Fire Rescue

After entering into partnerships with Australian, Italian and Chinese trade fairs, the Deutsche Messe group of companies is now launching its own, fully proprietary INTERSCHUTZ trade fair in a foreign market: ‘INTERSCHUTZ USA’ is the name of the new event devoted to the North American firefighting equipment and safety/security sector. "Our new commitment in the U.S. represents an expansion of INTERSCHUTZ's worldwide network and allows us to occupy a key market with our strong brand," reported Dr. Andreas Gruchow, member of Deutsche Messe's Managing Board, adding: "While our foreign trade fairs are closely aligned with regional market conditions and needs, our Hannover-based INTERSCHUTZ – the world's flagship fair – focuses on the entire spectrum of global sales markets, supporting partnerships as well as business cooperation in the field of fire brigades, rescue services, civil protection and safety/security at the international level." Security solutions for fire brigades Firefighters in the U.S. have a great deal of respect for the INTERSCHUTZ brand as well as its size and scope"The first edition of INTERSCHUTZ USA will take place from 13 to 17 October 2020 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The American subsidiary of Deutsche Messe, Hannover Fairs USA, is responsible for organizing the event. INTERSCHUTZ USA focuses on safety and security solutions, new technologies and the latest strategies for sustainable American fire brigades. "Firefighters in the U.S. have a great deal of respect for the INTERSCHUTZ brand as well as its size and scope," said Larry Turner, President and CEO of Hannover Fairs USA. "Many of the industry representatives we've met with are incredibly excited about the launch of our new show in America." Focusing on management of fire brigades INTERSCHUTZ USA will focus on the requirements of fire departments in the 21st century, focusing, in particular, on the management level of American fire brigades. But vehicles, technologies and strategy aren't the only topic: At the same time, the new Philadelphia-based trade fair will also feature a supporting program designed to appeal to interested parties and fire department enthusiasts, as well as to families and potential young recruits from the east coast of the United States. INTERSCHUTZ USA enjoys the support of key local partners: "Members of the Philadelphia Fire Department are excited about welcoming the whole firefighting world to Philadelphia," said Adam Thiel, Fire Commissioner of the Philadelphia Fire Department and Director of the Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management, adding: "Since 1736, the Philadelphia Fire Department has been dedicated to safety, innovation, and best practices." Helping companies to exhibit in the US An additional partner for the event will be Local 22 IAFF of the Philadelphia Firefighters and Paramedics UnionAn additional partner for the event will be Local 22 IAFF of the Philadelphia Firefighters and Paramedics Union. "Local 22 IAFF is delighted that a prestigious event like INTERSCHUTZ, with such a diverse array of exhibitors, is coming to Philadelphia under the name of INTERSCHUTZ USA," remarked Mike Bresnan, President of Local 22 IAFF. The aim is to help companies from around the world – and particularly companies exhibiting at INTERSCHUTZ in Hannover – to get active on the American market, either as individual exhibitors or as members of a group pavilion. This has already been successfully practiced at the other INTERSCHUTZ events staged outside of Germany. These are currently ‘AFAC powered by INTERSCHUTZ’ (27–30 August 2019 in Melbourne, Australia), ‘REAS powered by INTERSCHUTZ’ (4–6 October 2019 in Montichiari, Italy) and ‘CEFE powered by INTERSCHUTZ’ (5–7 November 2019 in Shanghai, China).

Kent Fire and Rescue Service’s (KFRS) very own canine crew member Buzz, is now well on his way to becoming a fully operational search dog within the technical rescue team. The cocker spaniel started his basic training with the Technical Rescue team when he was just six months old. Now, 12 months on, and thanks to the dedication of his handler Andy Parks, Buzz is making excellent progress with his training schedule. Buzz-eye-view camera During a recent three-day UK training exercise held at Waddington Training Ground, Andy managed to capture a true ‘Buzz-eye-view’ on camera when training on piles of debris, designed to replicate a large-scale building collapse. “Buzz primarily relies on his strong sense of smell to detect and rescue a live casualty”, says Andy. Training exercises and rescue drills We trust him enough now to let his instinct and ability lead on the situation" "When watching our footage from his most recent large-scale training exercise, see if you can spot his head jerking up or moving quickly to the side (which is what we sometimes call a ‘head knock’). This means he’s had a whiff of a human or live casualty. That’s when you know he’s close to finding someone. Although he’s still in training, we trust him enough now to let his instinct and ability lead on the situation to detect and find casualties.” Buzz is currently in training to pass his National Resilience (USAR) which involves a comprehensive training program developed by the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) Resilience Team. The course is made up of seven modules, from basic handling to complex search capability, with an important final assessment determining whether Buzz will “make the grade” to become fully operational. Once Buzz has graduated, he will be called upon to search and detect live casualties in major incidents such as building collapses, and even international rescue missions. KFRS photographic identity badge Outside of work, Buzz lives at home with Andy, along with his two-year old brother Max. He travels to and from work in a climate-controlled van, with a special ‘K9’ call-sign, and even has his own KFRS photographic identity badge. Buzz is due to graduate at the end of the year and you can keep up with some of his regular training activities by following KFRS’ Instagram, Facebook and Twitter accounts.

Kochek Company, LLC has introduced a new strainer that efficiently collects virtually all standing water from flooded basements and rooms, saving operators time and expediting property salvage. This latest product from Kochek, Putnam-based manufacturers of quality fire equipment and water movement products, is made of high-strength lightweight aluminum alloy and features a unique screen specifically designed to hold nearly flat against any floor. When placed at low spots near a sump or over a drain, Kochek's basement strainer draws water down to levels so low, simple air drying or light mopping can remove any remaining liquid. Kochek's new basement strainers are available with camlock, long-handle swivel female NH threaded, and storz connections in 2.5", 3", and 4" hose sizes. All Kochek products are covered by a five-year warranty against manufacturing defects.

Federal Signal Corporation, a provider of environmental and safety solutions, announced that it has completed the acquisition of the assets and operations of Mark Rite Lines Equipment Company, Inc. (‘MRL’), a U.S. manufacturer of truck-mounted and ride-on road-marking equipment. The acquisition includes the operations of HighMark Traffic Services, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of MRL, which provides road-marking services, primarily within the state of Montana. The signing of the purchase agreement was previously announced on May 14, 2019. The transaction involves initial consideration of $55.5 million, subject to post-closing adjustments. In addition, there is a contingent earn-out payment of up to $15.5 million. Leverage expertize in chassis-Based vehicles MRL is well-positioned to capitalize on a number of tailwinds expected to drive growth in the road-marking industry"MRL, which is headquartered in Billings, Montana and employs approximately 250 people, generated revenues of $67 million for the year ended December 31, 2018, with an EBITDA margin of 13%. “We are pleased to complete the acquisition of MRL, which represents a natural and strategic extension of our market position as a specialty vehicle manufacturer serving maintenance and infrastructure markets,” said Jennifer L. Sherman, President and Chief Executive Officer. “With a clear leadership position in its markets, MRL is well-positioned to capitalize on a number of tailwinds expected to drive growth in the road-marking industry. MRL gives us an opportunity to leverage our expertize in building chassis-based vehicles, apply our ETI principles and utilize our existing distribution channels and aftermarket platform to accelerate the next phase of MRL’s growth. We continue to expect the acquisition to be modestly accretive to the Company’s non-GAAP adjusted earnings per share in 2019.”

The City of Pittsburgh River Rescue Unit, located in Pittsburgh, Penn., has selected Lake Assault Boats to construct a 30-foot EMS river rescue vessel. The craft’s primary mission is to perform rescues in response to water emergencies, administer advanced life support (ALS) services, assist firefighting operations, and provide security for the nation’s second largest inland port. The vessel will be among Lake Assault Boats’ most powerful rescue boat in its history and is slated to be delivered in fall 2019. EMS river rescue vessel “This is our second craft for the City of Pittsburgh in the past three years, and we’re thrilled to receive this vote of confidence from a city known for its vital waterways and iconic riverfront,” said Chad DuMars, Lake Assault Boats vice president of operations. “This custom craft features fast response combined with a full toolbox of capabilities to address a wide range of emergency scenarios.” The boat’s Catamaran style hull is engineered for enhanced stability and maneuverability The boat’s Catamaran style hull is engineered for enhanced stability and maneuverability, and it is powered by two state-of-the-art Yamaha 425 hp outboard engines for maximum response time. Slow speed maneuvering is controlled by Yamaha’s Helm Master joystick steering and digital anchoring system. The vessel features a 74” hydraulically operated bow door, a heated front deck, dive step cutouts; and it can deploy a SWAT team and its equipment, including an ATV vehicle. Emergency rescue and relief operations “This new rescue vessel will respond to just about any emergency – from a medical situation on a river cruise ship, to a SWAT team’s mission or a fire on a fishing boat, “said Division Chief Raymond S. Everitt, a 35-year veteran of the Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire. “In addition, our Unit participates in several mutual aid agreements and there are times we’ll need to travel long distances. The craft’s 45 mph estimated top speed will greatly improve our response time.” The boat carries an ALS squad on board and is equipped with the same medical gear found on a traditional ambulance. Its 10-foot long, fully enclosed pilothouse has an 80-inch interior clearance height, with ample room to treat patients in space protected from the elements. Equipped with HD radar, FLIR systems For firefighting operations, the boat is outfitted with a Darley 750 gpm fire pump There is an operator’s captain seat with storage below, additional bench seating, and numerous storage compartments. The helm station features integrated fire pump controls and an overhead radio rack. The craft will carry a full spectrum of electronics, including chart plotter, HD radar, sonar, and a forward looking infrared (FLIR) system, all controlled through two Garmin touchscreens. For firefighting operations, the boat is outfitted with a Darley 750 gpm fire pump (stored in a recessed deck compartment) with through-hull suction into a sea chest, and an Elkhart deck monitor and nozzle. Other notable features include a full complement of LED floodlights, warning lights, and spotlights; a hinged radar arch; and an SCBA dive bottle rack.

AW Technology were delighted to attend the recent, prestigious FIREX 2019 international exhibition. The three-day event brings together the brightest minds, innovators and market leaders in the fire and smoke safety industry. An incredible 130+ exhibitors showcased over 5000 products to thousands of engaged visitors and delegates. AW Technology’s presence at the event was centred around an immersive exhibition stand that featured stunning LED screens, video backdrop and, of course, an example of our existing products and the brand new 9000 series Carbon Monoxide Calibrator. High volume manufacture This new product is an incredibly exciting innovation for AW Technology as it utilises the latest technology to deliver a truly pioneering approach towards calibrating Carbon Monoxide detection products. The product is ideally suited to be used for calibrating and testing CO alarm and detection products in high volume manufacture. It is supported by the very latest software to ensure maximum output and performance. FIREX is a date in the calendar that we always look forward to" Chris Atkiss, Business Development Manager, said: “FIREX is a date in the calendar that we always look forward to. The event provides us with the opportunity for us to engage and mix with the movers and shakers in the industry, and as FIREX is such an international occasion, also allows us to meet our existing customers from across the globe.” Truly pioneering product “We were delighted to be able to launch our brand new 9000 series Carbon Monoxide Calibrator, which will be available to market in early 2020. The feedback we received at FIREX towards the 9000 series has been excellent, and we’re incredibly encouraged by the response.” “Our extensive market-research prior to starting the development of the project indicated that there was a real requirement in the industry for this product and we’re delighted that the market is responding. We’ll have further updates throughout the year on the 9000 series and we look forward to launching this truly pioneering product.”

Across the country, law enforcement officers are finding it increasingly difficult to respond to the near overwhelming number of calls coming from security alarms. Police departments commonly define a false alarm as a call, which upon investigation, shows no evidence of criminal activity, such as broken windows, forced doors, items missing, or people injured. While false alarms bog down police, they can also negatively impact customers and integrators. End users can expect hefty fines for false alarm responses, and when these customers receive large bills from the city, many turn to installers, dealers, and even manufacturers expecting them to accept the responsibility and pay the check. What First Brought The Issue Of Alarm Verification To Your Attention? It is crucial to both see a situation and concurrently listen to any corresponding sounds to gain full insight I’ve been aware of the problem of false alarms for about 5 years. I believed audio capture, through microphone deployment, could be an active part of the solution when used as a second source for indicating ‘out of the norm’ activity and as an equal component with the video surveillance technology. In 2015, I found similarly minded security professionals when introduced to the Partnership for Priority Verified Alarm Response. After reading PPVAR’s paper on ‘Audio Verified Alarms Best Practices; [April 2015],’ I knew that the Partnership was on to something important. In our lives, two of the five senses we count on day-in and day-out are sight and sound. It is crucial to both see a situation and concurrently listen to any corresponding sounds to gain full insight. What Is The False Alarm Rate? In 2016, the International Association of Chiefs of Police reported that over 98 percent of all alarm calls in the United States were false. This number is obviously staggering, and something we need to work towards correcting. Why Did This Issue Resonate So Strongly With You? When I first investigated this issue, I was sure that the security industry would have already recognized this and was acting to ensure improved alarm verification, preferably through a combination of audio and video technologies. However, I quickly saw that this was not the case, or even close to the norm. I have questioned the rationale behind the lack of adoption and found the deployment of audio is often hindered by the concern of privacy. I’ve spearheaded many initiatives to explain the monitoring policies surrounding audio As CEO of Louroe Electronics, I’ve spearheaded many initiatives to explain the monitoring policies surrounding audio. I’ve had to reassure many security personnel and customers how the law supports the use of audio in public places as long as there is no expectation of privacy. By dispelling fears with facts around deploying and implementing audio sensors, customers can confidently include audio in their surveillance systems and gain a more effective security solution. Who Is Affected By This? Truth be told, everyone from the end user to the manufacturer is affected by this issue. Not to mention the strain this puts on law enforcement who are tired of ‘wasting time’ and effort out in the field on these nuisance alerts. When an end user receives a check for their false alarm, many of them will immediately blame the integrator and or the monitoring center for a faulty set up and management and expect the integrator to remedy the situation, including carry the burden of paying the fines. The integrator, on the other hand, will turn to the manufacturer, assuming faulty equipment and installation instructions; therefore, looking for reimbursement for the cost. What Is The Average False Alarm Fee? It depends on many factors, and especially your first responder assigned location for responseIt depends on many factors, and especially your first responder assigned location for response. According to the Urban Institute, fees generally range from $25-$100 for the first offense, rising as high as a few thousand dollars per false alarm if a location has a large number in a single year. What’s worse, in extreme cases, alarm systems may even be blacklisted by the police dispatch center if they have raised too many false alarms in the past. Why Do You Believe Audio Is The Ideal Technology For Secondary Source Verification? Video surveillance has been the main option for security monitoring and alarm validation for decades, however industry professionals are realising that video alone is not enough. Video only tells half of the story, by adding audio capture, the responsible party gains a turnkey solution with the ability to gather additional evidence to verify alerts and expand overall awareness. In reality, audio’s range is greater than the field of view for a camera. Sound pickup is 360 degrees, capturing voices, gunshots, breaking glass, sirens, or other important details that a fixed camera many not see. How Would A Secondary Source Verification System Work With Audio? Using a video monitoring solution equipped with audio, the microphone will pick up the sounds at the time a visual alert or alarm is triggered. If embedded with classification analytics, the microphone will send alerts for specific detected sounds. The captured audio, and any notifications are immediately sent to the monitoring station, where trained personnel can listen to the sound clip, along with live audio and video from their station. When law enforcement receives a validated alarm, they can better prioritise the response From here, an informed decision can then be made about the validity of the alarm, along with what the current threat is at the location. If the alarm is in fact valid, the information is then passed along to the law enforcement within minutes. When law enforcement receives a validated alarm, they can better prioritise the response. It also provides more information in a forensic evaluation. Are There Any Additional Resources You Would Suggest Looking Into? Yes, we would suggest looking into the following to see a few different perspectives on the matter: NSA Support For 2018 Model Ordinance For Alarm Management and False Alarm Reduction Partnership for Priority Verified Alarm Response Support for the Term “Verified Alarm” and Prioritising Verified Alarm Responses Urban Institute Opportunities for Police Cost Savings without Sacrificing Service Quality: Reducing False Alarms

Did you know an estimated 30% of smoke alarms in the UK are inoperable due to missing, flat or disconnected batteries? For a property to comply with The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, it is vitally important that all fire safety equipment is kept in perfect working order at all times. This involves checking that the fire safety equipment is accessible, well maintained and hasn’t been tampered with. There are many ways you can take care of your fire safety equipment, to ensure your property is prepared, should there ever be a fire. Equipment Assessment Checks There are two types of equipment assessment checks that should be carried out, including monthly and annually If you’re the ‘responsible person’ for commercial property, you need to ensure your building meets fire safety standards. Here are 5 tips on how to properly maintain your fire safety equipment. Both passive and active fire safety equipment must be check regularly for any signs of wear or damage. There are two types of equipment assessment checks that should be carried out, including monthly and annually. There is a range of equipment checks you must carry out, including fire doors, fire alarm test, emergency lighting and fire extinguishers. Emergency lighting should be checked monthly, with all issues kept in a logbook. Fire doors should also be checked to ensure their seals and frames are in good condition.   Fire Alarm Tests All fire protection has to be checked annually including alarms, detectors, lighting, sprinklers, extinguishers and fire doors. They should be carefully inspected. Fire alarms are a legal requirement for commercial premises. To check that your Fire alarms still function correctly, it is important to get them serviced. All fire alarms should be tested, maintained and inspected by a competent person who is able to carry out any remedial work. Fire alarms are a legal requirement for commercial premises Fire extinguishers must be ready to work straight away in the event of a fire, so it is vital they are regularly checked and serviced. You should ensure they are maintained and kept in a functional condition. Every month, the pressure gauge should be tested on all fire extinguishers. Fire Risk Assessments Every year, it is required that a qualified technician carries out a thorough check on all your extinguishers for them to be fully serviced and certified. In addition to regular maintenance checks on your fire safety equipment, it is vital your commercial property has a fire risk assessment carried out every 4 years, with a renewal every 2 years. Fully trained and qualified assessors should undertake this to make sure it is done professionally Fully trained and qualified assessors should undertake this to make sure it is done professionally. By having a fire risk assessment review, it determines whether any changes could impact the ability for your equipment to properly protect your building. Fire Safety Logbook During a risk assessment, all fire doors must be checked to ensure they are in good condition and close efficiently with secure hinges. The fire seals must be fixed in position, with signs on the door present and legible. To keep an overview of all findings and actions, there should be a fire safety logbook and maintenance record that remains at your premises at all times. The logbook is used to record and review any significant findings when carrying out the fire risk assessment. This helps to keep all fire safety equipment functioning effectively and available to respond to emergency fires.

I gave a lot of thought to identifying the biggest challenge facing the American fire service in 2019. Many things came to mind: funding; fire prevention - if every building was sprinklered and all had working smoke alarms, it would solve a lot of other problems; political influences; initial, regular and ongoing training, and a bunch more. But the one constant that kept popping up is the people issue. Staffing. This obviously isn’t the first time you’ve heard that. Normally, when we talk about staffing, we talk about the number of firefighters on the apparatus. That is not exactly what I'm talking about. What I mean is, in 2019, we better figure out where our next group of recruits is coming from. Measurable Drop In Applicants If one fire department is paying more than another, members jump ship On the career side, numerous areas are reporting a measurable drop in applicants—in other words, they need people who want to be firefighters and medics. In some areas, it’s a bidding war. If one fire department is paying more than another, members jump ship. And who can blame them? They have families to take care of. But when the dust clears, there are still far fewer people interested in this job than we need. Some theories are that the new generation: Doesn’t like helping people Are self-focused Aren’t into doing physical things Are lazy Can make the same money without shift work Can make the same money without risk None of these theories gets us far in addressing the problem. The goal of any fire department is to deliver staffed, trained interior firefighters just a few minutes after someone dials 9-1-1 Big Picture Focus On the volunteer side, all you have to do is listen to a fire radio nearly anywhere in the U.S. (and Canada) and you will hear volunteer fire departments toning out... toning out... and toning out—with little response when members are responding from home or work. It, too, is a measurable problem. There are volunteer departments with little funding and others with plenty of funding. Regardless, there seems to be little “big picture” focus on solving the problem based upon what’s best for the people having the fire. Some say to simply hire career firefighters. Is it that simple? What are the pros? And are there any cons? There certainly are. Trained Interior Firefighters Some departments solve the problem by having their volunteers on duty, in quarters, ready to roll The old model of volunteers responding from home or work doesn’t work very well when you consider the proven fire spread in 2019 vs. fire spread even just 20 years ago. Some departments solve the problem by having their volunteers on duty, in quarters, ready to roll. That may be the least expensive option depending upon the local model. Some hire part-time firefighters. Some unfairly and regularly rely on mutual aid. Some have a fair and balanced mutual aid system. Some have their heads in the sand. The goal of any fire department is to deliver staffed, trained interior firefighters just a few minutes after someone dials 9-1-1. If we don’t have people knocking on the fire station doors to become career firefighters or to volunteer, that goal is in jeopardy. I simply can’t see a bigger, more immediate challenge for 2019 than the “people” issue.

Set to stand at 62-storeys high, 22 Bishopsgate in the City of London will, on completion, become the second-tallest building in Western Europe. The 278m office building will offer 1.275 million sq. ft of high specification office space, as well as eight community spaces, covering over 100,000 sq ft, including an innovation hub, curated gallery space, fresh food market, gym and wellbeing retreat. Once completed, Advanced will protect both of Western Europe’s tallest buildings, with 22 Bishopsgate being the latest in a long line of London’s most prestigious and iconic skyscrapers specifying Advanced, including the Shard, the Leadenhall Building, the Heron Tower and the HSBC Tower. Networked MxPro 5 panels At the centre of the active fire protection for 22 Bishopsgate are over 80 networked MxPro 5 panels with graphic display and BMS integration, alongside three special build panels for the building’s Fire Command Centre, that will form part of the intelligent fire detection network. Advanced’s panels are used alongside Apollo’s Soteria detectors and its networking is widely regarded as the most resilient and scalable solution on the market. It can be expanded up to 200 node networks covering huge areas with complicated cause-and-effect. Great emphasis and consideration has been placed on the fire protection for 22 Bishopsgate" As a UK-first, 22 Bishopsgate will utilize a specially developed lift-evacuation strategy in case of fire. The building is separated into four vertical areas by fire-hardened slabs with a two-hour fire rating separating a floor from the one above at levels 26, 42 and 58. Depending on which of the four vertical areas of the building a fire is detected, workers on that floor and the floors above egress via fire escape stairs to the area below and from there can evacuate via the lifts, safe in the knowledge that these are protected by the slabs above. Fire detection systems Responsible for every aspect of installation of the fire system from design to completion, PHF Fire, a division of PHF Electrical, used Advanced for its market-leading networking capabilities, best suited to managing a network of this size and complexity. Paul Falkner, Director at PHF Fire, said: “Great emphasis and consideration has been placed on the fire protection for 22 Bishopsgate – a building truly at the at the forefront of fire technology. From working with Advanced previously we knew its products could be relied upon to deliver powerful, flexible and dependable fire protection for the complex nature of a building of this size.” Fire protection Advanced is a pioneer in the development and manufacture of intelligent fire systems Amanda Hope, UK Business Development Manager at Advanced, said: “Advanced is a leader in the market in terms of performance, quality and ease-of-use and being specified in arguably the UK’s most high-profile commercial development, since the Shard, reinforces this. We are thrilled to now not only protect Western Europe’s tallest building, but soon also the second tallest. It was a pleasure to work with the team at PHF Fire where we were able to meet their needs with a system capable of delivering the complicated cause and effect programming and flexible networking required.”  With EN54 parts 2, 4 and 13 approval, the MxPro is the fire industry’s leading multiprotocol fire solution, offering customers a choice of two panel ranges, four detector protocols and a completely open installer network that enjoys free training and support. Intelligent fire systems expert Advanced is a pioneer in the development and manufacture of intelligent fire systems. The performance, quality and ease of use of its products sees Advanced specified in locations all over the world, from single panel installations to large, multi-site networks in some of the world’s most prestigious sites. Advanced’s products include complete fire detection systems, extinguishing control panels, fire paging and false alarm management systems.

A fire system with integrated fire telephone and voice evacuation system from Advanced has been installed at an exclusive 30-storey residential high-rise in Dubai. Boasting state-of-the-art amenities, luxury interiors, a fully equipped gym and rooftop swimming pool, the Siraj Tower has become one of the most sought-after residential projects in the ambitious $64billion entertainment complex, Dubailand. As Advanced’s exclusive distributor in Dubai, Cignetix were responsible for integrating this crucial part of the building’s active fire protection. Four Advanced Axis EN panels, which were recently certified by FM Approvals to the EN54 standard, and 2000 devices have been installed alongside its high-performance fire telephone solution. Designed for clear, easy-to-use control, the system benefits from LED status indications showing its operational stateSunil Gopalkrishnan, Managing Director at Cignetix, said: “Thanks to their reputation for performance, quality and ease-of-use, Advanced are our preferred choice of fire alarm, fire telephone and voice evacuation systems – capable of handling large networks of up to 200 panels and complex cause and effect programming.” Fire Telephone Solution Advanced’s fire telephone solution is ideal for high and low-rise apartment buildings, hotels, universities, government and military sites where local fire departments and emergency personnel need access to fire/emergency communications. Designed for clear, easy-to-use control, the conventional system benefits from LED status indications showing its operational state – whether the system has a call-in, is connected or is in fault condition. The fire telephone system is compliant with EN54 parts 2 and 4 and can be configured as either a standalone, independent system or completely integrated into the Axis EN fire system. Steve Carroll, Advanced’s General Manager for the Middle East, said: “The Siraj Tower is another fantastic example of the successful partnership between Cignetix and Advanced. In order to take full advantage of what our products offer, it takes companies like Cignetix, who have the skills and experience required, to apply Advanced to sites such as this prestigious high-rise.” Axis EN Fire Panel Range Axis EN, which is part of Advanced’s Axis range of systems, holds global approvals, including EN54, UL864 and AS1670Available for European, Middle East and South East Asian markets, Axis EN is Advanced’s highest performance analogue panel range, combining 1-8 loop, fire panels configurable up to 200 panel networks with a complete range of wired and wireless loop devices and powerful peripherals. Axis EN, which is part of Advanced’s Axis range of systems, holds global approvals, including EN54, UL864 and AS1670. It is designed to go anywhere where high quality, reliable and easy to use fire detection and control is required. Advanced, owned by FTSE 100 company Halma PLC, have a long history of protecting some of the most prestigious high-rise residential developments in the world, including the Gold Coast’s Soul Building and Miami’s Sands Pointe. Advanced is a pioneer in the development and manufacture of intelligent fire systems. The legendary performance, quality and ease of use of its products sees Advanced specified in locations all over the world, from single panel installations to large, multi-site networks. Advanced’s products include complete fire detection systems, multi-protocol fire panels, extinguishing control, fire paging and false alarm management systems.

The Waco Fire Department has taken delivery of a custom-built Lake Assault Boats fireboat and rescue craft. The new vessel provides a wide range of emergency response services on Lake Waco (a 12-square-mile body of water located within the city limits) as well as a section of the Brazos River that flows through the department’s protection area in central Texas. The craft was purchased through Lake Assault Boats’ listings on GSA Advantage Schedule 84 that includes Marine Craft. “Our department first learned about Lake Assault Boats through Lake Travis Fire Rescue, a neighboring department,” explained R. M. Bergerson, Deputy Chief of Emergency Operations for Waco Fire Department. “We’d seen their boat in action and heard good things. We just placed the new boat into service, and its capabilities for firefighting, rescue, and dive operations are impressive.” Hale Attack Max Fire Pump The craft’s firefighting system includes a Hale Attack Max fire pump rated at 550 gpm and powered by a 35-hp marinized engineA pair of 225 hp Honda outboard engines supplies power for the 26-foot craft. The hull features a 63-inch hydraulically operated bow door that opens to 90-degrees and can safely be deployed and operated at slow speeds. There are six-foot-long lockable storage compartments on either side of the bow deck as well as storage racks to hold dive equipment. The craft’s firefighting system includes a Hale Attack Max fire pump rated at 550 gpm and powered by a dedicated 35-hp marinized engine. Two TFT portable Hemisphere monitors (one with a fog nozzle and a second with a smooth bore tip) are on board. Water is supplied through a 4-inch intake into a sea chest. Outstanding Cornering Maneuverability The full-width T-top pilothouse is manufactured from 3/16” welded aluminum, has a 76-inch interior clearance height, and features a forward leaning windshield and fixed side windows. The dash console includes a 12-inch touchscreen monitor that controls a Garmin system featuring GPS, Sonar, with SideVu and DownVu, and Chartplotting. “With its twin-engine configuration and extremely stable hull design, the craft’s cornering maneuverability, and overall performance is outstanding,” said Bergerson, adding “we just launched our own dive team, and the hydraulic bow door with integrated dive ladders will help us perform more effectively and efficiently.”

Speciality vehicle maker, Triel-HT of Brazil, has adapted over 120 Allison-equipped Scania firefighting trucks for its national airport and fire corps customers. Among the reasons for choosing Allison fully automatic transmissions, Triel-HT cites 35 per cent faster acceleration, better vehicle control and ease of integration. Nine different Scania chassis have already been adapted for airport and industrial firefighting, civil defence and special explosives transport, among them the P250, P310, P360 FF, P440 FF and G580 models. Manoeuvring Agility These trucks are already present in more than 70 airports and air bases throughout Brazil, including remote units in Manicore and Fonte Boa in Amazonas, the Alcântara Air Base in Maranhão, and the recently renovated Viracopos airport in Campinas, in the state of Sao Paulo. Triel-HT develops the vehicles using in-house manufactured or adapted equipment. The vehicles equipped with Allison automatics comply with international standards for extreme performance and work in harmony with the trucks “The automatic transmissions are preferred due to their convenient operation, ride performance, manoeuvring agility and also the ease of gearbox integration with the essential components and electronic controllers of the fire truck,” said Triel-HT executive Claudio Vincentini. The vehicles equipped with Allison automatics comply with international standards for extreme performance and work in harmony with the trucks, according to Vincentini. Significant Investment Programme Allison automatics accelerate up to 35 per cent faster than manual or automated manual transmissions (AMTs). In addition to the 120 vehicles already delivered, another 12 Scania units with Allison automatics are now in the final stage of preparation, as part of a significant investment programme for airport vehicles. Five of them are for Infraero. Another four units have been ordered by the Department of Civil Aviation and will be sent to the airports of Comandatuba (BA), Barreirinhas (MA), Pato Branco (PR) and Patos, in Piauí. Two units are for the Fire Corps of Maringá, State of Paraná in the south of the country, and another unit is for an explosives transportation application in Peru. The trucks are equipped with diverse gear that can include special clothing, reptile pick-up accessories, pumps for water launch with high flow capacity, and liquid foam generator and dispensing equipment (LGE).

Ramtech Electronics, supplier of the UK’s wireless fire alarm systems, is flying high at the £1bn Manchester Airport Transformation Project following deployment of its WES3 and WES REACT platforms. As one of the largest construction programmes in the North of England, the transformation will more than double the capacity of the airport when it is completed in 2020. The complex project comprises the expansion of the Terminal 2 building, to become the airport’s primary terminal along with The Link, a new bridging space as well as new stands and piers, offering better departure gate facilities. Minimizing False Alarms WES3 is a completely wireless, EN54-compliant fire alarm system designed specifically for complex construction projects Laing O’Rourke, the main contractor of the project has specified a combination of WES3 and WES REACT to protect the 1,500 construction personnel that will be on site at its peak. These two innovative systems combine to provide construction teams with a simple and secure means of communicating fire, medical and similar site emergencies. WES3 is a completely wireless, EN54-compliant fire alarm system designed specifically for complex construction projects such as this. Features include a medical alert, allowing an alarm to be raised in the event of a medical emergency from any call point without having to cause a complete site evacuation. Also, an Inspection Delay feature, which enables site personnel to verify that the alarm is genuine before deciding whether to evacuate site, therefore minimizing false alarms.   Wireless Mesh Networks When used in conjunction with the WES REACT cloud-based mobile app, WES3 becomes a total fire alarm solution. All WES3 manual call points in their respective zones are interlinked, creating four individual wireless mesh networks, that can be activated simply by activating any call point on site. Once internal fitout begins, WES3 heat and smoke detectors will be added to the system, to provide automatic protection on site 24 hours a day. WES3 utilizes the best quality Category 1, Euro-harmonised radio in compliance with European standards covering the use of radio technology in emergency equipment (ETSI 300-220-1), meaning it won’t interfere with other radio-based systems used on or near the airport. All Point Network The challenges at Manchester Airport Transformation Project were centered on the need for a wireless fire alarm system that was scalable to a project of this size, whilst being fast and easy to reposition the call points. To put this into context, it is the fastest growing construction project in the UK with £1m of new infrastructure added each day. The system also overcame the challenge of scale by incorporating link units into the call point network to boost the wireless signal over larger distances Being a wireless system means that WES3 call points can easily be added and removed as the build progresses, and there’s no wiring, so no need for specialist installation. The system also overcame the challenge of scale by incorporating link units into the call point network to boost the wireless signal over larger distances. The WES3 system was split into four zones covering four concurrent developments within the overall project. Cloud-Based Monitoring All units in their respective zones are interlinked, creating a completely secure wireless mesh network. Andrew Swindells, Laing O’Rourke Programme Health & Safety Lead, explained: “Manchester Airport Transformation Project is a large and complex development and at its peak there will be over a thousand workers on site. We specified WES3 because it is a wireless system, making it very easy to set up and reposition as well as being fully compliant with EN54. WES REACT also provides us with a highly effective cloud-based monitoring platform.” WES3 has a three-year battery life under normal usage, reducing maintenance costs and waste on site. Once the development at Manchester Airport is completed Laing O’Rourke can simply transfer the units to another project as and when required.

Drones and UAVs being increasing employed to ensure public security Small unmanned aerial vehicles, colloquially known as drones, are being adopted by more public safety agencies around the world than ever before; and the number of lives they’re saving is climbing dramatically. On one recent day, four people were saved by drones, in three separate incidents around the world. Drones Security Drone manufacturer DJI calls it a ‘marked new milestone in public safety drone use,’ in a press release issued last month. On May 31st, Wayne Township Fire Department in Indiana used a drone to drop a life jacket to a fleeing suspect, who had gotten himself into a near drowning situation in a lake. Thermal imaging camera on drones On that same day, officials in a Texas town near Dallas dropped life jackets to a mother and daughter who found themselves in rising floodwater; and police in the UK used a drone with a thermal imaging camera to find a stranded hiker on a dangerous cliff. “We are seeing more and more life-saving stories coming out of these agencies,” says Matt Sloane, CEO of Skyfire Consulting, a group who works with public safety agencies to adopt drone programs. “This technology can no longer be written off as a ‘toy’ or a plaything. It’s a front-line tool in public safety, and it’s already saving lives.”  The UAV is one of the most exciting tools to come along that improves first responder safety and efficiency" UAVs for Public Safety For many agencies, including the Wayne Township Fire Department, the technology has been a game-changer. “In my 32 years working in Public Safety, the UAV is one of the most exciting tools to come along that improves first responder safety and efficiency,” said Captain Mike Pruitt, Wayne Township’s UAV program manager. “The possibilities of what we can do with these aircraft are endless.” Pruitt, who worked with Skyfire to start his drone program, says he’s flying the departments’ aircraft several times a week in his area, and in other parts of Indiana where he’s called to assist. Water-resistant drones They even flew last week in heavy downpours with DJI’s Matrice 210 aircraft, a water-resistant drone. More than 900 public safety agencies around the country are flying drones, according to a recent Bard College study, up 200% from last year’s report, but this is only the tip of the drone iceberg, says Sloane. “There are over 100-thousand public agencies in the US,” he says. “Early adopters like Wayne Township are showing the other 99-thousand agencies out there that this technology can be implemented safely, effectively, and will truly save lives.” Public Safety UAV symposium Skyfire has worked with over 120 of those 900 agencies, including the Los Angeles Fire Department, Orlando Fire Department, Miami-Dade Fire, and most recently, Houston Fire. “Big and small, our clients are taking their response capabilities to the next level, and I don’t see this trend slowing down anytime soon,” Sloane says. Skyfire will be holding a public safety UAV symposium with Memorial Villages Police Department and Houston Fire Department July 30th and 31st in the Houston Area.