Quick Fire Questions – James Jones, Managing Director, Vimpex   What does ‘fire protection’ mean to you? The satisfaction in knowing that I have chosen to earn a living by providing life safety. It’s not all about the money, it’s about making buildings and their users safer. What made you want to work in the industry? It’s in the blood! From childhood I have been exposed to the fire sector as my Father worked in the industry and founded the Vimpex business. It was a natural career path. If you could change anything in the industry, what would it be? The confusion around approvals and the vast amount of choice of approved/notified bodies. It is an unwelcome distraction from more important matters such as quality and reliability. Describe a funny thing that happened to you recently? I had my first sailing dinghy race not long ago and I capsized four times! What three traits define you? Versatile, loyal, energetic What’s the most important trend you see today? Manufacturers within the fire sector looking to bring back production to the UK from overseas. Great for the UK economy in general. If you didn’t work in the fire industry, what would you be doing? I love my cooking, so I would like to be a chef or restauranteur. What’s the most interesting thing about you that we wouldn’t learn from your CV? I partake in weekly cold-water swimming in the murky waters of the River Thames. What is one thing you would make compulsory in the office and one thing you would ban? Get up and go and chat to people face to face! Someone keeps bringing in chewy sweets and I eat way too many so I would ban those! Where do you see yourself in 5 years? Proudly running our alarm system accessories manufacturing business.   To stay up to date on the latest, trends, innovations, people news and company updates within the global fire market please register to receive our newsletter here. Media contact Rebecca Morpeth Spayne, Editor, International Fire Buyer Tel: +44 (0) 1622 823 922 Email: editor@firebuyer.com

  What are respirators and breathing apparatus, and how are they used to help firefighters on the front line against hazardous materials and gases, and smoke inhalation? Respiratory protective equipment (RPE) is a type of personal protective equipment designed to protect the wearer from breathing in harmful substances, or from oxygen-deficient atmospheres, when other controls are either not possible or are insufficient on their own. The use of RPE allows efficient, effective and safe working practices to be adopted at incidents of all sizes and types where an irrespirable atmosphere presents a hazard to personnel. There are two main types of RPE; respirators and breathing apparatus (BA). Respirators are filtering devices that remove contaminants from the air being breathed in; non-powered respirators rely on the wearer breathing to draw air through the filter. Respirators are not suitable for use in oxygen-deficient atmospheres. Breathing apparatus (BA) requires a supply of breathing-quality air from an independent source such as an air cylinder. Breathing apparatus (BA) enables firefighters to breathe safely in otherwise irrespirable atmospheres. The use of BA as a control measures is likely to be applied as part of the incident plan for any incident involving: Smoke and fire gases Working in confined spaces Hazardous materials including: Asphyxiants Dusts Toxic, flammable or explosive substances If RPE is used, it must be able to provide adequate protection for individual wearers; RPE cannot protect the wearer if it leaks. Face mask fit testing is a method of checking that a tight-fitting facepiece matches the wearer’s facial features and seals adequately to their face. A face mask fit test should be carried out as part of the initial selection of the RPE and it is good practice to ensure testing is repeated on a regular basis.  The need for firefighters to enter a burning building to enable them to extinguish a fire has always been hindered by the smoke generated from the flames –  so breathing apparatus is essential. In the late 1800s, there had been many attempts to find a solution to the problem but it wasn’t until the turn of the century when the first practical attempts were developed. Siebe Gorman and Co introduced smoke helmets, based on the principle of a deep-sea diver’s breathing system. Air entered a helmet through breathing tubes, which were connected to a set of bellows at each side, operated by a second person. A neck curtain attached to the helmet was tucked into the firefighters tunic, providing a reasonably air-tight seal. However, the equipment was very restrictive as firefighters could only go as far as the air hose allowed. First hand experience The London Fire Brigade describes when to use different types of breathing apparatus and how it aids firefighters to fight fires even when sight and air is compromised. Breathing apparatus is a key piece of equipment for firefighters across the world. Breathing apparatus allows firefighters to see and breath through thick smoke during a fire emergency. This helps protect firefighters from respiratory distress and enable them to fulfill their job in a safer environment. The LFB breathing apparatus consists of one or two oxygen cylinders and an oxygen mask that securely covers the whole face. Since the 1960s we have been using compressed air breathing sets to aid firefighting. The sets we use today are lighter, and last a lot longer than the ones from the 60s. When do firefighters use breathing apparatus? Firefighters will pull on a BA set anytime they are entering a situation where the atmosphere might cause difficulty breathing. That could be anything from a smoky building, to an incident where chemicals have been spilled. How much air does a BA set hold? London Fire Brigade currently has two different types of BA. Each set lets firefighters breath oxygen for different lengths of time. Standard duration Breathing Apparatus Extended Duration Breathing Apparatus Standard Duration Breathing Apparatus (SDBA) Standard duration breathing apparatus has only one cylinder – all our firefighters are trained to use SDBA and all our fire engines carry them. The set weighs about 15kgs. If a firefighter is breathing normally a SDBA they should get 31 minutes of air. But, if the firefighter is working really hard and breathing really hard, the cylinder won’t necessarily last that long. Extended Duration Breathing Apparatus (EDBA) To use extended duration breathing apparatus firefighters must complete specialist training. EDBA sets have two cylinders, so they weigh a bit more than a SDBA – 23kgs. If a firefighter is breathing normally an EDBA they should get 47 minutes of air. But, if the firefighter is breathing heavily, the cylinder won’t necessarily last for 47 minutes. EDBA is usually brought out when firefighters have to travel longer distances using breathing apparatus, like a train stuck in a tunnel. How do you keep track of everyone using BA? Whenever firefighters are using breathing apparatus we set up a Breathing Apparatus Entry Control (BAEC). This system lets us track who’s gone into a building with BA and who’s come out – we always go in as a pair and come out as a pair. We mark this information down on an entry control board (ECB). Firefighters on the front line already put themselves in harms way to save lives. Providing equipment that can make that job easier and less dangerous is a necessity. Technology can provide means of breathing equipment for short periods, and must continuously be evolved to adapt to the growing needs of firefighters in all aspects to protect from smoke, hazardous materials, toxins and more. It is imperative that manufacturers take into consideration permeability, seals, visual aids and more when designing new equipment.  Commentary: Yohan Morel, EMEA Marketing Leader, First Responder & Government Segments  Firefighters jobs have evolved and have become more challenging as, in addition to firefighting, they play a critical role in a variety of incidents that may expose firefighters to respiratory hazards like technical rescue, first aid and most recently the emergency service in COVID-19 pandemic.  The majority of

International Fire Buyer takes you through the history of firefighting uniforms and presents how technology and innovation has evolved to protect the modern firefighter Historically, firefighters did not have the same level of protective clothing used today. Because of this most fires were fought from the outside of burning buildings and structures were rarely entered. Early in the history of firefighting, a firefighter’s outer clothing was more for warmth and dryness than for protection from fire. In the early 19th century, felt caps were worn of various designs and were more for decoration than service; this early headgear did not provide any protection against flame or head injury but did keep water off the firefighter’s face. The forerunner of the modern firefighter’s helmet was developed in 1830 by a luggage maker Henry Gratacap who was a volunteer firefighter in New York City. He saw a need for a better designed helmet that was both functional and provided protection to the wearer. This helmet is immediately recognisable today as the “New Yorker” style and little has changed in its general shape. The helmet had a high peaked front to retain a helmet shield which was usually adorned with a company name and number and it also featured eight rib sections on the dome (for added rigidity) and a long rear brim that channeled water away from the wearer’s neck. The early use of long trench coats, made of leather or canvas and later made of rubber, was the forerunner of modern turnout jackets. Early coats had felt or wool liners to provide warmth in the winter. These liners later developed into the thermal protection liners found in today’s modern coats. Earlier rubber coats were much longer than today’s modern turnout jackets, reaching down to a firefighter’s mid thigh and were worn with long rubber boots called “three-quarter boots” which came above the firefighter’s knees. This interface of boot and coat left a large gap of protection against fire. This system has since been replaced by the modern combination of a jacket, pants with suspenders, and shorter rubber or leather boots, although some departments still wear the traditional old style of gear. The combination of modern triple-layer turnout gear with self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), personal alert safety system (PASS) device, and modern communications equipment made it more feasible and survivable to enter burning buildings. Modern turnout jackets and pants are made of fire resistant fabrics, mainly aramids such as Nomex and Kevlar or polybenzimidazole (PBI). The standard that the National Fire Protection Association has designated to firefighter protective clothing, NFPA 1971: Standard on Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting, which specifies “the minimum design, performance, safety, testing, and certification requirements for structural fire fighting protective ensembles and ensemble elements that include coats, trousers, coveralls, helmets, gloves, footwear and interface components The first component of firefighting equipment is the uniform that a firefighter will wear around the station. Its purpose is to provide comfortable clothing that they wear around the station, but will not become an obstruction when a firefighter is required to put on his/her turnout gear. Naturally, turnout gear is to be worn over the station garments during any call that a firefighter is called upon. Another aspect of the station uniform is the station safety shoes, commonly referred to as work boots. These shoes are required to be fitted with safety toes and puncture-resistant soles in most countries in case the firefighter goes out on a call that does not require his/her turnout gear. Wearable technology At the NFFF Firefighter Physiological Monitoring Technology Summit, Casey Grant, Executive Director of the Fire Protection Research Foundation, the research affiliate of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)—spoke on the future of wearable technology. Wearable technology is any type of technology that can be worn or built into present uniforms and/or protective clothing for the purpose of collecting data that can be transmitted and monitored that will provide useful information that will enhance firefighter safety. This technology could include physiological monitoring, sensing of gases, location of firefighters, personal alert safety system, etc. The emerging field of firefighter wearable technology, specifically three areas of interest has become a growing topic in the industry:   The use of wearable electrocardiogram (ECG) technology to detect early signs of cardiac events following firefighting or training exercises;     The use of algorithms to estimate core temperature to reduce the risk of heat-related injuries and fatalities;     The use of low-cost, portable technology to monitor air contamination levels on the fireground and in structures post-fire. The ultimate goal will be to use this data to provide near-real-time information to the incident commander (IC), who can then make critical decisions about the safety of their members operating on the scene. Evolution of uniforms The United States follows NFPA 1975, Standard on Station/Work Uniforms for Firefighters. NFPA 1975’s main purpose is that no part of the uniform garment “ignite, melt, drip, or separate” when exposed to a heat of 500°F for 5 minutes By the 19th century there were so many different brigades in operation: insurance, volunteer, parish, institutional, estate, industrial, as well as combined police-fire brigades, it was almost impossible to have any standardisation in uniforms at all. Some wore tight woollen tunics over velvet-like breeches, with leather helmets. Others wore sombre grey trouser suits.  Some of the London brigades even adopted naval fashions, wearing low top hats (beavers), white canvas trousers and short double-breasted tunics, similar to a naval midshipman’s jacket.  The Metropolitan brigade were different again, adopting blue double-breasted tunics with stout waterproof trousers and Napoleon style leather boots, which were cut higher at the front for added knee protection. Brass helmets began to be more commonly worn, which had raised peaks and broad protective neckpieces for added protection. Higher ranking officers tended to wear silver coloured helmets, as well as gilt badges, gold braiding and shoulder epaulettes to denote their higher status. The clothing firefighters wear to attend incidents and tackle

  International Fire Buyer takes you through the most efficient and necessary equipment found on fire trucks that help firefighters save lives and put out fires The two primary vehicles for the everyday firefighting industry are fire trucks and engines. Although extremely similar in appearance, the two vehicles have completely different roles in fighting fire, and therefore carry very different equipment. Fire engines are large vehicles that are often red and sometimes go by the name pumpers. Firefighters will ride in a fire engine as a first response to a fire. The fire engine has a myriad of equipment for the firefighting crew  to help put out the fire. This equipment includes a lot of hose, a water tank, nozzles and a pump. The pump has a typical capacity of 1,500 gallons per minute (GPM) or more. The water tank is usually full with gallons of water, usually between 500 and 750 gallons in all (but this is dependent on the truck, terrain and type of fire).   The firefighters will use water from the water tank to begin spraying the fire. If necessary, the engineer (also referred to as a pump operator) will also connect to an external source of water such as a fire hydrant or use submersible pumps from a nearby water source so they don’t deplete their tanks.  A fire engine will also come with mobile tech and two-way radio communication devices for the firefighters to communicate with others back at base or at the site of the fire so they’re aware of what they’re walking into, adn can prepare their PPE and equipment accordingly. Fire trucks Although looking like fire engines, fire trucks differ in certain ways. Fire trucks don’t always have water pumps. A fire engine must put out a fire while the fire truck is there for a different purpose. Since they’re not extinguishing fires all the time, they’re not smack dab in the middle of the action, but are there for additional support. If the fire engine team needs help, the fire truck’s firefighters are ready to assist.  Mostly though, fire trucks work to extricate victims so the fire engine firefighters don’t have to be distracted from their very important job of tamping down the blaze. Fire truck staff may also provide ventilation that makes it easier and safer for them to enter the burning building or for victims to escape. If the team has to use forcible entry to get into a building, they have the equipment needed for this as well on their vehicle. Some of the most common equipment to aid firefighters that are commonly found on fire trucks as well as fire engines are as follows.  Thermal imaging cameras As a type of thermographic camera, thermal imaging cameras are an incredibly useful firefighting tool found on vehicles. The camera transforms infrared radiation into visible light so the firefighters can detect barriers, darkness, smoke and areas of heat. This allows the firefighter to plan how they’ll enter the building and which areas to avoid. A firefighter will either wear their thermal imaging camera on their head attached to their helmet or hold it in their hand. The housing of the camera is resistant to both water and heat, so even when the firefighter enters the building on fire, their thermal imaging camera continues to work. The best use of a thermal imaging camera is to detect body heat, aka that which comes from a living person.  A firefighter can rely on the camera to find victims who may be unconscious or buried under rubble and cannot escape on their own. That makes the thermal imaging camera a great life-saving piece of equipment.  Self-Contained Breathing Apparatuses (SCBA)  A self-contained breathing apparatus, also nicknamed a compressed air breathing apparatus, is another vital piece of equipment used by firefighters. There is a face piece that goes over the face of the firefighter to continuously feed them fresh air. Since the breathing apparatus is self-contained, there’s no need to attach it to a hose or another breathing gas supply other than your tank. Within a self-contained breathing apparatus is an inhalation connection, a pressure regulator and a tank that operates at high pressure. The inhalation connection is either a face mask or a mouthpiece, while the pressure regulator does what it says, regulates pressure. The tank produces pressure between 150 and 374 atmospheres, which is the equivalent of 2,216 and 5,500 pounds per square inch of pressure or PSI. The self-contained breathing apparatus may be closed-circuit or open-circuit. An open-circuit breathing apparatus doesn’t use pure oxygen, but rather, compressed and filtered air.  The first regulator in an open-circuit breathing apparatus lessens air pressure as the air reaches the mask. Then, another regulator cuts the air pressure even more so it’s closer to atmospheric pressure. Next, a continuous positive pressure valve or a demand valve receives the air, which the firefighter can breathe in and out.  Respiratory equipment is essential to emergency response firefighters as they are the ones entering into smoke filled buildings, and must protect themselves while saving lives. Extrication tools  Extrication tools are a group of hydraulic-powered piston-rod tools such as rams, spreaders or cutters. If a person has been in a car accident or they’re stuck beneath rubble in a burning building, the extrication tools are a necessity. Specialised fluids like phosphate esters are required for these tools, as this fluid is resistant to fire. The pistons work opposite one another, where when one lifts, the other drops. A valve switch and piston cylinder control most extrication tools, the switch is controllable by an operator. The operator also manages the amount of fluid. The ram sends a piston rod in and out to separate parts of a structure until the firefighter can get to the victim. Cutters made of aluminum alloy will move in a scissor-like motion, with a mouth or blades that close and open according to hydraulics. The alloy steel used to make the piston rod in the