Firefighting equipment, used by firefighters and commercial building use, must be rigorously tested, inspected and maintained to ensure the safety of people, assets and buildings As set out in the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, a ‘responsible person’ must carry out a fire risk assessment to assess any fire hazards within the building, and take the necessary actions to reduce any fire risks and ensure all fire safety equipment is maintained at all times. Aside from commercial firefighting equipment in buildings and businesses, fire departments must also make sure that their firefighting equipment conforms to the latest regulations and standard. So how important is equipment maintenance, and what is the best way to do it? SCBA maintenance SCBA, or self-contained breathing apparatus, is critical for areas where the atmosphere just isn’t fit to breathe. Confined space workers and firefighters both utilise this equipment. But what happens when that equipment fails? So what are keys to keeping your SCBA equipment functioning properly? SCBA gear is often subjected to really dirty environments. Dirt, grime, soot, sludge, all have to be cleaned from the mask, hoses and tanks on a regular basis. Check your manual, but most manufacturers recommend you first remove the filters, cartridges and tanks, then take the respirator mask apart by removing diaphragms and air hoses. Remember to inspect as you go and replace any broken or defective parts. All the parts should be washed in warm water with a mild soap or detergent. Any dirt or contaminants that may have collected on the respirator gear needs to be scrubbed or otherwise washed away. Once everything has been washed, rinse the equipment with clean water. Another option is ultrasonic cleaning where pieces of the SCBA system are submerged in a special tank where ultrasonic frequencies create bubbles that can get into even the smallest crevices and seams to remove all dirt or carbon residue. Once the ultrasonic has run its course, dry the equipment using an air dryer or a lint-free towel. Hose maintenance Firefighter hose is a hose used to carry high pressure water or flame retardant liquids such as foam. The traditional firefighter hose is lined with rubber and covered with linen fabric. Advanced firefighter hoses are made of polymeric materials such as polyurethane. Both ends of the hose have metal joints, which can be connected to another hose to extend the distance or to a nozzle to increase the liquid injection pressure. Well, do you know how to maintain a firefighter hose? First, hose connection. Firefighter hose in the sleeve hose interface, must be padded with a layer of soft protection, and then with galvanized iron wire or throat hoop tight. Second, the use of hose. When using the firefighter hose, the hose with high pressure resistance should be connected close to the water pump. After filling the hose with water, it should prevent torsion or abrupt bending, and prevent the collision damage of the hose interface. Third, hose laying. When laying water hose, it should be avoided clip sharp objects and all kinds of oil, to the height of vertical laying water belt, to use water belt hook, through the traffic road laying water belt, should pad on the water hose guard bridge, through the railway, the hose should be passed under the track, to avoid water belt is broken by the wheel and intermittent water supply. Fourth, prevent ice. In severe winter, when water supply needs to be suspended on the fire site, in order to prevent the water belt from freezing, the pump needs to run slowly to maintain a small amount of water output. Fifth, hose cleaning. The firefighter hose should be cleaned after used. For the hose used to delivery of foam, must be careful to wash, protect the rubber layer. In order to clear the grease on the hose, can use warm water or soap to wash. For the frozen hose, it should be all melted, then clean and dry. It is not suitable to roll and store if it is wet. Firefighting equipment is not only for firefighters, but also for the everyday man, with responsibility relying on a building operator or owner. Firefighting equipment in commercial use for fire safety, must also be rigorously tested and inspected to ensure proper maintenance. Fire safety maintenance It is essential that you have fire safety equipment in place in your commercial property, positioned in accessible locations should there ever be a fire. Both passive and active fire safety equipment should be regularly checked for any signs of wear or damage, in order to ensure they are working correctly at all times. Equipment checks can include: Fire Doors: Ensuring fire doors are operating correctly and can be shut without obstruction on a daily basis. Fire alarm testing: A weekly fire alarm test (on the same day and at the same time is best practice in order that employees and visitors to your site are aware that a test is being conducted). Get testing: Regular monthly testing of emergency lighting systems, fire extinguishers. Test all equipment: Any additional fire safety equipment in place such as fire blankets or sprinkler systems should also be tested. Fire Extinguisher Maintenance Fire extinguishers are a vital part of fire safety systems in commercial and industrial premises, providing an effective way of tackling small fires before they can spread and cause real damage to buildings and their contents. It’s therefore essential to ensure that your fire extinguishers are frequently maintained and kept in a functional condition. Your fire extinguishers should be maintained by a BAFE approved company in order to guarantee they have been serviced by a competent person, whose service activities are approved by an accredited third party. On a monthly basis, the pressure gauge should be checked on all fire extinguishers, and on a yearly basis it is a requirement that a qualified technician carries out a thorough check on all your extinguishers for any signs of damage, corrosion, and for them to be fully

Fire Buyer talks to fire and safety experts Josh Burnheimer, Global Product Marketing Manager, and Dean Mitchell, Application Engineering Specialist from 3M 3M Scott Fire & Safety is a market leading fire and safety manufacture of respiratory and personal protective equipment and safety devices for firefighters, industrial workers and militaries. International Fire Buyer Editor catches up exclusively with Josh Burnheimer, Global Product Marketing Manager- SCBA & Fire Solutions, and Dean Mitchell, Application Engineering Specialist – SCBA & Fire Solutions, 3M Scott Fire & Safety to find out how to improve situational awareness.  Josh has been involved with the fire industry for over 20 years, starting as a volunteer firefighter in high school and currently drives new product design and marketing for global SCBA products. Having visited over 55 countries, his extensive global experience allows him a unique and diverse understanding of the global fire industry.   Dean has been in the safety industry for 35 years in a variety of roles ranging from direct sales to product innovation and development. His current specialist role combines his love for product design and customer interaction with an extensive knowledge of the EN fire market.   As one of the global leaders in SCBA (self contained breathing apparatus) how does 3M Scott continue to innovate?  Josh: Since 1945, when 3M Scott developed the first Air-Pak SCBA for firefighting, a culture of innovation has fueled the company. This culture has been nurtured though the years, and as 3M Scott emerges as the recognised leader in the industry, this mindset continued to permeate everything we do.   We continue to launch new products to expanded markets, including the introduction of the 3M Scott ProPak E-Z Flo with 3M Scott AV-3000 HT Facepiece and 3M Scott Sight In-Mask Thermal Imager to the EN market. The ProPak E-Z Flo was designed to meet the needs of the professional fire service offering high performance, user comfort and a lower cost of ownership, with optional integration with the 3M Scott Sight thermal imager to increase situational awareness.   How has the introduction of 3M Scott Sight changed the industry?  Josh: 3M Scott Sight is a great example of engaging in an ongoing dialog with firefighters, encouraging them to ask “what if”? Through this dialog, a common theme emerged. What if every firefighter could see clearly in every situation? What if she or he could have thermal imaging in their mask, on-demand during fireground operations? What if they could have hands-free thermal vision? 3M Scott listened to firefighters and in a short time, designed, manufactured, and delivered Sight, the industry’s first in-mask thermal imaging system for firefighters.   Sight combines a thermal imaging camera with a small eyepiece located in the facepiece giving firefighters always-on thermal vision, increasing their situational awareness. Sight provides firefighters more than just vision. It gives them their hands back. No longer does a firefighter have to reach for a console or a TIC to gain vision in a smoky environment. Thermal vision is now always on, when they need it, and with their hands free for other tasks.   What do you see as the biggest trends in the global fire market at the moment?  Josh: There are many topics that are at the top of minds including limiting carcinogen exposure, harnessing new technologies, and total cost of ownership amidst global budget constrictions and rising inflation.   Possibly the biggest danger the industry is addressing is that of carcinogen contamination of firefighting equipment after use. Many manufacturers, including 3M Scott are introducing cleaning methods to help minimise carcinogen exposure through improved washing methods. We are also addressing this through product design. Improving the user experience and ease of disassembly encourages more frequent cleaning.   Firefighters are keen on engaging new technology, but not at the expense of job safety. Customers are moving toward utilising technology to increase a firefighter’s situational awareness. Firefighter safety depends heavily on their equipment and training. Technology can often enhance a firefighter’s situational awareness, but too much information can lead to distractions.   Dependency on technology can also negatively affect one’s ability to operate without it in the event of a failure. We can look to several other industries where an over-reliance on technology has impeded workers’ ability to think and act on the job when technology fails. It is important to keep technology simple, reliable, and robust enough to withstand extreme environments.  Lastly, users require durability and reliability coupled with a predictable through-life cost. In an era of tighter budget controls, we are seeing that the total cost of ownership is more appreciated and analysed than ever before. The ability of manufacturers to promote low up-front costs and later coupled with high service costs is quickly becoming an antiquated business model. The expensive cost of spare parts and ongoing service costs can add up quickly, taking away from critical budgets for the fire brigades. Customers should understand the total cost of ownership over the life of the product rather than the initial sales price. 3M Scott has always believed that purchasing an SCBA system is a long-term partnership with service support and minimal downtime for the user being one of the keys to success.   What are some of the challenges when designing next generation products?  Dean: We are constantly evolving product design to meet the ongoing needs of the customers and one of the largest challenges is balancing product durability, new technology, and cost.   Products should feature technology that requires minimal user interpretation to understand the information. A flashing green LED telling you everything is OK which may seem like a good idea, but it can be a distraction under heavy stress conditions. Firefighters expect their equipment to work as it should; they only want to be alerted if there is an issue that needs their attention. Technology in an SCBA is meant to enhance the user’s situational awareness and increase their safety, but it is important to remember the fundamental objective of any piece of equipment being considered. A breathing apparatus’ primary function is to supply clean breathing air in the most hostile of environments. All other attributes are secondary.   Balancing new technology with product durability and cost tends to garner many hours of collaboration among our team members.   How has COVID-19 impacted product development?  Dean: During COVID-19 we were all forced to produce alternative methods of conducting testing, collaboration, and engagement. As a global development team, we found that we are more engaged with global teammates through modern video technology. Instead of product design being based in a single location, we have developed a global model that garners equal engagement regardless of physical location. Our teams have had to get creative with product testing as we have had limited access to fire brigades, so we have resorted to sometimes unique testing methods. In some cases, our team has even built firefighter training obstacle courses in their backyards utilising trampolines, boxes and treadmills to test prototypes when they were unable to travel.   Overall, I believe there