United Kingdom (UK) Fire Industry News

Saab’s fourth aerial firefighting aircraft has touched down at Skavsta Airport, its home base, near Nyköping in Sweden. Saab operated two aircraft in the summer of 2020 and participated in five firefighting missions. In January 2021, the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB) customer exercised a contractual option to extend the fleet to four AT-802F Fire Boss aerial firefighting aircraft. “For the last few months we have been busy procuring aircraft and extending the organiz...

Apreco continue to lead the way in the fire suppression market with annual testing of their pressure relief vents. The safety of building structures is of paramount importance to Apreco. Subsequently, their pressure relief vents undergo rigorous fire testing to the EWCL5 certification. Apreco were the first manufacturer to obtain the EWCL5 for their pressure relief vents following numerous meetings and discussions with WarringtonFire. Pressure relief vents With no harmonized code available fo...

The discussion covered a wide range of topics all linked to multi-sensor detectors and featured a panel of experts including our own Paul Gatens. With the development and installation of multi-sensors continuing to grow, our training and support teams are experiencing an increasing number of enquiries about how these devices should be tested.  As well as covering this point, the roundtable also provided an opportunity to discuss the importance of false alarm reduction, certification, and t...

Firefighters are dying of cancer. Exposure to carcinogens is the main culprit behind the high rates of cancer among firefighters. Doff ‘n DECON™, a new turnout gear cleaner and decontaminate from the family of Intelagard decontamination products, may provide additional exposure protection. The formula neutralizes the most common carcinogens found on gear like Carbon Monoxide, Hydrogen Sulfide, and Cyanide. Exposure to toxic chemicals “Firefighters are true heroes who put the...

AB&I Foundry, a pioneering manufacturer of cast iron soil pipe and fittings, is pleased to announce that Kyle Chadwick will be joining the AB&I sales team as a Regional Sales Manager covering the Upper Midwest, most notably the Minnesota, Ohio and Iowa territories.Kyle will be responsible for reaching out to existing customers and developing new partners within the territory. Kyle’s appointment supports the Company’s strategic direction, strengthening customer relat...

With the RTE AX B16, Rosenbauer is bringing a new, greatly improved battery fan onto the market. The main difference to the previous device (FANERGY B16) is that the new fan is equipped with higher quality and more powerful battery. But the ergonomics of the device have also been improved, as has the operation and design, while the tried and tested all-in-one airflow technology has been retained and the central water mist unit has been retained. Fan and battery technology combine to form an eff...

On October 26, 2019, a worker and his wife were both fatally injured due to hydrogen sulfide (H2S) exposure at a waterflood station in Odessa, Texas—one of six fatal H2S accidents in the United States in the last two years. On May 4, 2021, the US Chemical and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) published its final report of the incident with guidance on how future incidents can be prevented with appropriate safety measures. This blog post describes what happened, why H2S safety is a critical...

Verint®, The Customer Engagement Company™, announces it is showcasing the latest innovations leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and analytics to support the real-time work imperative at its customer conference, Verint Engage21, taking place May 19-21. These solutions – Real-Time Agent Assist, Contextual Knowledge, and Verint IVA for Agent Assist – are all powered by Verint DaVinci AI and Analytics. Verint Da Vinci AI and Analytics infuse advanced machine learning mode...

Envirograf® proudly sponsors the St Margaret’s Cricket Club and Dover Cosmopolitan’s Cricket Club, a clubhouse whose sports members compete in the Kent Regional League as well as holding friendly sides. Its ample playing fields host many bat-and-ball games, creating a sense of fun and entertainment for the St Margaret’s community. St Margaret’s Cosmopolitan CC welcomes new team players and encourages the local community to enhance their sports skills and boost social...

After years of Brexit negotiations and an ongoing climate of prevailing uncertainty, businesses across the UK are still adjusting to the realities of life outside the European Union. Following the end of the UK’s transition period with the European Union, at the end of last year, the United Kingdom is no longer subject to European laws. However, for many companies, the last-minute nature of the Brexit negotiations mean that they remain unclear on what has actually changed in practical te...

Thinning forests to prevent wildfires include the removal of diseased trees and other debris by private, state, and federal land managers. The byproduct of that thinning is called woody biomass. Removal of woody biomass from forests can help mitigate disastrous wildfires in fire-prone states like California. Reducing wildfire risk Some of the biomass material is left to decay, is burned in place, or is hauled to landfills. However, this byproduct of reducing wildfire risk can also be used to p...

Following a decision of its Board, Euralarm has welcomed its newest member Viking, a dependable partner in fire protection with almost 100 years of experience. The company will join the Extinguishing Section of Euralarm. The Extinguishing Section represents the active fire extinguishing sector and covers existing, new, and emerging technologies, covering automatic extinguishing systems using gas, water, foam, powder and aerosols, oxygen reduction systems, portable equipment, and other manual me...

Fire departments and public safety advocates across North America are uniting May 16-22, 2021 to participate in a digital campaign and conduct community outreach activities to increase awareness about how dangerous home fires can be and the benefits of home fire sprinklers. Home Fire Sprinkler Week is co-hosted by the Fire Sprinkler Initiative project of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition (HFSC). Universal Challenge Whether urban or rural, la...

More than 4.5 million U.S. properties are at a high-to-extreme risk of wildfire, with more than two million of those in California alone, according to estimates from Verisk, a foremost global data analytics provider. To help promote the importance of building resilient communities for property insurers and their customers, the National Fire Protection Association is providing Verisk with robust data on communities engaging in wildfire mitigation efforts. Verisk will leverage the data from the N...

Certain rules (standards, ordinances, and laws) apply to the placement of products on the EU market. If there is a CE mark on a product, the customer knows that the applicable rules of play are being met by this product. Where Can I Find The CE Mark On A Nozzle? Unfortunately, nowhere: O-stream firefighting nozzles do not fall under any of the directives or regulations relevant for CE marking. This is why there are no CE markings to be found on these products. There is, however, a European sta...

When it comes to fire systems, choosing technology that offers the highest levels of protection is paramount. However, in many settings, aesthetics are critical too. TouchControl, the touchscreen remote control terminal and repeater from Advanced ensures you don’t have to compromise on safety or style. Regional Sales Manager at Advanced, Vladimir Zrnic, explains. Why choose a touchscreen remote control terminal? Sleek and versatile, TouchControl has a low-profile, high-resolution 10-in...

Fire organizations have come together for the first time to create a Core Code of Ethics based on the Nolan Principles that puts supporting communities first. The National Fire Chiefs Council, Local Government Association, and Association of Police and Crime Commissioners have jointly published a Core Code of Ethics that sits alongside a new Fire Standard. This is in response to one of the recommendations made by Sir Tom Winsor in his State of Fire and Rescue reports. The Fire Minister, Lo...

Coatings manufacturer Hempel launched Hempafire Pro 400, a new passive fire protection coating that maintains the stability of steel structures in the event of a fire for up to 120 minutes and has been optimized for maximum efficiency in the loadings for a 90-minute duration. Passive fire protection coatings Passive fire protection (PFP) coatings insulate steel during a fire, which extends the steel’s load-bearing capacity and gives valuable extra time for evacuation and emer...

The underground car park of a renowned private bank in Hamburg, Germany was recently equipped with a high pressure water mist (HPWM) system from AQUASYS. The high-quality, firefighting system replaces the existing sprinkler system, which was out of date. Since the outdated pipes of the sprinkler system were laid in the walls and could not be replaced, the optimal solution was to use small dimension on-wall pipes and thus, the HPWM system. High pressure water mist (HPWM) technology The HPWM te...

For property owners looking to further protect their home or business or for anyone with an intruder alarm system, one of the easiest and quickest things that they can do is to upgrade the existing system. They may decide to upgrade the system by replacing the old system completely or by adding different elements to the existing system, in order to update it. The need to upgrade the security system There are many reasons why someone may want to upgrade their current fire or security system. F...

Miller Knight would like to announce the appointment of Nicola Blue as the new Systems Manager. Before joining them, Nic worked as an IT Helpdesk Manager at J Tomlinson Limited where she would supervise their teams and assist with implementing new IT initiatives. In her new role at Miller Knight, she will be responsible for developing the systems and processes and ensuring they are implemented across the wider business as they continue to grow. This will not only ensure the high levels of quali...

At one-time safety, torches sacrificed performance. Those days have gone, with Wolf now prioritizing high power and absolute safety. Pioneers in portable and temporary lighting for safe use in hazardous areas, including potentially explosive atmospheres, Wolf have developed the TR-65 compact right angle primary cell torch, offering high performance with a choice of three power modes. Providing great visibility With a pioneer, peak tested the light output of 300 lumens emitted, no safety torch...

    The AUBE is the largest and oldest conference of its kind in the science and research surrounding fire detection and alarm. This year the event will be organized from September 21-23, 2021. As in 2014 and 2017, the 17th International Conference on Automatic Fire Detection (AUBE ’21) is combined with SupDet; an annual conference on Suppression, Detection and Signaling Research and Applications. It will be either a hybrid event at the University of Duisburg-Essen, Duisb...

  Rosenbauer's RT (Revolutionary Technology) is one of the resounding winners of the Red Dot Design Award 2021. The technologically pioneering firefighting vehicle was recognized for its outstanding design and now bears one of the most prestigious international design labels, just like Rosenbauer's PANTHER ARFF vehicle or L32 aerial ladder.The RT is the world's first firefighting vehicle with electric drive. The topic of E mobility played an important, but not the decisive role, in the d...

Portsmouth City Council is investing £9.5 million over the next five years in retrofitting sprinklers in high-rise blocks as part of a £22 million package of fire safety measures. The announcement comes at the start of the NFCC’s Sprinkler Safety Week and is supported by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service working in partnership with the city. retrofit program The retrofit program was due to start but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The council carr...

Manchester Fire Chief sets out priorities for the next four years with a pledge to improve and regulate the built environment, in order to protect people, property, and the economy. This is the first Fire Plan for Greater Manchester since responsibility for the fire and rescue service moved to the Mayor, Andy Burnham. The Plan addresses the impact of major incidents such as the Manchester Arena attack in 2017 and the 2019 Cube fire in Bolton. Fire Plan Commenting on the launch of the Plan, Ch...

Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service is supporting the National Fire Chiefs Council’s (NFCC) National Sprinkler Week campaign. Running from 17th - 23rd May, the campaign raises awareness of the benefits of sprinkler systems in keeping people and buildings safe from fire. Fire sprinklers Fire sprinklers are widely recognized as the single most effective method for fighting the spread of fires in their early stages. Research by the National Fire Chief’s Council and the Nat...

It is with deepest regret and sorrow that we report the line-of-duty death of New Haven, CT Local 825 member Ricardo Torres Jr. Brother Torres, 30, died while battling a residential fire on May 12, 2021. The IAFF stands ready to support New Haven Local 825 as it mourns the loss of one of its own. Funeral services will be held at St. Mary Church on Hillhouse Avenue on May 20. Following the mass, Torres will be buried at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Hartford with full departmental honors. People c...

In early April 2021, when industrial fires broke out in two different locations, they both had the same devastating outcome. On April 10, a fire started in a furniture factory in County Antrim, in the United Kingdom, damaging the building. Two days later, a fire swept through a bed-making factory in Dewsbury, UK. Neither building contained a sprinkler system, nor businesses that are now counting the cost of the damage and dealing with the disruption to their livelihoods. Once again, they must q...

Rental storage units represent a serious and unpredictable risk for firefighters. For example, hundreds of rented units at a three-story, self-storage warehouse in Manchester, United Kingdom, were recently destroyed by fire. Fire in rental storage units There were 125 firefighters and 25 fire engines called to the scene. There were no injuries, but hundreds of customers lost thousands of dollars in stored goods in the fire. Notably, the facility was not protected by a sprinkler system, which n...