Johnson Controls has introduced advanced smoke sensors built upon the established performance of its flagship TrueAlarm technology. The latest updates to UL 268, Standard for Safety of Smoke Detectors for Fire Alarm Systems, call for significant improvements to smoke detection technology. Set to take effect in June 2021, the new UL 268 7th edition standard requires smoke sensors, detectors and smoke alarms to pass more than 215 new or revised performance tests, including three new challenging tests: a cooking nuisance alarm test, a flaming polyurethane foam test and a smouldering polyurethane test. The UL 7th edition polyurethane tests better represent the type of smoke and flames produced in modern building fires due to the increased use of synthetic furnishing materials that can ignite and burn faster than other materials. The cooking test was added after research showed people frequently disable smoke alarms due to nuisance alarms caused by cooking and shower steam. The new TrueAlarm sensors provide earlier detection, better fire type recognition and fewer nuisance alarms. They use sophisticated algorithms to analyse particles and determine whether they are generated by an actual fire rather than smoke or steam from cooking. Sensor alarm points can be programmed for timed, multi-stage operation per sensor. A lower percentage alert can cause a warning prompt to investigate the issue while a higher programmed percentage will initiate an alarm. “The design of our new sensors is based on decades of fire detection experience and demonstrates our commitment to creating the most innovative and reliable products in the industry,” said Peter Ryan, senior commercialisation manager, Global Fire Detection Products, Johnson Controls. “These re-designed smoke sensors reduce the number of nuisance alarms while providing early notification, when needed, to help building occupants evacuate quickly and safely during a fire event.”

Link Mfg., Ltd. have announced the introduction of its new Redline Performance Series Suspensions that include a broader selection of weight capacities for its acclaimed Air Link tandem drive axle suspension and Atlas single drive axle suspension. In tribute to fire departments and personnel across North America, the company has created a dedicated charity dubbed “Link Cares” that will contribute a portion of the profits from all Redline Performance Suspension annual sales to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF). “The company has met the demands of major fire departments and equipment manufacturers with high-performance, heavy-duty vehicle suspensions for more than 20 years,” said Chris English, managing director, Link Suspensions of Canada. “The development of our Redline Performance Series Suspensions and the establishment of our Link Cares charity represent our company’s core values of servanthood and our sincere reverence for the heroic nature of the firefighting culture.” Redline Performance Series Suspensions expands the product range, offering new weight ratings as a response to market demand and the unique combinations of equipment and apparatus used by individual fire departments. The Air Link Redline tandem drive axle suspension will now be available in a carrying capacity of 62K to 85K, while the Atlas Redline single drive axle suspension will now have a carrying capacity range of 31.5K to 35K. The Air Link Redline tandem axle suspension features a unique air spring over walking beam design, patented by Link close to 30 years ago. Originally engineered to handle extreme payloads in harsh, off-highway and military environments, this rugged suspension meets the demands of aerial fire and rescue vehicles and then some. It fully integrates with Dana, Meritor, SSU and Mack axles.

Bristol Uniforms is putting together a handy guide for its distributors and customers, summarising the changes that have been made, including minor changes to performance requirements. The European standard EN 469, which ensures protective clothing worn by firefighters is of good quality, fit for purpose and adequately protective, has been revised and published . The European Committee for Standardization (CEN) published EN469: 2020 Protective clothing for firefighters – Performance requirements for protective clothing for firefighting in mid-August.  EN 469 covers general clothing design, labelling, minimum performance requirements, and the tests that should be carried out to determine these performance levels. As such, Bristol have got to work and other tests have also been added, for example to check that sewing thread can withstand heats of 260oC without melting, and to ensure that when clothing comes into contact with a surface of 250oC that it takes longer than 10 seconds for the temperature inside to rise by 10oC. In addition, some testing processes, such as the resistance to liquid chemical penetration test, have been simplified and some more subjective tests for things like surface wetting have been removed. The new standard also specifies extra design features, for example lockable zips to prevent accidental opening and exposure to contaminants, and wider pocket flaps to keep contaminants and burning debris out. It also now puts a limit on the depth of anti-wicking material added to the sleeves and hems of garments. BSI/CEN standards expert Dave Matthews has been involved in the development of this standard. He said: “EN 469 has been updated to reflect the changing role of firefighters, and to improve the accuracy and consistency of testing. The revision has taken a lengthy period, due to the interest in this standard. It will continue to ensure that all conforming PPE is fit for purpose and protects firefighters from the hazards of the job.” Richard Ballheimer, Compliance Manager at Bristol Uniforms, is Secretary to the standards committee that updated EN 469, and provides specialist advice and guidance on firefighter PPE. He said: “EN 469: 2020 replaces EN 469: 2005 and like all manufacturers, Bristol Uniforms will now start the process of certifying its structural firefighter clothing to this new standard. Customers can rest assured that when they buy PPE certified to this new standard, it’s been thoroughly tested and is fit for purpose.”

First Arriving have recently announced that industry marketing and business strategy executive Shannon Gilliland has joined its team as Vice President of Business Development. Gilliland will be responsible for planning and implementing new business initiatives across First Arriving’s suite of technology, marketing solutions, and strategic services. “Shannon’s proven track record of building client relationships, delivering exceptional customer service, and improving productivity in the public safety sector make her the perfect addition to our growing team,” said Dave Iannone, CEO, First Arriving. Prior to joining First Arriving, Gilliland served as the Director of Business Development for the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) where she led sales and the client-relationship management team. Gilliland brings over 15 years of experience with developing strategic partnerships, sales & marketing, revenue growth, project management, and client success transformation. “I am excited to join an amazing group of highly talented and motivated individuals that are dedicated to providing best in class marketing and communication strategy to help public safety organisations flourish,” said Shannon Gilliland. “This position gives me the opportunity to leverage my experience and commitment to public safety. First Arriving is uniquely positioned to improve customer experience, increase engagement and optimise efficiencies through a suite of services and products.”

Dependable, concealed fire sprinkler for aesthetically sensitive residential buildings Johnson Controls, the global leader for safe, smart and sustainable buildings, continues its mission to create new harmonies between people and buildings by launching the company’s first residential concealed sidewall fire sprinkler. The Tyco RAPID RESPONSE Series LFII 4.2K Concealed Sidewall Sprinkler features a decorative flat-plate cover that conceals the sprinkler within the wall, making it ideal for aesthetically sensitive residential spaces such as homes, apartments, dormitories and hotels. The fast-response fusible link sprinkler provides safe and dependable fire protection that customers expect from Tyco products. The LFII Concealed Sidewall Sprinkler complements the full line of Tyco fire suppression products. Those offerings, along with other Johnson Controls products and solutions, help make buildings more safe, secure and sustainable. “We’re excited to broaden our concealed sprinkler product line with the introduction of our first concealed sidewall sprinkler for residential occupancies,” says Hilary Interrante, global product manager, Johnson Controls. “This product addresses a key customer requirement for a growing segment of the residential market.” In addition to its sleek design, the LFII 4.2K Concealed Sidewall Sprinkler offers ¼ inch of adjustment and fits in a typical two-by-four stud frame and sheetrock wall structure, allowing for flexible installation. The sprinkler is cULus Listed for use with wet pipe sprinkler systems per NFPA 13D, NFPA 13R and the residential portions of NFPA 13 occupancies. Additionally, the sprinkler is certified to all requirements of NSF/ANSI 61. It has a working pressure of 175 psi and a sprinkler temperature rating of 160 °F (71 °C), while the cover plate is rated for 139 °F (38°C).   Share this post on our LinkedIn or Twitter. See more news here.

The new Rosenbauer RTE FX nozzle combines uncompromising technology, state of the art material and manufacturing quality, and a brand new, innovative operating concept. Its cubic design is unique on the market and allows even inexperienced emergency personnel to immediately and intuitively understand all of its functionalities. Thanks to the interference-free design, all surfaces are aligned parallel in the fast attack position, and the nozzle is automatically pre-set for indoor fire attacks: 235 l/min with a medium spray jet and a spray angle of approx. 40 degrees. This means that nozzle operators are optimally prepared for firefighting from the first moment. Even in completely smoke-filled rooms, in the dark, and even with absolute zero visibility, this basic setting guarantees safe operation of the nozzle. The intuitive handling makes operating errors extremely unlikely and thus reduces the training effort required, which is particularly advantageous for volunteer fire brigades. Stepless Fine-tuning With the RTE FX nozzle, the amount of water discharged can be finely adjusted by means of a slide valve. As a result, a clean stream pattern and high extinguishing flexibility is achieved through quick opening and closing. The valve is operated via a clip that has been optimized in terms of length and shape for a comfortable grip. When the valve is closed, this clip points to the front and can be steplessly moved to the rear until the full flow rate is achieved. Three maximum flow rates can be pre-set: 40, 130, and 235 l/min for the RTE FX 235 EN nozzle and 130, 235, and 400 l/min for the RTE FX 400 EN (measured at 6 bar on the nozzle tip). The stream pattern is altered at the top of the spray head. The interference-free RTE FX comes with the medium spray angle preset, which has an ideal ratio of throw range and jet width for indoor fire attacks. If you turn the adjusting ring to the left, the stream jet pattern becomes increasingly solid, which enables safe firefighting over greater distances as a result of the correspondingly higher throw ranges (up to 35 m for the RTE FX 235 EN or 41 m for the RTE FX 400 EN). When turned to the right, it becomes an increasingly wider spray jet, which can be used as a shield of water to protect emergency crews in a so-called ‘water curtain’. The rotating parts are designed in such a way that a fine transition is possible across the entire jet range, from solid jet to protective agent envelope. Not only this, but it can be done without having to adjust your grip. Robust Design, Perfect Handling High-quality materials (anodized aluminum, stainless steel, glass-fibre-reinforced plastic), and innovative design elements make the RTE FX a highly robust and maintenance-free piece of equipment. The spray head has a fixed aluminum toothed ring and an FX absorber with built-in suspension in the front, which absorbs the energy that impacts the nozzle, for example when a window is smashed. The FX ERGO handle features knobs for optimal gripping when wearing fire fighting gloves, and it has finger recesses for intuitive hand positioning. In addition, the handle design – tapering to the front, widening towards the rear – ensures safe and fatigue-free working as the pressure is evenly distributed across the hand, preventing the grip from twisting. A practical transport lug is located on the rear, which allows the nozzle to be hooked, e.g., so that it can be dragged upstairs more easily for faster advancement. Rounding off the Range The new RTE FX nozzle will be launched on the market at the beginning of September and is intended to round off the top-end of the Rosenbauer nozzle range. This range includes products with outputs between 17 and 700 l/min, for normal pressure (SELECT FLOW) and high pressure (NEPIRO), as well as the PRO JET special nozzle. With this range of products, Rosenbauer is able to offer fire services around the world the perfect nozzle for every scenario.  The new RTE FX is also designed in such a way that it can be correctly operated both immediately and intuitively. It makes a pivotal contribution when it matters most in firefighting. In addition, the new product range can also be admired digitally from around the world as part of a virtual campaign. In keeping with the spirit of the times, Rosenbauer also demonstrates its digital competence here.   Share this post on our LinkedIn or Twitter. See more news here.

The European standard EN 469, which ensures protective clothing worn by firefighters is of good quality, fit for purpose and adequately protective, has been revised and published this month. The European Committee for Standardization (CEN) published EN469: 2020 Protective clothing for firefighters – Performance requirements for protective clothing for firefighting in mid-August.  EN 469 covers general clothing design, labelling, minimum performance requirements, and the tests that should be carried out to determine these performance levels. In response, Bristol Uniforms, a leading designer and manufacturer of protective clothing for emergency services across the globe, is putting together a handy guide for its distributors and customers, summarising the changes that have been made. These include minor changes to performance requirements. For example, there is now a requirement to undertake tests, such as seam and fabric tear strength tests, after five wash-and-dry cycles instead of before, to check clothing performance is maintained. Other tests have also been added, for example to check that sewing thread can withstand heats of 260oC without melting, and to ensure that when clothing comes into contact with a surface of 250oC that it takes longer than 10 seconds for the temperature inside to rise by 10oC. In addition, some testing processes, such as the resistance to liquid chemical penetration test, have been simplified and some more subjective tests for things like surface wetting have been removed. The new standard also specifies extra design features, for example lockable zips to prevent accidental opening and exposure to contaminants, and wider pocket flaps to keep contaminants and burning debris out. It also now puts a limit on the depth of anti-wicking material added to the sleeves and hems of garments. BSI/CEN standards expert Dave Matthews has been involved in the development of this standard. He said: “EN 469 has been updated to reflect the changing role of firefighters, and to improve the accuracy and consistency of testing. The revision has taken a lengthy period, due to the interest in this standard. It will continue to ensure that all conforming PPE is fit for purpose and protects firefighters from the hazards of the job.” Richard Ballheimer, Compliance Manager at Bristol Uniforms, is Secretary to the standards committee that updated EN 469, and provides specialist advice and guidance on firefighter PPE. He said: “EN 469: 2020 replaces EN 469: 2005 and like all manufacturers, Bristol Uniforms will now start the process of certifying its structural firefighter clothing to this new standard. Customers can rest assured that when they buy PPE certified to this new standard, it’s been thoroughly tested and is fit for purpose.”   Share this post on our LinkedIn or Twitter. See more news here.