Posts in category: Projects

Banham Academy has partnered with the National Security Inspectorate (NSI) to launch an ​​apprenticeship training programme for women to encourage them to embark on careers within the fire and security sectors.

The free-to-attend training programme, for women aged 16 and over, will take place during 13-17 June 2022 and will be held at Banham Academy in Earlsfield, South West London, which was recently awarded an Ofsted ‘Good’ provider with ‘Outstanding’ learner behaviour and attitude.

The training will provide attendees with an understanding of the functions of fire, CCTV, intruder alarms, access control systems, and the role of the systems technician.

By the end of the one-week course, trainees will have learnt how to take over a system, diagnose and rectify faults. Course participants will also receive a daily lunch allowance, travel expenses as well as a certificate of completion.

Kevin Faulkner, Head of the Banham Academy, is determined to close the gender gap within the security and fire sector and encourage women to break stereotypes associated with the industry.

He said: “Here at Banham Academy we believe that addressing the problem of under-representation of women within our sector is not merely for statistical gain, but for the betterment of our industry.

“We want to shake up the fire and security industry and make it more accessible, inclusive, and create fruitful careers for everyone.”

On the final day of the complimentary apprenticeship training programme, Banham Academy will ​​bring trainees together with a range of security and fire safety companies who are looking to recruit promising female technicians for apprenticeships, and ideally, a permanent job at the end of it.

“My hope is that the women who attend our June training programme will go on to work in the security and fire safety industry,” said Faulkner.

“We have trained several young women through our academy with great success – current trainee Jessica Goodson was named BSIA Apprentice of the Year 2021 and came second in the fire security section of the national ‘Engineers of Tomorrow’ competition – so we know there is an appetite, but we all have a duty to ensure that such training programmes are easily accessible to all genders.”

Richard Jenkins, NSI Chief Executive added: “This pioneering training programme will provide women with greater insight and knowledge on the pathways to becoming a fire and security systems technician. It is focussed on equipping women with hands-on training and a chance to hear first-hand from those already working within the sectors. 

“Commitment to diversity and inclusion is high on the progressive business agenda. This programme will create a new channel of opportunity for businesses in the security and fire safety sector to bring the benefits of diversity to the workplace, with well qualified talented women trained in the application of the latest technologies.” Women in both London and beyond are urged not to pass up this incredible opportunity to discover if a career in the security and fire sector is a good fit for them.

No experience is necessary and women can register their interest to attend Banham Academy and NSI’s free apprenticeship training programme here.

The SFPE Foundation, a charitable organisation focused on enhancing the scientific understanding of fire and its interaction with the natural and built environment, is pleased to kickoff its Grand Challenges Initiative with an invitation to its Virtual Summit on April 26-28, 2022. 

The SFPE Foundation’s Grand Challenges Initiative aims to identify global challenges and develop a collaborative research and educational framework on how fire safety science and fire protection engineering can be a part of the solutions.  The Virtual Summit is free for participants and will include four half-day sessions for individuals from throughout the fire protection industry, academia, government, non-profit organisations, and beyond, to draw on their collective creativity and real-world experience to envision how the fire engineering professionals can contribute to tackling the grand, global challenges that communities around the world face.

“We know that fire scientists and fire protection engineers have the insight and knowledge to contribute solutions to some of society’s grand challenges, like energy, infrastructure, resilience, sustainability, climate change, digitisation, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and more,” stated Leslie Marshall, Ph.D., Director, SFPE Foundation.  “Through the SFPE Foundation’s Grand Challenges Initiative, we will engage with a diverse group of participants to define the path that will take us from where we are now, to where we want to be in five, ten, twenty years, and beyond.  I extend a warm invitation to students, professionals, experts, and organisations to join us as we kickoff this transformational initiative.”

The SFPE Foundation’s Grand Challenges Initiative is envisioned as a multi-year program with opportunities throughout for sharing expertise, engaging with new audiences and collaborators, reporting on progress, and providing feedback.  It also includes a new opportunity for advanced graduate students through research fellowships. The Grand Challenges Initiative is being administered through generous funding and support from industry/corporate partners, foundations, individuals, SFPE, and the SFPE Foundation – with opportunities available to become a founding partner.  The existing research roadmap developed by the Society of Fire Protection Engineers will serve as a guide and key reference document.

“Addressing the complex and significant fire safety challenges facing communities around the world takes a collaborative effort. We are proud to support the Grand Challenges Initiative and urge others in the research and education communities to participate in developing a strategy for action,” stated Steve Kerber, Vice President and Executive Director, Fire Safety Research Institute, a founding partner of the Grand Challenges Initiative. 

For additional information about the Grand Challenges Initiative or to register for the Virtual Summit, visit the SFPE Foundation website at sfpe.org/foundation.

Founded over 400 years ago by Sir William Paston, Paston College in Norfolk, has transformed over the years from a grammar school for boys into a co-ed sixth form college dedicated to working with young people ages 16-18. The college has a notable alumni list including Admiral Nelson who studied for a short period before joining the Royal Navy in 1771, and in more recent years – British Actor, Writer, Comedian and Broadcaster Stephen Fry.

In late 2017, Paston Sixth Form College merged with City College Norwich to become Paston College. This marked a significant milestone in the history of both colleges and saw the expansion of education and training opportunities for learners and employers in North Norfolk.

Following a recommendation from Norwich Education Services, a completely new fire system was required which would need to meet BS5839 Part 1 2017 for an L2 category.  The life safety system installation project required networking across multiple sites and buildings as well as ensuring the protection of the historic Nelson Museum. And with a main road acting as a physical divide through the middle of the campus this was a complex project to undertake.

TP Fire & Security were commissioned to install the new system who selected Hochiki’s ESP intelligent range of addressable fire detection and alarm equipment.

Kevin Harris from TP Fire & Security commented: “This was an incredibly complex project. We were working with modern and historic buildings, we had to ensure the protection of the Nelson Museum, and of course the campus is split right down the middle by a main road. We chose Hochiki because it afforded us the flexibility with the systems and devices that were needed, with a project such as this.

Despite the innovation that goes into the Hochiki products, they are possibly the simplest on the market when it comes to installation. This simplicity allowed us to implement a phased approach which enabled us to keep the existing conventional 2-wire systems running whilst the new Hochiki addressable system was installed. This meant the college remained safe and operational all the while.”

As an educational facility, it was important to keep to strict budgets, especially when it came to the ongoing operational costs for the system, and with hundreds of pupils and staff in attendance each day a system which would be reliable and reduce false alarms was vital. Hochiki products are famed for their reliability resulting in the reduction of false alarms, and due to the simplicity of the products they are easy to operate and maintain.

“As a result of City College Norwich’s merger with Paston college 2017/2018 the fire detection and life safety system needed to be updated, and we knew it would be a complex task given the fact that the Paston campus is split down the middle by a main road. Not only that, given our historical building status this project needed to be handled carefully and the products chosen needed to be the best on the market.  Working with TP Fire was easy and efficient, and we were confident in the products from Hochiki that they recommended.” Lionel Levinson, Estates and Facilities Surveyor, said.

Banham Academy, a specialist technical training provider for the Level 3 Fire, Emergency and Security Systems (FESS) Apprenticeship and NSI (National Security Inspectorate), the UK’s premier UKAS Accredited certification body for the security and fire sector have joined forces to offer an introductory 5-day Fire and Security Systems Technician Training Programme exclusively for potential women apprentices.

Taking place from 13-17 June 2022 at the Banham Academy in Earlsfield, South West London, this new free-to-attend training programme will provide women aged 16 and over with a valuable insight into the requirements of the FESS Apprenticeship standard.  Attendees will gain a basic understanding of the functions of Fire, CCTV, Intruder Alarms and Access Control systems and the role of the systems technician.  By the end of the course, attendees will have learnt how to take-over a system, diagnose and rectify faults.

With women significantly under-represented within the security and fire sector Banham Academy and NSI are seeking to help bridge the industry’s gender gap by offering the training programme as a means of attracting new talent.

An added benefit to those who complete the course and are motivated by the experience to embark upon a career as a systems technician, is the opportunity to meet with a number of security and fire safety companies on the final day of the programme. These employers will be in attendance looking to diversify their workforces with skilled female technicians, providing trainees with direct opportunities for apprenticeships. Kevin Faulkner, Head of the Banham Academy said:

‘Banham Academy and NSI are committed to start to address the gender gap in our industry and we are delighted to officially launch this women’s-focused programme at our training centre. We have successfully trained several young women through our Academy, so we know there is an appetite, but we all have a duty to ensure that such training programmes are easily accessible to all genders. I, along with everyone at Banham, are really excited to see what raw talent is nurtured through this programme and to see these skilled women embark on rewarding careers within the sector.’

Richard Jenkins, NSI Chief Executive added: “We are delighted to be launching this introductory training programme with Banham Academy to help drive change and encourage more women into our sector. As a founding stakeholder of the well-respected ‘Engineers of Tomorrow’ competition, NSI has made a longstanding commitment to apprenticeships and is keen to further build on this success and help bridge the gender gap.

“There are no barriers to women becoming security or fire systems technicians, but changing perceptions is often the hardest thing. We’re confident those women who participate in this new training programme will be well-placed to take advantage of the many and varied opportunities available to them and very much hope they will be motivated to apply their skills and become an apprentice within our sector.”

Those interested in attending the training programme and finding out about the apprenticeship, or security and fire safety companies wishing to employ a female apprentice should contact info@banhamacademy.com for more information.

Witmer Public Safety Group, Inc. (WPSG), parent company of TheFireStore and the nation’s leading multi-channel distributor of public-safety equipment, supplies, training, and service, is excited to announce their recent acquisition of ElizaCo, Inc. of Hamburg, NY. With this acquisition Witmer Public Safety Group continues to fulfill their motto of Equipping Heroes – by expanding their footprint into New York state.

James Witmer, CEO of Witmer Public Safety Group, Inc., commented, “This most recent acquisition will expand our capacity to serve Fire, Law Enforcement and EMS customers in Western New York State.”

Witmer continued, “I am proud to add this strong and respected regional business to our family of companies. Similarly, I am pleased to welcome ElizaCo’s sales team to the Witmer Public Safety Group family. I’m excited to bring more product options and brands to this experienced group, expanding their ability to serve their customers successfully.”

Elizabeth Shoemaker, owner of ElizaCo, announced her retirement following the acquisition.  Shoemaker said, “Becoming a part of Witmer Public Safety Group will greatly expand our sales teams’ ability to meet and exceed the needs of current customers as well as attract new customers.”

The 21^st International Water Mist Conference (IWMC) will – for the second time – take place in Madrid, Spain, on 9^th and 10^th November 2022. Organiser is – as always – the International Water Mist Association (IWMA). The conference venue is the Elba Madrid Alcalá Hotel.

The call for papers is now published and will run until 16^th May which is also the day on which the conference webpage will go live.

An exhibition will run alongside the conference providing the sponsors with the opportunity to network with the delegates, showcase their products and generate new sales leads. The booking forms are available on the IWMA webpage www.iwma.net as is the call for papers.

“Day one of the event will mainly focus on applications, whereas day two will take a more scientific approach to the water mist technology”, says IWMA general manager Bettina McDowell.

The conference programme will be published on 1^st July. The early bird period will end on 15^th August.

England and Wales’s largest fire and rescue awarding and assessments organisation, which is trusted by more than two thirds of Fire and Rescue Services, SFJ Awards, has launched its brand-new suite of Incident Command qualifications, from initial command at level 3 up to strategic or gold command level 7. 

The launch comes as the National Fire Chief Council (NFCC) updates it National Operational Guidance (NOG), recognising the increasingly complex and challenging environment in which fire and rescue services operate. 

Reflecting the NFCC’s updated guidance, the new awards will cover a range of capabilities including command and leadership skills, communications, associated technical issues and more. 

Learning centres approved to deliver the qualifications suite are now inviting applications from learners in Fire and Rescue coming to the area fresh, as well as experienced professionals revalidating their skills to ensure ongoing competence in the area. 

Commenting on the launch, Candace Miller, Managing Director of SFJ Awards, said: “We launch this suite of qualifications at a time of heightened focus on Incident Command. High profile incidents such as Grenfell and extreme weather events in the North of England have demonstrated the importance of a Fire and Rescue workforce that is skilled in leading, monitoring and supporting the Incident Command System, and we welcome the updated Guidance issued by NFCC. 

“Through equipping learners at every level with the very latest knowledge and skills, our Fire and Rescue Services can continue to deliver a robust response to major incidents and importantly this gives the public confidence that our frontline emergency services are equipped to respond to rapidly evolving Incident Command environment.” 

Jim Martin, Incident Command Manager at The Fire Service College, comments: “Equipping today’s firefighters and other emergency responders with the best possible skills and training to learn the latest techniques and procedures is at the heart of what we do. 

“That being so, we welcome the launch of this suite of incident command qualifications, which ensure that Fire and Rescue Services’ learning outcomes remain consistent with NFCC guidance. 

“As an organisation with over 40 years’ experience in delivering fire and rescue training internationally, we look forward to continuing to work with SFJ Awards to deliver incident command qualifications you can trust.” 

Jim Davies, Group Commander at London Fire Brigade and Vice Chair of NFCC’s National Command & Control User Group adds: “I am very confident these qualifications will provide learners with the effective knowledge, skills and behaviours required to take command at incidents at all levels. Incident command is one of the key pillars of the National Operational Guidance framework and we value the role that SFJ Awards plays in enabling learners to access training that is consistent with the latest developments in the field. 

“Learners at all levels will welcome the opportunity to familiarise themselves with incident command hazards and gain proficiency in implementing the relevant control measures in the context of an everchanging environment. The launch of this suite therefore represents an important step forward for the performance and safety of fire and rescue services and communities nationwide. 

“These qualifications are forming the basis of our incident command competency framework and this latest revision provides us with the assurance that we can clearly demonstrate our alignment with National Operational Guidance, and the associated training specifications, which is a vital component of our incident command strategy.” 

Upon successful completion of the course delegates will typically receive 30.5 Institute of Fire Engineers (IFE) Continual Professional Development (CPD) hours. In addition to Incident Command levels 3-7, SFJ Awards offers eighteen additional Fire & Rescue qualifications. For more information visit: https://sfjawards.com/qualifications/fire-and-rescue/ 

Cathy Longley, Communications Manager for NFPA discusses the increasing interest in volunteer firefighting.

There’s nothing like a good stat or trend to make you pause and think.

So, when I looked at NFPA CEO Jim Pauley’s recent blog on Google Trends earlier this week and noticed deep in the report that “how to become a volunteer firefighter” hit breakout search engine status in the U.S. in November, my interest was piqued.

At NFPA, we generate a lot of standards, content, data, and research related to the fire service. We also collaborate with the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) regularly on engagement efforts, so I know that recruiting and retention within the volunteer fire community has been incredibly tough for several years now – a concern that has only been compounded during COVID for myriad reasons.

But seeing that Google trend on my first day in the office in 2022 was promising. On further review, I learned that Google Trends uses the term “breakout status” when they see specific words being searched more than 5000% than usual during a short period of time – and that’s exactly what happened with “how to become a volunteer firefighter” in the 11th month of 2021.

Google attributes the interest to the historic wildfires of late that tore through California during the summer and fall, including the Dixie Fire that began in July and raged for three months. That disaster now ranks in the top 20 most destructive fires in California in terms of loss and deaths since 1991, and in the California top 20 for acres burned since the 1930s. And on the heels of that fire came the Caldor Fire in September which also is listed among the state’s leading fires in terms of land burned.

The Google search uptick begs several questions. For example, did people explore the web in November, not necessarily because wildfires were raging that month but more so because California experienced historically significant fires from June to September? Did they take a breath in November and wonder how they could respond or take an active role in helping? Is it a case of people having more time now because they have left their jobs or because remote work allows career-minded professionals to pursue a passion they may have had for years?

Hard to say on the rationale behind the buzz, but wouldn’t the Google shift be an excellent upside to all the wildfire destruction we have been witnessing or a global pandemic making us all rethink things?

We don’t know the reason for the searching activity, but the vocation of volunteer firefighting does offer altruistic and high impact benefits. Perhaps this is why Google tells us that Californians were among the top internet surfers back in November looking to learn more about the role. We’ve seen this type of action before. After 9/11, there was a huge influx of men and women interested in becoming first responders. The California wildfires may have spurred heightened interest. If that logic follows, maybe the December 30 Marshall Fire in Colorado that destroyed more than 6,000 acres and nearly 1,000 homes, and forced tens of thousands to evacuate, could also drive more activity on Google.  

Any way you look at it, interest in volunteer firefighting opportunities is good news for eighty-two percent of the nation’s more than 29,000 fire departments that are volunteer or combination units (some career members). And I’d venture to guess that the more than 745,000 volunteer firefighters in the U.S., nearly half of whom have been members for at least 10 years, would welcome a recruiting frenzy as we near the two-year mark of COVID-19.

The timing of the trend is ideal as volunteer fire chiefs begin to plan out their 2022 strategies for community outreach, training, and their own professional growth. NFPA can help those leaders – and anyone else in the responder community who is interested in inspiring and informing existing members, the next generation of firefighters, or themselves.

On January 25, the Association will host a FREE Leadership for Emergency Responders online conference. More than 1,600 forward-thinking fire service officers and up-and-comers have already signed up for this timely one-day learning event (with on-demand access for up to one year). The complimentary program will cover topics such as transformational leadership, firefighting tactics, responder safety, occupational health issues including suicide, community risk reduction, diversity, inclusion strategies, and more.

Whether you’re in the volunteer, combination, or career firefighting space and inspired by the Google data or simply looking to take things to a different level this year – take advantage of these opportunities.

The nation’s firefighters, and the communities that they serve, deserve the very best in 2022.   

NFPA is hosting a FREE Leadership for Emergency Responders conference on January 25. REGISTER for the online, one-day program or to access the educational content in the coming year.

This article originally featured on the NFPA website.

EG Group, a leading global petrol forecourt retail convenience operator, has chosen The Fire Fighters Charity as its first charity for 2022.

Blackburn-based EG Group will not only collect donations on behalf of the Charity, but will also fully utilise its network of forecourt and food service locations across the UK to promote the Charity’s important work from January until May 2022.

Every year, The Fire Fighters Charity provides support for thousands of fire and rescue service personnel and their families, and this partnership gives the two organisations the opportunity to work together in raising greater awareness of the vital work carried out.

EG Group will also make its UK sites fully available to The Fire Fighters Charity, providing access to local fire and rescue service crews to host activities, arrange collections, and fundraising events over the four-month period.

Ruth Powell, Director of Engagement and Fundraising at The Fire Fighters Charity, said: “On behalf of The Fire Fighters Charity, I want to sincerely thank EG Group for its support, in giving us a fantastic platform to raise awareness of who we are and the vital work we do each year, looking after the health and wellbeing of the UK’s fire services personnel.

“Sharing our story with the general public, through EG Group’s nationwide customer outlets, will help us raise the funds we need to continue providing expert support to those whose job it is to keep us all safe.”

Zuber and Mohsin Issa, Founders and Co-CEOs of EG Group, said: “It is great news that our first charity partnership of 2022 will be with The Fire Fighters Charity. We are focused on making a real difference to the communities in which we operate and are proud to support fire and service rescue personnel and their families by helping to raise vital funds. Fire and service rescue personnel are often unsung heroes across the country, and EG Group is honoured to help raise awareness of their selfless lifesaving they do on a daily basis.”

Pye-Barker Fire & Safety is pleased to announce the acquisition of Odyssey Fire Protection, LLC. The deal was transacted by Pye-Barker brand Rapid Fire Protection Group of South Dakota.

Odyssey Fire Protection, LLC, headquartered in Wilmington, North Carolina, specialises in designing, engineering and installing fire sprinkler systems for the construction and renovation of class A high rises, malls, retail centers, industrial buildings, museums, theaters, fire stations, apartments, schools, hotels, churches and healthcare facilities. Co-founded by Kevin Hommes and Eric Williams more than 12 years ago, Odyssey Fire operates throughout North and South Carolina. Odyssey invests heavily in training employees on cutting edge technology and best practices to ensure the delivery of state-of-the-art fire suppression systems.

Rapid Fire Protection Group is part of the Pye-Barker Fire & Safety family of companies, a fully integrated group of fire safety and alarm security services for the commercial sector. Rapid Fire Protection specialises in providing fire suppression services to new construction nationwide. Rapid Fire CEO Matt Hammon and COO Rod DiBona work collaboratively with Pye-Barker CEO Bart Proctor to identify acquisition and growth opportunities for Pye-Barker.

“I’m impressed with Odyssey Fire’s strong reputation for engineering the most advanced fire protection systems and their commitment to exceptional customer service,” said Pye-Barker CEO Bart Proctor.

“This partnership allows us to expand our offerings and provide new growth opportunities for our employees,” said Odyssey President Eric Williams. “Kevin and I realised from the very beginning that the Rapid Fire / Pye-Barker team was the right fit for what we’ve created here at Odyssey. Their commitment to their employees, their customers, and the industry align with our beliefs so we’re very excited to see what the future holds.”

Odyssey’s leaders Kevin Hommes and Eric Williams, their management team and highly trained employees will stay on, and the business will continue to operate as normal with additional resources from Pye-Barker.