Training & Education - News

Innovators in fire technology, Geofire, launches the Deaf Alert, a safety device for the deaf and hard of hearing. The Deaf Alert is a digital, vibrating pillow alarm that uses ‘listening’ technology to activate on the specific sound of a home smoke alarm. Geofire has manufactured fire safety products in the UK since 1972. The Deaf Alert will join the Agrippa acoustic product line which includes the battery powered fire door holder and closer. Working smoke alarm The acoustic tech...

It will all be over by Christmas, at least that’s what everyone thought (and hoped) when COVID-19 first hit back in the spring season. However, adapting to life and work in a COVID-19 world has proved a longer and harder road than many ever anticipated. For many unlucky COVID-19 sufferers too, the effects of the virus have been long-term. Whether symptoms are very mild, or more problematic, for most people, COVID-19 infection is a brief, acute illness. However, it is now medically recogni...

Housing secretary Robert Jenrick has promised tougher regulations will improve building safety, after expressing his shock at last week’s revelations from the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, Construction News has reported. According to the industry specialist, last week former Celotex Product Manager Jonathan Roper admitted that the firm’s sale of its insulation product alongside sales material that failed to mention it had only passed safety tests when placed alongside non-combustible magn...

Global safety equipment manufacturer, MSA Safety Incorporated has announced that its next-generation Advantage 290 LS Air-Purifying Respirator (APR) is the first of its kind, designed without an exhalation valve, to receive approval from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Advantage 290 LS APR An elastomeric half-mask device, the Advantage 290 LS Respirator covers a wearer’s nose and mouth and utilizes twin filters to provide respiratory protection. The U....

As the Thanksgiving holidays are approaching, everyone will be looking forward to a full dinner plate with the favorite meal. Whether one is with family or sharing the meal with their immediate household, it is always important to remember fire safety in the kitchen. The cooking fires are the number one cause of home fires and fire injuries and that Thanksgiving is the day for home fires involving cooking equipment, Kistler O’Brien Fire Protection wants customers to be well prepared as th...

Firefighters, climate campaigners and scientists have urged Chancellor Rishi Sunak to invest in the fire and rescue service to protect the public and vital infrastructure from the devastating effects of climate change – or risk ruining the chance of a green recovery. In a letter to the Chancellor ahead of the Spending Review on 25 November, the Fire Brigades Union and climate groups including Green New Deal UK, Greenpeace UK, Friends of the Earth, and the Campaign Against Climate Change (...

The FIA has unveiled its participation as a founding member in a new, industry-wide initiative designed to attract and develop a new generation of fire protection engineers. Zitko Talent is an alliance of leading manufacturers, installation companies and educators who will be providing an intensive 12-month program of salaried work experience, training and development. The program is suitable for a wide audience, from college leavers and career changers to engineers wishing to cross-train from...

Ground-breaking research has revealed the serious health risks to UK firefighters following exposure to toxic fire effluents, the chemicals emitted during a fire, in an independent University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) report commissioned by the Fire Brigades Union (FBU). The work is the UK's first and the latest in a growing body of international evidence suggesting an increased risk of firefighters developing cancer and other diseases. Fires produce a cocktail of toxic, irritant, and carci...

What is considered one of any fire department's greatest challenges, when it comes to equipment carried on its apparatus? If anyone answers - how to get the most out of the available storage space, then theirs is the case with most fire departments. Fire departments have to make sure that all their fire apparatus is stored safely and is easily accessible at the same time. Ziamatic Corporation (Zico) has the right storage device for any equipment needed to carry aboard the fire apparatus. The na...

Having the ability to effectively inspect, diagnose, and document trouble spots are crucial for property managers, facilities maintenance staff, building inspectors, contractors, electricians, service technicians, plumbers, and even homeowners. It requires the aid of effective tools, including thermal imaging, to quickly recognize and resolve those trouble spots. That’s why FLIR has introduced its latest entry-level Cx-Series camera, the FLIR C3-X™, a compact thermal camera packed w...

The winter season is right around the corner, which means it’s time to start preparing the buildings for the cold months. During this season, temperatures can drop below freezing causing a facility’s sprinkler systems, water lines as well as other fire and life safety systems to freeze and may not perform the way they were designed. Not to mention, icy roads prove to be an issue when first responders are trying to make their way to the scene of the fire. Because of this, it is impor...

The National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) is researching the impact of COVID-19 on first responder organizations and asking for your help. The START project hopes to measure the impact of COVID-19, identify and share best practices, and identify ways to strengthen first responder organizations for future pandemics. Research This research is part of a larger study funded by the Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorat...

There has been a lot of talk about Zitko Talent lately, following its public launch in October 2020. In case missed, Zitko have forged an alliance of major Fire & Security employers, manufacturers, training companies, and trade bodies. The purpose? To attract and develop 1,000 technical entrants to the industry a year, via an intensive 12-month foundation training and paid experience program. It’s designed to open the door wider - to engineers from other sectors, to college leavers, a...

Victaulic, the globally renowned manufacturer of mechanical pipe joining systems, has announced various launches and upgrades for its suite of Autodesk MEP software offerings. These include: Now Available – Victaulic Tools for AutoCAD (VTFA): VTFA is an all-new, free tool that provides AutoCAD users the same classic routing features and drawing productivity gains that were previously only available in the Victaulic Tools for Revit platform. This add-on provides toolsets engineered for...

Jactone is delighted to announce the recent appointment of the company’s Managing Director, Craig Halford to the position of Chair of the Fire Industry Association Extinguishing Council. In turn, the organization is also delighted that as a result of the appointment, Craig Halford assumes his position on the Fire Industry Association’s Board of Directors. Jactone is committed to the work of the Fire Industry Association (FIA) and is particularly interested in contributing to the dev...

Kistler O’Brien Fire Protection unveiled its brand-new official website enhancing the digital footprint of the trusted commercial fire protection provider. The new website serves as a key resource for both current and potential customers in search of life safety services and code compliance. Mobile-friendly interface Visitors to the site can enjoy a more intuitive, mobile-friendly interface that is accessible from all mobile devices. The website features detailed information about the...

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors have introduced the latest video interview in their six-part campaign series, Faces of Fire/Electrical hazard awareness campaign, which features personal stories of people impacted by electrical incidents, demonstrating the need for continued education and awareness about electrical hazards in the workplace and at home. Firefighter safety Awareness Luis Nevarez, Fire Chief in the City of Tulare Fire Depa...

E-ONE, a subsidiary of REV Group, Inc. and a foremost manufacturer of fire apparatus, announce the delivery of an E-ONE HR 100 ladder truck to the Auburn Fire Department in Auburn, NY. To allow for ample equipment storage space, Auburn Fire Department chose a tandem axle, no-pump, no-tank design. Features and Design The body features full-height, full-depth compartments, and a large forward transverse compartment. A well-thought-out assortment of roll-out trays, shelving, and tool boards pro...

LION First Responder PPE, Inc., one of the largest family-owned manufacturers of first responder protective equipment (PPE) and training products, launched a new line of lower cost, turnkey container-based training structures. TrainingReadyTM Container Systems are designed to be ordered and delivered in a fraction of the time it takes for construction of a typical container-based structure. TrainingReadyTM Container Systems are packed with innovative safety and training benefits that come stand...

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is seeking U.S.-based fire departments for the second phase of their Community Risk Assessment (CRA) dashboard project. Much like Phase I, participating departments in Phase II will receive free access to a personalized NFPA CRA Digital Dashboard for three months, in addition to professional networking and development opportunities surrounding Community Risk Reduction (CRR), in return for feedback about the tool. NFPA CRA Digital Dashboard With...

Peterbilt is leading the charge in alternative powertrain offerings and is pleased to announce the Model 520EV is now available for customer orders. The Model 520EV can be configured through the SmartSpec® sales tool and ordered at one of Peterbilt’s dealer locations with production expected to start by Q2 2021. Model Comparison The Model 520EV combines the standout features the Peterbilt Model 520 is known for with the advanced technology of a zero-emission electric powertrain, pro...

Envirograf® hosts regular CPD training at the office based in Dover, Kent to provide knowledge as well as practical installation and use of passive fire products. Envirograf covers the basics across all of the 200+ products, including videos of products in action and case studies. The in-house fire specialist will also demonstrate how the products work when attacked with flames. For more information on the CPD training, contact Envirograf online or by telephone to make a booking.

High-pressure water mist systems offer unique possibilities for active fire fighting even under critical conditions through the use of innovative spray technology and high-quality materials. One of the manufacturers of this technology is AQUASYS from Linz, which has been supplying the highest quality materials and engineering since 1993, developing them to customer specifications and installing them at national and international customers. Gas extinguishing systems High-pressure water mist (H...

Effective November 1, 2020, Robert (Bob) Caputo became the new President of the American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA). Bob is a sprinkler industry veteran with more than 40 years of experience, ranging from owning a fire sprinkler installation company in San Diego, California to teaching technical seminars for the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Fire sprinkler industry veteran Bob most recently served as Vice President for training and technical support for Fire & Life Sa...

The latest two winners have been announced in MSA Safety Incorporated’s and DuPont’s 2020 Globe Gear Giveaway. Douglas City (CA) Volunteer Fire Department and Cooper Landing (AK) Emergency Services will each receive four sets of state-of-the-art turnout gear and four helmets to increase the safety of their members. Providing turnout gear MSA, DuPont, and the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) team up each year to help volunteer fire departments obtain much-needed gear. With the...

Data released by the Fire Protection Association (FPA) has revealed the significant financial impact on businesses and key services caused by fires. The analysis of 4,782 major UK fires between January 2009 and December 2019 where the financial loss was £100,000 or more revealed a mean average loss of £657,074 per incident. The analysis focuses on fires in buildings used by private and public sector organizations and residential and mixed multiple occupancy shared ownership building...

Imagine going into a shop and asking for an item. They tell them they’re out of stock, so what do they do? They ask them for it again and again and again. Employers are doing something rather similar in Fire & Security when it comes to hiring engineers. There’s a finite supply that is dwindling steadily, as older colleagues retire and their potential replacements fail to grasp the attractions of an engineering career.  If they look at the job boards, they’ll see &lsqu...

The launch of Smarter Homes, Safer Communities powered by Aico. This virtual conference marks the beginning of Aico’s advance into facilitating and holding events within the housing sector. Smarter Homes, Safer Communities powered by Aico is a two-part virtual conference covering the current challenges the housing sector is facing, the advancements in technology, and the future of the Internet of Things (IoT) in housing. Spanning over two days, part one will take place on Thursday, Novem...

Ponsse (Ponsse Oyj) has announced the release of firefighting equipment to be installed in the load spaces of forwarders for extinguishing wildfires efficiently. “Forest machine is the most natural and effective way to access a forest fire area. Operations in difficult terrain come as second nature to them, and they have more than enough capacity in their hydraulic system for demanding conditions,” said Juha Haverinen, Ponsse's Product Manager of forwarders. Firefighting equipment&...

Carbon monoxide (CO), also known as the ‘silent killer’, is especially dangerous because it is not visible and cannot be smelt or tasted. The only way to protect against this potentially deadly threat is with a CO alarm. In honor of CO Awareness Month in November, First Alert and the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) have partnered to create an online CO awareness and CO alarm training course for volunteer fire departments nationwide, supplemented by an alarm donation program f...