UK Government introduces ‘majority’ of Grenfell inquiry recommendations

by Breaking NewsConstructionIndustry Sectors

The UK government has announced that The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 will implement the majority of the recommendations made by the Grenfell Tower Inquiry in its Phase 1 report, which required a change in the law.

The regulations seek to improve the fire safety of blocks of flats in ways which are practical, cost effective for individual leaseholders and proportionate to the risk of fire and will come into force on 23 January 2023 following the publication of supporting guidance which is due later in 2022.

The regulations will make it a legal requirement for responsible persons – that is a building owner, or in residential properties, any other person in control of the premises – of high-rise blocks of flats to provide information to Fire and Rescue Services to assist them to plan and, if needed, provide an effective operational response. These regulations will apply to existing buildings. Requirements for new buildings may be different.

In high-rise residential buildings, responsible persons will be required to

  • Provide building plans to their local Fire and Rescue service with up-to-date electronic building floor plans and to place a hard copy of these plans.
  • Provide to their local Fire and Rescue Service information about the design and materials of a high-rise building’s external wall system and to inform the Fire and Rescue Service of any material changes to these walls.
  • Undertake monthly checks on the operation of lifts intended for use by firefighters, and evacuation lifts in their building and check the functionality of other key pieces of firefighting equipment.
  • Install and maintain a secure information box in their building containing the name and contact details of the Responsible Person and hard copies of the building floor plans.
  • Install signage visible in low light or smoky conditions that identifies flat and floor numbers in the stairwells of relevant buildings.

In residential buildings with storeys over 11 metres in height, responsible persons will be required to undertake annual checks of flat entrance doors and quarterly checks of all fire doors in the common parts.

In all multi-occupied residential buildings with two or more sets of domestic premises, responsible persons will be required to provide relevant fire safety instructions to their residents, which will include instructions on how to report a fire and any other instruction which sets out what a resident must do once a fire has occurred, and provide residents with information relating to the importance of fire doors in fire safety.

On whether these regulations are a proportionate response, the government guidance stated: “These regulations, where they legislate to require responsible persons to provide information to fire and rescue services focus only on high-rise residential buildings. This approach is a proportionate one which implements the majority of the Phase 1 recommendations, which require a change in the law, in a practical way.”

Commenting on the government’s plans, Grenfell United said: “We are enraged at the government, whose sole focus continues to be profit and not public safety. We’ve fought for years to create a legacy for our 72 loved ones, and to prevent another Grenfell. But five years on, the government has reverted back to the same policy in place before Grenfell.

“This policy resulted in 41% of those living with disabilities dying at Grenfell. It left them with no personal evacuation plan and no means of escape. They didn’t stand a chance. This report is a disgrace.

“Disabled people have the right to leave their homes safely. The government must implement the recommendation from the Phase 1 report of the Grenfell Inquiry and ensure personal evacuation plans for disabled residents.”

North American Firefighters prepare for worsening fire forecast

by Americas - Breaking NewsBreaking News

Nearly 3,000 firefighters in North America are preparing for a worsening fire forecast in the days ahead as the country’s largest wildfire reached a temporary standstill in northern Mexico on Tuesday night due to light rain and snow in the mountains

The ongoing wildfire burning for in New Mexico has become the largest in the Southwestern state’s recorded history and it forced the evacuation of a small ski resort and villages in drought-hit mountains east of Santa Fe.

Fire officials in New Mexico said they planned to continue to clear flammable vegetation and deploy aircraft to douse smoldering forests before windier, hotter, drier conditions return this weekend.

Forest Service fire behavior analyst Stewart Turner predicted that by Friday: “Fire weather starts to enter the critical stage where we’ll probably see more growth and fire moving.”

Controlled burns put on hold

The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) on Friday called a temporary nationwide halt to controlled burns meant to reduce fire risk after the agency accidentally started part of New Mexico’s largest ever wildfire, having burned over 300,000 acres (123,000 hectares), destroyed up to 1,500 properties and displaced tens of thousands of people.

Forest Service Chief Randy Moore said fire danger levels were too high to use prescribed fire and ordered a 90-day review of policies before operations planned for this fall.

“Lessons learned and any resulting program improvements will be in place prior to resuming prescribed burning,” Moore said in a statement.

So far this year, wildland fires have burned across roughly 2,650 square miles (6,860 square kilometers) of the U – roughly twice the average burn for this time of year, according to a national center for coordinating wildfire suppression.

The rise of water mist in firefighting

by Breaking NewsFire SuppressionProducts
Bettina McDowell, general manager, International Water Mist Association talks about the latest developments in the growing solution

Over the last couple of years, things have progressed well for the water mist technology. On the one hand, there is a growing market for eco-friendly and sustainable products like water mist. On the other hand, the publication of the European Standard – which has been long overdue – has and will help further advance the technology. What has been growing longer already over the years is the list of applications. And a project which is in the pipeline could become a quite game changer for water mist.  

When it comes to fire protection, water mist is an eco-friendly alternative to other more traditional ways of keeping fires under control or extinguishing them. And here we are talking about sprinkler as well as foam or gaseous systems. Why use chemical additives or gases that incorporate a fear factor when it comes to human lives when you can use a system that combines many advantages and at the same time eliminates many disadvantages? 

The first standards for water mist were developed well over a quarter of a century ago. Factory Mutual published FM 5560 in 1995 and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) published NFPA 750 in 1996. Since then, the list of applications has been getting longer, both vertically as well as horizontally. Water mist – which was an off-shore technology in the very beginning – was further developed, and it has been many years since the first land projects were added to the list of applications. This growing list has most probably got a lot to do with the diversity of water mist systems. Water mist systems produce very smaller droplets. Water mist is thus a suppressant agent that is applicable on a broad range of fire types. In fact, water mist ticks nearly all the boxes, indeed more boxes than other of fire suppression system. This has been proven in an endless number of real-scale fire tests that water mist manufacturers have carried out in fire laboratories over the last three decades.  

When it comes to the protection of the environment, water mist goes back a long way. In the 1980s the world acted to save the ozone layer by signing the Montreal Protocol. One of the substances that was then banned was halon, a chemical used as a fire suppression agent that had caused ozone depletion. Regarding fire protection, the eradication of halon left a gap which was filled by water mist. “There are basically two ways to look at it. You could either say that halon was banned to protect the ozone layer or you could say that water mist was promoted to save the ozone layer”, says Bettina McDowell, general manager of the International Water Mist Association (IWMA). And important factor here was obviously the use of water instead of a chemical substance.  

Water-based fire extinguishing systems make up by far the largest share of the extinguishing technology sector and using a natural resource like water is always a good idea. However, water mist systems use up to 85% less water than traditional sprinkler systems which is an even better idea. Water is a natural resource, but it is also a precious resource especially like places in the Middle East where it is scarce.  

Many ask how less water can do the job. The answer to this is quite simple: a fire triangle consists of three elements, i.e. the combustible material, the heat and the oxygen, and water mist reduces the heat and the oxygen. In fact, water mist also wets the surroundings thus also affects the 3rd side of the triangle although not as much as traditional sprinklers. But there are other benefits: since water mist systems use less water, their components are smaller which means they need less space. Then there is the local inerting effect: Due to the enormous increase in the volume of the evaporating water droplets, the oxygen is displaced at the source of the fire and the fire is extinguished. During this process, the oxygen content around the fire (and only there) is below 21 %. And it is this low oxygen content that suffocates the fire. Further away from the fire the oxygen content is higher which means that there is enough oxygen available for humans. And then there is also the cooling effect that prevents reignition.  

When it comes to the longevity of systems, stainless steel components are often the best choice. Their use is not mandatory, but stainless steel prevents corrosion which is beneficial for the conservation of the systems and also lowers the risk of contamination. Plus: stainless steel can be re-used and thus be re-integrated into the life circle.  

A special challenge is fire protection in hazardous environments. When a fire breaks out in such areas this can result in the release of many different toxins and chemicals from the fuel of the fire or gases. The firewater gathers these substances and has to be picked up and disposed of afterwards which is a difficult job that becomes easier the less water there is. Mentionable is also the reduced water damage. After a fire there is less debris that has to be disposed of, plus in consequence there might well be less down time for businesses. 

All these benefits – some inside, others outside the eco-box – are now backed by the European Standards. EN 14972 is – as mentioned – by no means the first water mist standard, but  manufacturers in Europe have been waiting for it.  

This document specifies requirements and gives recommendations for the design, installation, inspection and maintenance of all types of fixed land-based water mist systems. It is intended to apply to water mist automatic nozzle systems and water mist deluge systems supplied by stand alone or pumped systems. It covers applications and occupancies which are covered by the fire test protocols of the EN 14972 series. What is important to know is that standards are not retrospective so anything in place (planned or contractual) before publication and implementation in any specific country can remain in place. And: The EN 14972 series are voluntary standards so standards like NFPA 750 can of course still be used. 

The work started two decades ago and on 23rd December 2020, EN 14972-1:2020 was finally published. And although it may be a European Standard, it could well have a worldwide impact. Based on the Vienna Agreement – which stipulates the exchange of information and increased transparency – standardization bodies can adopt standards which have been created in other parts of the world which means that the European Standard could be used globally.  

A project that is about to start and which could change the perspective on sprinkler and consequently water mist systems is a research project on the performance of sprinkler systems. IWMA and the Fire Research and Innovation Centre (FRIC) in Norway have agreed to collaborate to take a closer look at this issue. The main aim is to gather information on the performance of sprinklers in order to quantify the consistency of their extinguishing performance. For this purpose, IWMA will collect data which will then be made available to FRIC. FRIC will then organize, process and analyse the data and publish an open report.  

Bettina McDowell explains: “Our aim is to collect data from as many suppliers as possible that have conducted comparison testing between sprinklers and other alternative extinguishing systems. To ensure the quality of the results the tests have to come from accredited laboratories and approved sprinkler nozzles had to be used.” 

As far as the schedule is concerned, IWMA and FRIC are planning to finish the work with a year. The collection of the data will commence during the second quarter of 2022. The report will be published during the first or second quarter of 2023.  

It is no wonder that the list of applications is continuously growing. There are marine-based applications, there are land-based applications. There is a hall of fame which includs buildings like La Scala in Milan, the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg, Windsor Castle, the Clock Tower in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, and the Eurotunnel between Great Britain and the continent. Even the ISS International Space Station carries portable water mist extinguishers.  

Water mist is a performance-based technology, and all systems are bespoke systems based on real-scale fire tests, because water mist is not a one-fits-all concept. So far, not everybody seems to understand this concept, but more and more end customers, insurers and authorities having jurisdiction do. Bettina McDowell adds: “This is – first of all – not about a bigger market share. This is – first of all – about safety, about lives, about jobs, about property. The best fire protection system has to be chosen for any one application so it can actually do the job.”  

Those who want to learn more about this technology can attend the 21st International Water Mist Conference, which in 2022 will take place in Madrid, Spain, on 9th and 10th November. Every year, manufacturers, scientists and other stakeholders come together to network and exchange the latest knowledge.  

Exclusive: Jonathan O’Neill, managing director, Fire Protection Association

by Breaking NewsPeople

Jonathan O’Neill OBE, managing director, FPA is a key figure in the UK’s efforts to keep its residents and buildings safe. In an exclusive chat with IFSJ, O’Neill speaks about the building safety bill, and what more needs to be done

The Fire Protection Association has existed in the UK for several decades, and has strived to identify the dangers of fire and help companies and developers reduce fire-related risks. At the heart of the organization is the FPA’s managing director Jonathan O’Neill OBE who completes three decades within the organization this year.  

“I joined the Loss Prevention Council (LPC) after working in insurance for eight years before that with Lloyd’s,” O’Neill tells International Fire and Safety Journal.  

Prior to it being an independent body, the FPA was a department in the LPC. “I took over the department, which was called the Fire Protection Association, a name which had disappeared over the years but still held a lot of gravitas in the sector. In 1997, the insurers decided to dispose of the LPC but they retained the FPA.” 

O’Neill’s mission was to give the FPA a new persona, away from the LPC as it moved forward with maintaining its aim of safety and fire protection in the country. “It wasn’t a commercial organisation and the early days were quite tough as we relied on levies from the insurers for the first 18 months. Thereafter we took a slight commercial direction. We are a not-for-profit organization and invest everything back into our activities.” 

O’Neill says the firm initially had a turnover of GBP1million in the early days. Last year, the FPA’s turnover was GBP12 million. “There was a surge and uptick of our services in the immediate aftermath of Grenfell.” For the immediate future, O’Neill forecasts a steady growth in revenue as its services continue to be in demand.  

Fire assessments and the Fire Safety Bill 

The Fire Safety Act 2021 was an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which arose out of the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire and relates to fire safety in buildings in England and Wales with two or more domestic residences, making changes to the Regulatory Reform Order (Fire Safety Order) 2005. 

“The Fire Safety Order was piecemeal, and it was rightly accused of being retrospective i.e. after every tragedy we would start to see a change in fire and safety law.”  

O’Neill is satisfied that the act incorporated two major changes. These are: “We have now got a situation where the fire risk assessment can look at the entire building, which is good. Secondly, we will start to see external assessment being part of that. Through the horrors of Grenfell, we have seen if a risk assessment doesn’t look at the entire building structure it can lead to serious problems.” 

 However, the act doesn’t consider third party accreditation of fire assessments. Expressing his concern on the matter, O’Neill says: “There a reluctance to accept that a fire risk assessor needs to have proper accreditation and a third-party accreditation. As it stands, anyone in the industry can set themselves up as a fire risk assessor and get work.  

Based on the barrister’s opinion the FPA suggestion to the government was: “Rather than making it a statutory duty to add third party assessments. What if we made it a statutory defense in law? This means that if you use a third-party assessment, all parties are protected by the full extent of the law, should something go wrong,” O’Neill tells IFSJ. It’s a practice where the assessors are being assessed in a constant loop of following the best practice through legislation.  

 “It boils down to a fundamental issue in safety. The gas industry managed to sort this issue out a few years ago. For instance, you cannot touch a gas appliance in a commercial or residential premise unless you are Gas Safe, which is a third-party accredited scheme.” 

A change in regulation 

Five years on from the Grenfell disaster O’Neill wants a fundamental root and branch review of building regulations in the UK as it’s well over a decade since the last review. “Building methods have evolved dramatically over the last decade, we are using different materials which are combustible. This will not change over the next 20 years because some of it ties into the sustainability agenda. In the years to come, we will continue to build with even more combustible products because they have less impact on the environment. We accept that. At the same time, we need to re-write some of the building rules, which were done keeping old fashioned building materials and techniques.” 

O’Neill recounts a fire that tore through a Cheshire care home a few years back. The largely timber frame of the building decimated the care home as it spread rapidly. Luckily there were no fatalities since the residents were mostly outside on a warm sunny day. “A massive disaster was averted, thanks to vigilant staff and fire rescue personnel, although the residents lost their belongings. 30 years ago, these fires would be inspected by the Inspectorate of Fire with a recommendation to investigate the building regulations.” 

O’Neill points out that the government and various bodies have done a great job in bringing down the number of fatalities caused by fires. “Over three decades ago, when I started in this industry there were approximately 800 fatalities due to fires in the UK every year. The government and the fire and rescue services have done a tremendous job in bringing those numbers down by about 75%.” 

At no point, O’Neill says, can the issue be taken for granted. The Grenfell disaster highlighted several flaws in building regulations and a lack of competent fire assessments.  

“We cannot assume that fire is no longer a problem,” he reiterates.  

Then there’s the Building Safety Bill which aims to reform the safety system for residential properties by appointing a Building Safety Regulator, giving a greater voice to residents, driving industry change, and creating a national framework for increased oversight. 

The Building Safety Bill is a step in the right direction and O’Neill feels despite its limitations it’s a welcome move. “The Building Safety Bill is limited in what it can do, since it looks at high rise buildings. It is at least bringing in a different regime for looking at building regulation. The Building Safety Bill was the absolute need of the hour. But we need a different building regulation that is reviewed on a regular basis because we are changing the way we build.” 

Building safety scandal 

O’Neill has also welcomed the government’s move to address the building safety scandal. In April 2022, Westminster, revealed a wide-ranging agreement that will see industry contribute £5 billion to address and fix various issues in buildings.  

Under the new agreement, which will become legally enforceable, over 35 of the UK’s biggest homebuilders have pledged to fix all buildings 11 metres+ that they have played a role in developing in the last 30 years. 

In what is considered a victory for leaseholders, Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove has agreed a solution with the housing industry that will see developers commit a minimum of £2 billion to fix their own buildings. Industry will also pay up to a further £3 billion through an expansion to the Building Safety Levy. 

“This is a great move because leaseholders shouldn’t pay for these repairs. Those responsible for putting sub-standard fire protection should be held accountable. My concern is the route to getting the payment organized. It is up to the government to ensure that all of this is properly enforced, and the monies are properly paid.” 

O’Neill believes that leaseholders should not be held at ransom and the government can do more to help them. He suggests that the government can fund the repairs immediately, while the authorities chase payments from responsible parties. 

“Looking back at the evidence we have seen from the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, the building regulation system was the responsibility of the government, and they took their eye off the ball. This means leaseholders, through no fault of their own, bought properties that were unsafe, and did not comply with regulation.” 

A unified building code 

O’Neill has long advocated a unified set of building codes that can cover the devolved governments as well. “We can learn a lot from the efforts of the devolved governments (in the UK), and how they move on certain matters pertaining to fire prevention. For instance, mandatory suppression and detection enforced from a legislation standpoint can make a huge difference. When I first started in fire, Scotland had a requirement to put sprinklers in single-storey retail spaces. England followed only two to three years later. 

“Britain has one of the most innovative fire protection systems’ industry in the world. And manufacturers are always pushing the evolution in creating new products and systems. But the industry needs support from the government. It’s not enough to only have the highest manufacturing, testing, and certification standards. We need regulatory backing. We can learn from the devolved governments who are leading the way ever so often.” 

The future 

The future is bright for those working towards fire protection in the UK. “We are going to see a different level of scrutiny on building safety after the Building Safety Bill and the Fire Safety Act (come into full effect). There’s going to be a greater emphasis on compartmentation which is welcome. We are launching a fire compartmentation and door survey tool at FIREX in May 2022.  

“We also have some great developments in our laboratory, we are installing some equipment that allows us to improve fire door penetration tests. It gives some much-needed capacity to the market which now is quite busy.” The FPA plans on continuing its growth efforts over 2022 and into the future with surplus funds invested into ensuring that “we have a safer and more resilient built environment going forward.” 

In conclusion O’Neill feels fire is a great career option and must do everything to attract new talent. “There is a lack of awareness of fire as a lucrative career option. The industry has been slow in terms of adopting professional standards, adopting the right university courses, and national occupational standards to support the industry. For long we have been training people on the job without necessary accreditation. For many years now the new generation has not come through and we have a gap which needs to be filled by competent people. 

Today, the demand is high for passionate and qualified people who can work in the laboratory, or as assessors, trainer, and consultants.  

NFPA receives $225,000 from General Motors

by Americas - ProjectsFeatured NewsProductsVehicles

The NFPA has received a $225,000 grant from General Motors to deliver free electric vehicle training to 12,000 volunteer and underserved U.S. fire departments.

The funding comes at a critical time, as more EVs continue to enter the roadways but many fire departments remain untrained in effectively mitigating associated incidents.

“While firefighters have had more than 100 years to learn how to handle incidents with internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, they’ve had very little time to understand and train for those involving EV and hybrid vehicles,” said Andrew Klock, emerging issues lead manager at NFPA. “As electric vehicles increasingly dominate our roads in the coming years, ensuring that fire departments are adequately trained and equipped to deal with them is critically important.”

A 2020 report published by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) states that the U.S. fire service is not prepared to fight electric vehicle fires. This issue is more prevalent among volunteer and underserved departments, which often don’t have the resources to receive the needed training; about two-thirds (67 percent) of U.S. fire departments are served by part-time or volunteer firefighters, according to NFPA data.

Through the General Motors grant, NFPA will work in coordination with U.S. fire service organizations and the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Clean Cities Coalitions to conduct outreach among targeted audiences to maximize participation in the NFPA Electric Vehicle Safety training program, which will be provided online at no cost for one year.

“Providing free access to our training plays a pivotal role in helping ensure that volunteer and underserved fire departments are adequately trained and prepared to handle EV incidents,” said Klock. “Thanks to General Motors’ generous support, we’ll be able to provide the needed training to thousands of fire departments that otherwise would not be able to access it.”

NFPA is an ANSI-accredited national codes and standards developer for emergency responder qualifications, equipment, and tactics. Over the past 12 years, the association has worked to develop and refine its EV safety program in collaboration with NTSB, the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), the National Highway and Transportation Safety Association (NHTSA), the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA), the National Institute of Standards Technology (NIST), and numerous national research laboratories. These and associated efforts have earned NFPA widespread recognition among the major fire service organizations in North America as the leading EV safety training program for first responders.

NFPA also serves on the SAE J2990 Committee for EV Safety and continues to engage with the U.S. DOE, DOT, and NHTSA to conduct testing and determine new methods to combat EV incidents.

Warwickshire invites residents to become on-call firefighters

by Featured NewsFirefighting EquipmentProducts

Warwickshire residents have been invited to sign up as on-call firefighters before May 12 with the Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service in the UK.

On-call firefighters in Warwickshire perform a range of services including responding to incidents, prevention activities, supporting fire protection efforts and working with local communities. They do this while usually working a day job and maintaining a balance between the two roles.

On-call firefighters can earn between £5,000 to £8,000 annually, the county announced on its website.

On-call firefighters normally live within five minutes to their nearest station and respond as needed to calls during set shifts. Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service is offering a new option for on-call firefighters where residents living outside the five-minute response radius can work their day job from their local fire station when on-call and respond to calls as necessary. This setup would suit people formerly working in office roles who are now hybrid-working or working from home.

Warwickshire County Council’s spokesman for Fire and Rescue and Community Safety, Andy Crump, said: “On-call firefighters have a fantastic opportunity to learn new skills, work in their local communities and develop themselves. I would heavily encourage anyone considering applying to do so – especially in Fenny Compton or Shipston-on-Stour where we currently have vacancies.

“In my opinion the ability to work from our fire stations means that many people who may have felt unable to apply previously can now do so. Please do submit your application if that sounds like you.”

Prospective recruits must be aged 18 and over, a team player, passionate about serving the community and willing to pick up new skills. They will receive an extensive training of course and be expected to attend a drill night once a week.

Candidates do not need any prior qualifications to apply for the role and anyone who considers themselves willing to work on their fitness and new skills should apply. On-call firefighters receive an annual wage plus additional payments for attending drill nights and incidents.

How the Fire Fighters Charity is helping UK’s service people

by Breaking NewsPeople

Ever since coming into existence, the Fire Fighters Charity has been assisting and aiding firefighters. Along with the frontmen, the charity’s services are also aimed towards employees of the Ministry of Defence Fire and Rescue Service, chaplains or faith leaders, and volunteers. 

Many of you will be eligible for the Fire Fighters Charity’s support – and it’s helping thousands of people just like you every year. The Fire Fighters Charity supports all UK fire and rescue service personnel, working and retired – as well as their spouses, partners, and dependants – with their health and wellbeing needs now and throughout their lives. 

With that in mind, we are now working with the Charity to share a few people’s stories of how they’ve been helped with their physical health, mental health and social wellbeing. Watch this space as IFSJ will focus on more real-life stories of firefighters that have benefitted from charity’s efforts. 

In this feature, we take a look at the life and career of Guy Pedliham, a station officer with London Fire Brigade, who was helped by The Fire Fighters Charity with both his physical and mental health on a number of occasions. 

Guy first visited Jubilee House in Cumbria, one of the Charity’s three residential centres, in 1997. “It was following an accident at work in 1996,” says Guy. “I fractured my vertebrae and had a large disc bulge after falling out of an appliance whilst dismounting it.” 

After speaking to the Fire Fighters Charity, Guy was offered a place at Jubilee House to help him regain some strength and movement in his back. 

“Before going there, in the two weeks building up to it, I actually felt quite anxious, partly because I didn’t know what to expect, partly because I tend to get anxious when I go away from home for any length of time anyway,” says Guy. 

“But when I got there, that was very quickly dispelled. The staff are fantastic, there’s just such a great atmosphere, they’re so friendly and approachable, always smiling – and that’s the whole of the staff, the therapy staff through to the housekeeping staff and the kitchen staff. 

“Then once you get into your groups and meet others, I very quickly adjusted to being there – to the point you don’t want to come home again! You’re mixing with people that are either firefighters, families or other personnel, so you all instantly have that bond. The banter is the same everywhere.” 

Guy remained in touch with the Fire Fighters Charity following his initial stay, receiving support in the years that followed, including a return to Jubilee House. 

“These visits make a huge difference,” says Guy. “I’m in my 60s now and I’ve been in the fire service for 33 years… without the help that I’ve had from The Fire Fighters Charity, I’m certain that wouldn’t be the case – I wouldn’t be an operational firefighter still now. 

“There’s not many people riding in the front of appliances in their 60s.” 

It wasn’t until 2014, however, that Guy realised the Fire Fighters Charity may be able to help him with his mental health too. He had been struggling following an incident at work for several years but had largely tried to move on without taking the time to come to terms with how he was feeling. 

“I spoke to our occupational health team in 2014, as I realised I’d begun really struggling with my mental health following a bombing incident in London several years before,” says Guy. 

“They suggested I get in touch with the Charity, and I was offered a place at Jubilee House again, as I felt so comfortable after my previous visits. There were talks and workshops as a group which were helpful. 

“The key thing for me is, I asked for help as soon as I felt I was getting to a point where I was at risk of not coping. 

“I think there’s a general tendency in the fire service not to do that, for people keep going until it does reach crisis, in a mistaken belief that it’s weak to say you have any sort of mental health issue, which is something I absolutely disagree with… 

“I think it’s a strength to realise you need help and to ask for help. I’d really recommend people at least pick up the phone and talk to someone in the first instance or speak to someone who’s received the Charity’s support.” 

Guy was later supported by the Charity in the years that followed that visit, as he continued to come to terms with struggles with his mental health – some of which went back years. 

He has continued to support the Charity through regular monthly donations since, having seen how much support it can offer, and he more recently received support both online and face-to-face following a neck injury at work. 

The Fire Fighters Charity recently launched My Fire Fighters Charity (MyFFC), a health, wellbeing and social space for the UK’s fire family, helping all its members to live healthier and happier through great content, easy access to support and a thriving online community. 

Available as an app or through your desktop computer, MyFFC features a huge and growing library of health and wellbeing information, as well as information on fundraising, a wealth of groups for members to join and a means to connect with friends and colleagues across the UK. 

“I’ve also downloaded MyFFC, The Fire Fighters Charity’s social space for the UK’s fire services community and tried some of the videos on there which have been great,” he adds. 

Guy now has an important message, following his own experiences, that he wants to pass on to anyone else who may feel they’re struggling with their mental health. 

He says: “I think primarily the key message is to reach out and talk, even before you reach out to the Fire Fighters Charity, talk to your workmates, family or friends… Don’t hesitate. The Charity is there, it’s helped me and, as I said earlier, I wouldn’t be doing the job I’m still doing without it.” 

If something is affecting your physical health, mental health or social wellbeing, let The Fire Fighters Charity help. Call its Support Line on 0800 389 8820 or make an enquiry online at www.firefighterscharity.org.uk/support  

MSA ‘excited’ for FDIC International 2022 return

by Americas - Featured NewsEventsFeatured News

MSA Safety rounded off 2021 in style posting record quarterly revenues at $410m, increasing 6% from a year ago. Core product revenue increased 9% from a year ago. The positivity was attributed to acquisitions and strong growth in industrial PPE. Looking ahead, and with a major presence at FDIC International in Indiana, Jason Traynor, General Manager, Global Fire Service and Integration Leader for MSA Bristol gives IFSJ a sneak-peek on what to expect this year. 

Ahead of FDIC International 2022, what are MSA’s expectations from the show? 

We’re excited to be back in Indianapolis with FDIC returning to a full-scale event, and we’re looking forward to being together with our customers and sharing the latest in connected firefighting technology. We expect an incredibly engaged crowd that is looking forward to seeing how personal protective equipment is the driving force behind enhancing safety on the job. You’ll see that in how MSA’s G1 SCBA is the focal point of our LUNAR Connected Firefighter Platform, which includes using FireGrid’s insights to enhance crew monitoring and incident management. As always, we’re working to find new ways to keep firefighters safe and will feature Fotokite remote ariel monitoring capabilities that help heighten situational awareness at a fire scene.  

Give us an assessment of the American fire market’s performance over the last 12 months.  

As a leader in the safety industry, MSA continued to manufacture products for our customers who must work in times of global crisis, like the Covid-19 pandemic. Throughout the pandemic, the need for emergency responders never went away, so their needs of products and services that support them in their role continued. Across the company, we saw solid demand for our products, but three of our largest drivers were personal protective equipment, SCBA and turnout gear. Despite supply chain disruptions and labor constraints impacting our ability to ship some product, we did set a record in 2021 for the number of G1 SCBA units shipped. 

On the back of MSA’s strongest quarter (Q4 2021), what can we expect from the firm for 2022.  

Our focus will continue to be on developing and deploying products and technology that will help keep firefighters safe while on duty, and specifically through the MSA Connected Firefighter Platform. This will include new ways to monitor and track equipment and to get updates and upgrades for those items through subscription services. Through our MSA+ subscription program, we can reduce capital spending, enhance operational efficiencies for our customers, simplify upgrades to new technology and services, and ensure products are always under warranty. There will be more fire products included in the MSA+ service, and we look forward to seeing this grow through the year and beyond.  

Tell us about your recent contract wins, and pipeline for the H1 2022. 

This includes working with our new customers, like the Israeli Fire Service, who will be outfitted in MSA Bristol turnout gear. The ISF has signed on for 5,000 sets of gear across multiple contracts. To help better manage their equipment and help keep firefighters safe, we also expect more fire departments to see the value in connected technology and the usefulness of having gear, equipment, and technology together from one manufacturer. The Easton Fire Department in Easton, Pennsylvania, is one of those departments. They will be outfitting all their firefighters with our LUNAR Connected Firefighter devices.  

Any more acquisitions or mergers on the cards? 

MSA has a proven track record of successful acquisitions in the fire service, including Cairns, Gallet, Globe, Bristol and most recently with our investment in Perspective Robotics AG in the development of Fotokite. While we can’t comment on anything specific, as the world leader in head-to-toe firefighting safety products and technology, we are always interested in pursuing opportunities to grow and expand our business, particularly when it aligns with our mission of keeping men and women around the world safe on the job. 

Tell us about inward investments within the business, and anything new we can look forward? 

We will continue to invest in our business to support the growth we expect in key markets. Here in the United States, we’re investing in our talent pipeline and developed a new college tuition reimbursement program at MSA Globe. We want to attract and retain the next generation of employees who will develop and create the products needed to help keep firefighters and workers everywhere safe. In Europe, we’re investing in our European Shared Services center in Warsaw, Poland, to better serve our customers, and in the United Kingdom we’re renovating space at our Bristol facilities. We’re undertaking these types of projects and initiatives to support our mission of helping to keep people safe.  

Everything you need to know about FDIC International 2022

by Americas - Breaking NewsBreaking NewsEvents

FDIC International is back this April 2022, and opens its doors to the public from April 25-30 in Indianapolis, IN, USA. FDIC International will offer thousands of fire and rescue professionals from around the world, quality world-class instructors, classrooms session, pre-conference workshops, H.O.T evolutions and the most innovative products and services available to the industry displayed by over 800 exhibiting companies.  

The FDIC International experience is more than your traditional trade show it’s about the learning and sharing with your peers formally and informally through hallway conversations, developing life-long friendships, and recharging your passion for the industry. The focus for this year’s FDIC event will be bringing together the industry in-person, for a safe and productive training experience while maintaining the celebration of comradery.  

FDIC International will present over 300 tried and true classes alongside updated content on important topics and new areas of interest from the world’s most renowned instructors. The week of training begins with two days of Hands-on Training (H.O.T.) evolutions and 

Pre-Conference workshops followed by three days of classroom sessions, covering the latest technology and techniques in the fire service.  

The Hands-on Training (H.O.T.) Evolutions at FDIC International are something you must experience to fully appreciate. Attendees can choose between 4- and 8-hour Hands-on Training (H.O.T.) Evolutions which cover the latest technology and techniques in the fire service and are instructed by industry icons. This year’s H.O.T. Evolutions include Drilling at the Speed of Flashover, Fundamentals of Open Water Rescue and Drowning Resuscitation, Advanced Vehicle Extrication, Truck and Rescue Company Fire Operations, and so much more – no other event in the world contains the vast amount of topics and locations presented at FDIC International. 

The FDIC International pre-conference workshops provide attendees with an in-depth look at specific topics covering new areas of interest within the fire service as well as traditional training topics. Attendees can choose from a variety of topics and should be prepared to walk away with new insights, ideas and approaches. This year’s topics cover the latest technology and techniques in the fire service, and include advanced vehicle extrication, active shooter response, open water rescue and drowning resuscitation, heavy vehicle extrication, and more.  

Perhaps one of the most distinguishing aspects of FDIC International’s classroom sessions is the world-renowned instructors. While you’ll certainly find the largest gathering of industry icons at FDIC International, you’ll also find new instructors from around the world presenting ground breaking topics. Some of this year’s sessions include Merging EMS into a Fire Department Culture, Thriving in the Fire Service, Swift Water Rescue Rules of Engagement, Down and Dirty Fireground Decision Making, Best Practices for Proficiency-Based Training, The Successful Short-Staffed Engine, and more. Attendees can move between classroom sessions and topics, customizing their FDIC experience and gaining the most from their time at the event. 

Women in Fire 

Returning in 2022 is Women in Fire for their one-day conference which will take place on Monday, April 25. This conference will begin with an opening ceremony which will take a look at what we know about women’s health in the fire service, including recent and emerging topics such as reproductive health, behavioral health, and modifiable risk factors among this population. Following that will be a line-up of educational classes that provide training, support and advocacy for women in the fire service. 

Our strong heritage and commitment to tradition is epitomized in the 2022 Opening Ceremonies. Every year, thousands of attendees pay tribute to all past, present, and future firefighters. Attending this event provides a comprehensive understanding of the gratitude and respect for all those who place their lives on the line to save others. In recognition of outstanding bravery and selflessness, one firefighter will receive the annual Ray Downey Courage and Valor Award.  

The learning continues on the exhibit floor at FDIC International! Exhibitions span the Indiana Convention Center, Lucas Oil Stadium and the Outdoor Exhibits & Demo Area and give attendees access to explore hundreds of products and services while creating lasting and lucrative business relationships with leading manufacturers.  

Networking 

FDIC also offers a variety of networking opportunities including our special events, MATCH! and The Metro Officers Innovation Briefing.  

The Metro Officers Innovation Briefing is exclusively designed for Metro Officers who want to see what’s new in the industry, hear what innovations other metropolitan fire departments are implementing, and network with fellow officers. This complimentary one-day event takes place on Wednesday, April 27, 2022, the day before the exhibits open.  

MATCH! is a free service at FDIC International that was designed to help attendees and exhibitors make the most efficient use of their time by pre-scheduling one-to-one meetings to discuss sourcing needs. MATCH! is easy, efficient, and complimentary. Attendees who are actively sourcing products and services in the next 12-24 months will select categories they are interested in within our matchmaking tool. From there, exhibitor suggestions will be generated, and the attendees can request meetings that will take place in our MATCH! VIP lounge eliminating any exhibit hall distractions. 

JEMS Con 2022 

Making its debut this year, co-located alongside FDIC International, is the JEMS Conference & Expo (JEMS Con). JEMS Con will offer a refreshed, forward-thinking approach focused on the future of EMS, operational leadership and peer-to-peer sharing and networking. JEMS Con will bring together paramedics, emergency medical technicians (EMTs), medical directors and executives from all EMS providers including state and private agencies, third service and fire for education, training, peer-to-peer sharing and networking. JEMS Con will offer over 100 hours of continuing education approved by the CAPCE. 

Over the past year, we’ve done extensive outreach and had critical conversations with EMS providers, exhibitors, medical directors, and professionals. We’ve taken their insights and suggestions to start to lay the foundation of JEMS Con in 2022. With over 5,000 attendees that identify EMS as their primary job function already attending FDIC, we feel we can create considerable value and efficiencies for the industry in a co-located event. We are committed to welcoming all EMS providers, giving them a dedicated event to comfortably come together to learn, share, and network with peers. We will continue to build partnerships with the EMS community to help shape this event as we plan beyond 2022. We plan to expand the Metro EMS group, add more hands-on training evolutions, enhance the sponsorship experience, and include additional networking opportunities. We are excited about the opportunities this co-location will offer the Fire and EMS communities. 

The pandemic hasn’t stopped firefighters and EMTs from having to serve their communities and therefore the need for training hasn’t stopped! FDIC International is excited to welcome the fire & rescue industry back to Indianapolis at its regularly scheduled time. The focus for this year’s event will be bringing together the industry in-person, for a safe and productive training experience while maintaining the celebration of comradery. The need for connecting with peers became even more important over the past year and a half when COVID-19 created supply chain issues and shortages, as well as fewer in-person training opportunities. At this year’s FDIC International, the industry can expect to find our traditional robust education and training program, an expansive exhibit hall with leading manufacturers, new technology and networking events designed to celebrate coming together and thanking our first responders for keeping our communities safe. 

For general show inquiry or assistance, feel free to reach out to our team at FDIC@clarionevents.com. 

Data Intelligence: Shaping the Future for Fire Conference

by EventsFeatured News

The inaugural ‘Data Intelligence: Shaping the Future for Fire Booking’ is set to be hosted this May by the members of the NFCC Digital and Data Programme.  

The conference, to be held on 13 and 14 June in Liverpool, will inform and engage with strategic leaders and those in professional data roles around how effective use of data can significantly drive transformation in the fire and rescue service.

HMICFRS and Home Office have identified data as a key priority and senior leaders are encouraged to attend to support data specialists in delivering against these priorities.

Andy Hopkinson, NFCC Digital and Data Programme Executive and Chief Fire Officer of Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service said: “The Data Conference is a fantastic opportunity to liaise with and hear from likeminded data professionals and leaders from across the sector.

“Together, we can shape the future for fire and beyond by using data to drive forward transformation.”

The conference programme will be released shortly and will be packed full of engaging, inspiring and thought-provoking sessions to showcase how data is being used both across the fire sector and our everyday lives to shape how leaders make transformational strategic decisions.