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NFPA release warning about Thanksgiving risk

  Thanksgiving is a wonderful time of year for families and friends to get together, but this cooking-focused holiday also presents a greater risk of home fires. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), nearly four times as many home cooking fires occur on Thanksgiving as on a typical day. NFPA’s latest report shows that cooking is the leading cause of home structure fires and injuries in the U.S. States that reported cooking fires hit new highs in 2012, 2013 and 2014. The report further states that home cooking fires peak on major U.S. holidays that traditionally include cooking, such as Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. In 2014, U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated 1,730 home cooking fires on Thanksgiving, the peak day for such fires. Regardless of the date, unattended cooking is by far the leading cause of these fires. “The data suggests that it’s often a combination of factors that contribute to an increased risk of home cooking fires on Thanksgiving,” said Lorraine Carli, NFPA’s Vice President of Outreach and Advocacy. “People are preparing multiple dishes for many guests and there can be plenty of distraction in the home, which can make it all too easy to forget what’s on the stove. That’s when cooking mishaps are most likely to occur.” The following tips can help reduce the risk of cooking fires on Thanksgiving and beyond: Stay in the kitchen when cooking to keep a close eye on the food, especially when frying and sautéing with oil. Stay alert and focused when cooking. To help minimise the risk of injury, avoid cooking when drinking alcohol or if you’re sleepy. Use a timer to keep track of cooking times, most notably when cooking a meal that takes a long time like roasting a turkey, baking a roast or simmering. Check the stove or oven frequently. Consider putting timers in different rooms so you can hear them over the music and party chatter. Keep things that can catch fire like oven mitts, wooden utensils, food wrappers and towels away from the cooking area. During the five-year period of 2010-2014, U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated average of 166,100 home cooking fires per year. These fires resulted in 480 civilian deaths, 5,540 reported injuries, and $1.1 billion (£889 million) in direct property damage per year. Overall, cooking equipment was involved in almost half (46%) of reported home fires and home fire injuries (44%) and one in five home fire deaths (19%). Thanksgiving is also the time when many people like to experiment with frying turkeys. NFPA discourages the use of turkey fryers, which can lead to devastating burns and other injuries, and the destruction of property due to the large amount and high temperature of oil used. NFPA urges those who prefer fried turkey to look for grocery stores, specialty food retailers and restaurants that sell deep fried turkeys. Additional tips and resources can be found on NFPA’s Thanksgiving webpage. Other cooking safety information, including cooking safety tips sheet, cooking safety infographics, videos and more can be found on NFPA’s Cooking Fire Safety Central webpage.

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Hochiki Europe to showcase their fire detection solution at LuxLive 2016

Leading life safety systems manufacturer Hochiki Europe will be showcasing the UK’s first combined emergency lighting and fire detection system, FIREscape+, at LuxLive 2016. Hochiki Europe will be offering product demonstrations and practical advice from Stand B1 at London’s Excel from 23 – 24 November. FIREscape+ has been specially designed to inform building occupants of unsafe exit routes during emergencies. In normal circumstances, emergency exit signs show the internationally recognised running man in a door and directional arrow. However, in the case of an emergency, a red cross will be displayed above any unsafe exits, helping to minimise risk and danger for building occupants. This is made possible by the product’s shared system in which emergency exit signs and luminaires sit on the same loop as fire detectors being controlled by the same panel. FIREscape+ is based on the award winning FIREscape emergency lighting system, which will also be on display on stand B1 at Lux Live. FIREscape is an innovative emergency lighting system that is both cost and energy efficient. Using LED technology, extra low-voltage cabling and an addressable control panel, the system offers end users financial savings of up to 95% in energy costs. Ian Watts, Emergency Lighting Manager at Hochiki Europe, commented: “FIREscape+ is a first for the UK life safety systems market. There is no other system that combines emergency lighting and fire detection, and we’re excited to see how it’s received at LuxLive. LuxLive is a key event for Hochiki Europe, and offers an excellent opportunity to exchange thoughts and ideas on emergency lighting with others in the field.”

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SOLBERG® Achieves ULC Category 3 Product Certification on Foam Concentrates

ARCTIC 3% and 6% AFFF Are Underwriters Laboratories of Canada, Inc. (ULC) Category 3 Listed Green Bay, Wisconsin – The Solberg Company, the world’s foremost innovator of firefighting foam concentrates and systems hardware, announced today the company has achieved CAN/ULC S560; Standard for Category 3 Foam Liquid Concentrates Certification on the company’s ARCTIC™ 3% and ARCTIC 6% MIL-SPEC AFFF foam concentrates. ARCTIC™ foam concentrates from SOLBERG are PFOS-free synthetic firefighting foam concentrates used to effectively extinguish Class B fuel fires.  ARCTIC foam concentrates provide rapid extinguishment and excellent burn back resistance and can be used in fresh, salt or brackish water. In May 2012, ARCTIC AFFF and ATC™ foam product lines became C6 fluorochemical based, making Solberg the first foam manufacturer in the Americas to offer commercially available foam concentrates that were compliant to the 2010/2015 U.S. EPA PFOA Product Stewardship Program. In addition to ULC Category 3 Certification, ARCTIC 3% and 6% MIL-SPEC AFFF concentrates are Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. Listed in accordance with UL 162 (Standard for Safety for Foam Equipment and Liquid Concentrates), Listed in accordance with ULC S564 (Standard for Categories 1 and 2 Foam Liquid Concentrates), and Qualified Products List (QPL) to U.S. Military Specification          MIL-F-24385F. “After months of development work and hundreds of fire tests we have come up with product formulations that are superior in every aspect of performance.  Further, they have the added value of being multi-agency certified including MIL-SPEC and ULC Category 3, thus serving the aviation industry in both Canada and the United States with a single formulation for each type concentrate,” said Mark Siem, Research Chemist. ARCTIC 3% and 6% MIL-SPEC AFFF is also certified for use in numerous commercial land and offshore applications where the use of MIL-SPEC certified foam concentrate is required these include NFPA 403: Standard for Aircraft Rescue and Fire-Fighting Services at Airports; NFPA 409: Standard on Aircraft Hangars; NFPA 412: Standard for Evaluating Aircraft Rescue and Fire-Fighting Foam Fire equipment; NFPA 414: Standard for Aircraft Rescue and Fire-Fighting Vehicles and NFPA 418: Standard for Heliports. ARCTIC concentrates are extremely effective firefighting foams for flame knockdown, fire control, extinguishment, and burn-back resistance.  Control, extinguishing time, and burn-back resistance are paramount to the safety of firefighters everywhere.  ARCTIC foam concentrates have shown excellent performance in each of these categories. ARCTIC AFFF foam concentrates are intended for use on Class B hydrocarbon fuel fires and are available in 1%, 3% and 6% concentrations.  ARCTIC ATC (AR-AFFF) foam concentrates are intended for use on Class B hydrocarbon and polar solvent fuel fires.  Concentrates available include 1X3%, 3×3%, and 3×6% formulations.  All ARCTIC foam concentrates can be used to prevent re-ignition of a liquid spill and control hazardous odors, and will improve extinguishment in Class A deep-seated fires. Solberg, the firefighting foam products division of Amerex Corporation is based in Green Bay, Wisconsin with operations in Bergen, Norway and Sydney, Australia.  The company has been involved with the manufacture of firefighting foams since the mid-1970s.  Solberg’s unique technology and foam systems hardware is preferred by customers in the aerospace, aviation, chemical, defense, energy, fire services, marine, mining, oil and gas, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, pipeline, solvent & coatings and utilities industries.

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Tecserv implement full fire alarm system upgrade for Harvey Nichols flagship store

  Underwood based fire and security solutions specialists Tecserv UK Limited has been appointed by Harvey Nichols to implement a full fire alarm system upgrade within their flagship London store in Knightsbridge. Designed and built in stages between 1889 and 1894, the Knightsbridge building presents many challenges to building related upgrades and refurbishments. With branded merchandise and leisure facilities now available over nine floors the store is fitted with a radio frequency fire alarm system to avoid the need for miles and mile of connective cabling. However, a change in legislation with regards to the frequency over which radio fire alarms have to operate meant that any new equipment installed could not be managed using a single operating system as the frequencies would be different. Tecserv has been appointed to install the new systems which will be supplied by Electro Detectors, a trusted partner and a leading manufacturer of radio fire alarm systems. Harvey Nichols will now embark on a carefully phased project to install a brand new radio fire alarm systems across all floors over the next three to five years. Commenting, Tecserv Sales Director Colin Milligan added, “By working with Electro Detectors we have been able to deliver a solution that has enabled Harvey Nichols to be wholly compliant, whilst managing a carefully planned programme of system upgrade on a floor by floor basis.” Commenting, Mark Hanmore, Facilities Manager for Harvey Nichols said, “Although this is still a massive project, Tecserv’s consultative approach has helped us manage the upgrade of the radio fire alarm system in a way that is safer and much more convenient. We are delighted with how Tecserv is managing the project and furthermore that we can continue to use them as our single contractor for the ongoing maintenance of existing and new systems.”

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Cygnus wireless alarm system adopted by seven Crossrail projects in London

  Bull Products’ Cygnus wireless fire alarm system has been specified and installed so far on seven Crossrail projects in London and several miles of track. The installations include bespoke solutions such as emergency exit signal systems mostly operating underground. Developed and designed specifically for use on construction sites, the Cygnus wireless fire alarm system is ideal for the Crossrail project as it has the most effective radio of any wireless fire alarm system. The new Elizabeth line, which will emerge from the Crossrail project, unlocks its doors in 2018 to central London and from the end of 2019 will run from Heathrow through the new tunnels, providing a direct link to central London destinations including Bond Street, Liverpool Street and Canary Wharf. The Cygnus system is able to link no less than 480 alarm devices in 15 zones. The CE marked system is used in conjunction with a selection of units including fire alarms, smoke detectors, heat detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, first aid call points and combined call point and first aid alerts. On the Crossrail project, the Cygnus system is operating at stations, access shafts and ventilation shafts across many of the key stations on the line.  

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Lovell specify WES+ fire safety solution for 600 hectare site

Lovell has specified WES+ wireless fire alarm system from Ramtech Electronics for the redevelopment of a former gravel pit and landfill site at Lymington Fields, Dagenham. The development is a four year, £78.4 million project that will transform the site into a mixed tenure housing scheme. WES+ is now providing a round-the-clock fire alarm system across this large residential site. Being compliant with the relevant sections of EN 54 means that WES+ will help to ensure the safety of personnel working on site as well new homeowners that will move into the properties as they are completed, due to the ability of fire to spread. All homes at Lymington Fields are required to meet level 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes, which is being achieved by incorporating a range of energy efficiency measures. The development will cover 600 hectares when completed, with the initial phase creating 116 homes for affordable rent and 43 homes for shared ownership through Home Group. During initial stages of the build, Lovell had used a fixed wire fire alarm system which operated manually. However, this offered poor heat and smoke detection along with requiring specialist trades to reposition the call points as work on site progressed. The site management team had also raised a concern with the ability of fire to spread quickly between buildings, even when separated as on this multi-residential development, along with the tendency of burning structures to collapse onto each other. Lovell worked with Ramtech Electronics to identify a solution that would improve on the previous methods used. The principal reason why Lovell specified WES+ wireless system was that it was capable of providing coverage across this large development -the scalability of the WES+ wireless technology means that an unlimited number of units can be added as more homes are built. With no trip hazards such as trailing wires and seconds to pair new units into the system, the WES+ wireless system is extremely easy to set up. Heat and smoke detectors were specified for the WES+ system because they provide 24/7 protection, even when the site is vacated at nights and weekends. The system sends SMS text alerts to nominated personnel in the event of a fire, allowing them to immediately inform fire and rescue services. The three year battery life will ensure that the system operates for the duration of this project, reducing lifetime costs and site waste. Richard Moore, project manager of the Lovell Dagenham site, said: “One of the reasons we specified WES+ for this site was because it is very easy to add or remove units as the site develops. Being able to add extra units was an important factor for us, considering the scale of this site. It is reassuring to know that the WES+ could provide coverage across the entire 600 hectare site – equivalent to 210 football pitches! We like the fact that the automatic heat and smoke detectors remove much of the reliance on human intervention.”

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Advanced receives award from BSI for ten years of Standards Excellence in Fire Systems

  Global fire systems leader Advanced is delighted to announce that it has received an award from BSI, the business standards company, for 10 years of standards excellence in fire systems. The award recognises Advanced’s role in driving higher standards in the fire industry and its ongoing role in relevant fire standards committees which has seen them be one of the first to adopt EN54-13, a European standard that ensures optimal fire system performance at all times through rigorous third party testing. Dave Wilson, who is responsible for standards and compliance at Advanced, commented: “Our ethos is that our products set the standard in fire systems and we work closely with quality, standard and industry bodies around the world to ensure we stay at the forefront of the market. We’ve worked very closely with BSI for many years and it’s a real pleasure to receive this award for our work and the partnership we have developed in fire systems and BSI Kitemark™ licensed product approvals.”  

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Arco highlight arc flash protection in PPE layering

Arco has become the only supplier in the safety industry to utilise combination testing to increase the level of protection provided by its hazardwear. The ArcoPro Flame Retardant (FR) range offers a collection of technical garments designed and tested to ensure safety, even in the most hazardous working environments. To help customers understand the complex combinations required to increase the level of Arc Flash protection provided by their garments, the safety company has also launched a new online Product Selection tool. Arc Flash, also known as Electrical Arching, is the result of electrical currents that flow through a gap between conductors or insulation, causing sparks, fire and even explosions. Most accidents occur due to workers functioning live equipment when thought to be inactive, or when workers do not have sufficient training or appropriate equipment to prevent injury. These accidents can severely injure workers and can have fatal consequences. Arco has conducted two sets of tests on the ArcoPro range, which includes base layers, mid layers, workwear, and weather protection, both on individual garments and in combinations. The test results clearly show the benefits of layering the garments to achieve a higher level of protection for the wearer; demonstrated by the online Selection Tool, created by Arco. The Selection Tool enables users to determine what layering combinations provide the level of protection they require. The tool provides two alternatives: Customers can either enter the CAL rating required for their determined application enabling the tool to display combinations that meet or exceed that rating, or customers can select individual garments from the range to build up a layering system. In addition to the Selection Tool, Arco has developed an Expert Guide to Arc Flash Protection designed to present the range of products which offer protection against the threat of arc flash, show the combinations of protective layers, and explain how to quantify the Arc rating of a protective garment. The guide also includes details of up-to-date EN Standards and the key product features and benefits. Richard Sansom, Product and Procurement Manager at Arco said: “Assessing Arc Flash risk and choosing the right protective garments is imperative in protecting workers and saving lives when accidents happen. It’s crucial that employers supply protective clothing and PPE that conform to industry standards and perform competently, eliminating potential fatalities. We test all ArcoPro FR hazardwear garments to IEC 61482, ensuring the highest possible protection for wearers against heat and flame.”

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Globe Manufacturing win Award of Excellence for new ATHLETIX gear

  Globe Manufacturing Company announced that it was awarded the 2016 International Achievement Awards (IAA) Award of Excellence and Best in Category for Advanced Textiles. The award was presented by Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) at their IFAI Expo, the largest specialty fabrics trade show in the Americas, held in Charlotte, North Carolina, on 20 October. Globe received the Award of Excellence and Best in Category for Advanced Textiles for its new ATHLETIX turnout gear. Globe collaborated with three supplier partners on the development of the new materials that enable this all-new design: Kombattm Stretch PBI®/Kevlar® fabric, manufactured by TenCate Protective Fabrics, allows closer, less bulky fit with unprecedented range of motion and more flexibility while providing premium thermal break open protection. Nomex® Nano thermal barrier material, manufactured by DuPont Protection Solutions, which is thin, light, flexible, breathable, and quick drying. 3MTM Scotchlitetm Comfort Trim reflective material, manufactured by 3M Company, which is segmented and heat sealed to be lighter, more flexible, and breathable without sacrificing visibility. For more than six decades, IAA has recognised excellence in design and innovation, highlighting truly spectacular work in the specialty fabrics and technical textiles industry. IFAI’s goal is to promote awareness of the specialty fabrics used in thousands of products and applications in the growing, $130 billion-plus dollar global fabrics marketplace. IFAI received a total of 296 entries from 10 countries in 42 categories in this year’s competition. Winners were selected based on complexity, design, workmanship, uniqueness, and function. Judges included industry experts, editors, architects, educators, and design professionals. “At Globe, we are proud of our long history of innovation. It’s in our DNA,” said Rob Freese, Senior Vice President of Marketing at Globe Manufacturing Company. “Our new ATHLETIX turnout gear was inspired by interviews with hundreds of fire-fighters and made possible through collaboration with our suppliers who take the same ‘Voice of the Customer’ approach to product development and share our passion for fire-fighter safety.”

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Red One receives CFBTI contract for South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service

Red One Limited is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a contract to provide Compartment Fire Behaviour Training Instructor (CFBTI) courses to South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service (SYFRS). Compartment fire behaviour is a key component of fire-fighter training, enabling individual fire-fighters and fire officers to understand the ‘science’ of fires and how fires will behave and change in different environmental and structural conditions. Learning how to recognise and anticipate particular fire phenomena, such as backdrafts and flash-overs, before they occur is vital for fire-fighter safety. Red One and the Devon and Somerset Fire & Rescue Service (DSFRS) Training Academy has a long and distinguished record of providing quality assured and accredited Fire Behaviour training and has provided training to instructors from more than 30 Fire & Rescue Services from across the UK and overseas. Following a competitive tender process, the contract for training has been awarded on a ‘call-off’ basis initially for 12 months with options for a further 24 months. SYFRS have already booked a number of instructor staff onto courses at Red One’s training facility at Exeter Airport under this contract. Speaking about the contract, Chris Thain; Director – Business Development & Marketing at Red One said “We are very excited to have been award this contract from our colleagues at South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service. Compartment Fire Behaviour Training Instructors pass on vital risk and safety knowledge to their colleagues in service to ensure that they can conduct their roles in the utmost safety possible and we are honoured that South Yorkshire FRS have chosen Red One to help ensure that their CFBT Instructors receive the highest quality training available in the market today.”

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