New fire standards launched in England

by Breaking NewsSafety

The Fire Standards Board has launched a new professional standard for fire and rescue services in England, it’s ninth such professional standard.

The Safeguarding Fire Standard aims to ensure that fire and rescue services are doing all that they can to support safeguarding. Its desired outcome is that services work proactively to promote the safeguarding of those within their communities as well as employees and volunteers, reducing the risk of abuse, harm, and neglect.  

The Safeguarding Fire Standard outlines what a fire and rescue service must and should do to achieve the standard.

The standard states that a service must have a designated Safeguarding Lead, and that it should work collaboratively with partners to share learning and experiences to contribute to the continual improvement of safeguarding. Full details of what services need to do to achieve this standard are detailed in the How to Achieve section of the standard.  

Lord Greenhalgh, Fire Minister said: “…Fire and rescue service staff play a vital part in protecting communities and it’s crucial that they use the tools at their disposal to do so.” 

Whilst it is not mandatory for services to comply with the Fire Standards, the National Fire Framework makes clear that services are expected to pay due regard to Fire Standards as will the HMICFRS in their inspections.

The Fire Standards Board are confident that in many cases services are already achieving the outcomes which are the foundation of each Fire Standard. Where they are not, they accept services will need to implement any changes to enable them to achieve the standards in a way that fits with their strategic planning, improvement work and timetable. 

This is the ninth professional Fire Standard and aims to help drive continuous improvement across England’s fire and rescue services. 

The Fire Standards Board published eight standards in 2021. These are on:

  • Emergency response driving,
  • Operational preparedness,
  • Operational competence,
  • Operational learning, and
  • Code of Ethics
  • Community Risk Management Planning
  • Prevention
  • Protection

Warringtonfire upgrades laboratory following UKCA certification demand

by ActiveFeatured News

Warringtonfire, a fire testing, inspection, and certification service provider, has said to have made significant investments in its High Wycombe fire resistant testing laboratory to meet the anticipated growth in demand ahead of the UKCA Mark deadline.

The transformation of the facility includes refurbishment of its onsite fire resistance and smoke laboratories. This comprises new smoke testing equipment, a complete re-lining of two test furnaces as well as installation of a new cold abatement system to extract test fumes from the fire laboratory environment.

Alongside the additional fire resistance testing equipment, Warringtonfire’s acoustics laboratory has also been revamped, with new acoustic measuring equipment to enhance and improve testing capabilities.

Lee Wade, general manager, Warringtonfire High Wycombe said: “We have seen a surge in demand for the smoke testing of products. This is being driven by both regulatory changes, such as the looming UKCA Mark deadline coming into effect from January 2023, as well as an increasing appreciation from our customers of the value that testing and certification adds to their products.

“That’s why, despite the uncertainty Covid-19 has generated within the industry throughout the past two years, we have committed to significant capital investment to ensure our laboratory is the benchmark for fire testing, inspection and certification here in the UK. In turn, this will help our clients ensure they can continue to market their products in line with the very latest regulations, in a timely and efficient way.”

Further investment has also been made to improve the facility’s sustainability credentials, with the installation of a new cold abatement system to extract fumes and odours from the test area, as well as fitting LED lighting throughout the laboratory. Alongside this, the company has added more floor space through a new purpose-built building to ease congestion and improve working conditions, allowing staff to build test specimens away from the furnace.

New digital viewing technology has also been introduced at Warringtonfire High Wycombe. The package enables customers to watch live product testing remotely at higher quality and has the capability to share live test data from Warringtonfire’s control system

“Given the changing ways we and our clients have had to adapt, we’ve increased our focus on digital technology. This includes new video packages, better viewing angles of tests in ultra-high definition, and the ability to zoom in on specific areas of the test and our furnaces,” said Wade.

“In order to maximise the potential of the investments made throughout the site, we’ve also embarked on an internal programme to train and upskill our colleagues in testing capabilities, technical qualifications, and project management. This will help our clients stay ahead of any regulatory changes, such as the UKCA Mark, and help them continually improve their products.”

Storm Dudley And Eunice to hit UK from Wednesday

by Breaking NewsSafety

The UK Met office has issued two amber warnings for two separate storms that are set to lash the country. Authorities have said Story Dudley and Storm Eunice will commence from Wednesday and last up until the weekend.

Various UK authorities have reinforced the warning about Storm Dudley and Storm Eunice. The storm could lead to damage such as uprooted trees, damage to properties, and automobiles.

The Met Office said: “Strong winds will cross western Scotland and Northern Ireland on Wednesday afternoon, pushing eastward to northern England by evening. 80-90 mph wind gusts are possible on exposed coasts and hills of Scotland with 60-70 mph possible further inland. The worst of the winds are expected to ease through Thursday morning. A yellow warning for wind has been issued for much of central and northern areas of the UK, including Northern Ireland. Embedded within that is an amber warning for southern and western Scotland, the north coast of Northern Ireland and northern England, where the strongest and most disruptive winds are expected.”

Meanwhile, Storm Eunice will cause the next low-pressure system, which is likely to track across central areas of the UK on Friday. Further impacts are expected from disruptive gale force winds with 60–70 mph winds expected inland.

Jeremy Phillips, head of road safety, National Highways said: “We’re encouraging drivers to check the latest weather and travel conditions before setting off on journeys and consider if their journey is necessary and can be delayed until conditions improve. If you do intend to travel, then plan your journey and take extra care, allowing more time for your journey.”

Pye-Barker Fire & Safety expands with acquisition of Frazier Fire

by Featured News

Pye-Barker Fire & Safety is pleased to announce its acquisition of Frazier Fire, LLC. The transaction, completed through Pye-Barker Fire portfolio company Rapid Fire Protection Group, expands the company’s offerings into Oklahoma. With the expansion into Oklahoma, Pye-Barker now provides services across 27 states and 120 offices.

Frazier Fire, headquartered in Oklahoma City, is a full-service fire sprinkler company. In operation for nearly seven years, Frazier Fire’s customers span the entire state of Oklahoma. Frazier Fire specializes in the design and installation of fire sprinkler systems for new construction. The Frazier team also inspects and services existing fire systems.

Rapid Fire Protection Group is one of the largest brands in the Pye-Barker family of companies, a fully integrated collective of fire safety and alarm security services for the commercial sector. Rapid Fire Protection specializes in providing fire suppression services to new construction builds nationwide. The company joined the Pye-Barker family in July 2021.

“There’s incredible alignment between what we do and the Rapid Fire and Pye-Barker groups,” said Frazier Fire President and CEO and 20-year industry veteran Scott Frazier. “This partnership strengthens our capacity to assist in new construction throughout Oklahoma. It also provides additional resources and support to our teams.”

“The leaders and technicians at Frazier Fire are highly-experienced, many with 20+ years of industry knowledge. Their skillset is unmatched, enabling Frazier Fire to consistently exceed customer expectations,” said Pye-Barker CEO Bart Proctor. “It’s an honor to have the Frazier team join our family.”

Frazier Fire’s leadership team and its highly skilled technicians will continue to service new and existing customers throughout Oklahoma.

Chris Higgins appointed Vice President, Customer Service of Telgian

by People

Telgian Fire Safety have announced the addition of Chris Higgins as Vice President, Customer Service. Higgins will be responsible for the management of all aspects of the company’s customer support department, as well as for developing new strategies and initiatives to maintain the highest levels of customer satisfaction possible.

“Chris is an outstanding addition to the Telgian Fire Safety team,” says company President Larry Lacefield. “His ability to identify short- and long-term goals, combined with his strategic, results oriented approach to improving customer relationships, satisfaction and response time, make him an incredible asset to our rapidly growing company.”  

With more than 29 years of experience, Higgins specialises in team building and leadership development, maximising the use of employee engagement strategies. These initiatives result in high performance teams, a strong organisational culture and exceptional customer service, driving both employee and customer satisfaction to new levels.

Previously, Higgins has worked with multiple global customer care and technology companies, providing tech-enabled and human assisted digital solutions. Higgins was directly responsible for daily oversight of 300+ employee teams and achieving targeted client deliverables.

A US Navy veteran, he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration with Navy accredited courses from Texas Tech University.   And, in addition to his position at Telgian Fire Safety, Higgins is also lifetime member of AMVETS Post IL 14. 

Telgian announces appointment of Keith Butler as Regional Practice Leader

by People

Telgian Engineering & Consulting, LLC (TEC) has confirmed the addition of Keith Butler as Regional Practice Leader, Fire Protection Engineering for the Southeast region. In this position, Butler will be responsible for the implementation of innovative fire protection solutions and strategies serving TEC clients.

“Keith has a proven track record as an exceptional and respected leader,” says TEC President Leonard Ramo. “His success in creating client focused solutions, as well as leading and growing a diverse team, are essential as he will oversee our rapidly growing fire protection engineering practice in the Southeast (US).”

With more than 13 years of experience, Butler specialises in fire protection engineering for the oil and gas sectors. In addition, he has led large projects for heavy industrial clients focusing on fire and life safety system analysis, design development, construction management and commissioning, as well as hazardous materials review and analysis. His experience also includes project management for high hazard industrial occupancies including refineries, bulk plants, tank farms, power plants, aircraft hangars, storage facilities, warehousing and transportation facilities.

Previously, Butler was with the engineering firm Jensen Hughes, holding positions of increasing responsibility from Vice President, Practice Leader – Industrial and Forensics, to most recently, Vice President, South Region. There he was responsible for delivering organic growth, overall strategy and business development for a team of 300+ engineers and consultants.

Butler earned a Bachelor of Science in Fire Protection and Safety Technology from Oklahoma State University and is a member of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE), National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and US Green Building Council (USGBC). A LEED® Accredited Professional since 2008, he is also a recipient of the Consulting Specifying Engineer magazine – 40 under 40 Award.

New exhibition head appointed by Intersec to lead event program

by People

Intersec has strengthened its leadership team by appointing expert industry veteran Alex Nicholl as Intersec Exhibition Head.

The senior hire is further demonstration of Intersec’s investment in the significant growth of the flagship event that will mark its return in January 2022 by uniting global leaders to discuss the challenges and opportunities within the industry at the highly anticipated event.

Nicholl ­– who has 20 years of experience in the events industry spanning India, the UAE and UK ­– brings deep expertise to Intersec, having held leading roles at major homeland security, aerospace and defence exhibitions, combined with almost two decades of service as a senior officer with the British Army.

Christine Davidson, Group Exhibition Director at Messe Frankfurt Middle East, said: “We are delighted to welcome Alex Nicholl to the Intersec team. With the immense focus on the industry in the last 18 months, Messe Frankfurt recognises that Intersec’s importance to the safety and security industry has never been greater, we are bringing the best in the industry onboard to develop the most relevant and comprehensive event for the industry.

“Alex’s sector experience is second to none, with two decades of defence and security events industry experience and 18 years as a Senior Officer in the British Military, his vast network of relationships across government and business entities will be invaluable. His appointment is testament to our commitment to deliver a world-class event that brings strategic value to the industry and meets the needs of every stakeholder, from government entities to sponsors, exhibitors and attendees.” 

Alex Nicholl, Intersec Exhibition Head, said: “I am excited to be joining the most significant event in our industry. The exhibition brings the entire emergency services, security and safety ecosystem together at one time and, after limited opportunity to meet in recent times, Intersec’s 23rd edition is set to be the best yet – we have listened to what our stakeholders need and have a ground-breaking event in development that will inspire discussion, collaboration, connections and business that will support them in building a safer and more secure world.”

Intersec, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansoor Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, will be held at the Dubai World Trade Center from 16-18 January 2022 under the theme of ‘Uniting the world’s leading industry specialists for the safety & security of future generations.’ 

Demonstrating Intersec’s strategic importance to the UAE, long-standing Official Supporters include Dubai Police, Dubai Municipality, Dubai Civil Defence, Security Industry Regulatory Agency (SIRA) and NAFFCO, while additional government partners for 2022 will be announced shortly.

Seen as a nexus for the industry, Intersec will bring together thousands of its most powerful stakeholders for bilateral government and business discussions on mitigating and addressing vulnerabilities of the future. They will be joined by leading regional and international brands exhibiting the most innovative systems and solutions in a dynamic environment that will enable face-to-face and virtual exchange through interactive roundtables, workshops and ‘closed-door’ confidential conversations.

For more information about Intersec, please visit www.intersec.com.

Halloween safety tips: Stay safe this year

by Events

It’s a busy time of year for emergency services around the world, and Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service have given their best Halloween safety tips this year.

This Halloween you may be celebrating in a different way but it’s still important to stay safe. Follow our simple Halloween safety tips to keep your little pumpkins safe.

  • Follow social distancing guidelines and remember, ‘hands, face, space’.
  • Keep all fancy dress costumes away from naked flames
  • Use LED candles in pumpkins – they don’t blow out and they are much safer
  • Check the labels on any fancy dress outfits you buy for fire resistance and a registered trademark
  • Remember, cheaper products are more likely to be counterfeit and could burn quickly if they caught fire
  • Burns and scalds last a lifetime. Remember if clothing does catch fire, stop, drop and roll until the fire is out
  • In an emergency cool any burns with large amounts of water and get urgent medical assistance
  • Follow social distancing guidelines and remember, ‘hands, face, space’.
  • Keep all fancy dress costumes away from naked flames
  • Use LED candles in pumpkins – they don’t blow out and they are much safer
  • Check the labels on any fancy dress outfits you buy for fire resistance and a registered trademark
  • Remember, cheaper products are more likely to be counterfeit and could burn quickly if they caught fire
  • Burns and scalds last a lifetime. Remember if clothing does catch fire, stop, drop and roll until the fire is out
  • In an emergency cool any burns with large amounts of water and get urgent medical assistance
Credit: Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service
2020.10.19_Halloween_Face_FB&IG.png
Credit: Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service

Alternatives to trick or treating

This Halloween may be different but it doesn’t mean you can’t still have some family fun. Here are just a few ideas: 

  • Cook up some creepy treats
  • Pumpkin picking and carving
  • Decorate the house 
  • Halloween charades
  • Halloween scavenger hunt
  • Arts and crafts
Credit: Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service

California firefighters defend homes at Mount Wilson Observatory

by Featured News

On Tuesday 22nd September, US fire crews fought to defend homes and the famed Mount Wilson Observatory from California’s biggest and most dangerous wildfire, standing their ground at a major highway between the flames and populated areas.

The Bobcat Fire, which broke out Sept. 6 in the Angeles National Forest north of Los Angeles, has already blackened an area larger than the city of Atlanta and its rapid spread prompted worried law enforcement officials to call for new evacuations on Monday evening.

Once home to the largest operational telescope in the world, the Mount Wilson Observatory, which sits on a peak of the San Gabriel mountains near vital communications towers, said in an update that almost all the forest around it had burned.

Firefighters overnight kept the Bobcat from breaching containment lines near the observatory and were preventively burning vegetation ahead of the fire along state Highway 2, which runs northeast from Los Angeles.

This summer California already has seen more land charred by wildfires than in any previous full year, with some 3.4 million acres burned since mid-August.

The fires, stoked by extreme weather conditions that some scientists call evidence of climate change, have destroyed some 6,100 homes and other structures and killed 26 people, three of them firefighters.

Another 2 million acres have burned in Oregon and Washington during an outbreak of wildfires, destroying more than 4,400 structures and claiming 10 lives. But rain showers across the western Cascade mountain range helped fire crews in the Pacific Northwest gain control of those conflagrations.

Although California has seen little rain in September, bouts of high temperatures and gale-force winds have given way in recent days to cooler weather, enabling firefighters to gain ground.

But forecasters predict rising temperatures, lower humidity and a return of strong, erratic winds around midweek in Southern California and by the weekend across the state’s northern half, lending urgency to the firefight.

The Bobcat Fire has now scorched more than 109,000 acres to become one of the largest wildfires in recorded Los Angeles County history and was only 17% contained on Tuesday afternoon.

The flames came perilously close to the Mount Wilson Observatory last week before they were driven back by crews using air support.

Several more areas, including Pasadena, a city of 140,000 people, remained under evacuation warnings.

California’s fire season historically has run through October. Five of the state’s 20 largest blazes on record have occurred this year.

Euralarm welcomes Kiwa as first associate member

by Featured News

Euralarm has welcomed Kiwa as its first associate member. The organisation recently opened its doors to associate members for the first time, to allow companies to make personal connections with experts, share expertise on standardisation and help influence legislative processes.

The associate membership is a result of Kiwa’s Fire Lab, located in Apeldoorn, The Netherlands that opened less than a year ago. Here, the company certifies fire products on average three times faster than its competitors, according to the business. As Sabyne van Mourik, Business Unit Manager at Kiwa, explains: “Kiwa enables easy market access for everyone who wants to introduce electrical or electronic equipment – related to fire safety, security or EMC – to the European market or even the world. We test products for example against the EN 54 or EN 14604 standard.”

Associate members like Kiwa will stay in touch with the latest trends in regulation and technology and have direct access to a repository of Euralarm documentation produced by Euralarm members and its professional team. Associate members are also welcome to network with industry experts during the annual Euralarm Symposium and other expert events.

Sabyne added: “We build long-lasting relationships by offering customised testing services tailored specifically to the needs of our customers, and we will offer guidance and support every step along the way. We aim to be both flexible and market oriented by allowing customers to closely participate in planning the testing process.

“With our associate membership we plan to grow and intensify our network in the fire safety and security industry. And I think we have a lot to offer as well. Our expertise is not only limited to the traditional fire safety and security topics but also covers data security management, cyber security, social security, alarm and emergency management systems and procedures, alarm transmission chain, vehicle security, domotic components, connections and electrical and explosion safety.

“And, with Kiwa NCP and Kiwa R2B we offer companies one-stop-shops for every part of the testing, inspection and certification chain. That ranges from one stop shops for product certification and process certification via personal certification to inspection certificates. For every service, a specialised team guides customers through the process, from first contact to the final certification and after sales.”

www.euralarm.org/