Posts tagged: Fire safety

Euralarm Fire Section has announced the release of five new Country Fact Sheets, detailing the fire safety requirements of Argentina, Ireland, Norway, Spain, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). These documents, designed as guidance tools for Euralarm members and their affiliates, can be accessed by logging into their system.

The new Country Fact Sheets provide extensive information related to the fire detection industry in these respective countries. They encompass key data such as fire safety standards, marking and certification procedures, the legal and regulatory framework, primary installation codes, and other pertinent notes.

This addition expands Euralarm’s existing library of Country Fact Sheets, which already covers countries such as the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Canada, People’s Republic of China, the USA, Bulgaria, Poland, Australia, Brazil, Finland, Portugal, Colombia, Switzerland, Sweden, and Italy.

Euralarm’s initiative aims to enhance the understanding of fire detection requirements globally and streamline international compliance efforts. The Country Fact Sheets are now available for download on the Euralarm Fire Section’s website.

London Fire Brigade has launched the #ChargeSafe campaign in a bid to reduce the number of E-bike fires across the capital. Firefighters across the city are meeting delivery drivers as part of the campaign which launched last week.

It aims to highlight the fire risks associated with lithium batteries which are commonly used with e-bikes.

The outreach work with delivery drivers follows incidents where fire crews have found delivery bags at the scene of fires. Firefighters from 102 fire stations are distributing leaflets at restaurants, takeaways and bars. The info contains a QR code which links to important safety information.

London Fire Brigade Deputy Commissioner Dom Ellis said: “We are focussing on reaching out to delivery drivers using e-bikes, and the companies that employ them, to reduce the risk of fires.”

London Fire Brigade is partnering with delivery companies like Just Eat, Deliveroo and Uber Eats to provide safety information to their drivers about the risks of e-bike fires, as part of the #ChargeSafe campaign.

The Brigade has attended over 158 e-bike and e-scooter fires from the start of 2022 to March 2023, resulting in 78 injuries and some fatalities. Most people injured in fires related to e-bikes and e-scooters are in their 20s, and the fires often occur in homes where multiple adults live together without children.

Charging batteries is the most risky time for e-bike and e-scooter fires as this is when batteries are most likely to fail. The Brigade wants employees who buy e-bikes for work to be aware of how to use them safely and is distributing leaflets with QR codes containing safety information.

London Fire Brigade’s Advice to e-bike users

• Never block your escape route with anything, including e-bikes and e-scooters.
• Store them somewhere away from a main through route, like in a safe location such as a garage or shed.
• Do not modify or tamper with your battery. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Converting pedal bikes into e-bikes using DIY kits bought online can be very dangerous and poses a higher risk of fire.
• Check that your battery and charger meet UK safety standards. 
• Watch out for signs that the battery or charger aren’t working properly, like if they are hot to the touch or have changed shape.
• Always use the correct charger and buy an official one from a reputable seller.
• Be cautious when purchasing batteries from online marketplaces or the internet as they may not meet safety standards.
• Let the battery cool before charging as they can get warm during use and may be more susceptible to failure if charged immediately.
• Unplug your charger once it’s finished charging and always follow manufacturers’ instructions.
• Fit smoke alarms in areas where e-bikes or e-scooters are being charged and ensure they are tested regularly.
• Use the London Fire Brigade’s free online home fire safety checker tool to check your home’s safety.

NFPA’s international development director for Latin America, Jaime Gutierrez, has said that the Ciudad Juárez migrant station incident “should not have happened and should not happen again.”

The deadly fire broke out in a detention centre located in Ciudad Juárez, south of El Paso, Texas, resulting in the death of at least 39 migrants.

The incident has been deemed as one of the deadliest fires in recent history in Mexico. In response, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has emphasised the importance of implementing measures in detention and correction facilities to prevent future incidents.

Although codes and standards, such as the NFPA 101 Life Safety Code provide guidance for ensuring fire safety in detention or correctional facilities, destructive fires continue to occur in such occupancies globally. For example, a fire in an Iranian prison just six months ago killed eight people and left dozens more injured.

Gutierrez highlighted the need for detention and correctional facilities to take better precautions and use guidance from organisations such as the NFPA to ensure the safety of those in their care. He said that the incident in Ciudad Juárez underscores the importance of maintaining safe conditions in these facilities, particularly for vulnerable populations.

Lack of safety measures

Detention facilities must provide staff members with the ability to release detainees in emergency situations, according to NFPA 101. The code also requires automatic sprinkler systems in new facilities if free egress isn’t available. It is unclear if these measures were in place at the Ciudad Juárez facility, which caught fire on Monday, killing at least 39 migrants.

Footage taken of the incident shows smoke and flames quickly engulfing a cell while a person in uniform walks by. Witnesses alleged that guards at the facility did not release detainees after the fire broke out. Mexican authorities have reportedly opened an investigation into eight employees for potential criminal charges.

Officials believe the fire began after some detainees lit their mattresses on fire to protest recent immigration delays and deportations. The facility, located near the U.S.-Mexico border, often detains migrants from South and Central America who have attempted to enter the United States. At the time of the fire, 68 men were held in the section that burned down.

In the wake of the tragic incident, fire safety experts from NFPA are advocating for better measures to keep individuals in detention and correctional facilities safe from fires.