Fire Safety Planning

Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) is working with Kent Police as part of their ongoing mission to increase the use and awareness of Public Access Defibrillators (PADs). Public Access Defibrillators Kent’s emergency services already work together on a daily basis to help save lives and keep communities safe, but KFRS has now also gifted thirty defibrillators to Kent Police to help increase public access to PADs around the county.  We have since teamed with Kent Police and gifted the service with thirty defibrillators" A defibrillator is a device that gives a high energy electric shock to the heart through the chest wall of someone who is in cardiac arrest. Called a defibrillation, this high energy shock is an essential life-saving step in the chain of survival. Emergency assistance KFRS Station Manager Dave Harris worked with Kent Police on the project and says the defibrillators will now be distributed between Kent Police staff and placed in areas that will benefit the community. “Following our ongoing mission to promote the distribution and use of PADs, we have since teamed with Kent Police and gifted the service with thirty defibrillators, to be placed in areas where they will be of use to the wider community.” Firefighters health and safety “These will be in addition to the defibrillators we have fitted outside every fire station in Kent, which is already available for the public to use in the event of an emergency situation where someone is in cardiac arrest. But with even more working defibrillators now active across the county, they will hopefully be able to save even more lives.” We are extremely grateful to our partners at Kent Fire and Rescue Service for the gift of thirty defibrillators" Chief Inspector Nick Sparkes at Kent Police also said: “We are extremely grateful to our partners at Kent Fire and Rescue Service for the gift of thirty defibrillators. We are currently distributing them, and so far, fourteen will be going to special constables who are out on patrol and into our 4x4 response vehicles. Three of them will also be readily available in custody suites and another three will be moved into our dog units.” Saving firefighters with cardiac arrests The British Heart Foundation state that for every minute it takes for a defibrillator to reach someone in cardiac arrest, their chances of survival reduce by up to 10%. KFRS advise you to follow the below steps in an emergency involving someone in a cardiac arrest: 1. Call 999 2. Start CPR 3. Ask someone to bring a defibrillator if there’s one nearby 4. Turn on the defibrillator and follow its instructions

North-east-based fire systems manufacturer, Advanced reaches a milestone in the construction and refit of its new £2M headquarters. As a pioneer in the design, development and manufacture of commercial fire detection systems, Advanced employs over 180 staff and services over sixty countries from bases in the UK, US, India and Dubai. The firm’s relocation from its existing four sites in Cramlington to one 48,000 sq. ft base in Balliol Business Park, Longbenton will allow the business to satisfy the growing international demand from its customers. Continue Impressive Growth With work set to be completed over the summer, the state-of-the-art facility delivers the infrastructure and space Advanced needs to continue its impressive growth. Advanced, owned by Halma, formed in 1999 in North Shields and moved to its current base in Cramlington in 2003, quickly growing its operations across the four factories. This is a major step for the business, which will make an enormous difference to our operations" Managing Director, Ray Hope, said: “This is a major step for the business, which will make an enormous difference to our operations. It brings our admin and operations under one roof, will improve efficiency and support the technology we need to manage a manufacturing, R&D and commercial network across five continents.” Single Panel Installations “Our workforce is outstanding and I’m delighted we will be delivering them state-of-the-art premises and facilities in the North East that will support job security and opportunities for local workers in the future.” Advanced is a pioneer in the development and manufacture of intelligent fire detection 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 including the Shard in London, Western Europe’s tallest building. Advanced’s products include complete fire detection systems, extinguishing control panels, fire paging and false alarm management systems.

Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) as a member of the Safer Roads for Kent group, is on a mission to make the county’s roads safer. Over the last three years, firefighters have dealt with more than 3,350 crashes, many of which have involved vehicle cutting to free people trapped inside. Sadly a number of crashes have resulted in people dying or sustaining life-changing injuries, which also impact the lives of their families and friends. ‘Drive’ To Empower In a bid to reduce the number of these incidents, the service is launching a new campaign called ‘Drive’ to empower Kent and Medway residents to lead behavior change on the roads and become ambassadors for responsible motoring. They’ll be encouraged to make the ‘road safety pledge’ which means they agree to: Drive sober – Drive free of alcohol or drugs Drive slower – Reduce their speed Drive focussed – Not be distracted by their phone Drive secure – Always wear a seatbelt Drive alert –Take a break if they feel tired when driving In return they’ll get a sticker to place in their vehicle as a permanent reminder of the pledge they’ve made, and a visual prompt for drivers around them to drive safely. Those spotted will be entered into a prize draw to win a £50 voucher Improving Driving Knowledge Firefighters will be on the look-out for pledge stickers in vehicle windows across the county, and those spotted will be entered into a prize draw to win a £50 voucher to spend on vehicle care and maintenance. There will be opportunities to make the pledge at most KFRS events including the Kent County Show, which kicks off on 5th July, as well as fire station open days. Anyone who can’t make it to an event, can pledge online, however they won’t receive a vehicle sticker. Everyone who makes the pledge will be invited to test their knowledge through an online driving skills challenge. Through a series of interactive challenges, and before and after quizzes, the aim is to see if participants’ perspective and driving knowledge improves. Responsible driving We hope the need to drive safely will be prominent and be on the conscience of those being reckless" Sean Bone Knell, KFRS Operations Director and National Fire Chiefs Council Road Safety Lead, said: “This is all about reducing crashes and preventing unnecessary injuries and deaths on our roads. By making the road safety pledge, drivers become ambassadors for responsible driving and can themselves influence and set an example to others. With pledge stickers being driven all around the county, we hope the need to drive safely will be prominent and be on the conscience of those being reckless on our roads.” Fatal Five “There are five main elements which are deemed to have a potentially fatal impact on a journey – they’re known as the ‘fatal five’ – drink and drugs, not wearing a seatbelt, tiredness, speed, and mobile phone distraction.” “This initiative is set to bring the fatal five to fore, with each element taking the spotlight for two months at a time in any road safety prevention work KFRS carries out. For example, in July and August ‘Drive Sober’ will be the focus.”

The ASSA ABLOY Door Hardware & Access Control Group has launched an innovative door closer that offers unrivalled performance for user flexibility and fire safety for buildings in the healthcare, education and hospitality sectors. Unlike any other door closer in its class, the new DC300G-HF is a responsive solution, satisfying multiple door control issues for healthcare professionals, students, customers and staff. This includes flexible operation and use, while also maintaining full certification in all three modes and fitting configurations. The DC300G-HF is fully certified in all three modes: standard, free-swing and hold-open and all three fitting configurations– offering peace of mind and convenience for building owners, managers and installers, that they are legally covered. Meets fire safety requirements DC300G-HF helps meet and surpass both fire safety and accessibility requirements There are hundreds of door-closing devices available but, when analyzing their capabilities, it becomes apparent that not all are created equal. This not only applies to their adherence to fire safety laws, but also accessibility regulations. Simply put, in light of the Equality Act (2010) and Approved Document M, a building should be accessible to all – without restriction or the need for assistance. The DC300G-HF helps meet and surpass both fire safety and accessibility requirements. In the event of a fire, it reverts to a mechanical mode, either free-swing or hold-open mode. Uniquely, and for the very first time, the DC300G-HF has all the features and certification required to meet these demands, across all three modes and configurations. The new door closer is CE Marked (a legal requirement under the Construction Products Regulation) to EN 1154 and EN 1155 in all three configurations. Furthermore, soft-motion release (from 130-75 degrees) means the door is progressively shut, preventing damage to the door set and injury to users. BS 8300-2:2018 compliant door closer The DC300G-HF is also BS 8300-2:2018 compliant. Its safety credentials and performance (free-swing or hold-open mode with variable power EN 3-6) retains low opening forces, making it the ideal product for environments with high volumes of traffic, such as schools or hotels, and where users experience movement difficulty or strength issues, like care homes. The DC300G-HF is also incredibly flexible and cost-effective. Switching between modes on other electro-mechanical door closers can be difficult and time consuming. Often, two separate products or additional parts are required. The DC300G-HF offers a step-change in functionality, with all three modes in one product. Users can switch within seconds by simply adjusting three small bolts. Non-Polarity sensitive connection Each unit is individually tested and inspected and bears the high quality, award-winning design" Developed, designed and tested in the UK for the UK market, the closer is also easy to retrofit and upgrade with no re-drilling required, so fire certification is not compromised. Wiring on the hinge side and a non-polarity sensitive connection also makes wiring easy. David Hindle, Head of Door Closer Sales at ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions UK & Ireland, said: “A unique combination of flexibility and full certification makes the DC300G-HF the best-in-class, electro-mechanical rack and pinion door closer, for changing door use in busy environments. Each unit is individually tested and inspected and bears the high quality, award-winning design and guaranteed durability you come to expect from an ASSA ABLOY door closer.” “Our new DC300G-HF door closer is also part of a full suite of products, ensuring we can satisfy any requirements for high-performing and reliable door controls.”

Coopers Fire are excited to launch the ResQ-Window at Firex this year. The ResQ-Window is a vision panel for fire curtains and can be installed allowing building occupants and first responders to see through the curtain after it has been deployed. To find out more about this innovative product, come and see us on our stand (FX320). Coopers Fire will also be promoting their full range of fire and smoke curtains but particularly the recently launched FireMaster Cleanroom fire curtain, the world’s first fire curtain approved for use in a cleanroom environment. Coopers have a number of products due to be launched in 2019. Fire Safety Products This forms part of the ASFP Practical Workshop entitled ‘Auditing & upgrading existing protection’ Coopers Fire will be exhibiting as part of the ASFP Zone. Coopers are proud to be members of the ASFP (Association for Specialist Fire Protection) and will be presenting on the subject of ‘Fire Curtain Operation and Applications’ on day 2 (Weds 19th June 2019) between 10.30am and 11.45am. This forms part of the ASFP Practical Workshop entitled ‘Auditing & upgrading existing protection’. With the increasing focus on fire since the Grenfell disaster, it is becoming more important to ensure fire protection products are fit for purpose. Discussions around updates to Approved Document B are likely to include that all fire safety products specified and installed on construction projects will need third party approval from a reputable business like IFC Certification or Exova’s Certifire scheme. BS 8524 is the only global fire curtain standard and requires third party approval for compliancy. fire Curtain Manufacturers The standard was released in 2013 and helps to ensure that fire curtains are put through rigorous tests in order to be approved. Coopers Fire staff on the Firex stand will only be too happy to discuss our BS 8524 compliant products Coopers Fire are approved and compliant to BS 8524-1 and it is great to see a number of other fire curtain manufacturers are also successfully launching products that are compliant to BS 8524-1; overall, this ensures fire curtains are recognised as a respected fire safety product. Coopers Fire staff on the Firex stand will only be too happy to discuss our BS 8524 compliant products and how they can be used on construction projects. Coopers Fire are dedicated to advancing fire and smoke barrier curtain technology and improving ways to safeguard life and property. Fire Protection Industry This commitment to developing innovative products that are robustly tested and independently certified has meant that Coopers Fire has become the benchmark used by Regulators, Architects, Engineers and other Fire Professionals worldwide. We offer a range of free Continuing Professional Development (CPD) seminars. Approved by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), the seminars aim to educate the fire protection industry and wider building industry about application of fire and smoke curtains in buildings.

Sepura has received recognition from the critical communications industry by winning three awards at the 2019 Critical Communications Awards held at CCW. Sepura won ‘Best Use of Critical Communications in Vertical Markets’ for their installation of STP8X radios and applications at Shell’s refinery plant in Singapore. Awards won by Sepura at CCW2019 In addition, Sepura was recognized for their implementation of a full site communications system at Heathrow Airport walking away with the award for ‘Best Use of Critical Communications in Transport’ while long serving technology specialist Mark Rayne was rewarded for his ‘Outstanding Contribution to Critical Communications’ for his dedicated work in developing industry wide standards for TETRA. The three awards were the highlight of a show that saw Sepura introduce their new SCG22 mobile TETRA radio to complement their market-leading SC2 Series hand-portables, while also showcasing the all-new Over The Air Programming (OTAP) capability that delivers significant cost and time savings to fleet managers around the world.

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 continuity of power in the event of a real fire has never been more important as modern buildings become more complex and the need for the highest quality of products comes under the spotlight. With power for lighting and fire alarms, the fire and rescue services can use the intelligence gathered to evacuate people quickly, confident that they have found all the people in the building. Without power, they are literally scrambling in the dark without good information upon which to make their rescue. The continuity of power will also ensure that sprinkler or water mist systems can continue to operate where they exist. In commercial buildings, there may also be smoke evacuation fans which help to enable safe evacuation. Fire alarms may be digital, with loop systems which will provide information for fire and rescue services  Appropriate Cabling  At the start of a project, the most appropriate cabling should be specified as part of the electrical system rather than at the end of a project. Fire alarms may be digital, with loop systems which will provide information for fire and rescue services across individual areas and floors. At the same time, there are new designs, materials and products continually coming on to the market for major projects, and with it an increasing need for the various parties involved to work closely together to make sure they get it right. There has been an increasing incidence of non-approved cables on the market and unfortunately it is not until cables have been installed, tested or used that issues become clear. For installers, or those procuring cables, there is a need to check the cable when it arrives to make sure it is exactly what was specified. Should there be a problem, have it checked and seek good advice. Keep records of purchase, including reel flanges with batch markings and a sample of the cable markings. Send lengths for testing and then decide on the most appropriate course of action. Choice of cabling is crucial at the start of major projects as issues may occur later  Meeting Rigorous Third-Party Tests  For some buildings, it is crucial to select the highest quality products to meet the most rigorous third-party tests and real-life fire scenarios. These include environments such as hospitals, schools and care homes where older people and children move about. Specifiers looking at new large public sector projects such as hospitals should refer to BS 8519 for the electrical supply, and the most relevant cabling system. It is crucial to select the highest quality products to meet the most rigorous third-party tests This Code of Practice specifies that the type of system selected during the design phase ‘should be derived from a detailed process of consultation with the relevant authorities’ and that ‘the design should be agreed at an early stage.’ The decision-making process for cable selection relevant for life safety and firefighting systems is clearly defined here. This covers three categories ranging from 30 minutes to 120 minutes fire survival time.  Categories 1 and 2 cover means of escape for 30 minutes and then 60 minutes respectively, and these cables are tested in accordance with the relevant codes. Category 3 for firefighting to 120 minutes refers to power and control cables meeting the 120-minute test according to the relevant standards. It should be emphasised that only Mineral Insulated Cable (MIC) or a cable meeting the requirements of BS7846 F120 will meet this criteria. For clarity, BS 8519 does not take precedence over BS 5839 for alarm systems and BS 5266 for emergency lighting. In essence, choosing the most relevant cabling and electrical accessories which will continue to operate under fire conditions has become critical. Application Of Medium Voltage Cables  As the incidence of non-approved cables continues then so the application of Medium Voltage (MV) cables into high-risk environments including hospitals, schools, care homes, industrial sites and sub-stations serving infrastructure sites also becomes critical. In the context off fire engineering, it is important to select the relevant MV Cables in these areas. Adhering to the latest regulations is no longer enough - there needs to be a risk assessment. In order to do this effectively, it is important to ask – are the fire safety procedures up to date? All AEI MV cables are third party tested and approved by BASEC. Educational establishments including schools, colleges and laboratories are some of the most prone structures to fire hazards The whole supply chain needs to take consideration of these areas where vulnerable people often move about such as children or elderly people in hospitals or care homes. The fire and rescue services may need a little more time than a conventional building including reading complex fire alarm information to ensure a safe rescue in the event of a real fire. Educational establishments including schools, colleges and laboratories are some of the most prone structures to fire hazards. This is due to ageing structures, high volume of combustible materials, and changing use in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths programmes where more combustible and flammable liquids are being used. Concerns have been raised by architects and and designers about fire protection regimes  Sufficient Fire Risk Assessment  Recent research by the Fire Brigades Union, for example, showed that a key focus for all educational institutions must be ensuring that there is an effective fire risk management process in place, delivered by suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment carried out by an expert in the field. The best practice under Business Information Modelling (BIM) and all best practice of fire safety engineering methods should be observed in conjunction with project partners. There have been concerns over a number of years around the fire protection regime for new buildings expressed by the architects and designers themselves. The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) points to the delays to Approved Document B with regard to the relationship of Building Regulations to changing design and construction. AEI Cables provides a full range of cabling products through its Total Fire Solutions service RIBA says the virtual disappearance of the role of the clerk of works or site architect and the loss of independent oversight of construction and workmanship on behalf of the client is a further issue for concern. In essence, RIBA believes that future proposals for the fire safety regulatory regime should be informed by the specialist fire safety expertise of relevant professional organisations and groups, and also take full account of this wider set of construction industry AEI Cables provides a full range of cabling products through its Total Fire Solutions service with the support of its parent company Ducab based in Dubai, with the design, manufacture and supply of MIC, Firetec Enhanced or Firetec Power depending on specific needs. The choice of cabling and accessories should not be underestimated at the earliest opportunity to ensure the fire and rescue services are given every chance of success in rescuing people and saving property.

At insulation manufacturer Glava, they manage high risk and high production volumes. Hence, they are dependent on an efficient fire detection system. Here, they tell us why they chose Autronica. 60 tons of melted glass, and temperatures up to 1300 degrees Celsius: At the Glava manufacturing plant in the Norwegian town of Stjørdal, the production runs non-stop. The temperature is high when shattered glass is molten and spun into insulation, and the consequences of an incident in the smelting plant are enormous. In the afternoon, evening and night, staffing is limited to a minimum. Only four people keep the 3500 square meters of factory under surveillance. Thanks to solid fire detection, they all know they are safe regardless. However, not long ago they experienced a completely different situation altogether.  Catastrophic fire at Glava manufacturing plant "In the 90s, the Glava manufacturing plant and headquarters in Askim suffered a major cable fire, where a grand total of 600 kilometers of cable was destroyed by fire. Production was halted for weeks, and 60-70 electricians were hired to fix the problem. If we had had early warning in case of overheating, we could have saved several millions Norwegian Kroner," said Helge Bakken, an electrical engineer working in the Glava manufacturing plant since 1996. He talks about vast amounts of inflammable materials on the premises.  "Glava is a large manufacturing plant with lots of machinery, and we are bordering on the limit of what we can keep our eyes on." Efficient fire detection system With Autronica’s solution we have a complete overview form the screens in the control room" Helge added, "When we rebuilt the Stjørdal factory in 2014, we wanted to install a proper fire detection system. We asked for tenders from a wide range of suppliers, and I feared that Autronica would be too expensive. I was pleasantly surprised when it turned out they weren’t the most expensive supplier by far. Additionally, the quality and service were far superior to any of the others. And of course, it was a bonus that they are a Norwegian company, and that most of the equipment is manufactured at their headquarters in Trondheim." Fire alarms and emergency lighting "With Autronica’s solution we have a complete overview form the screens in the control room. Graphical sectionalizations show where the alarm is triggered, and we get an early indication of heat generation. With the help of statistics, we quickly see what the normal temperature is. If there is a real emergency, the emergency light system will multiply the chance of evacuating the employees. There are few fault messages, and everyone here takes any alarm seriously," says fire safety manager, Håvard Sesseng.

Tamworth-based trade association, DHF (Door & Hardware Federation) is emphasizing the importance of making fire safety an ‘absolute priority’ in new-build homes, following an investigation into potentially dangerous fire safety issues in houses developed by Persimmon Homes and Bellway Homes.  Fire Safety In New-Build Homes The BBC’s Watchdog discovered serious breaches that had gone undetected during the construction process" The findings, by BBC Watchdog Live, highlighted that a number of new builds constructed by the firms were sold with missing or incorrectly installed fire barriers, which are used to form a complete seal between different areas of a home, and prevent the spread of fire. Without them, experts say, fire and smoke can spread five-to-ten times faster. “The BBC’s Watchdog discovered serious breaches that had gone undetected during the construction process, leaving homes and lives potentially at risk in the event of a fire,” explains DHF’s Commercial Manager, Patricia Sowsbery-Stevens. “In many new builds, particularly timber-framed buildings, fire barriers are a vital part of fire protection and we would urge house builders to ‘get it right’ at the construction stage and to have a workforce that is trained in, and understands, the importance of installing the fire barriers required to prevent potential problems down the line. Ultimately, responsibility for ensuring that buildings are compliant with Building Regulations lies with the house builder.” Importance Of Fire Safety Following the investigation, Bellway Homes stated that it was ‘committed to improvement’ with regards to potentially flawed fire safety issues in developments in Kent and West Lothian, and that mandatory training on, amongst other subjects, fire stopping, has been introduced for all relevant construction staff.Following the Grenfell disaster in June 2017, DHF’s voice has been one of the loudest and most passionate in its call for third-party certification by a UKAS-accredited body of manufacture, installation, maintenance and inspection of fire, smoke and security doors, in order to offer complete assurance on their performance. With a history and heritage dating back to 1897, the federation is undoubtedly one of the most revered organizations, widely respected as the industry’s independent authoritative voice.  Fire Door Training Courses DHF works assiduously with BRE Academy to offer fire door training courses Fierce advocates for appropriate levels of training across all the sectors that it serves, DHF continues to place the importance of training firmly ‘up-front-and-center’. The organization works assiduously with BRE Academy to offer fire door training courses; this has been central to its on-going fire safety campaign. Additionally, in March 2019, DHF announced a high-profile collaboration with Secured by Design (SBD) and Fire Industry Association (FIA) to publish a guidance document on fire safety. Named A Guide for Selecting Flat Entrance Doorsets; A publication for housing associations, landlords, building owners and local authorities in England, the publication accentuates the key issues of fire safety for those selecting fire doorsets, recommending all fire doorsets are factory-prepared (as opposed to prepared on-site), that all work be completed under factory production control, and in addition, audited by a third-party.  Fire Doors “Since Grenfell, the wider issue of fire safety has been thrust into the spotlight and we are delighted that progress is being made in this regard,” said Patricia. “We continue to stress that the use of fire doors, correctly installed and with robust fire door maintenance procedures, are an essential part of fire safety and urge those in positions of responsibility (such as house builders) to ensure that they are not only fulfilling regulations, as well as legal and moral obligations, but insisting upon appropriate levels of training with regards to installation and maintenance.”

Horbury Property Services, part of the Horbury Group, has been selected to provide fire safety services for over 55s accommodation managed by Sheffield-based Arches Housing. The contract involves Horbury Property Services providing fire door replacement and fire compartmentation upgrades, which will be completed within a four-week schedule, as part of enhancing fire safety for residents. Offering Optimal Fire Protection Richard Sutton, General Manager at Horbury Property Services, said: “This is our second major contract with Arches Housing and we are very pleased to be working with them again to enhance fire safety in one of their sheltered housing schemes. Fire safety is an essential requirement in all buildings, and we aim to ensure that the residents of Arches Housing are offered the best possible fire protection.” Luigi Iantorno, asset compliance & reinvestment officer at Arches Housing, said: “Horbury Property Services secured this contract as a result of a rigorous competitive tender. The upgrade to fire doors and fire compartmentation is an important part of our planned maintenance works as we aim to ensure our homes are as fire safe as possible.” Other Services Offered By Horbury Horbury Property Services provides a full range of works, which includes installation, repair and maintenance of fire doors As well as fire door and fire compartmentation services, Horbury Property Services provides a full range of works, which can form part of planned maintenance programs. This includes ceiling and dry wall partitioning inspection, installation, repair and maintenance of fire doors, joinery works, fire stopping, sealing, fire compartmentation, fire alarm and emergency light testing, portable appliance testing, electrical testing and installation work, building fabric repairs as well as external cladding and render repairs. In addition, the wider Horbury Group provides painting and decorating, flooring refurbishment and installation, amongst others. The company has its head office in South Yorkshire, plus regional offices in London and South Wales, ensuring a truly national capability. This regional presence enables its teams to successfully deliver responsive repairs or large planned refurbishment and maintenance programmes.  Arches Housing is a community-based social landlord, which was established in 1975 and provides more than 1,200 affordable homes in Sheffield and Rotherham.

Stockholm Air Ambulance has recently upgraded their TETRA hand-portable radios to the latest in TETRA technology, Sepura’s SC20, for use on the Swedish RAKEL network. There is a total of 10 air ambulances in Sweden, operating in Norrtälje (2), Gällivare, Lycksele, Östersund, Uppsala, Göteborg, Mora, Karlstad and Visby. Stockholm Air Ambulance station Stockholm’s air ambulance station is based at Mellingeholm airport, where two air ambulances are based. This airport was chosen as it is the closest airport to Stockholm with space to hold an air ambulance crew. The airport is ideally located close to the coast, meaning a flight to any of Stockholm’s major hospitals will take only 15 minutes. In addition to the helicopter fleet, Stockholm Norrtälje Air Ambulance operates rapid response vehicles for use when weather conditions inhibit flight. The air ambulance station opened less than a year ago and includes a crew room, office space, kitchen and sleeping quarters for the night shift to await calls. Emergency rescue missions Stockholm Air Ambulance responds only to emergency rescue missions, often involving trauma cases Stockholm Air Ambulance responds only to emergency rescue missions, often involving trauma cases, or patients with either chest pain or respiratory issues. 80% of call outs are urgent, with patients having life-threatening injuries or symptoms. The Air Ambulance service responds to around 2,500 call outs a year, enabling patients to be treated not only in hard to reach places but also at the scene of the incident, allowing teams to provide life-saving aid to patients with life threatening injuries. The Norrtälje Air Ambulance also works closely with the Maritime Administration's helicopter station which is located next door. RAKEL TETRA network for critical communications The air ambulances in Norrtälje are operated by Babcock Scandinavian Air Ambulance. Operating as part of the nationwide RAKEL TETRA network for critical communications, they have recently upgraded their hand-portable radios. Each crew member has a hand-portable Sepura SC20 TETRA radio, which is used throughout an incident response to receive alarms from the control room and to communicate the patient status and medical updates from the scene of the incident. Radio communication is maintained while the doctors and paramedics are with the patient via Sepura hand portable radios, as the helicopter may need to land slightly away from the incident site. The crew communicates with SOS and hospitals through the Sepura radios on the RAKEL network. In each ambulance there are also three Sepura. SC20 TETRA hand-portable radios SC20 hand-portable radios, which crew members can take out of the ambulance when dealing with an incident SC20 hand-portable radios, which crew members can take out of the ambulance when dealing with an incident. Headsets within the helicopter can also be easily connected to the hand portable radios via secure Bluetooth, enabling consistent, reliable and clear audio throughout an operation. Flying H145 Airbus helicopters, the air ambulances are also fitted with two Sepura SRG3900 radios connected to the RAKEL network. One radio is fitted within the Carls HSE767 helicopter radio control system whilst the other radio is connected to the same system from the rear of the helicopter. The Carls panel has a virtual console which is licensed in the Sepura radio. The paramedic helmets also contain headsets which are connected to the lift intercom facility to which the Carls HSE767 is connected. GPS tracking and remote monitoring Aircraft hangars are notorious for offering poor radio signal, so the Norrtälje RAKEL network has reinforced indoor coverage, enabling consistent coverage within the hangar. The system also tracks GPS, ensuring that control room staff can quickly locate emergency response personnel. Sepura TETRA radios support the Stockholm Air Ambulance in attending to those in danger quickly, efficiently and with clear communications, with the SC20 delivering loud, clear audio even in the harshest conditions.

On September 24th, 2004 BRS-Intron, a computer company based in Visby, Sweden, averted what could have been a major disaster. Because it is a full-service company, specializing in complete product solutions, servicing and financing, BRS-Intron’s business is heavily dependent on the continuous operation of its business systems. For this reason, it chose Fike Corporation’s FM-200® (HFC-227ea) clean agent fire suppression system for the protection of its computer equipment. This fast, effective fire protection agent discharges as a gas, leaving no residue and eliminating the costly clean up often associated with sprinklers and other systems. Installation of BRS-Intron’s FM-200 system was quickly and efficiently handled by local Fike distributor, Exting AB. Information Storage Equipment Late on the evening of September 24th, BRS-Intron’s IT Manager, Anders Stenberg, received a message that the FM-200 extinguishing system in the computer room had been activated. When he approached the site, he could smell smoke mixed with the released agent, and feared the worst. Stenberg knew the speed at which a fire can accelerate, and that smoke damage alone is capable of destroying sensitive computer and information storage equipment. There was no time for the fire or smoke to destroy the delicate equipment However, after the power units were charged, the computer started right up and ran perfectly — the Fike FM-200 system had done its job. When the accompanying air sampling system detected fm-200 tank nozzlesmoke (above the predetermined 100% level for more than ten seconds) the clean agent system was activated and extinguished the fire within ten seconds. There was no time for the fire (later determined to be the result of a short circuit in two power supply units) or smoke to destroy the delicate equipment. And no time was lost to costly repairs, equipment replacement or even clean-up. Fire suppression system Tremendously relieved, Stenberg commented, “We are very happy with our Fike FM-200 extinguishing system. It could have been a total disaster if the fire had continued and destroyed the computer room. We are very pleased with the function of the system and the response we received from our supplier, Exting AB.” Critical Project Success Factors: BRS-Intron proactively protected their vital computer room equipment with Fike Corporation’s FM-200 clean agent fire suppression system. The FM-200 system was installed by Exting AB, a professional, factory trained Fike partner. The successful activation of the FM-200 extinguishing system averted devastating computer losses and eliminated costly downtime or system

Motorola Solutions has signed a five-year maintenance, support and TETRA digital radio system upgrade agreement with the Information Technology and Communications Department under the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Lithuania to modernize and maintain the country’s nationwide TETRA digital radio network. The network provides Lithuania’s public safety organizations such as the State Border Guard Service police, fire and rescue departments as well as ambulances and state law enforcement agencies with efficient, secure and reliable mission-critical digital radio communications. TETRA digital radio network upgrade Motorola Solutions will modernize the Lithuanian digital mobile radio communications network" As part of the contract, Motorola Solutions will modernize and upgrade the redundant digital mobile radio communications network including the controller hardware and the base station software for operations. Motorola Solutions will also provide maintenance and support services for five years, including real-time network monitoring from its Network Operations Center and the delivery of technical support, repair and security services as well as end-to-end incident management based on next-generation technologies in call taking, dispatch and first responder workflows for more effective response, increased actionable intelligence in the field and improved outcomes. Reliable, secure communications “Ensuring reliable communications for our public safety and emergency organizations across the country and at our state borders are vital,” explained Evaldas Serbenta, director of the IT and Communications Department under the Ministry Of Interior of the Republic of Lithuania. “We can meet the highest public safety standards only when we equip our public safety and emergency organizations with state-of-the-art, mission-critical communication solutions that meet and exceed requirements today and in the future. Thereby, our first responders can rely on their technology lifeline and focus on their day-to-day operations in the long term.” “Motorola Solutions will modernize the Lithuanian digital mobile radio communications network by providing access to the latest functionality and security services,” said Michael Kaae, vice president Nordics, Eastern Europe & Russia at Motorola Solutions. “The best-in-class, 24/7 services will be delivered from our regional Motorola Solutions Network Operations Center, which not only provides real-time monitoring services for maximum availability but also enables proactive monitoring, allowing incidents to be addressed before they impact services whilst providing a high-quality, secure and accessible system to all users.”