Industry News

Checking and inspecting fire doors is an integral part of Chubb’s portfolio of fire solutions designed to prevent, detect, and contain fires while enabling people time to safely evacuate.  Everyday use of fire doors can result in damage to the door and its surroundings, which can affect the performance of the door in the event of a fire. Chubb offers a comprehensive audit of fire doors for businesses and landlords in the UK, helping them maintain safe environments and conform to...

As Thanksgiving fast approaches, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is urging everyone to use added caution when celebrating the holiday, as Thanksgiving Day represents the leading day for home cooking fires. More than three times as many cooking fires occur on Thanksgiving Day as a typical day of the year. "Thanksgiving is a hectic holiday that involves lots of cooking and distractions, which can make it easy to lose sight of what’s on the stove and in the oven,” said...

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) released a new fact sheet highlighting some of the key takeaways in Fire in the United States Since 1980, Through the Lens of the NFPA Fire & Life Safety Ecosystem, a seminal research report that was released earlier this year. The new at-a-glance resource conveys key insights from the 63-page report so that fire and life safety professionals can quickly see the progress that has been made over the decades since the America Burning repo...

Regardless of where the elevator is located, one of the biggest risks when being inside one is during the event of a fire, as the elevator shaft will act as a chimney and will absorb smoke at an incredibly quick pace. According to the National Fire Protection Association, smoke inhalation is more likely to be the cause of death rather than the fire itself. In commercial properties especially, many people will come and go, which creates additional risk and danger when those people are looking...

It comes as a surprise that many people would not know what to do in the event of a fire or emergency. Less than 50% of building occupants feel confident of knowing what action to take and where to evacuate to during an emergency. So, ensuring that one has a clear and simple evacuation plan in place will make all the difference if a fire were to occur – giving one and others a grasp of control should the situation arise. Creating a fire evacuation plan is also necessary in order to compl...

The legal obligations to keep a building protected and safe are still the same for a property without people or furniture inside. The duty lies with the current owner until the new owner takes possession. While an empty building can cause stress due to loss of rent, having strong safety and security procedures ensures that structures remain in good condition, personal assets are protected and one keeps the building in good shape as one begin the selling process. Who might enter an empty buildi...

In the case of a fire emergency at any airport, every second counts. Aircraft Rescue Fire Firefighters (ARFF) always have to be effective in a short time, in order to save precious lives from a burning aircraft. The firefighting foam must be quickly efficient and should be able to contain the fire effectively. fluorine-free foam (FFF) The world of firefighting is quickly moving towards fluorine-free foam products, moving away from PFAS-containing products (such as AFFF and AR-AFFF foams). The...

“Most nights, the fire alarm goes off after midnight in the building where I live. It rings for about 20 minutes before security switches it off. This has been happening for almost three years. The alarm has never yet been the result of a real fire, but I fear the day when it is. Everyone’s become so complacent now that I worry no one will react when an emergency does happen – and there will be very serious consequences.” The day-to-day experience of this Dubai resident...

Commercial properties left vacant or unattended throughout the pandemic are likely to have deteriorated over time, creating increasingly hazardous environments. As many businesses are now welcoming staff and visitors back into their facilities, safety has never been so important. Recent data has revealed that, despite a decline in fatal fire-related incidents since 2011, there has been an increase in incidents attended, proving that many properties still don’t have the correct fire safety...

Fire safety doesn’t happen by accident, it requires universal attention. With that, Karen Trigg of Allegion UK explores why the importance of working fire doors is often overlooked and why now is an opportune time to bridge the gap between fire safety education and action. Improving fire safety within UK buildings is a challenge we are all continuously facing. Irrelevant of the sector, it’s of the highest importance for any building type - from schools and hospitals to high-rise res...

Financial assistance can be one of the biggest challenges for students pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree. For individuals who have already graduated from high school or earned a GED, the American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) offers its Second Chance Scholarship contest to help.   Those seeking to pursue a college undergraduate or graduate degree or trade school education – including returning military, parents returning to the workforce, etc. – are en...

BSI Group (BSI), in its role as the UK National Standards Body, has published a new set of requirements for the implementation of Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) in development projects, including individual house-builds, large-scale developments and estate management. The loss of biodiversity as a result of human activity is having increasingly severe impacts. As a result, governments, businesses and organizations of all types are acting, not only to protect biodiversity, but to ensure it thrives....

Climate change is a crisis the UK is unable to ignore. In recent years, the impact of construction on climate change has affected atmospheric temperatures, increased the risk of flooding, and caused the destruction of natural habitat areas through the consumption of resources, poor design, and land degradation. Currently, the housing crisis present in the UK urges the need for new build homes due to the increasing human population, with hundreds of new construction projects scattered across the...

FirstNet® – the only nationwide network built with and for America’s first responders – is keeping public safety connected, unlike any other network. Here are 3 strategic ways: Expanding the FirstNet 5G footprint: As public safety’s communications partner, AT&T* has expanded 5G connectivity for first responders on FirstNet to further support public safety’s mission needs. Now, first responders in an additional 10 cities across the United States – Au...

This fall, college students are returning to campus, many for the first time in over a year, marking the start of new classes, new friends, and new living spaces. Through their annual Campus Fire Safety for Students campaign, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and The Center for Campus Fire Safety (CCFS) are working together to ensure living spaces are as safe as possible for students heading back to school this September. Campus Fire Safety Month raises awareness about the threa...

AEI Cables has been highlighting the importance of using only approved cabling in signal and control equipment for fire safety. Importance of approved cabling Now, the fire industry is supporting its campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of not using approved cabling, as specified under the revised version of the Code of Practice for Category 3 fire performance cables. The systems, powered by these cables, including smoke and heat extraction systems, assist fire services in firefighting...

For multi-occupied residential buildings, fire safety responsibility is often wrongly shrouded in ambiguity. Only recently, the CEO of Grenfell Tower’s management body passed blame to staff for an outdated building safety plan, of which information on vulnerable residents was 15 years out of date. This baton-pass type approach simply isn’t effective, or even appropriate for a topic as vital as fire safety. After all, the standards associated with fire safety are by obligation, rob...

Fire Brigades Union general secretary Matt Wrack has responded to the UN’s latest major report on climate change, which was published recently. He said that “Firefighters here and across the world are on the front line of the climate crisis. We see the effects of climate change every time we fight wildfires and save people from floods, and we will fight as hard as we can for politicians to wake up and take notice. As a humanitarian service, we cannot stand by and watch this happen.&...

The newly created not-for-profit organization, the Building Safety Alliance will deliver a publicly accessible register of certified Building Safety Managers in a move that will increase confidence in the competence of these new duty holders prescribed in the Building Safety Bill. Emerging from the working group activity of the Competence Steering Group, the Building Safety Alliance marks a significant step forward for establishing the role of a Building Safety Manager in higher risk buildings....

Following an extensive development process over two years in the making, the BAFE Fire Safety Register and NAPIT are proud to announce a new Scheme to assess the competency of organizations, who provide design, installation, commissioning and maintenance services for BS 5839-6 Grade D fire detection and fire alarm systems in domestic premises. BAFE DS301 Scheme BAFE DS301 (For the Design, Installation, Commissioning and Maintenance of Grade D Fire Detection and Fire Alarm Systems in Domestic P...

The difference is that any change in technology or attempt to innovate current solutions could result in a matter of life or death. With ever-adapting technology in 2021, some trends have the potential to shift the ways we keep safe during the event of a fire and how first responders work in the future. Not only that, they can improve overall awareness, reduce operational costs and – most importantly – save lives. Developing data The exciting developments around IoT could change t...

Fully operational equipment is essential to take effective and responsible action during an emergency situation. No piece of equipment is as vital as the fire apparatus. While departments are already armed with the National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) codes and standards for emergency vehicle maintenance, there are other general apparatus inspection and maintenance practices that build on top of that foundation. Toyne, Inc. has been building call-ready apparatus for nearly 80 yea...

The demands on today’s fire systems have never been greater, but not all panels are created equal, which can make choosing the right solution a challenge. Many fire panels are relied upon to alert people to real and potential emergencies, control evacuation procedures, and reduce the number of false alarms. They are also required to control the release of suppressants, operate smoke control systems, manage the closure and release of fire doors, link to graphical control systems, and int...

The Mircom Group of Companies, a global designer, manufacturer, and distributor of life safety products and solutions announced that its fire alarm product data and customized specifications are available through the Product MasterSpec software application utilized by architects, engineers, and design professionals around the globe. Product specifications Mircom’s newly listed product specifications are designed to meet MasterSpec’s highly utilized and respected industry standards....

In a post-pandemic world, the outlook on workplace safety is changing. While physical and economic recovery is critical, organizations are placing an equally large focus on the psychological toll the pandemic and other aspects of the workplace have had on individuals in the past. Holistic approach This change in outlook is centered around implementing a holistic approach to health and safety, prioritizing all aspects of employee wellbeing. It’s a conversation that is no longer only taki...

In the case of hazard warnings, it is possible that there are no signs of this hazard at the suspected location of the event. Such cases are also indicated as "false alarms". They occur in diverse environments and in connection with different procedures and technologies. In fire protection, false alarms occur in all alarm paths and are often discussed in the context of installed fire detection and fire alarm systems. False Alarms For some years now, the ratio of false alarms related to the nu...

In Germany, VdS CEA 4001 specifies which type of water supply is permissible for firefighting systems. Basically, the amount of water to be stored depends on the risk, the application rate and covered area, and the operating time of the extinguishing system. It must be ensured that the selected water supply is not rendered inoperative or impaired by frost, drought, flooding, or other circumstances. Furthermore, the water must be clean enough to prevent blockages in the piping and nozzles. Wate...

The fire safety industry is widely welcoming the campaign by AEI Cables to highlight the importance of using only approved cabling in signal and control equipment. The company has been advising the industry of the requirements under the revised version of the Code of Practice for Category 3 fire performance cables. The systems powered by these cables, including smoke and heat extraction systems, assist fire services in firefighting and a safe evacuation in the case of life safety. AEI Cables&r...

The Home Office on Monday (07/06/2021) has published an update regarding guidance covering fire safety in purpose-build blocks of flats. The Home Office states that “This document is a guide to ensuring adequate fire safety in purpose-built blocks of flats, regardless of age. Practical advice is offered on how to assess the risk from fire and how to manage fire safety in such buildings. The document also includes case studies based on the commonly found issues in blocks of flats, with sug...

The UK Home Office on Monday (07/06/2021) published an update regarding guidance covering fire safety in purpose-build blocks of flats. The UK Home Office states that ‘this document is a guide to ensuring adequate fire safety in purpose-built blocks of flats, regardless of age’. how to assess fire risk Practical advice is offered on how to assess the risk from fire and how to manage fire safety in such buildings. The document also includes case studies based on the commonly found i...