Fire Safety Planning

On April 29th, 2020, the second international VdS-conference on ‘Fire Protection Systems’ will take place in Bucharest (Romania). International experts from industry and fire protection organizations will present an overview on current technology and developments as well as numerous solutions based on practical experience. VdS-conference on fire protection  The conference will be held in cooperation with ROFMA, the Romanian Facility Management Association. In addition there will be an exhibition at the conferences site. At the evening of April 28th, a get-together with possibilities to visit the exhibition will be held. This conference will offer an exciting information forum for planners, installers and operators of fire protection systems" “This conference will offer an exciting information forum for planners, installers and operators of fire protection systems, as well as for fire protection engineers, fire safety officers from all industries and loss prevention experts from the insurance industry, fire brigades and authorities as well as for companies from the facility management sector”, Andrej Turčan, Head of VdS offices Czechia and Director of the event said. Fire protection experts He adds, “And the conference exhibition with renowned specialist companies offers the optimal opportunity for the professional exchange of fire protection experts.” Among the topics of the VdS-conference are: Sprinkler systems: New developments in the guidelines VdS CEA 4001 for planning and installation - Including specific challenges for the protection of storage and the use of ESFR-sprinklers Case study: Major fire in and reconstruction of a medium-sized sawmill - Causes and consequences; the new fire protection concept including a sprinkler system Case study: Water Mist Protection of an underground mass transport system - Protection goal and overall concept; challenges posed by the architecture and users requirements; fire testing for validating a water mist system for this application (test method, fire tests and results); system realization Conference languages are Romanian and English with simultaneous translation. Registration for exhibition and conference is now open.

Specialists in advanced electronic fire and security solutions, Amthal has launched an interactive new website, providing easy access to the very latest smart solutions and industry news. Desktop to mobile experience The fully responsive website, providing a continuous desktop to mobile experience, features fresh new-look sections dedicated to latest product and service updates for professionals seeking guidance, alongside up to date advice for homeowners. The opportunity to monitor latest relevant fire and security videos and news will also be available The opportunity to monitor latest relevant fire and security videos and news will also be available and the website will now flow seamlessly with Amthal’s dedicated social media channels. Amthal products and service solutions Says Jamie Allam, Amthal Commercial Director, “With the growing reliance on mobile as a first port of call, alongside use of social media for recommendations, we have updated our website to ensure visitors, whether commercial or residential, can find information on Amthal’s full range of products and service solutions." He adds, “We love the fresh new look and feel of the site, especially the blog and video sections which will be regularly updated to ensure our visitors have up to date smart fire and security advice available in one place. The new site is another piece in the jigsaw of our marketing strategy and aligns our digital platform much more closely to our brand and future offerings.” Market and service capability Amthal's new website will be updated on a regular basis with market and service capability, news and case study updates together with team milestones.

INTERSCHUTZ and the USA: This winning combination is being very well received by suppliers of equipment, services and solutions for the fire and rescue services, civil protection, safety and security, with heavyweights like Spartan, MSA, Plymovent, OnSpot and HAIX already on board – all the more impressive since the show isn't taking place until the middle of October, 2020. Safety And Efficiency For Fire Departments I believe the support we have enjoyed, and continue to enjoy, for INTERSCHUTZ USA is two-fold" "I believe the support we have enjoyed, and continue to enjoy, for INTERSCHUTZ USA is two-fold. First, the respect for the reputation and the brand INTERSCHUTZ throughout the world, and certainly in the U.S., is very powerful. Second, the U.S. fire-service is ready for an event that brings people and technology together in the interest of greater security, safety and efficiency for fire departments and rescue services," said Larry Turner, CEO of Hannover Fairs USA. So what kinds of technologies will tomorrow's fire services need? What strategies are the most likely to succeed in the 21st century? And what about new safety standards? Answers to these questions and more will be provided by exhibitors, keynote speakers, presenters and trainers at INTERSCHUTZ USA. Firefighting And Rescue Equipment For five days next year, Philadelphia will be the center of attention for everyone in the U.S. with an interest in firefighting and rescue equipment, solutions and services. INTERSCHUTZ USA gets underway on 13 and 14 October with training sessions and a networking event. Then, from 15 to 17 October, INTERSCHUTZ USA will continue with its exhibition program, conferences, product demos and additional networking opportunities. There's a reason we decided to stage the show in Philadelphia, on the east coast of the USA" "There's a reason we decided to stage the show in Philadelphia, on the east coast of the USA," explains Martin Folkerts, Deutsche Messe's Global Director INTERSCHUTZ. "It is a city steeped in history, including fire service history, and it's a location that around 44 percent of the country's 27,000 fire departments can get to by car in less than four hours.” Companies who are quick to act can take advantage of a special early-bird rate valid until 1 January 2020. Relevant International Markets INTERSCHUTZ USA is Deutsche Messe's very first full-fledged INTERSCHUTZ event held outside Germany and ranks alongside the company's suite of co-produced INTERSCHUTZ-branded (‘powered by INTERSCHUTZ’) events such as the AFAC show in Australia and the REAS show in Italy. That is not to say that INTERSCHUTZ USA is competing with the parent INTERSHUTZ event in Hannover, Germany, which runs this coming June. Quite the contrary, in fact: While the show in Hannover targets all the relevant international markets, the event in Philadelphia targets only the North American market. "The point is, ‘remarks Turner,’ not everyone can make it to Hannover to attend INTERSCHUTZ in Germany. Which is why potential exhibitors and attendees alike are so excited about our move to bring the global INTERSCHUTZ experience to the U.S. fire service right here in the USA. The enthusiasm we have in the planning of INTERSCHUTZ USA and in the concept of bringing the global INTERSCHUTZ experience to the U.S. fire service has been contagious among potential exhibitors and attendees alike."

Coopers Fire will be based in the Fire Safety Summit zone of London Build. The Fire Safety & Ventilation Zone in partnership the Association for Specialist Fire Protection, is free to attend and provides the opportunity to meet with thousands of fire safety and ventilation professionals from across London and the UK (local councils, engineers, construction companies, architects installers, building managers, landlords, fire safety experts and more). The zone provides attendees with the opportunity to source the very latest solutions and innovations; to get CPD-accredited training; and to network with fire safety experts from across the UK. Smoke And Fire Curtain Products On the Wednesday 27th November, David Keeble from Coopers Fire will be presenting on Developments in Fire Curtain Technology in the Fire Safety Summit. David Keeble is the UK Sales Manager at Coopers Fire and has 15 years of experience in commercial construction, with a focus on Fire and Security. David has become a strong figure and voice in the education of key stakeholders in smoke and fire curtain products, markets and specifications, and with knowledge of building contracts, he works with these stakeholders to ensure smooth project delivery from concept design through to project management. Visit the Coopers Fire stand T40, to find out more about our BS 8524 fully compliant products and the new ResQ-Window a vision panel for fire curtains. At Coopers Fire, they are dedicated to advancing fire curtain and smoke curtain technology and improving ways to safeguard life and property. This commitment to developing products, testing and certification has meant that Coopers Fire is the benchmark used by Architects, Engineers and Regulators worldwide.

Door & Hardware Federation (DHF) is demonstrating its continuing support for Fire Door Safety Week by holding a series of free fire door safety seminars. The national awareness safety campaign, which took place between 23-29 September 2019, was launched in 2013 in response to a legacy of fire door neglect and aims to increase the public’s understanding of the role that fire doors play in protecting life and property. It is led by high-profile organizations such as the British Woodworking Federation (BWF), the BWF Fire Door Alliance (an evolution of the BWF CERTIFIRE Scheme) and the Fire Door Inspection Scheme (FDIS). DHF’s fire door seminars DHF’s fire door seminars will take place on the mornings of 14th January, 11th February and 17th March next year, and will be presented by the Chair of DHF’s Timber Doorset Group, Fiona Critchley. DHF has been a particularly vocal advocate for third-party certification of manufacture, installation, maintenance and inspection of fire, smoke and security doors, and earlier this year, joined forces with Secured by Design (SBD) and the Fire Industry Association (FIA) to publish a guidance document on flat entrance doorsets titled - A Guide for Selecting Flat Entrance Doorsets ‘A Guide for Selecting Flat Entrance Doorsets’ It is a publication for housing associations, landlords, building owners and local authorities in England, which highlights the fundamental issues of fire safety for those selecting fire doorsets. Those attending the fire door seminars will receive a free copy of the guidance document The federation has, since 2014, also partnered with BRE Academy to offer fire door training courses, together, developing three all- inclusive one-day training courses on fire door safety to offer greater clarity on the regulations and standards applying to fire doors. Supporting Fire Door Safety Week initiative Those attending the fire door seminars will receive a free copy of the guidance document. “We are delighted to continue to support Fire Door Safety Week and hope that our free seminars, which are open to all, will promote awareness and safety, in addition to educating delegates on the pivotal role that fire doors play in protecting lives and property,” says DHF’s Commercial Manager, Patricia Sowsbery-Stevens. She adds, “We continue to stress that the use of fire doors, correctly installed and with robust fire door maintenance procedures, are a key part of fire safety and urge those in positions of responsibility to seek the correct training with regards to installation and maintenance.”

Following feedback from customers, Aico a market pioneer in fire and CO protection have released an improved version of their web-based Alarm Selector. A common question that Aico’s technical teams are frequently asked is “What alarm type do I need?” The Alarm Selector has been designed to guide customers through this question and gives the customer a step by step online guide, enabling them to produce a specification for their alarm requirements for their properties. Customers can then take a basic or detailed specification to their local wholesaler, to order the products required or they can download a PDF version with no product codes. latest alarm type The simple mini specification gives customers the following information:- Alarm System Type Alarm Types and Recommended Products Alarm Features System Control and Installation Training Inspecting and Testing Helpful house graphic to show which rooms are covered by which alarm type The Alarm Selector has been updated to give all the latest alarm types in conformance with BS 5839-6:2019. The Alarm Selector can be found on the Aico website and takes a few minutes to complete, whereby the specification and information on alarm types can be downloaded or emailed to the customer. This tool makes determining which alarm types required quick and easy and has been designed to be a helpful addition for Aico’s customers.

Across the world, fire and rescue services vary greatly, and each will have their own unique circumstances and challenges to deal with. Firefighters in the USA and Australia are more likely to face wildland fires, whilst in the Middle East, firefighters deal more regularly with transport related fires involving hazardous materials. In many European countries, less than 10% of call-outs are fire related at all, with firefighters much more likely to attend traffic accidents, medical emergencies or flooding. A range of different climates also provide firefighters with specific challenges. Providing Optimum Protection These fabrics can offer resistance to fire, increased breathability, control of moisture, and a lighter weight Firefighters in hot and tropical Indonesia for example, will have different requirements to those in hot and arid South Africa, whilst those in Scandinavia operate in more temperate and cooler conditions. It’s important, therefore, that PPE manufacturers can provide a wide variety of options to suit particular environments and operations. PPE must be highly effective, comfortable, and suitable for the job in hand, wherever in the world the firefighters are operating. Selecting the right fabric for your PPE is the first step in providing optimum protection for the environment you are operating in. International fibre and fabric manufacturers have developed a number of highly specialized materials offering a range of benefits. Used in combination, these fabrics can offer resistance to fire, increased breathability, control of moisture, and a lighter weight. Best Quality Firefighting Garments Highly specialized and lightweight fibers for the outer-shell of a garment, for example, can provide outstanding air permeability and breathability, allowing metabolic heat to escape, whilst of course providing vital protection against the intense external heat and flames of a fire. The best quality firefighting garments combine this type of outer shell with an inner moisture barrier and liner system which draws moisture away from the skin, helping to keep the body cool and dry. Strenuous work in a hot environment causes profuse sweating, and if this sweat is not able to evaporate, the body is not able to cool itself effectively. Once the most appropriate fabric is chosen, the design and style of a garment also plays a crucial role in contributing to a firefighters’ safety. Maintaining A Comfortable Body Temperature Search and Rescue operations often take place once the immediate danger of flame is removed Whether operating in bushland, floods, on the roadside or even in extremely cold conditions, firefighters need to maintain a comfortable body temperature and stay dry. They are also likely to need to crawl, run, and climb to carry out the job in hand. Any protective clothing must be ergonomic and has to be able to work with them rather than hinder them. As a result, over and above the full structural firefighting garments available to FRSs, manufacturers have also developed innovative designs for more specific applications. For example, Search and Rescue operations often take place once the immediate danger of flame is removed, with USAR or technical rescue teams entering enclosed and confined spaces where high temperatures and often toxic smoke are hazards. Particular Protection Against Radiant Heat USAR firefighting garments therefore should be tear and puncture resistant, provide protection against blood-borne pathogens, offer physical protection at high risk points such as the knees and elbows, provide a high level of flexibility to afford maneuvrability in confined spaces, and crucially be lightweight and breathable to minimize heat stress. Alternatively, for firefighters engaged specifically in combatting forest and wildland fires, garments need to provide particular protection against radiant heat, and ideally feature a double layer of fabric to protect against sharp thorns and undergrowth. Today, many FRSs across the world use a combination of structural and technical rescue garments which can be particularly useful when faced with a range of operations requiring different levels of protection. Rescue jackets are worn with standard structural trousers when responding to a road traffic accident International Standards Of Performance For PPE Frequently, rescue jackets are worn with standard structural trousers when responding to a road traffic accident, for example. So long as these garments are tested and approved as compatible before they are used in combination, this can serve to improve ergonomics and comfort, and crucially can contribute to the lowering of heat stress in firefighters. There are currently three major standard-setting bodies on the world stage To ensure the best level of protection, most countries demand conformity with both national and international standards of performance for PPE. There are currently three major standard-setting bodies on the world stage, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) which covers the USA, Latin America and the Asia/Pacific region, the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN) which covers Europe, and the International Standards Organisation (ISO) which sets standards worldwide. Lighting And Communications Equipment In addition, each country will have its own National Standards Body (NSB), setting standards for its own specific interests. Ultimately, it is down to the customer to decide which standards they would like their PPE to follow. The best manufacturers can create PPE to meet a number of these standards simultaneously. These include alternative types of trouser front, leg openings and knee-pads, as well as cuff styles on fire coats Different countries, and even individual FRSs, often have particular additional requirements for their PPE, which can simply be down to style or color preference, or to accommodate particular tools or equipment they use. These include alternative types of trouser front, leg openings and knee-pads, as well as cuff styles on fire coats. Operational safety features such as integrated safety harnesses and drag rescue devices can also be specified. In addition, firefighter accessories including tools, lighting and communications equipment all have to be carried safely requiring a selection of loops, straps, D-rings, glove hooks, and pockets and flaps. Developing Innovative Solutions Finally, most FRSs aim to present a professional and clearly recognizable identity to their communities, so particular colors and badging can be an important feature of PPE. This has led to the introduction of a wide range of fabric colors and the increased use of Velcro fixings for identification badges with logos, names and roles being individually catered for. Called upon to handle an ever-increasing variety of challenges, in contrasting climates and situations, firefighters across the world are certainly faced with complex environments in which to operate. By carefully studying these conditions and listening closely to customers, PPE designers and fabric manufacturers will continue to work together to develop innovative solutions to meet these specific needs and create optimum garments for maximum protection and comfort.

Water is key to any firefighting operation. Being able to secure an adequate water supply is critical a critical skill for all fire departments. One of the most challenging scenarios to secure a water supply in is when there is no municipal water supply, or it is lacking in volume and flow. When fires occur in these areas, the only alternative is to shuttle water from the nearest municipal supply or a static body of water. To get the highest flow possible, departments must train on shuttle setup and equipment to analyze where improvements can be made.Water supplies should be evaluated based on the largest fire hazard in the area using the source A smoothly operating high-flow water shuttle takes pre-planning and training. A goal of training is to find the bottlenecks (constraints) in the system limiting flow. The theory of constraints is an approach to process optimization use to identify bottlenecks, then eliminate the bottleneck or adjust the process to meet the speed of the bottleneck. The only way to improve the process output, in this case fireground flow rate, is by improving bottlenecks. Improving non-bottlenecks does not improve the process output. Training provides the opportunity to identify and correct bottlenecks. The following examines some common constraints of a water shuttle. Identifying A Water Source The time to identify a water source for a fill site is not when the alarm bell goes off. Water supplies identified for fill sites must be able to provide the target fill rate of 1000 gpm. Natural bodies of water must be evaluated during different times of the year This is based on the restrictions placed on ploy tanks of 100psig inlet pressure and 1000gpm inlet flow. It is possible to fill none poly tanks at faster rate if designed for it, but there are less chance for mistakes if the fill rate is standardized at 1000gpm. Along with flow, adequate volume must be available at the fill site. Water supplies should be evaluated based on the largest fire hazard in the area using the source. Another way to evaluate the minimum volume is the ISO standard. A shuttle must be able to maintain a flow of 250gpm for two hours. This requires a water source to have a minimum volume of 30,000 gallons. Natural bodies of water must be evaluated during different times of the year to make sure the minimum volume remains adequate. Data capture form to appear here! Know Your Flow Rates Normally, using a municipal hydrant system is a good choice for a fill site as it has significant water supply to support a fill site operation. A large or extended fire has the potential to deplete smaller water systems. Some hydrants easily flow over 1000gpm yet other hydrants in the same system may flows less than 1000gpm It is important to know the system capacity when using a municipal supply for tanker operations. Flow from the hydrant can be another constraint at the fill site. Some hydrants easily flow over 1000gpm yet other hydrants in the same system may flows less than 1000gpm. Knowing the flow rate of hydrants used for a fill site is a critical component of fill site pre-planning. Dry hydrants are the most efficient way to access static water supplies Static Sources And Dry Hydrants Static sources can provide a good water supply for filling tankers if the volume is adequate and there is access. Access to a static water supply can be done in several ways, pre-planning will allow the most effective and efficient means to be used when water is needed. The most efficient way to access static water supplies is by installing a dry hydrant from the water source to an area an engine can easily access.Dry hydrants minimize the equipment, time, and personnel needed to start drafting operations at the fill site Dry hydrants minimize the equipment, time, and personnel needed to start drafting operations at the fill site. If a dry hydrant is not installed, a strainer must be connected an adequate amount of suction hose to reach the water. Most engines carry two 10-foot sections of suction hose, this limits the distance between the engine and water source without collecting additional suction hose from other apparatus. The amount of suction carried on engines was tied to the limitation of motorized primers. These primers had the potential for the motor to burn out if operated for the extended period to prime more than 20 feet of 6” suction line. With the advent of air driven primers, it is possible to prime significantly more than 20 feet of 6” suction without equipment failure. If the volume is adequate, static sources can provide a good water supply for filling tankers Dump Tank And Pumps The fill rate must be reduced to allow the portable pumps to keep level of the dump tank during tanker filling Portable pumps can access water supplies that are out of reach of standard engines. Setting up a water supply with portable pumps requires a significant amount of equipment and personnel. To get the desired 1000gpm fill rate, an open relay to supply an engine is normally constructed. The dump tank(s) used for the open relay and the engine’s tank must have sufficient capacity to fill the largest tanker in the shuttle at 1000gpm. If this is not the case, the fill rate must be reduced to allow the portable pumps to keep level of the dump tank during tanker filling or add more pumps to increase the supply to the open relay. Moving The Fill Area If tanker traffic flow is smoother in an adjacent area, the fill area should be moved The physical layout of the fill site can become a bottleneck. It must be large enough to allow two tanker to be positioned for filling. Traffic cones are used to mark the spot where each tanker must stop for the fill lines to reach. If the area is overly congested with the engine and tankers, the area for filling the tankers must be moved. This is facilitated by using LDH to make the fill site remote from the fill engine. Even if the site is large enough to allow the tankers to be filled near the engine, the flow of traffic may be less than optimal. If tanker traffic flow is smoother in an adjacent area, the fill area should be moved. When designating the tanker filling areas traffic flow is a major consideration. The site should be such that no maneuvering is needed, but if it is required the tankers do so when empty. The physical layout of the fill site must be large enough to allow two tankers to be positioned for filling Tankers At The Fill Site Ideally tankers are filled with two 2 ½” or 3” lines. Some new tankers are equipped with LDH fill connection. If the plumbing downstream of the connection is large enough to support the fill rate neither of these connections will restrict fill rates.The plumbing between the hose connection and the tank is a potential for bottleneck of the goal of 1000gpm The plumbing between the hose connection and the tank is a potential for bottleneck of the goal of 1000gpm. Tankers with a single non-LDH fill connection will struggle to meet the target fill rate. This bottleneck may be difficult to overcome without major redesign of the tanker. Two Ways Lines There are two ways lines at the fill site are normally laid out: running 2 ½” or 3” lines from the individual discharges of the engine or running the 2 ½” or 3” lines from a water thief manifold fed by LDH from the engine. Both have advantages and disadvantages. Using individual discharges will require more hose to reach both fill stations. The location of the discharge may require the operator to be standing next to pressurized line. The opening and closing of the discharges will place added wear on the engine’s valves. Using two 2 ½” discharges will allow the desired fill rate of 1000gpm without overloading the capacity of each discharge. Two 2 ½” discharges will allow the desired fill rate of 1000gpm where individual discharges would require more hoses If the LDH is supplied from a 2 ½” discharge with an adapter, it is highly likely the goal of 1000gpm may not be met A water thief fed with LDH provides the option to place the fill lane and the water supply a distance apart. The water thief lets an LDH line be added to fill tankers equipped with LDH fills. The biggest disadvantage is the ability to achieve 1000gpm depending on how the LDH is fed. Engines with true LDH discharges will not have an issue supplying the LDH at 1000gpm. On the other hand, if the LDH is supplied from a 2 ½” discharge with an adapter, it is highly likely the goal of 1000gpm may not be met. This situation can be improved by using a siemese or trimese to feed the LDH for multiple 2 ½” discharges on the engine. Many factors go into selecting the best fill site configuration for a department, it is critical to train and test in order to determine what is most effective and efficient for your department. Manifold systems being set up and operated Choose The Right Place For A Dump Site The dump site is the equivalent to a fire hydrant, except it takes a larger footprint and can be placed where it will provide the best benefit to the fire ground. This might mean setting the dump site a distance from the fire ground and supplying the attack engine using LDH.Tankers must be able to maintain a steady flow through dump site without unneeded maneuvering It is more important placing the dump site where the best flow of tankers can be obtained. Tankers must be able to maintain a steady flow through dump site without unneeded maneuvering. Setting up a dump site in an intersection provides additional room to keep things moving at the dump site. Dump tanks impact the overall flow of the shuttle in several ways including footprint and capacity. Real estate is a precious commodity at a dumpsite. It may be necessary to place the dump site a distance from the fireground to have enough room to set up tanks and provide a smooth flow of traffic. The larger the tank capacity, the larger the footprint. Sometimes the tank can be wider than the road, for example a 3000-gallon tank is 14’x14’. This presents a problem when trying to setup on a narrow country road or a congested city street. A solution to this is using the single lane style tank that is 8’x14’ for 2100-gallons and fits nicely in front of or behind the supply engine. Larger tanks also leave more water in the bottom once the limits of the low-level strainer is reached. Tankers maintaining a steady flow through the dump site without unneeded maneuvering Single Or Multiple Dump Tanks? Using multiple dump tanks increases the flow at the fireground, but requires transferring the water from the secondary to the primary tank There must be enough space at the dump site to add dump tanks should additional capacity be needed. If there is no place for tankers to dump, tankers will back up waiting for room in the tank. The easiest way to maintain flow is adding an additional dump tank. Not only must the area have room to add additional tanks once available, the tanks must be spaced out to allow two tankers to dump at the same time. This will increase the flow of the shuttle by keeping tankers moving and putting more water at the dump site. The space also provides a safe area for fire fighter working at the dump site. Using multiple dump tanks is needed to increase the flow at the fireground, but it requires some method of transferring the water from the secondary tanks to the primary tank. This has the potential to create several bottlenecks. For efficiency, water should always be transferred from the secondary tank to the primary tank. Ladders can be used as a bridge over the middle tank to run the transfer hose over to the primary tank When there is another tank between the secondary and primary tank there is the temptation to flow water into the middle tank before going to the primary tank. This is extremely inefficient. A ladder can be used as a bridge over the middle tank to run the transfer hose over. This allow the secondary tanks to have roughly the same available capacity when tankers dump which is important when dumping more than one tanker at a time.A ladder can be used as a bridge over the middle tank to run the transfer hose over. Appropriate Use Of Jet Siphons Jet siphons are commonly used to transfer water into the primary tank from secondary tanks. Along with transferring water between tanks, it is possible to us multiple intakes form the pump going to secondary tanks. Multiple dump tanks require multiple jet-siphons to transfer water to the primary tanks. Each jet siphon requires water from the engine to drive it. Jet siphons can take up to 300gpm each to transfer water at rates over 750gpm. Jet siphons require water from the engine to drive it and can take up to 300gpm each to transfer water Dump sites are tight, while we may want to bring in a second engine to transfer water it just will not fit most of the time The water used to drive the jet-siphons takes away from the pump capacity available to supply the fire ground. With a 1250gpm engine at the dumpsite, using a single jet siphon has the potential to reduce the available capacity of the pump to 950gpm. One way to address this problem is by testing jet siphons to determine the most efficient ones in inventory. The other way is by using a secondary pump to transfer water. Dump sites are tight, while we may want to bring in a second engine to transfer water it just will not fit most of the time. This is when small grass trucks and portable pumps come into play. Both options take up much less room than a full-size engine. Most small pumps have the capacity to drive jet-siphon. It is important to train with this setup to insure the pump can adequately drive the jet-siphons. Use The Strainer Correctly One thing many people fail to recognize as a bottleneck is the low-level strainer. The strainer that has been on the truck for decades is viewed as being fine, it has always worked. In reality, old low-level strainers were designed and optimized at a time when 750 and 1000gpm pumps were the norm, not the 1250gpm and up pumps in use today. An old strainer with a front intake can restrict the pump capacity to less than 50% Couple an old strainer with a front intake as we had at a recent drill, and the pump was restricted to less than 50% capacity Couple an old strainer with a front intake as we had at a recent drill, and the pump was restricted to less than 50% capacity. Fortunately, there a new design strainer was available which allowed the pump to reach 80% capacity. While flow is important when evaluating a low-level strainer, how low the water can be pulled before taking in air is also a primary consideration. A strainer that flows over 1500gpm but leaves 12” of water in the bottom of the tank will eventually cause a bottleneck in the shuttle. There needs to be a balance between maximum flow and maximum extraction capability when evaluating strainers. Old low-level strainers were designed and optimized at a time when 750 and 1000gpm pumps were the norm Supply Engine At The Dump Site The engine with the largest pump must be the supply engine at the dump site Depending on the design, the engine can be the bottleneck to the flow available to fireground. The engine with the largest pump must be the supply engine at the dump site. Even though the largest pump is used, the available flow can be reduced depending on which intake is used. For mid-mount pumps, the side intake provides the highest flow as the water goes directly into the pump. It is common for engines with mid-mount pumps to have front and/or rear intakes. Using these inlets at the dump site allows the engine to be in line with the dump tanks to create a lower profile but this come at a cost. It is common for engines with mid-mount pumps to have front intakes Another solution is using a 90-degree elbow from the side intake to go to the front or rear of the engineThese inlets will provide less than the rated capacity of the pump due to additional losses in the plumbing. Front intakes can restrict the capacity around 50% while the rear intakes can cause a restriction of 25% or more. A solution to this is bending the suction hose from the side to the front or rear, but this will use an entire section of hose just for the bend. Another solution is using a 90-degree elbow from the side intake to go to the front or rear of the engine. Elbows with a large radius provide minimal impact to the capacity of the pump and does not waste a section of suction for the bend. Rear intakes can cause a restriction of 25% or more and a solution to this is bending the suction hose from the side Stationary Tankers Can Be A Problem A line of tankers waiting to dump points to the dumpsite as the bottleneckA stationary tanker is an indication of a bottleneck in the system. Where the tankers are standing still points to the location of the bottleneck. If they are waiting to get filled, the bottleneck is the fill site. A line of tankers waiting to dump points to the dumpsite as the bottleneck. This might mean establishing a second fill site or adding a tank at the dumpsite. Running out of water at the dump site means there is a bottleneck somewhere, if tankers are moving there are not enough for the length of the shuttle route. High-flow shuttles requires continuous evaluation to key water flowing smoothly and make adjustments when needed. As your tanker shuttle is examined in detail other bottlenecks may present themselves. The ones presented here are the more common ones departments have experienced. In order to identify and fix bottleneck, shuttle training on a regular basis is a must. Once a year is the minimum. The more you can train with all the departments that would be involved in your water shuttle the better. Tools to help plan and determine the flow rate of your water shuttle can be found at Ohio Fire Chiefs Water Supply Technical Advisory Committee.

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.

The biggest causes of false fire alarms are older technology and systems that are improperly designed and/or not maintained. Modern technology, proper design and regular maintenance can minimize false alarms. Systems over 15 to 20 years old do not have the technical means to handle deceptive phenomena. Proper planning, design, installation, commissioning and maintenance should be provided by firms certified for such work as defined in the European Standard EN 16763 Services for fire alarm and security systems. Preventing false alarms False alarms and counterstrategies must be taken seriously by the planner from the beginning of the planning process in the fire protection plan. The prevention of false alarms is also the responsibility of the operators and site managers. There is still a lot of optimization potential. These are some of the observations from the Euralarm False Alarm Study (2019), which looks at the situation in Germany, Austria (Vorarlberg), Sweden, Switzerland, and United Kingdom. To further the reduction of false fire alarms even more, better data is needed to outline and support any measures defined.To further the reduction of false fire alarms, better data is needed to outline and support any measures defined The study also shows that, in some regions, approximately 30% of the false alarms are caused by 5% of the sites. “We have to optimize the planning and application processes,” says Dr. Sebastian Festag, who headed up the research. Euralarm “False Fire Alarms” task group The Euralarm “False Fire Alarms” task group completed a three-year study in 2018 that aimed to identify the actual state of the false alarm issue of fire detection and alarm systems (FDAS), their conditions, main causes and measurements to reduce them. The result of the work is the False Alarm Study (2019), which was the follow-up to a pre-study that led to an observation of the questionable quality and availability of data. The lack of common data and terminologies – as seen in the first study – makes further analysis and the development of prevention strategies difficult. Reducing the incidence of false alarms requires an understanding of the phenomenon and the conditions (terms, data, transmission paths, standards and calculations). Differences and similarities among countries could be used to derive measures to influence the issue and its ratio, but the circumstances between countries are too varied to truly compare. Systems over 15 to 20 years old do not have the technical means to handle deceptive phenomena Comparisons between countries are not possible In the countries that were visited, the Fire Services collected the data. “An observation here is that comparisons between countries is not possible; hence gaining a better understanding through this process today has limits,” says Lance Rütimann, Chairman of the Euralarm Fire Section and member of the Task Group. In the context of fire safety engineering, a false alarm is a fire alarm with no conditions that motivates a fire interventionThe study differentiates between a “real” fire alarm and a false fire alarm. “Real” means that there is a fire alarm with a fire or other conditions that requires an intervention, either by someone in the building or the fire services. “False” alarms are defined as events in which experts establish that there is no real hazard existing. In the context of fire safety engineering, a false alarm is a fire alarm with no conditions that motivates a fire intervention (the alarm is not classified as a real fire alarm; a fire intervention is unjustified). False Alarm Study Lists Counterstrategies One chapter of the False Alarm Study lists an overview of counterstrategies. There are many well-known measures (e.g. two-detector dependency), and technical progress provides new opportunities (e. g. multisensory-detectors) Founded in 1970, Euralarm is an organization representing over 5000 companies within the fire safety and security industry valued at 67 billion Euros. The organization provides leadership and expertise for industry, market, policy makers and standards bodies. Euralarm members make society safer and secure through systems and services for fire detection and extinguishing, intrusion detection, access control, video monitoring, alarm transmission and alarm receiving centers. Euralarm members are national associations and individual companies from across Europe. Not all can be avoided People get annoyed by false fire alarms, which pull them out of what they are doing and force them to evacuate a building. However, it is a misconception that all false fire alarms can be avoided. A fire detection and fire alarm system is constantly monitoring and evaluating the environment in a building. Sometimes what might be perceived as a false fire alarm is in fact an event that was caught in a very early stage. Clearly it is better to be safe than sorry, and to move people to a safe area whilst intervention forces are in action.It is a misconception that all false fire alarms can be avoided False alarms should not be seen as purely negative. A lot can be learned from false alarms; for example, in dealing with vulnerabilities in the technical and organizational alerting process. In general, the number of false alarms is falling, while the number of installed systems is rising, demonstrating that technology works and that false alarm reduction strategies are effective. The number of false fire alarms had declined in all countries in the last years/decades due to optimized technologies. The industry is focusing on the remaining false alarms, some of which are systems that are outdated, no longer meeting site conditions and/or are not professionally maintained.

Dame Judith Hackett’s recommendations to the U.K. Government after the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017 were that the competence of the individuals working in the construction and life cycle of Higher Risk Residential Buildings (HRRBs) needs to improve and be clearer. Work had already started in many fire protection sectors to create fully recognized qualifications, and these help raise the benchmark. Improving fire safety training A force driving improvements in training is the Fire Industry Association (FIA). As a trade association, FIA is looking at ways to help its members and the broader industry sectors. One way to do that is to improve the training that FIA has provided to fire detection and fire alarm technicians for over 20 years. Having looked at various ways of doing this, FIA’s members agreed that creating nationally recognized qualifications would help add more professionalism to this sector. To offer nationally recognized qualifications, the FIA chose to become an awarding body registered with OFQUAL [Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation]. Initially, training is focused on the FD&A [Fire Detection and Alarm] sector, with future plans to offer training in other fire sectors. The process of becoming an awarding body was rigorous and difficult. It took FIA more than three years of applying and submitting policy documents before the organization finally achieved awarding body status in 2014. Fire system installation roles Training is provided in the four job roles as described in the fire system installation standard BS 5389/1: 2017 Training is provided in the four job roles as described in the fire system installation standard BS 5389/1: 2017; they are Design, Installation, Commissioning and Maintenance. These roles are also recognized within company third party certifications schemes (LPS 1014 and BAFE SP203). The designer designs the FD&A system, and the Installer installs it. The Commissioning technician checks and signs off the installation, and the Maintenance technician will complete the routine maintenance during the life of the system. Training modules Training in FIA’s four qualifications, at National Vocational Qualification Level 3, is broken down into modules. The Foundation is the information that each job role needs and is common to all four job roles, as is the Environment module and the Health and Safety module. These are the core modules. The final job-specific module picks up on the differences among the roles; e.g., what does a maintenance technician need to know that is different to an install technician? “Providing a qualification requires a process of asking the sector what it wants,” says Martin Duggan, General Manager, Fire Industry Association (FIA). “We went through a comprehensive route with ‘voice of the customer’ days and surveys plus syllabus reviews to check and double-check that the qualification reflects what the industry wants.” The base is the BS 5389 standard, although more was added such as Health and Safety and Environmental aspects. National Vocational Qualification Level 3 Level 3 is for supervisors or unsupervised workers and in a lot of cases, the individual will work unsupervised once they are qualified and have gained experience. The work done to create the services standard EN 16763: 2017 Services for Fire Safety Systems and Security Systems identified Level 3 as the appropriate level. The trailblazer aimed at apprentices in this sector also reached a conclusion that level 3 was the right one, as did FIA’s own research. Many electricians and security companies install fire alarm systems as their skills are very similar; however, the Fire Safety Order (England and Wales) states that a responsible person should only use competent persons to install and maintain fire protection systems. But how do you prove competence? Training in FIA’s four qualifications, at National Vocational Qualification Level 3, is broken down into modules Fire Safety Order “One of the worst things we see from all types of installers into buildings is leaving big holes in compartment walls,” says Duggan. (A compartment wall is designed to contain the spread of fire for a designated period of time.) “These should all be correctly sealed up.” The work being done by Working Group 2 (Installers) as part of the industry response group to Government on Dame Judith Hackett’s recommendations includes: Company third party certification (so that the purchasing of services is done through a recognized company). The individuals the companies employ have a relevant recognized qualification. This is backed up on site with a CSCS (Construction Skills Certification Scheme) card or equivalent. Continuous Professional Development (CPD) or refresher training is introduced A basic knowledge of fire safe building and compartmentation is understood. “It’s this final piece that will help drive cultural change quickly, if we can implement it correctly,” says Duggan. “Can we get all installers to understand why we build compartments and why it’s so important not to damage these and allow smoke, heat and fire to move freely about a building?” LPS 1014 and BAFE SP203 The benchmark for the FD&A industry has been third party certification with the two schemes LPS 1014 and BAFE SP203 The benchmark for the FD&A industry has been company third party certification with the two schemes LPS 1014 and BAFE SP203 being well established for the last 20 years; however, there are many companies that still are not registered, says Duggan. The excuse is based on cost, that customers are not asking for it, and that it’s not mandatory. “The way the current legislation works and is policed, it’s only likely that poor installations etc. will be found after a serious fire when it’s too late,” says Duggan. “Unfortunately, customers do not fully understand their duties to only employ competent people, and the courts will ask: What is the industry best practice and what more could have been done to prove your competence?” Third party schemes “We have company third party schemes for most fire protection disciplines and there are qualifications coming online for most sectors as well,” says Duggan. “These are what the FIA would point to as best practice.”

After the World Trade Center attack, First Responders had difficulty communicating quickly and comprehensively. Other crises and emergency events such as the Sandy Hook School shootings, Hurricane Katrina, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, the Parkland School shootings and many more have continued to validate the desperate need for interoperable communication among First Responders. First Responders, first line of defense In emergency situations, First Responders are the first line of defense for safety and rescue missions. They depend on digital and connected technologies to facilitate life-saving assistance, manage crisis situations, and to bring order to chaos. There is a lack of infrastructure for communications media (radio, video, mobile communications, sensory information, telephony, data files and chat) throughout disconnected silos in both vertical and horizontal environments. Universally, national interoperable communications solutions for emergency response have remained elusive, despite significant investments and determined efforts by many. The company supplies secured communications technologies that deliver speed, flexibility Providing a solution for interoperable communications is Agile, Bethesda, Md., formerly known as Agile Interoperable Solutions. The company supplies secured communications technologies that deliver speed, flexibility and a range of 4G, 5G and LTE coverage. Agile’s line of incident command products support both land and marine applications and do not require hardware changes or full replacement with each new generation. CORE system integration platform Each Agile technology is an extension of its flagship product, CORE (Common Operating Radio Engine). CORE integrates Landline, Cellular, Radio, Wi-Fi and Satellite communications in a portable, ruggedized enclosure supporting incident response and command and control functions. CORE provides interoperability and unified incident command for secure communications among multiple and disparate parties, agencies, vehicles and IoT-enabled devices under harsh conditions. In conjunction with CORE’s interoperable capabilities, Agile’s remote management and virtual SIM technologies provide flexibility and economies of both SIM utilization and hardware maintenance. The management server allows in-field units to be supported, updated, and reconfigured remotely. Virtualization allows SIMS to be loaded onto Agile’s cellular gateways from a central SIM library as needed to change or add cell carriers or a number of active LTE connections. Agile’s technologies provide voice, SMS, MMS, IMS and data over 4G, 5G and LTE up to gigabit coverage. Public and infrastructure safety First Responders should be first in line to this technology because their job is to save lives" “First Responders should be first in line to this technology because their job is to save lives,” says Vernon Guillermo, Agile’s Co-Chief Executive Officer/COO. “Emergencies are unpredictable, and the nature of risk dictates that one does not know who one needs to coordinate with, where that person is or what form of communications and information will be required to mitigate or manage the issues that arise.” First Responder workforces face the most demanding and often dangerous work environments, performing jobs that are critical to public safety and protecting infrastructure, delivering patients to hospitals, fighting fires, operating mass transit vehicles and maintaining the power grid. “These mission-critical workers cannot afford to be disconnected from dispatchers and operations – even for a few minutes. Agile’s technology, CORE, provides the solution for First Responders to achieve secured interoperable communications”, says Shehryar Wahid, Agile Co-Chief Executive Officer/CTO. Bridging communication gaps “During times when immediate and coordinated communication is tantamount, Agile can provide the bridge to close communications gaps and help keep First Responders connected and assist them in their efforts to save lives”, says Wahid. Agile’s technologies are being deployed by a major Southern Florida municipality’s First Responders and firefighters and are on the verge of being deployed by other governmental and non-governmental entities. The 9-11 Commission discovered that a lack of interoperable communications between fire and police was a serious problem that hampered evacuations and contributed to the deaths of personnel after the attacks on the World Trade Center buildings. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) National Emergency Communications Plan (NECP) defines “interoperability” as follows, “The ability of emergency responders to communicate among jurisdictions, disciplines, and levels of government, using a variety of frequency bands, as needed and as authorized.” CORE integrates landline, cellular, radio, WiFi and satellite communications Secured interoperable communications tools Wahid says Agile’s technologies help address this challenge by offering secure interoperable communications tools. Additionally, emergency environments are not static events; new primary, secondary and tertiary effects can emerge rapidly. Therefore, communications are needed with those both in immediate proximity and considerably more remote. “The individuals who are tasked with running these communication systems can themselves be bandwidth-challenged, given the increasing complexity of technology they are required to master while facing increasingly tighter budgets,” Wahid adds. Funding and implementation of technology in general can be challenging. In addition to direct purchasing of Agile products, Agile offers leasing options to ensure affordability to those with challenging budgets. All Agile’s products are solid-state and ruggedized to withstand severe and extreme weather conditions. Agile is the crucial tool and solution First Responders need to help them save lives. “Agile just provides First Responders the desperately needed secured interoperable communications tools,” Wahid says. “There is a misconception that interoperable communications have already been achieved,” says Guillermo. “Unfortunately, with unpredictable emergencies that arise all over the world, First Responders are reminded with each event about the critical need for integrative communications under the most rigorous of circumstances. Agile’s mission is to bring the complete solution to First Responders globally.”

Gent by Honeywell has supplied its innovative fire alarm and detection system to Brains Brewery’s flagship production plant in Cardiff. The recent installation is part of the Welsh brewing giant’s original plant that will enable it to meet the beer market’s growing demand for more diverse styles of beer. The project was completed by the fire alarm division of mechanical and electrical engineers, JW Morris, who has worked closely with Gent for the past 12 years. The company is one of Gent 24’s network of elite system integrators and has extensive knowledge of Gent’s entire product range. Fire safety of Cardiff production plant Faults arose from a combination of the age of the FDA equipment and the nature of the brewery environment When Brains Brewery moved its production facilities from Cardiff city center back to the site of the original Cardiff building, the site needed significant renovation work as it was more than 100 years old. JW Morris, which was involved from the beginning of the project, looked at Brains’ system and first devised a short term solution to get it back up and running. The system had suffered from water ingress, which proved to be a real challenge. Faults arose from a combination of the age of the FDA equipment and the nature of the brewery environment. S-Quad range of multi sensors JW Morris designed the most efficient, cost effective solution using a fully addressable Gent system, including the S-Quad range. The S-Quad range of multi sensors has been leading the way in the fire detection industry thanks to the devices’ unique combination of sensing elements that provide quick, intelligent fire decisions. Each of the devices has up to four different functions in one product – sensor, sounder, strobe and speech – and uses patented dual angle optical scatter smoke detection to improve both the speed and integrity of fire detection. Fire alarm and detection system The company replaced around 500 devices that were in the building using the existing wiring which saved the expense of having to rewire the whole site. The building consists of an admin block with around 30-40 staff, plus engineering staff and brewing staff based in the old stone built brewery. Due to the nature of the brewing process in certain areas, there was a need to install environmentally protected detectors. Now if we have a fire alarm situation, we go straight to the device and can detect the problem and deal with it" Keith Gorf, Engineering Manager at Brains Brewery, said “We are delighted with the new system. Previously if we had a fault, we weren’t able to locate it and if we had a fire alarm situation we wouldn’t have been able to identify the problem. Now if we have a fire alarm situation, we go straight to the device and can detect the problem and deal with it. For example, if it’s a steam leak, we can reset the system knowing exactly what the issue is.” Combined sounder – strobe feature Geraint Thomas, divisional manager, JW Morris said “Our proposal was not to replace all of the existing detection and alarm devices but to utilize much of the existing cabling to reduce the cost and disruption. The combined sounder/strobe features of the equipment used allowed for the existing sounder circuits to be removed which helped to significantly reduce costs associated with fault finding and minimize disruption to the business.” Simon Adams, Business Manager South West & South Wales, Gent said “Brains Brewery’s flagship production plant in Cardiff will enable it to meet the beer market’s growing demand for diverse styles of beer. We are delighted that a Gent system will provide the ultimate FDA solution that protects this state of the art structure, and its employees.”

Since Westfield Stratford City opened its doors in east London last September amid a flurry of publicity, its 300 stores have lived up to the hype with thousands of visitors flocking to the shopping centre. The new £1.4 billion Westfield project is Europe’s largest urban shopping mall and will form a formidable gateway to the London 2012 Olympics. Fire protection specialists Premier Fire Systems Limited, is one of a huge network of contractors that was involved with the electrical installation systems in the building’s 1.9 million square feet of retail and leisure space. The Essex based fire safety solutions firm worked with several industry partners to provide the highest quality fire detection solution for the entire Landlord’s area of the mall. Gent by Honeywell fire detection & alarm system Premier Fire Systems won the contract to design, supply and install a life safety systems in Samsung’s flagship store One month before the grand shopping center opening, Premier Fire Systems Limited also won a contract to design, supply, install and commission life safety systems in Samsung’s Electronic flagship store. Premier Fire System Limited started work on the project in August 2011 and completed the installation ready for the Samsung store’s opening in early November. On both occasions, Gent by Honeywell fire detection and alarm (FDA) systems were selected as the most appropriate solutions for the projects. The initial brief for Samsung’s first ever UK store centered on the significance of the unit’s high quality aesthetics. Simon Ford, contracts manager, Premier Fire Systems Limited, explained “It was very important for the client to have the optimum level of protection for its customers and staff and also an FDA system that was very discreet in its design. The store is all about showcasing Samsung’s innovative products so the cosmetic element of the system was an essential consideration when we designed the solution.” Air Sampling Detection systems The Samsung Electronics store, situated on the ground level of Westfield Stratford, consists of two levels of retail space on the ground and mezzanine floors which are open to the Mall’s shoppers, as well as a ‘back of house’ area for employees and stock. Premier Fire Systems Limited selected the Gent Vigilon compact system, integrating it with Gent’s discreet aspirating smoke detection systems on the sales floors and a conventional system in the non-public areas. Fire industry expert Gent by Honeywell launched its first range of aspirating products, last September to provide customers with one of the most flexible solutions on the market. The Gent range of Air Sampling Detection (ASD) systems work by taking air samples from the monitored area and analysing them for the presence of smoke particles. Fire detectors The full range of detectors means that businesses can choose the right detector to match the specific application as the products meet all of the coverage levels set in EN54 part 20. Simon continued “The ASD system removed the need to have several smoke heads in Samsung’s store. The discreet design was ideal for the customer’s requirement and that is also matched by the system’s high quality performance. The active sampling technology enables the identification of a possible fire in its very earliest stages" He adds, "The active sampling technology enables the identification of a possible fire in its very earliest stages from just 1 gram of material combustion. It provided the perfect solution in this case, where the requirement was for general detection but the normal point systems weren’t suitable.” System integration Premier Fire Systems Limited has had a close working relationship with Gent for several years and has built up a range of expertise and product knowledge in Gent’s products. The company has been part of Gent’s network of System Integrators for the past five years and has recently been promoted to an Elite System integrator. There are just 17 Elite System Integrators in Gent’s 24 networks, who have been recognized for their consistent success in the UK fire market working closely with Gent. Dave Slater, Gent Business Manager South East and London, said “We launched the new, flexible Aspirating systems in autumn last year which coincided with the grand opening of the Westfield Stratford Centre. It is a mark to the design and performance of the system that it was selected for the first store of one of the biggest international brands, Samsung Electronics. We have received very favorable feedback from Premier Fire Systems Limited and are proud to be involved in this landmark project.”

Chubb Fire & Security is delighted to be providing the fire and security solutions for the latest Ronald McDonald House, part of a worldwide charity supporting over five million people with home-from-home accommodation for the families of sick children resident in hospital. The house, which opens on 2 December, is run by Ronald McDonald Kinderfonds België and provides comfortable family accommodation close to local Brussels hospitals. Fire and detection system Chubb installed a complete fire detection and security system that includes surveillance cameras and access control Chubb installed a complete fire detection and security system that includes surveillance cameras and access control for the building to ensure the security and safety of families staying there. To enable ongoing security, Chubb will also carry out essential maintenance and servicing. Chubb is part of Carrier, a global provider of innovative heating, ventilating, air conditioning (HVAC), refrigeration, fire, security and building automation technologies. “We are providing an essential environment for families with ill children, and an important aspect of this is providing a safe haven free of external distractions. We are thrilled to be working with Chubb Fire & Security, whose Belgium-based engineers worked tirelessly to provide a practical, integrated security solution,” said Katia De Greve, house manager at Ronald McDonald House Brussels. Enhanced fire safety “We have always admired the services provided by Ronald McDonald House Charities and their employees, providing vital relief from the day-to-day challenges of caring for ill children. Chubb has provided fire safety and security solutions to ensure the families feel safe and secure during these difficult times, and Chubb is proud to be part of this exciting project,” said Gino Ghilardi, acting Managing Director at Chubb Fire & Security Belgium. Ronald McDonald House Charities provides places where families dealing with the impact of children with a range of illnesses, can interact and stay close in secure surroundings. Parents and children are able to rest, eat and talk without interruption. In 2016, it served more than five million people worldwide and is continuing to expand its offering with the introduction of mobile hospitals in more remote locations.

St. Mary’s is a brand new student village at Bangor University, comprising nearly 900 rooms alongside a range of cutting edge facilities. HESIS Fire & Security used technology from Gent by Honeywell across the site to ensure that it has the very best fire detection solution in place. Situated next to the Menai Straits at the foot of the Snowdonia National Park in north Wales, Bangor University has a long tradition of academic excellence. With over 12,000 students and 2,000 members of staff, Bangor University is made up of five colleges housing 22 academic schools, as well as over 50 specialist research centers. As part of its ongoing development program, it aims to provide students with the very best places to live and work and the St. Mary’s student village is the latest addition to its accommodation portfolio. Gent fire detection system Liverpool based HESIS Fire & Security was selected to carry out the fire detection system based work With 10 individual buildings including en-suite studio apartments and townhouses with nearly 900 rooms, St. Mary’s also has a café bar, shop, laundrette, common rooms, and sports and fitness facilities on-site. With a strict deadline for completion, the mechanical and electrical contractor on the St. Mary’s project needed to work with a life safety specialist that could deliver a quality installation on time using state-of-the-art technology. Liverpool based HESIS Fire & Security was selected to carry out the fire detection system based work and the company’s Account Manager, Rob Beck, said “We were delighted to be awarded this prestigious project and knew that we could exceed Bangor University’s stated requirements. We have worked closely with Gent for the last five years and we were recently awarded Gent Technology Centre status, demonstrating our resource and capability to design, supply, and commission and service the company’s fire detection and alarm systems to the very highest standards.” Networked Vigilon control panels The solution specified by HESIS Fire & Security is based around Gent’s industry leading Vigilon system. Vigilon combines powerful software in the control panel and intelligent loop powered devices to deliver a flexible, easy to use system. Its modular concept makes systems simple to design for any building and algorithms are used to match the pattern of activity in the sensor with data from test results stored in the panel memory. St. Mary’s utilizes nine networked Vigilon control panels with 10 repeater panels across the site. In addition, over 1,800 devices, including sounders and beacons (VADs) are installed, which signal back to the main security office at Bangor University. Uniquely, the detector heads have been programmed so that instructions are given in Welsh first and then English. Gent S-Quad S4-711 Dual Optical Heat Detector HESIS Fire & Security decided that the Gent S-Quad S4-711 Dual Optical Heat Detector would offer the best level of reliability and prevention of unwanted alarms. Martyn Keenan, Business Manager (North West) at Gent, explains, “S-Quad was the first intelligent loop powered multifunctional device to include a sensor, sounder, speech and visual alarm, and its extensively patented technology has an unrivalled ability to prevent unwanted alarms.” Incorporating four separate sensing elements – heat, carbon monoxide, and dual angle optical forward and backward scatter, the fully EN 54-23 and EN 54-3 compliant S-Quad combines local processing in the sensor and the panel to achieve an immediate response to genuine fires. Visual alarm devices To provide an additional level of safety, visual alarm devices (VADs) were also installed Asked why these were considered the most suitable option for the accommodation areas, Rob Beck replies, “Students are renowned for having very sociable and busy lifestyles, and it’s not uncommon for fire alarms to be activated by mistake as a result of bread being left too long in a toaster, or pans burning on the cooker hob or even steam from the integrated shower rooms. Therefore, in the event of something like this happening the S-Quad dual angle optical multi-sensors allow identification of the particle source, filtering potential unwanted alarms due to steam and dust etc.” The Equality Act makes it the responsibility of all organizations to ensure that access to buildings and services is available to everyone, regardless of any physical disabilities. Therefore, in order to meet this obligation and to provide an additional level of safety, visual alarm devices (VADs) were also installed to offer an appropriate signal by emitting a bright red or white light. Due to a number of delays caused elsewhere during the project, HESIS Fire & Security had to complete the installation and commissioning program in a considerably reduced time scale. Beck comments, “It was tough and there was a lot of pressure on us to meet the handover.” Flexible and versatile fire safety equipment He adds, “However, as well as a lot of long days, our mission was successful thanks to the ease of use, flexibility and versatility of the Gent equipment. This ensured that the commissioning process in particular was very smooth.” For Ken Griffith, Head of Residences and Head Warden at Bangor University, the installation of the new fire detection system has been a resounding success. Ken concludes, “St. Mary’s represents the very best in student accommodation and will enhance the reputation for excellence that we have developed over the years. Student safety is a vital part of our day to day activities and I’m convinced that we now have the very best technology in place to prevent the potentially devastating consequences of fire and smoke.”

The mechanical and electrical work has begun on the prestigious O2 Arena Development on London’s Greenwich peninsula, part of a £121m scheme which will see the development of a new InterContinental hotel, residential apartments building and conference center facilities. Balfour Beatty, the construction firm behind the Greenwich development, broke ground in a ceremony last month marking the start of works to regenerate the 7.6 acre site. The centerpiece of the development will be ‘The InterContinental London The O2’, a 19-storey, 452-room five-star hotel containing a massive 4,800 square meters of space for conferences and events. The development will also include The Peninsula Tower, a 23-storey building offering 100 serviced apartments with views across the Thames and South London. HESIS collaborates with HE Simm HESIS has worked alongside building services specialist, HE Simm for a project in November 2013 HESIS, a company that specializes in the design, installation, commissioning and maintenance for Mechanical & Electrical and Fire and Security across the UK, won the contract to provide the fire and security systems across the entire site. HESIS has worked alongside building services specialist HE Simm, when they became involved in the project in November 2013. Barry Juggins, Managing Director, HESIS said, “We became involved in the initial stages when HE Simm was bidding for the scheme. Since then, we have worked very closely with them and offered a proactive approach to the design which was seen as a huge positive, particularly in a scheme of this size. This is one of the largest installations we have undertaken and we are delighted to be working on such a prestigious project.” Gent Fire Detection and Alarm solution (FD&A) HESIS has selected a Gent by Honeywell fire detection and alarm (FD&A) solution to be installed throughout the three buildings. The company is part of the Gent 24 Network and was recently awarded Elite System Integrator status. This achievement means Hesis has been recognized as supplying, designing, installing and commissioning Gent equipment to the highest standards. Barry Juggins said, “The whole development is Gent throughout, with more than 2,000 devices being installed across the three buildings. The system was selected to meet the customer’s exacting brief – they are aiming to create the ultimate five star hotel and part of this experience will be ensuring that the guests are protected by the market leading technology.” Fully integrated Fire and Detection system The specific FD&A solution incorporates a fully integrated system that includes loop Vigilon panels and Gent’s innovative S-Quad sensing technology. The S-Quad range of multifunction devices includes sensors with sounder, speech and EN54-23 certified visual alarms. This allows the maximum flexibility for designers providing cover for a building. The advanced sensing technology is enhanced with a device that can alert building occupants with a highly visible visual alarm and a recorded voice message to ensure all occupants are alerted to an emergency. Barry Juggins continued, “There will be S-Quad devices with speech throughout the hotel and apartments, with a full Gent PA/VA system in the Conference Centre. We have opted for dual optical and heat detection in the bedrooms to avoid unnecessary false alarms, due to the particular environmental conditions. Gent Air Sampling detection (ASD) systems We will also be utilizing the Gent Air Sampling detection systems in the voids above the conference centre and the fixed ceilings" He adds, “We will also be utilizing the Gent Air Sampling Detection (ASD) systems in the voids above the conference center and the fixed ceilings, as they will provide the earliest detection and will be much easier to maintain in the future. We’re confident that the elements of speech messaging and reduction in false alarms will undoubtedly add to the quality feel and customer experience.” The hotel has been designed to be sustainable to BREEAM ‘Excellent’ standards and has been built on land reclaimed from previously polluted soil and will have the latest sustainable features such as ‘green’ roofs and surrounds to harvest water to reduce demand on the mains supply. Innovative building technologies Construction for the project will be carried out in just two years, helped by the innovative building techniques, and the installation for the FD&A system is due to is completed at the end of this year. Barry Juggins concluded, “The scheme has been fairly straight forward, the main challenge is the fact that it is three separate builds, the hotel, conference center and apartments, all running concurrently and completing at the same time. The hotel is set to open in the summer 2015 and visitors, residents and employees will be safe in the knowledge that they are being given the ultimate form of protection by the most robust Gent FD&A solution.”

When Salford Reds made their debut in their newly opened rugby league Stadium last December, it was the beginning of a new era for the club and its fans. Behind the scenes, numerous contractors and officials had been planning and building towards the premier game in the brand new £16m City of Salford Stadium. The opening fixture marked the start of fire industry experts; Gent by Honeywell’s first commercial UK site to be installed with the company’s recently launched D1 rack based voice alarm and Public Address (PA) system. This was fitted alongside a Vigilon fire alarm solution in order to protect the Stadium, staff and fans. D1 Voice Alarm/Public Address system Tate worked in conjunction with Gent, selecting the company’s latest innovative D1 voice alarm/PA system Wigan-based safety and security specialists, Tate Security Technology Limited, one of Gent 24’s of Approved Systems Integrators, managed the installation, from the initial design stages right through to commissioning and completion. Tate worked in conjunction with Gent, selecting the company’s latest innovative D1 voice alarm/PA system as the most suitable solution for the Stadium. Steve Hutchinson, Sales and Development Director, Tate Security Technology, explains, “Discussions about this project began almost two years ago and we have worked closely with the major key partners and the main contractors, supply team on the project since then. We were brought in during the early planning stages to do the full detailed designs based on the Stadium’s construction drawings.” Turnstile entry counting systems Tate Security Technology Ltd has more than 30 years’ experience working in the UK stadia market. The company has worked closely in the early years of Stadia Safety with the government and the Football League Association and has pioneered new methods of crowd control, Turnstile entry counting systems and including exit gate release, which now forms part and parcel of every major Stadium in the country. Steve Hutchinson continues, “We chose the Gent system purely because of the quality of D1 voice alarm/PA and the fire alarm product. Gent has an extensive range of fully compliant equipment available to be installed in the market place and what better way to do that than within a brand new Stadium facility.” Vigilon voice alarm systems The main part of the project started at the end of August 2011 and was completed earlier this year following a series of successful ramp events, including the Salford Reds opening rugby league game in December. The Gent solution selected for the project was a fire alarm and D1 Public Address/Voice Alarm system that is fully compliant with the relevant standards for sports stadiums, and meets all of the requirements of EN54 parts 16 and 24. Gent’s Vigilon voice alarm systems were among the first to be certified with BRE, in line with the newly harmonized part 16 of EN54. Networked addressable control panels City of Salford Stadium system comprises four Vigilon networked addressable control panels, with nine detection loopsThe system in place at the City of Salford Stadium comprises four Vigilon networked addressable control panels, with nine detection loops in total. The D1 voice alarm/PA system, designed specifically for the venue, is a large rack based system comprising three 42u racks and a 19 zone voice alarm/PA system, providing a total power output of 13,000 watts to the loudspeakers throughout the Stadium. Steve Hutchinson explains how the system works, stating “The cause and effect strategy of the D1 voice alarm/PA system for the whole Stadium changes according to whether there is a match taking place. The system was programmed to meet both building control and the fire strategy to enable two different modes”. High quality communications system “One operates during the games to protect the Stadium and its supporters, providing a high quality communications system and the other can be used on a day to day basis, when there is only the club staff occupying the ground.” The Gent system has been programmed to enable both non-event mode, used on non-match days, and full event match day mode to provide individual zoned areas with phased announcements and evacuation procedures. There are three microphones in total: A fireman’s microphone in the control room; a 19 zone paging microphone in the match day control room; and a 19 zone paging microphone in the DJ room. Flexible, controllable stadium PA system The Stadium public announcement system is both flexible and controllable used solely for providing audible messaging to any one of the Stadium’s individual zones. On non-match days the multi zone desk microphone station in the Stadium’s reception area is used to page the ground and office staff. On match days, the D1 voice alarm/PA system gives input into the Stadium’s DJ for background music, scores and general crowd announcements. The control aspect means this can be overridden if there is a need to evacuate. The Stadium was initially built with a 12,000 capacity, with plans to extend to accommodate up to 20,000 over time. The site includes built-in offices, player facilities, hospitality boxes, concessions, community resources and two community outdoor sports pitches available for business and public hire. The main Stadium area has four covered stands for supporters. Detailed acoustic modeling Gent’s technical support team worked closely with Tate Security Technology to play a key part in the rack design Gent’s technical support team worked closely with Tate Security Technology and played a key part in the rack design, the acoustic modeling and the Stadium speaker mapping. Gent’s detailed acoustic modeling provided in-depth prediction and results in Sound Pressure Level (SPL) distribution and STI results. The whole arena had to be acoustically modeled to ensure it complied with the requirements of BS5839 part 8 2008 and reach the specific audibility levels. The requirements state that the results have to be at least five decibels above the Stadium’s ambient background noise and the Gent system delivers an SPL of 105 DB and STI results of 0.5-0.55. Gent technical support services Steve Hutchinson continues, “It is very difficult to predict the ambient noise levels in stadiums, as it’s often down to the individual design of each stand. The input from Gent’s technical support team was invaluable as their expert mapping enabled us to accurately predict the SPL distribution to give us equal sound as well as meet the minimum requirements across all four stands.” The Gent support services team was set up with the aim of providing expert support in acoustic design, as well as additional support for customers on any aspect of fire detection and alarm products. The team carries a vast amount of experience in the design and application engineering of FD&A and voice alarm/PA systems and can provide advice on everything from site survey and training, to general application guidance. Factory Acceptance Test Gent has recently created a new customer friendly D1 rack build area in the company’s extensive Leicester production facility to offer an expert rack build service with a dedicated Factory Acceptance Test area (FAT). The FAT area demonstrates how the rack is configured before it is sent to the site. All racks are built and programmed to a specification and the rack is shipped after it has been witness tested. Gent’s Kevin Cooper, support services manager, added, “We are delighted that our first commercial installation of the D1 voice alarm/PA system has been so well received by both Tate Security Technology Ltd and the City of Salford Stadium. Gent is one of only a small number of companies that has received the new certification for the voice alarm range last year and this, together with our highly experienced customer service team, has made us the winning choice for fire detection and voice alarm/PA systems. We are proud to be playing our part in protecting the Salford Reds supporters and staff.”