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New ClamBell brings innovation

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Vimpex’s new ClamBell is a UK manufactured, fire alarm bell with a hinged design that swings shut after installation. ClamBell is the first newly developed and approved bell to be launched globally in decades and the only fire alarm bell that’s made in Europe. It has been carefully designed to combine core elements of popular existing designs with innovative new features to ensure consistent, reliable and predictable performance. Installed in under 2 minutes The ClamBell’s permanently fitted gong and unique hinged design does away with the long, complicated installation process of other bells. With no central bolt, the ClamBell can be fitted in a matter of minutes. All installers need to do is fit the ClamBell to the wall, wire it to the circuit and then click it shut. It really is that easy. Three mounting options and a choice of European, Asian and US-style backplates make the installation process even easier. Vimpex MD James Jones says “The company has been involved in selling fire alarm bells for more than 40 years. To be producing our own innovative take on this traditional product is a major achievement for our business. And it’s not just the product itself; a significant amount of thought has been put into the production system to allow us to manufacture at high volumes whilst allowing for future growth in capacity to meet an expanding demand”. The ClamBell is designed and manufactured in Britain by Vimpex, Europe’s leading independent manufacturer and distributor of fire alarm system components. The company insists on a manufacturing process that produces the best quality fire alarm bell possible, one that looks great cosmetically and sounds pitch-perfect – made possible by the skill and dedication of our UK-based partner foundry. ClamBell is a truly global product. Thanks to careful design and manufacturing, a single model has simultaneously been approved to EN54 Part 3 by LPCB and is pending UL 464 for the U.S. market. The ClamBell has also been independently IP tested to IP56 by Intertek, meaning true weatherproof performance.   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

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How Emerging technologies are transforming the emergency services

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As live events return to the UK, The Emergency Services Show at the NEC, Birmingham, 7 and 8 September 2021 will be the first opportunity for the entire UK emergency services community and its supply chain to get together. The transformational power of new and emerging technologies will be the central theme of the expanded and enhanced trade show, which features over 450 exhibitors, more than 90 of which are new. The Emergency Services Show brings together police, fire and rescue, ambulance, search and rescue services, their partners and suppliers. You can explore innovative technologies, see the latest equipment, share experiences, exchange best practice and learn from each other. Adapting to the new challenges created by COVID has heightened the demand and pressure on our emergency services. Diverse and innovative emerging technologies have been rapidly deployed in a period of unprecedented change and are the core theme of the exhibition and accompanying programme of over 80 CPD-accredited seminar sessions in five theatres. Foremost among technology exhibitors are leading support organisations for the emergency services sector, including the police National Enabling Programmes (NEP), Police Digital Service, techUK, and the Home Office Emergency Services Network (ESN), which will replace the current Airwave service used by the emergency services in Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland) and transform how they operate. Learning new skills and promoting technology collaboration will continue to underpin the exhibition floor and content theatres. Sponsored by MSA Safety, The Emerging Technologies Theatre will showcase the most cutting-edge technology and equipment used in operational response. In addition, it will cover how the emergency services can use data and technology more efficiently, including overcoming the organisational challenges presented by the pandemic. A new feature of the 2021 show, Future Policing is supported by an influential Advisory Council chaired by Lord Hogan-Howe, the former Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service. Showcasing the latest innovations available for the police sector and sponsored by Audax, Future Policing has the full backing of the Police Federation of England and Wales and the Police Superintendents’ Association, and will feature a two-day, CPD-accredited high-level conference featuring a line-up of senior speakers. The Vehicle Innovation Theatre will focus on one of the fastest growing areas of innovation in the sector that includes everything from vehicles with electric, hybrid and decarbonised drivetrains, to smart and connected vehicles that serve as communications hubs and mobile incident command units. The Learning & Development Theatre connects personal development with the overarching theme of emerging technologies to feature a series of seminars designed to help professionals enhance and upgrade their personals skills and proficiency, enhancing their careers. It will also focus on operational improvements as the emergency services have dramatically and dynamically pivoted their ways of working. Topics explored in the Health & Wellbeing Theatre will include tackling historically neglected health and safety issues and the unique mental health challenges facing the emergency services working in difficult and high-pressured environments, as well as under COVID. Technologies on display in the exhibition include connected and smart vehicles, satellite communications, GIS and mapping technologies, ruggedised mobile computers, tablets and phones, data, cloud storage, wearable tech, connectivity, UAVs/drones, hybrid and electric vehicles, virtual and augmented reality training, body-worn cameras and other video capture systems. Among more than 90 organisations exhibiting for the first time in 2021 are Linkwave Technologies, Bullitt Group, Halo Technologies and BiTEA. Enabling ICT applications will also be showcased, including control room systems from new exhibitors like APD Communications and Hexagon, data management, mobile apps for emergency service and public use and the multiple technologies being used to speed and aid collaboration. The exhibition floor also continues to feature innovation from leading names in search and rescue, extrication, training, protective clothing and uniforms, medical equipment, vehicles and vehicle equipment and outsourcing. The NEC Venue Protect programme ensures all participants in The Emergency Services Show enjoy a COVID-safe and secure visit with comprehensive social distancing measures and enhanced cleaning and sanitisation.   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

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Critical Communication during Covid-19

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During this global pandemic, the fire services are on the front line during the fight against COVID-19. Because of this, communication has never been more mission critical Critical communication is an imperative tool and resource for the fire service, this is enhanced during Covid-19. Having communication solutions suitable for extreme conditions is only part of it, all solutions have to be reliable and easy to use, ensuring different departments can still communicate in real-time – whilst adhering to social distancing regulations and PPE wherever possible.  This reliable communication is essential both for calls coming through to the fire station, ensuring that the appropriate fire appliances and crews are dispatched, through to the handheld devices the firefighters use to communicate with the fire station when they’re heading to an incident.  UK FRSs deploy a mix of both TETRA and Digital Mobile Radios (DMR) digital radios and some analogue radios. This mix might seem a little surprising at first, but Simon Bingham, senior account manager at Radiocoms Systems, which has supplied radio equipment to almost all of the UK’s Fire & Rescue Services over many years, explains why this is. “What happens in a typical fireground set up is that once the 999 call is made and the incident is booked into the system, the call goes to the fire station and the appropriate fire appliances and crews are dispatched. The fire appliances are equipped with TETRA mobile radios, which use the UK’s nationwide Airwave emergency services communications network.  “On the way to the fire or incident, the firefighters use the Airwave TETRA network to talk to each other and to the dispatcher in the command and control centre and to collect information on the incident on the way to the fire,” explains Simon. However, once the firefighters are at the scene of the fire, they then rely on their hand portable two-way radios whilst managing the task at hand. It’s at this stage that having durable and fall-proof solutions is most essential.  “In a typical house fire, you’ll have a team outside damping down the fire, spraying water and so on, and breathing apparatus (BA) teams working in pairs, who are counted in and out of the building by the entry control officer. They use two separate radio channels: a BA channel and an incident channel. The National Operational Guidance (NOG) for the fire service provides a standardised channel plan,” says Simon. All of these communication solutions have to work together seamlessly for the firefighters to work safely and efficiently during the extremely time critical situations their job entails – even more so within this current climate, where communicating digitally is key. So what are the key audio communication devices used today? Radio communication When it comes to the public fire brigades’ services, the equipment used is generally governed by a set of national regulatory and operational requirements that vary slightly between countries. However, it’s also important that the private fire crews within airports, ports, oil and gas and petrochemical installations also conform to fire safety guidelines within their specific industries. Among these essential safety measures that must be adhered, is ensuring that the communication tools used are not only suitable for the extreme conditions – but can also be relied upon during critical situations. This reliable communication is essential both for calls coming through to the fire station, to ensure that the appropriate fire appliances and crews are dispatched, through to the handheld devices that the firefighters use to communicate with their fire station when they’re heading to incidents to ensure clear communication and optimised management of incidents. Fire departments rely on two-way radios for fast response times, to ensure the health and safety of staff, and to maintain communication between the crew and the control room. In emergency situations, fire crews also use radios to coordinate with additional crews and other emergency service providers. Firefighters and rescue workers have complex communications needs. They operate in built-up areas, rugged terrain and everything in between. Coverage of a large area needs licenced radios, ATEX radios are used in hazardous environments and boosters are required for hard to reach places. Helmet adaptation In firefighting, and structural firefighting in particular, voice communication is key to the safety of first responders, the support teams and, of course, any potential victims. With limited visibility due to smoke, the complexity of structures, the level of adrenaline and stress, it is crucial that the first responders are able to communicate efficiently with each other and with their incident command. There have been too many situations where firefighters were caught out during an incident and could not be saved because they had no reliable way to communicate their situation. One of the key elements to successful communication is audio quality. Audio quality is the clarity and intelligibility of the speech and the ability to understand and be understood in every situation. Messages need to be clear and not distorted by the environment or the equipment used during the operation. High-quality microphones are important, as are the quality, integration and position of the speaker modules. MSA’s range of helmet-mounted communication headsets,designed in connection with the market leading Gallet F1XF, provide unmatched speech quality. In particular, the flexible microphone headset with its unique adjustable microphone (to be used with or without BA face piece) has been extremely well received by our customers. It can be connected to MSA’s rugged push-to-talk module or, if more flexibility is needed, to our HandyCom remote speaker microphone (RSM). The RSM is an excellent option when communication is also needed without using the fire helmet, and the HandyCom is very appreciated for its robustness and ease of use. As an example, each of the 7000 helmets MSA delivered to the Fire Rescue New South Wales firefighters (Australia) a few months ago was fitted with a flexible microphone headset and HandyCom RSMs were supplied to connect to the customer’s radios. In addition, MSA’s range of accessories offers interfacing to a very large number of radios,

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Evacuation procedures during Covid-19

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Covid-19 has changed the way that evacuation procedures should be monitored and take place. FIA has released a guidance paper to help aid the industry The Fire Industry Association (FIA) has published guidance on fire procedures during the Covid-19 pandemic. The guidance in this document is intended to clarify the requirements for ensuring that adequate fire evacuation procedures are in place in reoccupied and partially reoccupied premises. It offers answers to some common questions that have arisen due to COVID-19, and it also provides some suggestions as to how these requirements might be achieved. In addition, this guidance also examines the associated fire safety arrangements that support the evacuation procedures and that will need to be maintained while COVID-19 pandemic controls are in place. The guidance states: “Traditionally, the objective of a fire evacuation drill has been to provide staff and building occupants with the opportunity to practise the established evacuation procedures. These procedures would have been first explained as part of the induction training when a person joined the organisation. The fire evacuation drill provided an opportunity to test and time those procedures under simulated fire conditions, and to identify any anomalies that needed to be addressed.  “Owing to the potential risk of contracting COVID 19, the testing of procedures through full building evacuations is, in the case of many buildings, considered to present an unacceptable risk of person-to-person infection. Furthermore, the manner in which buildings are used and occupied is likely to have changed, and might have an impact on the pre-COVID 19 fire procedures.  “The guidance in this document is intended to clarify the requirements for ensuring that adequate fire evacuation procedures are in place in reoccupied and partially reoccupied premises. It offers answers to some common questions that have arisen due to COVID 19, and it also provides some suggestions as to how these requirements might be achieved. In addition, this guidance also examines the associated fire safety arrangements that support the evacuation procedures and that will need to be maintained while COVID 19 pandemic controls are in place.” Core requirements  “Irrespective of the risks arising from COVID 19, any applicable national fire safety legislation remains valid, and the duties arising therefrom are unchanged. However, fire safety legislation is not prescriptive, so providing that appropriate supplementary or alternative fire safety arrangements are implemented, and that they ensure that the overall objectives of the legislative requirements are met, then the Responsible Person will have discharged their duty.  “In all cases, the initial starting point must be a review of the existing fire risk assessment, fire safety arrangements and fire procedures to determine whether they remain valid, when considering the changes in the premises that have been introduced in response to COVID 19. Relevant changes to the premises can include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following:  Reduced occupancy numbers  The absence of key personnel, such as fire wardens, assembly marshals and the like  Reduced ability to record the presence of, and account for, staff, contractors and visitors in the event of an evacuation.  The implementation of one-way or queueing systems  The erection of screens and barriers  Waste collection arrangements  The size and location of assembly points  The ability to establish the evacuation status of parts of the building that are under the control of others  The storage of significant quantities of alcohol-based hand cleanser.  “Having reviewed the changes that have been implemented within the premises, it will then be necessary to review the fire safety arrangements and amend them so that they remain suitable and sufficient, and most of all, workable under the prevailing circumstances.” The guidance document then begins to outline what changes might be needed to procedures to mitigate the issues of COVID 19? There are many policies and procedures that impact on the fire safety arrangements in a building or organisation. Any changes to the scope, scale and complexity of the activities being carried out within the building, might require amendments to those policies and procedures and will necessitate a review of the fire risk assessment. Matters that need to be reviewed include: Fire wardens: Are there sufficient present at all material times of the day, do additional wardens need to be appointed, do their duties and responsibilities need to be revised? Fire Risk Assessments: These should be reviewed to ensure that changes in occupancy numbers and working practices have been captured and properly assessed. To reduce the time that risk assessors need to spend on site, alternative arrangements for reviewing documents and records, such as electronic transfer of documents (preferably prior to the fire risk assessment) should be considered. One-way systems, safety screens and queuing systems. Do any of these arrangements impact on the escape routes and travel distances? Do screens obstruct fire detectors or sprinkler heads? Are sufficient, suitable fire extinguishers provided on one-way systems? Can fire alarm call points be accessed on one-way systems? In an emergency, can occupants easily leave the one-way system to access the nearest escape route? Does the one-way system lead occupants away from the nearest fire exit? Where considered relevant, there should be consultation with interested parties (insurers, fire and rescue authorities). Doors should not routinely be propped open to reduce contact points. Where it is considered that this is necessary, door hold-open devices are often acceptable, but care should be taken to conform to the recommendations of BS 7273-4 in this respect. For example, a “Critical (Category A)” interface between the fire alarm system and the door hold-open devices is necessary in certain circumstances, such as doors to staircases in single staircase conditions, sleeping risks and assembly or recreation buildings; under these circumstances, acoustically activated hold-open devices would not be appropriate. Assembly points: Does the current assembly point facilitate social distancing? Does the location of the assembly point bring the assembled people into close contact with passing members of the public? Can people safely disperse from the assembly point after they have checked in? Are a number of assembly points required to enable

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Ask the Expert: From experience to innovation

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Chris Ferrara, President/CEO, US Fire Pump Company reveals exclusively for International Fire Buyer the ins and outs of submersible fire pumps and how they aid emergency response A veteran of the Fire Industry for over 40 years, Chris Ferrara, President/CEO, US Fire Pump Company, has been recognised as a leader in the innovation in manufacturing of Fire Apparatus and Equipment.  Chris’ passion is to find innovative ways to protect the lives of the public and firefighters while minimising property loss.  As a company born from experience and innovation, how do you ensure you stay ahead of the curve? That’s a great question. I believe the first thing you should do to “stay ahead of the curve” is to be open to new ideas. If you only look at traditional methods of firefighting or equipment used in firefighting, you are really boxing yourself into doing what everyone else is doing. I find that listening to the people in the field who do the job everyday is the first place to start when looking for new ideas. You can learn a lot from front line personnel because they are the ones who have the daily challenges of adapting to overcoming obstacles. The information I receive is invaluable and myself and our team at US Fire Pump are put to the challenge of creating a solution. Right now, as we speak, we are working on never-before-seen pieces of equipment that were born from gathering ideas from the field –  Stay tuned! How do submersible fire pumps aid fire fighters? The number one concern for a firefighter is where the water supply is going to come from. That does not matter if it is in Municipal Firefighting or Industrial Firefighting. Using submersible pumps is nothing new as they have been around for hundreds of years, and until now the use of the submersible hasn’t been widely adopted.  I have a great example of a recent emergency response where we were contracted for services. The water main providing water supply to the plant was compromised during the explosion. This left the hydrants and fire water supply out of service. The fire was still raging and there were spheres that had product inside and they needed to be cooled immediately to avoid secondary explosions. After scouting the area for water, we found a river a little over 1.5 miles away. We deployed our 10,000 gpm submersible pumps into the river, giving us unlimited water supply, which fed our in-line boost pumps all the way back to the scene. With the use of the submersibles to provide the much-needed water, the surrounding community was spared a major disaster. Why has US Fire Pump invested so heavily in Emergency Response? Another great question. Firstly, my career started as a firefighter, so I have always been passionate about firefighting and service to the public and private sector. To provide a service to a person or a company in need is very rewarding, that’s the root.  Our investment in Emergency Response is twofold. For starters, we design and manufacture industry leading equipment for these emergency response events. Secondly, it was apparent to me that the companies that were providing these services were not all in on emergency response. Their fleet of equipment was, in most cases, only large enough for deployment to one incident. Additionally, no two incidents are alike and different equipment is needed for these different responses.  So, I made the decision to have a fleet ready to support multiple events simultaneously. We have done that too, we have been on several response events in multiple locations, more recently when the Southern US was hit with the “Big Freeze” we had personnel and equipment on eleven different emergency responses. The equipment needed ranged from Submersible pumps to Temporary water systems. We were busy to say the least! Pump technology is becoming increasingly advanced, where do you see the future heading? I don’t think that this industry is much different than most industries where everything is going “Smart”. I see automation as being a big part of the future in pumps and firefighting technologies.  How has Covid-19 impacted the industry and process of firefighting/training? How could it have not? Training has greatly been impacted. Travel restrictions and social distancing guidelines have really taken a toll on the industry’s ability to train. I am hopeful that these restrictions will ease up as vaccines are rolled out and restrictions are lifted.  As you may already know, we moved into a new state of the art manufacturing facility right in the middle of this pandemic. Luckily, we had already designed our facility pre-pandemic and had incorporated a large training room and training grounds. We have been fortunate enough to provide virtual training to organisations from our facility that is outfitted with the latest technology for getting to the public virtually. Do you have any exciting plans for the near future that you could disclose to us? All I can say is, Stay Tuned! Anything else to note? I would love for you to visit our website at www.usfirepump.com to see the innovative products and make sure you follow us on social media for daily updates and news about US Fire Pump. If you need us for a Emergency Response you can call our 24/7 number at +1-225-209-6551 About US Fire Pump US Fire Pump is a collective of over 200 years of experience in design, manufacturing, marketing and purchasing. The company’s founder, Chris Ferrara, has been involved in the firefighting industry for more than 40 years. Chris started his career as a Fireman where he later used his skills learned and his innovative ideas to found Ferrara Fire Apparatus. Under Chris’ leadership over 6000 fire apparatus were built for customers across the Globe. Protecting the lives of the public and fire industry personnel while limiting property damage is the primary mission of US Fire Pump. US Fire Pump began with the idea to create a large volume fire pump which was

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Ask the Expert: The piping challenge

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Graeme Leonard, Director of Sales – Fire Protection, Victaulic talks exclusively to Fire Buyer about the intricacies of the piping market and how to improve efficiency Graeme Leonard holds an MBA in Business Administration and Management and joined Victaulic three years ago as Director of Sales – Fire Protection. Having built up experience in the fire protection industry for almost 20 year, Graeme brings experience in growing and establishing satellite operations globally, growing market share and opening new markets by leveraging brand equity, developing new product lines, and implementing operational strategies. What are some of the primary piping challenges faced by your clients? We hear from the industry, and see on some of our own projects, that contractors are suffering from a scarcity of skilled labour, resulting in increased labour risk and incorrect installations. This is one of the biggest challenges the industry faces. The ramification of this is quite big. Not only can it result in additional time spent on site, but also in call backs to fix incorrect installations, all impacting the bottom line of the contractor. They are also looking for other ways to increase site safety and efficiency, like saving installation time. How does Victaulic help mitigate labour risk? We look at mitigating labour risk in two ways: products and training. Producing products that are designed to speed up the installation, while making it easier and more reliable, is one thing that can help. A key innovation is our patented Installation-Ready technology. The idea behind these products is: how can we make the installation process more efficient while reducing risk of incorrect installation? The design of these products allows an installer to join pipes by simply pushing the couplings or fittings onto the grooved pipe, connecting it to, for instance, a second grooved pipe and then tightening the nuts. Also added confidence and reliability are built into these products – when the bolt pads touch metal-to-metal, a proper, leak free installation is guaranteed without having to meet a specific torque requirement. Incorrect sprinkler installation also entails big risks and adds additional costs to the project. We try to address this with our Installation-Ready sprinklers. This grooved sprinkler with coupling already attached is designed so it can be installed with more speed and certainty of a proper installation than a threaded sprinkler, while also avoiding the risk of repetitive strain of installers. This in turn helps contractors to better control their labour and optimise the number of workers on the ground. But real value can also be derived from manufacturer training. We are driving the industry towards training programmes, this both on the jobsite as well as in one of our training facilities. During these training sessions, we cover a broad range of topics like how to groove pipes, measuring the groove depth, how to instal and service our alarm valves and how to properly install couplings, sprinklers, and valves etc. How do your piping solutions help improve efficiency for contractors on site? I’ll answer this by giving an example of our solution to join a 25mm pipe, the FireLock® Innovative Groove (IGS)System, which removes the need and mess of threading pipe. The IGS range allows customers to connect pipe twice as fast as a threaded one and eliminates the use of pipe wrenches. It is not only faster, but also eliminates the oil drippings and shavings typically produced during the threading process, allowing contractors to use a portable grooving tool throughout the jobsite without needing to clean up as they work and increasing overall productivity. Roll grooving pipe does not remove metal and maintains pipe wall thickness, which means Schedule 10 pipe can be specified throughout a system, decreasing both the weight and cost of pipe, and improving its corrosion resistance as well. And, as with most Victaulic products, visual confirmation of bolt pad-to-bolt pad installation ensures leak-free joints for increased customer confidence. The range also includes flexible braided hoses with a captured coupling, VicFlexTM Series AH1-CC and Series AH2-CC. In previous models, pipefitters had to tape or dope the threads of the branch line nipple and thread it into the branch line outlet, using a pipe wrench to tighten the connection. The AH2-CC provides a pipefitter-friendly option by eliminating the need to use a pipe wrench on the branch line side, reducing installation time and potential for pipefitter injuries.     Releasing this range brought the contractors rapid, safe and reliable installations of DN25 pipe, without all the mess involved with threading and having to wrench pipe together.   How do you ensure innovation in a continuously evolving market? Victaulic sees innovation as one of its keystones and therefore we put a lot of resources in making sure we keep the finger on the pulse of the market. We believe that a manufacturer can play a big role in solving challenges clients face. Listening to our clients during site visits and talking to installers and engineers help us to pinpoint the issues they have. This knowledge, we take with us in the product development process to create new innovations, adapted to the needs of the market and to address its challenges. With the postponement of events over the past year, has it been difficult to communicate with and guide the industry?  Across the industry, companies have had to think laterally to maintain interaction with customers. This is no different at Victaulic, and in response to global lockdowns, we leveraged Victaulic University, a leading online learning facility open to the industry. Through the platform, we have instructed hundreds of live sessions direct from our facilities, attracting thousands of virtual learners from multiple countries across the globe. Although attendance is growing rapidly as Victaulic adds new content and more users, we do look forward to meeting our customers in person again soon! Do you have any exciting plans for the near future that you could disclose to us?  We’re very excited to be launching the Style 109 FireLock Installation-Ready Rigid Coupling later this year. With the Style 109

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Ask the Expert: Certified and accredited

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Fire Buyer talks to Derek Simmons, Certificate Assembly Board of Governor Chairman, IFSAC to find out more about the organisation and the accreditation system The International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC) is a not-for-profit, peer-driven, self-governing system of both fire service certifying entities and higher education fire-related degree programs. IFSAC’s mission is to plan and  administer a high-quality, uniformly delivered accreditation system with an international scope. IFSAC was founded in 1990 to establish a new national accreditation system for fire service certification programs. In 1992, the development of an accreditation system for fire-related degree programs began. The member entities of IFSAC are represented in a congress that deals with the general business of IFSAC and is overseen by an elected Council of Governors. The membership is then separated into two assemblies which specialise in the issues unique to degree-granting institutions and certifying entities. Each assembly has a board of governors, elected from the membership, which acts upon all accreditation applications; ensures accreditation is performed on a valid, credible, nondiscriminatory, and timely basis; suggests guidelines and policies; and clarifies adopted policies. IFSAC’s administrative office handles the daily operations of the organisation and is an outreach department within the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology at Oklahoma State University. The IFSAC Certificate Assembly provides accreditation to entities that certify the competency of and issue certificates to individuals who pass examinations based on National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) fire service professional qualifications and other standards recognised by the Assembly. The accreditation is made at the state, provincial, federal government, country, or territorial level for firefighter certification programs.  The IFSAC Degree Assembly accredits fire science or related academic programs at colleges and universities. Accreditation includes both two-year associate degrees and four-year bachelor’s degrees. An IFSAC accredited program indicates that course offerings, institutional support, and qualified faculty are working together in completing their educational mission. The IFSAC Degree Assembly is recognised by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) as a programmatic accreditor of fire and emergency related degree programs. In both assemblies, accreditation is granted only after an integral self-study is conducted by the entity or institution seeking accreditation, followed by an on-site review by a panel consisting of peer representatives from other member entities or institutions. Currently the certificate assembly has 69 accredited members in the United States, Canada, Egypt, Germany, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates, while the Degree Assembly has 30 accredited members in the United  States, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Canada  Fire Buyer talks to Derek Simmons, Certificate Assembly Board of Governor Chairman, IFSAC to find out more about the organisation.  You recently celebrated 30 years of fire service accreditation, have there been many challenges along the way? As with any international organisation most of our challenges are due to our success in our growth. Our membership has expanded into the Middle East, South Africa, parts of the EU and recently into Asia.  With this expansion comes language and cultural differences that we have to embrace and fine creative solutions which will enable our members to offer certification testing to the fire and emergency services in these regions. One of the strengths of IFSAC is that while most of our members test and certify to NFPA Standards, IFSAC has the ability to recognise other standards that are properly developed and approved within a specific jurisdiction to meet their unique requirements. How important is it for members of the fire industry to be properly certified and qualified? The world is moving more and more toward standardisation as it relates to building construction and products standards which will increase the fire and life safety in our build environment. As fire service professionals we have to ensure that our firefighters and other emergency responders have the necessary knowledge and skills to work safely and effectively in an ultra-hazardous workplace. While proper and adequate training is critical, we must also find a way to test and validate that the firefighters can perform to professional standards. IFSAC has the accreditation system that can provide a third party validation of the member’s testing and certification system. In recent years we have found that more and more employers are looking for employees that are certified by organisations that are accredited by organisations like IFSAC How has Covid-19 changed the way the industry looks at training? (E.g, e-learning/virtual training etc) Covid-19 has affected all of our members and the way they conduct their business. With an international scope we have members who had to suspend operations for various periods of time while others moved to restricted activities with limited interaction between students and instructors/evaluators. IFSAC is responding to the needs of its members by exploring secure and valid testing methods that will provide consistency and security in the certification process. Most of our Degree Assembly members were able to move their higher level educational programs to an on-line platform and continue to offer their services. With the postponement of events over the past year, has it been difficult to communicate with and guide the industry? IFSAC has been fortunate enough that we continued to maintain a strong communications network with our members. While the spring meeting in 2020 was cancelled the fall meeting proceeded as a virtual meeting with members from around the world participating even with the different time zones. This year’s spring meeting is scheduled for April and will be a virtual meeting, however the fall meeting planned to be a face to face meeting in Tulsa, OK, depending on the travel restrictions related to Covid-19. Fire equipment, apparatus, vehicles and more are all becoming more advanced technologically, where do you see the future heading? The changes in building construction and fire protection is also resulting in changes to the standards for professional qualifications for firefighters and other emergency responders. As the research into health and safety identifies potential hazards, standards such as NFPA standards are changed to increase the level of safety for the fire service personnel. IFSAC members

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Pierce Manufacturing adds RollTek System

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 Pierce Manufacturing Inc, an Oshkosh Corporation company, announced it has added RollTek’s Side Roll Protection System as an option in Freightliner commercial chassis. The integration of the RollTek system in the Freightliner commercial chassis is exclusively available in Pierce fire apparatus. The safety feature was first incorporated into specifications for a recent order placed by the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management consisting of 14 Type 3 Interface wildland fire trucks and 25 Type 3 and 4 wildland fire engines.“We have seen an increase in commercial products in various types of fire apparatus fleets, driven by cost, lead time, and chassis preference,” said Jim Johnson, president of Pierce Manufacturing. “Fire apparatus operators must navigate everything from demanding terrain to narrow rural roads, and rollovers are a significant threat, particularly in tanker products. Becoming the only provider of the RollTek system in Freightliner commercial chassis for fire apparatus is one more step in Pierce’s ongoing mission to help protect firefighters by continuing to enhance and improve fire truck safety systems.”Extreme environmental factors and weather conditions have contributed to the recent uptick in fire activity, increasing truck rollover incidents. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the United States Fire Administration (USFA), fire truck accidents are the second leading cause of death for firefighters on the job, and rollovers account for more than 66% of fire truck accidents each year. RollTek side roll protection systems help protect fire truck occupants by allowing for side roll air curtains to be fully integrated into the seating system rather than deploying from the wall in a crash or rollover event.Elden Alexander is the national fire equipment program manager with the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management. He and his team have seen what was previously a summer “fire season” turn into a “fire year” with active fires in all regions of the United States. These circumstances have increased the need for highly mobile firefighting forces throughout the country. As a Federal centralized fire equipment program, the advancement in RollTek safety technology will benefit not only the Department of Interior fire programs but well beyond.“While firefighter safety is at the forefront of everything we do, it is inherently a dangerous job,” said Alexander. “On a single fire dispatch, we can respond 100 miles on the highway, traverse steep mountain roads, and then transition to using equipment off-road while suppressing fire. The addition of the RollTek side roll protection system is a remarkable advancement in firefighter safety and assures us that we are helping to ensure every firefighter returns home safely.”Pierce’s decision to offer the RollTek side roll protection system as an option exclusively offered in its Freightliner commercial chassis was initiated by the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, when purchase coordinators incorporated the feature into the specifications for recent orders. Pierce worked with IMMI and the Center for Advanced Product Evaluation to develop a program to test and certify the RollTek system and the cab structural integrity of the Freightliner cab. This application was the first in the commercial market for multiple cab configurations.“Vehicle safety technology has advanced to a point where it became possible to push side roll protection features from light trucks and custom cab fire vehicles into the commercial-chassis market, which has resulted in the development of a reliable, comfortable, and affordable solution for the whole vehicle,” said RJ Johnson the national fire engine production manager with the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management. “It was not as simple as bolting a new seat into the cab, there were significant design alterations and testing conducted. It was evident early in the process that all involved understood the significance of what we wanted to do, and we were going to make this happen.”To learn more about Pierce Manufacturing and the RollTek side roll protection system, visit www.piercemfg.com.

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Improving safety through standards

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Improving safety through standards Jim Pauley, President and CEO for the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) discusses the changing world of standards and regulations A couple of years ago, I was reading the New York Times when I stumbled upon an op ed entitled, The Joy of Standards – Life is a Lot Easier When You Can Plug into Any Socket. The piece espoused the benefits of private, non-governmental organisations facilitating the development of standards that impact everything around us. It pointed to the role that standards play in electrical plugs fitting into any socket, smartphone connectivity to Bluetooth, and the dimensions of a concrete block. It highlighted how a standard laptop incorporates more than 250 standards. As the leader of a standards development organisation (SDO), I don’t have to tell you how thrilled I was to read an article like that in The Times.   I am extremely proud of the work we do as an SDO and of the entire standards system. The NFPA standards development process is one of the most long standing and successful public-private partnerships on record – it dates back to 1896. NFPA facilitates the development of more than 325 health and safety standards that provide benchmarks for building and life safety, electrical systems, fire protection, emergency response, industry, worker safety, inspection testing and maintenance (ITM), code enforcement, and job performance, to name a few broad areas of focus. Designers, engineers, trade workers, manufacturers, insurance providers, consumers, regulatory agencies, enforcers, consultants, academics and emergency responders around the world rely on our guidance to do their jobs successfully. All NFPA codes and standards can be viewed online for free at www.nfpa.org/freeaccess. There are more than 9,300 total volunteer seats available for NFPA standards development committees; 223 of those seats are filled by international volunteers. However, the number of global stakeholders participating on technical committees is lower when you consider that many volunteers sit on multiple committees. Currently, there are 157 global contributors from 42 countries involved in the NFPA standards development process. While we are grateful for any level of participation from international subject matter experts, safety is further advanced around the world when there is broad representation. These numbers translate to less than 2% representation from countries outside of the United States. We all should strive to do better to incorporate more global insights into NFPA standards. Afterall, one of the key reasons that NFPA codes and standards are popular all over the world is because they are up-to-date and reflect different insights.  Every interest area has a seat at the NFPA standards development table – and every voice matters.  Bear in mind, involvement with NFPA standards is not strictly limited to committee work. Anyone, anywhere in the world can make inputs and comments on our standards transparently and electronically via our website.  Government and users around the globe appreciate the current NFPA code development system. They recognise that the process has worked for 125 years and results in high quality standards.  Internationally, NFPA works with national standard bodies to ensure that stakeholders in various countries have access to the most up to date versions of standards, in language, at a reasonable price. Using recent standards ensures the benefit of the latest research, technologies and learnings from tragedies. Can you imagine if there were no codes and standards? What is at stake? What if there were no standards for chemical processing or for safe electrical installation? How many injuries and deaths would there be? What about fire codes that dictate the number of exits in a building, or adequate fire detection and suppression? What about standards for personal protective equipment to reduce harmful exposure to our first responders? I’m sure you have examples in your mind right now from where you sit.  In addition to facilitating the codes and standards developing process, NFPA continues to innovate around ways to deliver more information and to diversify the tools and resources that we offer. After more than a century as a building, fire, and life safety authority, we understand that today those who rely on our information to do their jobs, need more than just the codes and they need it in a variety of ways. So, we offer training, public education materials, and sought-after content. We work hard to raise awareness of safety practices, fire sprinklers, and wildfire preparedness. We generate world-renown research, tackle emerging issues head on, and help inform policy makers. We don’t just react to tragedy; we anticipate the needs brought on by new technologies and innovation that require safety practices. We ensure there is robust discussion amongst those who devote time to the standards process or that share our mission, and then we bring the guidance in our standards to life in ways that resonate with different audiences.  We also recognised in recent years that we need to be mindful of trends surrounding the use of codes and standards. Interestingly enough, we’ve learned that a physical book or a static digital version of a book is not the best means to help solve problems on a real-time basis. Today, people are not inclined to read a code or standard cover to cover. Instead, they want information faster via phones, tablets, and laptops; and with an easy- to-use interface. They want context and insights to help understand problems and develop solutions in real time.  To meet modern day demand, we introduced NFPA LiNK, our new digital content platform which allows NFPA to be more global and more connected to a broad range of professionals and practitioners. The first iteration of LiNK launched in September and by year end it will feature a complete collection of NFPA codes and standards. Moving into 2022, we will add existing translated content. When fully developed, LiNK will deliver intuitive, seamless, situation and code-based information on demand, as well as enhanced content to help stakeholders better understand safety benchmarks.  As new editions of our codes and standards are released, LiNK subscriptions will be automatically updated. And as more in-language documents

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From bucket to ARFF

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International Fire Buyer takes you through the different stages of firefighting equipment from traditional extinguishers to exceptional robotics and vehicles There are many different types of firefighting equipment. Some of this equipment can be used by anyone, while others must be operated by a trained member of the fire brigade. But with the advancement of technology and innovation, the term ‘firefighting equipment’ and what it encapsulates is ever changing to encompass even vehicles, robotics, PPE and more.  Firefighting equipment should be considered as a means of both prevention and protection. For example, portable fire-fighting equipment can prevent a small fire growing out of control and spreading beyond the area of origin, affecting the means of escape and posing a risk to relevant persons. Fire fighting equipment is equipment designed to extinguish fires or protect the user from fire. Equipment can be used by trained firefighters or organisation fire wardens, untrained users at the scene of a fire, or built into a building’s infrastructure (such as a sprinkler system). Equipment generally comprises hundreds of different pieces of equipment and technology depending on the location, terrain, type of fire and people involved. Fire fighting equipment includes not only fire hoses and fire extinguishers but also fire-resistant protective clothing, fire-resistant gloves, respirators, communication equipment, visual aids such as thermal imaging, vehicles, robotics and so much more. Fire Buyer has collated a list detailing the differences between traditional commercial firefighting equipment and more specialist gear. Traditional and most popular firefighting equipment are as follows:  Fire extinguishers Most modern fire extinguishers are developed to deal with many different fire scenarios. Fire extinguishers can be filled with powder, water additive, foam, or carbon dioxide. When choosing a fire extinguisher, be sure to pick one that will fight the fires that are most likely to develop in your business or home. You should always be aware of the dangers of the incorrect use of firefighting equipment. This is true for all firefighting equipment, including fire extinguishers. A fire extinguisher should never be used to prop open a door. It should always be fixed to the wall, and it should be checked monthly by a service technician.   Fire hoses The fire hose reel lets out a powerful stream of water that extinguishes large fires and is most commonly used by the fire service. The hoses usually come in a fire hose reel, which holds 30 metres of tubing. This makes the hose easy to unravel so a fire can be fought quickly. Fire brigades can also attach different nozzles to the end of the hose to fight a variety of fire situations. A fire hose is one of the standard types of firefighting equipment, and it is effective against even the largest fires. Water supply can come from submersible water pumps, fire hydrants, fire engines and other resources.  Fire buckets A fire bucket is considered the simplest piece of firefighting equipment, but still serves a purpose. The standard red bucket has the word ‘Fire’ written on it and it is made of metal or plastic. It can be filled with water or you can fill it with a flame smothering powder like Flamezorb. To use, dump the bucket over the fire and keep repeating the process until the fire is out. Fire buckets are most commonly kept in public or commercial settings for quick use. Fire blankets Fire blankets are used to smother small fires that start in the workplace or at home. Economy fire blankets or white kitchen blankets are a good choice for a small kitchen or for a caravan. A larger workshop or restaurant kitchen should have a 1.2m x 1.2m blanket in case of emergencies. If you work in a commercial kitchen or in a place that stores flammable liquids, you’ll want the large 1.8m x 1.75m fire blanket. These blankets have a special pull tab that allows you to open them quickly. Welding blankets are used to protect welders from sparks and splatter. These blankets come in three different weights and sizes. Fire doors Fire protective doors are specially made by which ones can save precious lives. Living in a safety room, fire doors are a very important part of the home fire safety system. A fire door as firefighting equipment helps to fight against fire actively and save family lives passively. The fire protective doors are used to make solid forms, wood composite materials, or flax boards with a special seal. They are well framed and fitted with doors that do not pay scope to pass fire. Helps to withstand the fire, heat, or smoke following any path. Normal doors used to burn quickly, but fire doors take time. As usual, a fire door delays a fire by approximately 30 minutes. Within this time every family member gets a chance to escape from the burning spot. It saves lives, pays time to pick out the precious things from fire-free adjacent rooms. You always expect safety at your home while you stay in any of your house rooms. Every door is an entrance to break out a fire while happening. Unfortunately whoever doesn’t care about the importance of fire doors used to pay unrecoverable life loss, and huge loss of property as well. Using traditional firefighting equipment It’s important to have fire safety equipment to hand both at home and at work. You never know when a fire is going to start, and so having a fire bucket, fire blanket, or fire extinguisher could save your life.  With technology, fire fighting equipment has well surpassed your traditional means, especially for hazardous fires, where the environment is a lot more complicated and unpredictable.  Robots In 2020 the Robot-TINO was launched. Specifically designed for fighting fires in industrial process areas, tunnels and storage terminals, it can also be used for terrorist incidents, urban areas and whenever firefighters need to deal with hazardous substances or extreme temperatures. The unit is protected against heat radiation with a cooling system which allows the Robot-TINO to get

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