United Kingdom (UK) Fire Industry News

Catherine Levin brings a wealth of fire-policy experience to the London Fire Brigade London Fire Brigade has appointed a new Deputy Head of Community Fire Safety. Catherine Levin joined the Brigade in March and reports directly to the Brigade's head of Community Fire Safety, Assistant Commissioner, Andy Hickmott.Prior to joining the brigade, Catherine worked as a civil servant for ten years and has five years experience working in fire policy at the Department of...

Fire Safety Regulatory Reform has created major positive changes in fire safety The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order came into force in October 2006 and replaced over 70 separate pieces of fire safety legislation. London Fire Brigade is warning London's business and premises owners that by not paying attention to fire safety laws, they are not only putting lives at risk but could also face heavy fines. The Brigade has revealed that last year in London the co...

Whitchurch fire station will display Alfred Thompson's picture and fire service memorabilia Shropshire Fire & Rescue Service celebrates the UK's longest serving firefighter at a special awards ceremony held at Telford Central fire station on March 31. Queen Victoria was on the throne when Alfred Thompson joined the Shropshire fire brigade as a 16-year-old serving in Whitchurch for a record 57 years. Doreen Oliver (68) presented a framed photograph of her gra...

The kit, supplied by Bristol Uniforms, has undergone rigorous testing and evaluation London's firefighters now have a new look following the introduction of their new-style fire kit this week. The new blue fire kit will be worn by the men and women of London Fire Brigade when responding to ‘999' calls. It replaces the previous kit which came into service in 1999. The kit is supplied by Bristol Uniforms and was selected following rigorous testing...

From (L to R) Mark Whittall with Charlie Harwood and Tooting Station Manager, John Day Charlie spent the war years fighting fires in London, attending many of the major blazes and incidents, including those during the Blitz. 100-year-old Charlie Harwood, who served as a fire fighter in Tooting during World War two, visited Tooting fire station recently to celebrate his 100th birthday with fire fighters from the station's green watch. Charlie was presented with a comme...

International Truck and Engine Corporation is a Navistar company which manufactures world-class trucks Proper image building is related to maintenance and presentation of trucks, which is of utmost importance to International Truck and Engine Corporation. No matter what industry you're in, the image your trucks project have a big impact on your success. "Image is a complex thing," explains Jim Heckmann, the head of the Iowa Small Business Development Center. "It's not...

London Fire Brigade's MTE scheme will break one-point entry into fire services London Fire Brigade is launching a ground breaking management recruitment campaign designed to tap in top talent from other industries. The Multi-Tier Entry (MTE) scheme aims to attract high-capability people from different backgrounds to bring in expertise, as well as new leadership and management styles. Chairman of London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority Brian Coleman AM FRSA said: "This...

The ABI published their report 'Tackling Fire: A Call for Action' The ABI have published a report entitled 'Tackling Fire: A Call for Action' which expresses the concerns of the insurance industry that even though the numbers of fires in the UK has fallen, the costs of fires have risen. The report concludes that the current challenging economic climate is likely to have a significant impact on the number and cost of fires and has the potential to have an impact on...

SPIE Matthew Hall undertook full design, supply and installation of the sprinkler system Client's core business British Land are a major UK listed property company, investing in prime, modern properties. Contract description A 127,000 sq ft new top specification office development built by Sir Robert McAlpine Ltd to be protected by means of an automatic sprinkler system throughout. Services provided SPIE Matthew Hall undertook full design, supply and installation of the...

The fourth London safety plan is built on excellent work done by members of London Fire Brigade The fourth London safety plan agreed by London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority at its meeting on 18 March is built on excellent work already carried out by the London Fire Brigade's 7,000 staff members. It proposes new ways of delivering some of its resources to incidents, expands the work of the London local authority co-ordination centre run by the Brigade on behalf of...

The new bill asks for mandatory installation of fire sprinklers in UK schools A Coventry MP is calling for all new schools and colleges to install automatic sprinklers to help prevent fires and save lives. Jim Cunningham, Labour MP for Coventry South, said: "About 1,400 schools in the UK are damaged by fire each year, with almost a third occurring in daylight." "The cost of the damage from the fires is estimated around £100m," he said. His Fire Safety (Sc...

  Alerting and notification sysytems share an important place in fire services Federal Signal is a leader in the design and deployment of fully redundant indoor, outdoor and personal alerting and notification systems that protect communities and citizens around the world. Mission-critical communications are enabled by Federal Signal alerting and notification systems, which are deployed in hundreds of implementations in countries, states, counties and cities around the w...

Old Fire Station, Stoke Newington, Hackney, London. Photo: Fin Fahey This guidance is intended to help those authorities who are faced with applications for alteration and adaptation.From the compact allure of Belsize to the elaborate Victorian splendour of Kensington, London's historic fire station buildings are an instantly recognisable part of the capital. The one that remain in active use are part of their proud legacy of civic buildings that are cherished by their com...

Avon, the maker of breathing apparatus, has improved its trading performance In a trading period shortened by holiday shutdowns, AVON has improved its trading performance over the comparative period last year in line with management expectations. Protection and defenceThey continue to deliver mask systems on schedule to the US DoD and 2010 budget funding for the program has been confirmed. The UK MoD has exercised year 2 of their 3-year option contract wh...

Chubb will supply fire alarms and integrated systems to Bulwell Academy, Nottingham The solution includes fire alarm, disabled refuge, PA, intruder alarm and toilet alarms.Chubb Fire and Security has won a contract with the Bulwell Academy, Nottingham, to supply an integrated fire and security alarm system. Chubb Fire is part of UTC Fire & Security, a unit of United Technologies Corp. M&E Contractor on the project is Balfour Beatty and it specified Ch...

KFRS has issued safety tips to ensure garden bonfires don't result in fire accidents Kent Fire and Rescue Service is issuing safety tips to ensure garden bonfires don't result in injury or property damage.As the spring weather tempts more residents out in to the garden, maybe to start tidying up after the long winter months and dispose of garden waste, Kent Fire and Rescue Service is issuing safety tips to ensure garden bonfires don't result in injury or property damage. He...

The Chinese security market for fire detection and suppression products will be worth over $1 billion by 2014 Recent amendments to China's fire laws will breathe new life into the region's fire detection and suppression industry. The impact is quantified in a new report by IMS Research, which estimates that by 2014, the Chinese market for fire detection and suppression products will be worth over $1 billion, growing at a CAGR of 12.9% (2009-2014). The driving force behind t...

SPIE Matthew Hall carried out the design, supply and installation of Automatic Sprinkler Systems Client's core business The UK Border Agency is responsible for securing the United Kingdom borders and controlling migration in the United Kingdom. Contract description Yarl's Wood is an immigration removal centre which accommodates a mix of single females and families with children. The centre's capacity is 405.  Situated in Bedfordshire, the centre was originally opene...

A level of safety can be achieved by installing LD1 detection and combining it with a sprinkler system The NHBC study recognises that by installing detection to the LD1 fire alarm system category (BS 5839-6) and combining this with a sprinkler system, a level of safety can be achieved that is at least as good as a similar Approved Document B design. Some 80% of all fire deaths in the UK occur in dwellings - some 450 to 500 deaths a year.  In dwellings where there is no...

Shropshire's newly appointed Deputy Chief Fire Officer John Redmond With a 27 year career in the fire and rescue service, John (49) moves to the county from Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service. The county's newly appointed Deputy Chief Fire Officer John Redmond has vowed to maintain the high standards at Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service which have seen fires fall to a record low due to successful fire prevention initiatives. With a 27-year career in the fire and rescue servi...

  Chubb Fire has won an extensive new contract with Card Factory to supply all new shops with extinguishers   Chubb Fire has won an extensive new contract with national greetings card retailer, Card Factory.Chubb will supply all new Card Factory shops with extinguishers. Chubb Fire is part of UTC Fire & Security, a unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX). Card Factory has been on the UK's high streets for over thirteen years. Selling greetings cards,...

  PPG Industries paint re-finish plant has a new automatic sprinker and foam enhancement system Client's core business The site at Stowmarket is PPG's main UK manufacturing plant which produces aqua-based paint and highly flammable solvent based paint for the automotive world. Contract description To de-commission, remove the many existing sprinkler systems which were over forty years old and the designs out of date. To design, supply, install and commission new...

  British Museum is now equipped with new automatic sprinklers, hose reels and dry risers Client The British Museum. Contract description The 2-acre square inner courtyard of the British Museum was transformed following the construction of a spectacular glass roof. As part of this project a series of elliptical mezzanine floors were constructed around the Round Reading Room together with the creation of a new lower level to the courtyard. This new accommodation houses...

Glyndebourne Opera House is built in the same site as the original opera house Clients core business • Located in the heart of the Sussex countryside, the majestic Glyndebourne Opera House is built in the same site as the original opera house Contract description • The scope of the work involved the co-ordination, installation and commissioning of the mechanical, electrical and public health services for the entire building. The systems included cooling, ventila...

No Smoking Day (Wednesday 10 March), smokers are being urged to quit their habit To mark No Smoking Day (Wednesday 10 March), smokers are being urged to quit their habit or realise its danger, as national statistics reveal that cigarettes and smoking products are the biggest killer in accidental fires in the home. Despite this shocking wake-up call, less than half (40%) of smokers are aware that smoking is the biggest cause of deaths in accidental house fires.2 In the last...

The premise safety failings included no fire extinguishers, no emergency signage and no fire risk assessment A former pub landlord has been ordered to pay £16,015 in fines and costs after pleading guilty to serious breaches of fire safety legislation following a prosecution brought by the London Fire Brigade. Mr Bhupinder Singh Mann admitted guilt on 16 contraventions of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. Sentencing occurred on Friday, 26 February 2...

The renewed sponsorship of the fire safety badge is aimed at increasing awareness among scouts across UK Chubb Fire has confirmed its renewal of sponsorship of the Scout Fire Safety Badge for a further three years. The sponsorship of the badge, which was first launched by Chubb Fire in 2004, aims to raise awareness of fire safety among Scouts and their families across the UK. More than 72,000 Scouts have passed the Chubb Fire Safety Badge since its introduction six y...

The agreement between LFB and Hilton aims to promote fire safety and reduce false alarms London's first agreement between the fire service and a hotel chain has been signed by London Fire Brigade and Hilton Worldwide. The landmark agreement, exclusively for Hilton's hotels in London, is the result of an ongoing dialogue with regards to safety procedures and aims to promote additional fire safety, reduce the number of false alarms the Brigade attends and strengthen the...

The FIA annual conference will be held on Mar 25, 2010 at Northampton The annual conference is titled 'The 2010 FIA Conference: Entering a New Decade in Fire Safety'.Would you like to promote your products and services at the FIA conference? FIA has a limited number of company stand or table top exhibition spaces at this event, each costing £299+VAT, giving you access to this important FIA event and a wide variety of attendees. In addition to the chance to...

FIA has welcomed the publications of new Corporate Manslaughter Guidelines The Fire Industry Association (FIA) has welcomed the publications of new guidelines relating to the sentencing of organisations under a charge of Corporate Manslaughter. The new Guidelines, published on 9 February 2010, are long awaited and follow the draft guidelines distributed in October last year. They are designed to assist courts in dealing with those that cause death through a gross breac...