Fire Safety Testing - News

The crew at Dunvegan Community Fire Station on the Isle of Skye have recorded - 'Things Are Hotting Up', as part of a community album raising funds for the charity - Alzheimer Scotland. The song and accompanying music video offer a humorous look at their day-to-day lives. It was the idea of John Shurmer-Smith, a former international touring musician, who balances life as an on-call firefighter with supporting local community arts projects. on-call crew shortages John, better known by his stag...

The Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP) is pleased to announce it has been shortlisted in three categories of the Memcom Excellence Awards 2023. The Awards shine a light on organizations that increase the value of their profession and contribute to a better society.  They aim to highlight successful membership organizations, recognizing the creativity and hard work which goes into driving up standards in the membership sector.  ASFP’s YouTube channel ASFPTV,...

The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) regional administrator authorized the use of federal funds on Aug. 9 to assist the US state of Hawaii to combat the Mauna Kea Beach Fire burning in Hawaii County. On Aug. 9, 2023, the US state of Hawaii submitted a request for a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG). At the time of the request, the fire threatened approximately 100 homes in and around Mauna Kea Beach, with mandatory evacuations for approximately 100 people. The fire also...

Keeping firefighting equipment in good condition is essential to protect and secure individuals and their assets. Keeping firefighting equipment in suitable condition safeguards and connects individuals and their support. The presence of appropriate equipment can significantly impact one’s chances of survival or death during a fire emergency. By conducting routine upkeep and evaluations, it can be ensured that firefighting gear such as fire extinguishers, smoke alarms, sprinklers, hoses,...

This is the most common reason for a house fire. It is advisable to always switch off the main knob of the gas cylinder whenever it’s not used and keep children away from that. If they smell gas leakage, then urgently bring to someone’s notice. Electrical Appliances Electrical heaters, geysers, and grills are good to go appliances and can also lead to a house fire. Be careful when there are any fluctuations in voltage. Moreover, keep fabrics away from them. Candles Aromatic candl...

When it comes to fire protection, fire sprinklers are the best choice to save lives and protect property. Although they save thousands of properties in the country each year, fire sprinklers are less common in residential buildings than commercial ones. It’s the mission of Safe-T Fire Protection to change that.  fire sprinklers Did users know smoke detectors increase the odds of surviving a fire by 50% while fire sprinklers increase the survival chances by 97%? Not only could they...

The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Regional Administrator authorized the use of federal funds on Aug. 8 to assist the US state of Hawaii to combat the Kohala Ranch Fire burning in Hawaii County. On Aug. 8, the US state of Hawaii submitted a request for a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG). FEMA authorizes FMAG funds for State of Hawaii At the time of the request, the fire threatened approximately 200 homes in and around Kohala Ranch, with evacuations taking place for...

FEMA announces that President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. made additional funds available for the state of New Mexico to help local communities in Los Alamos and Sandoval counties recover from the 2022 Cerro Pelado Fire. The state of New Mexico received a major disaster declaration on May 4, 2022, following the wildfires, straight-line winds, flooding, mudflows and debris flows that occurred from April 5 to July 23, 2022. Emergency protective measures Under the President's order, federal funds for F...

Sherwin-Williams Protective & Marine Coatings has issued a message of advice to those working in the protection of structural steel who are affected by the new Building Safety Act 2022 as the date approaches for it to become enforceable to ensure users understand their obligations. High-risk buildings From October 2023, all buildings must be registered with the newly established Building Safety Regulator (BSR), and those of at least 18 meters in height or with at least seven stories contai...

Successful and high-performing fire and EMS departments support their members and make health and well-being top priorities. The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) has launched a new initiative to motivate and recognize departments that are taking the important steps needed to create a psychologically healthy fire department (PHFD). Departments can take part in the initiative by pledging their commitment to support their members. To participate, departments must do the following: Have at...

British Automatic Fire Sprinkler Association’s (BAFSA) Chief Executive - Ali Perry has been appointed by the Health & Safety Executive to the Building Safety Regulator’s (BSR) new Industry Competence Committee (ICC). Industry Competence Committee The Industry Competence Committee (ICC) has been set up to support the work of the Building Safety Regulator. Its aim is to provide insights and guidance from industry stakeholders, in order to help improve competence levels across the...

The City of Victoria is proud to be one of the first municipalities in Canada to purchase an electric fire engine to add to its growing electric vehicle fleet. The City is taking steps to prepare for the arrival of the Rosenbauer Revolutionary Technology (RT) pumper fire engine, which is currently being assembled and is expected to arrive by the end of the year. The electric fire engine will be stationed at the new Victoria Fire Department Headquarters and public safety building on Johnson Stre...

Are familiar with instances where firestopping installations may not have been entirely compliant? Maybe a fire collar was not mechanically fixed, a wrap was used in an oversized hole, or PU foam was used to seal around services? If so, it’s okay, give the benefit of the doubt were working to the best of knowledge at the time! Acknowledging how worked in the past is the first step towards improvement. Fire-stopping guidelines Understand that the challenges of construction projects can s...

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) joins with other national fire service organizations to strongly oppose proposed cuts to the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grants. The Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grants programs provide critical funding to help fire departments secure needed equipment, training, and staffing to adequately protect their communi...

RealWear, the pioneer of industrial extended reality (XR) wearables, is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Chris Parkinson as RealWear’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO). HMT-1® flagship headset Dr. Parkinson, Co-Founder, and former CTO of RealWear®, is the visionary mind behind the HMT-1® flagship headset that started the RealWear story in 2016. The HMT-1 was RealWear’s first industrial head-mounted tablet computer on the market and catapulted RealWear into the s...

The International Water Mist Association (IWMA) has announced that Bogdan Raciega has joined the IWMA Scientific Council. Bogdan Raciega works as Fire Laboratory Director for the Baltic Fire Laboratory in Tuchom, Poland. Bogdan Raciega first dealt with water mist nearly ten years ago. He is an expert in the Polish Committee for Standardization in Warsaw and also a member of the CEN / TC 191 / WG 10 in Brussels. Water mist systems As far as his marine expertise goes, some of the experiences un...

When choosing a technology provider for a safety program, there's so much more to think about than just the equipment.  Comprehensive services are equally essential otherwise the costs can be high. A lack of customer support can contribute to a poor user experience and adoption challenges. Limited scalability might hamper the growth. change management The right partner besides the user, offering change management and best practices expertise, can set the safety technology program up for...

Following a robust selection process, a new Deputy Chief Fire Officer has been announced at the North East’s largest fire and rescue service - Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFRS). Stewart Nicholson has been announced as the new Deputy Chief Fire Officer at Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service and will take up his post by November 2023. Stewart joins Tyne and Wear from Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, where he has served as Deputy Assistant Chief Officer. He is the first s...

Amthal has announced the appointment of Reece Paprotny to Commercial Director, having initially joined the company as an apprentice. The promotion comes as the company announces a strategic shift in its approach to fire safety and security services. Business development Reece, who joined Amthal as a finance apprentice in 2015, instantly identified a strong drive to succeed and a keen eye for business development opportunities. He quickly established himself as a valuable asset, rising to...

EPIC-FSC, the nonprofit Fire Safe Council for Calabasas, is thrilled to announce the launch of its revamped and improved website, designed to provide residents with comprehensive and easy-to-navigate resources for emergency preparedness. With a focus on curated content specific to Calabasas, the new website aims to empower individuals and families with crucial information and resources to safeguard their loved ones and homes during emergencies. knowledge and tools "We are excited to unveil ou...

Where school groups are faced with budgetary constraints, decision-makers can’t afford to neglect fire safety. Sue Corrick of Allegion UK explains how responsible persons can use the summer break to extend the service life of fire doors in school buildings.  By the time August arrives, it’s official - school is out for summer. For students and staff alike, the summer holiday is a precious period of recreation and recuperation, but for most education facilities, the annual break...

The Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Saint Sophia is a heritage-listed church located in Paddington, NSW. Having been consecrated in 1927, the Cathedral has a storied history as one of the first Greek Orthodox Cathedrals in Australia. The Cathedral had been exposed to multiple elements since it’s construction. As a result, there was significant accumulated structural damage. Parts of the building were crumbling, and large cracks had appeared. ARA Building Services The front fa&cced...

Two recent acquisitions have made a very positive impact in the past year and will continue to have a positive impact in the future, on the ARA Group. The positive impact is both strategic and financial. In May 2022, the BM Doors Group (BM Doors) was acquired as an additional business in the Products Division. The financial year 2023 was the first full year of BM Doors, as part of the ARA Group. BM Doors designs, manufactures, and installs a bespoke range of security and fire doors. BM Doors...

The Deck Box, manufactured by First Fix Formwork, is a product widely used in the construction industry. Used to create an opening in the concrete slab for service penetrations to pass through, it can be made to suit the specific requirements at any width, length, or depth (subject to practicality) and is supplied with a structural ply lid. profiled key Manufactured and assembled in a factory off-site, it is created from a mild steel frame that is coated with zinc. The perforations...

Dräger, an international provider in the fields of medical and safety technology, celebrated its partnership with women in the fire service UK last week, reinforcing its commitment to equality of opportunity, improved representation of women in the industry, and how Dräger is designing equipment fit to meet the challenges of an increasingly diverse workforce in the fire service. Hosted at South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, 46 delegates across 16 Fire and Rescue Services, Hazardo...

Staffordshire Police has improved in some of the ways it protects children, but it still needs to improve the quality of its investigations, a new report has found. His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) re-inspected the force in March 2023, after an initial inspection in 2021 found systemic failings and made 15 recommendations for improvement. Action plan to improve its services In the latest visit, inspectors found that Staffordshire Police...

Victoria City Council is delivering on its recently adopted Strategic Plan by moving ahead with the development of a Community Safety and Well-Being Plan, which will identify opportunities for the City to take a leadership role in making the community safer and improving the well-being of all. “We know that cities across the country are struggling with a variety of challenges including the safety and well-being of all their residents. Victoria is going to lead with a solution-focused plan...

Homes and businesses are stuffed full of technology and depend on electricity for the completion of numerous daily tasks. As the 21st century progresses, they are becoming more and more reliant on digital devices to streamline work processes, and provide with entertainment, and keep everyone connected. As such, electrical fires are always a possibility, especially if equipment is outdated or neglected. It is important to look out for potential electrical hazards and rectify them promptl...

Fire is a complex force of nature that can quickly wreak havoc throughout a modern building, putting lives and property at risk. But proper fire prevention and preparation can help to manage this threat and in turn, keep employees safe in an emergency. Proper fire preparation means more than just installing the correct extinguishers and sprinkler systems. It's about giving people the tools to act calmly and practically in a crisis, where this can be taught through a comprehensive fire safety tr...

NICE announced that ASTRID, the operator of Belgium’s national radio communications, paging, and dispatching network, has selected NICE to modernize their voice recording and incident reconstruction solutions for 14 police, fire, and EMS Public Safety Answering Points. reliable data capture As a provider of a single system of record for emergency incidents, NICE empowers public safety and criminal justice agencies to find the truth that’s hidden in data faster and improve services...