Exclusive: Evac+Chair discuss best evacuation products for all environment

by Featured NewsProducts

Evac+Chair is the original and global leader in the design, development and manufacture of emergency evacuation chairs. With over 40 years’ experience in the manufacture of life saving solutions Evac+Chair is dedicated to providing the mobility impaired with a safe and quick means of evacuation.

The Evac+Chair was invented by US citizen David Egan following an emergency evacuation in which he and his wife were involved. David’s wife had suffered with polio as a child, which had caused her mobility to be impeded and when they were forced to evacuate from the 38th Floor of a Manhattan building, David had to carry her to safety.  Recognising the need for a product to assist in the quick and safe evacuation of the mobility impaired, David set about designing a solution that would do just that.

Today, the iconic blue and yellow Evac+Chair is recognised worldwide; exported to 70 countries, across 6 continents and has assisted in saving countless lives. The Chair has earned a well-deserved place in the 9/11 memorial museum for assisting in the evacuation of mobility impaired people, during the twin towers attack.

Whilst the fundamental aspects of the design of the Evac+Chair has been unaltered over the past 40 years, customer insight and investment in R&D has led to the product range being expanded and enhanced, providing greater safety and comfort to both the operator and passenger. Independent research carried out by the University of Greenwich concluded that an Evac+Chair provides the safest, quickest means of escape for the mobility impaired, compared with other types of evacuation products.

In 2020, Evac+Chair International moved into a new state-of-the-art headquarters in the West Midlands. The 38,000 square foot purpose-built facility has enabled Evac+Chair to implement enhancements to the productivity and manufacturing processes, however every chair remains hand made.  With ISO 9001 and ISO 13485 accreditations, Evac+Chair prides itself on its superior product quality and every chair undergoes rigorous quality checks, throughout manufacture and before dispatch.

Whilst many consider a mobility impairment to be a permanent disability, it can also be temporary, such as a sporting injury, pregnancy or even panic attack brought about by an emergency evacuation. Therefore, having an evacuation chair is vital for all commercial buildings, to ensure everyone can be safely evacuated in the event of a fire, or other emergency. Evac+Chair products not only provide a safe means of escape for the mobility impaired but protect everyone, as a mobility impaired person evacuating without assistance may impede the whole evacuation process, and as a result put others’ lives along with their own, at risk. 

The Regulatory Form Order for Fire Safety 2005 states, it is no longer the responsibility of the Fire Service to facilitate the evacuation of non-domestic premises.  It is the designated ‘responsible person’ (the person having control of the building, or a degree of control; i.e.  landlords, business owners, employers, facilities managers or risk assessors) who must ensure that everyone can be evacuated quickly and safely in an emergency.

Under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, employers have a duty of care to assess any risks that affect the health and safety of employees and put in place appropriate procedures to be followed ‘in the event of serious and imminent danger’. The responsible person must carry out a regular review of the risk of fire on the premises and identify any issues, following which a plan must be developed to mitigate these risks, this should include the planning for the evacuation of those with disabilities.

Whilst Evac+Chair products are suitable for all environments including offices, hotels, schools, sports stadia, retail outlets, healthcare and factories, each chair has a unique set of features that make it more suitable for certain environments. To help ensure you select the correct product Evac+Chair offer a FREE evacuation assessment. Conducted by one of their nationwide consultants who will visit your site and make recommendations as to the most suitable evacuation chair for the building type and the most effective installation points. In addition, Evac+Chair offer training courses to ensure operators are confident in the deployment and operation of an evacuation chair, providing a safe and smooth emergency evacuation.

For more information or to book a FREE evacuation assessment, contact Evac+Chair: Telephone: +44 (0)121 706 6744 | Email: enquiries@evacchair.co.uk | Website: evacchair.co.uk

This article was originally published in the May edition of IFSJ. To read your FREE digital copy, click here

National Weather Service issues critical fire warning across US south-west

by ActiveAmericas - Featured NewsFeatured News

The National Weather Service has issued critical fire condition warnings across the US South West as wind gusts have been predicted to case fire-jumps across containment lines.

The warning comes as fire crews in New Mexico continue their efforts to stop growth of the country’s biggest wildfire – the result of two fires that merged to create the largest wildfire in the history of New Mexico.

The seven-week fire has burned 491 square miles of forest and rugged terrain east of Santa Fe since the beginning of April after being started by two intentionally-set blazes by authorities.

The National Weather Service has now issued a red flag warning of critical fire conditions for parts of Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Utah with predictions of strong winds, low relative humidity and dry vegetation.

Bruno Rodriguez, the fire management team’s meteorologist, said that forecasts predict wind gusts up to 50mph, with critical fire conditions continuing into Monday, followed by more favourable weather later in the coming week.

John Chest, a fire operations manager, commented: “Imagine traveling in your car and the fire can outpace you. That’s the kind of extreme fire behavior that we’re talking about.”

PBI: Pushing the boundaries of fire protective clothing

by Breaking NewsFirefighting EquipmentProducts
Exclusive: Fabrics and materials manufacturer PBI has been pushing the boundary with its latest trademark innovation PBI LP, Ian Callaghan, Senior Director, International Marketing and Sales, PBI International tells us more

PBI is at the forefront of incredible innovation in the development of fabrics that protect firefighters against heat and flame, but are also lightweight and breathable, reducing the risk of heat stress.

The company’s range of fabrics have become the preferred choice of fire services all over the world. From USA and Europe, the Middle East to the Far East and Australasia, firefighters go to work every day protected by PBI outer fabrics.

Choosing to work with only the best fabric manufacturers in the supply chain ensures that every PBI product performs to the highest levels required in modern firefighting and rescue. The company’s close working relationship with its supply chains is a key factor in the continued investment in research and innovation which results in products that set new standards in comfort and performance. It has driven the development of an extensive range of structural firefighting outer shells designed specifically for the different needs of fire services.

The company’s product portfolio was recently expanded with the addition of, PBI LP, a trademark lightweight fibre that further enhances comfort, breathability and freedom of movement for future structural firefighting gear. 

Fabric made with PBI LP, which stands for ‘lightweight performance’, is 10% lighter than other outer fabrics for structural fire gear, helping to reduce the risk of heat stress.  Even though the unique PBI LP™ is lighter, it still enhances heat and flame protection and resistance to break open, without compromise.

The new lighter fibre performs incredibly well when used in outer shell fabrics, even when tested against other heavier para-aramid and meta-aramid outer shells. In independent test undertaken by BTTG in the same conditions the 180 gsm PBI LP garment outperformed an identical garment made with 220 gsm meta-aramid outer fabric. An eight second burn test was undertaken on the 2006 version of the male heat sensing manikin known as RALPH, which was developed by BTTG and conforms to ISO 13506.  For the test the hands and head were not used, leaving 123 sensors on torso, arms, legs that monitor the temperature on the surface of the manikin during the test.

The BTTG tests showed 2nd and 3rd degree burn injury prediction of only 1.8% for the garment with lighter PBI LP™, compared to a much higher figure of 19.3% burn injury for the meta-aramid, despite the meta-aramid also being 40gsm heavier.

Like all PBI fabrics, PBI LP delivers excellent tensile strength and will not become brittle, shrink, or break open when exposed to flame and high temperatures. This means that the integrity of the internal layers of the garment is protected, and the transfer of any radiant heat is slower, allowing more time for firefighters to escape to safety in a situation such as a flashover. PBI’s protection from exposure to heat and flame has been proven over many years of independent testing and performance in the field.

In a Dynamic Flame Test, which is used to demonstrate the time it takes for an outer fabric to breaks down under tension, PBI LP of 180g/m2 lasted 48 seconds, while a much heavier 220/ g/m2 Para-aramid/Meta-aramid fabric lasted just 3 seconds. 

PBI LP fabric is a result of PBI’s continued investment in research and development that creates new standards of firefighter protection.  That development process must always take account of the balance between comfort and protection.  That is why outer shells made with PBI LP join a wide range of PBI fabrics that meet the need of every situation and work effectively as an integral part of all garment design. Each product has different properties and applications, but every PBI fabric exceeds the required protection standards from heat and flame for outer fabrics.

PBI’s continued commitment to innovation and new product development is not restricted to structural firefighting solutions. Working closely with the supply chain, PBI has also developed a range of lightweight protective fabrics with increased tensile strength that is designed specifically for technical rescue, wildland and industrial firefighting. 

One of the biggest challenges to firefighter safety is the risk posed by heat stress.  It can cause many problems, from muscle fatigue and reduced cognitive function to cardiovascular strain and cardiac arrest.  Research has shown that more firefighters dies in the line of duty from cardiac arrest than any other cause. One of the paradoxes of firefighter protection is that structural firefighting garments designed to protect the wearer from heat and flame can potentially contribute to the rise in core body temperature that triggers heat stress. That’s why it is so important that the outer shell, which has a primary role of protecting from heat and flame, is designed to mitigate the risk of heat stress.

All PBI fabrics are designed to offer maximum thermal protection from the outside, while at the same time delivering high levels of breathability and comfort to reduce the risk of heat stress. They will not become brittle, shrink or break open when exposed to flame and high temperatures, which is among the characteristics of other fabrics. This means that the integrity of the internal layers of the garment is protected and the transfer of any radiant heat is slower, allowing more time for firefighters to escape to safety in a situation such as a flashover.

In the 40 years since opening for business in Charlotte, North Carolina, PBI Performance Products has created a reputation for protection without compromise that is recognised all over the world.

This article was originally published in the May edition of IFSJ. To read your FREE digital copy, click here

Two join Society of Fire Protection Engineers board of directors

by Featured NewsPeople

The Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE), the professional society for fire protection and fire safety engineering, has announced that Robert McNamee, PhD [right], and Wojciech Węgrzyński, PhD [left], have joined the SFPE Europe Board of Directors.

McNamee and Węgrzyński were elected at the SFPE Europe General Assembly Meeting in London, UK, on 16 May 2022. They join David Grossmann, Chair; Kees Both, Immediate Past Chair; and Beth Tubbs, SFPE 2022 President, on the SFPE Europe Board of Directors.

Under the expanded leadership, SFPE Europe plans to increase its collaboration with SFPE chapters, to represent the voice of the fire safety engineer on European technical committees, to explore additional programs and partnerships, and to better meet the needs of engineers throughout Europe.

Headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, members of SFPE Europe include the Society’s 20 European chapters in Albania, Austria, Benelux, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Israel, Italy, Malta, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and United Kingdom, plus five student chapters at the Main School of Fire Service, Coimbra University, International Master of Science in Fire Safety Engineering, Imperial College/Greater London, and the University of Edinburgh.

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.”

Hospitals in Karnataka slow to carry out fire safety audit

by Featured NewsSafety

Only 44 out of 166 government hospitals in Karnataka, a state in the south western region of India, have completed a fire safety audit within the two week period set out by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as fire accidents have been on the rise sue to summer heat, according to reports.

Modi spoke at a video conference with Chief Ministers on 27 April suggesting that all states conduct fire safety audits. Over two weeks since the Health Department directed 16 district and 150 taluk hospitals to complete the audit, only 27% have completed the exercise. The May 21 deadline has now been extended until the end of the month.

To aid he process, the Health Department approved ₹82 lakh for the fire audits of 166 hospitals (at ₹50,000 each hospital) under the National Health Mission (NHM), relasing the funds on May 18.

State Health Commissioner Randeep D. attributed the slow action to procedural delays: “Funds have been released to the 166 hospitals and the DHOs have been asked to facilitate the audit of hospitals in their districts by the end of this month. So far, 44 hospitals have completed the audits,” he said.

“The recent incidents of fire accidents in hospitals have reinforced the need for compliance with fire safety measures in hospitals across the State,” he added.

Commenting on fire safety in hospitals, C.N. Manjunath, director of the State-run Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research, said: “Hospitals have a multitude of flammable materials, each with different degrees of combustibility, each reacting differently to heat and fire.

“It is mandatory for hospitals to have smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, a fire escape route plan, fire exit LED signages with two hours power backup, fluorescent arrow directions and adequate space for fire tenders to operate.”

EarthSafe launches cleanup solution for first responders

by Featured NewsProductsProjects

EarthSafe Chemical Alternatives, known for developing the EvaClean Infection Prevention Solution which firefighters use to mitigate pathogens in their fire stations and emergency vehicles, has launched a safer, more sustainable line of industrial-strength products to address hazardous spills and inhibit harmful moulds. 

FlashDry is EarthSafe’s new absorbent solution for hazardous and non-hazardous leaks and spills made from 100% organic coir, a coconut fiber that is non-carcinogenic and safe to handle.

It contains clay absorbents with granular crystalline Silica generate highly carcinogenic Silica dust and create excessive amounts of toxic waste and is not only lighter, with seven times the absorbency, but it also costs less.

FlashDry is designed to be a more sustainable way to clean up oil and chemical spills without putting first responders at risk.

EarthSafe’s line of industrial-strength cleaning solutions includes a more effective way to mitigate water damage and sick building syndrome at a lower cost per square foot. Its XMold Pro is designed to inhibit the growth of harmful moulds and protects indoor and outdoor surfaces whilst remaining harmless to personnel and the environment.

Joe Finn, former Boston Fire Commissioner, Chief of the Department, and current First Responder Safety Advisor for EvaClean said of chemical cleaning products: “Firefighters and EMS personnel handle all kinds of emergencies, including hazardous spill clean-ups and mould remediation.

“To ensure the health and welfare of our first responders, the chemicals they use to mitigate these issues in the field must be as safe and effective as the disinfectants they use in the firehouse.”

Steve Wilson, EarthSafe CEO added: “With Joe’s guidance, our team is developing safer cleaning technologies to better protect first responders both in the firehouse and on the job.” 

Jersey Fire and Rescue Service expand home fire safety checks

by Featured NewsPassive

​Jersey Fire and Rescue Service (JFRS) has expanded its current home fire safety checks to offer further safety advice to islanders in their homes.

Called Safe & Well, the initiative will see that when Fire Safety officers visit Islanders to conduct a home fire safety check, they will also assess other safety concerns such as slips, trips, and falls, winter warmth (when relevant) and areas such as potential loneliness and isolation.

The idea behind the initiative is to help reduce the number of accidents and injuries in the home and subsequent visits to the hospital, as well as reducing the number of emergency calls to the Ambulance Service, Police and Fire & Rescue Service.

JFRS have partnered with agencies such as the British Red Cross, Eye Can and the cardiology department, to develop the guidance and signs to look out for. If Fire officers see anything of concern, they can either provide some advice immediately, or refer them to one of the partner agencies for help.

Fire Officer Mark Bailey-Walker said “We’re delighted to be expanding our current home fire safety check service to include a wider safety assessment, particularly for the more vulnerable members of our community, such as the elderly and sight impaired. The aim is to provide a person-centred safety visit that focuses on the individuals’ needs”.

Marketing Manager from Island Insurance, Gary Kelly said: “Islands have been supporting Jersey Fire and Rescue to deliver their prevention initiatives for several years now, so we are delighted to be involved with the Safe and Well initiative.

“This service is not only designed to help islanders stay safe in their homes, but also to help them recognise potential health concerns that could severely impact their lives, such as sight loss, mental wellbeing, and cardiac concerns linked to stroke”.

Seven die after Philippine ferry catches fire

by Featured News

A fire on a high-speed Philippine ferry carrying 134 people has seen the death of at least seven people, Sky News has reported. An official statement confirmed that five women and to men have died, and a further seven remain missing.

The fire occurred just before the  boat reached the port of Real in Quezon province, about 37 miles (60km) east of the capital Manila, having left Polillo Island at 5am local time and sending out a distress call at 6.30am.

According to a statement from the coast guard, many of the 134 passengers and crew were forced to jump into the water, with others rescue by vessels in the area.

A further 23 were injured and taken to a hospital, including the skipper, after the the fire started in the engine room of the M/V Mercraft 2. The cause of the fire is yet to be confirmed.

 Captain Brunette Azagra, whose passenger vessel was 500m from the ferry when the fire broke out, told a local radio station that they were able to rescue 40 passengers, adding: “They were lucky because we also came from Polillo. They overtook us, but we were just nearby.”

Cost to alleviate life-safety fire risks from external walls revealed

by ConstructionFeatured NewsIndustry SectorsPassive

Following the Grenfell Tower tragedy, the UK government has established a new Building Safety Programme to ensure that residents of high-rise and mid-rise residential buildings are safe, and feel safe from the risk of fire, now and in the future.

From the findings outlined in the report, the costs to alleviate external wall system life-safety fire risks for leasehold dwellings in mid-rise residential buildings is estimated to be between £3.1 billion and £5.3 billion.

This Data Release provides estimates on: the total number of mid-rise (between 11 metres and 18 metres in height) residential buildings in England; the proportion of mid-rise residential buildings that require remediation, partial remediation and mitigation to alleviate life-safety fire risks from external wall systems; the costs of funding the alleviation of life-safety fire risks of leasehold dwellings in mid-rise residential buildings, in England.

The estimates in this Data Release have been calculated using a sample survey of 2,856 mid-rise (11 – 18 metre) residential buildings in England. Ordnance Survey Address Base data was used to produce the sample, and in estimating the population of mid-rise residential buildings in England.

DLUHC hired an expert contractor to complete desk-based surveys on the sample, to assess the probable life-safety fire risk of the external wall system on each building.

DLUHC’s pilot study estimates 7-9% of residential midrise buildings containing dwellings in England require external wall system remediation to alleviate life-safety fire risks. A further 1% are estimated to require partial remediation and 0.5-1% are estimated to require mitigation measures to alleviate life-safety fire risks.

It is estimated that between 6,220 and 8,890 mid-rise residential buildings, containing dwellings, require remediation, partial remediation or mitigation to alleviate life-safety fire risk, of a building population of 71,000 – 79,000 in England.

Of the 2,000 – 3,000 non-dwelling residential mid-rise buildings (hotels, student accommodation, sheltered accommodation), 8-12% (190 – 330 buildings) are estimated to require work to alleviate external wall system life-safety fire risks.

The full report can be found here.