A 30-storey Woods Bagot-designed KODO Apartments in Adelaide has purchased several products from fire protection specialists Promat Australia.
The apartment block is set to be one of the tallest residential towers in Adelaide, which has designed for residents to experience inner city living while having the privacy enjoyed outside of business districts, AD Australia reported.
Promat was involved early in the project, supplying CAFCO 300 vermiculite spray to provide adequate fire protection to the steel structure. Once the service trades commenced work, Promat penetration seals PROMASTOP UniCollar, PROMASEAL FlexiWrap and PROMASEAL acrylic sealant were used to seal fire rated wall penetrations.
Finally, PROMASEAL bulkhead batts, PROMASEAL fire pillows, PROMASEAL SupaWrap and Promat’s latest innovation, PROMASHIELD were used to seal electrical penetrations in the building’s main riser and provide a complete firestopping solution.
PROMASHIELD was selected for its ease of installation, with no wrapping, strapping or taping required.
The global passive fire protection market is expected to grow from $3.99 billion in 2021 to $4.42 billion in 2022 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.9%. The market is expected to reach $5.73 billion in 2026 at a CAGR of 6.7%.
The main types of products in passive fire protection are cementitious materials, intumescent coating, fireproofing cladding, and others. Cementitious materials have properties of cement, and are used to protect steel elements within a building’s construction. The different applications include structural, compartmentation, opening protection, firestopping material and is used by various sectors such as oil and gas, construction, industrial, warehousing, and others.
North America was the largest region in the passive fire protection market in 2021. The regions covered in this report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa.
Technological advancement is a key trend gaining popularity in the passive fire protection market. Major companies operating in the passive fire protection sector are focused on developing technological solutions for passive fire protection to strengthen their position. For instance, in November 2020, Honeywell, a US-based company that mainly operates in building technologies launched new suite of Connected Life Safety Services (CLSS), a cloud platform for fire safety systems. The platform is intended to help fire professionals avoid downtime, demonstrate compliance, and shorten the time it takes to design, install, commission, inspect, maintain, and report life safety equipment.
The growing construction sector is driving the growth of the passive fire protection market. Construction is a sector that deals with the building, maintenance, and repair of structures and buildings, as well as the construction of roadways and service facilities. Fireproof materials are used in the construction sector for fire safety in the building as they are non-combustible with low thermal conductivity and take a long time for the fire to affect the structures, and also protects the spread of fire.
The report covers market characteristics, size and growth, segmentation, regional and country breakdowns, competitive landscape, market shares, trends and strategies for this market. It traces the market’s historic and forecast market growth by geography. It places the market within the context of the wider passive fire protection market, and compares it with other markets.
The government has revealed a wide-ranging agreement that will see industry contribute £5 billion to address the building safety scandal.
In 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.
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.
For the companies yet to make the pledge, the Secretary of State has also confirmed there is little time left for them to sign up, and that those who continue to refuse will face consequences if they fail to do so.
As set out in January, a new government scheme will also see industry pay to fix buildings where those responsible cannot be identified or forced to in law. This follows previous confirmation that plans for a 30-year loan scheme paid for by leaseholders would be scrapped.
The new scheme will be funded through an extension to the Building Safety Levy that will be chargeable on all new residential buildings in England. This is expected to raise up to an additional estimated £3 billion over ten years from developers and ensure no leaseholder in medium-rise buildings faces crippling bills, even when their developer cannot be traced.
New proposed laws, announced in February under the Building Safety Bill, will ensure qualifying leaseholders are protected from the costs of historical building safety defects, including total protection against cladding costs. Today’s deal establishes that the industry responsible – not innocent leaseholders – will pay.
Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove said: “Today marks a significant step towards protecting innocent leaseholders and ensuring those responsible pay to solve the crisis they helped to cause. I welcome the move by many of the largest developers to do the right thing. But this is just the beginning. We will do whatever it takes to hold industry to account, and under our new measures there will be nowhere to hide.”
The pledge published by government today commits developers who have signed up to legally binding contracts, and to implement their promises as soon as possible.
The detailed agreement confirms developers will:
Act as quickly as possible to fix buildings
Implement new proportionate guidance on building safety
Regularly report to leaseholders and government on their progress
Respect an independent dispute resolution process established by government; and
Refund money already received from the taxpayer to fix their buildings.
More information on how government plans to enforce the agreement in law will be released in due course.
The government is introducing new powers that could be enforced on a developer should they breach the agreement, as well as on any remaining companies who fail to sign up. These new powers would allow the Secretary of State to block those who refuse to sign from building and selling new homes.
The government is clear that building safety is an industry wide issue. Cladding and insulation manufacturers are yet to accept their share of responsibility and come forward with a proposal. The Secretary of State has also today written to the Construction Products Association and warned he will do whatever it takes to hold cladding and insulation manufacturers to account.
The announcement follows a statement from Mr Gove in January, when he set out a 4-point plan to reset the approach to building safety and give leaseholders more protection against unfair costs.
Kyle Jones – Senior Business Development Manager UK for Uptick, explains the role digital job management software for buildings can play to meet the Golden Thread principles highlighted by Dame Judith Hackitt to improve building and fire safety.
In what has been an uncertain and considerably disruptive year (or two) for us all due to the pandemic, remote work has been one constant for many throughout. The ongoing struggles of video conferencing, mute buttons, or my personal favourite – launching your meeting following your daughter’s home-schooling session to find she has amended your virtual background to Mr Bean – are well known to us all.
Ultimately, working from home has enforced better communication lines across organisations and it is heartwarming to see the increasing appreciation towards businesses making a positive impact in this field. In our world, it has never been more important to ensure discussions and information around fire safety in buildings are transparent, and easy to access for stakeholders, such as building owners, occupiers and risk assessors.
After all, fire safety belongs to everyone, not just fire safety professionals.
The Golden Thread principle
The ‘Golden thread’ was first coined in the UK fire industry by Dame Judith Hackitt, following her interim report of the Grenfell Tower fire review in 2017. In essence, the principle seeks to extend fire safety best practice beyond fire professionals to wider society, ensuring that the right people have the right information at the right time. This will ensure buildings are safe and building safety risks are managed throughout the building’s lifecycle. The ultimate goal is to arm end-users with all the information they require.
the information about a building that allows someone to understand a building and keep it safe
the information management to ensure the information is accurate, easily understandable, can be accessed by those who need it and is up to date” (Golden thread: factsheet updated 8 November 2021)
As we continue to measure compliance and enforce consistency across the industry, solutions are being heavily invested in and developed to ensure businesses can operate within the guidelines. Asset & Compliance Management solutions allow a better way to maintain building safety, for instance.
Digital job management software as a solution?
The focus is on intelligent digitised job management software for building maintenance and compliance. The industry is hugely underserved, yet highly regulated and intricate, creating a unique opportunity to digitise fire safety working methods. Integration into the Building Information Management (BIM) process creates conditions for greater participation and better communication between all stakeholders on a project – from design, through to construction and occupation. Collaboration leads directly to increased quality and efficiency – a must for both profitability and sustainability within the sector.
As someone who has spent over 10 years within the fire and security sector, I know all too well the challenges faced around outdated management systems and lack of automation. By providing back-office staff and on-site teams with the right tools to do their jobs, productivity increases as well as performance.
Digitisation, automation and remote access to business tools can be transformative to a business – poor processes help no one. With tragic events across the globe over the past few years, it has propelled industry organisations to work towards more functional safety practises and better management of compliance. Grenfell remains a chilling reminder of the importance of fire safety and has played an intrinsic part in forcing the fire and wider construction industry to stand up and re-think the processes currently in place.
Dame Judith Hackitt’s enquiry into Grenfell revealed a need for greater fail safes, and this is where digital adoption plays a huge role in guaranteeing the safety of buildings and end users. Supplying up to date and relevant information has an immeasurable benefit to the future of the industry. Digital tools not only improve standards, they improve record keeping and auditing at every stage, minimising costs and improving quality.
Society’s expectations are continually evolving, and the industry must adapt. End users want visualisation of their property data, through digital services and improved user experience with a single source of truth. The use of cloud-based software can empower a business to provide this service to the fire industry.
Industry organisations have historically been resistant to making changes due to time, regulatory or financial constraints. Investment of time now could, however, produce positive change. Creating a ‘Golden Thread’ of information will provide a source of truth that will be invaluable in the future as portfolios grow.
Finding the right asset maintenance software is imperative to maintain building safety. By utilising innovative systems, information is digitised and easily accessible, paper waste is significantly reduced, and ultimately buildings across the UK will be safer. Software providers’ goals should be aligned with the industry’s own goals and focuses. By improving the safety of the buildings we all live and work in, the overall mission is to help building owners, managers and service providers do just that.
Our responsibility for the ‘Golden Thread’ never stops. It’s an ever-evolving process that spans across the facility’s full life story and we all play an intrinsic role in delivering quality compliance.
Pierce Manufacturing Inc will showcase an extensive selection of the latest fire apparatus and technology developments at the Fire Department Instructors Conference (FDIC) in Indianapolis, Indiana, April 28-30, 2022.
A main feature will be North America’s first-in-service and fully U.S. manufactured electric fire truck – the Pierce Volterra Pumper. Attendees will find Pierce’s display in the north end zone of Lucas Oil Stadium (booth #8807), which will feature 14 fire trucks and interactive opportunities to learn about the latest product and technology innovations.
“The past year has been monumental for our company in advancing our objective to create the most progressive solutions in fire apparatus safety and efficiency,” said Lisa Barwick, vice president of marketing for Pierce’s Fire and Emergency Segment. “We’re excited to welcome Fire Chief Steven Davis from The City of Madison Fire Department and EnTech Solutions to our 2022 FDIC booth. Visitors will have the opportunity to hear first-hand from these representatives about the performance of the Pierce Volterra electric pumper, its charging infrastructure, and the impact on reducing emissions and improving firefighter safety; all with no compromise on features, performance, or functionality.”
Pierce’s Volterra Electric Fire Truck Display to Include:
Two electric pumpers and charging infrastructure solutions
North America’s first-in-service electric fire truck – The City of Madison, Wisconsin Fire Department’s Volterra electric pumper -City of Madison Fire Department’s recently retired Chief Steven Davis, and Assistant Chief Scott Bavery will be on-site and available for Q&A
Portland, Oregon Fire & Rescue’s Pierce Volterra electric pumper -Pierce’s expert engineers will be available to discuss features, customizations, and attributes of the U.S.made electric fire apparatus
EnTech Solutions electric vehicle charging infrastructure – Pierce has partnered with EnTech Solutions, an expert in energy solutions provider from concept to installation, and representatives will be on-site at Pierce’s FDIC booth to discuss: -The impact of EV charging on a fire station -The best options for the individual site -ROI opportunities with renewable energy -Available grants/incentives -Costs and anticipated lead times -Ongoing support
Additional Technology and Latest Fire Truck Component Features on Display Will Include:
Introduction of the next generation in fire apparatus pump design and fire suppression upgrades with enhanced flow capabilities paired with unmatched serviceability and performance.
100’ Heavy-Duty Low Profile Steel Aerial Ladder – Introduced in late 2021, this 100’ low profile steel ladder has an overall height as low as 10’ 10” with waterway, and 10’ 8” without waterway, a rated load capacity up to 750 lb in winds up to 35 mph with a 100 lb allowance of additional firefighting equipment at the ladder tip (while flowing up to 1500 gpm).
Pierce CZ Connect Fully Integrated Telematics Solution providing remote access to vehicle data from anywhere. Available in feature packages which provide the users’ desired level of dashboards for diagnostics, maintenance, operational overview, and more.
PACCAR MX-13 big block engine – available exclusively on Pierce Arrow XT, Enforcer, and Velocity custom chassis. PACCAR is known as a global leader in the design and manufacturer of diesel engines, and experts will be on-site at Pierce’s FDIC booth to discuss the industry-leading design attributes of the MX-13 engine.
Barwick continued, “The launch and North American placement of our new PierceVolterra electric vehicle was an incredibly important event for our company, but certainly not the only Pierce innovation which has taken place in recent years. In our FDIC 2022 booth, we’re eager to showcase and help visitors learn more about the many advancements which have been made available as standard or custom features on some of our most in-demand fire apparatus.”
In addition to product and technology demonstrations, on Friday, April 29 at 1:00 pm (EDT), the opening ceremony for the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) 9/11 Stair Climb event will take place at Pierce’s booth. The 9/11 Stair Climb is a way for attendees to honor and remember those in the fire service community who selflessly gave their lives, so that others might live. In past years, more than 700 FDIC participants in each event have paid tribute by climbing or walking the equivalent of the 110 stories of the World Trade Center.
The UK government is likely to reject a requirement for personal emergency evacuation plans (PEEPs) for disabled people in high-rise buildings.
The FPA reported that the recommendation came from the first phase of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry. Lord Stephen Greenhalgh, building safety minister, said that a consultation from July 2021 concerning PEEPs “made clear the substantial difficulties of mandating PEEPs in high-rise buildings around practicality, proportionality, and safety.”
The government had shown signs of resistance to implementing PEEPs, prior to the family of Sakina Afraeshabi, a disabled victim of the Grenfell fire, writing to the Home Office in October 2020 threatening legal action.
However, it looks as though the government’s stance has changed again, as on Monday, Lord Greenhalgh said: “On practicality, how can you evacuate a mobility-impaired person from a tall building before the professionals from the fire and rescue service arrive?
“On proportionality, how much is it reasonable to spend to do this at the same time as we seek to protect residents and taxpayers from excessive costs?
“On safety, how can you ensure that an evacuation of mobility-impaired people is carried out in a way that does not hinder others in evacuating or the fire service in fighting the fire.”
Lord Greenhalgh has also stated that the government is committing to a new consultation that will include “emergency evacuation information sharing” (EEIS), and saying the government is “acutely aware of the need to ensure the safety of residents with mobility concerns.” The government has confirmed that it is planning to publish its response to the PEEPs consultation, along with its new consultation on its EEIS plan, and commence the Fire Safety Act 2021 on the same day in May.
Claddag, the leaseholder disability action group, said in a statement that it is “unconscionable” that the government has dismissed the recommendation. They also commented further, saying that Lord Greenhalgh is “wrong to assert that mobility-impaired people” cannot evacuate without the fire and rescue service, and that the group was “sickened” to hear the minister question whether any associated costs of evacuation plans are reasonable as he “seeks to protect residents and taxpayers from costs.”
“Radio and TV awareness campaigns encourage us all to have plans in place should our homes catch fire – the government clearly believes this caution and responsibility should only extend to non-disabled people.
“The final blow was Lord Greenhalgh’s attempt to shame disabled people into ‘staying put’ in a fire to avoid ‘hindering others’ from evacuating. Please let that sink in.
“It is preposterous for the government to assert that it is ‘committed to supporting the fire safety of disabled people’ when it rejects the use of evacuation plans on the basis of costs, convenience, and ableism.”
The NFPA has reiterated that fire sprinkler systems should be installed according to NFPA 13D, the standard for one- and two-family dwellings and manufactured homes. Regardless of whether fire sprinklers are mandated in new one- or two-family dwellings by the use of a code or ordinance, or if sprinklers are installed voluntarily by the developer, builder or homeowner.
The intent of NFPA 13D, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems in One- and Two-Family Dwellings and Manufactured Homes, is to provide an affordable sprinkler system in homes while maintaining a high level of life safety. NFPA 13D is intended to prevent injury and life loss. It requires sprinklers to be installed in living areas, sprinklers are not required in smaller bathrooms or closets, pantries, garages or carports, attached open structures, attics, and other concealed non-living spaces.
The standard requires at least 10 minutes of sprinkler water on the fire in its initial stage of development. That controls the fire early, giving residents the time to safely escape and the fire department time to respond. A typical home fire will be controlled and may even be extinguished by the time the fire department arrives.
NFPA 13D has been around for more than 45 years and is constantly being reviewed, tweaked, and republished to reflect the latest in technology and our experiences with fires.
The 2022 Edition contains an important new feature, Annex B, to provide the fire service and other fire sprinkler advocates with informative tools to expand the use of installed sprinklers in new homes.
Annex B contains valuable resources for helping advocates educate planning officials, community leaders, developers, builders, and consumers about the value of home fire sprinklers in new homes. However, like all annexes within NFPA standards, Annex B in NFPA 13D is not a mandatory part of the standard and it would not be included as part of any incorporation by reference within a statewide code or local ordinance.
Annex B contains six important sections:
Community process and infrastructure
Site planning and development
Building construction
Community risk reduction
Environmental stewardship
Sustainability of homes and affordable housing
While the fire service and fire sprinkler advocates will recognize most, if not all, of the key points, resources and references contained within Annex B, this is the first time all this valuable information has been gathered and categorized in a single document.
The Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition (HFSC) offers free resources based on the information in Annex B, that AHJs can use to educate stakeholders involved in new home developments. Visit www.HomeFireSprinkler.org/CRR for more information.
Mandy Bowden, fire manager, Comelit-PAC highlights how legislation and fire detection and alarm systems have evolved to enable tailor made solutions to meet individual smart building requirements
Fire safety is vital to consider in new buildings, construction, or refurbishment projects as early in the specification process as possible, to ensure systems can be designed in compliance with latest legislation and still blend with their surroundings, without losing their function.
Historically, fire safety design of buildings has been seen as a constraint to innovative design, but this needn’t be the case.
The future of fire detection and alarm systems is changing. From predictive advancements to sustainable technologies, there is now an opportunity to specify preventative protection systems tailored to each individual property together with their owners and users.
Setting the Scene
Successful fire systems design requires an understanding of a wide range of issues and components, and the interactions between them such as, fire source, smoke movement, heat transfer to the building structure, detection, human behaviour and toxicity.
Mandy Bowden.
Finding the right fire detection system and design is the most difficult task. And currently, this is set against time, budget and resource stretched personnel, who especially during the pandemic, had essential Government guidelines to comply, and fire safety found itself slipping down the agenda.
Yet the findings of the Grenfell Tower tragedy and Fire Safety Act 2021 (alongside the forthcoming Building Safety Bill) as part of the ‘biggest changes to building safety in a generation,’ demonstrate the importance of fire safety.
With its significant ramifications for those organisations considered “responsible persons” it highlights the need for compliance and the risk of enforcement powers and sanctions for those that do not prioritise fire safety.
Today’s global environment requires the fire and life safety industry to innovate with solutions, installing systems that can adapt to its environment and support and understand the specific needs of a building’s purpose.
It is down to consideration of these elements and all who occupy the facilities early in the specification process of any works programme, to determine the best technology and installation of compliant fire detection.
Fire systems by design
Above all else, fire detection is there to save lives; but the way in which systems are presented, will depend on their surroundings. Fire systems specification can begin as early as during the briefing and continue into the handover and close out stages.
Even then the need for risk assessments are essential to maintain on a regular basis, again, especially in line with new expectations of the Fire Safety Act 2021.
If fire safety is outlined in the initial design process, it can contribute to the smooth and efficient running of the building construction, which together with identifying design and consultancy services early on, can deliver on even the most demanding fire safety and security specification requirements, of today and the future.
The same is true for refurbishment projects, and change-of-use schemes. When you alter how a building is used, you also change the measures required to make it safe.
It’s not a case of one size fits all as different buildings need different approaches. Areas within those buildings also need to be treated differently – for instance, escape routes in a residential block (like public corridors and staircases), need greater fire protection than individual flats to allow people time to evacuate.
The best fire protection strategies consider the design of individual buildings and how they are used by occupiers, using both active and passive measures in a holistic approach.
Fire systems in education
Comelit-PAC was involved in an award-winning eight-form entry secondary school and sixth form academy, designed as part of a £100m development in Broxbourne, Hertfordshire.
Designed by architects Bond Bryan and built by Chase Homes, Broxbourne School offers multiple educational buildings, including a new indoor sports hall, 3G football pitch, a multi-use games area for sports such as netball and tennis, together with The Broxbourne Music Centre.
Winner of the School Building Awards, presented by the Education Business Awards, the new campus, completed five months ahead of schedule, will cater to the 1,500 students aged 11 to 18, as well as the wider community.
By integrating fire safety into the specification detail, systems could be installed that
have the flexibility to expand with a facility or building requirement, to enable more to benefit from this ambitious new college.
The LogFire system.
Says Ben Lewis, of Matrix Fire & Security: “We knew instantly that Atena would accommodate the requirements of the school and blend seamlessly with the fabulous teaching and learning environment that has been created.”
What this demonstrates is when creating school buildings fit for 21st Century learning, holistic design principles must be adopted. While the Comelit-PAC Atena addressable panels represented just one component of this amazing new build, by being so easy to use, they provide an effective way to keep the school community, and the broader range of buildings’ users, safe and protected.
Fire systems in healthcare
Any fire detection technology must be strategically placed, unobtrusive and not affect the aesthetics or daily busy operations of the staff on site. And risk assessments were essential to maintain a safe environment.
This is also particularly essential in new hospitals and mental health facilities, where the focus is the use of natural light and bright, airy spaces, to positively impact both workforce well-being and where every part of the site is seen as potentially having therapeutic value.
Comelit fire specification
Comelit-PAC is evolving with the specification requirements of discerning end users, providing the products and services necessary for installers to meet burgeoning expectations.
Most recently, it has upgraded its entire fire system range with the launch of LogiFire, which represents a complete technical and aesthetic evolution of its innovative addressable platforms.
LogiFire is guaranteed by a new range of control panels. The systems can be expanded from 1 to 8 loops and support up to 2000 devices on an 8-loop system and have a greater loop capacity of 700mAh. The panels are feature rich and have many onboard fault-finding diagnostics.
The stylish product design is a unique feature of the range, with carefully constructed lines and a neutral appearance to ensure fire safety has a natural blending with surroundings, without affecting the experience for visitors or staff on any site development.
Most of all, LogiFire prioritises reliability and performance levels. Its development has taken consideration of increasing reliance on integrated systems with security through the internet of things, leaving room for LogiFire to evolve to meet changing fire safety requirements.
In summary, many innovative building designs now utilise fire safety engineering rather than having to rely solely on functional-based codes. This approach can enable architects to achieve innovative cost-effective designs while meeting fire safety design needs.
The introduction of the stringent Fire Safety Act 2021, added extra pressures on Responsible Persons as accountable for reducing the risk of fires.
By considering fire detection and alarm systems early on in any works programme, establishing the facts about a building, its usage and purpose and engaging with experts through design and specification, project teams can ensure they navigate the issues safely and meet the needs of building users.
Comelit-PAC can help to incorporate tailor-made fire system design principles into a building design project without impacting on the function, aesthetics or appearance of the building.
The International Fire Chiefs Association has opened nominations for the IAFC Ben Franklin Award for Valor. Since 1970, the IAFC’s most prestigious award has recognized the spirit of service, courage and heroism that is a proud tradition among the world’s fire and emergency service. The program is named for one of the first fire chiefs in the United States, Benjamin Franklin. An inventor, statesman and humanitarian, Mr. Franklin was a prime contributor to the wealth of tradition that symbolizes the fire and emergency service worldwide.
Presented annually at Fire-Rescue International (FRI) by the IAFC and Motorola Solutions, the award honors a firefighter(s) for their expert training, professional service and dedication to duty displayed in saving human life. More than that, the program helps raise public awareness and support for the fire and emergency service.
“We look forward to honoring the award recipients at FRI 2022 and every firefighter nominated for their heroic actions,” said Chris Lonnett, vice president of Central Region Sales, Motorola Solutions. “Motorola Solutions takes great pride in supporting the Ben Franklin Award for Valor.”
All active firefighters, career or volunteer, are eligible for award consideration, whether the event occurred while on or off duty. They need only to be nominated by their fire chief for an incident in which they saved a human life.
An individual or a team of up to four may be nominated. The chief must submit the nomination via the nomination link. The incident must have occurred between April 1, 2020, and December 31, 2021, to qualify for consideration. All nominations are reviewed by a committee of IAFC members.
The 2022 nomination period closes June 15 at 11:59 PM ET. Winner and regret notifications will be issued in July.
The winners will be announced Monday, August 22, 2022 and honored on Thursday, August, 25, 2022 at Fire-Rescue International in San Antonio, Texas.
Johnson Controls has been named to the FT Climate Leaders in Europe list for a second consecutive year.
Europe’s 2022 Climate Leaders list recognizes companies across Europe that have shown the highest reduction of their emissions intensity between 2015 and 2020, which is measured by greenhouse gas emissions relative to revenue. Johnson Controls was one of only 400 companies selected from more than 4,000 across Europe.
“Being recognized by the Financial Times for a second consecutive year as a climate leader in Europe is a particularly meaningful and illustrious honor for us,” said Tomas Brannemo, vice president and president, Building Solutions Europe, Middle East, Africa and Latin America, Johnson Controls. “Sustainability has always been one of our key strategic pillars and as the critical climate change battle continues, it is important for Johnson Controls to keep leading the way in cutting emissions and delivering clean, smart and sustainable solutions for our customers and communities around the world.”
For the second time, FT and research firm Statista compiled a list of European invited companies that have achieved the greatest reduction in emissions intensity. Additionally, Statista analyzed publicly available data from financial and non-financial reports to determine Europe’s climate leaders.
Among the earliest industrial companies to report emissions and pledge emission reductions, Johnson Controls has made tremendous progress – reducing carbon emissions and energy intensity by more than 70 percent since 2002. It was recently named #1 in its industry group and #12 overall as one of the 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World and is one of just 45 corporations awarded the Terra Carta Seal which recognizes private sector companies who are creating genuinely sustainable markets.
While Johnson Controls reports their emissions in all three scopes, the ranking accounts for scope 1 and scope 2 emissions only since not all companies named to the list publish their scope 3 emissions. Since 2017, Johnson Controls has achieved a 38% reduction of scope 1 and 2 emissions, eliminating more than 415,000 metric tons of CO2e.
Research shows that almost 40% of greenhouse gases come from buildings, and as the EU seeks to become carbon neutral by 2050, Johnson Controls remains at the forefront of effectively turning the ambition into a reality through the decarbonization of buildings. Last year, the European Commission committed to cut greenhouse gas emissions from their 1990 levels by at least 55% by 2030 under the European Green Deal. The European Energy Performance of Buildings Directive will be an important pathway on how to drive down carbon emissions from buildings.
Through the deployment of its OpenBlue digital platform, Johnson Controls utilizes digitalization as a key enabler for the building renovation wave in Europe and the rest of the world. OpenBlue net zero solutions allow for the sustainable optimization of buildings, and Johnson Controls has seen a significant improvement in environmental impact by helping customers consume less energy, conserve resources, and identify pathways to achieving healthy, net zero carbon communities.
“Our Sustainability efforts boost our customers’ bottom line and help protect the planet by enhancing efficiency and cutting waste. We put the best technology to work so that buildings become flexible assets that are part of the smart, clean infrastructure needed to meet carbon reduction goals,” said Katie McGinty, vice president & chief sustainability and external relations officer at Johnson Controls. “Being at the forefront helping to drive efforts to tackle global climate change is part of our DNA, and we are dedicated to supporting a healthy planet, healthy people and healthy places.”
Johnson Controls continues to take significant steps to further improve its environmental impact and has committed to achieving net zero Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions by 2040 – ten years ahead of the Paris Climate Agreement goal. By 2030, the company aims to cut its Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 55 percent and Scope 3 emissions by 16 percent. These ambitious 2030 emissions reduction targets have been approved by the Science Based Targets initiative.
