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Magirus to focus on a dedicated product roadshow

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After careful consideration, Magirus has decided not to participate in the Interschutz 2022 exhibition and to allocate part of the planned investment to charitable initiatives in support of firefighters in the Ukrainian conflict. After two long years marked by the global pandemic, which has deeply depressed the business environment, the brand was already focusing its resources on the development of its “Next Generation Firefighting” portfolio. Now, the unexpected war in Ukraine is further impacting the whole automotive and firefighting industry. Issues ranging from chassis supply to logistics challenges and very significant cost increase acceleration require Magirus to take an even more decisive step in focusing on core activities: developing the best firefighting products and services to “serve heroes”. The brand will continue its marketing efforts for the entire product portfolio through plans to conduct an innovative roadshow, to participate at the September IAA Transportation event in Hannover and to host an in-house Magirus fair in the latter part of the year at its historical location in Ulm, Germany. Additionally, in light of the ongoing international crisis, the priority calling for everybody’s attention right now, Magirus has already donated two turntable ladders to firefighters in Ukraine and has decided to use part of the planned Interschutz investment where it can make an immediate positive impact, contributing to the German Fire Services Association’s charitable initiative in support of Ukraine. Magirus remains more committed than ever to its clients, dealers, suppliers, and all its stakeholders and will start planning right away to find new direct and effective ways to engage with them on an ongoing basis. To read more exclusive features and latest news please see our February 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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Euralarm President – CEN-CENELEC Industry Advisory Forum

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Jon Könz, President of Euralarm, has been selected as a member of the CEN-CENELEC Industry Advisory Forum. The Industry Advisory Forum consists of 18 members who were selected, based on their particular experience and knowledge in the identified CEN-CENELEC Strategy 2030 areas and European Industrial Ecosystems. Industry Advisory Forum (IAF) Via the Industry Advisory Forum (IAF) high-level European industry representatives and CEN and CENELEC can have an open exchange on current standardisation issues and identify and advise on standardisation priority topics for the European industry. Besides the Forum can express suggestions, expectations and concerns to identify common solutions. By providing advice to the CEN and CENELEC corporate governing and advisory bodies and proposing medium- and long-term industry-driven standardisation objectives for CEN and CENELEC, the Industry Advisory Forum (IAF) contributes to reaching and successfully implementing the CEN and CENELEC strategic objectives. These objectives support European industry’s priorities, challenges and expectations from standardisation. Jon Könz about his selection in the CEN-CENELEC Industry Advisory Forum: “We are living in exciting times, with digitalisation and sustainability as both opportunities and challenges. I’m proud that on behalf of Euralarm I can contribute to the synergies between policy and standardisation and the green and digital transition.” The IAF members are appointed for a 3-year term and are selected on the basis of their high managerial level, relevant know-how on standardisation, expertise in one of the identified priority areas, sectorial balance across CEN and CENELEC, representing both SMEs as well as large industries and adequate geographical and gender balance. To read more exclusive features and latest news please see our February 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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Hochiki fire safety system at food production site

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In 1995, the Granterre Consortium was established, bringing together the entire Parmigiano Reggiano dairy chain, and then almost ten years later, in 2004, control of Parmareggio Spa was acquired. In 2019 Bonterre Spa, the holding company under which the control of Parmareggio Spa and Grandi Salumifici Italiani Spa (controlled by UNIBON) was established. In 2021, the site at Sommacampagna required an upgrade of the fire detection system. Hochiki were the appointed manufacturers to supply the life safety system and devices due to their experience and expertise in the Italian fire safety market. Within food production sites, the temperature and humidity inside the environment must be carefully controlled to comply with food hygiene laws, and because of this, these sites can be notoriously complex buildings to design and install fire safety systems for. The customer was looking for a high-performance fire detection system that would not be affected by these environmental factors, and most importantly avoid false alarms which can halt production and cost the company thousands of Euros for every minute the site is not fully operational. The installation team also needed to pay particular attention to the installation of cables and piping. As a specialist in aged cheese production, it was imperative that the delicate work of the cheese wheels and the hot marking of the upper layer of the Parmesan rind was not affected during the installation project. One of the benefits to Hochiki products to this project was the ease of install and ease of use of the devices which had minimal impact on the business. To meet the requirements of the project, the installer NET Technologies chose Hochiki’s L@titude to be the brain of the life safety system. This innovative fire detection technology combines the very latest hardware and software to produce a control and indication system which is powerful and sophisticated, yet simple to use and understand via a graphical interface. Mirko Corsini, Project Manager at Hochiki Italia said “The installer chose Hochiki’s L@titude panel together with our SPC-ET beam smoke detectors, which are characterised by low power consumption at rest and incorporate a sophisticated algorithm of automatic compensation to environmental changes. The technical features of these products make them perfect for meeting the needs of this type of food processing environment. The flexibility of the Hochiki ESP protocol made it possible, through the CHQ-SZM2/SCI Zone Modules, to integrate conventional detectors (SPC-ET) as if they were addressable devices, without having to use auxiliary power supplies that would have required additional cables and batteries.” Detectors with short circuit isolators were installed to ensure the system complied with the requirements of UNI EN 9795, which states that a short-circuit isolator must be installed for each room/compartment. Intelligent Photoelectric Smoke detector with SCI incorporates Hochiki’s newest High Performance Chamber Technology. This detector removes the need to use Ionisation Smoke Sensors in many applications. This also allows the sensor threshold level to be increased, thereby improving the signal to noise ratio, and reducing the likelihood of false alarms. Throughout the site Intelligent Loop-Powered Wall Sounder Beacons and Visual Alarm Devices were installed to ensure a fully compliant and state of the art fire safety system. To read more exclusive features and latest news please see our February 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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Connect ONE and commercial fire alarm businesses

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Connected Technologies, maker of the Connect ONE cloud management platform, has expanded its fire alarm monitoring capabilities, allowing dealers to add growing fire alarm services to their business. According to a recent report from Grandview Research, the demand for fire protection systems will continue to increase steadily from 2022 to 2030. Connect ONE, the single software solution that controls intrusion, access control, video surveillance, critical environmental monitoring and energy management systems now interfaces with additional popular commercial fire alarm panels. Along with the ability to integrate with the fire alarm modes of Bosch and DMP combination control panels, dealers may also use Edwards, Fire-Lite and Notifier fire control panels for full-data monitoring within the Connect ONE interface. Other manufacturer integrations may be available upon request. With a single dashboard view of all security and fire alarm events, Connect ONE works with mass notification signaling protocols and provides instant notification of events via email, text message, push, Microsoft Teams and/or mass notification app. Capabilities of the fire monitoring include: · Full-data event capture – fire alarm printer output connects to the RS-232 port on the Connect ONE network gateway (Barix Barionet controller) · Automated reports with the ability to run point audits of fire alarm testing and inspection activity · Onscreen alerts and real-time notifications · Integration with video and other critical systems · Integration with mass notification platforms via Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) messaging Connect ONE works with Bosch B and G, DMP XR/XT, ELK M1 and Honeywell Vista Turbo security and access control panels. It also integrates with ASSA ABLOY Aperio wireless locks as well as Digital Watchdog, OpenEye, ExacqVision and Eagle Eye Networks video technologies. With the Safe Passage module for access control user authorisation and ScanPass mobile credential for frictionless entrance control, dealers and their customers have the latest services to manage multiple locations through a single Connect ONE user interface. To read more exclusive features and latest news please see our February 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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Coltraco Ultrasonics – Suppression systems

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Carl Stephen Patrick Hunter OBE, Chairman of Coltraco Ultrasonics discusses suppression systems In July 2020, at the height of COVID19 in the USA, the USS Richard Bonhomme, an amphibious aircraft carrier, developed a 5-day fire during a maintenance interval. It injured 68 military and civil personnel. Regardless of the reason for the fire itself, a reason that the fire became uncontrolled was because its fire suppression system had been shut down and its compartment doors left open. For maintenance.   For a gaseous extinguishing system to function, whether liquefied, such as CO2, NOVEC 1230 or FM-200 or non-liquefied, such as Nitrogen or Inergen, one needs two things: Firstly, sufficient contents to generate the design concentration required to extinguish the fire event, and secondly, compartmentation integrity, so that the extinguishing gas is contained within the space on actuation. Without either, the fire event risks escalation.   So how can one test that either exist? To cater for the contents, one can shut the system down, dismantle it, and weigh each cylinder of extinguishing gas. Then re-install each of them. There can 600 45KG cylinders on a commercial ship, 100 on an offshore platform. Hundreds in a Data Centre. It takes 2 licensed fire technicians 15 minutes to do this, per cylinder. On a good day. For the compartmentation integrity, one can pressurise the compartment space, either by air or water, and see where it leaks out. Neither works when the fire technicians are away from the asset for the other 364 days per annum.   This is how our industry has worked since gaseous systems were first developed. But here we are in our industry using gases for fire systems that are nearly 100, 60 and 30 years old, and we still test them inadequately. It is as if there has been no technological advance in any field other than our own. And the accidents keep coming. The fires keep hurting and destroying and our regulations gently modify themselves, all at a time of some of the highest-paced technological change the world has ever seen.      To read more exclusive features and latest news please see our February 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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UK fire services are donating equipment to Ukraine

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Fire services across the UK are donating thousands of items of kit and equipment to be sent to Ukraine, to support firefighters on the frontline. UK charity, FIRE AID and International Development (FIRE AID), and the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) are coordinating donations of more than 5,000 items of fire and rescue equipment and PPE which will be sent in convoy to Ukraine. Eighteen fire engines, thermal imaging cameras for finding victims, generators, lighting, hoses, rescue equipment, and thousands of sets of PPE are among the items being donated. Every fire service across the UK has stepped in to support these efforts. Public appeal The deployment of these donations is being supported by funding from the Home Office, Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, and the FIA Foundation, as well as through a public appeal via JustGiving. Following a successful scoping visit to Poland conducted by FIRE AID volunteers this week, an initial convoy of three fire engines and a lorry of PPE and rescue equipment will depart the UK on Friday 11th March, led by the Scottish Emergency Rescue Association (SERA). Transferring process FIRE AID is then coordinating a subsequent convoy consisting of 15 fire engines and two lorries of equipment, donated by fire services across the UK, which will depart on 19th March. 40 UK firefighters will join FIRE AID volunteers as part of the team driving the vehicles across Europe, where they will be received by the Polish State Fire Service and transferred to Ukraine. When it reaches Ukraine, the equipment will be used to support firefighters, emergency services, and volunteers who are battling together on the front line, often using old or worn equipment. They are dealing daily with fires and other emergencies to protect lives, people, and property as the invasion devastates the country. Authority comments Claire Hoyland, Project Manager, FIRE AID commented “FIRE AID and its members have over 25 years of experience responding to requests for aid and support for emergency services in over 50 countries. Following the invasion of Ukraine, our members immediately mobilised to gather equipment and aid to donate to their Ukrainian counterparts. FIRE AID members have been working in partnership with the Ukrainian emergency services since 2012 and we are proud to be coordinating this unprecedented emergency response on behalf of the UK Fire Sector.” Chair of the National Fire Chiefs Council Mark Hardingham said “As the terrible scenes unfold in Ukraine, the UK fire and rescue service is once again doing all it can to support those who urgently need help. The response has been incredible and it is a testament to the public, private and voluntary sectors combining resources, enthusiasm, and skills in response to the crisis. Thousands of items of kit and equipment – along with fire engines – have been donated to help the Ukrainian emergency services, battling together on the front line, as they strive to save lives and protect people and property.” “I cannot express how proud I am of everyone who has come together to support this; from getting the equipment together, the hard work which has gone into ensuring the logistics of one of the largest convoys we have seen, to volunteering to be part of the journey itself. This is our sector at its very best – selflessly working together and supporting one other – ultimately helping and hoping to save lives.” The wider fire sector – including the MSA Safety, Fire Sector Federation (FSF), the Fire and Rescue Suppliers [FIRESA] Council and the Fire Industry Association (FIA) – are also key partners in supporting and making the deployment. To read more exclusive features and latest news please see our February 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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HAIX Group – PPE

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Tanja Haimerl, Managing Partner at HAIX Group discusses PPE Although laboratory testing and development is a foundation of any high-quality product, it’s our commitment to wearer trials that takes things a step further. We equip users with boots for months at a time to use during their day-to-day routine activities. Performance questionnaires are distributed both during and at the end of the trial, then the user feedback is taken on board, and design changes are made as necessary to better support the wearer’s needs.  This has led to some of the unique design elements that you see in our footwear today such as lacing systems that are easy to use and ensure a comfortable fit, material changes to improve durability and outsole designs that improve slip resistance.  Foot health is becoming more and more important, especially in the field of emergency and safety footwear. Of course, these shoes must first and foremost protect their wearers. But even the safest shoe is of no use if it is uncomfortable and therefore not worn willingly. That’s why we also focus on maximum comfort, so that our customers feel completely at ease.  Our CONNEXIS product line promotes the wearer’s health by stimulating the fascia, thereby releasing tension, stimulating the muscles and reducing negative effects on the musculoskeletal system. In addition, CONNEXIS models are designed to support the natural functioning of the feet and prevent malposition. CONNEXIS is therefore a double investment, because it protects its wearers today and pays for their health tomorrow.    To read more exclusive features and latest news please see our February 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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BigChange transforms Faelsafe Fire and Life Safety

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Faelsafe Life Safety, the national fire and life safety company, has transformed its business using BigChange field service management software. Since implementing the cloud based platform, Faelsafe has reduced its administrative resource, eliminated paper from its mobile operation and improved the efficiency of engineers working across mainland UK. Working directly for organisations such as Stoke and Staffordshire Fire and Rescue, Wooltex and Smurfitt Kappa, Faelsafe specialises in the installation and maintenance of fire detection and alarm systems, Fire Extinguisher supply and maintenance, fire safety equipment and through its sister company Faelsafe Electrical, commercial electrical works, specialising in sprinkler plant rooms. “Our motto is ‘don’t fael to be safe’ yet we were ‘faeling’ to secure the future of the business by not investing to succeed,” commented Andrew Hutchinson, Director of Faelsafe. “Despite having job management software, we were still producing paper worksheets and reports, in triplicate, and having to wait for engineers to return to base before we could process them. This was labour intensive, resulted in delays in invoicing and meant dealing with customer queries was virtually impossible. “Since implementing BigChange we have slashed our administrative resource, we have removed every filing cabinet from the office, eliminated delays in invoicing and query resolutions and improved the efficiency of our engineers.” Head quartered in Leeds, Faelsafe made the move to BigChange following a recommendation from its IT support company. The complete job management solution, which incorporates customer relationship management (CRM), job scheduling, live tracking, field resource management, financial management and business intelligence in one simple to use and easy to integrate platform, has helped Faelsafe remove paper from its job allocation and reporting workflows. Engineers are automatically allocated work and completion reports, including photographs and customer signatures, are digitally captured, stored and shared with the back-office operation. Route scheduling and live tracking is also helping Faelsafe optimise the use of mobile engineers reducing time spent travelling between jobs. Additional aspects of the BigChange system that are helping Faelsafe improve service levels include the online library, which it uses to store information pertaining to specific customer sites and equipment, and customisable worksheets which are used to allocate health and safety checks such as PPE and equipment. “BigChange supports our ambition to be a forward-thinking business,” concluded Hutchinson. “As it is truly cloud based every member of the team can access and share the information they need, when they need it and from wherever they are, which positively impacts the service we provide every single day.”   To read more exclusive features and latest news please see our February 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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Q&A with LUKAS Hydraulics

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Daniel Engelhardt, Product Manager at LUKAS Hydraulics Why does vehicle equipment change depending on the individual fire department? As far as the hydraulic rescue equipment is concerned, we see above all great differences in the configurations in relation to the individual areas of application. A fire department that services a large section of highway with high speeds and a lot of truck traffic chooses tools that are suitable for heavy rescue. A city fire department, where accidents occur at lower speeds and without truck involvement, tends to choose smaller, lighter and more mobile equipment. How crucial is vehicle equipment? Absolutely critical. In our opinion, the most important aspects are the reliability of the tools, ease of use and versatility. What types of equipment might you find on a search and rescue vehicle? I think it depends very much on the area of application. A water rescue vehicle has a specifically quite different load than a vehicle intended for mountain rescue. We try to cover as many areas as possible with our tools. The manufacturers have to rethink here and, due to the increasing complexity of the application scenarios, develop their tools into multifunctional devices that can be used in almost all areas. Is it easier to have battery powered equipment stored on vehicles? Absolutely. Battery technology has developed rapidly in recent years, also due to the immense investments in the automotive industry. Almost all equipment on vehicles is now offered with battery technology. The reasons for this are significantly higher mobility, weight savings on the vehicle and immediate operational capability without major preparation. What are the top three necessary equipment items you may find on any vehicle? For us, of course, hydraulic cutters, spreaders and rams. But seriously, I don’t think you can distinguish between necessary and less necessary when it comes to equipment. The equipment that is important is that which helps to save lives at the decisive moment. In your opinion what is the most useful piece of equipment and why? As mentioned in the question above, I believe that a classification into necessity and usability does not do justice to any tool on the vehicle. I think it will be important for equipment to be usable for as many applications as possible, for manufacturers to move away from developing one trick ponies and to incorporate the complexity of the vehicles’ applications into their development. How has technology changed vehicle equipment over recent years? Advancing battery technology in particular has helped manufacturers optimize their product ranges in recent years. It will be exciting to see how the tools will change with the help of rechargeable batteries as a constant source of energy, also in terms of networkability and becoming smart.   To read more exclusive features and latest news please see our February 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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PGI Safety Barrier Hoods

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Fire and Rescue services identify why PGI Safety’s Barrier Hoods are the most comfortable and effective hoods on the market  More and more fire and rescue services are recognising the importance of particulate protection as cancer continues to be the leading cause of disease among fire service personnel. As brigades consider new particulate blocking PPE, PGI has seen a dramatic uptick within the UK and European markets for particulate blocking hoods.  We are delighted that more fire service organisations are choosing PGI for their particulate flash hoods mainly due to the unique design and patented features of our extremely well engineered protective hoods.  Organisations understand there is a need to add particulate protection but some report experiences of overheating especially when the work rate increases, thus placing extra burden on the wearer. This is where BarriAire Gold Particulate Barrier Hoods shine bright. Widely accepted as the most protective and breathable particulate hoods on the market, we are getting feedback that this is the first particulate barrier hood that feels barrier-less!  Mark Salter, Group Commander, Cornwall Fire Rescue commented that during recent trials the PGI BarriAire Gold Particulate Barrier Hoods were the most comfortable they have experienced. Whilst others mentioned that they didn’t even notice they were wearing a particulate blocking hood.  Our patented BarriAire Gold Particulate Barrier Hoods feature an outer layer of proprietary PGI gold flame resistant fabric infused with meta-aramid, para-aramid and anti-stat fibres for exceptional wash, wear, durability and permanent static resistance. An exclusive DWR finish reduces and releases build-up of contaminates and soil. BarriAire Gold Hoods incorporate an inner layer of ultra-lightweight DuPont Nomex Nano Flex fabric, which inhibits penetration of harmful contaminants and carcinogenic particles.  In fact, Ken Corbett, Group Manager, and Head of Operations in Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service stated, “The development of the BarriAire Gold particulate fire fighting hood by PGI, has enabled us to become one of the first UK Fire and Rescue Services to supply our frontline fire fighters with a product that affords them the very best protection.” Corbett went on to say, “The ability to innovate and utilise technology within PPE should never be under estimated and it’s an area that we will continue to explore.”  In addition to its exceptional particulate blocking characteristics, the unique Nomex Nano Flex fabric is currently the only barrier available that actually affords an air permeability rating above 22 CFM, meaning BarriAire Gold Hoods offer breathability that is twice to three times greater than competing PTFE laminated barrier hoods. We believe air permeability is a significant factor to consider when it comes to firefighter safety. Studies have shown that a hot hood which traps in heat, like PTFE barrier hoods, can lead to issues with heat stress and steam burns, which pose increased risks to firefighters.   Time and time again we are told by wear trialists that our BarriAire Gold particulate blocking hood is the most comfortable and breathable hood they have trialed. When you combine that with the industry-leading, peace-of-mind protection it provides, BarriAire Gold Hoods are the fitting response to the many hazards firefighters face.   To read more exclusive features and latest news please see our February 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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