Fire Safety Planning - News

VIKING Life-saving Equipment is maintaining momentum in its development of the most complete range of safety solutions to cover the risks facing wind turbine service technicians, by introducing an easily accessible and self-contained evacuation kit located in the tower. Tower evacuation kit Following a collaborative design project, VIKING has launched a tower evacuation kit that fits snugly into what is currently an unused space between the platform handrails and the tower’s outer wall....

Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS) is urging Berkshire residents to ‘Be Water Aware’ as part of the National Fire Chiefs Council’s (NFCC) Drowning Prevention and Water Safety Week (26 April – 2 May).  Accidental drownings In 2019, 223 people tragically lost their lives in accidental drownings and 44% of those people had no intention of ever being in the water. More people died in the UK in 2019 from accidental drowning than cyclists did on the road. R...

Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service is supporting this week’s National Fire Chiefs Council’s (NFCC) National Sprinkler Week campaign (17 – 23 May), promoting the benefits of sprinklers in keeping people and buildings safe from fire. Sprinklers are widely recognized as the single most effective method for fighting the spread of fires in their early stages. Fire sprinkler systems Sprinkler systems can also protect property and increase sustainability, but more critically,...

During 6-12 September, Royal Berkshire Fire, and Rescue Service (RBFRS) is supporting the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) Business Safety Week. Business Safety Week urges local businesses that have re-opened their doors not to overlook fire safety and ensure it remains a top priority in the workplace. Throughout the week, RBFRS will be reminding businesses of their fire safety responsibilities so that they comply with legislation to keep both premises and occupants safe from fire. Steps to...

RESCUE Intellitech AB is excited to announce the launch of their new product, the DeconFilter Pro S. When the company first developed the Solo Rescue Decon Washer, its goal was to develop a decontamination solution that could help reduce firefighter’s exposure to carcinogens and other hazardous substances, in a quick, easy and safe way. RESCUE Intellitech AB ended up doing a great job and their machines have now been shipped throughout the world to countries on four different continents....

This month, Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service is supporting the National Fire Chiefs Council’s Home Fire Safety Month campaign. Over the course of four weeks, from Monday, 30 August until Sunday, 26 September, they will share safety advice to help keep the user safe in their home or business. Each week will focus on a different area, covering chimney fire safety, business fire safety, fire door safety, and gas safety. Fire Safety Month James Whitton, West Hub Protection Manager, s...

Global HSE is supporting Fire Door Safety Week. A campaign was created to engage and educate building owners and building users on the importance of a fully compliant and functioning fire door. This article will help give a better understanding of what is a fire door, the components that make one up, and how to maintain and inspect them. What is a fire door? Fire doors are a legal requirement in almost all commercial buildings and residential properties including blocks of flats, sheltered ac...

AVK International has extended its Supa Lock™ threadless connection system with four new fittings. The new Supa Lock™ fittings serve as access points with no need for tapping the pipe and allow for a simple connection with no added risk of corrosion or weakening of the pipes. The socket/spigot fittings are therefore well-suited for new installations, whereas the blind flange can be used for both existing and new installations, and for many applications such as providing auxiliary...

In 2006 the laws regarding Fire changed radically with the introduction of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. This brought the fire laws in line with Health and Safety Legislation. A major change was the creation of the role of the Responsible Person who is held accountable for fire safety. Who is the Responsible Person? Normally the employer, but it can be anyone who has some control over the building, workplace, or premises. Where does the Order apply? Virtually everywhere exc...

Global HSE is supporting Fire Door Safety Week, a campaign created to engage and educate building owners and building users on the importance of a fully compliant and functioning fire door. This article will help give a better understanding of what is a fire door, the components that make one up, and how to maintain and inspect them. What is a fire door? Fire doors are a legal requirement in almost all commercial buildings and residential properties – including blocks of flats, she...

The Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP) is launching a new magazine to update its members and the wider fire, design, and construction sectors with news of ASFP activities, and to report and comment on issues affecting the passive fire protection industry. Ignite The new magazine, Ignite, will be produced three times each year. With the first edition scheduled for publication in November/December, it will also be distributed at the Association’s Awards Lunch on the 26th of...

Granite Workwear puts the spotlight on the Welding & Foundry industry. One of the most dangerous industries to work in is where workers are constantly working with dangerous equipment and machinery. Welding gear needs to be incredibly flame retardant, so as to prevent any sparks igniting clothing. Another important attribute for welding and foundry gear to have is UV protection. The intensity of the light produced can induce sun burns and even blindness. As such, it is vital to make sure no...

Loudoun County has established a voluntary database that provides emergency responders with important health information, in compliance with Virginia’s Marcus-David Peters Act, which was signed into law in December 2020. Virginia’s Marcus-David Peters Act The law aims to provide behavioral health responses, when an individual is experiencing a crisis, related to mental health, substance abuse or developmental disability, in the US state of Virginia. The bill requires that by July 1...

Armstrong Fluid Technology has unveiled its industry-renowned Design Envelope Fire Pump unit, along with Fire Pump Manager, a new and connected service for tracking pump performance. In addition to providing important new safety benefits, Armstrong’s new Design Envelope Fire Pump holds the distinction of being the first self-regulating, variable-speed fire pump, to meet NFPA-20 (2019 Edition), Section 4.8 standards. variable-speed fire pump This innovation allows simplification of the p...

PlanRadar announces a new partnership with IFC Group (International Fire Consultants), one of the fire safety consultancies. From the end of August 2021, IFC Group will use PlanRadar in the field to manage inspections, fire risk assessments, and audits across their projects globally. The company supports its clients at every stage of their projects, from design to delivery and maintenance, and on projects of all sizes and levels of complexity. Fire safety measures With increased scrutiny on b...

Zeta Alarms Ltd is pleased to announce that their latest EX-Pro extinguishing panel now boasts 3rd-party certification to EN 12094-1 and EN54 parts 2&4 from BSI. This modern extinguishing panel includes a LCD display showing the event history along with adjustable flood times and countdown of extinguishing sequence. The panel has 5 on board outputs with the facility to add a further 3 or 8 using an optional PCB, which can be mounted within the panel enclosure.

Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service has welcomed nine new on-call firefighters to stations across the county. The group completed their phase one, 10 week training course this month and now have the core skills required to operate safely as a firefighter with their new stations. The on-call firefighters will now respond to a wide range of emergencies in their communities, which could include anything from rescuing people trapped in cars following a collision, to responding to a local house f...

PlanRadar has announced a new partnership with IFC Group (International Fire Consultants), one of the United Kingdom’s renowned fire safety consultancies. From the end of August 2021, IFC Group will use PlanRadar in the field to manage inspections, fire risk assessments and audits, across their projects globally. The company supports its clients at every stage of their projects, from design to delivery and maintenance, and on projects of all sizes and levels of complexity. PlanRadar &nda...

The Government has announced an extension to the date ending recognition of the CE Mark in Great Britain. CE Marked goods may continue to be placed on the GB market until 1st January 2023. This extension means that all product sectors have until 1st January 2023 to prepare to use the UKCA Mark, except Medical Devices. The UKCA Mark can be used and the Government is encouraging businesses to start using it as soon as possible, with it becoming mandatory for placing goods on the market...

South Yorkshire’s fire service is up for a major national award celebrating its work with diverse communities. South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service has been shortlisted in the ‘diverse company’ category at this year’s National Diversity Awards. The service has been shortlisted for its work to train and empower staff, promote inclusive recruitment processes and involve diverse communities in its work. The nomination pitches SYFR up against seven other organizati...

The Association for Specialist Fire Protection has published three new Advisory Notes offering guidance on the fire protection of structural steel. 2021 version Addressing specific concerns identified by the industry, the ASFP's Advisory Note 19 sets out its position on the use of critical steel temperatures above 650°C. In an update to the previous edition from July 2020, the 2021 version notes: 'It is vital to ensure that the appropriate limiting temperature is used in the spe...

Steve Emery shares his thoughts on what conservation professionals should put into fire strategies for historic buildings. In the latest edition of the Built Environment Journal published by RICS, the issue of fire safety in historic buildings is explored by the University of Oxford’s fire officer. Fire risk assessment He takes the view of the conservation professional and how they need to look at historic buildings through a fire safety lens to avoid the experience of high-profile fire...

BSI Group (BSI), in its role as the UK National Standards Body, has published a new set of requirements for the implementation of Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) in development projects, including individual house-builds, large-scale developments and estate management. The loss of biodiversity as a result of human activity is having increasingly severe impacts. As a result, governments, businesses and organizations of all types are acting, not only to protect biodiversity, but to ensure it thrives....

The City of Isle of Palms, South Carolina, has been without a fire chief for more than eight months, a situation that has damaged morale among firefighters and continues to threaten fire department operations. Isle of Palms Local 3967 says the city has thoroughly botched efforts to find a new fire chief, ignoring qualified candidates and offering the position to others who ultimately declined the job offer. Instead, the city has temporarily placed the fire department under the control of the ch...

For the second year, DripDrop Hydration (DripDrop ORS), a renowned rehydration therapy company, and the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), the global association representing the volunteer fire, EMS (Emergency Medical Services), and rescue services, have teamed up to provide dehydration relief to volunteer firefighters. Oral rehydration solution (ORS) DripDrop is providing 200,000 sticks of their oral rehydration solution (ORS) to volunteer fire departments across the U.S. The donation co...

Ballyclare has revealed details of a major new tender win with the latest additions to its XENON range of multi-functional structural firefighting clothing. The contract, which covers PPE for some 3,200 firefighters, has been awarded by three fire and rescue services in the Yorkshire and Humberside region and includes new additions to the XENON range which have been developed to meet the specific demands of this customer. Provide bespoke solutions “With today’s firefighting and re...

HURST Jaws of Life has been nominated for the NC Chamber’s Coolest Thing Made in N” competition, a contest that allows the public to both nominate and vote for their favorite North Carolina-manufactured product. “We’re proud to call Shelby, North Carolina, home, and we’re honored to have HURST Jaws of Life recognized as one of the ‘coolest things’ made in North Carolina,” said Britt Hawkins, Manager, Marketing Services, for the rescue tool whose n...

The Scottish Government has launched a new campaign to raise awareness of new fire safety laws that mean all homes must have interlinked smoke alarms from February 2022. The Building and Fire Safety Ministerial Working Group was established after the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017 to review Scotland’s existing building and fire safety regulatory frameworks. Their work has resulted in several changes in Scotland including this new approach to smoke alarms. New regulations New regulations un...

Jo Bird and company are one of the very limited numbers of UK companies who have signed up to a pledge to halve the company’s CO2 emissions by 2030. Being heavily involved in the offshore wind sector may have been one of the reasons for being shortlisted by SWMAS and it has been audited by Ashley Webber at Balanced energy to measure CO2 levels with suggestions as to how this could be reduced to help achieve this ambitious goal. This was a very detailed report looking at estimating the le...

Fire and rescue services across the UK worked with partners to respond to the impact of COVID-19. Making a difference provides a series of short case studies to show the range of activities that services did over the last 18 months; it recognizes that the pandemic is not over and services continue to help communities in many different ways.  Phil Garrigan is the NFCC lead for the COVID-19 response. He said: “The pandemic was unlike anything else we have...