Rescue/RIT Accessories news

Chris Watts of Eaton Lighting offers guidance for BAFE on behalf of the BAFE SP203 Monitoring Group. BAFE SP203-4 is for the design, installation, commissioning, and maintenance of emergency lighting systems. Any period of shutdown generates potential problems and opportunities for testing and servicing of emergency lighting systems. The current lockdowns have an added dimension as it applies to sites that are not normally unoccupied and people responsible for the operation of the system should...

Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) has become the first UK fire service to receive professional recognition for its extensive incident debrief process. As part of its commitment to continuously learn and improve, the service has made significant and pioneering changes to its formal debrief process, making it more thorough and inclusive of all departments involved in an incident from the first 999 calls both operational and non-operational personnel. CPD recognition In light of the improvemen...

Amthal has become a full member of the prestigious Door & Hardware Federation (DHF), highlighting its ongoing commitment to health and safety across its automated gates, product and service portfolio. The DHF is a not for profit trade association for companies associated with Locks & Building Hardware; Doorsets; Industrial Doors & Shutters; Domestic Garage Doors and Automated Gates. Regarded as a Centre of Excellence, DHF offers specifiers and end users of individual and commercial...

The fire safety market in the UK is a peculiar one. While the trade at large is among the most advanced in the world in terms of the firefighting solutions on offer, the biggest challenge for the customers is that this trade is a scattered one. There is no brand in the genre that offers a holistic fire safety range, ranging from extinguishers to suppression systems and everything in between, and a customer if left to deal with multiple suppliers for their fire safety requirements. Complete spe...

A man from Sheffield, who set himself on fire when using petrol on his seemingly unlit garden fire, is urging people not to follow in his footsteps and make the same mistake. Paul Wyatt, 50, was burning hedge trimmings in his garden earlier this year. He put paper on the bottom and hedge trimmings on top, before adding a match, which didn’t light the fire. He decided to apply a drop of petrol, planning to step back and throw a match on. Unbeknown to him, the original match was still smold...

An update from Director of Schemes, Chris Auger, outlining issues raised by the new lockdown measures to be introduced on November 05, 2020. Due to the recent second wave of the COVID-19 coronavirus and the subsequent lockdown announced by the Prime Minister on Saturday 31st October 2020, BAFE has had to review the situation regarding refresher certificates and technician assessments. different levels of restriction Although the announcement only applied to England, there are also different...

Churches Fire & Security continues to monitor the Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation globally, and the safety of the employees, customers, and citizens in the wider community is the top priority. Since Churches Fire & Security provides on-site support for many customers, they want to communicate how they are currently operating during this time. Key Workers Needless to say, this has been an unprecedented set of circumstances; however, the Government and Industry Associations have led th...

The Dutch Army has recently completed a live-fire counter-drone trial using Smart Shooter's SMASH Fire Control System. Soldiers from all branches of the Dutch army, including the Air Force, Special Forces, and Marines, attended the trial, which was done in close co-operation with Smart Shooter Dutch Partner, TBM bv. The trial took place at the site of the knowledge center for weapons and ammunition in ‘t Harde. Most of the soldiers were introduced to the system for the first time the morn...

Specialist Fire & Security resourcing consultancy - Zitko has unveiled Talent: a new industry-wide training initiative designed to address the growing shortage of engineers trained for design, engineering, commissioning, and support. Talent is a coalition of employers, manufacturers, training companies, and industry bodies, who are coming together to provide a year’s structured paid employment and certified training specific to the trainee, their employer, and their job. Security tec...

If users are planning to have a bonfire at any time, but particularly during this firework period, please follow some simple safety guides to help users, their families, pets, and wildlife stay safe. Building bonfire Build bonfires well away from, and clear of, buildings, garden sheds, fences, hedges, and overhanging branches. Keep it to a manageable size and evenly built, so that it collapses inwards as it burns. Do not include plastics, household items, or rubber in the fire. Lighting...

2020 has been a challenging year, so it’s been a real boost to find out that Zitko have been shortlisted in two categories of the Security and Fire Excellence Awards. Back in March, when the lockdown struck, recruitment activity came to an abrupt halt. Zitko decided to stay open to support the clients and industry, sharing knowledge and adding value in whatever ways they could. Zitko COVID-19 initiatives This led to a whole raft of Zitko COVID-19 initiatives:  An outplacement pr...

How can one effectively identify the hot spots that can be brought back to life by the winds and dropping humidity before they can flare up? Before they can grow into another rapid-moving fire that launches aerial assaults on new fronts? Thermal imaging technology in the form of the Scion PTM (Personal Thermal Monocular) from FLIR is the answer to those questions. Into The Fire Chad Costa, a battalion chief with the Petaluma (Calif.) Fire Department was deployed for 18 days on the Walbridge F...

While there’s still a lot up in the air at the moment with regards to the ongoing COVID-19 global pandemic, some offices have returned to business. But was fire safety forgotten during the COVID-19 induced lockdown? Changed retail landscape The UK’s high street is making a slow return to business, thanks in part to the ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ scheme and somewhat relaxed social distancing measures. With fewer customers in stores, the retail landscape looks very different n...

On the 16th of October, the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, answered the following question from Andrew Dismore (Labor): What dangers do you believe that buildings under 18 m with dangerous cladding pose to residents? The Mayor of London answered: “Several recent damaging fires in buildings below 18 meters have demonstrated the danger that unsafe cladding presents to residents. I have always been clear that fire risk does not adhere to strict height thresholds." Fire safety requirements in...

The Construction Leadership Council (CLC) has published Version 6 of the Site Operating Procedures document. Information from Construction Leadership Council (20/10/2020): Site Operating Procedures Update – Version 6 is now available The Site Operating Procedures have been updated to reflect recent changes in Government guidance. While there are no significant changes to social distancing requirements on sites, the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) has taken the opportunity to streaml...

Emergency call handlers will be the focus of a Twitter takeover this week as Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service celebrates International Control Room Week. Blue Watch will be on duty from 8 am until 5 pm on Wednesday (October 21) and posting tweets throughout the shift on the Service’s @cambsfrs Twitter account. Potentially life-Saving advice Area Commander Simon Newton, in charge of the Service’s emergency response, said: “Our Emergency call handlers are a vital part of...

International security system integrator - Northland Controls has appointed Zitko to deliver their recruitment managed service (RPO) for its North American operations, including its global HQ in Milpitas CA. This will cover all the main recruitment functions, including employer and job marketing, talent mapping and pooling, enquiries and application management, initial screening, and detailed shortlisting.  Zitko will be sourcing highly skilled engineers, project control specialists, and...

South Yorkshire’s emergency services are urging people to be sensible and stay safe over the coming weeks, during what they say will be a ‘very different’ bonfire period for everyone. Trick or treating is being discouraged, to prevent the spread of COVID-19, as are Halloween and bonfire parties that break the current social distancing rules set out by the Government. Operation Dark Nights Meanwhile, firefighters are asking people to take extra care with fireworks and to avoi...

A draft of PAS 8672 is now available for public comment and contains competence requirements for the Principal Contractor, a role set out in the Building Safety Bill. The Principal Contractor is one of three roles with oversight of building safety at each stage of the building’s lifecycle. The Principal Contractor will be responsible for planning, managing, and monitoring the building work, and coordinating matters relating to the building work to ensure compliance with all relevant requi...

Twiceme Technology enters a new product category by integrating the digital solution of easily accessible vital info into fall protection harnesses. Together with the industry frontrunner - Fall Safe®️, the partnership aims to develop the safest and most innovative fall protection equipment in the market. Digital Solution to Fall Protection Equipment After entering the construction segment, while adding Twiceme Technology into safety helmets, a lot of interest was shown by companies devel...

Pioneering integrated fire and security systems business - Evolution has entered into a new, exclusive agreement with Zitko Consulting to manage all of its staff resourcing requirements across engineering, operations and management. The two companies have been working together successfully for several years on national and international recruitment projects. The new managed service contract will embed a senior Zitko consultant, Paul Gooding, into the organization to provide close support. indu...

From commercial and industrial settings to local authorities, schools & universities, and residential properties, users are all required to strive for the highest standards of fire safety. Thankfully, there are many ways in which users can reduce the risk of fire thanks to a whole host of innovative fire safety systems. fire sprinkler systems When it comes to effectively containing a fire, an overwhelming body of evidence supports the use of fire sprinkler systems in effectively containing...

BAFE is pleased to announce the SP207 Evacuation Alert Systems Scheme Document.  BAFE SP207 Scheme Supporting British Standard 8629 (Evacuation Alert Systems for use by fire and rescue services in buildings containing flats), the BAFE SP207 Scheme document covers demonstrating quality evidence of competency for the design, installation, commissioning, and maintenance of evacuation alert systems. The Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government published the outcome of the cons...

The Global Cold Chain Community will meet digitally on a global level from October 14 to November 10, 2020, as part of the Global Cold Chain Alliance (GCCA) Virtual Innovation Program (VIP). As a platinum sponsor and CEBA Track Thought Leader, WAGNER brings its expertise in fire protection and fire detection for high-bay and deep-freeze warehouses. GCCA Virtual Innovation Program This event gives the community of cold chain experts and supporters the chance to network digitally, exchange idea...

CIC is pleased to announce a new partnership with Accredex, e-Learning and accreditation experts, to help provide innovative and timely e-learning for industry professionals. In the coming months, CIC will be working across its membership and network to identify gaps in the training market which they will seek to address. E-Learning can provide a flexible platform for the industry to tackle their training needs whilst also fitting in with work and lifestyle. Virtual learning services Accrede...

Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service is joining forces with local authority partners and emergency services, in order to help keep people safe in the upcoming bonfire and fireworks season. With many organized events canceled across the county, emergency services are preparing for a busier night than usual. There is an emerging concern that more people will plan displays and bonfires to celebrate in their own gardens, which could pose significant risk for the people. Safety measures for Bonfi...

The competence requirements for the proposed new role of the Building Safety Manager have been set out in a new report ‘safer people, safer homes: Building Safety Management’. Under new legislation being introduced in the draft Building Safety Bill published in July, those deemed responsible in law for the safety of higher-risk building, such as the landlord, will be required to appoint a Building Safety Manager. In the draft Building Safety Bill, homes that fall in the higher ris...

The competence requirements for the proposed new role of the Building Safety Manager have been set out in a new report Safer People, Safer Homes: Building Safety Management. Under new legislation being introduced in the draft Building Safety Bill published in July, those deemed responsible in law for the safety of higher-risk buildings, such as the landlord, will be required to appoint a Building Safety Manager. In the draft Building Safety Bill, homes that fall in the higher risk category...

Firefighters across Huntingdonshire will be getting out their sponges and buckets as they host charity car washes during October. The first event will be at St Neots fire station and will run from 12 pm until 3 pm on Saturday 10 October. Followed by Huntingdon fire station on Saturday 18 October from 10 am until 3 pm, and finally at St Ives fire station on Saturday 24 October from 10 am until 3 pm. St Neots Fire Station  - Saturday 10 October, 12 -3 pm Huntingdon Fire Station  - S...

Update from Director of Schemes for BAFE, Chris Auger, for all organizations preparing for their BAFE Third Party Certification assessment and temporary certification changes. In June BAFE published a statement clarifying its position regarding remote assessments and how should prepare for Certification Audit. Issue of certificates At that time BAFE took the view that registered companies whose initial audit was due would be allowed an initial concession that would allow the Certification Bod...