Profab riser doors and access panels installed at London office block

by Featured NewsProjects

As part of the construction process of Sixty London Wall, a Grade A office accommodation combined with retail within a contemporary development in central London, almost 500 Profab Access high quality riser doors and access panels have been installed throughout the entire building by specialist carpentry, joinery and fit-out contractors, JJ Sweeney.

Specified in a range of sizes and configurations for installation throughout the communal areas and washrooms on all floors, Profab Access’ INTEGRA 4000 Series and VISION 8000 Series fire-rated Riser Doors were installed to provide concealed access to mechanical and electrical services.

The steel riser doors offer seamless integration into masonry walls, shaft walls and drywall partitions, providing high standards in functionality and safety, whilst simultaneously enhancing the overall interior aesthetic.

Five standout walkable sky gardens that span 21,089 sq. ft also take pride of place across the building’s exterior, offering unobstructed views of the capital’s most iconic landmarks. The building also offers dedicated ground floor showering and changing facilities, combined with washrooms on every floor. Profab Access’ VISION 8000 Series Riser Doors were specified for installation throughout each of these areas due to their unique construction providing complete design freedom.

During the fit out process, the facade of each of the VISION 8000 Series Riser Doors were clad in the same ceramic tiles as those on the surrounding walls, successfully disguising each panel to create a flawless, concealed, high quality finish that supported, rather than impacted, on the chosen visual style.

Whilst aesthetics was a leading consideration throughout the specification process, the fire performance and functionality of the riser doors were also important factors. Regardless of the stone material installed onto the facade of the VISION 8000 Series, it will still retain its impressive fire safety standards, providing the highest standards in compliance and performance.

Third party tested by Warrington Fire, Profab Access’ VISION 8000 Series and INTEGRA 4000 Series Riser Doors are CERTIFIRE accredited up to two hours, whilst also being smoke sealed and Air tight to Part L. Both ranges also offer superior acoustic benefits, with the INTEGRA 4000 Series rated to 35dB and the VISION 8000 Series rated to 33dB.

In the event of a fire the riser doors will maintain their frame and integrity for up to two hours, limiting the spread of fire and transmission of radiant heat for this period of time. The doors are also equipped with an intumescent smoke seal, which enables occupants to safely exit, whilst also minimising potential damage to the rest of the building.

Paul Wines, Project Manager at JJ Sweeney, said: “We have been specifying Profab Access’ extensive portfolio of access solutions for over 10 years, so we had complete confidence they would be the ideal manufacturer for such a high profile project.

“Installation of the riser doors and access panels took over eight months to complete, with myself and the JJ Sweeney team overseeing every aspect of the process. The end result is a high quality, aesthetically discreet finish that will offer the highest standards in performance for the entire life cycle of the building.”

Profab Access’ PRIMA 1000 Series Ceiling Access Panels were also installed throughout the building to provide secure access to overhead services. Featuring a unique pivot device for easy door removal and a push lock mechanism for enhanced usability, the access panels are constructed to offer contractors first class functionality, without impacting on the chosen interior design scheme.

Marcus Parnham, Commercial Director at Profab Access, said: “Our partnership with JJ Sweeney throughout this redevelopment project perfectly demonstrates the versatility and durability of our extensive range of riser doors and access panels.

“Sixty London Wall offers the very highest standards in contemporary office accommodation for the capital’s professionals, with our portfolio of access solutions facilitating the continuous maintenance of the building in an unobtrusive and effective way.”

Rising wildfires a growth catalyst for firefighting aircraft market

by Featured NewsProductsVehicles

The global firefighting aircraft market size is expected to grow from $7.11 billion in 2021 to $7.73 billion in 2022 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.8 according to a new report from The Business Research Company that provides firefighting aircraft market statistics. The market size is expected to grow to $9.60 billion in 2026 at a CAGR of 5.6%.

The growing number of wildfires is expected to drive growth in the firefighting aircraft market going forward. Firefighting aircraft are used to stop the spread of fire in the forests and minimize the damage. As a result, a growing number of wildfires will increase the demand for firefighting aircraft.

New product innovations have emerged as the key trend gaining popularity in the firefighting aircraft market. Major companies operating in the firefighting aircraft market are focused on new product innovations to meet consumer demand.

Major players in the firefighting aircraft market are Airbus SE, Coulson Aircrane Ltd, Kaman Corporation, Lockheed Martin Corporation, ShinMaywa Industries Ltd., Textron Inc., Viking Air Ltd., Rockwell Automation Inc., Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Bombardier Inc., Siemens AG, Conair Group Inc., Sabena Technics, AeroFlite, and Canadair.

Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the firefighting aircraft market in 2021. North America was the second largest region in the global firefighting aircraft market. The regions covered in the global firefighting aircrafts market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa.

Bosch updates fire safety system at Hospital Centro Medio Campinas

by Featured NewsFire DetectionProductsProjects

Bosch has successfully completed the installation of networked fire alarm control panels and detection devices to provide optimised safety coverage for Hospital Centro Medio Campinas in Brazil.

Thanks to smarter new fire panels and retrofitting of existing fire prevention equipment, the medical complex is now much safer, featuring a comprehensive, networked and fully compatible fire control system which monitors for every sign of fire across the entire hospital complex.

Hospital Centro Médico Campinas is located in Campinas in the state of São Paulo, 100km from São Paulo, Brazil. As the building ages and requires updates, the fire protection provisions were reviewed to ensure efficient, fast responses to fire outbreaks.

Eduardo Riguetti, responsible for fire safety at the hospital complex, got in touch with Bosch project expert in Campinas, Renato Lima to find a feasible solution. The main objective was to review and redevelop the entire complex fire alarm setup at the hospital to provide safety and reassurance for all personnel on site, including staff and patients.

The major challenge for the project team to overcome was the integration and consolidation of all data and configurations of the 11 separate fire control panels into one single panel.

The fire control network features one Modular Fire Panel 5000 Series, which consolidates the details of all other detection devices, improved user operation and maintenance, making system updates and incident reaction times faster and optimising fire safety across the entire hospital.

Five loop modules were integrated to cover all areas of Hospital Centro Médico Campinas, ensuring reliability with detection. The loops include sensitive environments such as ICU, operating theater, patient wards and the hospital laboratory. Smart connectivity of the new network allows maintenance to be conducted by technicians with minimal disturbance in these areas.

Three remote keypads connected via ethernet to the fire control panel were configured for the hospital’s three desked areas which are all manned 24/7, namely the main entrance reception, the on-site fire department and the operation and control centre. This interconnectivity and remote technology decentralize control of the entire fire alarm network and make it fully addressable.

The fire department can now quickly identify the exact location of a fire outbreak or another emergency incident. Lima explained: “This system is integrated with gas detection, sprinklers, and access control, so in the case of an event occurring, all doors and gates would be unlocked, and now with only one fire control panel in place, evacuation times are much faster and safer.”

Thanks to close collaboration between the Bosch experts, the Brazcamp Tecnologia installers in Campinas, and end customers at the hospital, the project planning and product installation all ran smoothly.

Eduardo Riguetti said, “Excellent specification and design work was carried out by the integrator and the Bosch engineering team.”

New York City considers e-bike ban for public housing amid fire safety concerns

by Featured NewsSafety

The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) is considering a new rule that would ban e-bikes and e-scooters from all its properties amid concerns over fire safety.

According to the New York City Fire Department (FDNY), battery-powered electric bicycles and scooters have caused more than 75 fires in New York City so far this year, putting the city on estimate for nearly 190 e-bike or e-scooter fires in 2022. Last year, the department reported 104 fires, killing four people. 

“The numbers increase weekly. That’s how active this issue is,” said Joe Jardin, chief of fire prevention at FDNY. “It’s scary, frankly, how fast the environment in the fire area diminishes, how severe the fire becomes in a matter of a second or two.”

In an email to NFPA Journal, a NYCHA spokesperson wrote: “NYCHA is considering the adoption of a new rule that would prohibit e-bikes and related devices from its properties, including residents’ apartments and public and private spaces throughout all developments. This proposed new rule is open for public comment until July 10, 2022, at which time NYCHA will review stakeholder feedback and amend the rule accordingly.”

 In April, the city’s Fire Code was amended to include language on e-bikes and e-scooters. The code now requires e-bike and e-scooter charging equipment to comply with standards published by Underwriters Laboratories as well as enhanced fire protection measures for rooms where six or more e-bikes or e-scooters are being charged or stored. These measures include fire sprinklers, spacing between devices, dedicated electrical receptacles, and fire-rated walls and doors.

The new NYCHA proposal would take things even further with a total ban of e-bikes and e-scooters in the city’s public housing properties.

Global Fire Safety Equipment market to reach $60bn by 2026

by Breaking NewsProducts

The global fire safety equipment market size is expected to grow from $39.03 billion in 2021 to $43.55 billion in 2022 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.6%, according to a new report from The Business Research Company. The global fire safety market size is expected to grow to $60.13 billion in 2026 at a CAGR of 8.4%. The main types of products in fire safety equipment include extinguishers, fire hydrants and respirators.

The rapid growth of the construction industry is expected to propel the growth of the fire safety equipment market going forward. Construction is the process of building, altering, repairing, remodeling, improving, or demolishing any structures. Fire safety equipment is widely used at the construction site to protect the user from fire.

According to Invest India, an India-based investment promotion and facilitation agency, the construction industry is expected to reach $1.4 trillion by 2025 and by 2030, India’s real estate business would be worth $1 trillion, contributing 13% of the country’s GDP. Therefore, the rapid growth of the construction industry is expected to drive the growth of the fire safety equipment market.

Strategic partnerships have emerged as a key trend gaining popularity in the fire safety equipment market. Major companies operating in the fire safety equipment sector are focused on new partnerships to strengthen their position. For instance, in July 2021, MSA Safety Incorporated, a US-based manufacturer of safety products partnered with Perspective Robotics AG, a Switzerland-based aerial robotics design and manufacturing firm. Through this partnership, the two companies will work together to increase fire scene situational awareness, both locally and remotely.

In November 2020, the American University of Sharjah, a UAE-based institution partnered with Emirates Fire Fighting Equipment Factory LLC, a UAE-based firefighting equipment factory. Through this partnership, these two companies have been working together in areas of research, student internships, fire protection engineering, and community awareness initiatives.

Major players in the fire safety equipment market are Bosch Security System Inc., Hamla PLC, Hochiki Corporation, Honeywell International Inc., Johnson Controls International Plc, Napco Security Technologies Inc, Siemens Building Technologies pvt. Ltd, Gentex Corporation, Eaton Corporation Inc, Nittan Company Ltd., Space Age Electronics, Lowa Fire Equipment Company, Hiren Industrial Corporation, Larsen Manufacturing, and NAFFCO.

North America was the largest region in the fire safety equipment market in 2021. The regions covered in the global fire safety market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa.

Proposed pay rise for UK firefighters ‘utterly inadequate’ says FBU

by Featured News

Firefighters and firefighter control staff have responded to a 2% pay offer from fire and rescue employers calling the proposed increase ‘utterly inadequate’. The Fire Brigades Union’s executive council is recommending rejection of the pay offer to members.

The 2% pay offer is against a current rate of inflation of 9.1% (CPI, year on year to May 2022). The fire service annual pay award is due on 1 July. The pay offer comes against a background of long-term pay cuts to firefighters’ pay. Between 2009 and 2021, firefighters’ real pay has been cut by 12%, or nearly £4,000.  

Matt Wrack, FBU general secretary said: “The FBU has today received a proposal from our employers of a 2% increase in pay. This is utterly inadequate and would deliver a further cut in real wages to firefighters in all roles in the midst of the cost of living crisis.

“This latest insulting proposal follows 12 years of government-imposed reductions in real wages. This proposal will anger firefighters, those working in emergency fire controls, and those in in all uniformed roles in fire services across the UK. It is galling to be insulted in this way, especially after our contribution to public safety during the pandemic.

“Firefighters will now inevitably begin to discuss reactions, including industrial action. The Fire Brigades Union and our members do not consider or take industrial action lightly or without ensuring that all efforts to resolve the issue have been exhausted.

“To that end, we will be writing to the national fire employers to inform them of the anger and frustration their proposal will create. We will also seek confirmation that they have written to and met with the Westminster fire minister to request additional funding in order to make a realistic offer which meets the urgent needs of firefighters, respects their workforce and has some prospect of being accepted by firefighters.”

“Similarly, we will be writing shortly to the ministers and/or government departments responsible for fire and rescue services in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland to seek urgent additional funding to enable fire and rescue employers to make a reasonable offer.

“Our members will now begin to discuss this offer and the Executive Council will reconvene shortly to discuss our next steps. We will now consider all options, including strike action.”

City of Varennes Fire Safety Service orders fully electric fire truck

by ProductsVehicles

E-ONE, a subsidiary of REV Group, Inc., has announced that it is building an all-electric Vector Rescue Decon truck for the City of Varennes Fire Safety Service in Quebec; the first Rescue truck using the first fully electric North America- style fire truck design.

This Vector order, which will become one of the initial EV fire trucks in operation in Canada, came from the City of Varennes.

REV Fire Group introduced its EV fire truck in August 2021, which utilizes 316 kilowatts of proven automotive grade batteries, and can be customized to accommodate specialized fire ground duties such as air support and decontamination of firefighters to remove carcinogens from gear after fighting structure fires.

The Vector design features low battery cell placement which offers a safer, lower centre of gravity for enhanced stability while operating. The crew from Varennes worked closely with the engineers at E-ONE to develop this unique mission critical apparatus to serve their community.

Key features of the Vector Rescue Decon truck are:

  • 100-inch-wide Cyclone cab with raised forward roof and rear vista
  • Extruded aluminum walk-thru body with full height / full depth compartments on each side
  • Upgraded air conditioning system with auxiliary A/C in the crew area of the cab and body
  • Diesel fired interior area heaters with on-demand hot water heating capabilities for
    Decon
  • Thermal battery management system
  • 500-amps of available 12-volt power
  • Range extender for emergency back-up power to stay on scene for extended duties
  • 4-bottle DOT 6000 PSI cascade system, booster pump and 2 bottle fill station for air support
  • Complete Decon package and shower inside the body with changing room for personnel
  • Walk-through body design to cab allows for separation of duties with a dirty firefighter entering in the back door and emerging through the cab crew doors decontaminated.

“This emergency truck is one-of-a-kind,” said Varennes Mayor Martin Damphousse in a city press release. “In addition to having a self-sufficiency that guarantees reliability for the entire duration of interventions, it will meet the needs of the Fire Safety Service on three specific points: the decontamination of firefighters on site with their equipment, air refuelling breathing and release during a call.”

“We are excited to partner with Varennes Fire Safety Service to help protect both their community and the environment with one of the first EV fire apparatus in Canada,” said Kent Tyler, President of REV Fire Group. “It’s our first EV Rescue truck, which demonstrates the Vector’s customization and flexibility to suit a fire department’s needs.”

Rhino Doors completes testing on its premium fire-rated door sets

by Featured NewsProducts

Rhino Doors, a leading designer and manufacturer of high-performance engineered doors for the protection of people and assets, has successfully completed testing on its premium fire-rated door sets.

Rhino’s FD120HL door, which is mainly used in internal applications in commercial and industrial buildings, was tested for fire integrity from both sides for 60 minutes, in accordance with EN1634-1.

The most recent fire test took place on the single leaf variant of the door, after its double leaf counterpart was tested in 2021 and achieved a 2-hour rating. This success has now continued, with the single leaf variant of the stainless-steel door achieving the same 2-hour rating.

“The completion of our fire integrity testing on the FD120HL door is a great triumph for the Rhino team, whose skill and expertise in design have been paramount to this success,” said Dr Chris Norris, Group Engineering Director of Rhino Engineering Group.

“We pride ourselves on producing doors that can withstand complex environmental pressures, and we now have an established and verified door design, in single and double leaf configurations, for which we will continue to find applications in commercial settings.”

Women in the Fire Service UK event gains certification

by Featured NewsTraining

SFJ Awards, the UK fire and rescue services’ qualifications partner of choice, has announced it is certificating the 2022 Women in the Fire Service UK (WFS) Training and Development Event free of charge in a gesture of support for the not for profit’s commitment to raising skills and increasing gender equality.

The event, which took place over the course of three days at the Fire Service College in Moreton in Marsh, Gloucestershire, saw women representing fire and rescue services from across the country attend a series of expert-led workshops.

Covering a range of contemporary issues in fire and rescue services, delegates deepened their understanding of everything from mental health and racial equality to hazmat incidents and fire safety in commercial buildings.

Facilitated by Lancashire Fire & Rescue’s Jenny Nangle and more, SFJ Awards’ involvement provides free, independent recognition for delegates attending a range of workshops, each designed to enhance learning and benefit delegates in their future careers.

Candace Miller, Executive Director of SFJ Awards, commented: “SFJ Awards is a long-time admirer and supporter of WFS and their work in enabling women to enter and thrive in the many fantastic careers available in fire and rescue services.

“To achieve gender equality in fire and rescues services, it is vital to create learning and development opportunities such as this, and we are delighted to support this annual event returning after a two-year hiatus following Covid.

“The programme is unique insofar as it provides a safe space for learners to share their experiences and exchange ideas, whilst acquiring solid evidence of quality learning for ongoing career developments.”

Caroline Anderson, Fire and Rescue Service Crew Manager at Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue and WFS Vice-Chair, said: “Working with SFJ Awards has been such a positive experience. It’s been a pleasure to collaborate with Candace and her team to champion our women in Fire and Rescue.

“As a leading provider of fire sector qualifications, we are delighted SFJ Awards are kindly supporting us again this year through provision of Certificates of Attendance for a number of our workshops at our 20th national training and development event through recognised certification.

“We have similar aims and ambitions, to increase confidence, raise the standards in skills, and support the many types of people and roles in the sector.”

Members of WFS are of all gender and, come from all roles across the Fire and Rescue Service – from firefighters and control staff, administrative and support staff and senior officers, to members of airport, defence and works fire services.

UK building safety reforms come into force

by Breaking NewsConstructionIndustry Sectors

Many leaseholders will for the first time be legally protected from unfair bills to make their homes safe as measures in the Building Safety Act 2022 have now come into force.

Those responsible for historical safety defects, and those who own buildings, will instead be required to fund essential repairs.

So far, 45 of the UK’s biggest homebuilders have agreed to fix life-critical fire-safety defects on all buildings 11 metres+ that they have played a role in developing or refurbishing in the last 30 years.

Stronger measures in the act include new powers for the Secretary of State to restrict irresponsible developers’ ability to build new homes, an extension of the Building Safety levy worth an estimated £3 billion and improving building owners’ rights to launch legal action against developers.

Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove said: “Today marks a major turning point for building safety in this country, as we introduce a tough new regime to make homes safe and help rid the sector of bad practice once and for all.

“Hundreds of thousands of innocent leaseholders now have the legal protection they rightly deserve, freeing them from a financial burden they should never have faced.

“I’m pleased that most of the largest developers have agreed to play their part in solving this.

“But there is more to do – we are focusing intensively on work with lenders to unlock the mortgage market and empower leaseholders to take their next step on the property ladder, and we will remain vigilant if anyone fails to act on the pledges they have made.”

Where freeholders or owners of buildings over 18m with cladding related issues do not have clear plans to address these issues, they must have full assessments ready to submit to the Building Safety Fund, which will reopen for new applications shortly, helping to ensure applications can be handled in good time, reducing the disruption and stress to leaseholders.

They must inform and consult leaseholders throughout. If they do not do these things, responsible authorities now have the legal powers to compel them to remediate their buildings, and to ensure that they meet the costs.

Alongside this, the government has signed contracts for a new Professional Insurance Indemnity Scheme. This will help assessors conduct EWS1 assessments to identify whether buildings have fire safety risks, ensuring professionals can make sensible decisions and restoring common sense and proportionality to the market.

Leaseholder protections

For the first time, qualifying leaseholders living in buildings above 11 metres tall or with at least 5 storeys will be legally protected from building safety costs:

  • Qualifying leaseholders (those living in their own homes, or with up to 3 UK properties in total) will be protected, in full, from the costs associated with the remediation of unsafe cladding. They will also have robust and far-reaching protections from the costs associated with non-cladding defects, including interim measures like waking watches.
  • It will be illegal for freeholders to pass on the cost of historical building repair works or the removal of cladding to any of their leaseholders, including non-qualifying leaseholders, if they are or are linked to the building’s developer.
  • It will be illegal for freeholders to pass on any historical building safety costs to qualifying leaseholders if they pass the wealth test set out in law.
  • Where a developer cannot be held responsible and the building owner is not required to meet the costs in full, leaseholders with non-cladding related issues will also be protected by a cap on how much they can pay for these costs. The cap will only apply to non-cladding related work for those whose property is valued at more than £325,000 (London) and £175,000 outside London (owners of properties below this ceiling will pay nothing). Where leaseholders have bought through shared ownership, their cap will reflect their share of ownership in the property.
  • Any costs that are not recoverable from leaseholders will need to be met by building owners and landlords.
  • Buyers of new build homes will be able to hold their developer responsible for safety and quality issues under a new scheme from the New Homes Ombudsman.

Making industry pay

New powers for the Secretary of State have been granted to restrict irresponsible developers’ ability to build new homes, including if they refuse to take responsibility for fixing life-critical fire safety defects on all buildings 11 metres+ that they have played a role in developing or refurbishing in the last 30 years.

The Building Safety Levy has been extended to be charged on all new residential buildings. Expected to raise an estimated £3 billion over 10 years, this will fund a new government scheme to pay for the removal of unsafe cladding on buildings of 11-18m where the developer cannot be traced or has failed to agree to cover the costs upfront.

Building owners now have enhanced civil liabilities, enabling them to launch legal action against developers, contractors and manufacturers for shoddy construction works and defective products which have caused homes to be unhabitable in the past 30 years.

Extra powers for the courts in England and Wales have been granted to go after associated companies, meaning businesses who have hidden behind shadowy shell companies within their corporate structures can now be pursued to pay.

These new laws will allow the government to consider appropriate action to pursue these companies as part of a new Recovery Unit that is based in the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

Improving building standards

New regulations for the industry will enforce a higher quality of building standards – ensuring homes are made safer and that a proportionate approach is taken to safety:

  • A new Building Safety Regulator – overseen by the Health & Safety Executive – will enforce a new, more stringent regulatory regime on the safety and performance of high-rise buildings in scope, in England. It will also consult and respond to safety concerns raised by residents through a new Residents’ Panel.
  • A National Regulator for Construction Products will implement stronger standards on construction manufacturers in the UK. Part of the Office for Product Safety and Standards, this new regulator will conduct vital market surveillance to spot and remove unsafe materials faster, as well as confront poor practice by taking action against those that break the rules.