Fire Insurance

Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) have been recognized nationally for its response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, SFRS was praised for its positive contributions to the local community and commitment to the welfare of its staff. In August 2020, Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) was commissioned by the UK Home Secretary to examine how fire and rescue services are responding to the pandemic. Effective command and control frameworks We were impressed with how the service adapted and responded to the pandemic effectively" In her report, Zoë Billingham, HM Inspector of Fire & Rescue Services, said of Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service, “We were impressed with how the service adapted and responded to the pandemic effectively. The efficient use of its staff was notable, utilizing extra capacity and providing support and resource for remote and home working.” She adds, “It provided support to Suffolk County Council (SCC) and the LRF, including advice, resources and effective command and control frameworks to co-ordinate its response.” Zoë Billingham further stated, “The service communicated well with its staff throughout the pandemic, including issues relating to staff well-being. It also made sure all staff had the resources they needed to do their jobs effectively, including extra information and technology, and it put in place additional flexible working arrangements. Staff well-being was a clear priority for the service.” Continuous response in COVID-19 period Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) have continued to respond to emergency calls since the beginning of the global COVID-19 virus spread, with over 4,500 emergency calls received and attended since the first lockdown was announced in March 2020. In addition to this, staff across the SFRS has been redeployed to support other departments in Suffolk County Council, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic spread. These include: Providing additional resource to colleagues in the Coroner’s Office. Setting up and administering the first booking system and phone line for testing key workers. In April 2020, around 30 firefighters volunteered and trained to work alongside paramedics to drive frontline emergency NHS (National Health Service) ambulances, in turn freeing up paramedics to care for patients. Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service teams have also helped to deliver food, essential items and medicine, as part of the ‘Home But Not Alone’ scheme. Quick response to emergency incidents Fires, road traffic collisions, rescues and flooding have not stopped because there is a global pandemic" Dan Fearn, Temporary Chief Fire Officer at Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service, said “I am extremely proud of everyone who works for Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service and I would like to thank each and every colleague for their professionalism and commitment to keep the communities of Suffolk safe.” He adds, “Fires, road traffic collisions, rescues and flooding have not stopped because there is a global pandemic. All our teams have stepped up by continuing to respond to emergency incidents, while supporting our partners and colleagues across Suffolk. Like many organizations, we have had to adapt our ways of working so we can continue to operate safely.” Efficient and timely fire safety and rescue services Dan further stated, “We continued to safely recruit new members of our fire service team, train and develop our operational crews and, of course, ensure that we are there to help the most vulnerable in the county. Over Christmas and the New Year period, our operational crews and officers remained busy. On Christmas Eve and Day, a number of personnel assisted with a major flooding incident in Bungay, some of the worst flooding in the area in 50 years.” He concludes, “It has been, and continues to be, a very challenging time due to COVID-19. But our teams across Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service are ready to respond to emergency calls and support their communities to overcome the virus. In the coming weeks, personnel will continue to assist the ambulance service and be ready to support our health colleagues where needed.” Recognition from Her Majesty's Inspectorate (HMICFRS) It echoes the ‘good’ rating which the Inspectorate awarded the Service just over a year ago" Councilor Richard Rout, Cabinet Member for Environment and Public Protection at Suffolk County Council, said “I’m delighted for every member of Suffolk’s Fire and Rescue Service. To be commended by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate is what they deserve for going above and beyond their responsibilities, during such professionally and personally testing times.” He adds, “It echoes the ‘good’ rating which the Inspectorate awarded the Service just over a year ago. That report did highlight some areas for us to work on, which I’m pleased to say colleagues have been focusing on ever since, to make our Service even stronger.” Supporting staff in serving local communities Richard Rout further said, “That is why the council’s Cabinet unanimously backed my proposal last year, to increase the service’s budget by £500,000 plus inflation. That increase totals close to £1 million and is helping to deliver the improvements identified in the report, alongside our existing plans for further investment, to keep Suffolk safe.” Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service remains committed to support its firefighters in serving local communities in the fight against the global COVID-19 pandemic, while doing so in a safe and responsible way.

With distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine accelerating around the globe, hopes are high that society can reclaim a sense of pre-pandemic normalcy in the coming months. Organizations may look to call many of their remote workers back to physical buildings as the vaccine rollout continues. However, there are unique new challenges to in-person work in a post-pandemic world, as organizations who have maintained in-person workforces can attest. Managing an in-person workforce in 2021 Marc Bognar, CPP, chair of the ASIS Security Services Community and panelist of the February 2, 2021 ASIS webinar, ‘What Tomorrow’s Security Officer is Facing Today’ offered advice on managing an in-person workforce in 2021. Marc Bognar said, “Most of us had high hopes that 2021 would be different from 2020. However, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to challenge those hopes. Organizations had to quickly pivot to managing a remote workforce in 2020 and may now be managing considering a return to a hybrid or fully in-person workforce. However, managing that workforce will require adjustments and proactivity.” Prioritizing health and cleanliness Employees are now much more sensitized to health and cleanliness then they may have been in the past Employees are now much more sensitized to health and cleanliness then they may have been in the past. Some will want a return to pre-pandemic routines. Additionally, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as of June 2020, 40% of U.S. adults were struggling with mental health challenges and substance abuse. With another 6 months of the pandemic since that report, the percentage of people struggling with mental health issues are likely to have increased substantially. That coupled with financial, medical and familial stress, and in many cases, a full year of remote work, could cause employees to act out or be less comfortable in in-person environments. Adapting to new employee expectations Organizations need to plan ahead and communicate the steps in advance that they plan to take to adapt to new employee expectations for cleanliness and health and to educate those employees on any new or continuing health related policies, even beyond the sunset of governmental restrictions. Organizations should consider how they will manage those that may resist any ongoing health-oriented regimes or policy changes. Workplaces should consider flexibility for employees who may not be mentally or socially prepared to return to in-person work or may need increased Employee Assistance Resources that may not have been as readily available during the pandemic. Some workers may have lost a caregiver for younger or older family members, and may need time to adjust to a return to in-person work. Adopting a phased in or partial return protocol Lastly, employees may be more resistant to a return to in-person work when they view their roles as functioning well remotely. That could lead to a risk of attrition for key roles. A phased in or partial return protocol could avoid the loss of talent that could be difficult to replace if the labor market heats up as the pandemic ebbs.

An ASIS International UK Chapter member for nearly 20 years, John A. Petruzzi, Jr., CPP, will serve as President of the association’s Global Board of Directors in 2021. John Petruzzi’s discussed his goals for the coming year in a Q&A session. The ASIS blog asked Petruzzi to discuss the impact of his ASIS volunteer roles on his career. Power of the ASIS family John A. Petruzzi said, “I’ve often said that I owe much of my success to the power of the ASIS family. From my personal experience, which mirrors the feelings of many of my mentors, volunteering is a two-way street. However much you put in, you will more than likely reap twice the reward. In particular, volunteering creates immeasurable value by building a broad personal network.” Few key highlights on the topic from the discussion: Through volunteering, one gets the opportunity to meet new people who more than likely they wouldn’t meet in the normal walk of life, whether business or personal. These connections will begin to diversify their network and equally importantly, in turn, would result in diversification of thought processes. Diversification positively influences one’s career journey. Besides building network and diversity of thought, volunteer work will more than likely also introduce new challenges that will require letting go of the comfort zone and building new skills. Think of how these problem-solving processes will better develop an individual contributor, manager, and leader. One area that is considered key in volunteering work is ‘truly making a difference to the community’. By jumping headfirst into the world of volunteering, one will quickly find things that need refining. Personal life experiences influence the way one sees the role and its responsibilities. In many cases, there will be opportunities to leverage unique experiences. As one drives these changes into their new community, others will undoubtedly benefit. There are many quotes out there about the rewards of volunteering. However, the key one is that there is no better feeling than that created by positively impacting the lives of others. In the time spent with ASIS International, John says, “Volunteering has positively influenced my life due to the network I’ve leveraged. This is the power of the ASIS Family!”

Choosing the right fire suppression system can make all the difference in the protection of vital establishments and entities, including building, assets, and people. Novec 1230 Fire Protection Fluid The Novec 1230 Fire Protection Fluid is a clean agent fire extinguishant that was created as an alternative to hydrofluorocarbons (HFC) and a halon replacement. Fire protection systems using the Novec 1230 fluid are assured that: Fluid is stored as a liquid but discharged as a gas. The system will recognize a fire before it starts and will extinguish the fire in just seconds by rapidly removing heat. This works significantly faster than most water-based systems discharge. As a waterless fire suppression solution, the Novec 1230 fluid leaves no residue behind, helping to protect important documents and electronics. Novec 1230 offers the highest margin of safety for human occupancy of any clean agent solution. The Novec 1230 is not governed by any regulatory body, including the Montreal Protocol. Also, the use of Novec 1230 fluids is not required to comply with Halon 1302 phase-outs or HFC phase-downs. Appropriate for Class A, B and C fire hazards. Environmental manufacturers’ warranties are available. Faster fluid evaporation than water Novec 1230 fluid evaporates much faster than water. How much faster? Try 50 times faster! According to American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) research, Novec 1230 fluid evaporates much faster than water. How much faster? Try 50 times faster! For example, on soaking a phonebook in Novec 1230, it would be dry within 1 minute. Benefits of Novec 1230 fluid include: It is environmentally sustainable. It is close in cost to FM-200 & ECARO-25. It can replace halon fire protection systems. It has a high margin of safety. Novec 1230 is an ideal fire suppression solution for these industries: Data Centers Oil & Gas Facilities Museums Art Galleries Aviation Facilities Medical Centers Industrial Facilities Power Plants

The US federal government passed a new legislation called the ‘Tax Cuts & Job Act’. This legislation includes incentives for businesses that install new fire sprinkler systems. As fire sprinklers are the quickest way to extinguish a fire, it’s important to incentivize businesses to install one. Money should never be seen as a deterrent to keeping your employees and patrons safe. ‘Tax Cuts & Job Act’ US Congress has added fire protection as an eligible expenditure under Section 179 of the tax code US Congress has added fire protection as an eligible expenditure under Section 179 of the tax code. The Congress has also increased the cap to US$ 1 million (up from US$ 500,000) as the amount that a small business can deduct in a single year. This provision applies only to commercial structures and cannot be used for retrofitting sprinklers into residential structures. However, critical occupancies such as entertainment venues could easily be done under this provision. This change is also a permanent law and unlike section 13201 is not gradually phased out over time. Best time to install new sprinkler system With tax incentives now in place, combined with one of the best economic growth in recent times, there has never been a better time to install a new sprinkler system. When speaking with a tax professional about these tax breaks, make sure to reference the changes in Section 179 of the recently passed tax reform legislation (P.L. 115-97), for up to US$ 1 million in fire protection. What’s included in Section 179? This includes: Roofs Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Fire protection and Alarm Systems Security Systems What types of Building Types are listed in Section 179? They include: Local, Small Businesses Nightclubs Restaurants/Diners (local owner) Bowling Alleys Locally Owned Movie Theatres Main Street America-type Shops High-Rise Commercial Buildings Residential Occupancies Condos Inclusion of fire sprinklers in tax reform The National Fire Sprinkler Association (NFSA) spent many years working with the government to ensure this tax reform was completed. Vickie Pritchett, the Director of Outreach and Government Relations at the NFSA stated, “The successful inclusion of fire sprinklers in tax reform is a result of years of steadfast work to educate. Our fire service allies and others were difference makers.” She adds, “The advocate voices made a difference as we worked to bring the stories to life, so legislators would understand and support fire safety inclusion in the incentive package.”

Congratulations to Cory Fry from the AFPG Jackson office for achieving his NICET IV Fire Alarm System Certification. The NICET Level IV Fire Alarm certification is a robust credential, based on inter-related elements of fire alarm system designs, installation, maintenance, and inspections. Most AHJ’s have accepted it as evidence of qualification to perform maintenance and periodic inspections of fire alarm systems. Recognized certification programs Each of NICET’s nationally recognized certification programs are designed by industry experts and practitioners to ensure a qualified workforce. Certification levels lay out a career path for advancement from entry to senior level responsibilities. AFPG thanks Cory for this great achievement and for continuing to expand his Life Safety expertise.

Andrew and Nicola Forrest have committed 50 million Australian dollars (US$35 million) to the Fire and Flood Resilience initiative through Minderoo Foundation, with a goal of raising an additional 450 million (US$320 million) in direct or in-kind support over the life of the program. The goal of the ambitious investment is to make Australia the global leader in fire and flood resistance by the year 2025. It is an audacious vision that requires an innovative approach, and the organization takes inspiration from the U.S. Apollo mission of the 1960s. In effect, it will be a “moonshot” to advance the cause of preventing and controlling wildfires. Specifically, the first mission, Fire Shield, seeks to ensure no dangerous bushfire in Australia will burn longer than an hour by 2025. respond to wildfires The Flood and Resilience Blueprint further seeks to provide every community in Australia the skills and resources to cope with fire and flood disasters. Finally, it seeks to provide “healthy landscapes” by improving ecosystems to be “immune” to fire and flood disasters. Founded in 2001, Minderoo Foundation exists to arrest unfairness and create opportunities to better the world  “We are not daunted by or afraid of taking on the toughest challenges,” says Karen O’Connor, Missions Lead for Minderoo Foundation’s Fire & Flood Resilience initiative. "Fire has a devastating and unfair impact on communities all around the world - and if we can help drive better approaches to prevent and respond to wildfires, we can have a profound influence.” Founded in 2001, Minderoo Foundation exists to arrest unfairness and create opportunities to better the world. black summer bushfires Minderoo Foundation stepped up after Australia’s black summer bushfires in 2019-2020 to help communities respond to and recover from the devastation. The organization also seeks to do whatever it can to mitigate the risk of large-scale damage due to bushfires and build resilience to future disasters. “We understand that fire and flood are critical ecological processes that enable many of Australia’s ecosystems to function, supporting regeneration and new growth,” says O’Connor. “Therefore, Fire Shield does not aim to prevent wildfires entirely but rather to prevent wildfires from becoming disasters.” ground truth data Fire Shield will progress using the “Mission” methodology that involves breaking down major problems into smaller elements that can be addressed in turn. Missions are outcome-focused and time bound. They rely on accurate baseline and ground truth data and an ability to measure impact to know when the mission has succeeded in its goal. Fundamental to the Mission approach is bringing the best people and expertise to the challenges at hand Fundamental to the Mission approach is bringing the best people and expertise to the challenges at hand - whether they are working in scientific research, in government, corporations or philanthropy. Having accurate data and measures are also essential. To that end, Fire Shield is working with partners to develop an ecosystem for data standardization and sharing in order to collectively leverage insights to address future hazards. emergency services “It is also about making sure that people working in fire and emergency services are provided with the right information, in a timely manner, to make the best decisions when responding to fire,” says O’Connor. An example is Fire Shield’s partnership with the Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council to support all Australian emergency services to develop new capabilities for fire detection, information sharing, fire simulation and response as well as utilizing data for improved decision-making wherever they are. fundamental principles “No matter what we do, Minderoo Foundation is always guided by the evidence,” says O’Connor. Minderoo Foundation’s Fire & Flood Resilience Blueprint has brought the best available evidence and expertise together to lay out a resilience blueprint for Australia and to inform the design and selection of missions, including Fire Shield. It challenges us to go right back to scientific principles and look for the best possible solutions” Importantly, the Blueprint is a “living document” that can evolve as the evidence base grows. First order problem solving is about going to the fundamental principles that apply to a problem, rather than thinking through analogies or accepted wisdom. “It challenges us to go right back to scientific principles and look for the best possible solutions,” says O’Connor.  important resilience problems The initiative is committed to working collaboratively. To date they have secured more than 50 partners across corporations, governments and civil society - and they are always open to more. They are also actively looking to collaborate with international programs with similar goals, to ensure they can multiply rather than duplicate efforts.  “We intend to share and publish our work widely, and of course continue to build collaboration, which is central to our approach,” says O’Connor. “We see ourselves as an enabler encouraging, facilitating and convening dialogue among different organizations and sectors of society to identify the most important resilience problems - and get to solutions faster.”

AW Technology’s business is a truly global operation. With customers across every continent, AW Technology has a commitment to not only deliver its world class test tunnels and equipment, but to also provide a detailed program of aftercare and support. This commitment to customers sits at the heart of AW Technology’s core business philosophy and has undoubtedly played a huge part in the company’s continued growth and development. 3800 optical heat and smoke detector calibration test tunnel Recent example of AW Technology’s close work with customers is the visit to Argus Spectrum’s new facility in Savonlinna, Finland A recent example of AW Technology’s close work with its customers is the visit to Argus Spectrum’s new facility in Savonlinna, Finland, to provide advice, support and guidance for their newly commissioned 3800 optical heat and smoke detector calibration test tunnel. Argus Spectrum is one of the world’s renowned manufacturers who specialize in the development and production of innovative wireless and wired fire detection and security systems. In 2019 Argus Spectrum established a new manufacturing facility in Savonlinna, Finland to produce and deliver its market renowned wireless technology throughout Europe and International markets. Building strong relationships with global customer base Chris Atkiss, Business Development Manager, AW Technology, made the trip and described the specifics of the visit and the overall importance of ongoing support towards customers. He said, “It’s been well documented that at AW Technology we place a huge importance on building strong relationships with our worldwide customer base.” Chris adds, “This helps us maintain an open communication stream with our customers and ensure we’re able to provide the optimum level of support for their test tunnels. Our detailed approach to customer service means that we prefer to meet every customer face to face before we embark on a project.” Ensuring enhanced fire systems performance He further stated, “This specific visit to Finland was an opportunity for us to meet with Argus Spectrum at their new facility, understand their requirements and ultimately make sure that their tunnel was performing to its maximum potential. The feedback we’ve received so far from the customer has been extremely positive and we look forward to continuing our work with Argus Spectrum and supporting them with future projects.”

The decision to replace two historic vehicles of the Greek Armed Forces, the Stagier trucks and the jeeps of the Mercedes-Benz GD, through a tender whose first part is estimated to have a budget of 550 million euros, mobilizes all major automakers active in defense, but also a number of companies specializing in the equipment of such vehicles. Replacing historic vehicles Some unofficial presentations have already been made in Athens, Greence by foreign groups According to information, some unofficial presentations have already been made in Athens, Greence by foreign groups, while the competent services of the Ministry of National Defense are working feverishly on the specifications of the vehicles and the other parameters of the tender. The tender will certainly be a bidding, but it has not yet been clarified the number of vehicles and the exact types of vehicles that will be requested by the Armed Forces. Restarting Hellenic Vehicle Industry (ELVO) This specific supply order, however, is of additional interest, because it is expected to be the first act of restarting the Greek defense industry and especially, the Hellenic Vehicle Industry (ELVO), which after the end of the relevant tender is for sale in the form of Israeli interests. ELVO estimates that it can be the factory in which a growing part of the assembly of those vehicles that the country will eventually choose will be carried out gradually. However, the Israeli industry, Plasan, which has the same vehicle with which it may participate in the tender, also participates in the scheme that acquires ELVO. In fact, a few days ago, the Minister of National Defense, Nikos Panagiotopoulos, speaking in Parliament, explained, “ELVO after the multi-year liquidation regime has become a legal buyer and can therefore, participate in any tender procedures for the supply of weapons benefits of the Armed Forces, if a specific requirement is expressed and in accordance with the current institutional framework.” Interest in tender from European defense companies Of course, the Plasan Israelis are not the only claimants. Italian, German, French and American companies will also take part in the competition, when it is announced. Those who follow the relevant developments closely consider the expression of interest from Mercedes-Benz Defense Vehicles certain. After all, even if Mercedes-Benz vehicle will not be selected, it is possible that its engines will be used, the same sources explain. Another German company that is expected to be interested is Rheinmetall. US firms for fire safety and military trucks From the United States, Oshkosh Corporation, formerly Oshkosh Truck, is reportedly already interested From the United States, Oshkosh Corporation, formerly Oshkosh Truck, is reportedly already interested in an industry that designs and manufactures special trucks, military vehicles, truck bodies, airport fire extinguishers, and related equipment. From Italy, Iveco Defense Vehicles, which belongs to the Anielli Group and is based in Bolzano, Northern Italy, at the same facility as Lancia’s original location, is expected to be a strong candidate. It is a globally renowned manufacturer of military vehicles that was founded in 1937 and later became a member of the Iveco Group in 1975. Iveco Defense Vehicles recently managed to get a contract from France, to the surprise of many. Joint Ventures likely to pitch for tender This apart, The Renault Trucks Defense has also shown interest in the tender offer. Renault Trucks Defense division is wholly owned by Renault Trucks, which in turn is owned by the Volvo Group, which is no longer associated with the passenger cars of the same name, which have been controlled by Chinese interests. The interest of MAN Group is also expected, while until the tender is announced, it is estimated that other groups may appear and later joint ventures may be formed.

When Thames Valley Air Ambulance’s Helicopter Emergency Medics became concerned about their current helmet due to its obsolescence and poor comfort, the charity contacted Vimpex who they were aware had successfully supplied helmet solutions to other Air Ambulance Services, including Lincolnshire and Kent. Pacific R6C Rescue Helmet Following meetings to identify product performance requirements, and a product trial by critical care paramedics and doctors, Thames Valley Air Ambulance chose the Pacific R6C Paramedic/Rescue Helmet because it gives the charity a high-performing, future-proofed safety solution that can also be fully customized. Every part of the Pacific R6C Paramedic/Rescue Helmet can be quickly removed without the use of special tools" Vimpex Business Development Manager Steve Clelland explains, “Every part of the Pacific R6C Paramedic/Rescue Helmet can be quickly and easily removed without the use of special tools. Cost of ownership is therefore minimized as repairs and replacement of all components is simple. Pacific helmets are tested in the most extreme conditions required for conformity to relevant clauses of the latest EN standards.” High performance PPE equipment The fantastic life-saving work carried out by Thames Valley Air Ambulance when there’s a life-threatening injury or medical emergency, and relies on the skill and bravery of its team of doctors and critical care paramedics, some of the most highly skilled pre-hospital medics in the world, to deliver advanced trauma care to some of the most seriously injured patients across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire from its base at RAF Benson. Such exceptional individuals, who regularly put their own safety on the line to protect others, need the highest levels of equipment performance, including their head protection PPE, to ensure that their well-being is never compromised. Fire evacuation and alarm systems major Vimpex is Europe's renowned independent manufacturer and distributor of high quality fire evacuation and alarm system products for installers, distributors and OEM manufacturers. The company is also a specialist in the supply of technical rescue and PPE equipment for UK fire, rescue, police, military and emergency services teams.

Set on the iconic shores of Italy’s Lake Garda, Campeggio del Garda is a popular campsite that attracts tourists from around the globe to its picturesque location. Hochiki Italia’s Totem solution was specified to protect the idyllic campsite and provide occupants with an ideal level of outdoor protection. Campeggio del Garda is located on the water’s edge of Lake Garda, one of Italy’s most picturesque lakes and holiday hotspots. The scenic location offers a range of bungalows and mobile homes, as well as camping and mobile home pitching areas, for visitors. Looking at the spot, it’s clear why this campsite has become a must-visit attraction for tourists. With on-site facilities such as a swimming pool, restaurant and sports courts, the 3,000 guests the site can accommodate are able to enjoy complete luxury during their stay. Updated emergency evacuation system Italian-based designers, Studio Albertini, were brought on board to specify a suitable range of life safety devices In need of an updated emergency evacuation system, Italian-based designers, Studio Albertini, were brought on board to specify a suitable range of life safety devices to protect the site’s guests and employees. Owner and lead contact for the project, Paolo Albertini said, “It was essential for Campeggio del Garda that the solution would be complex enough to deal with the scale of their facilities, but also waterproof to accommodate for outdoor protection. Understanding the high-level of expertise that would be required for such a project, we worked alongside life safety manufacturer, Hochiki Italia, to supply the best and safest solution possible. In this case, their unique Totem system was specified.” Studio Albertini and Hochiki Italia collaboration Studio Albertini and Hochiki Italia collaborated closely on the project to specify a life safety system that could be installed across the expansive accommodation facility. Mirko Corsini, Project Manager at Hochiki Italia, said “Due to the sheer size of the camping area, we decided to manage the system through two networked panels by using the master/slave function of the device.” Mirko Corsini adds, “Combining this intelligent system with the 31 Totem call points that were installed throughout the campsite, we were able to provide a fully integrated and accessible network that covered the entirety of the park. Each Totem is fully waterproof to allow for operation all year around and contains a CHQ -WSB2 sounder beacon, warning signs, multilingual fire safety instructions as well as a UNI ISO 7010 signal call point, as requested by the Ministerial Decree.” Hochiki’s Totem system installed Hochiki Italia’s Totem system is ideal for large scale projects, as was the case and requirement at Campeggio del Garda. Being able to work from multiple networked panels, the system can be divided into zones, in order to make the connection and detection more secure and reliable. This basically means that the system can be operated and monitored from a singular control panel that includes a digital display screen for complete visibility of the status of the various call points. From this panel, duty holders can test, activate and identify any incidents for around the clock safety while reducing operational costs for large premises. The Totem’s call points are placed evenly across the facility to make sure they are accessible for all guests and are within a reachable distance at all times. The call points can be activated by guests or members of staff and can act as a beacon to communicate with guests. Fully compliant solution Totem is fully compliant with Italy’s Ministerial Decree 28.02 2014 and Circ. Prot.n. 0011002 - 12/9/2014 Totem is fully compliant with Italy’s Ministerial Decree 28.02 2014 and Circ. Prot.n. 0011002 - 12/9/2014, in relation to the safety of guests in open air, tourist accommodation. The decree states that all existing accommodation facilities must adopt the appropriate method of fire detection and fighting in spaces of more than 400 people. A clear part of the guidance is that call points should be distributed within 80 meters of each other and well-lit, with multi-lingual fire instructions. At the same time, the alarm signal coming from any of the detectors or call points must determine the optical and acoustic fire alarm signal at a manned place during the hours of activity. Signal and call point functionalities The signal and call point functionalities of Hochiki Italia’s Totem system work perfectly in line these requirements, making them suitable for a range of outdoor environments. Commenting on the end result, Paolo Albertini said “We are elated with the installation and the level of life safety that we can now offer to the campsite’s guests. It was a seamless process and we were able to adapt the system to our exact needs and ensure that fire detection was not only present, but accessible to staff across the whole site. We wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Hochiki Italia products to customers.”

Motorola Solutions has announced that Bedfordshire Fire & Rescue Service is the first fire service in the United Kingdom to utilize the combined Motorola Solutions cloud-based control room solution, CommandCentral CRS, the data storage solution, CommandCentral Vault, as well as the integrated CAD solution, delivered by Motorola Solutions. CommandCentral Vault By upgrading its operations into one platform, the new solution helps the fire and rescue service in Bedfordshire to manage their end-to-end workflow. CommandCentral Vault, in addition, offers an encrypted, secure and centralized storage solution for all operational digital media assets and associated meta-data. In addition to the Motorola DP4000 two-way radios, used by Bedfordshire Fire & Rescue Service, the new solutions offer a next-generation control room experience, designed to increase operational efficiencies in incident response and streamline processes and critical communications across the organization as a whole. Bedfordshire Fire & Rescue Service The CommandCentral software offers integrated voice, data and multimedia communications on a single platform Bedfordshire Fire & Rescue Service serves a population of 665,000. As part of its ongoing digital transformation, the fire service needed to replace its legacy control room functionality. The new control room solution provides the control room staff, which on an average receives over 60,000 calls per year, the best digital tools to respond effectively. It also provides IT staff with a fully reliable end-to-end workflow, which is easy to manage through the cloud. Together with enhanced security and availability, the CommandCentral software offers integrated voice, data and multimedia communications on a single platform where all data is easily captured and processed, so that incidents can be responded to and reported as efficiently as possible. Cloud-based control center The new cloud-based control center simplifies IT management including the ability to scale data capacity at busy times and reduce costs through the automation of tasks, such as reporting, that were previously done manually. A hosted solution also enhances resilience and support for agile working, so that staff can work remotely and from different sites. In addition, being cloud-based ensures equipment is more secure and resilient. Partnership with Motorola Solutions “We strive to provide an outstanding Fire and Rescue Service to the citizens and visitors of Bedfordshire and lead the way with the latest digital technologies to respond faster and more effectively,” said Paul Fuller CBE, Chief Fire Officer at Bedfordshire Fire & Rescue Service. Paul adds, “Our control room is at the epicenter of our operations and needs to be failsafe so that every vital piece of information is captured and responded to as efficiently as possible. Through our work with Motorola Solutions and 3tc, we wanted to make a future-proof investment and be the first Fire and Rescue Service to adopt full cloud technology for our control room to further improve our robust, 24/7 operation to make us more responsive and help protect our community.” Next evolution of public safety technology Bedfordshire Fire & Rescue Service is clearly a pioneer when it comes to developing a cloud-based control room" “Bedfordshire Fire & Rescue Service is clearly a pioneer when it comes to developing a cloud-based control room,” said Fergus Mayne, Country Manager and Head of Sales UK & Ireland at Motorola Solutions. Fergus adds, “As the next evolution of public safety technology, the new solution can be relied upon as it can be managed remotely with 24/7 support with greater resilience. Ultimately, the new platform enables control room staff to focus on the job at hand, resolve the call at the first contact or dispatch resources in the most efficient way possible to protect the public.” mission-critical software solution The CommandCentral software suite is the industry’s most integrated end-to-end mission-critical software solution for public safety that unifies data and streamlines incident management workflows.

The ZIEGLER Group has announced delivering six LF10 fire-fighting vehicles to the Augsburg Fire Brigade. This was preceded by an inter-municipal procurement of 4 different municipalities. These 6 vehicles will be used by volunteer fire brigades in the city of Augsburg. LF10 fire-fighting vehicles The LF10 fire-fighting vehicles come mounted on a MAN chassis and combine all ZIEGLER specific advantages, starting with the ZIEGLER Z-Cab Safety cabin and the proven ALPAS superstructure system through the ZIEGLER pump technology with user-friendly Z-control operating control.