Lack of domestic smoke alarms in UK causing fatalities

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In research presented by BAFE and NAPIT, data collated over the last decade (2010-11 to 2020-21) in England, Wales, and Scotland record an unsettling 424,464 dwelling fires.

These fires resulted in almost 82,000 non-fatal casualties and close to 3,000 deaths. In more recent statistics made available by Fire and Rescue Services nationwide, there is an ongoing issue with high failure rates or a complete absence of domestic smoke alarms.

In England alone, during 2020 / 2021, there was a 28% failure rate of smoke alarms (i.e. that failed to operate or were not present). This failure rate rises to 39% in Scotland and increasing even further to half of all fires (50%) in Wales.

The ‘Fire Kills’ campaign from the UK government states: “You are around 8 times more likely to die from a fire if you don’t have a working smoke alarm in your home”. Both BAFE and NAPIT have stressed the paramount importance of having suitable life safety systems in place.

Provisional data from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities reports close to 176,000 new build dwellings were started in England alone during the previous 12 months from year ending 2021 (July-September). It is of key importance that the housing development sector complies with Building Regulations and relevant Approved Documents when providing appropriate domestic fire detection and alarm systems. These must be installed by competent contractors.

In August last year, BAFE launched its latest competency scheme with NAPIT, called DS301. This provides a route for contractors to demonstrate their competence to design, install, commission, and maintain Grade D fire detection and fire alarm systems in domestic premises. This supports appropriate British Standards and working best practice, most notably the latest iteration of BS 5839-6 (Code of practice for the design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of fire detection and fire alarm systems in domestic premises).

Justin Maltby-Smith, managing director BAFE, said: “This information clearly outlines that it is extremely important that any work on Grade D fire detection and fire alarm systems is performed in compliance with the appropriate current regulatory and competency documents available. Having suitable systems in place will aid in alerting residents as quickly as possible, allowing for a safer evacuation and providing emergency services more time to mitigate any damage. The housing sector has a great responsibility to use competent contractors, which is why the BAFE DS301 Scheme was developed, and it will clearly help in evidencing this competency. We must not lose focus that these are people’s homes, and they should feel safe and be confident in the systems installed.”

Frank Bertie, chief technical officer, NAPIT added: “These statistics show the risk to life posed by fire is a real threat. NAPIT are proud to be leading the way with the introduction of the new DS301 Scheme with BAFE to provide homeowners, house builders, management companies and specifiers with confidence that the contractor they use is appropriately qualified, competent, and assessed.  Registered members on the NAPIT DS301 Scheme have demonstrated their competency to deliver design, installation, commissioning and/or maintenance works for Grade D fire detection and fire alarm systems in domestic premises. Correctly installed fire detection systems help save lives and must be considered a priority in all homes.”

Kentec’s K-Mesh wireless system installed on 1,000-year Chester Cathedral

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K-Mesh, a wireless fire detection technology from Kentec Electronics, has managed to tackle several challenges enroute its successful installation at the historic Chester Cathedral.

Brad Parker, founder of Charles Thomas Heritage Fire Protection, was tasked with specifying and upgrading the wireless fire detection system previously installed in the Cathedral. The thick walls and lead-lined roofs and the other challenges that come with a building that can trace its roots back to 1093, meant Brad had to think outside the box. 

He opted for Kentec’s K-Mesh system, a technology that uses self-healing and configuring mesh technology. It also 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, such as the Syncro AS panel and in this case the Taktis panel.

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. Further capabilities include a communication range of up to 1,200 metres and immunity to hacking.   

Due to the size of Chester Cathedral, many expanders were needed, and with the K-Mesh system, each expander has up to 5 redundancy paths which connects to the strongest expander, creating the mesh. Even the dead spots in the cathedral can communicate with the strongest radio signal expander within its area, so in case of an emergency, every corner of the building is covered. 

“With the latest mesh technology, rather than one expander we can have three, four or even five redundancy paths and the signal connects itself automatically to the strongest expander to create the mesh,” Parker explained. 

Byronn Alty, operations manager, Charles Thomas Heritage Fire Protection said: “We went to what we would believe would be the dead spots within the cathedral and low and behold the device started communicating with the strongest radio signal expander within its area. I would look at the drawings and thought it would communicate with expander one, and yet the device ends up linking to expander two.”

A further benefit to the mesh technology is that it is plug and play: “The cathedral has an outbuilding with an old bell tower so there needed to be a link between the two. This was an initial design challenge for us to think how we were going to get radio over there, but the new wireless mesh is just plug and play and it was just great to see it working,” Alty added.

Kevin Swann, managing director, Kentec Electronics said: “We are pleased and excited about our new K-Mesh system and seeing it installed in such an important landmark is an honour and confirmation of our best practice. It is fast to install and less invasive to a building’s structure and all of us here at Kentec are committed to helping protect our heritage buildings and assets of national importance.”

London development installs 2,000 Hyfire wireless devices

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More than 2,000 Hyfire wireless devices have been installed across four towers in a London development. The project was completed with installers Gemini AMPM and property management firm FirstPort.

With up to 25 floors, the Elektron Tower, Proton Tower, Neutron Tower and Switch Tower are located on the banks of the Thames in Tower Hamlets, comprising 497 apartments in total. With fire system upgrades required outside the normal schedule of improvements to the buildings, wireless was an obvious choice, helping to limit time on site and reducing impact on the fabric of the building.

Jamie Dawson, director, Gemini AMPM, said: “With the requirement to install the upgraded system in an occupied buildings, wireless was the obvious choice, and Hyfire wireless devices are the best in the business. The original schedule to install the 2,000 individual detectors, call points, sounders and other wireless devices was six weeks, but we managed it in four thanks to the ability to pre-programme devices offsite and install them in minutes, with around 90% less cabling required.

“Our installers worked with the Hyfire team, who helped us to pinpoint the exact number of devices required and where they should be located. The onsite property managers from FirstPort helped facilitated us working across the four buildings and liaised with residents, ensuring we could gain access to 99% of apartments within the four-week schedule.”

Taurus is a completely new range of high-performance wireless detection, control and alarm devices, based on a new protocol that offers unprecedented capabilities, quality and reliability. The range is fully certified to EN54 and fully compliant with BS5839 Part 1.

Standard addressable or conventional fire panels are wired via a loop to translators, from which wireless devices can be used on their own to build fully wireless systems of virtually any size or mixed with Hyfire wired products to provide seamless hybrid solutions, offering total flexibility to specifiers and installers.

Ollie Murray, regional sales manager at Hyfire said: “Since the launch of Taurus earlier in 2021, more and more installers have been discovering the benefits that wireless fire devices can offer. This is just one example of a project where fire system installations are made simpler and quicker, which is particularly beneficial in situations where buildings remain occupied. Whereas the upfront cost of the unit may be a little higher, the savings on running wiring loops and making good after are also considerable, so the cost/benefit analysis in favour of using wireless is highly favourable, and that’s before you even consider the other benefits.

The Taurus range includes all devices required to build a fully wireless commercial fire system, including optical, multi-criteria and heat detectors, manual call points, wall sounders, sounder bases, and output/input modules. The Taurus translator can process up to 128 devices, with expanders that can extend the range of the system by up to 1km in open air. This effectively means that the scale of the system is limited only by the number of devices that the fire panel can handle. Tony Ulasi, development manager at FirstPort, said: “Installing a new fire system across these four landmark towers is a huge operation. We needed to work closely with a trusted supplier that could provide a cost-effective solution, whilst going above and beyond to minimise disruption to our tenants during the pandemic. From the beginning of the project Gemini AMPM ticked all the boxes – from product selection, to design, to installation. As a result, we have been able to prioritise safety, whilst achieving considerable cost savings.”

What’s the global fire sprinkler market value in 2022?

by Breaking NewsFire SuppressionProducts

Analysts have forecasted that the global fire sprinkler systems market is set to grow at a CAGR of 7.62% during the period 2017-2021.

Fire sprinkler systems comprise of wet pipe systems, dry pipe systems, deluge systems, and pre-action systems. These systems are effective tools to combat fires in commercial, industrial, residential setting, along with the transportation sector.

360 Market Updates has launched an indepth report on Wet Fire Sprinkler Systems Market Share Analysis 2022. The report analyses the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, business expansion, and emerging technologies. The report also gives an industry forecast to 2027.

A key challenege listed in the report is the high cost of retrofit and replacement of fire protection systems in existing buildings. Whereas a decline in insurance expenditure has been listed as a key market driver. In case of a fire, these systems are quickly activated to reduce heat, flames, and smoke, thereby saving human lives and preventing injuries as well as loss of property.

In case of a fire, these systems are quickly activated to reduce heat, flames, and smoke, thereby saving human lives and preventing injuries as well as loss of property. Fire sprinkler systems are categorised into wet pipe systems, dry pipe systems, deluge systems, and pre-action systems.

Companies and manufacturers such as Hochiki, Minimax, NAFFCO, Tyco Fire Products, Cosco Fire Protection, Globe Fire Sprinkler, HD Fire Protect, Reliable Automatic Sprinkler, Siemens, United Technologies, Victaulic, and Viking have been included as key resources in the report.

CertaSite completes acquisition of Kentucky-based Teasley Fire Protection

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Commercial fire protection and life safety company CertaSite has acquired Teasley Fire Protection, both companies are based in the Kentucky, USA. Teasley, a family owned and operated fire protection company, operates and serves in the city of Frankfort, based in Kentucky.

CertaSite operates in building safety and code compliance to its customer-base in the Midwest region of USA. This is the company’s first acquisition in Kentucky.  

Teasley Fire Protection is a family business with a cumulative industry expertise of 20 years. The company has expertise in providing services for fire sprinkler systems, fire extinguishers, suppression systems, and emergency lighting solutions to their loyal customers. Teasley’s reputation in the region will allow the company to grow its customer base and expand into new markets thanks to its association with CertaSite.

Teasley co-owners Joe and Carissa Teasley commented: “CertaSite is a company that we trust because they share our values and code of ethics for saving lives and protecting property. We fully believe that under CertaSite, our customers will benefit from efficient and streamlined services, with enhanced administration support and advancements like online customer portals, inspection management and reporting, expanded service areas, life safety maintenance programs, and multi-location support with a certified expanded life safety technician workforce.”

Joe Teasley will remain with the company in a new role while CertaSite’s regional manager Don Hennessy will be overseeing office management.

Jeff Wyatt, CEO, CertaSite said: “We are grateful to Joe and Carissa Teasley and the Teasley family for their continued partnership throughout this process. We are committed to preserving the legacy that these dedicated professionals built, and we recognize and respect their strong local presence. We are thrilled to be expanding our unique brand of customer service in Kentucky and look forward to serving this market.”

In addition to Teasley Fire Protection, CertaSite already has acquired 14 fire protection and life safety companies and is actively engaged in bringing new businesses under the CertaSite portfolio.

The company’s regional focus for 2022 will include Missouri, Tennessee, and West Virginia. Along with other states that include Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Iowa.

Bull Products makes carbon zero commitment by 2030

by Building ManagementFeatured NewsFire DetectionFirefighting EquipmentIndustry SectorsProducts

Bull Products is leaping ahead to decarbonise its offerings by developing products and services that help to reduce the carbon impact of its customers’ activities.

The company has committed itself to becoming zero carbon by 2030 and has developed a seven-strand sustainability strategy to achieve this goal. Three of the strands directly reduce their customer’s impact on the environment.

Historically, many fire safety products are scrapped when a site or project reaches completion. This waste disposal strategy is detrimental to the environment.

Bull’s asset management solution will collect fire safety products from a project and securely store them at a regional centre. The products are then cleaned, serviced and certified, ready for delivery to a new site.

Bull also extends the life of products as part of its asset management programme. Take fire extinguishers as an example – extinguishers are reused until they are at the end of their life cycle. At this point, they are remanufactured by stripping them down and completely refurbishing them to be as good as new. This massively reduces carbon emissions when compared with manufacturing new products.

Ross Markham, managing director, Bull Products said: “Over time, we will reduce the energy we consume and secure energy supplies from sustainable sources. We are changing the way we work. We are focusing our business development on greener and more sustainable products and services. I am proud that Bull is leading the way in the fire safety industry by driving sustainability initiatives to create a zero-carbon future.”

Meiko introduces new respirator warewasher

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Meiko has launched a new respirator washing machine that claims to save on labour, chemicals, hygiene, and most importantly ensures consistent results and eliminates the risk of human error. The German engineering brand specialises in manufacturing warewashing and food waste handling equipment.

According to Meiko this is the first disinfection machine to clean masks. The automated washing technology for respirators and face masks provides Log 5 protection.

Washing in a machine, rather than hand washing, protects staff from aerosols and ensures maximum hygiene and inactivation of Covid 19. Babcock’s Rosyth site is the first UK user of Meiko’s automated respirator washing technology, which provides Log 5 protection.

Colin Chrystal, health, safety and environmental manager, Babcock’s Rosyth said: “Along with being able to evidence compliance with regulations, we know that our people are supplied with fully maintained kit, to the highest levels of cleanliness.”

“We anticipate being able to fully inspect, disinfect and maintain 60 units per day, comfortably. Babcock’s Rosyth site is currently washing 10 masks per day using the Meiko TopClean M Cleaning and Disinfection system (3M 6000 full face respirators and 3M 7500 half mask respirators).

“We are also investigating the possibility of cleaning our powered Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE) head tops using the same system (3M M-200 series Versaflo and Speedglas head tops).”

West Midlands strengthen incident response with real-time data receiver tech

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West Midlands Fire Service and West Midlands Ambulance Service will implement data-receiver technology to enhance situational awareness, improve collaborative working across services, and assist incident resolution.

The authority is using the radio frequency technology supplied by Enterprise Control Systems (ECS).

The West Midlands emergency services will integrate ECS’s portable monitoring terminal, Handyview, onto command vehicles and in control centres to gain instant access to encrypted audio and video footage of live incidents transmitted via ECS video link equipment, Evenlode Airborne Data Link (ADL) – fitted on the National Police Air Service’s (NPAS) fleet of nineteen helicopters and four aeroplanes.

Gaining real-time access to this intelligence improves decision-making and ensures a faster more collaborative response to critical incidents such as large-scale and industrial fires, flooding, road traffic collisions, monitoring crowds at large events, and aiding the search for missing people.

West Midlands is one of the first regions in the UK to adopt this capability. The contract comes as a natural progression to the services’ advanced technological capabilities and is testimony to their ongoing commitment to innovation which helps to ensure the safety of communities, firefighters, and paramedics. It also follows the Grenfell Tower fire inquiry report, which highlighted the importance of access to NPAS footage to help teams on the ground effectively coordinate and respond to major emergencies.

Handyview complements both services’ existing drone capabilities and ensures crews can access live intelligence even when their drones can’t fly – for example, during poor weather conditions. Handyview will improve commanders’ situational awareness, allowing them to make better-informed operational decisions.

Marc Haysey, managing director, Enterprise Control Systems said: “This announcement represents an important next step in how the West Midlands emergency services – and the industry as a whole – are continually seeking to improve their multi-agency communications and collaborative response to incidents. At ECS we’re proud to design and manufacture equipment that’s already being deployed by air and ground teams, facilitating access to crucial data that empowers them to continue performing the essential task of protecting our communities and saving lives.”

Colin Waite, UK Police business development manager at Enterprise Control Systems said: “The ability to receive live high-quality video and data has always been key for the security and emergency organisations we work with. Now with more collaborative and joint operations, not only is it essential to have interoperable voice communications, but the ability to share situational awareness information which will be key in being able to resolve incidents efficiently and safely.”

Richard Moore, group commander, West Midlands Fire Service said: “We’re really excited to be linking up with our ambulance and police colleagues for this downlink project. It’s the latest innovation in our drive to keep our communities safe with a digital and data-driven approach. We’ve been trialling our own drones for a year, so appreciate how an aerial dimension can complement our work on the ground. The NPAS partnership will help our decision-making as we bring incidents to a safe resolution.”

Cameron McVittie, tactical incident commander, West Midlands Ambulance Service said: “Learning from incidents is at the forefront of our command development as an organisation, and the addition of the airborne Data Link into our command toolbox will be a fantastic asset to ensure that as a multi-agency command team we can make the best decisions to keep our patients and staff safe at incidents such as water rescue, fires or terrorist attacks.”

Nittan launches visual alarm base for photoelectric smoke detector

by Featured NewsFire DetectionProducts

Nittan Europe, a manufacturer of fire detection products sold globally, has launched the EV-PYSVAD Visual Alarm Base for use with its 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. As a slave device taking its commands from the EV-PYS detector, the EV-PYSVAD does not require an individual loop address.

The EV-PYSVAD has been designed to be a backward compatible drop-in replacement for its predecessor, the EV-PSBCN Visual Indicator Base, without the need for panel upgrades or type code changes.

The EV-PYSVAD Visual Alarm Base has been introduced specifically for use with Nittan’s EV-PYS Photoelectric smoke detector, which comes with a sounder.

The EV-PYS features an advanced smoke sensing chamber designed for maximum effectiveness. A spherical feature incorporated within the chamber provides superior light scattering, plus an orange LED is used, which significantly improves response across the fire spectrum.

The shape of the ‘PY’ smoke chamber is optimised to minimise the effect of dirt/dust contamination, plus a fine stainless-steel micromesh prevents the ingress of even the smallest insects which can create false alarms.