New fire water pump contract awarded to SPP Pumps for power station project

by Featured NewsFire SuppressionProjects

Fire system contract for SPP Pumps at carbon capture site

SPP Pumps will supply fire water pumps to NZT Power for the world first gas-fired power station featuring carbon capture and storage (CCS).

The UK-based manufacturer announced the award for a large engineered pump house at the site.

This system incorporates diesel engine and electric motor driven FM approved split-case fire water pumps.

The fire pump system will be completed with a secondary start system and fire suppression system.

This installation includes OH2 pressure maintenance pumps and local control.

Safety equipment and other relevant components will complete the project.

Project scale and power generation

According to project details provided by SPP Pumps, NZT Power will be capable of generating up to 742 megawatts of flexible dispatchable power.

This capacity is equivalent to the annual electricity requirements of more than one million homes in the UK.

Up to two million tonnes of CO2 will be captured annually from the site.

Technip Energies leads a consortium with GE Vernova for the delivery of the project.

Balfour Beatty acts as the construction partner for the Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract.

Employment and apprenticeships

The Gloucestershire headquarters of SPP Pumps will assign 50 employees to work directly on this contract.

This project supports an apprenticeship programme that currently includes 15 individuals across the company.

The manufacturer plans to recruit an additional five apprentices over the next 12 months.

Tom Salmon, Group Business Development Manager, said: “The NZT Power project is an important milestone for SPP.

“While we have a long history of supplying pump equipment to energy, power, municipal, and other traditional sectors, the opportunity to work on a prestigious CCS project provides a strong foundation for our growth in the energy transition sector in the UK and abroad.”

The Northern Endurance Partnership (NEP) infrastructure represents the first CO2 transportation and storage project in the UK.

North East rail safety patrols stop lineside fires using drones

by Aerial FirefightingFeatured NewsProjects

Lineside fires stopped during Easter patrols

Network Rail has used drone technology during Easter anti-trespass operations across Teesside, County Durham and the North East, including incidents where two lineside fires at Seaham and Horden were prevented from spreading without disrupting services.

Network Rail said the joint rail safety operations ran from 7 to 17 April in partnership with the British Transport Police (BTP) and Northern, with activity focused on known trespass hotspots.

The two-week programme is in its sixth year and forms part of anti-trespass prevention work aimed at reducing unsafe behaviour on and near the railway.

Specialist teams worked on the railway alongside BTP officers and Northern staff, using drones to monitor hard-to-reach areas, identify risks early and respond before incidents occurred.

Network Rail mobile operations managers were deployed in road vehicles and onboard trains, working with BTP officers and Northern colleagues to identify incidents.

During the first week, joint patrols were carried out between Middlesbrough and Sunderland.

Drone operations around stations and sidings in the region prevented two lineside fires at Seaham and Horden from escalating, with no disruption to services.

On both occasions, the individuals fled after spotting the drone.

Phil Gowland describes how patrols operate

A mobile operations manager recorded the youths and used a thermal imaging camera to track them as they tried to conceal themselves in nearby trees and bushes.

Once they had moved away from the railway, the mobile operations manager extinguished both fires fully and confirmed it was safe for train operations to continue.

Phil Gowland, Network Rail local operations manager, said: “The Easter school holidays are a key time for us, and this is the sixth year we’ve run this anti-trespass prevention activity.

“The aim is simple: to get the message out that trespassing is dangerous and not acceptable, particularly for young people.

“What we tend to do is have a colleague in the cab of a train.

“If they spot someone trespassing, they can radio straight through to a BTP patrol vehicle that’s travelling alongside the route.

“That means our response time can be as little as five minutes, and we’re able to get there quickly and deal with it.

“The use of drones has been a real game changer for us.

“We now use them in specific hotspot areas where we’ve had ongoing trespass issues.

“They’ve helped us stop fires, identify landslips and even catch people just before they step onto the railway.

“Being able to warn people early and prevent danger has been hugely beneficial.”

This week, from 13 to 17 April, operations expanded to include Eaglescliffe to Saltburn, Billingham to Nunthorpe and the Darlington to Bishop Auckland line, with patrols again focused on known trespass hotspots using drones and ground teams.

Gowland added: “I’ve seen first-hand what can happen when people trespass, and it’s not nice – not for the individual if they’re injured or worse, and not for our colleagues either.

“The good news is this approach works.

“We see a significant reduction in trespass during and after these operations, particularly over Easter and the summer holidays.”

Network Rail said the Easter patrols form part of its longer-term work with train operators and the police to keep passengers, staff and local communities safe.

LearnPro wins London Fire Brigade contract for risk information platform

by CommunicationsEvacuationFeatured NewsProjectsSearch and Rescue

LearnPro selected for OneRisk platform

London Fire Brigade (LFB) has selected Prevent + Protect from LearnPro Group, working with Softcat, for its OneRisk project to modernise and integrate building-related fire risk information.

LearnPro announced that the platform was chosen through LFB’s competitive OneRisk procurement process after a tender for a commercial off the shelf platform to replace multiple legacy systems.

LFB identified Prevent + Protect as its preferred system for prevention, protection, operational risk and hydrant management.

The project is intended to consolidate risk information systems and bring risk data into a single cloud hosted platform.

According to LearnPro, the system is designed to remove data silos, improve mobile capability and give teams across departments access to shared risk information.

What the platform will replace

The source material states that LFB sought a sector-ready platform to replace multiple legacy systems and support work across Prevention, Protection and Hydrant Management teams.

Prevent + Protect is described as a mobile-first system with specialist CRM functionality that keeps touchpoint and job history records where individuals move location or are linked to more than one premises or business.

It also supports the management of parent and child premises structures.

LearnPro said the platform includes workflow automation and Microsoft integration, including support for artificial intelligence capabilities.

Comments on the contract award

Pamela Oparaocha, London Fire Brigade Assistant Commissioner for Prevention and Protection, said: “We are committed to strengthening how we manage, share and use risk information across our organisation.

“We have a unified and accurate picture of risk is essential for the way we plan our work, engage with communities and support our firefighters on the ground.

“This new platform will replace several legacy systems and give our teams a more consistent and accessible view of the information they need.

“This is a long term investment in innovation, digital capability and improved service delivery for London, and an important part of our ambition to build a more modern, data enabled fire and rescue service.”

Costi Karayannis, Chief Executive Officer of LearnPro Group, said: “We are incredibly proud that Prevent + Protect has been selected by London Fire Brigade to deliver its OneRisk vision.

“We look forward to partnering closely with LFB as part of their continuous effort to reduce risk and optimise the critical services they provide to the public across our capital city.”

Russell Wood, UK Market Lead at LearnPro Group, added: “This award reaffirms Prevent + Protect as the leading modern Prevention and Protection platform for Fire and Rescue Services and follows several additional new FRS contracts secured in recent months.

“We are excited to support London Fire Brigade on its transformative OneRisk journey.”

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service deploys body worn cameras on frontline

by Featured NewsPPEProjects

Body worn cameras introduced across GMFRS operations

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) is introducing body worn cameras for firefighters across 41 stations following recommendations from the Manchester Arena Inquiry.

GMFRS said the cameras will provide a real-time record of incidents, capturing video and audio to support decision-making and operational review.

A total of 233 cameras will be issued, with all 52 fire appliances carrying a device.

Frontline officers will receive the cameras first, followed by prevention and protection teams and the incident command academy.

The devices record high-definition video and audio during incidents, creating a record of what crews see and hear.

The cameras can livestream footage to senior officers, allowing incidents to be viewed as they unfold and supporting oversight during complex situations.

rollout informed by Manchester Arena Inquiry findings

The Manchester Arena Inquiry highlighted the need to capture clear information and record decision-making during major incidents involving multiple emergency services.

The cameras will be used at incidents including house fires and road traffic collisions, as well as larger emergencies.

Footage will support post-incident review and training, helping crews assess how incidents were managed.

The rollout follows a pilot in May 2025 where the cameras were tested in real incident conditions.

The trial showed the devices could provide a reliable record of events and give senior leaders visibility of incidents through livestreaming.

Deputy Chief Fire Officer Carlos Meakin said: “Introducing body worn cameras is a significant step forward for our Service.

“It’s about giving firefighters the tools they need to work safely and effectively at complex or fast-moving incidents, while also helping to protect our crews by providing a clear record of the challenges they face on the frontline.

“The ability to livestream footage and review it afterwards will strengthen how we support crews on the ground, improve training, and enhance how we respond to major emergencies.

“This investment reflects our commitment to learning from the Manchester Arena Inquiry and continuing to strengthen how we respond to incidents across Greater Manchester.”

Fire Brigades Union representative Dave Pike said: “The Fire Brigades Union played an active part in supporting its members throughout the Manchester Arena Inquiry and supports the outcomes that were reached.

“It’s important that new technology supports our members in doing their jobs safely and provides a clear and accurate record of incidents.

“These cameras will help protect our members, support learning and ensure there is transparency about what happens at incidents.”

The rollout will continue across the service following the initial deployment to frontline officers.

BC Ferries selects Zelim rescue detection system for new ferries

by Featured NewsProjectsSearch and Rescue

Zelim secures ferry detection contract

Zelim has secured a contract to supply its ZOE man-overboard (MOB) detection system to four hybrid-electric ferries being built for British Columbia Ferry Services (BC Ferries).

Zelim announced the contract on 25 March, stating that the partnership was agreed in February 2026 and that installation is expected to begin in 2027.

The hybrid-electric New Major Vessels will replace four end-of-life vessels and are scheduled to start service in 2029.

BC Ferries operates 37 vessels across 25 routes serving 47 terminals across nearly 1000 miles (1,600 kilometres) of coastal British Columbia.

Developed by Zelim, ZOE MOB uses computer vision and video analytics to provide 360-degree surveillance for vessel crew.

The AI-enabled system is trained on a proprietary maritime dataset of over 9.5 million annotated objects.

It is designed to detect man-overboard incidents instantaneously, in compliance with ISO 21195:2020, the international standard for shipborne man-overboard detection systems.

ZOE has also been independently tested by Lloyd’s Register to detect adults and children during daytime and night-time conditions.

Zelim sets out vessel rollout details

Sam Mayall, Zelim’s Founder and CEO, said: “We look forward to building a strong partnership with BC Ferries as we deliver our technology to its New Major Vessels.

“It secures a multi-vessel rollout for Zelim and demonstrates the growing value of our ZOE technology for passenger ships.

“It also reflects the positive momentum we’re continuing to build with vessel operators in the ferry sector – and more broadly across the North American market.”

Ed Hooper, BC Ferries’ Head of Fleet Renewal, said: “Safety is our first priority throughout the entire organisation.

“We look forward to working with Zelim to incorporate this innovative technology into our New Major Vessels as we modernise our fleet and further strengthen the safety of our passengers and crews.”

Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority renews long-term deal with Telent

by CommunicationsFeatured NewsProjects

Telent contract begins in March 2026

Telent has signed a new long-term contract with Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority (MFRA), extending a 25-year working relationship and continuing ICT managed services across the authority’s estate and frontline vehicles.

Telent said the contract began on 1 March 2026 and will run for an initial five-year period, with an option to extend by two years.

The agreement covers End User Services and Networks. It also includes Command and Control Systems, along with Compute and Cloud Services.

The contract applies across MFRA’s offices, stations, control room and frontline vehicles.

Service Level Agreements have been enhanced with new Key Performance Indicators to align with MFRA’s ICT requirements.

The agreement also includes support for MFRA’s future ICT strategy and project requirements.

Telent has previously supported business change projects for MFRA, such as a state-of-the-art operational training centre, along with command and control systems and voice communications infrastructure upgrades.

Telent’s ICT Service Desk remains based within an MFRA building.

The team supports ITIL-based delivery.

The service desk was originally created for MFRA.

It now also supports East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service and provides internal ICT support for Telent nationally.

Telent and MFRA comments on the agreement

Peter Moir, Managing Director, Network Services at Telent, said: “This long-term partnership is built on trust, shared purpose, and delivery without disruption.

“We know what it takes to serve blue-light ICT Services, and we’re proud to continue supporting MFRA with reliable, secure and future-ready services.

“Telent remain focused on providing the technology backbone and services that let frontline teams focus on fire prevention and saving lives.”

Chief Fire Officer Nick Searle, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority, said: “Telent has been a valued partner for more than two decades, and their team has become a trusted extension of ours.

“This contract award reflects the strength of that relationship following a competitive tender process.

“It provides the continuity we rely on, with the flexibility to evolve as our operational needs change.

“Their understanding of our environment and the demands we face remains critical to how we protect communities and respond when it matters most.”

Kev Pilkington, Head of IT Managed Services at Telent, commented: “This contract demonstrates the strength of our longstanding partnership with Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority, built on 25 years of trust and collaboration.

“We remain committed to delivering ICT services that enable MFRA to focus on protecting lives and supporting vital fire prevention work.”

The new agreement was announced ahead of the BAPCO Annual Event in March 2026, where public safety technology will be showcased to the UK’s emergency services.

Two Bulgarian installations highlight Hochiki fire detection range

by Featured NewsFire DetectionProjects

Hochiki projects in Bulgaria

Hochiki Europe has published details of two completed fire detection installations in Bulgaria, covering a logistics warehouse in Radinovo and a mixed-use tower in Sofia.

The company said the projects were delivered by partners MCM Engineering and Sectron, using different parts of the Hochiki product range to match each building’s layout and fire detection needs.

At the BULTEX 99 logistics centre in Radinovo, a 270,000 square foot facility storing large volumes of flammable clothing materials, MCM Engineering installed 350 ESP intelligent devices with Hochiki’s 6-loop Latitude fire control panel.

The site’s dense racking storage systems were protected using FIREbeam Xtra addressable beam smoke detectors positioned along warehouse corridors.

Georgi Georgiev said: “Hochiki’s ESP open protocol gives us the flexibility when dealing with such a large and complex facility, BULTEX 99 now have a centralised system that is simple to monitor and designed to support future expansion.”

Smart Tower installation in Sofia

In Sofia, Hochiki Europe said Sectron completed an installation at Smart Tower, a development with 30 floors of luxury apartments, 12 levels of commercial space and a four-storey underground car park.

The estimated occupancy across the two connected buildings is 2,552.

More than 10,000 Hochiki devices were installed across the development.

The commercial areas used the ESP addressable range, individual apartments used the Conventional CDX range and the basement car park used Hochiki’s Linear Heat Detection Cable where exhaust fumes made conventional smoke detection unsuitable.

Elena Pencheva, Design Engineer, Sectron, said: “Hochiki’s multiple solutions made overcoming the challenges with Smart Tower’s infrastructure straightforward.

“The open-protocol capabilities provided ultimate flexibility when integrating multiple, tailored solutions across the building.”

The two installations were presented as examples of how different Hochiki systems can be applied across large warehouse and mixed-use residential developments.

Mitsubishi Electric technology powers Fire GO mobile fire trainer

by Featured NewsProjectsTraining

Fire trainer controls mobile aircraft simulation

Fire GO GmbH has implemented Mitsubishi Electric industrial automation systems to manage a mobile aircraft fire trainer built for airport firefighter training.

The German manufacturer said the system was developed to create realistic training environments for airport crews and to support safer emergency response preparation at different airport locations.

Fire GO GmbH, based in Alsdorf, Germany, manufactures fire simulation systems for emergency services worldwide.

The company builds fireproof structures that simulate real aircraft fires through controlled gas systems that react to firefighting foam and water.

Jochen Schürgers, Managing Director of Fire GO, said: “Everything that can catch fire in reality and requires fire brigade intervention, we build from fireproof materials and allow it to burn realistically.”

“The system is computer-controlled, gas-powered, and it reacts to extinguishing agents just like a real fire.”

Its latest project uses ten 20-foot containers to form a full-scale aircraft replica with 28 fire simulation points covering scenarios including cockpit fires and engine blazes.

The aim was to create a mobile simulator that could be deployed quickly at different airports, as stationary systems did not offer the same flexibility for training programmes across multiple locations.

Mitsubishi Electric systems manage training scenarios

Working with Siebers Mechanical Engineering from Marsberg, Fire GO selected Mitsubishi Electric automation technology to control the simulator.

The MELSEC System-Q control system manages simulator functions across an A320/B737 aircraft layout with cockpit, passenger cabin and cargo hold environments.

It also manages gas flows, safety systems and fire behaviour settings during training scenarios.

Mitsubishi Electric’s GOT2000 Graphic Operation Terminal allows instructors to monitor sessions and adjust scenarios in real time, including flame intensity and wind direction.

The GENESIS data monitoring platform records activity during training, including response times and which techniques proved most effective.

Jörg Springsguth, Sales Engineer at Mitsubishi Electric Europe, said: “The reliability of our MELSEC System-Q platform, combined with the HMI GOT interface and the data collection, provides a robust foundation for training systems where consistent performance is essential.”

“When firefighters depend on their training to save lives, every component must function reliably.”

Mobile deployment supports airport-based firefighter training

Fire GO said the automation system has improved training capability by keeping fire simulations realistic and safe while allowing dangerous techniques to be practised without injury or equipment damage.

The mobile design means training can take place at operational airports, giving firefighters access to the aircraft types and layouts they may face in real incidents.

The 28 fire simulation points support scenarios including engine fires, landing gear incidents, cabin emergencies and fuel spills.

Data from training sessions can be used by instructors to identify where firefighters need more practice and to review which methods are most effective.

Schürgers said: “Regular preventive maintenance, a smooth supply of spare parts, and a reliable troubleshooting service keep our systems fully operational and ready for use.”

Fire GO also said the simulator model could be relevant to sites such as chemical production, energy facilities, transport infrastructure and logistics hubs where controlled, repeatable emergency training is required.

Motorola Guardian Hub command centre connects multi-agency fire response

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Command centre links three fire services

Fire and rescue teams in Norfolk, Suffolk and Hertfordshire are using Motorola Solutions’ Guardian Hub command centre platform to support joint incident management across more than 100 stations and a population of over 2.5 million people.

Motorola Solutions said the cloud-based system allows the three fire and rescue services (FRSs) to jointly manage 999 calls, dispatch crews and track incidents during mutual aid scenarios.

The platform is designed to support each agency’s daily operations and enable collaboration across the lifecycle of an incident at short notice.

Bringing control room operations into a shared hub means the three services can work more closely during major incidents.

The system also removes the need for each FRS to maintain separate IT systems, which the company said could reduce duplication and ease pressure on call handlers during busy periods.

Darren Cook, assistant chief fire officer at Hertfordshire FRS, said: “Emergencies aren’t restricted by borders, and our responses shouldn’t be either.

“Working closely with Norfolk and Suffolk is already leading to more efficient and effective responses, and the chance to share knowledge on how we’re using this new technology has been incredibly valuable.

“Within hours of the hub going live, we saw the benefits, as Suffolk FRS operators took calls and managed dispatch for Hertfordshire FRS during a large structure fire incident.”

Command centre supports mutual aid and training

The company said the shared hub gives neighbouring FRSs visibility into ongoing incidents and supports closer coordination during periods of high demand.

Scott Norman, deputy chief fire officer at Norfolk FRS, said: “During extreme weather events and major fires, it’s crucial that we can share call handling and frontline resources with neighbouring FRSs.

“The system gives us visibility into our partners’ ongoing incidents to mobilise our own crews faster and respond more effectively.

“Ultimately, we can provide a better service for our community, when and where they need it.”

Jon Lacey, chief fire officer at Suffolk FRS, said: “Our work can often be a matter of life or death – we needed a system which would hit the ground running and enable entirely new ways of working with our neighbouring FRSs.

“Motorola Solutions fit the bill perfectly.

“The Hub model has already proven its value with call handlers able to manage extremely high call volumes and allowing each FRS to seamlessly provide additional support when needed.

“We’ve also found unexpected benefits, such as allowing all control room staff to take part in planned training exercises, without disrupting active operations.”

David Shorland, U.K. and Ireland sales director, Motorola Solutions, said: “Fire and rescue services are there for their communities, but the pressure they face continues to grow.

“Guardian Hub gives services a better way to connect, coordinate and respond.

“With agencies increasingly required to do more with less, we’re providing a resilient, scalable model to help serve and protect communities.”

RECOM secures fire and safety role on £428m public framework

by Featured NewsPassiveProjects

Fire and safety work included in Rise framework awards

RECOM Solutions has secured places on five lots within the latest £428m Rise Construction Framework, including fire and safety compliance, project management and work linked to passive fire protection.

The framework will run until March 2030 following a competitive tendering process and will be used to procure services across the north west, North Wales, Yorkshire, Humber and Lincolnshire.

The sectors named include healthcare, social care, education and housing, along with emergency services, local authorities, government departments, museums and arts organisations, charities, third-sector groups and public bodies.

RECOM gained places on the general construction, refurbishment and multi-disciplinary consultancy lots as well as fire and safety compliance and project management.

The company said those lots cover contracts worth up to £6m.

Fire and safety division and wider group activity

The RECOM group undertakes project management consultancy, main contracting and passive fire protection work nationwide across healthcare, education, retail, leisure, commercial and residential, facilities management and defence.

RECOM Fire Solutions delivers works in live environments to limit the spread of fire, smoke and heat in buildings and structures.

Its services include compartmentation and fire door condition surveys, along with installation and remediation of fire stopping and fire doors.

The division also carries out intumescent paint application, overboarding and fire curtain installations.

The business recently opened a base at Fort Dunlop in Birmingham to support projects across the Midlands, the M6 corridor and the south west.

RECOM Director Jason McKnight said: “Rise is one of the more active frameworks in the public sector. Securing multiple lots, including for new disciplines and broader project types, supports our long-term growth strategy in this area by creating opportunities to further expand our client base and our commercial footprint, especially in fire compliance and project management.

“It positions us as a preferred supplier for a wide range of construction projects to play a key role in delivering safe, compliant and high-quality built environment projects, and opens immediate access to call-offs without the need for separate procurement processes.

RECOM Group has its headquarters at Waters Edge Business Park in Salford Quays and already holds places on other frameworks including those with the University of Manchester, NHS Shared Business Services, Fusion21, the North West Construction Hub and the Constellia managed framework for the public sector.