UL Solutions and TS Co. expand partnership to strengthen fire safety in Saudi Arabia

by Breaking NewsFire EngineeringMiddle East - Breaking NewsResearchSafety

Strengthened partnership expands fire safety testing in Gulf

UL Solutions and GCC Technical Services Company (TS Co.) have announced an expanded partnership aimed at advancing fire safety in the Gulf region.

According to UL Solutions, the collaboration now includes TS Co., a GCC Labs affiliate, as part of the UL Witness Test Data Program (WTDP) for fire safety.

Under this arrangement, TS Co. will conduct fire safety tests at its Dammam laboratories under direct supervision from UL Solutions engineers.

UL Solutions will review the data and grant certification based on test results, authorising the use of the UL Mark for compliant products.

The company explained that this localised approach removes the need for manufacturers to ship product samples abroad, helping shorten certification timelines and accelerate market entry.

Patrick Abgrall, Director and Regional General Manager of the Built Environment group at UL Solutions, said: “This important step in the evolution of our collaboration with TS Co. will allow UL Solutions to effectively utilise their Dammam facility, strengthening fire safety and conformity services throughout Saudi Arabia and the greater Gulf region.”

Local facilities to serve regional manufacturers

UL Solutions said the enhanced partnership enables local testing for manufacturers across Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Based in Dammam, TS Co. provides testing, inspection and certification services across industrial sectors to assess equipment safety, reliability and efficiency.

The company said the new arrangement supports its role in enabling Gulf-based manufacturing by providing internationally recognised fire safety certification within the region.

TS Co. Chief Executive Officer Khalaf Masaeed said: “By combining UL Solutions’ global leadership in safety science with our deep regional expertise, we are creating an unparalleled value proposition for the market.

“It also streamlines product evaluation and certification, ensuring that the ambitious construction projects in our region are built with materials and systems that meet the highest international safety standards.”

Supporting Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 development

UL Solutions noted that the partnership aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 strategy, which is driving major national infrastructure and development projects.

These include NEOM, the Red Sea development, THE RIG offshore tourism destination and the New Murabba project in Riyadh.

Preparations are also underway for new World Cup stadiums and Expo venues, bringing the combined investment of these giga-projects to more than $1.5 trillion, according to the KSA Construction Cost Benchmarking Report 2025.

UL Solutions stated that the collaboration with TS Co. will help meet fire and life safety demands across these large-scale developments by providing advanced testing and certification within Saudi Arabia.

Relevance for fire and safety professionals

The partnership between UL Solutions and TS Co. introduces regional access to UL-certified fire safety testing for manufacturers, contractors and specification professionals operating in the Gulf.

For construction, infrastructure and industrial project stakeholders, the development allows fire-rated materials and systems to be evaluated within Saudi Arabia, reducing both cost and lead times.

Fire engineers, consultants and project managers working on Vision 2030 projects may benefit from faster certification cycles and closer oversight of product conformity to international standards.

By localising the testing process, the partnership also supports consistent quality assurance and reduces logistical challenges linked to global supply chains.

New data shows wildfires inflicting record economic damage worldwide

by Featured NewsResearchWildland Fire

Wildfire disasters becoming more severe globally

Wildfires are becoming more frequent, deadly and costly worldwide, according to a new study from the University of Tasmania published in the journal Science.

Researchers found that more than 43% of the costliest wildfire disasters since 1980 occurred in the past decade.

The study examined the 200 most damaging wildfire events relative to national gross domestic product (GDP), using data from the University of California, Merced, and insurer Munich Re.

Calum Cunningham, Research Fellow at the Fire Center at the University of Tasmania, said: “We’re now seeing societal effects of fire that are much larger than ever before, fueled by climate change.”

Billion-dollar wildfire events concentrated in past decade

The analysis identified 43 wildfire events since 1980 that generated direct losses of $1 billion or more.

Over half of those billion-dollar fires occurred in the past ten years.

Most of the costliest events were recorded in North America, where higher-value infrastructure and expanding urban development near wildlands increased exposure to loss.

According to the US Fire Administration, more than 60,000 communities in the US are now located in these at-risk zones.

The researchers noted that the frequency of billion-dollar fires has accelerated in parallel with worsening drought conditions and hotter temperatures.

Rising human impact and gaps in disaster planning

The study found that the frequency of deadly wildfires has increased alongside economic losses.

Cunningham said: “Fire disasters are not only influenced by climate change. They are also influenced by the way we manage built and natural environments.”

Researchers identified gaps in disaster adaptation, including communication and evacuation planning, as factors that continue to contribute to loss of life.

The study highlighted several high-impact fires from the past decade, including the 2016 fires in Canada, the 2017 California fires and the 2018 Camp Fire in Paradise, which killed 85 people and caused about $16 billion in losses.

In 2020, California wildfires produced an estimated $100 million in emissions damages.

The 2023 Lahaina fire in Hawaii killed 102 people.

The researchers noted that several recent events, including the 2024 Valparaiso fires in Chile and the early 2025 Los Angeles wildfires, were not included in the main dataset.

Cunningham said the Los Angeles fires were “literally off the charts,” generating around $65 billion in direct losses, more than double any previous wildfire disaster.

Relevance for fire and safety professionals

The findings provide updated evidence for fire and emergency management agencies, policy-makers and planners working on risk assessment, urban interface design and disaster readiness.

Understanding that nearly half of the world’s costliest wildfire events occurred in the past decade highlights the scale of adaptation needed to protect life and infrastructure.

For emergency managers and local authorities, the study reinforces the importance of coordinated evacuation planning, clear public communication and investment in community fire prevention systems.

Urban planners and building engineers can draw from the analysis when designing developments in wildland–urban interface areas where high-value assets and populations are most exposed.

The data also offers a basis for insurers and risk assessors to quantify emerging patterns of loss and support evidence-based policy responses.

This article was informed by information from the following source: Bloomberg

UK manufacturers lose 800 hours yearly to downtime from wiring faults

by Featured NewsIndustrialResearchSafety

Faulty wiring linked to costly UK manufacturing downtime

UK manufacturers lose around 800 hours of production time each year due to equipment downtime, according to precision tooling distributor Heamar.

The company said the delays amount to more than 15 hours per week, often blamed on mechanical or software failures.

David Martin, Managing Director at Heamar, said: “Every second counts in the manufacturing sector; even minor delays caused by unforeseen issues can result in major disruption.

“According to The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, downtime costs UK manufacturers around £180 billion each year.

“There have been numerous high-profile incidents of downtime affecting major manufacturing sites. For example, in 2023, Toyota’s Japanese manufacturing plant was knocked offline for 24 hours due to a single software glitch.

“In the UK, Jaguar Land Rover experienced a major shutdown in August/September 2025 due to a cyber-attack, halting production and disrupting the supply chain.”

Martin added: “Whilst modern manufacturing continues to advance, particularly with the integration of AI, these examples show how software can be unreliable sometimes.

“Combine that with faulty wiring, which can be responsible for a significant share of disruptions, downtime can become a costly mistake.”

Hidden electrical faults undermine production efficiency

Heamar explained that electrical preparation errors are often invisible until they cause system failure.

Martin said: “Failures and faulty wiring can trigger serious operational problems with knock-on effects across the supply chain.

“From poor crimps and nicked wire conductors, to damaged insulation, seemingly minor electrical prep errors can have serious consequences.

“These issues can lead to control panel failures, sensor dropouts, or even motor stoppages and emergency shutdowns caused by short circuits.

“The real problem is that these faults are often invisible to the naked eye and only become apparent once they cause a full production halt, costing manufacturers valuable hours or even days in lost output.”

Tooling quality and technician training key to prevention

Martin noted that the root causes of downtime often lie in outdated tools and limited training for electrical technicians.

He said: “One major contributing factor of software issues caused by faulty wiring is the continued use of worn or inappropriate tools for stripping and crimping connections.

“Even a slightly inconsistent crimp or a wire that has been nicked when stripping its insulation can introduce resistance, heat, or circuit instability, all of which degrade system reliability over time.

“What’s interesting is that while manufacturers invest heavily in automation and digital monitoring, the quality of the electrical work behind it is often overlooked.”

Martin continued: “That’s why a combination of training, tooling, and process discipline is essential. While some managers may view this as an avoidable expense, the cost of inaction is far greater; one wiring mistake can lead to hours of costly disruption.

“To prevent avoidable downtime, workshops, and production teams must ensure technicians are properly trained and equipped with precision-calibrated tools; including wire strippers, crimping tools and wire connectors designed for modern control systems.

“Quality assurance at the wiring stage is one of the simplest and most cost-effective ways to improve uptime. With the right tools and standards in place, factories can dramatically reduce avoidable stoppages and extend equipment life.

“When paired with ongoing skills’ development, technicians are better able to spot issues before they escalate, shifting maintenance from reactive to proactive. In a sector where every minute of uptime counts, that level of preparedness is critical.”

Relevance for fire and safety professionals

Electrical and mechanical engineers working in industrial and manufacturing settings can draw parallels between Heamar’s findings and safety-critical environments.

Faulty wiring and poor electrical preparation have direct implications for fire risk, as resistance and heat build-up in mis-crimped or damaged connections can increase the chance of ignition.

Maintenance supervisors, risk assessors and safety auditors can use this insight to strengthen preventive maintenance strategies by integrating regular wiring inspections and staff training into equipment safety programmes.

Procurement officers responsible for specifying tools and testing devices can also ensure equipment meets precision standards to reduce both downtime and electrical fire hazards.

Safety and compliance gaps persist in 98% of sites, Schneider Electric warns

by Featured NewsResearchSafety

Schneider Electric warns of hidden risks to safety and compliance

Schneider Electric has called on organisations to take immediate action against what it describes as the “Silent Saboteur” – a set of overlooked operational risks that quietly undermine safety, compliance and efficiency.

According to the company, findings from audits of more than 400 customer sites worldwide show that most organisations face vulnerabilities that could lead to serious financial and reputational damage.

The data forms part of Schneider Electric’s latest Industry Insight Report, which outlines common safety and operational weaknesses identified across global facilities.

Report finds widespread electrical safety gaps

Schneider Electric said that 98% of audited sites showed electrical safety risks, while 93% had not completed a recent protection coordination study.

The company explained that these lapses could leave organisations open to electrical incidents and breaches of regulatory compliance.

The report also found that 79% of sites were operating with obsolete electrical equipment, increasing the likelihood of unplanned downtime and expensive repair cycles.

According to Schneider Electric, 71% of facilities lacked access to essential spare parts, raising concerns about resilience during failures or maintenance periods.

Maintenance and visibility issues compound risk

The company noted that nearly a third of audited sites had damaged or poorly maintained capacitor banks.

These conditions can lead to unstable power quality and performance issues that further erode system reliability.

Schneider Electric said that many organisations still rely on manual monitoring and disconnected data systems, limiting their ability to detect faults before they escalate.

Kas Mohammed, Vice President for Services UK&I at Schneider Electric, said: “Too often, organisations focus on headline investments while overlooking the operational fundamentals that keep their business running.

“The real risk lies in the hidden faults – those silent saboteurs – that quietly erode efficiency and resilience.

“The good news is increased monitoring and digitalisation of assets stops the saboteur lurking in the shadows, and organisations can be on the front foot when it comes to managing their operations.”

Digital tools key to preventing compliance failures

Schneider Electric stated that increased use of digital asset management and condition monitoring can help businesses reduce unplanned downtime and prevent safety incidents.

The company said that by modernising electrical infrastructure and improving visibility of equipment health, operators can reduce exposure to compliance breaches and operational losses.

It added that the findings underline the value of proactive maintenance strategies and data integration across industrial systems.

Relevance for fire and safety professionals

For electrical engineers, facility managers and compliance officers, the findings highlight how deficiencies in equipment maintenance and protection studies can directly affect workplace safety.

Fire-safety professionals responsible for industrial or commercial sites may find the data relevant when assessing electrical fire risk linked to outdated or poorly maintained systems.

The report’s evidence on missing spare parts and limited operational monitoring is also pertinent for those managing business continuity and emergency response planning.

Increased asset digitalisation and predictive maintenance may support improved resilience, ensuring that faults are detected before they lead to electrical failures or safety incidents.

The key questions behind HSE’s competence consultation

by Featured NewsHealth and SafetyResearchSafety

Industry Competence Committee opens consultation on competence management expectations

Consultation launched on guidance for competence management

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has announced that the Industry Competence Committee (ICC) has opened a consultation on its new guidance document Setting Expectations for Competence Management.

The consultation opened on Thursday 25 September 2025 and will close at 23:59 on Thursday 6 November 2025.

The ICC was formed under the Building Safety Act 2022 to advise the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) and industry on improving competence across the built environment.

The new guidance outlines what organisations should do to meet competence management requirements set out in Part 2A of the Building Regulations 2010 and The Higher-Risk Buildings (Management of Safety Risks etc.) (England) Regulations 2023.

It aims to clarify what good competence management looks like for both individuals and organisations involved in design, construction and building management.

Guidance applies to a wide range of organisations

According to the ICC, the document applies to organisations carrying out design or building work in all types of buildings, as well as those managing buildings, particularly higher-risk buildings (HRBs).

The guidance builds on feedback from a previous industry consultation held in May 2025.

It sets out broad expectations for how competence should be managed and identifies common elements and principles relevant to all organisations.

Feedback sought on clarity and usefulness of principles

The ICC said it is seeking feedback from industry on whether the principles outlined will help in developing competence management processes and whether they are understandable.

Following publication, the ICC plans to build on the guidance by developing practical case studies and examples to assist organisations.

The consultation also invites views on how these case studies and examples could best support implementation within the sector.

How to respond to the consultation

Responses can be submitted via an online survey, by email or by post to the HSE’s offices at Redgrave Court in Bootle, Merseyside.

The ICC stated that all responses must be received before the deadline of 23:59 on 6 November 2025.

The HSE confirmed that once the consultation closes, it will review all feedback and may refine the guidance document further before publication.

It also plans to develop additional practical resources for industry use.

Confidentiality and data protection considerations

The HSE said information provided in response to the consultation may be subject to publication or disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA), the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR).

Respondents are asked to make any confidentiality requests explicit within their submissions.

The HSE stated that all personal data will be processed in accordance with GDPR, with disclosures made only in line with the regulations.

Relevance for fire and safety professionals

This consultation will be relevant for fire engineers, building control professionals, facilities managers and contractors responsible for design, construction and management of higher-risk buildings.

The ICC guidance directly links to legal obligations under the Building Regulations 2010 and the Higher-Risk Buildings (Management of Safety Risks etc.) (England) Regulations 2023.

Fire safety officers and consultants involved in compliance or safety case preparation for high-rise residential buildings may find the document particularly important for understanding regulatory expectations.

Organisations involved in competence assessment, training or certification within the fire and safety sector could also use the consultation period to shape how competence management standards evolve under the Building Safety Act framework.

Industry Competence Committee opens consultation on competence management expectations: Summary

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has opened a consultation on the Industry Competence Committee’s (ICC) guidance document Setting Expectations for Competence Management, which runs from 25 September to 6 November 2025.

The ICC, formed under the Building Safety Act 2022, advises the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) and industry on competence improvement in the built environment.

The guidance applies to organisations involved in design, construction or building management, particularly those managing higher-risk buildings (HRBs).

It sets out expectations for competence management under Part 2A of the Building Regulations 2010 and The Higher-Risk Buildings (Management of Safety Risks etc.) (England) Regulations 2023.

Feedback is being sought on whether the principles outlined are clear and useful for developing competence management processes.

Responses can be submitted online, by email or by post before 23:59 on 6 November 2025.

This article contains information from the following source: The Health and Safety Executive (HSE)