Fire-Dex have recently announced its recognition as a 2020 Cascade Capital Business Growth Honouree. This is the fourth consecutive year and seventh time overall that Fire-Dex has received this award as one of the fastest growing businesses in Northeast Ohio. This year, Fire-Dex was recognised in a special category for the Manufacturing Employee Growth Award. The Business Growth Awards recognise and honour businesses from a seven-county region in Ohio that have achieved superior growth in sales and/or employment over the past five years, creating major economic benefits for the local economy. The company received the award on October 1 at the Cascade Capital Business Growth Awards virtual conference. “Despite this year’s challenges, we efficiently adapted by shifting all office staff members to remote positions, while simultaneously launching reusable Isolation PPE for first responders and healthcare workers,” states Steve Allison, President of Fire-Dex. This has helped in our efforts to continue growing and hiring new associates.” “As we continue to expand, we stay true to our core values as a family owned business focused on serving those who serve. We’re extremely honoured to have received the Cascade Capital Business Growth Award for the seventh time.” Since their origination in 1989, Fire-Dex has acquired four businesses, including Chieftain Manufacturing, TECGEN PPE, Darwood Manufacturing, and most recently, Gear Wash. In 2018, Fire-Dex also expanded their headquarters in Medina, Ohio, bringing 30 plus new jobs to the county. While Fire-Dex continues to grow at an accelerated pace, they are focused on providing an excellent work environment for their dedicated staff and were also recognized this year with the NorthCoast99 Best Workplaces award for the fifth time.

Vimpex Ltd has added a Fire Door Coordinator – which ensures that a pair of self-closing fire doors will always close in the correct sequence, enabling each door leaf to shut fully, and help to maintain the fire integrity of the doors – to its door holder product range. If double fire doors don’t close in the correct sequence they will not close in the middle and leave a gap for dangerous smoke and gases to pass through. This is particularly important for fire-rated doors and self-latching security doors as it maintains the doors seal thus eliminating the need for human intervention. COVID-19 has presented many challenges for businesses, one of these being able to reduce the risk of infection in the workplace which sometimes leaves businesses no choice but to leave fire doors open, increasing the risk of self-closing double doors to fall out of sequence. The fire door coordinator can be used on both fire rated and non-fire rated door sets and has a wide range of finishes. It is a smart and discrete product which is easy for the installer to fit and for the end-user to maintain. Vimpex are a major European independent manufacturer and distributor of high-quality fire evacuation and alarm system products for installers, distributors and OEM manufacturers. The company is also a specialist in the supply of technical rescue and PPE equipment for the UK’s fire, rescue, police, military and emergency services teams.

Streamlight Inc. have launched the intrinsically safe Vulcan 180 HAZ-LO ATEX, a multifunction and rechargeable high-performance lantern designed for use in hazardous environments. Featuring a 24-hour run time on low, a 180° articulating head, and two ultra-bright blue taillights for visibility in thick smoke, the new model is ATEX and IECEx-certified for use in Zone 0 locations faced by many first responders. “The Vulcan 180 HAZ-LO ATEX is the ideal lantern for working in dangerous environments such as those with smoke, industrial hazards or inclement weather,” said Streamlight Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Michael F. Dineen. “With its 180° articulating head, first responders and other users can aim the light beam precisely where it is needed for task lighting purposes. And because it is powered by a lithium ion battery, it is one of the lightest-weight lanterns in its category.” Including a triangular-shaped face cap and rotating head, the Vulcan 180 HAZ-LO ATEX uses three white power LEDs for extreme brightness. Three deep-dish parabolic reflectors produce a tight spot beam with optimum peripheral illumination to aid in navigation, while two ultra-bright blue LEDs illuminate the lantern’s taillights. The flat base area also allows the light to stand on its own for scene lighting. It delivers 400 lumens, 25,000 candela, a 316-metre beam distance, and a run time of 10 hours on the high setting. On low, it provides 130 lumens, 8,000 candela, a 128-metre beam distance, and a run time of 24 hours. The light’s rotating head tilts 180°, and features a locking mechanism to lock it in the upright position. The lantern’s large rubberised cushioned-grip handle enables smooth handoffs even with gloves and offers a nonslip grip for easy carrying. Powered by a rechargeable 7.8Ahr lithium ion battery, the Vulcan 180 HAZ-LO ATEX fully recharges in 15 hours. Its quick install charge rack fits the same footprint as other lanterns in the Vulcan and LiteBox series.Encased in durable, super-tough nylon with reinforced D-Rings, it is IPX4-rated for water resistant operation and is also impact-resistance tested to 2 metres. Product Features: Lumens: High: 400 lumens Battery: Lithium Ion x 1 Size: 7.43” (18.87 cm) x 4.33” (11.00 cm) Weight: 2lbs 7.52oz. (1120.37 g) Colour: Orange Available in safety orange, the Vulcan 180 HAZ-LO ATEX has a MSRP of £273 to £318 depending on the configuration and includes the Streamlight Limited Lifetime Warranty.

As Fire Door Safety Week 2020 drew to a close, Bureau Veritas took the opportunity to give another reminder about the importance of properly fitted and maintained fire doors to enhance safety in the event of a fire. Fire Door Safety Week was first launched in 2013, in response to a legacy of fire door neglect and is managed by the British Woodworking Federation, with support from partners including London Fire Brigade (LFB), The National Fire Chief’s Council (NFCC) and the Home Office’s National Fire Safety campaign. This year’s initiative highlights some damning statistics about fire door maintenance and replacement works, obtained from Freedom of Information (FOI) requests sent to all UK local authorities. Key results include: 60% of local authorities delayed fire door maintenance and inspection programmes in the first half of 2020 53% of local authorities cited COVID-19 as a reason as a reason for the delays More than 16,500 doors in nearly 10,000 individual properties have been affected 63% of planned fire door maintenance and replacement works did not progress as scheduled 65% of those experiencing delays plan to recommence works by the end of 2020 Lee Perry, Business Manager – Health, Safety & Fire Consultancy at Bureau Veritas, said: “Properly fitted and maintained fire doors are critical to the safe evacuation of a building in the event of fire, forming part of the compartmentation of the building, and helping to retain the fire in its compartment of origin. Poorly fitted and damaged fire doors allow smoke and heat into the escape routes within the building, which makes it much more difficult to evacuate and puts lives needlessly at risk. “Fire Door Safety Week provides a timely reminder of the importance of fire doors to those with responsibilities for managing fire safety within buildings, but this year it has identified widespread delays to planned preventative inspection and maintenance regimes which continue to put people at risk. “To quote Fire Door Safety Week’s own message, COVID-19 is forcing more people than ever to stay at home and so we need an urgent focus on ensuring the safety of all building occupants.” The specialist fire safety team at Bureau Veritas offers a range of services including fire door inspections, acting as the ‘Responsible Person’ to carry out a regular check of fire doors and monitor their condition for effective operation to mitigate the risk of smoke and fire spreadin the event of a fire incident. For more information about Bureau Veritas’ Fire Safety Engineering services, or to contact the fire safety team visit www.bureauveritas.co.uk/construction-consultancy/fire-safety-engineering.

Firefighters across Cornwall are wearing brand new Bristol Uniforms PPE, procured through the UK Collaborative PPE Framework. All 560 firefighters in the county have been equipped with two sets of new gold-coloured structural coats and trousers, along with flash hoods, and a set of both structural and rescue gloves. The new PPE, designed and manufactured by Bristol Uniforms, benefits from the very latest in fibre and fabric technology, along with ergonomic styling for ease of movement. Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service (CFRS), as part of their commitment to firefighter safety, also engaged with staff about the provision of additional PPE to meet the demands of non-structural fire situations, such as road traffic collisions and wildfire control. This supports the specific needs of Cornwall’s remote rural risk profile. As a result, an order has also been placed for lighter-weight, more breathable rescue jackets which are compatible with the structural trousers and other essential PPE, providing the most suitable level of protection. Mark Salter is Group Manager at CFRS, with responsibility for Assets, Health and Safety and Wellbeing. He comments: “Feedback from our firefighters has been very positive.  The cut of the jacket is more fitted than our previous kit, which is better for movement and manoeuvrability, and the extra padding on the knees means the trousers are more comfortable when kneeling or crawling. The wide range of male and female sizes ensures that every member of the crew can get a good fit. “The firefighters have found that the new lighter colour shows up dirt and soot, but that is a helpful indicator of when the kit needs cleaning.” CFRS is continuing its Maintenance and Care arrangement with Bristol, for regular cleaning, and repairs and decontamination if necessary.  Dirty kit is collected by Bristol Uniforms and taken to one of two in-house Service Centres where it is washed and thoroughly examined before being returned within seven days: a service that is reassuring for Mark Salter and his firefighters: “The robust care provision is very important to us, particularly given the current risk of coronavirus, and concerns around carcinogens in smoke particles. Bristol’s in-house cleaning and repair service means we can always have full confidence that our PPE is fit for purpose and providing the right protection.”

Bosch Building Technologies have introduced Avenar, a new generation of fire alarm panels and a milestone in enhancing the fire safety of buildings. The new panel series supports the transformation of building technologies driven by the Internet of Things (IoT). Fully backwards compatible with current fire alarm system components, the new Avenar panel 2000 and 8000 series presents significant improvements in terms of scalability, integration, and processing power. It offers a new level of safety, control and efficiency to security managers and building operators. “We’re building upon our leadership in fire alarm systems that are trusted in applications across the globe to position Avenar as a major step into the future of connected and smart building technologies,” said Kristof Vandenberghe, Product Manager for Fire and Evacuation Systems at Bosch Building Technologies. Based on extensive customer feedback, this latest generation of fire alarm panels continues the Bosch legacy of innovation in fire safety systems. The new Avenar panel 2000 replaces the Fire Panel 1200 Series from Bosch as the key solution for smaller projects. It supports up to four loops instead of the previous two, thereby extending the applications from small projects to medium projects with up to 512 detectors and call points. The new Avenar 2000 panels can connect to a panel network, allowing customers to distribute the intelligence of the fire system in the building while saving cabling costs. Furthermore, the new Avenar panel 2000 simplifies the planning and purchasing process for system integrators, as it comes as a complete fire alarm panel kit, expandable in modular fashion. For larger-scale installations, the Avenar panel 8000, the successor of the Modular Fire Panel 5000 Series, allows for up to 32 loops and a total of up to 4096 detectors and call points per panel. Both panels support the current generation of fire detectors based on Local Security Network (LSNi) connections, as well as call stations and other critical system components. The new panels can be installed alongside existing network architectures such as the Modular Fire Panel 5000 Series from Bosch. The possibility to build one common network around Avenar panel 2000 and 8000 as well as Avenar keypad 8000 and Modular Fire Panel 5000 Series enhances network efficiency and utilises the backward compatibility. It also limits costs for extensions and retrofits to a minimum.

REV Group, a manufacturer of industry-leading fire apparatus brands including E-ONE, KME, Ferrara, and Spartan Emergency Response, have recently announced that Christopher (Chris) Wade has joined Spartan ER as Director of Sales. Previously with E-ONE for 14 years, Chris held roles of Aerial Sales Manager and Regional Sales Manager. Over the years, he also held prior positions with Spartan Motors and Ladder Tower, Inc. “It’s a tremendous value to have someone of Chris’s calibre on our team,” said Mike Virnig, Vice President of Sales, REV Fire Group. “His strong work ethic combined with his vast experience and knowledge of the fire industry makes him the ideal candidate to lead our sales efforts within the Spartan ER family.” “Joining a strong group of employees behind the distinguished lineage of the Spartan Emergency Response products is certainly exciting,” said Chris Wade. “I look forward to being part of the team effort to supply communities with best-in-class emergency vehicles.” Chris earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Kutztown University in Pennsylvania and his MBA from St. Joseph’s University. Chris was also a Firefighter/EMT for the City of Reading, PA. To find out more information about REV Fire Group or any of our apparatus brands, please visit www.revgroup.com/rev-group-best-fire-truck-manufacturers.

E-ONE, a subsidiary of REV Group, have announced the delivery of six E-ONE Custom Rescue Typhoon Pumpers for Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services in Canton, Ga. These six E-ONE apparatus are being added to the department’s fleet of 13 Typhoon engines purchased since 2012. The E-ONE Typhoon was selected due to superior cab safety and accessibility to pump, plumbing and chassis components. Each of these pumpers has an overall length of 30’10” to meet fire station requirements and tight angles of approach. Key features of Cherokee County’s E-ONE Custom Rescue Pumpers include: Severe duty dash, engine cover and door panels 12” vista roof for increased interior head room Seating for six, with (3) SCBA seats Rear wall medical cabinet with locking roll up door Cummins L9 450 HP engine with Allison 3000 transmission 6Kw Hydraulic generator for 110V systems LED lights for all warning, driving and work area lighting for improved visibility in heavy traffic and nighttime operations VMUX electrical system with driver Vista IV display Axis Smart Truck Technology Lowered crosslays for improved ground level access for (3) hose lays Enclosed storage tunnel for (3) ladders, (2) pike poles and (1) backboard 1500 GPM Hale QMAX pump 1030 gallon water tank These six fire trucks will be placed in the department’s busiest stations, according to Cherokee County Fire Chief Tim Prather. “Through my now 34 years with this department and my first-hand experience with the E-ONE engines, I have developed the highest level of confidence that I am placing my personnel in one of  the safest apparatus that can be purchased,” Prather said. “The turning radius of these trucks seem to be the best on the market.  My driver operators say that the overall handling is awesome.” “It’s truly an honour to build six more Typhoon chassis pumpers for Cherokee County,” said Joey Belle, E-ONE Vice President and General Manager. “They have a great rescue pumper design and this latest group of units has a few updates that include crosslays that are lower for easier access and increased LED scene lighting.” For more on the E-ONE Typhoon Rescue Pumper, go to e-one.com