Company News

Orr Protection, a provider of mission-critical fire protection solutions, has acquired all of the business assets of Compass Fire Protection, LLC, based in the Seattle, Washington area. The acquisition complements Orr's established alarm, detection, suppression, and monitoring portfolio and strengthens their presence in the Pacific Northwest. Compass Fire Protection's union sprinkler capabilities in the Puget Sound area also present opportunities for Orr to service its West Region customers...

For care home owners and managers, fire safety is one of the most critical parts of that responsibility. Lives depend on it. In recent projects, such as the installation of a new Category L1 fire alarm system at Lavender Lodge Nursing Home, Midland Fire’s fire alarm installers worked in a live environment, carefully planning to keep residents safe while ensuring full compliance with the latest fire safety standards. This reflects the realities many care homes face – balancing resid...

New Government data of fire and rescue service incidents analyzed by HETAS for Chimney Fire Safety Week (CFSW), reveals that Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service responded to 181 chimney fires over the last year, the most out of all counties in England.  Dorset and Wiltshire follow in close second with a combined 113 chimney fires; Hereford and Worcester are third with a combined 95; North Yorkshire follows in fourth with 90; and Norfolk fifth with 86 chimney fires reported between...

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) investigators are now at the scene of a house fire, which has claimed the lives of two people in Sydney's south-west. Neighbors phoned Triple-Zero (000) around 6:45 am as the property in Lily Street, Wetherill Park became engulfed in flames and their own attempts to rescue the occupants proved unsuccessful. FRNSW immediately deployed 24 firefighters and six fire trucks. Fire crews When fire crews arrived on-scene, they used tools to force their way into the home&...

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) is further encouraging respectful and honest conversations and the sharing of Traditional Knowledge by opening a Yarning Circle at its training center at Orchard Hills, in Sydney’s west. Officially unveiled off the back of NAIDOC Week, the new outdoor space at the Emergency Services Academy (ESA) is a tangible step towards Reconciliation between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and non-Indigenous people. It is lined with a dozen sandstone blocks fo...

Responding to reports regarding culture in the fire and rescue service, the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) has reiterated that the behaviors outlined are wholly unacceptable, making it clear there is no place for harassment, bullying or discrimination in any workplace. NFCC is committed to working with all fire and rescue services to support open and inclusive workplace cultures. Responding to the reports, National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) Chair - Mark Hardingham said: “I am appal...

A South Yorkshire recruitment campaign aims to change perceptions of women in the fire service. South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue’s ‘A Firefighter Is A Firefighter’ campaign includes a new hard-hitting video, which highlights the fact that all firefighters meet the same standards and do the same job regardless of their gender. At the same time, the service will be publishing a fresh episode of its official podcast, Shout, featuring women from across the service. The service h...

The Fire Standards Board (FSB) is delighted to announce the launch of two new Fire Standards - Fire Control and Communications & Engagement. The development of the Fire Control Standard was driven by recent major incident events, such as Grenfell and the Manchester Arena bombing. It addresses the fundamental and strategic role that Fire Control plays from initially receiving the first contact through to the very close of an incident. Standardizing and refining This Fire Standard’s...

Gavin Skelly, CEO of growing fire safety industry body - Fire Aware, spoke of the moral and behavioral changes in culture needed to improve standards at the Scotland Housing Leaders’ Summit. He called for unity of all of those working across the entire fire safety supply chain to consider their moral responsibility, including national and local housing associations, local councils, and developers across the UK. Cultural change of the built environment To change the culture of the built...

Using the highest-rated fire performance cables will help firefighters in the event of a fire in some of the largest new buildings being developed, says pioneering cable supplier AEI Cables. AEI Cables has been highlighting the need for the use of Category 3 fire performance cables, which are designed to withstand heat and flames for up to 120 minutes, helping to protect equipment, property and even lives, supporting critical safety circuits in tall buildings, office spaces, hospitals, shopping...

A fire strategy is a complex document specifically tailored to a building, reviewing all aspects of the building’s fire safety. A fire strategy defines the fire safety objectives and performance requirements for a building and the methods by which these objectives will be provided to ensure the safety of occupants and property protection. Because every building is unique in terms of design, occupancy, and usage, the business needs a unique fire strategy to reduce the risk of a fire and...

A fire risk assessment is an organized and methodical look at the premises, the activities carried out on there and the likelihood that a fire could start and cause harm to those in and around the premises. Fire risk assessments are essential for buildings that fall into the non-residential sector and are a huge component of overall fire safety. This article goes in depth regarding the objectives of a fire risk assessment. Fire risk assessment The aims of a fire risk assessment are to:...

Fire doors play a huge role in fire safety and yet they are the most commonly overlooked aspect of buildings. The Grenfell Tower Inquiry in the Phase 1 report noted that “Fire doors play an essential role in preventing or inhibiting the spread of smoke and toxic gases and in preserving the effective compartmentation of buildings.” And yet, many buildings do not have fire doors that meet the required standard. Fire Safety (England) Regulations Subsequently, as of 23rd January 20...

The most important thing to consider with a new build, whether its purpose is apartments or offices, is safety. Things can go wrong quickly, so preparation and prevention are key. In case of a fire, fire extinguisher installation is crucial for defusing a situation before it becomes an emergency. Especially when many new builds are tower blocks, the risk of being unable to evacuate safely becomes greater. Fire extinguisher regulations The Regulation Reform (fire safety) Order 2005 covers...

Fire doors play a critical role in preventing the spread of fire and smoke within commercial and residential buildings. They are specifically designed and constructed to resist fire for a specific period, providing valuable time for people to evacuate the building safely. However, fire doors are only effective if they are installed correctly and maintained regularly. This article is going to explore the importance of fire door maintenance, why regular inspections are vital for fire door safe...

With hundreds of staff and guests (some who may only be within the property for a short period of time), and dozens of potential fire risks, fire safety is an extremely high priority for hotels. That’s why it’s vital as a hotel owner that one has a comprehensive fire strategy in place. A fire strategy is a complex document specifically tailored to a building, reviewing all aspects of the building’s fire safety. Because every building is unique in terms of design, occupancy a...

Fire safety in care homes is extremely important as these environments involve some of society’s most vulnerable people, some of whom may have health conditions that make things like evacuations much more difficult. That’s why it’s imperative to have the right regulations in place when it comes to fire safety. The risk of fire is present pretty much everywhere, but care homes carry their own unique risks. Government statistics show that there are, on average, 388 UK care home...

The landlord of a block of flats is considered the Responsible Person, who in the event of a fire, has to ensure the safety of all the occupants of the block of flats. And while people may be aware that an up-to-date fire risk assessment is a legal requirement for this type of building, they might not be aware that there are actually four types of fire risk assessments that landlords need to consider. Here are the four types of fire risk assessment and when and why users might need to implem...

Rescue Intellitech, a pioneering provider of innovative cleaning solutions for the fire and rescue industry, is set to unveil its latest innovation in firefighter PPE care, with the launch of a new line of high-performance washing machines specifically designed to decontaminate firefighter clothing. The official launch will take place at the Emergency Services Show at the NEC in Birmingham on 17-18 September, where the DE Series washing machines will be showcased for the first time to emergency...

With the UK government planning to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2035, electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming the go-to for drivers across the country. That means charging infrastructure is no longer just a nice-to-have. For many businesses, it’s fast becoming an essential. So what exactly is EV charging, and does a business need it? Let’s break it down. EV Charging EV charging is the process of powering up an electric vehicle by plugging it into a charging stat...

Luca Fiorentini, Director of TECSA, has been appointed ‘voting member as special expert’ of the NFPA ‘Spaceports (SPA-AAA)’ technical committee responsible for NFPA 461 ‘Standard for Fire Protection and Life Safety at Spaceport and Support Facilities’. This further enhances their participation in NFPA activities. Tecsa would like to remind users that Mr. Fiorentini is also a member of: ‘Fire risk assessment methods (FIR-AAA)’ committee responsi...

Rosario Sicari, Risk Analyst in TECSA, completed the PECB ISO 31000 Risk Manager course organized by PECB in collaboration with Chaos Consulting last November, 27th. The course, lasting 3 days, allows students to acquire a complete knowledge of the fundamental principles, structure, and process of risk management based on ISO 31000, also providing an in-depth knowledge of best risk management practices.  It is preparatory to the certification exam aimed at applying for the title of &ldquo...

Fire safety should be a top priority all year round for commercial business owners, but as they head into winter, it’s important to keep in mind fire safety and the unique challenges businesses can face during this period. The Chief Fire Officers Association (CFOA) estimates that 60% of privately owned businesses never recover from fire and its knock-on effects. With that in mind, Total Fire Group is going to share some fire safety tips for winter that people and their businesses should...

Fire risk management software can revolutionize how users complete fire risk assessments, allocate jobs, priorities, and complete actions. Here are some reasons why fire safety software may well be the best gift people could buy for their business this Christmas. Fire risk management software is a surefire way to streamline communications between users, their assessors, and their clients. Any business owner knows that managing employees in the field can be difficult, but field service software...

Care home fire safety is vital all year round, but winter brings about some specific fire safety concerns that should be addressed. Here are some of the care home fire safety tips for winter. Evacuation plans and routes are an essential part of care home fire prevention, but extra considerations need to be thought about when winter arrives. For example, is snow build-up likely to be a problem for wheelchair users or those using mobility scooters? Are escape routes adequately gritted to preven...

Schools can be unpredictable. With hundreds of people running around the school, it’s impossible to keep on top of what everyone is doing. Consequently, every year, approximately 90,000 pupils in the UK find their education disrupted because of a fire. In comparison to other types of commercial buildings, schools are nearly twice as likely to have a fire. It’s a huge point of concern, and while schools cannot control everything, they can massively decrease the risk of a fire and be...

Bosch’s cloud services, such as Remote System Management, VideoView+, and Alarm Management, offer seamless monitoring, management, recording, and replay of video security footage. The alerting capabilities facilitate quick decision-making and reactions, particularly from remote locations. Real-time decision making is enhanced with instant event notifications. Forensic search accelerates investigations, while Remote System Management enables the management, organization, and monitori...

There are 5 main steps to carrying out a fire risk assessment. First, users need to identify any fire hazards in the workplace. This could include things like electrical sockets, equipment used for cooking or heating, and any combustible materials stored on site. The first step is being aware of them and how they might have the potential to cause a fire. Next, users need to identify if there are people specifically at risk. For example, do users employ any vulnerable or elderly people or thos...

Warehouses across the UK are set to be busier than ever this Christmas. With the huge rise in online shopping, warehouses are busy places to be at any time of year, but never more so than during the run up to Christmas. With this in mind, it’s more important than ever to take steps to keep the staff safe this Christmas, and the best place to start is by conducting a fire risk assessment of the warehouse. Here, the article will go through the process of a warehouse fire risk assessment....

Dräger, an international pioneer in the fields of medical and safety technology, will showcase a range of systems designed to protect fire and rescue and police personnel during a wide variety of emergency situations. Taking center stage will be Dräger’s new FPS-COM Voice mask integrated unit that enhances firefighter communication when using breathing apparatus. The easy-to-use unit features enhanced voice capture and output, with a Click & Go interface that enables quick m...