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Bolle Safety unveils new safety eyewear

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Bollé Safety creates a brand of safety eyewear dedicated to the men and women who protect the population. Reflecting a strong strategic choice, the experts in eye protection, Bollé Safety, creates a division dedicated to the tactical market: Bollé Safety Standard Issue. The company is taking advantage of Eurosatory’s trade show, held from June 13 – 17 in Paris, to present its entire product range adapted to different professions: first responders, law enforcement, special forces, military and shooting sports. Through this new division, Bollé Safety has focused its expertise on the development of ballistic glasses and goggles in order to provide first responders and tactical interveners with the eye protection they need while protecting their eyesight, which remains one of the brand’s main missions. Bollé Safety Standard Issue: a new range of lenses dedicated to the tactical market. This complete range of protective eyewear is designed for tactical and first responders environments and complies with international safety standards such as ANSI, AS/NZS and the current European standard for eye protection EN166. Each Bollé Safety Standard Issue product is tested and certified by independent laboratories (Banc Officiel d’Épreuve Saint-Etienne, BSI, INSPEC, Certtotica etc.) to ensure quality. These protections are specifically designed to counter all risks related to the eyes in dangerous situations. The various models in the Bollé Safety Standard Issue range are high-quality products that combine performance, comfort, and protection.  Among the key features of BSSI products is the exclusive Platinum anti-fog and anti-scratch coating, which gives the lens resistance to the most extreme environments. This coating is applied on both sides of the lens to provide maximum protection for the eyes and ensure clear vision in all conditions. In addition, all lenses are made of polycarbonate, a material of choice for safety glasses because of its resistance to scratches and impact.  “With the Bollé Safety Standard Issue brand, our priority is to develop ballistic glasses and goggles that combine comfort, style and protection allowing these professionals to concentrate on their high-risk jobs.” said Peter Smith, CEO of Bollé Safety. A range to protect the sight of first responders. First responders (firefighters, first aiders, emergency physicians) are often exposed to dangerous situations (fire, chemicals etc.). It is therefore necessary that they have appropriate protection for the risks they are exposed to. For this purpose, Bollé Safety has developed a range of 6 protective glasses which, depending on the lenses, are suitable for various uses: Smoke lenses are better at filtering UVA and UVB (99.9%), recommended for professionals who often work outdoors,  Clear lenses are more effective indoors and offer a 90% visible light transmission rate,  Copper lenses are ideal for all activities requiring alternating exposure to high and low light.  These lens options are available on the different models of the range: SILEX+ BSSI, SILIUM+ BSSI, TRYON + BSSI, CONTOUR II BSSI, RUSH+ et RUSH+ Small BSSI. Each frame has a lightweight wrap-around design for comfort and two of the models (RUSH+ and TRYON) have non-slip TIP-GRIP temples for a secure fit in all conditions. To read more exclusive features and latest news please see our April issue here. Media contact Rebecca Morpeth Spayne, Editor, International Fire Buyer Tel: +44 (0) 1622 823 922 Email: editor@firebuyer.com

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Fire Sprinkler International returns to London

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Fire Sprinkler International 2022 arrives in London next week from Tuesday 31 May to Wednesday 1 June, drawing to it companies specialising in water-based fire suppression. European giants EFSN & BAFSA return to host the event, featuring over 50 presentations informing on the latest developments in the industry from around the world. EFSN & BAFSA are two of the largest sprinkler organisations in the business, pooling their resources to produce a conference for the biggest and best participants in water mist and sprinkler tech providers. As is expected, a lot of today’s developments in the industry were spurred on by the tragedy of Grenfell Tower, which will be a central topic of discussion at FSI 2022 once again as companies evaluate the actions taken in the wake of the disaster. One of which includes the use of residential sprinklers becoming much more commonplace in the UK and how new London policy restricts social housing now to sprinkler-equipped apartment buildings. Daniel Joyeux of French company Efectis will be speaking at the event, offering some insight into how to better protect vulnerable buildings like Grenfell that were partly composed of combustible materials. Sprinklers are one of these recommended methods of prevention, as they offer effective support for wooden structures. Many additional guests will feature at the event offering their own findings, including Domestic Sprinkler’s Shayne Parker and Plumis’s William Makant, as well as two members of the International Fire Suppression Alliance, Paul Sincaglia and Russ Fleming. Other featuring guests include the University of Eindhoven’s Ruud van Herpen, who will discuss how a stay-in-place fire safety plan will only be effective if it has a protective sprinkler system in place. Alongside them, Stuart Lloyd of Zurich Insurance will explain the challenge posed by the growing development of company warehouses in the wake of a commercial arms race within the last couple of years in the event’s first plenary session. Johannes Zimmerman from SSI-Schafer will outline his company’s plans to protect their shuttle systems, while Autostore’s Ingunn Haraldseid will exhibit the test results yielded from their latest prototype in fire protection. The second day sees more guests featured, including the Fire Protection Research Foundation’s own Amanda Kimbal will outline the research conducted on its fire suppression products. Ben Ditch will close proceedings on the second day with his company FM Global’s latest research, following on from his colleague Wes Baker’s presentation from the previous day. The show will see its end with a panel session populated by global leaders of the sprinkler industry: Minimax’s Volker Bechtloff, Laurens Swennenhuis of Johnson Controls, with Paul Sincaglia returning from the previous day to make an appearance on the panel. Alan Brinson will accompany him on discussing the future of the industry and the technology as it steadily evolves. To read more exclusive features and latest news please see our April issue here. Media contact Rebecca Morpeth Spayne, Editor, International Fire Buyer Tel: +44 (0) 1622 823 922 Email: editor@firebuyer.com

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Protecting against hazmat

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What different regulatory levels of protection must firefighters adorn to attend and fight a fire in a hazardous environment?  A hazmat suit (hazardous materials suit) is a piece of personal protective equipment that consists of an impermeable whole-body garment worn as protection against hazardous materials. Such suits are often combined with self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) to ensure a supply of breathable air. Hazmat suits are used by firefighters, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, researchers, personnel responding to toxic spills, specialists cleaning up contaminated facilities, and workers in toxic environments.  When working with toxic or dangerous substances, having the right protection matters. Potentially harmful materials are typically classified as HAZMAT, and there are many regulations regarding how they can be handled, transported, and properly disposed of. For workers, the best way to manage these substances is with a HAZMAT suit.   The term HAZMAT is a combination of the words hazardous (HAZ) materials (MAT). These materials can pose any kind of physical or biological threat to people, wildlife and the environment. Some examples of hazardous materials that require a HAZMAT designation include:  Toxic Chemicals  Nuclear Waste  Industrial Pollution  Infectious Diseases  Because there is such a broad range of hazardous materials, there are numerous categories related to these substances, which are regulated and controlled by regulations. Firefighters must be prepared to enter into any dangerous environment, especially fires with additional chemicals or hazardous substances that can take a fairly simple fire into a destructive explosion. The firefighter must now be protected, not just from flame, but also the hazardous material itself to best fight the fire/spillage/explosion. Some of the categories related to substances include:   Explosives  Non-Flammable Gasses  Flammable Liquids (and Solids)  Poisons  Radioactive materials  Corrosive substances  Each of these classifications is represented by a HAZMAT warning label. Government bodies, for example the Department of Transportation (DOT) in the US, are in charge of these categories because they oversee how hazardous materials can be collected and transported throughout the country. Without these designations and safety regulations, it would be far too easy for dangerous materials to threaten people and the environment.  HAZMAT protection levels?  With such a wide range of hazardous materials, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) came up with a four-tier system to determine the right level of protection for individuals. These tiers are labelled A through D, and they have specific rules and regulations. Here is a breakdown of each of these HAZMAT levels.  Level A HAZMAT  This is the most protected level, which means that it is designed to safeguard against highly toxic or dangerous substances, including those that may be radioactive or biological (i.e., an infectious disease). In this case, the hazardous material poses a threat to the respiratory system, eyes, and skin. Because of this, firefighters need to use the following personal protective equipment (PPE) to stay safe:  Fully Encapsulated Chemical Protective Suit  Positive Pressure Demand Full-Face Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus  Inner and Outer Chemical Resistant Gloves  Chemical Resistant Safety Boots  As you’ll notice, firefighters must have a supply of oxygen and a Level A HAZMAT suit that can withstand chemical substances without breaking down. If a person were to come into contact with a corrosive material that penetrated the suit, it could pose a substantial risk. Because Level A is the most secure, it protects against both liquids and gases.  Level B HAZMAT  At first glance, both levels A and B are similar. However, the primary difference is that level B does not necessarily protect against gases and vapours. This means that gaseous substances could get into a protective suit. However, if they are not toxic or corrosive, it is not considered dangerous. In this case, Level B HAZMAT suits protect against liquid splashes. The PPE required for Level B includes:  Hooded Chemical-Resistant Clothing  Full or Half-Mask Air-Purifying Respirator  Inner and Outer Chemical Resistant Gloves  Safety Boots  To read the full feature, please see our latest issue here. Media contact Rebecca Morpeth Spayne, Editor, International Fire Buyer Tel: +44 (0) 1622 823 922 Email: editor@firebuyer.com

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Feature Sponsor: IWMA

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Bettina McDowell, General Manager at IWMA explores exclusively for Fire Buyer how watermist is the best eco-friendly solution for fire suppression  When it comes to fire protection, water mist is an eco-friendly alternative to other traditional ways of keeping fires under control or extinguishing them. The first standards for water mist were developed well over a quarter of a century ago. And the list of applications has been getting longer, both vertically as well as horizontally.   When it comes to the protection of the environment, water mist goes back a long way. In the 1980’s the world acted to save the ozone layer by signing the Montreal Protocol. One of the substances that was then banned was halon, a chemical used as a fire suppression agent that had caused ozone depletion. Regarding fire protection, the eradication of halon left a gap which was filled by water mist.  Water-based fire extinguishing systems make up by far the largest share of the extinguishing technology sector and using a natural resource like water is always a good idea. However, water mist systems use up to 85% less water than traditional sprinkler systems which is an even better idea.   When it comes to the longevity of systems, stainless steel components are often the best choice. Their use is not mandatory, but stainless steel prevents corrosion which is not only beneficial for the conservation of the systems, but also lowers the risk of contamination. The other thing about stainless steel is that it can be re-used and thus be re-integrated into the life circle.   A special challenge is fire protection in hazardous environments. When a fire breaks out in such areas this can result in the release of many different toxins and chemicals from the fuel of the fire or gases. The firewater gathers these substances and has to be picked up and disposed of after a fire which is a difficult job that becomes easier the less water there is.   Bettina McDowell, General Manager of the International Water Mist Association, says: “Mentionable is also the reduced water damage. After a fire there is less debris that has to be disposed of, plus in consequence there might well be less down time for businesses.”  All these benefits – there are actually more outside the eco-box – are now backed by the European Standards. EN 14972 is by no means the first water mist standard, but it the European Standard. The work started two decades ago and on 23rd December 2020, EN 14972-1:2020 was finally published. And although it may be a European Standard, but it could well have a worldwide impact. Based on the Vienna Agreement – which stipulates the exchange of information and increased transparency – standardization bodies can adopt standards which have been created in other parts of the world which means that the European Standard could be used outside of Europe.   It is no wonder that the list of applications is continuously growing. There are marine-based applications, there are land-based applications. Water mist is a performance-based technology, and all systems are bespoke systems based on real-scale fire tests, because water mist is not a one-fits-all concept.   To read the full feature, please see our latest issue here. Media contact Rebecca Morpeth Spayne, Editor, International Fire Buyer Tel: +44 (0) 1622 823 922 Email: editor@firebuyer.com

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CertAlarm completes 4th cycle

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CertAlarm completes 4th cycle of round-robin test series to improve the comparability between laboratories CertAlarm, an organisation offering a pan-European quality mark in the fire protection and security systems industry, today confirmed the completion of its 4th cycle of round-robin test series. Round-robin tests are comparative tests performed by the participating laboratories at regular intervals and using the same test sample. As such they are an important monitoring tool for CertAlarm’s partners and recognised test laboratories. They enable quality supervisors and management to place the results obtained by the laboratory performing the tests in a wider framework and to identify problems and initiate actions for improvement. In particular, round-robin tests help to bring to light inconsistencies in the testing systems or methods and can give rise to necessary corrective action, e.g.: interpretation of standards, calibration/maintenance of the testing equipment, training of the laboratory personnel, adjustment of influencing factors relevant to testing (e.g. climate). “In order to improve our program we specifically select tests which have proven to be difficult to perform or have shown in the market place that inconsistencies exist in approved products. One of the tests selected for this cycle’s series was therefore the measurement of the make and break distances of opening contacts according to EN 50131-2-6 (clause 6.4.2). The criticality of this test lays in the interpretation of the PASS/FAIL criteria in coherence with the manufacturer declaration and the requirements in clause 4.3.1.2 and 4.3.1.3.”, says Benoît Stockbroeckx, Technical Manager of Euralarm and Chair of CertAlarm’s Technical Advisory Group (TAG). “As a matter of fact, diverging interpretations highlighted unclarity in the wording of the standard. This issue has been brought to the relevant standardisation working group (CLC/TC 79/WG 2) and the discussions paved the way for an improvement of the standard in view of a future revision. Thanks to this exercise we can now be sure that all of CertAlarm’s labs will test and conclude according to this understanding in the future. Moreover, CertAlarm so contributed to the improvement of the standard for the benefit of all European laboratories, certification bodies and manufacturers dealing with opening contacts”, he adds. “The round-robin procedure helps us understand if we are doing things right and providing our customers the same level of results”, confirms Anja Kinsky, General Manager of CertAlarm.  

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Pierce’s FDIC 2022 Display

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Pierce’s FDIC 2022 exhibit features the latest in fire apparatus product and technology advancements, highlighting the Pierce Volterra Electric Pumper and introduction of the next generation PUC™ water pump. Pierce Manufacturing Inc., an Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK) company, kicked off its FDIC 2022 exhibition featuring 14 fire apparatus and the latest product and technology advancements. Highlights include the Pierce Volterra™ Platform of Electric Vehicles and introduction of the next generation Pierce Ultimate Configuration (PUC™) water pump with flow capabilities up to 2,000 gallons per minute. At the opening of the FDIC 2022 exhibition hall in Indianapolis, Indiana at Lucas Oil Stadium (booth #8807) on Thursday, April 28, Pierce spotlighted the vast scope and significance of the company’s fire apparatus innovations which have propelled the industry forward for years. “During this week at FDIC, our team, along with representatives from our extensive dealer network, enjoy meeting with firefighters one-on-one, hearing their needs, and sharing how our fire apparatus configurations support fire departments throughout the U.S. and Canada,” said Mike Dufrane, vice president of sales for Pierce Manufacturing. “Following the placement of the first electric fire truck in service in North America last year, we’re excited for FDIC attendees to hear first-hand from the department representatives who operate the fire truck each day, and our partners who help integrate electric vehicle charging infrastructure.” Pierce’s FDIC 2022 Featured Fire Apparatus Include: (2) Enforcer™ Volterra Pumpers (Madison, Wisconsin and Portland, Oregon) Enforcer PUC Pumper with flow capabilities up to 2000 gpm Arrow XT™ 100’ Heavy-Duty Low Profile Steel Aerial Ladder Enforcer Ascendant® 100’ Heavy-Duty Aerial Tower with mid-mount configuration Arrow XT Ascendant 100’ Heavy-Duty Aerial Tower with mid-mount configuration (Indianapolis, Indiana) Enforcer 75’ Heavy-Duty Aluminum Aerial Ladder (Miami Dade, Florida) Enforcer Ascendant 107’ Heavy-Duty Aerial Ladder – Single Rear Axle (Haldimand County, Ontario) Velocity® Ascendant 107’ Heavy-Duty Tiller Aerial Ladder (West Des Moines, Iowa) Enforcer Heavy-Duty Rescue Pumper (New Haven, Indiana) Arrow XT Pumper (Port Alleghany, Pennsylvania) Velocity Pumper (Plano, Texas) Frontline Communications C-40X-4 Mobile Command Unit (Frederick County, Maryland) Other Booth Highlights Include: Two electric pumpers and charging infrastructure solutions including North America’s first-in-service electric fire truck – The City of Madison, Wisconsin Fire Department’s Volterra electric pumper and Portland, Oregon Fire & Rescue’s Volterra electric pumper. Representatives from Madison are available for Q&A. Electric vehicle charging infrastructure and representatives from EnTech Solutions – Pierce’s expert energy solutions provider. The next generation PUC – superior fire apparatus pump design and fire suppression upgrades with enhanced flow capabilities up to 2,000 gpm and standard features for unmatched serviceability, improved safety, flexible layout options, and more storage capacity. Pierce CZ Connect™ Fully Integrated Telematics Solution providing remote access to vehicle data from anywhere. Available in feature packages which provide the users’ desired level of dashboards for diagnostics, maintenance, operational overview, and more. Representatives from PACCAR, the global leader in the design and manufacturer of diesel engines, are on-site at Pierce’s FDIC booth to discuss the industry-leading design attributes of the MX-13 engine. Following Pierce’s FDIC opening remarks, event attendees have a hands-on and interactive opportunity to experience Pierce apparatus and technology innovations first hand. Representing regions from across North America, fire trucks on display feature the most advanced operational performance, the latest chassis design, pump panels, aerial configurations, electrical systems, and much more. Dufrane added, “Our team understands the significance a fire apparatus purchase represents for a community, and we are proud to share best-in-class options. Pierce platform experts and representatives from the strongest dealer network in the country are present to walk booth visitors through our FDIC exhibit to share attributes of our products and service support which will help ensure a strong return on investment.” To stay connected with the latest Pierce innovation and apparatus displays, announcements, events, and more offered at FDIC, follow the up-to-the-minute happenings shared online at piercemfg.com, facebook.com/pierce, and the media resources page.

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Product Spotlight – The Exit Stopper

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STI presents their latest innovation in the emergency evacuation and protection of fire doors sector. The Exit Stopper door alarm can be fitted to vulnerable emergency exit doors  Under Article 14 of Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005: “Emergency doors must not be so locked or fastened that they cannot be easily and immediately opened by any person who may require to use them in an emergency” therefore “in the event of danger, it must be possible for persons to evacuate the premises as quickly and as safely as possible.”   A disregard for fire safety regulations can have dire consequences; on Tuesday 8 May 1979, a fire ripped through Manchester’s flagship Woolworths store opposite Piccadilly Gardens. A number of fire safety failures contributed to the death of ten people inside the premises and left 47 individuals with injuries.  Emergency exits were poorly marked; some exit doors required a key, while others had been locked to prevent shoplifting. Those attempting to flee the toxic smoke were unable to escape through the very doors that were there to save them. People died within touching distance of the emergency exits.  To comply with current regulations and maintain adequate means of escape, STI’s Exit Stopper® door alarm can be fitted to vulnerable emergency exit doors. The alarmed device is a highly effective way to alert you to unauthorised exits or entries through emergency exit doors.  Text and symbols on the Exit Stopper® act as a deterrent to misuse, the unit also serves as an inexpensive security device helping to guard against theft, safeguarding escape routes for real emergencies and eliminating the temptation to lock emergency exits to discourage would-be thieves.  Fire doors must be closed in order to stop the spread of smoke and fire, however, it is worryingly common for fire doors to be dangerously held ajar. 64% of premises visited by the Fire Service had fire doors wedged open – universities halls of residence, hotels, and residential homes are among the worst offenders.  Should you prop open a fire door, putting lives at risk, there is potential for large fines, void insurance, or even a prison sentence. In 2010, a landlord was fined and jailed after a tenant almost died in a blaze, it was the third time Mike Billings had been prosecuted for breaching fire, health and safety laws – which included wedging open fire doors.  Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 the responsibility for fire risk assessment in all non-domestic buildings is the duty of a “Responsible Person”, it is within these persons remit to ensure regular checks and maintenance of fire doors.  The RRFSO outlines the necessity of effective security to prevent the misuse of fire doors, maintaining successful operation in a real emergency: “Enforcing authorities may wish to advise landlords of the need to maintain adequate security relating to fire doors.”  Alerting you to any misuse of fire doors, the Exit Stopper® will emit a powerful 95/105 dB warning alarm and visual flashing beacon if the protected door is opened. An optional 15-second trip delay enables the unit to be fixed to a door in regular use, allowing the door to be used as required, but preventing it from being dangerously wedged open.  Once the door fitted with the Exit Stopper® is closed several reset options are available including an automatic silence function, a feature that is particularly useful for fire doors that are in regular use, but still at risk of misuse – a key for authorised personnel can be used to override the alarm.    To read the full spotlight, please see our latest issue here. Media contact Rebecca Morpeth Spayne, Editor, International Fire Buyer Tel: +44 (0) 1622 823 922 Email: editor@firebuyer.com

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From the Expert – Hochiki Europe

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Trust and reliability: The reason Hochiki have been the number one name in life safety for over 100 years  For 100 years Hochiki has led the way in the design and manufacturer of innovative life safety solutions, as well as providing expert training to ensure individuals and companies are able to stay at the forefront of fire safety.  Hochiki has established a reputation as the go to manufacturer in life safety products and is trusted to deliver across several sectors including education, health care, production and manufacturing plants, travel hubs, arts and culture, commercial property, and housing developments and some incredibly complex marine projects.  Below are some of the highlights from customer stories from the last 12 months where a common theme of trust and reliability is weaved throughout.  Improving life safety at special educational setting   Based in Norfolk, the Fred Nicholson school meets the educational needs of 162 pupils who have Educational Health and Care Plans identifying learning difficulties and a range of associated complex needs, including some children who receive specialist Autistic Spectrum Condition (ASC) provision.  Following scheduled servicing, the need to update the existing conventional and 2-wire systems was identified, the school underwent an upgrade to an addressable life safety system. TP Fire & Security was enlisted to help with the design and installation of the new system, which included L2 safety coverage across the school, whereas ‘live-in’ areas such as dormitories required complete L1 coverage (much the same as a hospital or hotel) which included automatic fire detection.  Hochiki’s ESP (Enhanced Systems Protocol) addressable range was installed, due to its quality, reliability and diverse range of intelligent products including high performance sensors, flexible input and output modules and an assortment of ancillaries, perfect for a school environment where the fire detection system needs to have a bespoke and flexible design. Hochiki’s Ekho hybrid-wireless fire detection range was also installed and would interface with the main panel via a loop-powered translator module, for the schools mobile and outdoor classes.  As an educational setting with children with learning difficulties and ASC, it was extremely important to the school to keep disruption to an absolute minimum to avoid distressing the pupils.  The flexibility and ease of installation of the Hochiki products was key to the success of the project as explained by Kevin Harris, Technical Design Manager: “A big plus with Hochiki products is how simple they are to install – it’s why they have become our go-to supplier for the past 20 years. Many other manufacturers only offer hardwire solutions, and for locations such as schools and care homes, keeping the installation simple and reducing on-site time is a huge win as this helps to reduce the disruption to both staff, and the day-to-day occupants”.  New fire safety system at the historic and beautiful Corte Regia Relais and Spa Italy As a global brand, Hochiki has operations across Europe, with a highly experienced team based in Italy who were thrilled to be appointed the life safety device suppliers to the Core Regia Relais and Spa.  Located in the picturesque village of Borghetto di Valeggio sul Mincio, Italy, the Corte Regia Relais and Spa overlooks the river Mincio, with views across to the imposing Scaliger Castle and the Visconteo Bridge and a short journey to Lake Garda. For its guests, this hotel is an escape from the outside world and is famed for providing a relaxing experience.  To read the full interview, please see our latest issue here. Media contact Rebecca Morpeth Spayne, Editor, International Fire Buyer Tel: +44 (0) 1622 823 922 Email: editor@firebuyer.com

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Cover Story – The new era of rescue equipment

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LUKAS Hydraulics explores how digitalisation has changed the way in which firefighters must operate, and introduces their new e³ Connect  Digitisation is everywhere – and has changed the way we work and live. Video conferencing has long been common in many professions, the thermostat in the living room can be controlled via cell phone, vacations are increasingly booked on the Internet, and the refrigerator orders milk on its own. Technological change is in full swing.  In this context, the collection and analysis of collected data is an area that is playing an increasingly important role. LUKAS is proud to now be the first manufacturer to enter this field with battery-powered rescue equipment and to add a chapter to the evolution of hydraulic rescue equipment.   With our e³ Connect, a new era of rescue equipment is dawning. The LUKAS e³ series was already a groundbreaking advancement when it was released last August, taking the interaction between the tool and the user to a new level that had never been seen before on the market in this form. Our devices were the first in the world to be able to read performance diagnostic data directly from the device, allowing the user to be informed of the device’s status at any time. The new e³ Connect series now goes one step further, taking user-friendliness and device management to a new level. Our new e³ Connect devices are capable of not only displaying performance diagnostic data directly on the device, but also collecting it, and then sending it to our proprietary web-based database – Captium. Captium uses a secure cloud environment to create a platform for connected vehicles that provides complete security and access to analytics, diagnostics, notifications and more. Captium is the industry’s first connected IoT (Internet of Things)-enabled platform designed exclusively for firefighters and emergency responders working in the emergency response field.  Developed after years of research and conversations with fire chiefs, technicians, firefighters, dealers and OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) serving this market, the system helps monitor, control and optimise the use and uptime of various equipment such as fire trucks, rescue equipment and related components on one platform.   Transmission of data  The transfer of data from the devices to the Captium database is completely automatic via WLAN. This is made possible by the WLAN capability of our new e³ Connect devices. All devices of our new e³ Connect series are WLAN-enabled and can be connected to almost any router. Ideally, there is a router on the vehicle on which the devices are loaded, to which the devices connect automatically after use and transfer the data.   The new generation of devices, in combination with our database, offers a variety of advantages for our customers that no manufacturer on the world market has been able to offer so far.   Optimised device management  In the future, Captium will provide our customers with a holistic visual overview of the whereabouts and status of their devices. The so-called Locator, a map like Google Maps, marks on the map the location where the devices last transmitted data and also provides information about the operational readiness of the respective device and enables our customers to react quickly to any malfunctions or failures and thus to make device management much more effective and efficient. For example, devices are shown whether they are ready for use, whether there is a safety warning for the device, whether a regular service for the device is imminent or whether the device has already been taken out of service. Especially for large fire departments that have a centralised, very large organisational and service structure, a system-controlled overview of all registered devices offers great added value. Large organisations such as city fire departments or even large organisations in rural structures can plan the supply of equipment much better than before. The organisations have an overview at all times of how many devices are in use. Accordingly, they can adjust or completely change the equipment allocation. In addition, when evaluating (deployment times, severity cuts) the individual devices, they can see which stations have a higher need for equipment. This is another way to dynamically adjust equipment assignment to the circumstances.   To read the full cover story, please see our latest issue here. Media contact Rebecca Morpeth Spayne, Editor, International Fire Buyer Tel: +44 (0) 1622 823 922 Email: editor@firebuyer.com

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Ask the Expert – Fireco

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Fireco’s Sasha Brigden gets the lowdown on fire doors from Fireco Engineer Martin Pearce. Martin explores fire door regulation, inspection and maintenance  In 2019 the Fire Door Inspection Scheme carried out research which revealed that a shocking 76% of doors inspected were deemed unfit for purpose.   Many of our products are either installed onto fire doors or are related to fire doors in some way. It concerned us to realise that we were potentially installing our products onto non-compliant doors. And through a lack of specialist fire door training, we couldn’t do much more than recommend customers book an inspection with another provider.  With many customers already asking us whether we offered fire door services, we decided it was time to take action and start getting our team certified so that we could offer a range of fire door services!   After launching the services in 2021, we’ve since introduced fire door inspections, measure up and supply, and supply and install. We’ve partnered with a range of certified door manufacturers so that we can offer compliant doorsets and our team has undergone rigorous training, achieving certification with BM TRADA and FDIS.  With that in mind, we wanted to sit down with Martin Pearce, one of Fireco’s Engineers, to find out more about his journey into the world of fire doors and how he can help people keep theirs safe and compliant!  Hi Martin! I thought we could start with you telling us a bit about your career background and how this has evolved into working with fire doors.  My first job after leaving college was as a trainee manager with a timber importer. Since then I have held several different jobs, both employed and self-employed. Although I didn’t plan it, those jobs have all involved working with, within or alongside the timber industry.  So you already had some knowledge that could be applied to working with fire doors! Tell us more about your journey into that fire door world.  I joined Fireco as a Field Service Engineer, surveying, installing and servicing products used on fire doors and training others. It was an obvious step to take when I was offered the chance to be trained in fire door installation and inspection as I was already working with them.  First and foremost, what are fire doors and why are they important?  For most, and perhaps all of its life, a fire door will have the same purpose as a ‘normal’ door. It allows passage through the walls in a building. However, if there is a fire then, unlike a normal door, the fire door has to perform its primary and critical function of containing the fire, potentially suppressing the fire and protecting escape routes.   People should think of a fire door as an ‘engineered life safety product’. It’s an essential part of the fire safety system in a building, protecting people as well as the contents and the fabric of the building.  To read the full interview, please see our latest issue here. Media contact Rebecca Morpeth Spayne, Editor, International Fire Buyer Tel: +44 (0) 1622 823 922 Email: editor@firebuyer.com

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