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Why are we building disposable buildings?

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Iain Cox, Chair of the Business Sprinkler Alliance examines the wide-ranging impact of fire and asks the question as to why we are building disposable buildings. Judging by the impact and devastation caused by fire, it should not be a surprise how vulnerable so many buildings are, with far-reaching consequences. From industrial and commercial buildings to residential buildings and schools, fires occur again and again.  While there is a need to understand fire regulations are designed with life safety in mind, the protection of physical assets is a by-product of this approach. Losing buildings needlessly to fire suggests we are taking a short-sighted approach to their longevity and making them disposable in the face of a fire incident.  Looking back over the last three years there have been a string of fire incidents. Some have made the headlines, but they have highlighted that the outcomes from fire can be the significant damage to buildings. These fires impact a range of buildings from industrial to residential and from care homes to schools. Each of these events led to significant displacement of school children, homeowners, the elderly and employees. Even though the fires happened many months ago large numbers of these buildings are still under reconstruction and some will never be rebuilt.    Fires in schools  Two years of pandemic upheaval across education has only highlighted how damaging the closure of schools has been and the legacy of lost learning. Further unnecessary interruption to education should be avoided, not least when it comes to fire. With hundreds of schools in the UK having a fire each year it needs further action. In that past two years there were major fires in schools across the UK, all without sprinklers that could have minimised those incidents.   Three school fires in Derbyshire in 2020 are a painful reminder of the damage, disruption and the costs incurred when they are not fitted with sprinklers. On the morning of Saturday 3rd October, six fire engines and two aerial ladder platforms were called to attend a major blaze at St Mary’s Catholic Voluntary Academy in Darley Abbey, Derby. The fire quickly engulfed the building, which was largely destroyed and reported as a ‘total loss’. Just two days later, in the early hours of Monday 5 October, there was a second severe fire only four miles away, this time at Ravensdale Infant School in Mickleover which required 12 fire engines from the Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service. Whilst the Fire and Rescue service brought the fire under control there was extensive damage to the building. Neither building had sprinklers fitted.  To read more news and exclusive features see our latest issue here. Never miss a story… Follow us on:  International Fire Buyer @Firebuyer Fire Buyer Media Contact Louis Curtis Editor, International Fire Buyer Tel: +44 (0) 1622 823 922 Email: editor@firebuyer.com

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Shouting into the dark

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Communication is an integral part of ensuring a rescue operation is conducted smoothly. But what challenges do fire and rescue teams face in environments where radio communication is limited or even impossible?   In the modern world, humanity exists in all corners of the globe. From the towering mountains that crest the land, through the verdant meadows, the arid deserts and idyllic valleys, all the way down to the majestic coasts. Even some of the most hostile environments our world has to offer, like the freezing wastes of Antarctica or the suffocating peaks of the Himalayas, houses its own robust communities of people. Never before has it been easier for us to survive in any biome and location.    However, with these new developments comes its own set of unique challenges. Where people can peacefully reside, they can also come into trouble as well. Everyone needs rescuing sometimes. But with such a huge diversity in the environment, it brings with it its own unique challenges.    Fire and rescue teams, like any team, require effective and concise communication to ensure a smooth rescue operation, sometimes over considerable distances where word of mouth does not travel. This is where radio technologies come into play, allowing communication over distances that were previously impossible. Nine times out of ten, this technology is sufficient in fulfilling its duty. However, radio requires a signal to operate and while signals are widespread above ground, its efficiency diminishes the further underground you go. It is very much the same principle as when you are listening to the radio as you drive and pass through a tunnel. The further into the tunnel you go, the patchier the reception, down to a point where any discernible sound is lost.   For rescue teams, any disturbance in a radio signal can be just as deadly as no signal at all, as any orders or information can be easily misconstrued by any recipients. So, communication underground brings with it its own unique set of challenges for rescue teams to overcome. This doesn’t only include challenges faced with communications between rescue team members, but also communication between rescue teams and those that require rescuing. Today, we’ll be taking a deeper look into technologies and tactics involved in subterranean communications, while also comparing these to real-life scenarios, such as the rescue of the Chilean miners in 2010, as well as the 7/7 bombings in London in 2005.  On one fateful day in August 2010, a cave-in occurred in the San Jose copper-gold mine in Chile, trapping 33 miners inside a portion of the mine for 69 days. The mine was old and ill-maintained: experts foretold of an inevitable cave-in causing inevitable damage to equipment and personnel, which was ultimately ignored by the mine’s top brass. The ensuing events led to a global-scale rescue effort, with many charities, institutions and philanthropists joining together to rescue the 33 men buried deep beneath the earth.  To read more news and exclusive features see our latest issue here. Never miss a story… Follow us on:  International Fire Buyer @Firebuyer Fire Buyer Media Contact Louis Curtis Editor, International Fire Buyer Tel: +44 (0) 1622 823 922 Email: editor@firebuyer.com

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Cover Story – TenCate

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Fire Buyer Editor Louis Curtis exclusively interviews TenCate’s own Tim Thorne, Global Emergency Response Market Manager, about how their products ensure modern firefighters stay protected on the job – and look good doing it   Please introduce yourself and your employer, TenCate Protective Fabrics      I’m Tim Thorne, the Global Emergency Response Market Manager for TenCate Protective Fabrics. Over the past 10 years, I’ve worked in several different roles across the organisation.  About half of my career at TenCate Protective Fabrics has been in product development roles – engineering new products across all our main market segments – military, industrial safety, and emergency response. Additionally, I’ve spent about five years in business development for Emergency Response in Asia-Pacific, Australia-New Zealand, and the Middle East.    What is the history and heritage of TenCate Protective Fabrics?    TenCate Protective Fabrics has a rich history in textiles, extending over 300 years – originally in the Netherlands. Since the TenCate Protective Fabrics acquisition of Southern Mills (Georgia, US) back in 2004, the organisation has gained a lot of experience in the protective apparel market space. While TCPF helps protect people around the globe in a range of industries, from utilities, to oil and gas, to military – we’ve played a significant role in the fire and emergency response markets.    We were one of the first fabric manufacturers to bring modern-day materials to firefighter suits. In fact, we’ve revolutionised firefighter protection several times over. For example, TCPF was the first fabric maker to introduce new fibre polymers such as Nomex, Kevlar, PBI and PBO, into the firefighter PPE market. Those were massive innovations for the entire world of firefighting.   What sets you apart from other fabric makers?   We have many strengths, but what comes to my mind is our global reach and end-user-focused innovation. Our approach not only allows us to service different parts of the world, but also truly understand the diverse challenges of end-users in fire brigades and fire departments across different regions. Understanding the needs and challenges of the individuals on the ground allows us to engineer flame-resistant fabric innovations that make a real difference. It’s our global approach that allows us to leverage these innovations from one market to the next, swiftly and efficiently.     Interschutz 2022 was a resounding success for everyone involved. What new products did you have to show off this year?    Front-and-centre was Nomex Advance Truecolor, and we wanted Interschutz 2022 to serve as the stage for our in-person launch for that product.    We also were excited to introduce the market to our line of sustainable FR and non-FR StationWear options, which includes Tecasafe Ecogreen, Tecapro Ecogreen, and Tecawork Ecogreen. This whole family of products aims to create FR and non-FR fabric options that deliver higher comfort levels with smaller ecological footprints.  To read more news and exclusive features see our latest issue here. Never miss a story… Follow us on:  International Fire Buyer @Firebuyer Fire Buyer Media Contact Louis Curtis Editor, International Fire Buyer Tel: +44 (0) 1622 823 922 Email: editor@firebuyer.com

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Firefighters to run London Marathon in aid of The Fire Fighters Charity

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Firefighters from across the UK are set to run this year’s London Marathon in full fire kit and heavy breathing apparatus sets, to raise funds for The Fire Fighters Charity. Luke Pritchard, who works for Kent Fire and Rescue Service, Dan Fry, a Crew Manager with Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service and Will Jones, who works for North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, will take on the 26.2 miles on Sunday, 2 October in front of thousands of supporters. They each chose to support The Fire Fighters Charity for their own personal reasons, having seen the support it offers first-hand – and what a difference it can make. The Charity supports the health and wellbeing of serving and retired fire and rescue service personnel, their dependants and other eligible members of the UK fire services community, throughout their lives, helping them to live happier and healthier. Dan began fundraising for the Charity after tragically losing a colleague to cancer last year. He’s now hoping to complete the marathon in full kit while carrying a breathing apparatus (BA) set. He says: “I’ve witnessed the great work that the Charity can offer through my close friends and colleagues. It is very reassuring knowing that this service will be there to support both me and my family, if called upon. “Last year we lost a colleague to blood cancer, a serving Watch Manager who lost their life far too early. In his name, and raising money for charity, a group of firefighters from DWFRS ran the Bristol Half Marathon in full fire kit and BA. From that incredible event, I have developed a strange passion and obsession to running in fire kit and BA!” Meanwhile, Luke said of his own marathon effort: “Being a firefighter since 2018 I’ve seen the efforts everybody makes to support The Fire Fighters Charity and I’d like to do my part by raising as much money as possible by running the marathon in full uniform. I raised £3,000 on the first two marathons I ran and over £5,000 on the third, all for cancer charities.” And Will said: “When I joined the service in 2020 I found out about the Charity, and that most of my colleagues with 10+ years’ service had needed their help at some point. “I then set out with the aim of doing a charity event for The Fire Fighters Charity every year of my career. Having done a full fire kit and BA half marathon in 2020, and then a 5km dummy drag in 2021, a marathon in fire kit and BA seemed the next logical step. So, the London Marathon here we come!” With The Fire Fighters Charity relying almost entirely on donations to fund its vital work, none of the support it offers people like this would be possible without the generosity of its supporters. To read more news and exclusive features see our latest issue here. Never miss a story… Follow us on:  International Fire Buyer  @Firebuyer  Fire Buyer Media Contact Louis Curtis Editor, International Fire Buyer Tel: +44 (0) 1622 823 922 Email: editor@firebuyer.com

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FDMNY earns AM best rating

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Fire Districts of New York Mutual Insurance Company, Inc. (FDMNY), has maintained its AM Best “A-” rating in the Financial Strength Rating and Issuer Credit Rating categories for a second consecutive year. “AM Best has assigned a Financial Strength Rating of ‘A-‘ (Excellent) to FDMNY. The outlook assigned to these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable,” according to AM Best. “The ratings reflect FDMNY’s balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, limited business profile, and marginal enterprise risk management (ERM).” AM Best is one of the most preeminent rating organisations in the insurance industry, and its ratings are given per annual review. The “A-” rating indicates that FDMNY has an excellent ability to meet its ongoing insurance financial obligations and has a stable outlook for the future. “Our AM Best ‘A-‘ rating is something we take pride in achieving, while also continuing to work toward,” shared FDMNY EVP/COO Roy Denny. “This rating signifies that we are strong and stable, despite our smaller size.” FDMNY is a mutual insurance company specialising in New York State Volunteer Firefighter Benefit Law/New York State Workers’ Compensation Laws that provides maximum benefits claims services to Volunteer Fire Service across New York State. FDMNY is founded and owned by volunteers for the purpose of serving volunteers. ABOUT FDMNY: Fire Districts of New York Mutual Insurance Company, founded in 1978, specializes in Volunteer Firefighter Benefit Law and Workers’ Comp in New York State. FDMNY prides itself in providing superior claims service to Volunteer Fire Services across New York State by providing coverage based upon 100% earning capacity for all its member policyholders. It is a company formed and owned by volunteers for the service of volunteers. To read more news and exclusive features see our latest issue here. Never miss a story… Follow us on:  International Fire Buyer  @Firebuyer  Fire Buyer Media Contact Louis Curtis Editor, International Fire Buyer Tel: +44 (0) 1622 823 922 Email: editor@firebuyer.com

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ASFP to offer new member benefits with BSI

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The Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP) has signed a series of agreements with the British Standards Institution (BSI), the national standards body of the UK. Under the agreements, the ASFP is able to offer British standards for sale at discounted rates to members, free standards to small to medium size enterprise (SME) members and free onboarding to theBSI’s new Identify Scheme. The new benefits include: ASFP will offer BS, BS EN and ISO standards to members at discounted rates (up to 30% off), providing them with access to all the standards they need at an affordable price. The standards can be purchased via the Association’s online shop as either hard copies or as pdf downloads. As part of a Government scheme to support SMEs, the Association will offer a range of up to 100 passive fire-related standards free of charge to qualifying ASFP members. The range available reflects those of most interest to the passive fire protection community, as well as helping member companies with their company quality assurance by offering BS EN ISO 17025 and BS EN ISO 9001 quality management standards. ASFP members can also receive free on-boarding to the BSI Identify Scheme, which aims to bring transparency and product traceability throughout the built environment supply chain. This new BSI service harnesses Digital Object Identifier (DOI) technology to deliver a unique, constant, and interoperable identifier, called a BSI UPIN, which can be assigned to products. It helps UK manufacturers to directly manage information about their products in the supply chain, providing a persistent record of each product throughout its life cycle, from manufacture, specification, procurement and installation to de-commissioning or reuse. These new services form part of the ASFP Hub, which offers a wide range of discounts, free support and advice to all ASFP members. There is a huge range of benefits to be found, catering to member companies and their employees. These benefits range from free affiliate membership of Make UK, to membership discounts from CHAS and Barbour ABI. ASFP CEO Steve Davies declared: “The ASFP offers a wide range of training, technical and support services for members which form our core membership offering. These additional benefits aim to provide an enhancement to our services, making ASFP membership yet more rewarding and resulting in significant savings for members. “Our new agreements with BSI ensure that ASFP member companies of all sizes can access all BS, BS EN and ISO standards at an affordable price, while ASFP SME member companies can obtain access to essential fire safety standards free of charge. This initiative, along with the BSI Identify Scheme offering, aims to help educate our members and further improve the quality of the passive fire protection products and services they can offer. This will further enhance recognition of the professionalism and competence of ASFP members throughout the construction industry.” To read more news and exclusive features see our latest issue here. Never miss a story… Follow us on:  International Fire Buyer @Firebuyer Fire Buyer Media Contact Louis Curtis Editor, International Fire Buyer Tel: +44 (0) 1622 823 922 Email: editor@firebuyer.com

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Dräger launches connected multi-gas detector

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Dräger, an international producer in the fields of medical and safety technology, has launched a mobile gas detector, the X-am 2800; which connects with Dräger’s Gas Detection Connect cloud solution, to automate the real-time sharing of live data regarding gases firefighters are exposed to in emergency situations. The launch further strengthens Dräger’s commitment to innovating technology to enhance firefighter safety.   Users can choose from sensors for flammable gases and vapours, as well as oxygen, carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulphide, nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide. Approved for use in Ex zone 0, a classified area in which an explosive gas atmosphere is present continuously or for long period, the X-am 2800 has been tested according to protection class IP68. The X-am 2800 features a newly engineered CatEX sensor, which has been independently drop test certified at a height of >2m, to ensure a robust and resilient design, critical in emergency rescue environments.   With integrated Bluetooth connectivity, live gas readings and alerts that can be transferred in real-time to Dräger’s Gas Detection Connect cloud solution. This provides users with secure access to critical data at any time, from anywhere through an internet browser.   Efficient fleet management is provided by the cloud-connected Dräger X-dock test station, which automates the process of detector testing and calibration. All data on testing, calibration and device event history can be automatically transferred to Gas Detection Connect and reported on, supporting fire services to ensure service personnel equipment is consistent, reliable and accurate.   Accessories from the popular Dräger X-am series can still be used with the X-am 2800, including the charger, the X-dock station, and sampling pump. The durable Dräger sensors and the rechargeable, easy-to-replace power supply ensure that the device remains operational for many years. Moreover, the X-am 2800 was engineered with sustainability in mind. The technical documentation and packaging have been designed to save paper, and the number of instruction manuals can be reduced when ordering two or more units in the modular version.   Liz Millward, Marketing Manager, Emergency and Rescue Services at Dräger Safety UK, says that the release of the X-am 2800 builds upon the modern-day focus on connectivity and data within contemporary firefighting:   “The role of a manufacturer today is to utilise all available technologies to support firefighter safety and rescue operations, placing the health and wellbeing of our service personnel at the forefront of all that we do.   “With an added focus on connectivity, we can provide a robust, future-proofed solution to be used now and for years to come.” To read more news and exclusive features see our latest issue here. Never miss a story… Follow us on:  International Fire Buyer @Firebuyer Fire Buyer Media Contact Louis Curtis Editor, International Fire Buyer Tel: +44 (0) 1622 823 922 Email: editor@firebuyer.com

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NFPA names VP of Corporate Development

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The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) announced the appointment of Steve Scala as Vice President of Corporate Development. In this new role, Scala will be leading efforts to build NFPA’s global growth business through “inorganic” growth methods, primarily partnerships, mergers, and the acquisition of other business entities. “Steve is an experienced global business leader with an extraordinary track record of helping organizations envision, build, and implement strategies for growth,” said NFPA President and CEO Jim Pauley. “His unique skill set, knowledge, and experience will help NFPA have a bigger and more direct impact in achieving our safety mission.”​Most recently, Steve served as executive vice president of Corporate Development for DiCentral, a software services company. During his eight years in that role, and in other strategy and development positions he has held at GXS, General Electric, and IBM over his 40-year professional career, Steve has executed corporate merger and acquisition plans – from start to finish. “The world evolves quickly and so do the fire and life safety risks. As a recognized leader in reducing loss, NFPA seeks to greatly expand our ability to help solve the persistent and emerging fire, life, and electrical safety problems through our current work as well as adding an aligned portfolio,” said Pauley. To read more news and exclusive features see our latest issue here. Never miss a story… Follow us on:  International Fire Buyer @Firebuyer Fire Buyer Media Contact Louis Curtis Editor, International Fire Buyer Tel: +44 (0) 1622 823 922 Email: editor@firebuyer.com

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Avon Fire Chief comments on cost of living effects on staff

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Avon Fire & Rescue Service (AF&RS) Chief Fire Officer (CFO) Simon Shilton has released a statement following the latest announcements on increased cost of living and in light of the ongoing national pay award negotiations for fire service employees. The statement outlines the CFO’s concerns for the welfare of staff and the measures they are resorting to due to the increased cost of living, in particular the rise in gas and electricity bills and the disproportionate pay they are receiving. Latest news reports the energy price cap will be up 80% by 1 October and that the situation is likely to worsen by January 2023 and, like most people across the country, is leaving fire service staff worried about how to make ends meet. Chief Fire Officer, Simon Shilton said: “I have always been proud to be part of the UK Fire and Rescue Service and none more so than as the leader of Avon Fire & Rescue Service. “My staff work hard and it’s only fair they deserve to be appropriately remunerated for the invaluable job they do and role they play in society. “As a Service, our mission is to improve public safety through prevention, protection, response and resilience; providing the highest standard and best value service to the community we serve. “This work is carried out by a team of dedicated, highly trained and skilled professionals; firefighters, on-call firefighters, control firefighters and corporate staff, who work hard to keep our communities safe, at all costs. “All our staff deserve a properly funded pay rise in line with the increasing cost of living and in line with those offered to other public sector services. “Unfortunately, the pay afforded to fire and rescue service staff has not reflected the roles within the Service for some time. “The number of applications we receive for roles within the Fire Service are declining. Many applicants for firefighter roles are applying in the knowledge they will need to take a drop in salary from their current employment. This has led to difficulties in us recruiting and retaining staff and more recently, has despairingly led to some staff having to access food banks to get by – this cannot be right. “Following on from the recent period of hot weather and going into the winter, the imminent threat of industrial action with unresolved pay negotiations would stretch our organisation beyond its capabilities. I know for many, taking part in industrial action it is not a decision they will be taking lightly. “When I speak to staff, they will tell me that they do it for the love of the job, because they care about the future of their local communities and ultimately, they want to keep people safe from harm. “But as we’re already seeing, this doesn’t pay the bills or put food on the table and staff should be able to do this job, support their families and their communities. “As a Chief Fire Officer, I am seriously worried about the welfare of my staff who are facing significant hardships. Working with the National Fire Chiefs Council I am doing all that I can to support a properly funded pay settlement for fire and rescue service staff.” To read more news and exclusive features see our latest issue here. Never miss a story… Follow us on:  International Fire Buyer @Firebuyer Fire Buyer Media Contact Louis Curtis Editor, International Fire Buyer Tel: +44 (0) 1622 823 922 Email: editor@firebuyer.com

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ExxFire receive EU fire security Certificate

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The Noordwijk-based scale-up ExxFire has received the first European fire safety certificate from the French CNPP in accordance with SPECF (Standard for the Protection of Electrical Cabinets against Fire) for the protection of company-critical electrical cabinets against fire. ExxFire is the first organization to obtain this certification for its integrated unpressurized nitrogen gas extinguishing systems with aspiration smoke detection. The certification was partly achieved with the help of Siemens, which represents ExxFire in France and the Benelux. Siemens has installed ExxFire products at companies such as Erasmus MC, LVMH, EDF, French Lottery, and Nestle. Scale-up ExxFire has global ambitions with the new unpressurized nitrogen gas storage technology from aerospace that is suitable for application in the global fire safety industry. The company started as a participant in the incubation program of the European Space Agency (ESA) and has since successfully built a solid organization and installed more than 1,100 systems around the world. ExxFire has managed to grow into one of the most innovative companies in firefighting technology and ExxFire products are now sold worldwide by multinationals such as Siemens and Johnson Controls, but also local Dutch installers such as Unica and Spie. Recently, in collaboration with Siemens Netherlands, the heart of the energy supply of the Erasmus Medical Center in Rotterdam was secured with ExxFire. 36 power distribution cabinets are equipped with ExxFi-re1500CNF systems further improving the hospital’s business continuity and phase 2 for an additional 17 cabinets is currently being installed. The revolutionary ExxFire systems with pressureless gas storage technology have been developed by TNO and have been used for 5 years now for fire protection of various types of installations and spaces such as; server cabinets, control cabinets and all types of business critical infrastructure. By applying cabinet protection in companies, the fire risk is reduced, and business continuity is increased. The ExxFire systems detect fire early, extinguish without damage, are easy to install, inexpensive to maintain and therefore have the lowest Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) compared to other systems on the market. The patented ExxFire cool nitrogen gas generator contains unique features derived from a rocket application in aerospace. The technology is based on an inert gas stored as a solid chemical. An ignition mechanism – linked to, for example, a smoke detector – initiates a reaction in which the gas is released. A characteristic of the cool nitrogen gas generator is that the inert gas is stored without pressure and is released after activation at ambient temperature and a relatively low pressure. These properties offer several advantages over conventional technology in a wide range of fire extinguishing applications. To read more news and exclusive features see our latest issue here. Never miss a story… Follow us on:  International Fire Buyer @Firebuyer Fire Buyer Media Contact Louis Curtis Editor, International Fire Buyer Tel: +44 (0) 1622 823 922 Email: editor@firebuyer.com

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