United Safety acquires QTEC Fire Services PTY Ltd

by Featured NewsProjects

United Safety, a global manufacturer of safety and survivability solutions, has announced the acquisition of QTEC Fire Services Pty Ltd, effective from 1st July. QTEC, an Australian-based manufacturer of pre-engineered fire suppression systems for mobile plant and equipment for the mining, construction, transportation, and forestry industries is the second fire protection acquisition the company has made in recent years.

United Safety President and CEO Joe Mirabile stated, “We are extremely excited to welcome QTEC Fire Services into the United Safety family. QTEC will significantly increase our available offerings and allow us to provide multiple high-quality fire suppression products to our global customers. This is a continuation of our mission to deliver many more lifesaving products to those who need them.”

QTEC Fire Services Pty Ltd was founded in 1992 with a focus on manufacturing Australia’s highest quality fire suppression systems. The company continues to shape the fire suppression industry as the only Australian based company to continually develop and manufacture products in Australia for both domestic and international applications. Mike Hompesch, partner at Dubin Clark, United Safety’s ownership firm stated, “United Safety continues to be a dramatic growth story that delivers groundbreaking products that save lives around the world. We are proud to have recognized a great opportunity with this team and we look forward to continuing to partner with and support management to expand the company further.”

“It is with great excitement we announce that United Safety & Survivability Corporation has completed the acquisition of QTEC Fire Services and I am excited about the future,” QTEC founder, Mark Ivanovic said. Ivanovic has been highly successful in manufacturing fire suppression products for over 28 years, founded on the principal of high-quality Australian manufacturing.

The news comes after last year’s acquisition of Firestorm Fire Protection, another Australian based fire protection company, further widening the reach of United Safety’s focus on fire safety and strengthening the company’s portfolio of product offerings. Firestorm CEO Kristian Bischoff commented, “The ability to own and operate a first-class Australian manufactured fire suppression group such as QTEC Fire Services is fantastic and complements the Fogmaker misting system and the service and installation of Firestorm. Our future looks extremely promising and 2020 is shaping up to be a record year.”

www.unitedsafety.net/

Fire Fighters Charity launches urgent appeal after coronavirus fundraising downturn

by Projects

The Fire Fighters Charity has launched an urgent appeal for new donors after its usual fundraising income fell by around £200,000 per month during the lockdown period.

The charity, which offers specialist mental health, physical health and social well-being support to members of the UK’s fire services community, receives no Government funding and relies on its fundraising income to raise the £10 million it needs each year to operate its national services in support of over 55,000 members of the UK’s Fire and Rescue Services and their dependants, as well as the retired fire services community.

However, the cancellation of all face-to-face fundraising and mass participation events over the past few months and, it would seem, for much of the rest of 2020, means that the organisation’s income is falling short by hundreds of thousands of pounds each month.

CEO Dr Jill Tolfrey has explained why the charity decided to launch an urgent appeal aimed at all those across the fire services community, as well as those who admire and support it. “This is an unprecedented time for the Fire Fighters Charity. We’ve never before faced such an extended period of time without any traditional fundraising activity and, for an organisation that’s almost entirely funded through the generosity of its supporters, we need to find a way to turn this around.”

Tolfrey continued: “I’m therefore hoping that this urgent appeal will strike a chord with those generous individuals and every member of our incredible fire service family. From front line firefighters to support and control staff, retired personnel and everyone for whom we provide our services, we will always be there for you when you need us, but right now we need you. Please start donating today and let’s navigate this tough time together.”

www.firefighterscharity.org.uk/

Abloy set to host virtual exhibition on security and fire safety

by Projects

Abloy UK has unveiled plans to hold its first ever virtual exhibition, Keyvolution, which will take place online on 8 July.

With many exhibitions being postponed or cancelled in 2020, this initiative has been organised to meet the demand for online advice and information on security. It also aims to help visitors resolve current security issues and plan for future needs to ensure their building’s occupants and assets remain safe and secure.

The digital event will showcase innovative new products, as well as access control solutions for commercial buildings, education, hospitality, residential and healthcare.

Featuring new products, live webinars, software demonstrations, live chats, videos and downloadable brochures, the exhibition has been designed to help participants resolve short term security issues while planning for the future as the world emerges from lockdown.

The event will provide information on ASSA ABLOY’s Incedo Business, the new universal ecosystem available from Abloy UK that combines software and hardware into one environment to deliver realtime access control.

Other access control solutions will include Aperio, a wireless lock technology for hands-free door opening, and SMARTair, an intelligent alternative to traditional access control systems that enables you to send, revoke and update access permissions, restrict movement within a building and provide an audit trail.

Fire Safety 

Meanwhile, to share best practice on fire safety, the exhibition will also cover the Escape Door System, which is compliant with BE EN 13637, and its Electric Locks which are designed to meet and exceed test standards used in most European countries to ensure compliance on panic and emergency routes and dynamic lockdown.

Aaron Yule, Managing Director of Abloy UK, said: “With the postponement and cancellation of the major exhibitions in 2020, we wanted to create a digital event that would have something for everyone looking after commercial buildings.

“Abloy is a trusted partner of many, and we are always building upon our heritage and innovation in high-end security access and control. Now we are adding an exciting new digital dimension to our existing portfolio of mechanical and electromechanical products.”

To sign up, visit https://bit.ly/2By9VZZ

www.abloy.co.uk/en/abloy/abloy-co-uk/

FIA works with NFCC to provide PPE for front line firefighters

by PassiveProjects

When the COVID-19 pandemic reaching its peak in late-March, the Fire Industry Association (FIA) sought to collaborate with the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) to make sure Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) was made readily available for firefighters to protect themselves against COVID-19 while undertaking their enhanced role assisting the National Health Service and the ambulance service.

The FIA assisted the National Fire Commercial Transformation Programme (NFCTP) that’s led by Kent’s chief fire officer Ann Millington by engaging its members and asking them to leverage their contacts in wider industry sectors to source PPE such as gloves, masks and hand sanitiser.

The FIA ensured that all suggested suppliers had evidence to prove that they were compliant with the appropriate standards as defined by the technical due diligence process outlined by the Kent Fire and Rescue Service. After these checks, the FIA then forwarded the suppliers to the team in Kent who would complete the due diligence and then liaise with Fire and Rescue Services up and down the country in a determined bid to ensure access to available supply of critical commodities.

Tina Butler, head of commercial and procurement the Kent Fire and Rescue Service and programme lead for the NFCTP, explained: “The NFCTP and the FIA have been engaged for some time prior to COVID-19, building a more professional relationship between the sectors to ensure that we move away from a fragmented approach towards market engagement.”

Butler continued: “The unprecedented global impact on supply chains as a result of the pandemic has been a real test of this new way of working, and I’m incredibly grateful to FIA director Bernie Higgins and everyone involved within the network who have really pulled together with the Fire and Rescue Service to ensure that we can provide the right level of protection for our front line personnel. I look forward to building upon this good work to ensure that, together, we can deliver the most effective and successful recovery possible.”

Ann Millington added: “I’m indebted, as is the national fire service, to the extraordinary work carried out by Tina Butler and her team and the wider team of procurement professionals in this crisis. It’s no exaggeration to say we couldn’t have done the great work in supporting other agencies during this crisis were it not for the PPE supplies. The FIA has been a great partner in this and I thank the Trade Association for its tremendous efforts.”

Bernie Higgins responded: “This is an excellent example of the wider fire sector working together in the national interest to ensure that firefighters can continue to protect the public during this extremely challenging period.”

The FIA and the NFFC paused the arrangement on 15 June to reflect the more stable position of the sector, but have left the door wide open to re-starting this valuable partnership to help protect firefighters across the nation should the need arise.

As the national now enters the recovery phase, the FIA will be working very closely with the NFCC to assist Fire and Rescue Services and suppliers to it in order to ensure the most effective recovery possible.

Fire brigade chief praises new rental sector electricity regulations

by PassiveProjects

London Fire Brigade’s deputy assistant commissioner for fire safety has praised the new safety regulations which have now come in to effect in the private rental sector.

Charlie Pugsley says: “These new regulations … should be seen as a huge win for tenants who often have to battle with landlords to ensure their homes are safe. Most landlords provide well-maintained and safe accommodation for their tenants, but there are those that don’t and put people’s lives at risk. So it’s a positive step that tenants now have protection and the support of local authorities if landlords don’t comply.

“Sadly, we are all too aware of what the devastating consequences of faulty electrics can be and provided detailed data to the working group to shape the guidance.

“As these regulations do not cover electrical appliances, only fixed electrical installations, we would urge people to ensure their appliances are safe and always register them so you can be informed if there is a fault identified.”

The regulations mean:

  • Electrical wiring, sockets, consumer units (fuse boxes) and other fixed electrical parts in rented homes must be inspected and tested every five years, or more often if the inspector thinks it necessary.
  • Throughout the whole time a tenant is living at the property, national electrical safety standards must be met.
  • Landlords must give the tenant a report that shows the condition of the property’s electrical installations. They also have to give this to the local council if they ask for it.

Inspections will find out if any electrical installations are overloaded, if there are any potential electric shock risks or fire hazards, if there is any defective electrical work and if there is a lack of earthing or bonding.

If the report identifies any issues, landlords will have 28 days to carry out necessary works, or less if the inspector deems the work more urgent.

The new regulations are in place for those who sign tenancy agreements from now onwards. If a tenancy was signed before July 1 the home will be covered from April 1 2021.

www.london-fire.gov.uk/

PRP lands government fire safety work for care homes

by PassiveProjects

PRP has been appointed by the government to carry out research on fire safety regulations in care homes and specialist housing.

Under the contract with the Ministry of Housing (MHCLG), PRP will also review current provisions in Approved Document B (ADB) and propose alternative design options to inform future policy decisions.

The practice will review current design approaches, including evacuation strategies, at specialised housing and care homes, identify gaps in existing fire safety guidance and assess risks, costs and benefits of alternative design options.

The team will also conduct an international review of regulatory and design approaches to inform potential alternative design approaches.

The appointment comes after embattled housing secretary Robert Jenrick’s publication earlier this year of advice for building owners in an attempt to ensure all multi-occupancy residential buildings are safe.

PRP partner and Building Design regs columnist Andrew Mellor said: “A lot of progress has been made in fire-safety regulations since the Grenfell Tower fire, but a lot more still needs to be done, especially when it comes to care homes and specialist housing. We look forward to working with the wider industry in delivering this key piece of research that will ensure the safety of older people and their families across the UK.”

As part of the research, which is expected to be completed at the end of 2021, PRP’s development consultancy and later-living teams will work with the wider industry, academia, government bodies, the fire service and interest groups to gather data and expertise on fire safety.

PRP partner Jenny Buterchi said: “This is a unique opportunity for us to combine our development consultancy’s in-depth experience on fire safety with our later-living team’s unrivalled experience in the design of specialist housing and care-homes and through our regular work with the APPG on older people’s housing.”

PRP is already technical advisor to MHCLG on building safety analytical work.

CLT experts to develop new fire safety compliance framework

by PassiveProjects

Cross laminated timber (CLT) is now widely acknowledged as having a vital role to play in reducing CO2 emissions to mitigate the climate change crisis. Existing buildings and new construction account for nearly 40% of the UK’s carbon dioxide emissions according to a World Green Building Council report published in September 2019.

Specialist contractors and manufacturers operating in the sector firmly believe that mass timber technology like CLT provides the solution to many of the challenges the construction industry is facing today.

In collaboration, leading CLT manufacturers are investing half a million pounds in developing a new fire safety compliance framework for CLT to meet the amended Building Regulations in England.

Over the next 18 months the research supporting the new framework will include a series of compartment fire tests for commercial and multi-family residential type buildings to generate new knowledge in support of a safe design envelope for CLT buildings.

Robust fire safety designs

The purpose of this ongoing research is to provide scientific data for CLT fire performance that will support designers in the delivery of robust fire safety designs.

It ultimately aims to allow the ministry of housing, communities & local government (MHCLG) to view CLT as a construction material suitable for all buildings including where CLT forms part of the external wall construction irrespective of height.

In carrying out this research as an industry, it will also establish benchmark testing for all CLT manufacturers leading to an enhanced and broader understanding of CLT performance in fire.

The project is a collaboration of the largest suppliers in Europe supported by leading fire and structural engineering experts. The project proposals and outputs will be reviewed by an independent industry stakeholder group.

Data from the research will be released as and when it becomes available during the course of the programme.

Knowledge and competency

The CLT industry in the UK, supported by the Structural Timber Association (STA) is also responding to recent statements raising concern about the gaps in knowledge and competency relating to mass timber by providing evidence of the product fire performance and data to support competent professionals in the design of mass timber buildings for fire.

This evidence aims to enhance the understanding of fire performance of CLT, in terms of compartment fire behaviour, the response of structural elements and hazards associated with external fire spread.

Titan Security Europe launches range of armoured vehicles

by Breaking NewsProductsProjects

Titan Security are now offering a new range of armoured vehicles for use in corporate, government and private security sectors across Europe. Titan are now able to provide custom built armoured cars including Range Rover, Mercedes Benz and Toyota Land Cruisers.

The standard range offers full body armouring with B6 level protection, B6 overlaps to provide protection from bullets following linear and angular trajectories, upgraded suspension, wheel assemblies, slotted discs on all wheels to enhance heat dissipation.

  • Armoured Range Rovers

Range Rovers are the most popular armoured vehicle as they offer exceptional all terrain mobility, high performance engines and high impact resistance. The range offers upgraded suspension and wheel assemblies, full armour coverage to B6 as standard, slotted discs and 20” wheel assemblies. Ballistic glass offers B6 level protection with armour plate overlap at key areas. Internal engine and vehicle components are fitted with additional plating, protection and redundancies to keep the vehicle moving.

  • Armoured Mercedes Benz

The S Class sedan is the pinnacle of luxury car and we are able to offer the new W221 generation in a variety of customised configurations including the S400 hybrid, S600, S63 and S65 AMG. The range offers complete armour coverage for all four sides and the roof, windshield and doors with ballistic overlaps and reinforced hinges to prevent potential misalignment of plates. The chassis has been fully reinforced and brake systems and suspension systems upgraded to provide increased mobility with armour plating.

  • Armoured Toyota Land Cruisers

Toyota land cruisers are the company’s popular flagship product and are available in left, and right hand drive with engine sizes from 4.0l V6 – 5.7l V8 Petrol and 4.5l V8 diesel offering exceptional power and speed.

The armoured land cruiser is incredibly versatile for all terrain and offers Smartarmour single piece armour design for sidewalls, overlapping Firewall armouring to minimise welding points, custom fabricated door panels, spall liner for bullet catching, updated armour to provide additional protection for batteries, engine wings, ECU, brake cylinder and radiators. The vehicle has been designed to act as a roll cage in the event of cars flipping and can be fully customised to customer’s specifications.

Automatic Fire Suppression Systems

As well as the standard features, Titan’s armoured vehicles can be fitted with CEN B7 level protective armour to protect from armour piercing rounds, ballistic radiator protection, certified blast protection, automatic fire suppression systems, communications systems, escape hatches and PA systems. They provide the most versatile armoured vehicles in the market today. All Titan’s vehicles are fully customisable and made to order so the client always receives a tailored armoured vehicle.

www.titansecurityeurope.com/

Kent FRS and Bristol Uniforms partner up to deliver PPE Framework benefits

by Breaking NewsProjects

Thirty-three Fire and Rescue Services (FRS), comprising over 33,500 firefighters, are now benefiting from the Local Authority Collaborative PPE Framework. Launched three years ago in June 2017, the Framework gives UK FRSs access to high quality PPE ensembles and volume discounts through a streamlined procurement process. The Framework was set up in response to calls from government and the industry for FRSs to work together to share best practice and deliver efficiencies.

It is run by Kent FRS, with PPE supplied by Bristol Uniforms, who was selected as the preferred supplier following a rigorous two-year tender process. Signing up via a purchase only or fully managed service contract, FRSs continue to reap the benefits of the Framework, which guarantees quality PPE that has been independently evaluated and tested, and can save considerable time and costs.

Utilising the latest technology

So far this year through the Framework, Bristol has delivered new PPE to seven FRSs, including Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service who opted for a Fully Managed Services Contract. Despite the Coronavirus pandemic, they were measured and received their kit on 1 June.

The safety of our firefighters is of the utmost importance to us here in Oxfordshire”

Chief Fire Officer Rob MacDougall said: “Bristol Uniforms uses the latest technology in firefighter clothing, and they design PPE to provide fire crews with the very best protection. The safety of our firefighters is of the utmost importance to us here in Oxfordshire. The kit is lighter in weight, breathable and offers more support for the wearer and we are proud to know we are now one of many fire and rescue services in the country to utilise this latest technology in protective clothing for our staff. Thank you to Bristol Uniforms for providing us with a first-class service.”

Fire And Rescue Service

Chris Colgan, Director of Operations at Kent Fire and Rescue Service, and Chair of the NFCC PPE/Clothing Committee, said: “The National Collaborative PPE Framework is the first of its kind for the fire and rescue service, enabling borderless provision of standardised critical kit.”

“So far, working with the team at Bristol Uniforms, we have made significant progress in demonstrating that the sector can work as one customer. However, more can be done. The pandemic has shown us that it is not an impossible target to expect all FRS to sign up to national arrangements delivered through the National Fire Commercial Transformation Programme and we are committed to continuing to build on the success of this arrangement.”

Working partnership

The selected styles combine innovative and ergonomic designs with the use of high-performance fabrics and fibres. 

“Bristol Uniforms has done a sterling job ensuring service continuity for all FRS throughout the disruptions caused by COVID-19, working closely with the contract management team at Kent FRS on behalf of the Sector. This has been one of the greatest tests of strategic relationship and service management and I am incredibly pleased that the result has been a real proof of concept.”

Roger Startin, Joint Managing Director at Bristol Uniforms said: “The demand for our cutting-edge PPE through the Collaborative Framework has been unprecedented as FRSs learn about the benefits of joint working. The Framework has significantly improved and simplified the procurement process and despite very challenging circumstances, we continue to size firefighters for their new kit, manufacture and deliver it on time and to budget.”

High-Performance Fabrics

PPE supplied by Bristol Uniforms within the Framework includes Full Structural Ensemble, a Layered Jacket, Rescue Jacket and USAR Ensemble. The selected styles combine innovative and ergonomic designs with the use of high-performance fabrics and fibres, offering maximum comfort, manoeuvrability and protection.

Cottenham firefighter rallies community to donate face masks

by Projects

A Cottenham based firefighter has rallied his local community to donate face masks to a hospice charity. Crew Commander Roger Pake raised more than £2,000 to cover the cost of 700 N95 masks for staff at Arthur Rank Hospice in Cambridge.

Roger said: “I saw the plea from the charity on Facebook and felt I could help. I know people that have family members looked after by the hospice, plus my wife works there so I am fully aware of the great work they do. This is why I was very keen to do something to help.”

Roger divides his time between running his own business as an electrician and being available to respond to emergencies as an on-call firefighter from Cottenham Fire Station.

He added: “I knew I could use contacts from my business to source masks for the staff at the hospice, so decided to see if my Facebook friends wanted to get involved and donate some money to fund them. I have been truly overwhelmed by the response and the generosity of people. I had no idea that I’d receive this much support.”

Hospice Matron Carly Love added: “We are so grateful to Roger and all those who contributed to the collection and the purchase of 700 masks. This is vital equipment that the hospice currently needs to enable the excellent care that they deliver in the community to continue and ensure that the patients that still need the help of the hospice continue to receive this vital service. We were truly touched by this generous donation; it really will make a difference.”