Active Fire Protection (AFP) - News

Fire safety checks will need to be redone on more than 1,600 council homes, because of concerns previous inspections may have been conducted by unqualified officials. The revelation is the latest twist in a long-running saga, which emerged last year when Norwich City Council admitted hundreds of people in its properties were potentially put in danger because crucial safety inspections of fire, water, and electrics had not been done. Overdue gas checks Since then, £1.2 million has been s...

Recent research from Duke University involved firefighters wearing silicon wristbands on and off the job. The silicon absorbs any semi-volatile organic compounds the firefighters may have been exposed to. The wristbands worn by firefighters were analyzed for 134 different chemical compounds, including phthalates, brominated flame retardants, organophosphate esters, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), all of which have been linked to increased...

Recent research from Duke University involved firefighters wearing silicon wristbands on and off the job. The silicon absorbs any semi-volatile organic compounds the firefighters may have been exposed to. The wristbands worn by firefighters were analyzed for 134 different chemical compounds, including phthalates, brominated flame retardants, organophosphate esters, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), all of which have been linked to increased...

Howe & Howe is collaborating with Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX) to add new and emerging technologies to the training services TEEX offers. Since 1929, TEEX has offered on-site and online training resources for more than 200,000 people per year in areas such as fire and rescue, infrastructure and safety, law enforcement, economic and workforce development, and homeland security. state-of-the-art firefighting robot Howe & Howe are loaning TEEX a Thermite® RS1,...

Briggs & Stratton has announced that Kristina Cerniglia has joined the Company as Senior Vice President (SVP) & Chief Financial Officer (CFO). She joins Briggs & Stratton after serving eight years at Hillenbrand, Inc., as Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer. Prior to Hillenbrand, Inc., she spent 23 years in the financial organizations at Stanley Black & Decker and United Technologies Corporation. Kristina Cerniglia currently serves on the Board of Directors for L...

The classic car parade and the motorcycle meeting on INTERSCHUTZ Saturday - this demonstration is likely to have rarity value not only in Hanover. On 25 June 2022, around 50 fire engines will drive through Hanover in a long procession. The special feature: Together they should have around 2,000 years or more under their belt. This is because the convoy, which will make its way from INTERSCHUTZ to downtown Hannover in the morning and, after a breather in front of the New Town Hall, back to the e...

AVK Holding A/S acquired 100% interest in TALIS Group’s UK operations. Going forward, the business will trade as Atlantic Plastics Ltd. and continue to operate out of its head office and manufacturing base in Bridgend, South Wales. Atlantic Plastics has a strong portfolio of industry brands including ATPLAS below-ground meter boxes, EBCO gunmetal valves and fittings, and Talbot push-fit fittings with a strong market position in the UK market. Strong market position The valve part of the...

Anheuser-Busch is teaming up with the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) for the fourth consecutive year to donate 1.5 million cans of emergency drinking water to volunteer fire departments nationwide ahead of the 2022 wildfire season. The partnership’s next phase marks a significant continuation of the brewer’s 30-year-strong commitment to disaster relief and supporting local communities in times of need through its emergency drinking water program. Clean drinking water The...

Safe Fleet: Fire, EMS, and Industrial (FRC, FoamPro, Elkhart Brass, ROM) are excited to announce the addition of Jeff Platt as the Atlantic Regional Sales Manager. In his new role, Jeff will continue to build and strengthen relationships with Fire & EMS customers in the Atlantic region. His territory will include Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia, Washington D.C., Delaware, Maryland, and Western Pennsylvania. Jeff’s experience Jeff is very well established with distribution...

ATEIS Middle East is delighted to invite their users to the Intersec 2022 the trade fair for Security, Safety, and Fire Protection at Dubai, United Arab Emirates to discover the latest innovations in the Life safety industry and to experience their latest PA/VA, Fire Alarm, Smart City solutions live! Meet ATEIS experts between 16-18 January 2022 at the 23rd edition of Intersec DWTC, Dubai, Hall: 4 Stand: E-20.

Research by Luxfer Gas Cylinders into how back, joint and limb pain affect firefighter health is released, ahead of Interschutz 2022. Fire services could be losing an average of 25 staff days per year, for each team member affected by poor musculoskeletal (MSK) health – thought to be around one in four firefighters. Luxfer, the industry-renowned manufacturer of lightweight, durable, high-performance SCBA cylinders, investigated the prevalence and impact of musculoskeletal health issues, i...

The government has published its response to the consultation on the use of cladding in buildings over 11m in England. Combustible materials Combustible materials have been banned for use in external facades of buildings higher than 18m since 2018, following extensive lobbying in the wake of the Grenfell Tower fire. In early 2020, the government suggested also banning the use of such materials for buildings above 11m in height, and ran a consultation on this in May 2020, the response to...

In Australia, fire is never too far away. From the bushfires that ravage New South Wales (NSW) to the kitchen fires in Melbourne, the threat is there. For those who live in high-risk areas, the ability to fight a fire should not be overlooked or underrated. And while firefighters consider using a fire extinguisher as a last resort, they are sometimes the best bet in fighting a fire until help arrives. But, as important as it may be, many don't know much about fire extinguishers and what types o...

The London Fire Brigade (LFB) is in serious need of funding to tackle the building safety crisis, according to Commissioner Andy Roe. A total of 1,100 of London’s buildings above 11 meters are currently listed by the LFB as having serious fire safety issues. While this represents a slight drop from 1,174 in March, the capital has had more than 1,000 unsafe buildings for almost a year, and the real number of unsafe buildings could be much higher. City Hall Plenary meeting At a City Hall...

Harshad Saujani, a Community Educator at Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service, has been awarded an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) for his services to fire safety. The fantastic news was announced on 2 June, where over 1,000 individuals were awarded as part of the Queen’s Birthday Honors list, which recognizes the achievements and service of people across the UK. Targeting vulnerable individuals Harshad joined the service in 2005 as a Community Educator, a role that ha...

Summer vacations, camping, family reunions, picnics, and the Fourth of July are all things that Americans look forward to every year. However, these great summer activities also bring the risk of fires and injuries caused by fireworks and outdoor grills.  Fireworks and grill fires injure over 16,000 Americans annually. More than half of these injuries end up occurring during July, the highest in the year.  fire safety awareness Summer is a time for fun, but it’s also essential...

The Big Bear Fire Authority Board approved a balanced budget for the 2020-2021 fiscal year at their June 2, 2020 Board meeting. The approved budget entails significant changes compared to last year’s budget. Since the Community Facilities District (CFD) tax measure was unsuccessful on the March 2020 ballot, some very difficult but necessary budget decisions have been made. Author's quote Fire Chief Jeff Willis stated, “Honestly, I am disappointed that this critical tax measure tha...

The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) EMS Safety Practices manual provides information to enhance the health and safety of the emergency medical services (EMS) practitioner and support the reduction of occupational illness and on-duty injuries and fatalities. 146-page manual This 146-page manual outlines how to develop a safety program that covers all aspects of EMS operations to prepare for, prevent, mitigate, and respond to all hazards. It covers safety regulations and guidelines while a...

Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) is proud to announce the Queen has recognized Paul Grimwood, a KFRS Senior Principal Fire Engineer, in the 2022 Birthday Honors List. Paul, who has a career spanning over 50 years in firefighting and fire engineering, has been awarded an MBE (Member of the British Empire). High-Rise buildings He is highly regarded within the fire industry as an expert and pioneer for new operational tactics, as well as for his meticulous work when it comes to ensuring resi...

Over 2,300 first responders have taken an online instructor-led live course from the National Fire Academy (NFA), and the number is growing. The NFA suspended its on-campus and field courses in March 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. By June 2020, the NFA and USFA’s partners from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives launched the first online instructor-led live 2-day course, “Fire Investigation: First Responders,” using the Zoom video conferencing app. Ad...

The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) EMS Safety Practices manual provides information to enhance the health and safety of the emergency medical services (EMS) practitioner and support the reduction of occupational illness and on-duty injuries and fatalities. This 146-page manual outlines how to develop a safety program that covers all aspects of EMS operations to prepare for, prevent, mitigate and respond to all hazards. It covers safety regulations and guidelines while also emphasizing the impo...

CHEMTREC and the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) are teaming up for the fourth year to provide volunteer fire departments with the CHEMTREC HELP (Hazmat Emergencies Local Preparedness) Award to enhance their hazardous materials response capabilities and improve responder safety. CHEMTREC HELP Award The 2022 application period is now open until September 1, 2022. Two U.S. volunteer fire departments will each receive US$ 10,000, through the CHEMTREC HELP Award in 2022. Fire departments m...

National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) members can enter to win a personalized Cairns XF1 Fire Helmet, courtesy of MSA Safety Incorporated (MSA Safety). Cairns XF1 Fire Helmet The jet-style design of the Cairns XF1 Fire Helmet reduces snag hazards, provides a personalized fit, and houses its own integrated light module, and the soft goods are removable, washable, and replaceable. This is the second of three opportunities to win an XF1 helmet in 2022. One recipient will be randomly selected, a...

Contra Costa County Fire Protection District (Con Fire) and East Contra Costa Fire Protection District (East Con) announced staffing of the new, but previously unopened, Fire Station 55 in Oakley. The station is fully staffed for the first time with a three-firefighter engine company equipped to dispatch on either the station’s standard Type 1 Engine 55 or its wildland firefighting Engine 355. Positive impacts The addition of this fire crew is expected to have positive impacts on fire a...

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) is pleased to announce that Dr. Candice McDonald will join the staff as Deputy Chief Executive Officer. In this role, she will assist CEO Sarah Lee in managing the internal operations of the NVFC, including grants oversight, budget development, organizational planning, and more.  “We are very excited for Dr. Candice McDonald to join the NVFC as a key part of our staff leadership team,” said Lee. “Candice brings a myriad of experi...

Fire safety and protection are more prevalent now than ever before. There is a huge push on competency and compliance for the installation and products in the fire industry in 2022, following tragic recent events such as Grenfell. Just like a plumber would need to showcase that they are competent to service a boiler, the demand for fire protection installers to show they are competent is essential. What is Passive fire protection (PFP)? Passive fire protection (PFP) is a crucial component of...

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) is pleased to announce that Dr. Candice McDonald will join the staff as deputy chief executive officer. In this role, she will assist CEO Sarah Lee in managing the internal operations of the NVFC, including grants oversight, budget development, organizational planning, and more.   “We are very excited for Dr. Candice McDonald to join the NVFC as a key part of our staff leadership team,” said Lee. “Candice brings a myriad of...

Alongside the Fire Safety Act, the UK government has now committed to Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 and a raft of new measures that are designed to ensure a full response to the Grenfell Tower inquiry recommendations. The launch, coming at the same time as the commencement of the Fire Safety Act 2021, is described as ‘the most comprehensive plans for fire reform in decades’. The plans will be set out in the UK government’s Fire Reform white paper, in order to strength...

A safety warning on the use of lithium-ion batteries is being issued by Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) following several battery related fires this month. A safety warning on the use of lithium-ion batteries is being issued by Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) following several battery related fires this month. Lithium-ion batteries, or li-ion batteries (sometimes called LIBs) are commonly found in many items including mobile phones, laptops, e-bikes, hover boards, vaping devices and sco...

When it comes to the correct selection of fixed fire-fighting suppression systems, there are many external influences that can affect the correct specification of fire suppression for the protection against fire of many buildings. By far the two biggest influences are cost and space, when the decision should be based on hazard, risk, effectiveness, longevity of water supply, fire strategy, third-party approvals, standards, research & testing, proven track records, and insurability. Fixed f...