San Diego County installs ground-based wildfire protection measures

by Americas - ProjectsFeatured NewsPassiveProjects

The San Diego County Board of Supervisors has agreed a contract with Perimeter Solutions to provide PHOS-CHEK FORTIFY long-term fire retardant as part of the County’s newly approved Roadside Vegetation Management for Evacuation Preparedness Program.

PHOS-CHEK FORTIFY is a ground-based, highly durable fire retardant that is applied on flammable vegetation and cellulosic material one time early in the fire season before a wildfire approaches and provides ongoing protection from wildfire, remaining effective until a significant rain event occurs.

The USDA Forest Service has used PHOS-CHEK long-term fire retardant for nearly 60 years to suppress and prevent the spread of active wildfires.

These new efforts are a result of a board letter introduced by Supervisors Anderson and Desmond in March of 2021.

“Keeping San Diego County residents safe from wildfires is one of my top priorities, and it is critical that we take advantage of new technologies that help us to be more proactive with our wildfire prevention efforts,” Supervisor Anderson commented.

“I’d like to thank County Fire staff, CAL-FIRE, and Perimeter Solutions for working together to apply this fire retardant alongside Wildcat Canyon Road—the connection between Lakeside and Barona that has a devastating history with wildfires.”

Wes Bolsen, Business Director of Wildfire Prevention and Protection at Perimeter Solutions, added: “We are proud that San Diego County has selected Perimeter Solutions to partner with them to help save lives and protect property. We applaud them for their initiative in developing a proactive strategy to prevent wildfires and believe they have developed a model that can be adopted by communities throughout the Western United States and other areas impacted by wildfire.”

San Diego County maintains nearly 2,000 miles of roadway, many of which serve as key corridors for area evacuation and response to wildfires. As wildfire season increases in length and intensity, the risk of wildfire impacting the area continues to rise. In fact, data show that 79% of unincorporated San Diego County falls in areas at high or very high risk of wildfire, and that wildfires have burned more than 40% of the unincorporated area since the year 2000.

TBA Firefly’s Apollo Lite provides half hour fire protection at Surrey research building

by Featured NewsProjects

A specialist contractor undertaking all of the fireproofing within a new medical research building in Surrey has made use of two flexible fire barrier products from the TBA FIREFLY’s range to provide 30 minutes protection within the majority of the ceiling voids throughout the four-storey structure.

Dartford based CLM Fireproofing has employed APOLLO Lite and the Collaroll product in tandem to protect the ceiling voids. The spaces which typically house pipework, power cables and air conditioning units above the suspended ceiling grid, are provided with 30 minutes integrity and insulation through the installation of the flexible APOLLO Lite barrier.

The Site Agent for CLM Fireproofing, Virginjus Pasvenkas, commented: “We are carrying out all of the fire-proofing work within this new facility on behalf of the main contractor, ISG, employing a wide variety of fully certified products. In the case of the APOLLO Lite, it is one of the systems specified by the fire engineer for the project as part of the fire strategy and FIREFLY provided us with detail drawings in order to suit this application – forming a cavity barrier in the void above the ceiling.

“A number of our operatives have also received training in the past from the manufacturer; though the system is quite straightforward to install. We are also using the Collaroll for protection around where pipes, cable trays and trunking penetrate the barriers. Work is progressing well, and we expect to complete on schedule this December.”

The APOLLO Lite 30/30 has been developed for use in vertical separation or compartmentation situations, offering both 30 minutes integrity and insulation, thereby exceeding the minimum requirements of the Building Regulations. It is widely specified to form fire barriers within roof voids in many different property types, including healthcare, commercial and social housing.

The flexible woven material is easy to cut and fix and is chemically treated to improve its cooling properties, and therefore prevent temperatures rising in adjoining areas. The system has been fully tested to BS 476 Parts 6.7, 20 & 22 and is third party certified by IFCC.

Six metre long rolls of APOLLO Lite 30:30 have a minimum thickness of 6mm and are installed using stainless steel staples as well as high temperature adhesive. Collaroll comes in a roll which unwraps to 10m long x 300mm wide with a sewn in skirt. The skirt can be moulded to shape to seal it neatly to the upright barrier which is usually at 90 degrees to the Collaroll and fixed into place using the high temperature adhesive.

Profab riser doors and access panels installed at London office block

by Featured NewsProjects

As part of the construction process of Sixty London Wall, a Grade A office accommodation combined with retail within a contemporary development in central London, almost 500 Profab Access high quality riser doors and access panels have been installed throughout the entire building by specialist carpentry, joinery and fit-out contractors, JJ Sweeney.

Specified in a range of sizes and configurations for installation throughout the communal areas and washrooms on all floors, Profab Access’ INTEGRA 4000 Series and VISION 8000 Series fire-rated Riser Doors were installed to provide concealed access to mechanical and electrical services.

The steel riser doors offer seamless integration into masonry walls, shaft walls and drywall partitions, providing high standards in functionality and safety, whilst simultaneously enhancing the overall interior aesthetic.

Five standout walkable sky gardens that span 21,089 sq. ft also take pride of place across the building’s exterior, offering unobstructed views of the capital’s most iconic landmarks. The building also offers dedicated ground floor showering and changing facilities, combined with washrooms on every floor. Profab Access’ VISION 8000 Series Riser Doors were specified for installation throughout each of these areas due to their unique construction providing complete design freedom.

During the fit out process, the facade of each of the VISION 8000 Series Riser Doors were clad in the same ceramic tiles as those on the surrounding walls, successfully disguising each panel to create a flawless, concealed, high quality finish that supported, rather than impacted, on the chosen visual style.

Whilst aesthetics was a leading consideration throughout the specification process, the fire performance and functionality of the riser doors were also important factors. Regardless of the stone material installed onto the facade of the VISION 8000 Series, it will still retain its impressive fire safety standards, providing the highest standards in compliance and performance.

Third party tested by Warrington Fire, Profab Access’ VISION 8000 Series and INTEGRA 4000 Series Riser Doors are CERTIFIRE accredited up to two hours, whilst also being smoke sealed and Air tight to Part L. Both ranges also offer superior acoustic benefits, with the INTEGRA 4000 Series rated to 35dB and the VISION 8000 Series rated to 33dB.

In the event of a fire the riser doors will maintain their frame and integrity for up to two hours, limiting the spread of fire and transmission of radiant heat for this period of time. The doors are also equipped with an intumescent smoke seal, which enables occupants to safely exit, whilst also minimising potential damage to the rest of the building.

Paul Wines, Project Manager at JJ Sweeney, said: “We have been specifying Profab Access’ extensive portfolio of access solutions for over 10 years, so we had complete confidence they would be the ideal manufacturer for such a high profile project.

“Installation of the riser doors and access panels took over eight months to complete, with myself and the JJ Sweeney team overseeing every aspect of the process. The end result is a high quality, aesthetically discreet finish that will offer the highest standards in performance for the entire life cycle of the building.”

Profab Access’ PRIMA 1000 Series Ceiling Access Panels were also installed throughout the building to provide secure access to overhead services. Featuring a unique pivot device for easy door removal and a push lock mechanism for enhanced usability, the access panels are constructed to offer contractors first class functionality, without impacting on the chosen interior design scheme.

Marcus Parnham, Commercial Director at Profab Access, said: “Our partnership with JJ Sweeney throughout this redevelopment project perfectly demonstrates the versatility and durability of our extensive range of riser doors and access panels.

“Sixty London Wall offers the very highest standards in contemporary office accommodation for the capital’s professionals, with our portfolio of access solutions facilitating the continuous maintenance of the building in an unobtrusive and effective way.”

Hochiki fire detection system installed at Verona hospital

by Featured NewsFire DetectionProductsProjects

After extensive assessments and a rigorous qualifying stage by the Hospital technical team and Amperia srl, the installation company, Hochiki fire detection systems and equipment was selected to update the fire detection system at the IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital in Negrar, Verona.

Following consultation, 26 fire detection panels, including Syncro and Hochiki’s Latitude system, and two Vision remote panels were installed in the hospital, all of which were networked.

The project brief stated that it was important the systems and any devices used must be installed with minimum impact on the day to day running of the hospital. Hochiki ESP range was recommended because these devices have been specifically designed to be quick and easy to install, ensuring minimal disruption was achieved by the team at Amperia srl.

Another priority for the project was that any fire detection system needed to be able to alert every person in the building to an emergency, including visually and hearing-impaired visitors. Hochiki’s range of VADs (visual alarm devices) were used to provide a visual indication of an alarm condition to those people who would not normally be alerted to a fire by standard audible-only devices such as sounders and bells.

The final key priority was the ability for the entire system to be continuously monitoring 24 hours a day. During the consultation period between the installers and Hochiki, the fire detection system was designed to provide 24/7 monitoring. This was thanks to the I/O modules and technological fault alarm signals which were also implemented and connected to the fire control panel loop. These were then monitored by the personnel 24 hours a day thanks to two supervision systems, one for the fire detection system and one for the technological alarms.

This project at the IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital was one of the largest and most complex projects that Hochiki have ever been involved in Italy involving the installation of multiple detectors, Detectors, 10 fire extinguishing systems, 14 gas detection panels and 10 aspirating panels.

Davide Montoli, Product Manager at Hochiki Italia, explained: “An interesting aspect of our systems is the “Bridge” communication between different generations of fire alarm control panels. In the case of this Hospital, the possibility of connecting the new L@titude control panels to the existing network of Syncro control panels made it possible to expand the system even though many years had passed since the installation of the original control panel. In fact, Hochiki’s L@titude platform can adapt its communication protocol to ensure backward compatibility with previous generation control panels”

Loris Fornaser, Technical Manager at the installer company Amperia srl, commented: “As you can imagine the fire safety standards of this project were extremely high due to the complex environment in which a hospital operates. This led us to choose a technologically advanced life safety product that would guarantee the client excellent performance and long-term reliability. The manufacturer’s technical support was always precise and Hochiki proved to be the ideal solution”

Bosch updates fire safety system at Hospital Centro Medio Campinas

by Featured NewsFire DetectionProductsProjects

Bosch has successfully completed the installation of networked fire alarm control panels and detection devices to provide optimised safety coverage for Hospital Centro Medio Campinas in Brazil.

Thanks to smarter new fire panels and retrofitting of existing fire prevention equipment, the medical complex is now much safer, featuring a comprehensive, networked and fully compatible fire control system which monitors for every sign of fire across the entire hospital complex.

Hospital Centro Médico Campinas is located in Campinas in the state of São Paulo, 100km from São Paulo, Brazil. As the building ages and requires updates, the fire protection provisions were reviewed to ensure efficient, fast responses to fire outbreaks.

Eduardo Riguetti, responsible for fire safety at the hospital complex, got in touch with Bosch project expert in Campinas, Renato Lima to find a feasible solution. The main objective was to review and redevelop the entire complex fire alarm setup at the hospital to provide safety and reassurance for all personnel on site, including staff and patients.

The major challenge for the project team to overcome was the integration and consolidation of all data and configurations of the 11 separate fire control panels into one single panel.

The fire control network features one Modular Fire Panel 5000 Series, which consolidates the details of all other detection devices, improved user operation and maintenance, making system updates and incident reaction times faster and optimising fire safety across the entire hospital.

Five loop modules were integrated to cover all areas of Hospital Centro Médico Campinas, ensuring reliability with detection. The loops include sensitive environments such as ICU, operating theater, patient wards and the hospital laboratory. Smart connectivity of the new network allows maintenance to be conducted by technicians with minimal disturbance in these areas.

Three remote keypads connected via ethernet to the fire control panel were configured for the hospital’s three desked areas which are all manned 24/7, namely the main entrance reception, the on-site fire department and the operation and control centre. This interconnectivity and remote technology decentralize control of the entire fire alarm network and make it fully addressable.

The fire department can now quickly identify the exact location of a fire outbreak or another emergency incident. Lima explained: “This system is integrated with gas detection, sprinklers, and access control, so in the case of an event occurring, all doors and gates would be unlocked, and now with only one fire control panel in place, evacuation times are much faster and safer.”

Thanks to close collaboration between the Bosch experts, the Brazcamp Tecnologia installers in Campinas, and end customers at the hospital, the project planning and product installation all ran smoothly.

Eduardo Riguetti said, “Excellent specification and design work was carried out by the integrator and the Bosch engineering team.”

Welsh government launches cladding crisis support scheme

by Breaking NewsConstructionIndustry SectorsProjects

A new support scheme for those facing significant financial hardship as a result of the cladding crisis has been launched by the Welsh Government to provide tailored, independent advice to leaseholders in affected homes.

It is currently targeted at leaseholders who are owner occupiers and those who have become displaced residents, but the Minister confirmed applications would be monitored and eligibility kept under review to ensure ‘those who need support most have access to the scheme’.

Climate Change Minister Julie James, who confirmed the Leaseholder Support Scheme would open at 10am on Monday, June 27, said: “Today, we are launching the Leaseholder Support Scheme which will help those who need support the most.

“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the external partners and sector experts who have assisted us in developing this scheme at pace.

“Their support and hard work have been critical to establishing the right qualifying criteria and support processes.”

All leaseholders eligible for this scheme will now receive advice from an Independent Financial Adviser, with the costs fully covered by the Welsh Government.

The advice will support them in making the right choice for them and, if the sale of their property is the right route, the Welsh Government will enable them to sell their property at a fair market value.

Full guidance on the scheme, including the eligibility criteria, will be published on the Welsh Government website at 10am today.

The Minister continued: “Addressing fire safety defects in medium and high-rise buildings must go beyond cladding to make these buildings as safe as they can be.

“This has been our premise from the outset and, although it makes identifying, addressing and resolving issues significantly more complex, it is the right approach.

“There are no quick or easy fixes, but we cannot compromise on achieving the right, sustainable solutions. 

“Anything less leaves the door open to the risk of further issues arising and it is important to me that, once these issues are resolved, they remain resolved.

“We must do this properly, to get it right now and for the future.”

Weather stations rolled out across Victoria to help fire response

by Featured NewsFire DetectionProductsProjects

New weather stations are being rolled out across Victoria, Australia, to help fire agencies better respond to bushfires and carry out planned burns.

The 10 new portable and remote-automated weather stations include seven portable units which are to be used on location to help firefighters understand fire behaviour and measure weather conditions. The remaining three weather stations are to be static and remote automated, permanently situated at Ballan, East Trentham, and Glenburn where there are no permanent weather stations.

The state government provided more than $680,000 to buy and maintain the Country Fire Authority (CFA)’s new weather units. CFA acting chief fire officer Gary Cook said understanding local weather conditions was fundamental to safely and successfully controlling fires.

Mr Cook said the new automated weather stations would provide data where the Bureau of Meteorology’s weather stations are lacking.

“We use the bureau sites, but this allows us to put more into the field and connect back into the bureau with that information, just to give us a better route of what’s happening across the state,” said Cook. The acting chief fire officer explained that the modern technology would be used in conjunction with current portable, handhold tools in vehicles that are also used to monitor weather conditions, and called the technology embedded into these units “world-class”.

Emergency Services Minister Jaclyn Symes said the units would generate more accurate predictions of where a fire might spread and more accurate local data for community warnings.

“We know that the more information that people have about conditions leads to better safety outcomes,” Symes said. To have seven portable devices we can really deploy them around the state on an as-needed basis.”

Heathcote fire brigade captain Carl Watkins said the portable weather stations will prove extremely useful: “We’re 30 kilometres from the nearest weather station so for localised weather it will be terrific for us. It will give us real-time information that’ll help us on the fireground. It will be a lot more accurate — what the weather’s doing, where you are. It’ll change how we deal with fires.”

Heathcote CFA volunteers travel large distances to fight fires, including at least one 200-hectare bushfire a year.

Swiss Air Force teams up with Rosenbauer for aircraft firefighting training

by AviationFeatured NewsIndustry SectorsProjects

The Swiss Air Force has teamed up with fire service vehicle and equipment manufacturer Rosenbauer to implement its PANTHER training system to enable training for the tactical handling of ARFF vehicles as well as handling the extinguishing and control panels.

The PANTHER training system will be installed in the fire training center of CFR Campus PHÈNIX at Payerne Airport.

The simulator landscape consists of two PANTHER tactical simulators – 8×8 and 6×6 S, as well as two simulators that can be configured bot as ARFF vehicles and command or logistics vehicles.

The two PANTHER simulators are equipped with identical PANTHER cockpits, while the other two have generic cockpits on which all functions can be operated the same way as in the respective original vehicle.

Everything that happens outside the vehicles is displayed on large LED screens in Ultra-HD (4 times HDTV) resolution. Each screen is controlled by its own computer; a total of 18 computers with powerful graphics cards are installed in the training system.

The system also includes a control panel on which the virtual training sessions are planned, programmed, and documented. There are five airport layouts and numerous aircraft types to choose from, the time of day or night, and the weather and runway conditions can be modified in order to make the operational action as realistic as possible.

All firefighting operations from leaking jet fuel to an undercarriage catching fire or burning jet engines can be trained on, whereby the control of the firefighting equipment is just as sensitive as in the real-life counterparts.

“The Swiss Air Force is building a competence center for aircraft firefighting here, where the members of the aircraft incident squads will receive their complete training in future and be able to complete regular drills under real conditions,” saod Hans Schmid, Head of Crash and Fire Rescue Swiss Air Force.

“In the future, each and every member will train on the simulators for at least two days a year. Their integration into an overall system allows us to systematically and efficiently structure the training. In addition, three liquid gas-fired fire simulators (dummy aircraft) are available for “hot” drills on the approximately 26,000 m2 site.”

Markus Zellinger, Managing Director of Rosenbauer Switzerland added: “The Swiss Air Force’s aircraft incident squads can train for every operational scenario imaginable in a resource-saving, safe, and controlled manner. That’s the great advantage of simulator training.”

Hochiki wireless fire detectors installed in London apartment blocks

by Featured NewsPassiveProductsProjects

Ekho, the newest hybrid wireless fire detection solution from global life safety manufacturer Hochiki, has been installed in six blocks of apartment buildings for North London borough to help improve fire detection.

EN54-25 approved and RED compliant, Ekho uses radio networking technology and provides a robust ‘always on’ network of devices which automatically adapt to changing environmental conditions.

Commenting on the project Fire Alarms Fabrication Services, Kevin Dodge, sales Account Manager at FAFS said: “The technology used in the Ekho devices helps residents feel safer compared to relying on a team of people prone to human error. The building owners are reassured due to the self-configuring mesh network which keeps the devices connected and communicating with the fire panel 24/7”

“This was an incredibly complex and highly involved project, we worked closely with the team at Hochiki who consulted on best devices for this project. The Ekho range offered a wireless solution which allowed us to work around issues such as cabling inside private spaces. Ekho allowed for early detection and most importantly detection outside of the building on cladding by installing heat sensor devices adjacent to every single window, including the windows for individual dwellings. The Ekho range is ultra-dependable, and much more cost effective than the Waking Watch scheme that was in place in these buildings.”

Following the successful completion of the project, Hochiki Regional Sales Manager, Tony Obadipe said: “We are pleased that our Ekho product range is making such an enormous difference in keeping people safe. The fact that our technology is also helping to drive huge cost efficiencies for our partners and their end users is a bonus. In the current economic climate this cost saving is essential, especially for local authorities. We are incredibly proud of our teams that have been involved in this project, it really is protecting people’s lives”.

EarthSafe launches cleanup solution for first responders

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EarthSafe Chemical Alternatives, known for developing the EvaClean Infection Prevention Solution which firefighters use to mitigate pathogens in their fire stations and emergency vehicles, has launched a safer, more sustainable line of industrial-strength products to address hazardous spills and inhibit harmful moulds. 

FlashDry is EarthSafe’s new absorbent solution for hazardous and non-hazardous leaks and spills made from 100% organic coir, a coconut fiber that is non-carcinogenic and safe to handle.

It contains clay absorbents with granular crystalline Silica generate highly carcinogenic Silica dust and create excessive amounts of toxic waste and is not only lighter, with seven times the absorbency, but it also costs less.

FlashDry is designed to be a more sustainable way to clean up oil and chemical spills without putting first responders at risk.

EarthSafe’s line of industrial-strength cleaning solutions includes a more effective way to mitigate water damage and sick building syndrome at a lower cost per square foot. Its XMold Pro is designed to inhibit the growth of harmful moulds and protects indoor and outdoor surfaces whilst remaining harmless to personnel and the environment.

Joe Finn, former Boston Fire Commissioner, Chief of the Department, and current First Responder Safety Advisor for EvaClean said of chemical cleaning products: “Firefighters and EMS personnel handle all kinds of emergencies, including hazardous spill clean-ups and mould remediation.

“To ensure the health and welfare of our first responders, the chemicals they use to mitigate these issues in the field must be as safe and effective as the disinfectants they use in the firehouse.”

Steve Wilson, EarthSafe CEO added: “With Joe’s guidance, our team is developing safer cleaning technologies to better protect first responders both in the firehouse and on the job.”