Trail Group wins two-year passive fire safety deal

by Featured NewsPassiveProjects

Passive fire safety contract awarded for Home Group homes

Trail Group has been awarded a contract worth around £3m over the next two years to provide passive fire safety services for Home Group across the Southeast and Southwest of England.

Trail Group announced that the contract was awarded through the Pretium Building and Fire Safety Framework for works covering fire door installations and replacements, fire compartmentation and fire stopping.

The company was first appointed as a supply chain partner to Home Group in 2021.

It has since worked on more than 100 properties including residential apartment buildings, street properties and community wellbeing homes in Norfolk, London and the Home Counties, along with locations across the South Coast from Hampshire to Devon and Cornwall.

The first projects under the new contract are due to take place at two residential buildings in Portsmouth.

Those works will cover roof compartmentation and fire door replacements.

Passive fire safety works already completed

Trail Group said recent projects for Home Group included work at Olympic Way in High Wycombe, where fire doors, fire stopping and fire compartmentation were carried out across three apartment buildings.

In the largest building at Olympic Way, all automated smoke vents were also replaced.

At Deck Place in Colchester, all fire doors for two apartment blocks were renewed.

At Court Place in Folkestone, communal doors and entrance doors to more than 50 flats for over-55s were replaced.

Full fire compartmentation was also installed throughout the Folkestone building, including in the loft area.

Jon Crosby, Managing Director of Trail Group, said: “This new contract award builds on our long track record of working as a trusted delivery partner to housing associations and local authorities for fire protection, compliance and maintenance services.

“Our engineers are highly trained in building safety and compliance to deliver each project to consistently high standards, with residents and life safety firmly at the centre of everything we do.”

David Richardson, Maintenance and Contract Manager at Home Group, said: “Trail Group continues to work well for Home Group and complex projects are completed to a high standard.

“How their teams put our customers first is well recognised.

“Their capabilities are strong and staff always professional.

“Any challenges that may arise are dealt with promptly, effectively and with a genuinely positive attitude.

“We definitely want longevity with our supply chain partners and so are pleased to award this latest contract to the business.”

Trail Group also provides active fire protection, building upgrades, security solutions, electrical testing and installations, and planned maintenance for property, estates and facilities managers.

Evac+Chair supports evacuation planning at Birmingham office hub

by EvacuationFeatured NewsProjectsSafety

Evac+Chair added at Birmingham workspace

10X by Spacemade has installed an Evac+Chair 300H at its Brindley Place site in Birmingham as part of its emergency evacuation provision.

Evac+Chair said the chair was installed in collaboration with the flexible office space, which opened to businesses in Birmingham in 2023.

The site includes private offices and co-working space, meeting rooms, an events space, a gym, a bouldering wall and rooftop terrace are also available for occupants.

The installed model is the Evac+Chair 300H which Evac+Chair describe as a light and easy-to-use evacuation chair suited to commercial settings.

10X by Spacemade is currently home to 74 businesses.

Evac+Chair case study includes comments from both organisations

Claire Blakemore, Managing Director of Evac+Chair said: “It’s vital that everyone has access to a safe means of evacuation in an emergency at work, and we’re pleased to see that the team at Spacemade share our commitment to inclusivity.

“The Evac+Chair 300H can be easily used by a single operator, making it the ideal choice for offices and commercial spaces.

“Not only can this model be used for evacuation purposes, but it can also in the event of lift failures or health emergencies too.

“Keeping people safe should be the top priority for all employers, and we’re looking forward to seeing Evac+Chair in even more office spaces in Birmingham and throughout the UK.”

Becky Thorn, Senior Community Manager at 10X by Spacemade, said: “Our 10X community is growing by the day and is home to so many diverse members with different needs.

“The safety of our members always comes first, so installing an Evac+Chair was the next step in our commitment to safety for everyone.

“The chair has given us peace of mind that in the event of an emergency, those members who need assistance can be evacuated safely and promptly.”

Evac+Chair has been part of the Allvida Group since 2022 and operates in more than 70 countries.

The company said it holds ISO 9001 and ISO 13485 accreditations.

The installation adds a dedicated evacuation chair to a workspace in the centre of Birmingham used by dozens of businesses.

Teledyne GMI expands US gas utility distribution reach

by Featured NewsGas DetectionProjects

Teledyne GMI expands Southeast support

Teledyne Gas Measurement Instruments (Teledyne GMI) has announced a partnership with Southern Cross, a Sparus company, to distribute its gas and leak detection portfolio to gas utility customers across the Southeast region of the United States.

The company said Southern Cross will also provide regional service support alongside the existing Teledyne GMI USA service centre in Cypress, Texas.

The agreement was announced from Renfrew, Scotland.

Teledyne GMI said the arrangement is intended to improve response times and technical support for customers using gas detection technologies in the region.

Teledyne GMI products and service scope

The portfolio covered by the distribution agreement includes the GS700, GS500, GT Series and PS200.

The company said the instruments are supported by its GDCloud platform, which provides centralised real-time access to field information.

It said the platform is used for fleet management, compliance reporting, preventive maintenance and operational decision-making.

Shannon Sanders, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Americas, Teledyne Gas and Flame Detection, said: “We are pleased to offer our advanced detection solutions through Southern Cross.

“This partnership strengthens our ability to support U.S. gas utilities with local expertise, reliable service, and proven technologies.”

Southern Cross role in US rollout

Teledyne GMI said the partnership with Southern Cross brings combined sector experience in the gas utility market and extends its service presence in the United States.

Jody Boyles, Chief Sales & Marketing Officer, Sparus, said: “Through Southern Cross, Sparus has been protecting gas infrastructure since 1946.

“Partnering with Teledyne GMI as an authorized distributor brings together a combined 200 years of utility experience, so crews can work more safely and customers get faster access to the safety technology they rely on.”

Jeff Schechtman, Chief Operating Officer, Sparus, added: “This partnership creates access and support at a larger scale.

“With Sparus’ national field footprint, we’ll put Teledyne GMI portable gas detectors in technicians’ hands quickly with the training, service and coverage gas utilities expect.

“Anchored in our shared values of safety, innovation and integrity, we’re helping customers maintain their critical infrastructure and support efforts to reduce emissions.”

Heritage fire safety upgrades continue across priority sites in Japan

by Featured NewsHeritageProjectsSafety

Fire safety programme continues at heritage sites

Japan is continuing fire protection upgrades at priority heritage sites after the 2019 blaze that destroyed major structures at Shuri Castle in Okinawa.

The South China Morning Post reported that work has not yet begun at around 30 per cent of the 107 cultural properties placed under a national programme launched in 2020 by the Agency for Cultural Affairs.

So far, 64 designated sites have installed new fire protection measures.

A further seven locations are undergoing upgrades.

The programme was introduced after the October 2019 fire at the UNESCO World Heritage site in Naha, which burned for nearly 12 hours and destroyed six buildings covering about 4,200 square metres.

Investigators later found that the fire began at an electrical distribution board.

Authorities ruled out arson.

According to Hiroko Moriyama of the Agency for Cultural Affairs, the programme adds measures beyond those required under Japan’s Fire Service Act.

World Heritage sites and national treasures are being equipped with flame detectors, specialised fire hydrants and upgraded alarm systems alongside conventional extinguishers.

Moriyama said: “This will help safeguard irreplaceable cultural assets that would otherwise be lost forever if they were damaged by fire.”

Funding, delays and the revised timetable

The South China Morning Post also reported that the Japanese government will cover up to 85 per cent of the cost of the new fire protection systems.

Nearly 13 billion yen, equivalent to around US$82.3 million, has already been allocated to support upgrades at temples, shrines, castles, palaces and historic residences.

Matsue Castle in Shimane Prefecture has installed new flame and smoke detectors as well as a replacement sprinkler system.

Zenkoji Temple in Nagano has introduced high-sensitivity smoke detectors and set up a dedicated 24-hour self-defence fire brigade for emergency response.

Officials said progress has slowed because some sites lost income during the Covid-19 pandemic, material costs rose and some stakeholders disagreed over how to install upgrades without affecting historic architecture.

Some projects have also been slowed by access issues at sites in mountainous areas.

Moriyama said: “We understand there are various individual circumstances that are the reason for the delays.”

Authorities have not identified the sites where work has yet to begin because they said publishing that information could create security risks.

With the original five-year programme nearing its end, the government has introduced a new four-year scheme that will continue support for sites still needing improved fire protection.

The revised scheme will also fund measures to improve resistance to earthquakes and flooding.

Under the updated timetable, the Agency for Cultural Affairs expects the remaining fire safety improvements at priority sites to be completed by 2035.

Work to rebuild Shuri Castle is nearing completion, with the structures around the hilltop courtyard expected to reopen to visitors in the autumn.

Gold Innovation award recognises Chester Rows fire detection project

by Featured NewsFire DetectionHeritageProjects

Innovation award recognises Chester Rows fire detection project

Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service and Cheshire West and Chester Council have won Gold in the Innovation in Public Sector Award at the IESE Public Sector Transformation Awards in Westminster for a fire protection system installed on Chester’s historic Rows.

Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service reported that the project installed an aspirating smoke detection system across the outdoor heritage site, marking the first use of this type of early warning technology at an outdoor historic site in the UK.

The work involved collaboration between the council, heritage specialists and the Protection Department at Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service.

In January, the system detected smoke from a fire at a commercial premises on Music Hall Passage more than 100 metres away.

The blaze had also been reported through a 999 call.

The early alert demonstrated how the system could provide warning if a fire occurred at night, when the Rows are more exposed.

Project partners and national recognition

The installation was carried out with Charles Thomas Heritage Fire Protection Specialists, Donald Insall Associates, Recclesia and specialist consultants, with part funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

Steve McCormick, Head of Prevention and Protection at Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “We are incredibly proud to see this innovative project recognised on a national stage.

“The system installed on the Rows brings together cutting edge technology and expert heritage protection, providing a level of early warning fire detection never before achieved on a historic site like this.

“This award is a testament to the dedication of all partners involved, including our Technical Fire Safety Heritage Officer, James Scott, whose work has been fundamental to the project’s success.”

Councillor Louise Gittins, Leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council, said: “I’m delighted that the introduction of our Aspirating Smoke Detection system is not only helping to protect the Chester Rows, but the technology and innovation could play a part in protecting many more heritage sites across the country.

“The new system plays a vital role in our fire protection action plan.

“Winning this gold award will help to showcase the system to far more sites. Congratulations to the many people involved in developing, installing and running the new system.”

The system is now being considered by councils and conservation bodies as a possible approach for heritage fire protection at other sites.

Belfast Airport adds De-Wipe kits to fire-fighter decontamination protocol

by Featured NewsHealth and SafetyPPEProjects

De-Wipe kits added to Belfast Airport airside procedures

Belfast International Airport has incorporated De-Wipe Airside contamination kits into updated procedures aimed at improving health and safety for its fire-fighters.

A case study published by De-Wipe describes the kits as part of a contaminant cleaning protocol used during and after every response, with the same products also used during training exercises.

All fire-fighters at Belfast International follow the updated cleaning protocol to reduce exposure to substances encountered in fire fighting environments.

The case study also notes that airports including Belfast and Manchester use De-Wipe Airside Decontamination kits for their fire and rescue teams.

Exposure risks and decontamination practice

The De-Wipe case study links the use of decontamination procedures to research indicating that airside personnel working near aircraft refuelling areas face exposure to harmful toxins.

It references research describing increased cancer risk among fire-fighters linked to repeated exposure during incidents.

The case study explains that extreme heat can make skin up to 400% more absorbent for every five degree rise in temperature, allowing carcinogens to embed more deeply.

It also cites survey data indicating that more than 4% of firefighters had a cancer diagnosis, with an age-specific cancer rate up to 323% higher among people aged 35 to 39 than the general population.

Firefighters who had served 15 years or more were described as 1.7 times more likely to develop cancer than those with shorter service.

Decontamination bags and equipment storage

De-Wipe also describes its Airside decontamination bags as storage for equipment used in the cleaning process.

The bags are designed to hold items including wipes and hair and body wash.

Equipment wash and equipment wipes are also listed among the products stored in the kits.

Petrel supplies hazardous-area lighting for L’Oréal Auckland dangerous goods facility

by Featured NewsLightingProjects

Petrel case study on L’Oréal’s Auckland dangerous goods store

Auckland’s new L’Oréal distribution centre includes a Dangerous Goods Store designed for a Zone 2 hazardous environment and completed in November 2025.

Petrel has published a case study outlining the lighting solution delivered for the facility through Electrical Consulting Services working with Techlight.

The project team included developer James Kirkpatrick Group and architect Gravitas Consulting.

Waide Commercial Construction served as the builder and Electrical Consulting Services acted as electrical and lighting consultant.

Electrical Consulting Services selected Petrel to provide the hazardous-area lighting for the Zone 2 environment.

Zone 2 lighting and emergency provision

The Dangerous Goods Store is classified as Zone 2, defined as an environment where explosive gas atmospheres are not expected during normal operation and, if present, exist only for a short period.

A total of 73 Petrel ALED4/G/Z2/156E luminaires were installed as high-bay fittings to illuminate aisles and open warehouse areas.

These luminaires are designed for hazardous locations and provide ingress protection and compliance for Zone 2 applications.

Emergency lighting within the facility includes 12 Petrel 9LED5700/EM units installed across aisles and open areas.

Stuart Head, Technical and Certification Manager at Petrel, said: “Lighting is central to Green Star performance, influencing energy use, operational carbon and overall environmental quality.

“By combining high-performance LEDs with precise optical control, the L’Oréal Dangerous Goods Store achieves lower emissions, reduced energy demand and safer working conditions.

“Petrel is proud to have supported the delivery of this award-winning outcome.”

Green Star rating and project collaboration

The distribution centre has achieved New Zealand’s first 6-Star Green Star Design Certified rating from the New Zealand Green Building Council.

The rating recognises the facility’s sustainable design approach across the wider project.

The lighting design formed part of the overall facility specification, with coordination between the project team and delivery partners during development.

Pierre Abrahamse, National Sales Manager at Techlight, said: “The L’Oréal Dangerous Goods Store project sets a new benchmark, demonstrating how specialist lighting capability can drive both operational excellence and environmental leadership.

“Credit goes to the team at Petrel for their skill, commitment and genuine passion for the sector.”

The Auckland facility brings together hazardous-area lighting and energy-focused building design within the same distribution centre.

North West firefighters to receive Ballyclare Xenon technical rescue PPE

by Featured NewsPPEProjects

Ballyclare Xenon kit rollout across North West fire services

Firefighters across the North West of England and Northern Ireland will be issued Xenon technical rescue kit supplied by Ballyclare under a joint procurement contract.

The company announced that fire and rescue services from Greater Manchester, Cheshire, Cumbria, Lancashire, Merseyside, the Isle of Man and Northern Ireland worked together on the initiative.

The collaboration represents more than 5,800 firefighters.

The specialist kit is intended for non-structural incidents such as road traffic collisions, medical emergencies and natural disasters.

Certification standards and tender specifications

The Xenon technical rescue jacket and trousers are certified to BS EN 16689 for protective clothing used in technical rescue.

The garments also meet EN ISO 15384 for wildland firefighter clothing and EN ISO 20471 for high-visibility clothing.

The ensemble uses fabrics designed to be lightweight and breathable.

The material is inherently flame retardant and resistant to repeated washing.

It also provides waterproof protection against blood pathogens, chemicals and particulates.

This version of the Xenon kit was adapted to meet the tender requirements, including the use of a bright yellow outer fabric to increase visibility during road traffic incidents.

Procurement process and supplier selection

Ballyclare was selected as the preferred supplier following a tender process that included practical user trials last year.

Fire and rescue services in the region are already familiar with the Xenon range through existing use of Xenon structural kit and a previous version of the Xenon technical rescue jacket.

Philip Tasker, Global Sales Lead for Fire and Security at Ballyclare, said: “Increasingly, fire and rescue services across the UK and Europe are investing in dedicated technical rescue kit which better suits the everyday incidents they face and prolongs the life of their structural gear.

“It’s great to see our innovative Xenon technical rescue design being put to good use by fire and rescue services across the North West and Northern Ireland.

“We’re pleased to be able to support these crews with the protection they need to carry out their operations safely.”

The contract covers the supply of technical rescue PPE to the participating services across the region.

Aspen partnership brings AI-powered wildfire suppression aircraft to WUI operations

by Aerial FirefightingFeatured NewsFire SuppressionProjectsWildland Fire

Coordinated autonomous system ordered for Colorado wildfire response

Aspen Fire Protection District is set to receive a coordinated autonomous wildfire suppression system from Seneca in summer 2026.

Seneca announced the five-year, multi-million dollar partnership in a PRNewswire release.

The Seneca Strike Team will comprise five autonomous suppression aircraft, a mobile operations base and five years of software, connectivity and maintenance.

Each strike team has a capacity of approximately 500 gallons of finished foam per sortie.

A single pilot can operate multiple aircraft due to the system’s artificial intelligence and autonomy capabilities.

The system is intended to support operations in the wildland – urban interface (WUI).

Funding, intended uses and training timeline

According to the PRNewswire release, the aircraft system acquisition was supported through public private partnerships involving Aspen Fire Protection District (AFPD), the Aspen Fire Foundation and local donors.

Over the coming years, Seneca and AFPD aim to deploy additional autonomous aerial response bases.

Those bases are designed to respond within seconds of detection to reach new starts earlier.

The system is intended to help with starts in inaccessible areas, support night operations, maintain the safety of pile and prescribed burns and carry equipment on incidents in complex terrain.

Stuart Landesberg, Founder and CEO of Seneca, said: “Aspen has a unique blend of high-risk terrain, exceptional collaboration across their valley, and a highly skilled and forward-thinking team.

“They understand the importance of modernizing wildfire response to safeguard communities across the American West.”

Chief Jake Andersen, Fire Chief and CEO of Aspen Fire, said: “We are partnering with Seneca because this technology will help us save homes and save lives.

“Wildfires in our region are moving faster and growing more complex every year.

“Stu and the full Seneca team have listened to firefighters and built a system designed for the realities we face on the ground.

“This gives us another critical tool to protect our community before small starts become major incidents.

“We are grateful to the donors who partnered with Aspen Fire to make this possible, and we are proud to bring this capability to Aspen this summer.”

Aspen Fire expects training to begin in the early summer, with firefighters integrating Seneca into their core operations as fire season intensifies.

Unmanned firefighting robots deployed to rescue units across South Korea

by Featured NewsFire SuppressionProjectsVehicles

Firefighting robots donated to Korea National Fire Agency

Hyundai Motor Group has donated four unmanned firefighting robots to South Korea’s Korea National Fire Agency (KNFA) to support fire suppression in high-risk environments.

The Group confirmed that a donation ceremony took place on 24 February at the National 119 Rescue Headquarters in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province.

Two firefighting robots have already been deployed to 119 Special Rescue Units in the Capital and Yeongnam regions and are in use during live fire operations.

Two additional units will be delivered to the Gyeonggi Provincial Fire Headquarters in Hwaseong and the Chungnam Provincial Fire Headquarters.

Euisun Chung, Executive Chair of Hyundai Motor Group, said: “Firefighters who rush into danger without hesitation to save lives remind us of the values our society must uphold.

“In partnership with the Korea National Fire Agency, we developed the Unmanned Firefighting Robot to help realize the very value of ‘safety’ that firefighters have long protected.

“The Unmanned Firefighting Robots that we are donating embody Hyundai Motor Group’s core technologies and represent a new form of mobility built on our shared goal of ‘technology that saves lives.’

“We hope they will serve as reliable teammates, entering dangerous scenes ahead of others to safeguard the firefighters’ safety.

“When the National Fire Hospital opens this June, we will support firefighters’ swift recovery by donating vehicles and rehabilitation equipment.

“Hyundai Motor Group will continue to provide the technologies and support needed to ensure that firefighters can carry out their missions in a safer environment.”

Seung-ryong Kim, Acting Commissioner of the Korea National Fire Agency, said: “This initiative marks the first step in a paradigm shift that will redefine disaster response.

“We will continue to actively introduce advanced technology to the field through innovative collaboration with the private sector, including Hyundai Motor Group, a global mobility leader.”

Robot design and operational capabilities

Hyundai Motor Group developed the unmanned firefighting robot in collaboration with the KNFA based on Hyundai Rotem’s electrified multi-purpose unmanned vehicle, the HR-Sherpa.

The robot is equipped with a front-mounted water cannon capable of delivering both direct and spray-type water streams to address different fire conditions.

A self-spraying cooling system creates a protective water curtain around the vehicle, enabling it to maintain an internal temperature of 50 to 60°C when exposed to external temperatures reaching 800°C.

An infrared camera supports object detection through smoke and flames and helps identify fire origins and individuals requiring rescue.

Operators receive real-time video via a wireless connection, enabling remote control of driving and firefighting functions.

The vehicle uses high-temperature-resistant tyres and a six-wheel independent drive in-wheel motor system to support mobility across debris and uneven terrain.