REV Fire Group set to host Apparatus Conference & Expo this month

by Events

The REV Fire Group Apparatus Conference & Expo, powered by FDIC International, is an upcoming free digital event to be hosted later in July – featuring interactive exhibits and weekly Webcasts with leading fire service instructors on apparatus-related topics.

The 5-week series is designed to help visitors connect with leaders in the industry as we continue to tackle unprecedented challenges. Visitors will get exclusive access to top instructors and get up close and personal with five of the industry’s leading brands for LIVE product walk arounds where REV Group will answer questions on demand and allow participants to easily connect with representatives from REV Fire to further the conversations one-on-one.

The digital conference will also feature the following free training presentations:

  • July 20, 2020: “Must Haves for First Arriving,” Jonah Smith
  • July 27, 2020: “Mayday Monday,” Tony Carroll
  • August 3, 2020: “Proven Truck Tactics That Might Surprise You,” Jason Joannides
  • August 10, 2020: “Aerial Device Strategies and Tactics,” G. Howard Blythe
  • August 17, 2020: “The Engine Company’s Guide to Winning: Stretching for Success,” Steve Robertson

Find out the full schedule here – www.revtruckexpo.com

Victaulic adds virtual access to renowned continuing education program

by Projects

Victaulic is now offering free virtual courses from its accredited University program to construction professionals around the world.

Growing demand for more versatile training options and shrinking access to traditional classes given the COVID-19 pandemic presented an opportune time for Victaulic to make its robust catalog of courses, many of which offer International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) Continuing Education Units (CEUs), available to industry professionals such as owners, engineers, contractors, architects and designers online.

“The launch of Victaulic University’s virtual platform is another successful result of collaborating with customers to help solve their challenges,” said Eric Luftig, Vice President, at Victaulic. “We are pleased to introduce an innovative and convenient way to support the industry’s need for high-quality education.”

Victaulic has instructed 175 live sessions since March, attracting approximately 7,200 virtual learners from 99 countries. Attendance is growing rapidly as Victaulic adds new content and more users discover the program.

“The Victaulic education program presents valuable information in a well-organised and easily understood fashion,” said Mike Stossel, Senior Design Manager at KNS Sprinkler Design and a recent Victaulic University participant. “The content is extremely insightful, and we look forward to participating in more courses in the future.”

Victaulic’s 45+ piping technology courses are available at no cost in two virtual formats: live, instructor-led webinars and self-paced courses, which are available on-demand at any time. Courses are taught in English, Spanish, and German, with new languages being added regularly, and cover several industries, including:

  • General Engineering/Construction
  • Plumbing, Heating and Air
  • Data Centers
  • Fire Protection
  • Virtual Design and Construction

CEUs or Professional Development Hours (PDHs), which are required for maintaining engineering certifications are immediately available upon completion of applicable courses.

Victaulic established accredited Victaulic University in 2013.

“Between Victaulic’s 100-year legacy and over 200 years of knowledge amongst the instructors, the global construction industry will undoubtedly benefit from Victaulic University,” said Colin Phelps, Sales Training Manager at Victaulic. “So far, we’ve had more than 12,000 courses completed. With our robust content and a growing curriculum, there’s something for everyone.”

www.victaulic.com

INTERSCHUTZ postponed until June 2021

by Events

INTERSCHUTZ, which was scheduled for June 2020, will be postponed by one year. This is the mutual decision of the organisers and partners of the trade fair for fire and rescue services, civil protection, safety and security. The reason is the coronavirus, which directly affects both exhibitors and visitors of INTERSCHUTZ and requires them to be available for duty at other locations. INTERSCHUTZ will now take place from 14 to 19 June 2021 in Hannover.

About three months before the actual start of the event, it is now certain that the next INTERSCHUTZ will take place in summer 2021. “The people who under ordinary conditions would have come to INTERSCHUTZ in June this year are precisely those who are most needed due to the coronavirus crisis,” says Dr. Andreas Gruchow, Member of the Managing Board, Deutsche Messe AG. “As INTERSCHUTZ, we are part of the industry. With our decision, we, therefore, take responsibility and provide security in planning”. More than 150,000 visitors from all over the world attend INTERSCHUTZ. However, in times of pandemic, helpers and rescuers are needed to maintain supplies and security.

The same applies to exhibiting emergency aid organizations or authorities with security tasks whose capacities are needed elsewhere. But also exhibitors from the industry are directly or indirectly involved in the crisis situation, such as manufacturers of protective equipment, suppliers of digital deployment technology or even vehicle manufacturers whose customers cannot or are not allowed to visit a trade fair in this situation. “We were on an excellent path – and we are aiming for a strong INTERSCHUTZ,” says Gruchow. “Under the current conditions, however, this is not possible. We, therefore, would like to wish all the players and the entire INTERSCHUTZ community all the best and every strength for the tasks ahead. We will see each other in Hannover in June 2021, where we will have the opportunity to take a detailed and analytical look at the pandemic – and what we can learn from it”.

Postponing a trade fair on the scale of INTERSCHUTZ has an enormous number of organizational consequences. The 29th German Firefighters’ Day will also be postponed until next year: “The synergy between the trade fair and the top firefighters’ meeting is important to us – the postponement is a joint decision,” explains Hermann Schreck, permanent representative of the President of the German Firefighters’ Association (DFV). The most important questions arising from such a postponement for exhibitors and visitors of INTERSCHUTZ will be published in an FAQ on the INTERSCHUTZ homepage. Further questions will be clarified via the usual communication channels.

INTERSCHUTZ has a network of strong partners who have also voted for a postponement and who will now work with Deutsche Messe to set the course for a successful event in June 2021.

Dirk Aschenbrenner, President of the German Fire Protection Association (vfdb):
“vfdb as a strong supporter of INTERSCHUTZ welcomes the decision. As a network of experts for protection, rescue and security, we spoke out without hesitation in favor of postponing INTERSCHUTZ after the latest developments. Especially as organizers of the non-commercial segment of INTERSCHUTZ, we know that thousands and thousands of members of the fire brigades, rescue services and disaster control have been waiting for the world’s leading trade fair with enthusiasm. But we also know that they, in particular, are sympathetic. After all, they will be facing special challenges in their daily work over the coming weeks and months. Our greatest concern is the safety of the population. The postponement of INTERSCHUTZ is both responsible and appropriate in view of the current situation. We are also aware that even if the situation eases, the numerous exhibitors from Germany and abroad will still need sufficient time for their INTERSCHUTZ preparations. As vfdb, we will use the remaining months to process and communicate this event, which is highly relevant for civil protection. As regrettable as the current, unprecedented situation is, we will learn from it. And INTERSCHUTZ 2021 will undoubtedly be supplemented by a further topic.”

Hermann Schreck, permanent representative of the president of the German Fire Brigade Association (DFV):
“We were very much looking forward to the 29th German Firefighters’ Day and INTERSCHUTZ. However, in view of the development of the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, maintaining the operational readiness of the fire brigades and rescue services has top priority for us in all considerations. The planning for the DFV’s large joint exhibition stand and the accompanying events will of course continue at national and international level.”

Dr. Bernd Scherer, Member of the VDMA Executive Board, and Managing Director, VDMA Fire Fighting Equipment:
“INTERSCHUTZ is the future forum for the firefighting technology industry, an industry that produces safety for people. In the current situation, this applies even more – to emergency and rescue services, but also to industry. After all, manufacturing companies also face ambitious challenges in economic terms, for example when proven supply chains are interrupted or production sites are affected by quarantine measures. Fortunately, none of this has yet been the case for manufacturers of firefighting technology. On the contrary: We are still in a unique economic boom phase. Nevertheless, or perhaps precisely because of this, we would like to hold an INTERSCHUTZ trade fair in which all forces are concentrated on what makes this unique exhibition of our industry so special: innovative technology and committed people who are completely dedicated to fire protection and rescue services. We look forward to it – together with you in June 2021!”

www.interschutz.de

The Fire Safety Event postponed until 2021

by Events

The Fire Safety Event and The Security Event have been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and will now take place on 27-28 April 2021.

The events were originally scheduled to take place in April 2020 and were then subsequently moved to September 2020 due to COVID-19. They will now take place on 27-28 April 2021 at the NEC in Birmingham and still be co-located with The Facilities Event, The Health & Safety Event and The Emergency Services Show.

In a letter sent to exhibitors, which has been shared with Fire Safety Matters and Security Matters, Nineteen Group said: “Thank you for bearing with us during this incredibly difficult time. Your feedback across all shows, along with that of our visitors, has understandably been mixed, ranging from ‘supportive for September’ through to ‘not sure’ and on again to ‘prefer to postpone’.”

The Nineteen Group statement continues: “Also, as stated previously, our venue the NEC requires authorisation from Government to open for shows which, at the time of writing this letter, they unfortunately still do not have.”

Further, the statement reads: “This lack of Government authorisation and guidance means that we cannot commit to September as we are prevented from having sufficient time to ratify exactly what, and how, we can work with the venue and partners to finalise what a COVID-secure event looks like.”

The Nineteen Group concludes: “Ultimately, safety must come above all else. Given this continued uncertainty, we are left with no option other than to postpone allowing us to safely deliver our events.”

www.firesafetyevent.com/

Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Services help drivers return to the road after lockdown

by Passive

Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Services say they have had to change their road safety education all the way through. They have now issued some hints, tips, videos and advice for people who are looking to return to driving after a couple of months off.

As lockdown eases, they want people to remember the importance of road safety and how behave while driving.

Road Safety Manager Christine Sharma said: “Since lockdown, we have had to completely rethink how we deliver road safety education. There has been a dramatic decrease in the number of road traffic collisions during the pandemic. Our worry is that we will see more and more incidents now we’re moving to the ‘new normal’. We’re encouraging all drivers to take a bit of time online – going through the advice and making sure that they’re mentally prepared to be back on the roads.”

This includes knowing the ‘fatal four’ main reasons for loss of life in road traffic collisions:

  • Use of mobile phones
  • Non-use of seatbelts
  • Excessive speed
  • Drink or drug driving

Advice also includes knowing how to use the FLOWER acronym to keep your car maintained.

In addition, they have created three new digital resources to help as many people as possible:

  • The first leaflet is for all drivers, and includes the importance of checking your vehicle’s roadworthiness, especially if affected by the current MOT exemption.
  • Leaflet two is aimed at older drivers, showing how they can prepare physically and mentally to return to the road.
  • Leaflet three addresses newly qualified drivers who won’t have been able to build up their skills and confidence since lockdown, and also looks at peer pressure.

ASFP prepares for resumption of face-to-face classroom training

by Passive

The Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP) is preparing to resume face-to-face classroom training with several Autumn dates for the Level 2 and Level 3 Foundation Course in Passive Fire Protection in Dublin and a Level 2 Course in Passive Fire Protection commencing in Coventry on Wednesday 8 July.

With numbers restricted in order to comply with social distancing requirements, the July course is now fully booked, but the Association will shortly be announcing new Autumn dates in the UK.

On that note, the following courses are scheduled to take place at the Carlton Hotel (Dublin Airport) in the Autumn: Level 2 course (15, 22 and 29 September and 6 October), Level 3 course: 17 September, 1, 8, 20 and 27 October, 3 November and 25 February 2021).

The training courses are the first in the UK and Ireland to enable candidates to study to obtain a recognised qualification in passive fire protection. Individuals who undertake the training will have the opportunity to progress to Level 2 and Level 3 qualifications in Passive Fire Protection provided by the Institution of Fire Engineers, itself a nationally and internationally recognised awarding organisation regulated by the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual).

The ASFP also offers an online Introduction to Passive Fire Protection course designed to equip new entrants to the sector with a basic knowledge of passive fire protection and its role in the overall fire strategy of a building.

Consisting of 13 short online videos, each of them around ten-to-15 minutes in length, the course is designed to provide a broad understanding of the subject of passive fire protection. Learners will gain knowledge of all types of passive fire protection systems. There are also modules on fire safety in buildings, human behaviour in fire, fire testing, contractor responsibilities and the role of active fire protection.

Successful completion of the e-Learning course will enable delegates to better understand the role of the various fire safety measures in the built environment, and particularly so passive fire protection. On completion of an online multiple-choice test, learners receive confirmation of completion and are awarded three hours of Continuing Professional Development.

London Fire Brigade warns of potential spike in fires as pubs re-open to public

by Safety

The London Fire Brigade is warning of a possible spike in fires due to concerns that people may drink to excess as pubs, bars and restaurants open their doors to the public for the first time in three months.

Since the lockdown, the amount of fires where alcohol was cited as an impairment has dropped by a quarter. While cooking remains a leading cause of alcohol-related fires, there has been a 37% reduction in the number of fires caused by cooking under the influence, which the Brigade believes could be attributed to the closure of London’s pubs.

With around one-in-three people who died in a fire last year having alcohol in their system, there’s a concern that the long-awaited re-opening of pubs could result in a sudden surge in devastating fires.

Even at the best of times, cooking can be hard to manage and when someone has been drinking alcohol, the risk of having an accident increases as a person’s co-ordination decreases.

Paul Jennings, the London Fire Brigade’s assistant commissioner for fire safety, said: “As the lockdown eases, we understand that people are excited for the re-opening of pubs, bars and restaurants after months of closure, but we urge them to drink responsibly. Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol can seriously impair someone’s judgements and can put them at a very real risk of having an accident. With more fires likely to start in the kitchen than any other room in the home, it’s best for people to stay away from cooking if they’ve had a few drinks.”

The NHS has stated that, after drinking just four-to-six units of alcohol (ie the equivalent of around just two standard glasses of wine), the part of a person’s brain associated with judgement and decision-making is affected, resulting in more reckless behaviour and affecting their reaction time.

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.

Apollo Fire Detectors’ announce free online training courses

by Americas - Projects

Hundreds of fire industry professionals from over 30 countries have benefitted from Apollo Fire Detectors’ free online training courses available throughout the COVID-19 lockdown period.

The weekly virtual CPD seminars and product focused webinars have proved so popular that the company has extended the initial six- week programme of events into July and August, and potentially beyond.

Warren Moyle, Senior Technical Support Engineer at Apollo Fire Detectors, who has been leading most of the online training said: “We wanted to support the industry during this difficult time by sharing our expertise and technical knowledge. We’re grateful that people from all over the world including Greece, Singapore and Egypt have been willing to invest in their professional development and learn more about our products. We’ve had some great feedback and we’re looking forward to delivering the next phase of courses that we’ll be running over the summer.”

Aimed at consultants and specifiers, Apollo is delivering online industry focused CPD accredited seminars covering topics such as An Introduction to BS 7273-4, EN54 Part 23 and An Introduction to BS 5839 Pts 1 & 6. Apollo has also condensed its existing full-day face to face CPD accredited training courses into one-hour CPD accredited courses to ensure that customers wanting to attend these sessions don’t miss out due to the lockdown.

Throughout July and August, there will also be a series of 30-minute product orientated webinars, providing useful advice and insights to installers, covering features and benefits, applications, demonstration videos and frequently asked questions for numerous Apollo ranges including XPander, AlarmSense and the Apollo Test Set.

Customer feedback so far includes: “The webinar was simply wonderful. Techno-filled experience of the trainers was really good. The Q&A session helped me to learn new things. Keep it up and boost our knowledge on Apollo products.”  Plus: “Thank you Apollo, these are great sessions without spending time travelling. Your experience in the field gives us many things to learn about the fire industry.” As well as: “Very informative presentation, with good definitions of terminology. Not an area I knew anything about previously.”

All webinars are being hosted on Microsoft Teams events, which allows attendees to watch live and interact with presenters via a moderated Q&A. All registrants receive a recording of the webinar after the event, so those who don’t make the live event still get the opportunity to watch it on demand.

Date Topic
Wednesday 1st July Hybrid Wireless CPD
Wednesday 8th July Test Set Loop Screen
Wednesday 15th July Introduction to BS7273-4
Wednesday 22nd July AlarmSense
Wednesday 29th July Detection principles and device selection /S65/XP95
Wednesday 5th August Xpander
Wednesday 12th August Introduction to BS5839 Pts 1 & 6
Wednesday 19th August Test Set Introduction
Wednesday 26th August Service, Test and Maintenance

For more information and to register for the free online training visit http://apollo.ly/9k

COVID-19 adds disruptions as California prepares for intense fire season

by ActiveAmericas - Events

California and states in the US south-west are bracing for an intense fire season complicated by the coronavirus pandemic. With 2020 on track to be one of the hottest and driest years on record, the National Interagency Fire Centre is warning of a higher potential for fires across much of America’s west and south-west.

A historically dry winter – not a single drop of rain fell on San Francisco and Sacramento in February – followed by a hot spring has dried out fire-fueling vegetation, priming the region for an unusually early start to the fire season.

California saw fires popping up early in springtime, with bigger, faster wildfires picking up in recent weeks amid hot and dry conditions that could persist for months. Hundreds of firefighters have been deployed to multiple blazes across Arizona, with the fifth-largest fire in the state’s history burning northeast of Phoenix. A number of smaller fires in California over the past two weeks also prompted evacuations.

“Unfortunately we’re already seeing a bit of a preview of what’s to come,” said Daniel Swain, a climate scientist at the Institute of the Environment and Sustainability at the University of California, Los Angeles.

“That doesn’t necessarily mean that some sort of historical, catastrophic blaze is assured,” Swain said. “It just means that the risk is a lot higher this year than it would normally be, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed that we get lucky and there are relatively few ignitions.”

The response to these blazes has been understandably complicated due to the coronavirus pandemic. Officials are asking the public to leave their homes to seek safety – the opposite of what public health guidelines have dictated in the past four months.

To mitigate the risk of coronavirus spreading, the Red Cross has arranged for more, smaller evacuation shelters, with staff on site to check temperatures and screen for Covid-19. But eradicating the risk entirely is impossible, since the virus spreads most efficiently in crowded, indoor spaces, and can be stealthily passed by people who show no symptoms.

The coronavirus also threatens to sideline wildland firefighters. They’re exposed to large amounts of smoke that could aggravate their lungs and cause complications if they were to contract the disease. And they normally station at crowded camps for days near major blazes, where they may have few opportunities to wash their hands.

California’s fire agency CalFire is going to recommend that crews space out sleeping areas, and arrange for firefighters to eat and receive instructions in smaller groups, said Robert Foxworthy, a spokesman for CalFire.

“We have a lot of ideas about what we can do to mitigate risks,” he said. “But this is still kind of uncharted territory. Everybody is learning as we go.”