 16-18 January.  

OFR Consultants – an independent consultancy dedicated to addressing fire safety challenges – has completed work on a host of projects both here in the UK and internationally. The company, which is the largest consultancy dedicated to fire engineering in the UK, offers pre-eminent fire engineering expertise that protects people, property and the environment. Projects benefitting from the 100-strong team’s advice this month include providing fire safety guidance to the European Organisation for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere (ESO) for its new European Extremely Large Telescope, which is currently under construction in the Atacama Desert, Chile.

Working as part of an international team, the OFR experts are peer reviewing the contractor’s design proposals for the client and ensuring that proposals meet relevant design guidance recommendations and appropriate regulations. OFR is working on behalf of Ramboll, a global engineering, architecture and consultancy company

In London, the team has been advising on the detailed planning submission for a sustainable office-led redevelopment of the Printworks building. Located within Zone H of the Canada Water masterplan, which is a partnership between British Land, Southwark Council and the local community, the Printworks building will include ground floor retail, improved landscaping and the creation of accessible routes throughout the site.

In the North, OFR has also helped on the creation of two schemes in Leeds. Working on behalf of client Wilmott Dixon, OFR has advised on the creation of a new block at Outwood Academy in Hemsworth as well as Leeds Bus Station where OFR guided the client on the safe creation of new entryways for passengers.

While in Scotland, a team of fire engineering specialists from OFR Consultants have helped to deliver a fairy tale ending at the Category B listed 5-star Glenapp Castle Hotel following an extensive £2m refurbishment. Here, the OFR team worked alongside client Truestone Glenapp Ltd to advise on the complex project that had faced building control challenges over the 3-year duration. The team also worked in Glasgow on the recent completion of the Allander Leisure and Adult Resource Centre – a new build facility comprising a 25m 6 lane swimming pool, teaching pool, 8 court games hall, and other amenities. 

OFR was founded in 2016 in Manchester and has since become the UK’s leading fire risk consultancy, employing more than 100 colleagues from over 20 countries. The brightest and best professionals in their field, these colleagues help deliver on global projects across the UK and the whole world – from Antarctica, to Cuba, to Sri Lanka. 

Concluded founding director Sam Liptrott: “We have been fortunate enough this year to work on some really fascinating projects, taking our team across the world, ensuring that they share the best fire engineering advice to clients delivering ambitious new developments. Our colleagues have excelled in delivering some great work at each of these sites and we now look forward to working with more great global clients as we use our expertise to protect people, property and the environment.”

The recent OS Malevich 2.12 update from Ajax Systems has brought some highly anticipated features. The new firmware improved the fire alarm system, added a more flexible configuration of notifications about entry/exit delays, and most importantly – delivered Chime, the feature that many installers and security industry professionals have been awaiting most. 

What is Chime?

The Chime feature allows using an Ajax siren with an opening sensor as an analogue of a shopkeeper bell. It notifies store employees that a client has entered the door or — in a private house — that someone has entered through the back door.

The sound of the siren alert is short and different from the alarm, and its volume is adjustable in the app. There are 4 alert signals to choose from, which allows hearing which door has been opened. After enabling the Chime feature, the blue bell icon appears in the Ajax app, indicating the state of the function. It’s possible to temporarily disable it with a tap.

Other new features delivered with OS Malevich 2.12 included: 

Improved Ajax Cloud notifications
Notifications on the loss of connection with the Ajax Cloud server become more informative. Now, in the service settings of a hub, users can select specific communication channels about which to report in case of a lost or disabled connection. The delay for such a notification can be set up for up to 30 minutes. This functionality not only improves control over the communication of the security system for users but also can generate an alarm confirmation for a security company monitoring station.

Revised Night Mode notifications
This year, the company received several requests from Ajax users on Facebook and the Trustpilot review platform regarding siren alerts in Night Mode. Users did not like the siren waking up their children when Night Mode was activated.

Now, in the siren settings, alerts on the Night mode activation and delays are separated: individually for the entry and the exit. Users can also set the volume of these alerts. No more annoying beeps at night.

Fire alerts in a multi-apartment building
At the request of Norwegian partner Elotec, with whom the company implemented a project last year to protect the UNESCO World Heritage Site in Bergen, Ajax team continues to improve the interconnected alarm of FireProtect detectors. The function saves lives by notifying all people in the building through the buzzers built into the fire detectors when at least one of them has detected fire. It allows people to be evacuated even before the fire rapidly spreads across a building.

Thanks to the update, in case of false alarm a user will now be able to only mute the detectors of the same group — the user apartment, without affecting the detectors in other apartments. The user evaluates the falsity of a fire alarm only in his apartment, and if there is a danger to other residents, then the interconnected alarm will notify them of it. If a false alarm triggers an interconnected alarm in all apartments, only the system administrator can mute it.

How to get the update

All Ajax hubs will receive OS Malevich 2.12 within September 2021. The update is installed automatically when the security system is disarmed, and the hub is connected to an external power supply.

Businesses and building owners can now check on the fire safety status of their properties remotely with the Bosch Remote Fire Safety app, running on the new ‘Remote Interact’ feature of the Bosch Remote Services portfolio for Bosch fire alarm systems. The application provides peace of mind to end users and system integrators alike who can easily monitor the condition of their fire alarm systems from a distance. The app also sends push notifications in the case of emergency events – all available from any iOS or Android personal device.

The application is the latest addition to the Bosch Remote Services portfolio making it even more powerful. Bosch Remote Services simplifies service and trouble-shooting tasks for system integrators. The solution can reduce the physical on-site time for maintenance and service jobs improving efficiency and profitability.

Additionally, even if the user is not on-site Remote Services provides better safety management for both systems integrators and their customers; alerting them immediately of potential issues as they occur and allowing system integrators for remote configuration and troubleshooting. Given that usually two out of three service calls can be resolved remotely, Remote Services supports system integrators in providing faster and more transparent service anywhere and at any time.

New service ‘Remote Interact’ included

‘Remote Interact’ with its app Remote Fire Safety complements the other three existing services of the Bosch Remote Services portfolio: ‘Remote Connect’, which allows a remote connection to Bosch fire systems in the first instance; ‘Remote Maintenance’, which provides live fire systems data; and ‘Remote Alert’, which helps customers stay informed about events as they happen by email or SMS. Together, the products help to improve services, simplify troubleshooting, and make overall maintenance for Bosch fire alarm systems more efficient.

Available on iOS and Android, the new Remote Fire Safety app displays clear information about the status of a property’s fire alarm system at the touch of a button, and provides easy access to users who can log in quickly via the application rather than signing into the wider Remote Services portal. Having a direct access to the fire alarm system via the app also improves the dialogue between system integrators and their end-customers, helping to build trust.

The application is offered free of charge to existing Remote Services license holders and is available on the Apple App Store or on Google Play.