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PPE: Modern day firefighter needs

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PPE is a continuously evolving market, so what are the latest innovations and who are the companies tailoring equipment to the modern day firefighter? Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) garments are essential to the day-to-day running of a fire service. Without PPE firefighters would not be able to enter a burning building and extinguish flames without severe health implications, let alone save civilian lives and other personnel.   Mark Naylor, Head of Response and Resilience at North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service comments: “The high-quality garments provided by manufacturers are essential protection from fire and reduce the physiological effects of heat on the body, thereby enhancing the performance of our firefighting teams and helping them to provide a first class service to our communities”  So why is PPE so important, besides the obvious? New surveys are currently underway to determine the real issues our firefighters face when protecting the public. A new survey from life-saving garment manufacturer, FlamePro will help drive innovation across the industry in the PPE sector. The survey will be submitted by hundreds of firefighters, from the front line responders who have boots on the ground and can speak from experience. The anonymous research will provide a rare opportunity to gain insight into the minds and experiences of frontline firefighters. It’s hoped the project will help shape the future of the industry and ensure the safety of firefighters.  The survey is designed to increase transparency across the firefighting industry, by providing an authentic, undisputed viewpoint into the sentiment of firefighters on the ground. The findings of the survey will be released and distributed amongst key industry professionals as a full written report, to help further drive innovation across the sector.  Reece Buchner, Technical Sales Manager at FlamePro, said: “The purpose of this survey is simple. We want to better understand how we can support the industry by speaking to those that have their boots on the ground. Even when you take into consideration just the past 12 months – the role of the firefighter has changed drastically as a result of the pandemic. Yet, for an industry experiencing such rapid change, we worry that modernisation within the sector is falling behind.   “We want to use this research as an opportunity to shine a spotlight on industry change, and help to support innovation from the ground upwards – something we know there is an appetite for at all levels.”  The survey will help instigate change in the PPE sector and invite innovation back into the market which will tackle the new challenges currently facing firefighters. So what innovations are we currently seeing in the marketplace?  Structural firefighting PPE  Bristol Uniforms, a designer and manufacturer of protective clothing for emergency services across the globe, has launched a brand new PPE designed for structural firefighting, offering advanced protection to combat the new and emerging risks faced by modern day firefighters.  EOS, named after the Greek goddess of the dawn, builds on the success of Bristol’s XFlex and UK Collaborative Framework ranges, retaining the popular ergonomic sports styling and advanced protection provided by high-quality specialist fabrics. The new style is sleek, modern and ultra-flexible, enabling even better manoeuvrability. This is partly due to the introduction of HEX-TT, a distinctive, supple reflective taping. The precise cube-pattern of the new taping features tiny gaps, resulting in an outer layer that is significantly more supple and flexible, and easier to repair.    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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Search & Rescue: Equipment SAR teams

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What equipment and training can be used to help search and rescue teams be more efficient in the field in any environment? Search and Rescue is a specialised sector within the fire industry. Not only are they responsible for saving the lives of civilians in danger, but they are also on par to save fallen firefighters and other front line responders. In order to be part of an efficient search and rescue team firefighters must have the appropriate equipment to answer to any call within any environment. With the continuous advancement of technology, search and rescue has become ‘easier’ in terms of being prepared through training and equipment usage. Despite the danger of some environments never depleting, we can ensure that we are better prepared for said environments.  So, what are some of the best pieces of equipment that can be used in any scenario?  Battalion Chief Robert Avsec divulges some of the best pieces of search and rescue equipment for any environment from his career. Battalion Chief Robert Avsec (ret.) served with the Chesterfield (Virginia) Fire & EMS Department for 26 years. He was an instructor for fire, EMS and hazardous materials courses at the local, state and federal levels, which included more than 10 years with the National Fire Academy.  “Search-and rescue operations in remote wilderness locations or in urban situations following a natural or man-made disaster require specialised tools and equipment for the first responder. Here are some of the top search-and-rescue tools and technologies that can improve a department’s operations and make them safer, more effective and more efficient.”  Controlled Impact Rescue Tool: The Controlled Impact Rescue Tool (CIRT) from Raytheon is a portable rapid concrete-breaching technology that enables rescuers to breach through reinforced concrete. Developed in conjunction with the Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate, CIRT uses a specially designed impact head that applies a concentrated shock load into the concrete. Multiple impacts on concrete produce substantial localised damage for faster breaching.  Side Scan Sonar: Side Scan Sonar is considered to be an essential piece of equipment for search and recovery operations. This sonar is the ideal tool for teams searching for drowning victims, missing evidence, sunken vessels and submerged vehicles.  The main feature is producing detailed images of the underwater environment regardless of water clarity. It scans several hundred feet of ocean, lake or river bottom with each pass of the boat allowing large areas to be searched quickly. The sonar’s acoustic beam reflects off any objects lying on the bottom and the data is sent topside where vivid colour images are displayed and stored on a laptop or tablet computer.  Evacuation harness: The PMI’s Hasty Harness is a simple and secure evacuation seat that’s specifically designed to be lightweight, efficient and easy to put on a patient in distress. The split center piece of the triangle design conforms to the wearer and is surprisingly comfortable, even for an extended ride. One size fits most patients.  USAR search marking kit: The USAR Search Marking Kit from Wolfpack Gear is designed to carry all of the marking tools you need during a search operation. The main holster pocket holds an upside down marking paint can. Mounted below the holster are two flagging tape dispensers for different colour tapes.  Exterior covered pockets accept railroad chalk, lumber crayons, permanent markers or other marking pens. A waterproof zippered pocket is designed to carry glow sticks.    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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MSA, DuPont and NVFC collaborate for gear giveaway

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MSA, DuPont Personal Protection, and the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) are teaming up again in 2022 to provide volunteer fire departments with four sets of new, state-of-the-art Globe turnout gear through MSA and DuPont’s annual Globe Gear Giveaway program. A total of 52 jackets, 52 pants, and 52 helmets will be awarded to 13 volunteer fire departments in need in 2022 to increase firefighter safety. Eligibility criteria To be eligible to apply, departments must: Be over 50% volunteer Serve a population of 25,000 or less Be located in the U.S. or Canada and legally organized under state/province law Be a member of the NVFC. MSA will provide complimentary memberships to the first 500 applicants. Demonstrate a need for the gear Program details  View full program criteria and apply by June 1 on the NVFC website. Winners will be announced monthly between July and December. Stay tuned to the NVFC website, Dispatch newsletter, and Facebook and Twitter pages, as well as the Globe Facebook page, for details. Since 2012, 611 sets of turnouts and 156 helmets have been awarded to 134 departments through the Gear Giveaway program, valued at over one million dollars worth of life-saving gear.   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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Tecserv UK posts year end trading result

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Fire and security system installation and maintenance specialists Tecserv UK, has finished its latest financial year ending 31 January having posted annual growth of 12% – its best ever trading result since the company was founded in 2001. The company attributes the growth in turnover to its growing reputation in key sectors, the quality of advice and service delivered by its UK wide network of service engineers, and its continuous investment in a highly focused marketing programme which has helped to ensure clients were supported during the pandemic. Over the last year, the company has also won a number of significant new build and system replacement projects for leading education providers, hotels and restaurants who opted to take advantage of temporary closures to carry out refurbishment works. The company has also seen high demand following the growth in the warehousing and logistics sector and quickly issued guidance to clients regarding their compliance commitments should buildings be left unoccupied. Commenting, Sales and Marketing Director Colin Milligan said, “The uncertainty over the last two years has meant it hasn’t been easy for any business to predict the future. However, as a team, we have all worked together to protect our business and support our clients through an extremely difficult period. To be in a position where this has resulted in the best ever year in our trading history is down to hard work and commitment from everyone at Tecserv and the bonds of loyalty we have built with our clients.” Based in Underwood on the Notts and Derbyshire border, Tecserv UK was founded by Graham Tilley in 2001 and remains under private ownership. The company, which is BAFE approved, employs 49 staff and is an approved distributor for most of the leading manufacturers of fire alarm, access control, intruder alarm and CCTV surveillance equipment. Clients include small to medium sized businesses based in commercial buildings to major UK brands such as McArthurGlen, M&S, Harvey Nichols, The Ritz, The Bulgari Hotel, The Pinewood Group and many English Heritage buildings. 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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NFCC launches the safeguarding fire standard

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The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) is delighted to welcome the publication of the Safeguarding Fire Standard by the Fire Standards Board. The Safeguarding Fire Standard aims to ensure that fire and rescue services are doing all that they can to support and promote the safeguarding of those within their communities, employees, and volunteers. The standard accompanies the NFCC Safeguarding Guidance for Children, Young People and Adults, and the NFCC Self-Assessment Toolkit. Assist fire and rescue services Chair of the National Fire Chiefs Council, Mark Hardingham, said, “I am pleased to be able to welcome the Safeguarding Fire Standard, which has been designed to assist fire and rescue services in promoting the safeguarding of others, reducing the risk of abuse, harm, and neglect. “I’d like to thank those who have contributed towards the Safeguarding Fire Standard, and in particular Donna Bentley MBE, who has led on this area of work as the NFCC Strategic Lead for Safeguarding.” Fire standard guidelines The Safeguarding Fire Standard has been developed through work carried out by the NFCC Safeguarding team, as part of the NFCC Prevention Committee. The standard outlines what a fire and rescue service must and should do to achieve it, stating that a service must have a designated Safeguarding Lead, for example, and that it should work collaboratively with partners to share learning and experiences.   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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Coopers Fire highlights hotel fire safety

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With constant footfall, regular cooking and many employees switching up on irregular shifts, hotels require a dedicated focus on fire safety, in order to keep everyone and the building safe at all times. If a fire breaks out in a hotel, many people will find themselves in danger. Hotel owners, managers and employees must recognise the importance of hotel fire safety, so as to prevent hundreds of people from an emergency. To keep a hotel, its staff and visitors safe, regulations need to be in place to prevent a fire outbreak. A hotel fire can develop quickly and leave visitors feeling incredibly vulnerable, especially with hotels providing accommodation for overnight stays. Common causes of hotel fires A hotel kitchen is constantly cooking up a storm for guests dining in the evening or ordering room service in the early hours. Cooking equipment is one of the leading causes of fires in hotels, because of the continuous daily risk. Ensuring that the kitchen is clean and all fire equipment is accessible and tested is essential to keep the risks at a minimum. There also runs a risk of some guests not knowing the safety etiquette expected by the hotel. Ensuring presence of clear fire safety signs throughout the hotel and in each room will help educate desks and limit risks, such as smoking indoors and leaving fire doors open. Need for a hotel fire safety plan Employees may feel panicked in an emergency. With a hotel fire safety plan, there is a clear understanding of the roles and responsibilities that are needed, in order to keep the building and its occupants safe for fire spread. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires those responsible to carry out a fire risk assessment of the building. With an effective fire risk assessment, hotel owners and staff can note any potential hazards in the hotel and how to prevent them. It is also a legal requirement to provide fire safety training to all employees, so that they know the steps to take during a fire incident. This is especially important in a hotel, where different visitors are leaving and arriving every day. Hotel fire risk assessment A comprehensive fire risk assessment for hotels will include numerous areas and situations, where a fire could happen. These can include: Hotel rooms – Any electrical equipment supplied in hotel rooms should be safety checked and tested annually. Having safety signs to make guests and employees aware of the dangers when using any appliances will help limit the risks. Kitchens – The risk of fire in a hotel kitchen depends on several factors. A big hotel will have a larger kitchen with plenty of staff to supervise, whereas a smaller hotel may be limited to keeping an eye on the kitchen at all times. Lobbies and hallways – Any communal areas need to be noted on the fire risk assessment, as they will be the main areas where footfall occurs. This is also where most fire equipment will be located. Lifts – Lifts need to be considered in a fire risk assessment because they should not be permitted to be used, during a fire breakout. 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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Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue moves to Cambourne

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Firefighters currently based in Papworth Everard will soon be relocating to the fire station in Cambourne. Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service believe that moving the fire engine will improve its fire cover in the area as there are more people in Cambourne to become on-call firefighters, who live or work within five minutes of the fire station. Delayed fire emergency response On-call firefighters are not based at a fire station, they go about their normal lives and wear an alerter which goes off if they are needed. They then immediately make their way to the fire station. Since the hospital moved out of Papworth, the fire service has struggled to have enough on-call firefighters available in the day as a number of the crew worked at the hospital and could respond from there. This has meant that fire engines from neighboring towns have been sent instead to around half of all incidents in the area. Although they respond quickly, the extra travel time does cause more of a delay. Change in the risk profile Assistant Chief Fire Officer Jon Anderson explained, “When Cambourne fire station was built as part of the new town development in 2010, it was always intended that the fire engine from Papworth would eventually move to Cambourne. That is why we built it with a modern training facility too, something Papworth doesn’t have and it would cost thousands of pounds to bring Papworth up to a modern-day standard.” “With the hospital gone, the risk profile of the area has also changed for us as it was always our greatest risk from fire. With the number of houses rapidly growing in Cambourne, the risk balance has tipped, and now is an appropriate time to make the move.” Better incident response times Jon continued, “The greatest driver for the move though is our belief that we can improve our response times to incidents in both Papworth and Cambourne. With a greater population of people to recruit on-call firefighters from, we stand a much better chance of having the fire engine available in daytime hours.” “Being an on-call firefighter is incredibly rewarding. It is a paid role but many of our on-call firefighters join to support their local community and do something worthwhile alongside their main employment.” Relocation details The relocation of the station will begin in March and will take a few weeks to complete. During this time, the availability of the fire engine to respond will not be impacted. Following the relocation, the station will be fully decommissioned, with the site likely to be sold. 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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Warringtonfire upgrades fire resistant testing lab

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Warringtonfire has significantly invested in its High Wycombe testing facility to meet the anticipated growth in demand ahead of the UKCA Mark deadline. The transformation of the facility includes refurbishment of its onsite fire resistance and smoke laboratories. This comprises new smoke testing equipment, a complete re-lining of two test furnaces as well as installation of a new cold abatement system to extract test fumes from the fire laboratory environment. Alongside the additional fire resistance testing equipment, Warringtonfire’s acoustics laboratory has also been revamped, with new acoustic measuring equipment to enhance and improve testing capabilities. Lee Wade, General Manager at Warringtonfire High Wycombe, said “We have seen a surge in demand for the smoke testing of products. This is being driven by both regulatory changes, such as the looming UKCA Mark deadline coming into effect from January 2023, as well as an increasing appreciation from our customers of the value that testing and certification adds to their products. “That’s why, despite the uncertainty COVID has generated within the industry throughout the past two years, we have committed to significant capital investment to ensure our laboratory is the benchmark for fire testing, inspection and certification here in the UK. In turn, this will help our clients ensure they can continue to market their products in line with the very latest regulations, in a timely and efficient way.” Further investment has also been made to improve the facility’s sustainability credentials, with the installation of a new cold abatement system to extract fumes and odours from the test area, as well as fitting LED lighting throughout the laboratory. Alongside this, the company has added more floor space through a new purpose-built building to ease congestion and improve working conditions, allowing staff to build test specimens away from the furnace. New digital viewing technology has also been introduced at Warringtonfire High Wycombe. The package enables customers to watch live product testing remotely at higher quality and has the capability to share live test data from Warringtonfire’s control system “Given the changing ways we and our clients have had to adapt, we’ve increased our focus on digital technology. This includes new video packages, better viewing angles of tests in ultra-high definition, and the ability to zoom in on specific areas of the test and our furnaces,” said Wade. “In order to maximise the potential of the investments made throughout the site, we’ve also embarked on an internal programme to train and upskill our colleagues in testing capabilities, technical qualifications, and project management. This will help our clients stay ahead of any regulatory changes, such as the UKCA Mark, and help them continually improve their products.”   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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Beam Global EV ARC for wildfire fighting exercise

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Beam Global, provider of innovative sustainable technology for electric vehicle (EV) charging, outdoor media and energy security, announced that Project Vesta, an unmanned fire control prototype that combines state-of-the art technology and Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) equipment has selected the EV ARC off-grid solar-powered EV charging and emergency power system to provide a critical component of an innovative fire mitigation system that networks autonomous air and ground vehicles, solar charging capabilities, fire response equipment and communications. The Project Vesta goal is persistent fire surveillance and analytics capabilities enabled by edge computing and rapid interoperability. “The Project Vesta team is excited to have Beam Global join this autonomous wildfire fighting experiment. Their engagement with the SoCal Tech Bridge continues to deepen as Marines and Sailors across several west coast bases have access to EV ARC systems,” said Captain Ben Cohen, US Marine Corps. “To have Beam bring their expertise in providing vital off-grid alternative energy to the experiment is absolutely a win.” The event will be hosted February 14-18, 2022 by the Joint Interagency Field Experimentation (JIFX) 22-2 at Camp Roberts, CA. The organisations spearheading Project Vesta are NavalX SoCal Tech Bridge as part of the US Marine Corps, JIFX as part of the Naval Post Graduate School (NPS) in Monterrey, TESIAC with their Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) offering and CANA Advisors. Public Private Partnerships (P3) demonstrate how collaboration between government agencies and private sector companies can target large-scale projects and problems to drive solutions faster and more effectively than when approached in silos. “Wildfires cause profound loss of loss of life, property, commerce and natural resources, and they are increasing in frequency and severity,” said Desmond Wheatley, CEO of Beam Global. “We are proud to be an active participant in Project Vesta. The EV ARC transportable off-grid EV charging system will provide vital energy to drones and electric ground vehicles equipped to help manage and suppress fires. The EV ARC system requires no liquid fuels, it’s always running, and it does not create fire danger or pollution as a diesel or gasoline generator might.” Project Vesta is a critical step in the evolution of faster, safer and more effective wildfire control and mitigation. Wildfires are a significant problem continually growing in severity and scope globally and especially in the California region. The threat to people, wildlife, natural and commercial resources, and the environment is profound and long-lasting. First responders committed to fighting fires face significant boots-on-the-ground peril and Project Vesta aims to accelerate the use of technology to detect fires sooner, deploy fire suppressing measures faster, and reduce the risk to human life.   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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DisplayNote Launcher enables remote communication

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DisplayNote Launcher enables seamless remote communication across 47 Greater Manchester Combined Authority sites. Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue relies on the software for standardised communication and training across its stations. The Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) is made up of the ten Greater Manchester councils and the Mayor’s office, all of which work with other local services, businesses, communities and partners to improve the city-region. The authority focuses on issues that affect everyone in the region, including transport, regeneration, investment, and public services. The Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS), part of the GMCA, is one of the largest fire and rescue services outside of London with more than 1,637 members of staff and 41 fire stations covering an area of around 500 square miles. Mark Scoales, Digital Services Manager at GMCA, and his team of 35 staff are responsible for ensuring frontline firefighters and their support staff have all the tools they need to carry out their roles, responding to incidents and keeping citizens safe. This involves being able to communicate with colleagues clearly, accurately and quickly across the city-region. When the pandemic hit in Spring 2020, this need became even more acute and Scoales and his team undertook a project to upgrade audio-visual equipment across the region’s fire stations. The desire was to increase digital functionality and improve remote communications between colleagues across all sites. With communications rooms used daily by almost 3,000 staff members, usability was essential when it came to looking for a solution. In addition to facilitating easy access to their video conferencing tools, Scoales wanted to make it easy for staff to access the apps and tools that are regularly used by firefighters and their support teams. After going out to tender, GMCA began a project to install 65-inch interactive touch display screens in the community rooms in each fire station throughout the GMCA region. The decision was then made to install DisplayNote Launcher on each screen across GMCA’s 47 sites. Launcher is a simple interface for meeting room displays that gives users easy access to calls, content and apps while maintaining the highest levels of security. All settings are PIN protected, and with Automatic Cleanup, one tap clears the user’s footprint, closing apps, removing sign-in information, and clearing any browsing history. This simplicity, security and consistency were crucial factors in the decision to standardise on Launcher. Firefighters rely on repetitiveness and uniformity. The layout of fire stations is uniform to ensure firefighters can walk into any station and know where to find what they need. Scoales and his team were keen to replicate this across the digital offering. Before using Launcher, Scoales describes the communication and collaboration experience as being “clunky”. Laptops were connected to projectors, making it difficult to create a smooth user experience across the rooms. He added “It was hard to manage the devices and technology in the rooms and difficult to control what users were downloading. We knew that if we were going to find a new way of doing things, it had to be a simple, easy-to-use solution as this was the only way it would be adopted across the 47 sites.” Launcher’s Kiosk Mode provides an entirely uniform experience to all users. They also now have full control over what apps and tools can be accessed, keeping the screens secure.   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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