Initiative replaces fluorine-based foam concentrates The Solberg Company, the world’s foremost innovator of firefighting foam concentrates and systems hardware announced today a program to replace fluorine-based foam concentrates in foam/water sprinkler systems with a high-performance environmentally sustainable firefighting foam concentrate for Class B fuel fires, while maintaining the critical product certification on the existing system. The Foam/Water Sprinkler System Upgrade Program utilizes RE-HEALING™ Foam, the world’s first UL Listed and FM Approved fluorine-free foam concentrate, which contains no fluorine or other organohalogens, whether surfactant or polymer based. Customers that currently have foam/water sprinkler systems that contain fluorine-based foam concentrates, that would like to replace this old technology with the latest advancements in firefighting foam agents, can now do so under this program without losing the product certification (UL Listing or FM Approval) on the existing installation, as a result of; their desire to improve their environmental responsibility, a foam/water sprinkler system discharge, or replacement of foam concentrate that has not passed its annual foam concentrate test as required by National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 11 – Standard for Low, Medium and High Expansion Foam. RE-HEALING Foam System Upgrade Program Certificate The program allows users of fluorine containing Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) foam/water sprinkler systems to upgrade to the finest, high-performing firefighting foam technology, RE-HEALING Foam while reducing the cost of system changeover, and maintain the existing system compliance certification as well. Details of the program are quite simple. When RE-HEALING Foam is purchased for a foam/water sprinkler system at standard market price, Solberg will supply to the customer, free of charge, a SOLBERG UL Listed and FM Approved standard proportioner, and a supply of automatic sprinklers that are also UL Listed and FM Approved with RE-HEALING Foam concentrate, allowing the customer to maintain the current listing or approval on the system. To obtain a copy of the Program Certificate, learn more about the RE-HEALING Foam System Upgrade Program, or schedule a site review of your existing foam/water sprinkler system, please contact your regional Solberg sales representative as found at http://www.solbergfoam.com/contact.aspx.

The fire engine will be formally launched by Deputy Commissioner A B Ibrahim The Pandeshwar Fire Service has procured a high-end fire engine. The engine is equipped with an aerial ladder platform able to reach buildings of 10-12 storeys and mounted on a Volvo chassis. The RLX range is one of four ranges of Bronto Skylift rescue and fire-fighting applications. The aerial ladder can reach a height of 32 m with a maximum outreach of 23 m, making it capable of covering the topmost floors of most buildings in the city. The engine has a water capacity of 3,800 litres/min.  The fire engine, which was earlier stationed in Bangalore, arrived on Wednesday June 25. It will be formally launched by Deputy Commissioner A B Ibrahim.

Scott Safety now offers SCBA, compressors, thermal imaging cameras and communications Over 65 years ago, Scott Safety introduced the first Air Pak SCBA to the fire services. Since that time, Scott Safety has continuously supported first responders globally with innovative products, smart solutions, and a dedicated level of support. Scott Safety now offers SCBA, compressors, thermal imaging cameras, communications, accountability, and personal location products for first responders, including fire-fighters, EMS, HAZMAT, and law enforcement applications. The new ProPak-f/ProPak-fx comes with a choice of 200 -300bar cylinders as well as the new high-pressure 379 bar cylinder technology. At 25% higher pressures than the standard 300 bar SCBA, these new cylinders offer increased duration with minimal increases in size and weight providing fire-fighters with a duration of up to 75 minutes and a convenient method of utilising an extended duration breathing apparatus without increasing user burden.

E2S has published a complete guide for easy specification and installation E2S has published a complete guide for easy specification and installation for their range of intrinsically safe sounders, beacons and combination devices. The guide is based on the ATEX certification but in general, the guidelines apply to other intrinsic safety standards including NEC and IECEx. Focusing on interface selection, the guide offers advice regarding the advantages and disadvantages of Zener barriers and isolation interfaces and provides the general entity parameters for E2S intrinsically safe products. Typical system diagrams detail how efficiently to employ different types of Zener barriers or isolators to control combination audio-visual signals and multiple alarm stages. Additionally, the article proposes suitable barriers for use with E2S intrinsically safe products which the company can source and supply as part of your product order. The intrinsically safe range from E2S includes audible and visual signals and manual call points suitable for use in Group II Zone 0 and Group I mining plus Class I Division 1 applications. The IS range features approval to ATEX, IECEx and NEC standards as well as Russian TR CU (EAC EX) certification. The guide can be downloaded from www.e2s.com/isguide.

The Solberg Company, the world’s foremost innovator of firefighting foam concentrates and systems hardware, has announced the company has achieved FM Approval on the company’s RE-HEALING™ RF3, 3% and ARCTIC™ 3×3% ATC™ foam concentrates. RE-HEALING Foam concentrate is a high performance fluorine-free foam concentrate for use on Class B hydrocarbon fuel fires. RE-HEALING Foam is also used to prevent re-ignition of a liquid spill and control hazardous vapors. The new FM Approval for RE-HEALING RF3, 3% foam includes bladder tanks, proportioners, foam chambers, foam makers and fire sprinklers. The FM Approval with multiple standard automatic sprinklers includes RELIABLE® F-1 upright and pendent style (5.6 and 8.0 K-Factors), RELIABLE Model G upright and pendent style (5.6 and 8.0 K-Factors), and the RELIABLE upright G XLO (11.2 K-Factor). “Advances in foam technology have completed another revolution of the fire science world. We have passed from protein to fluorine containing foam in the 20th century to high performance non-halide containing RE-HEALING foam for the 21st century” explained Solberg’s General Manager Steve Hansen. “All of the ingredients in RE-HEALING foam concentrates have been individually tested under the HOCNF protocol and are safe for use from the North Sea to the South Pacific. Every question that has been asked of RE-HEALING foam has been answered without a sacrifice in fire performance. From this generation of products we see a great beginning for the next generation of RE-HEALING Foams.” RE-HEALING RF3, 3% foam concentrate is both UL Listed and FM Approved for use in automatic sprinkler systems at exactly the same application rates and sprinkler operating pressures as Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) concentrates. Equal system performance has been achieved with a completely fluorine-free concentrate that also happens to be high performance firefighting foam. “This is yet another singular milestone for The Solberg Company, achieving the world’s only FM Approved foam concentrate that is completely free of all fluorine, whether called fluorosurfactant or fluoropolymer. As with Underwriters Laboratories, this is the direct result of the hard work and dedication of all Solberg employees around the world. Solberg now offers the world’s only truly fluorine free foam concentrate that is both UL Listed and FM Approved, backed up by the world’s only Foam Concentrate Environmental Warranty.” stated Dennis Kennedy, Executive Vice President of Amerex Corporation, the parent Company of Solberg. In addition to the FM Approval on RE-HEALING RF3, Solberg also obtained FM Approval on ARCTIC 3×3% ATC foam concentrate, for use with foam chambers, foam makers, and the same sprinklers as identified for RE-HEALING RF3. ARCTIC foam concentrates are 2015 compliant to the U.S. EPA Stewardship Program on C6 fluorine chemistry. Based in Green Bay, Wisconsin, with operations in Bergen, Norway and Sydney, Australia, Solberg (an Amerex Corporation 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.

The Solberg Company, the world’s foremost innovator of firefighting foam concentrates and systems hardware, has announced the company has achieved FM Approval on the company’s RE-HEALING™ RF3, 3% and ARCTIC™ 3×3% ATC™ foam concentrates. RE-HEALING Foam concentrate is a high performance fluorine-free foam concentrate for use on Class B hydrocarbon fuel fires. RE-HEALING Foam is also used to prevent re-ignition of a liquid spill and control hazardous vapors. The new FM Approval for RE-HEALING RF3, 3% foam includes bladder tanks, proportioners, foam chambers, foam makers and fire sprinklers. The FM Approval with multiple standard automatic sprinklers includes RELIABLE® F-1 upright and pendent style (5.6 and 8.0 K-Factors), RELIABLE Model G upright and pendent style (5.6 and 8.0 K-Factors), and the RELIABLE upright G XLO (11.2 K-Factor). “Advances in foam technology have completed another revolution of the fire science world. We have passed from protein to fluorine containing foam in the 20th century to high performance non-halide containing RE-HEALING foam for the 21st century” explained Solberg’s General Manager Steve Hansen. “All of the ingredients in RE-HEALING foam concentrates have been individually tested under the HOCNF protocol and are safe for use from the North Sea to the South Pacific. Every question that has been asked of RE-HEALING foam has been answered without a sacrifice in fire performance. From this generation of products we see a great beginning for the next generation of RE-HEALING Foams.” RE-HEALING RF3, 3% foam concentrate is both UL Listed and FM Approved for use in automatic sprinkler systems at exactly the same application rates and sprinkler operating pressures as Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) concentrates. Equal system performance has been achieved with a completely fluorine-free concentrate that also happens to be high performance firefighting foam. “This is yet another singular milestone for The Solberg Company, achieving the world’s only FM Approved foam concentrate that is completely free of all fluorine, whether called fluorosurfactant or fluoropolymer. As with Underwriters Laboratories, this is the direct result of the hard work and dedication of all Solberg employees around the world. Solberg now offers the world’s only truly fluorine free foam concentrate that is both UL Listed and FM Approved, backed up by the world’s only Foam Concentrate Environmental Warranty.” stated Dennis Kennedy, Executive Vice President of Amerex Corporation, the parent Company of Solberg. In addition to the FM Approval on RE-HEALING RF3, Solberg also obtained FM Approval on ARCTIC 3×3% ATC foam concentrate, for use with foam chambers, foam makers, and the same sprinklers as identified for RE-HEALING RF3. ARCTIC foam concentrates are 2015 compliant to the U.S. EPA Stewardship Program on C6 fluorine chemistry. Based in Green Bay, Wisconsin, with operations in Bergen, Norway and Sydney, Australia, Solberg (an Amerex Corporation 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.

Exova Warringtonfire, the specialist fire engineering, testing and certification provider, has announced its latest expansion in Doha, the capital city of Qatar. The move further establishes the company as one of the region’s leading providers of fire safety expertise.   With established operations in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, Exova Warringtonfire has opened its new Qatar fire consultancy business, creating an initial five new skilled roles. The Qatar consultancy, the first independent global fire engineering specialist to establish in the city, will offer fire safety engineering and inspection.   Stuart Kerr, Exova Warringtonfire’s General Manager in the Middle East, said:   “Motivated by customer demand, this expansion will allow us to service a growing number of customers in Qatar that require technically demanding fire engineering services, and to support the Qatar Civil Defence Department.   “A mood of improved economic confidence has resulted in a rapid growth of development and investment in the region, and this, coupled with an increased focus on fire safety and regulation at a Government level, means that the time is right to formalise a presence on the ground.   “The Doha facility will significantly strengthen our Middle East offer, and underlines the recognition by our customers in the region that Exova Warringtonfire is a leader in its field.”   With extensive infrastructure investment in the country, including developments for the football World Cup in 2022, Exova Warringtonfire, which leads the market in fire engineering for mass transit facilities, is already working on buildings, stadia and metro systems to implement and engineer fire safety strategies.

The fire may have been started deliberately  Asos has confirmed that a fifth of its stock was "compromised" after a fire broke out at its main distribution warehouse. The online fashion retailer said that at the end of May the company held £159m worth of stock at cost price, with 70% of it held at the warehouse in Barnsley. Although the stock damage at cost price is estimated at around £20m, the value may exceed £30m at retail prices. The company said in a statement: "None of the technology, automation or structure of the building has been affected by the fire. "Our initial estimate is that approximately 20% of the total stock at the site has been compromised by fire damage and the sprinkler systems." "The clean-up process commenced on Saturday morning and progressed quickly. "Consequently, at 2am this morning we recommenced taking orders. We are fully insured for loss of stock and business interruption." In early stock market trades, shares were down more than 2% before bouncing back to around the session’s starting price. Customer Hannah Williams, from Birmingham, had ordered a pair of shoes on Friday for next-day delivery. "Obviously it didn’t arrive on Saturday and I’ve since received a generic letter saying it’s on its way," she told Sky News. "I’m hoping it arrives today. It’s pretty inconvenient, but I suppose worse things happen in life." The fire affected four floors of its warehouse in Park Spring Road, Grimethorpe, and led to 500 workers being evacuated after the alarm was raised at 9.50pm on Friday. After initial investigations, South Yorkshire Police determined the fire was deliberately lit and have launched a criminal inquiry. The force appealed for anyone with information to get in touch. Asos said it was "co-operating fully" with the investigation. The warehouse is thought to handle over 10 million packages at any one time. It is more than 60,000 square metres in size – bigger than seven football pitches. In early June, the fashion giant’s share price dropped 40% after the retailer issued an unexpected profit warning. At the time Asos said it would be less profitable this year due to higher promotional activity, the strong rate of growth in low-margin products, and foreign currency weakness because of the strong pound. Previously, ever since it floated on the stock exchange in 2001, it had been a darling for investors who saw its value rise sharply. Asos – which was originally called As Seen On Screen – has worldwide sales of £750m. It has been one of the most successful businesses at capitalising on the large number of British consumers who have switched from high street shopping to buying clothes online.

Including LTI ladders, platforms and tractor-drawn aerials Smeal Fire Apparatus Co. announced that it has acquired the assets of LTI, including LTI ladders, platforms and tractor-drawn aerials, Squrt and TeleSqurt boom-ladders and Snorkel articulating aerial platforms. This acquisition enhances Smeal’s product offering to the fire service, adding an extensive line of aerial apparatus to the company’s already expansive line of industry-leading steel aerial ladders, platforms, and tillers. With the addition of LTI aerials, Smeal now offers the largest selection of aerial models available to the fire service. “LTI has an outstanding reputation in aerial apparatus dating back to decades and decades, but it’s the exceptional reliability, safety and design features of their current products which make them an outstanding addition to the Smeal aerial product offering," said Mark Huber, Smeal’s president. "This acquisition provides our customers with more choices, and it provides additional opportunities for us to serve urban aerial customers who are looking for the reliability, performance and packaging of the LTI, Squrt, TeleSqurt and Snorkel lines." Huber said Smeal’s priority is to support the many fire departments that have LTI, Squrt, Telesqurt and Snorkel aerials in their fleets currently. "Smeal has brought these products into our company for the long term," Huber explained. "As a result, we understand the need to quickly provide parts and service support for these customers. We will be supporting them through an experienced aftermarket team and comprehensive parts support program with local service available through Smeal’s nationwide network of dealers.” As part of the acquisition, Smeal acquired the technical data files for units sold previously to help ensure continuity of service LTI, Telesqurt, Squrt and Snorkel customers. The newly acquired products will be integrated into the Smeal product line and available on Smeal s450 and S600 chassis and on Spartan custom fire chassis.