International Paint are the leading suppliers International Paint is the leading global supplier of high performance coatings and is part of Akzo Nobel, the world’s largest coatings company. For over 35 years our Interchar™ and Chartek™ intumescent products have provided anti-corrosive and aesthetic fire protection up to four hours for structural steel markets including commercial infrastructure, bridges, power, oil and gas, chemical and mining. The new range of Interchar 1120 and 2060, offers up to two hours unrivalled protection on steel sections down to 6mm wall thickness for either shop or site application. With an excellent cosmetic finish that does not compromise intricate visual steelwork designs. Along with the reassurance that they meet BCA compliance requirements of AS1530.4 and AS4100. International Paint is able to offer you a single point responsibility solution, supporting you at each stage of a project from initial design with our fire engineering team, application support via dedicated technical service teams, through to future maintenance. This process ensures that what is specified and applied on the steel will meet international and local code compliance. Secure your next investment with International Paint.

The pumpers have already proved their worth  After Hytrans Fire Systems handed over the first three CombiContainer6500; HydroSub150 combinations to the Bavarian Ministry of Interior last June, the production process for the next three units runs on full speed. The first three units are stationed at the fire brigades of Nürnberg, Augsburg and Rosenheim of which the last mentioned already has proven its effectiveness during the flood disaster in June where the unit was deployed for several days continuously (see HytransNews in August 2013). Although the HFS systems are primary purchased for civil protection purpose, the fire brigades are allowed to deploy the units in their everyday use. The next three units are scheduled to be stationed at the fire brigades of Schweinfurt, Passau and Regensburg. After the ministries of Rhineland-Palatinate (Rheinland-Pfalz) and Baden- Württemberg, the Bavarian Ministry of the Interior is the third federated state which has chosen HFS to be an integral part for its civil protection plan.

For US Special Operations Tennessee Apparel Corp. (TAC), manufacturer of military garments, has been identified as the only qualified source for the procurement of chemical and biological protective garments under the Uniform Integrated Protection Ensemble Increment 1 (UIPE I1) effort. TAC has received the production option on a $129MM firm-fixed-price contract that had been issued in February 2012. The chemical and biological protective ensemble is a layered clothing system that consists of a lightweight combat uniform worn over a CB protective undergarment. W. L. Gore & Associates (Gore), a world leader in the development of high-performance protective fabrics, is the key material supplier on the contract. Gore’s stretch GORE® CHEMPAK® selectively permeable fabric is used in the protective undergarment layer of the clothing system. This clothing system provides enhanced individual protective capabilities through superior protection from warfare agents after wear, and after exposure to petroleum, oils, lubricants (POL) and other environmental contaminants. In addition, the innovative undergarment design integrates easily with current combat gear and personal protective equipment. The breathable performance of GORE® CHEMPAK® selectively permeable fabric reduces thermal burden by allowing perspiration vapor (sweat) to escape. In addition, the stretch construction allows for a comfortable, next-to-skin fit, which further reduces heat stress by eliminating the thermal insulating layer that surrounds the body and by increasing heat loss through convection. "We are excited about the launch of the UIPE I1 chemical and biological protective garment for the Special Operations community," says Rick Francis, Co-President of Tennessee Apparel Corp. "This durable, low-profile protective undergarment is truly a revolutionary CB product that will protect the Operator while allowing them to be more functional during operations in adverse conditions." Mike Kienzle, Product Specialist at Gore for GORE® CHEMPAK® products, says, "This is another instance of a user group choosing GORE® CHEMPAK® selectively permeable fabric because of the combination of durable, broad protection, and reduced thermal burden. This is a paradigm shift when compared to traditional chemical and biological protective fabrics." Kienzle adds, "Our commercially available selectively permeable fabrics have been certified for use in civil responder protective ensembles and approved for use in other US military CB protective ensembles." The chemical and biological protective clothing system is suitable for wear while performing combat operations, whether on land or at sea, in any climate, with minimal impact on combat effectiveness. The versatile design allows for easy integration with current and developmental clothing and equipment including load-bearing equipment, handwear, footwear, and protective masks. For more information about Tennessee Apparel Corporation’s military product offerings call 931.455.3491, or email Rick Francis at rfrancis@tnapc.com. For more information about GORE® CHEMPAK® products, visit GoreChempak.com or call 1.800.463.GORE (4673). About Tennessee Apparel Corporation Tennessee Apparel Corp. was founded in 1901 and started producing military trousers for the Department of Defense in 1957. They have produced in excess of 42 million military dress trousers and slacks, over 1.2 million cold weather parkas, and over 1 million cold weather trousers, along with several other specialty items, such as chemical warfare suits, sleeping bag covers, helmet covers, surgical gowns and drapes, and battle dress uniforms. About W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc. Gore is a technology-driven company focused on discovery and product innovation. Well known for waterproof, breathable GORE-TEX® fabric, the company’s portfolio includes everything from high-performance fabrics and implantable medical devices to industrial manufacturing components and aerospace electronics. Founded in 1958 and headquartered in Newark, Del., Gore posts annual sales of more than $3.2 billion and employs approximately 10,000 associates with manufacturing facilities in the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, Japan and China, and sales offices around the world. Gore is one of a select few companies to appear on all of the U.S. "100 Best Companies to Work For" lists since the rankings debuted in 1984. The company also appears regularly on similar lists around the world. Learn more at gore.com.

Conrad Dietrich Magirus Award 2013 Firefighting teams from many countries have been competing for the title of “Best Firefighting Team of the Year” in recent weeks. The winners have now been announced. Palermo Fire Department (Italy) was presented with the title at a gala ceremony in Ulm Conference Center by IVECO MAGIRUS Brandschutztechnik GmbH and was able to take the prestigious award home. The runner-up was Botosani Fire Department (Romania), while Mooskirchen Fire Department (Austria) celebrated third place. “It is an honor for us to welcome so many deserving firefighters here today. Together with countless peers around the world, you put your life on the line for us in emergency situations – and for this I would like to express my respect and thanks today,” said Antonio Benedetti, managing director of IVECO MAGIRUS Brandschutztechnik GmbH, the company that organized the competition. During the brilliant ceremony, some 400 invited guests experienced the full range of tasks that firefighters are confronted with on a day-to-day basis. Some of the teams that entered the competition cited extraordinary missions, ranging from a stubborn forest fire to the tricky rescue of a family stranded on high seas, and from severe snow storms and explosions to an infernal fire in a highway tunnel, to name just some examples. An international jury of experts put together a shortlist of ten emergency callouts in six different countries before the chosen finalists faced a second hurdle: a public online vote held on www.world-of-firefighters.com was to decide the ultimate winner. A split-second decision Palermo Fire Department secured the most votes. Theirs was a callout that the team will never forget, as fire chief Salvatore La Sala explained. One quiet December night, there was a call to attend a four-story building to examine the structure – which in itself is not unusual in a city like Palermo with its historic center. However, the team quickly discovered on-site that the situation was far more serious. Cracks spread across the walls, some of which were already buckled, and the stonework was crumbling. The fire department immediately began to evacuate the building, and just eight minutes later the entire palazzo collapsed. A courageous callout La Sala described the dramatic situation at the award ceremony: “There was a giant cloud of dust and debris. We could hear screams and were very concerned about the residents and our colleagues.” Thanks to their brave and rapid action, the Palermo Fire Department crew managed to rescue 15 people from the building, while help unfortunately came too late for four others. “Such a performance takes many years of experience and a well-established team of individuals who can rely on each other completely,” said Michel Bour, general secretary of the International Association of Fire and Rescue Services (CTIF), praising the crew on behalf of the jury. Antonio Benedetti also congratulated the winners before presenting them with the Conrad Dietrich Magirus statue together with Olympic gold medalist and five-time discus world champion Lars Riedel. The fire departments of Botosani and Mooskirchen were presented with certificates of honor for second and third place.  Trip to New York City Fire Department In addition to the statue, the outstanding commitment of the winning team was recognized with an exceptional prize: ten members of Palermo Fire Department will travel to see the most well-known firefighting team in the world – the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) – with flights and accommodation paid for as well as an exciting program of activities. There the Italian team will have the opportunity to learn all about the work of their American colleagues up close and in person. They will visit various fire stations, step aboard the world’s most modern fireboat, and experience how the US firefighters prepare for their work by attending a live training session at The Rock training academy.

Company’s former Vice President to lead Ohio-based fire manufacturer Akron Brass Company, a global marketer and manufacturer of high performance firefighting equipment, is pleased to announce the appointment of Sean Tillinghast to the role of president. Tillinghast, who most recently held the position of vice president of Weldon, a division of Akron Brass which specializes in lighting and electronic solutions to the student transportation, emergency services and specialty vehicle markets, will lead the company’s strategy and vision. Over his 17-year tenure with Weldon, Tillinghast has overseen all aspects of product development, operations and sales at the Columbus, Ohio manufacturing facility. Under his leadership, Weldon has expanded into new markets such as commercial trucks and had recently announced the strategic asset acquisition of Reach Engineering LLC. Tillinghast succeeds Tom Hudak who was announced as president of Newark element14. Chicago-based Newark is a multi-channel, high-service electronics distributor supporting millions of engineers and purchasing professionals across the Americas and is part of the global Premier Farnell Group. Speaking about the appointments, Premier Farnell CEO Laurence Bain said, "I am delighted to appoint Tom to lead our Newark element14 business. In Sean, we also have someone with vast experience and understanding of the Akron business and he thoroughly deserves this opportunity." A graduate of Kettering University (GMI-EMI), Tillinghast holds a bachelors of science degree in mechanical engineering and lives in Columbus with his wife of 21 years, Amy. About Akron Brass Company: Founded in 1918, Akron Brass has been a worldwide marketer and manufacturer of high performance life-safety, firefighting and emergency response equipment. Markets served consist of fire & rescue, petro-chemical, marine, military, airports, mining, specialty vehicles and bus & student transportation. A Premier Farnell Company [LON:PFL], Akron Brass is ISO 9001 registered and has an excellent reputation for developing and manufacturing innovative products. Headquartered in Wooster, OH, Akron Brass has additional manufacturing facilities in Columbus, OH and Washington, IL, with sales offices in Beijing, China and Dubai, UAE.

The Cinder is a 96″-wide cab Ferrara Fire Apparatus, America’s premier manufacturer of custom fire apparatus, made a major new product announcement today with the launch of its newest custom chassis, the Ferrara Cinder. The Cinder is manufactured at Ferrara’s Holden headquarters, alongside the popular Inferno, Igniter and Ultra custom chassis. The Cinder has the same design and construction found in the Inferno and Igniter, but is a 96” wide cab designed to compete in the entry level custom chassis market.   Company President/CEO Chris Ferrara explained the company’s decision to manufacture this new chassis. “We’re building an entry level chassis, but we refused to compromise on the safety features found in our premium custom models. Our customers asked for the heavy duty features of the Inferno and Igniter and we responded with the Cinder. The Cinder is a 96” wide cab. Because the difference between the Inferno and Cinder is in the engine tunnel width, the driver and officer will have the same generous seating area.   “With the Cinder, we’re providing the safety that comes only with riding in a cab constructed from 3/16” thick aluminum, comfort from a high performance air conditioning system plus a quiet cab interior, even at highway speeds. In fact, the Cinder is so quiet, its noise level at 45 mph is about 76 decibels without the fan clutch and 78 decibels when the fan clutch is engaged.   “We’re providing a more comfortable ride with extra leg room, natural height seat risers and electric roll down windows, low step heights for easy entry and egress. And we’re providing new technology that’s available to give information and cab and chassis controls to the driver and officer.   “We believe we hit the mark on everything and then some. Initial response from customers and dealers has been very positive. You can power the Cinder with up to 450 horsepower, making it the perfect fit for pumpers, tankers, rescues and our HD-57 and HD-77 aerial ladders.”   The Cinder features an extruded aluminum, roll cage sub-frame fortified by 3/16” thick, marine grade aluminum plate walls, floor, ceiling, door panels and engine tunnel. The Cinder is NFPA compliant with 65,979 pound vertical load test and 3,736 pound frontal impact test certifications. The Cinder has an impressive array of standard features, including Extreme Duty all aluminum dash, instrument panel, glove box, overhead console and inner door panels; electric windows, Danhard extra duty air conditioning system, flat floor rear crew cab for improved leg room, ergonomic height seat risers, 4100 square inch windshield and oversized side windows.   Ferrara Fire Apparatus manufactures a full line of fire, emergency and rescue vehicles. In addition to the Cinder the company offers the Ultra, Inferno and Igniter custom fire chassis, pumpers, tankers, rear and mid-mount aerial ladders and platforms, rescues and incident command vehicles high-flow industrial apparatus and specialty vehicles. A leading innovator in the industry, Ferrara takes pride in offering such firefighter safety items as the MVP Multi-Vocational Pumper, On-Site Tilt Table Testing, Cab and Body NFPA Compliant Crash Testing, Independent Front Suspension, Complete Airbag Protection, and SmartWheel steering systems.

Being beta tested by the Philadelphia FD The Philadelphia Fire Department is beta-testing a new mobile application that gives crews vital information at a fire scene – information officials say can help save the lives of citizens and firefighters. The Geographic Information System, or GIS for short, gives fire commanders access to thousands of data points on an interactive, satellite map — using a iPad like tablet. "We know the size of the building, the dimensions, how many occupants (the building has the capacity to hold.) It lets us know how many resources we’re going to need to get those people to another location. Or do we make the decision to shelter employees? So, it helps us make real-time decisions," says Deputy Fire Commissioner Derrick Sawyer. Through the GIS, commanders can review many types of information — including calls coming into the 911 system, the current location of fire trucks and ambulances, licenses and inspections (L&I) data, where hazardous materials are stored, floor plans for large buildings and the location, size and working condition of fire hydrants. "By knowing those hydrants that are out of service, we can actually deploy our resources to hydrants that we know are working, rather than having them go try to hook-up and realize, ‘Oh, they’re not working,’ and have to go to another location. That helps us get the service quicker," Sawyer said. This wealth of data that has never been readily accessible in the field. Currently, commanders rely on radio communications between other firefighters on scene and those working back in the dispatch center at the Fire Department Headquarters at 3rd and Spring Garden Streets. “We had applications that would show it, but relaying that information and getting that out in the field into the hands of responders was sort of a gap that we were trying to meet,” said Kevin Thomas, who helps develop data-driven applications for the city’s police, fire and emergency management departments. With a few taps, the user can overlay all of the natural gas mains and lines running under a street and into a building – a vital tool that can help prevent an explosion. Looking at the July 29 gas explosion that leveled two homes along the 400 block of Daly Street in South Philadelphia, Sawyer says such a map could have helped. "It’s going to help us to be able to shut off those gas lines quicker to that area. So you already have an explosion, gas lines are going to be open and we have to cut those off and secure that area," he said. Sawyer says providing such information quickly not only allows crews to extinguish fires faster, but also reduces the risk of a disaster. Born from Tragedy The app was designed following the deadly fire along Fabric Row in April. In that blaze, Battalion Chief Michael Goodwin died as he fought a fire at Jack B. Fabrics at 4th and Fitzwater Streets. The 53-year-old was cutting holes in the building’s roof when it collapsed from beneath him. "If we had a system like this during that time, we could have gotten real-time information on the shape of the building to help us operate safely in that environment," Sawyer said. Following Goodwin’s death, the department fast-tracked the development of the application, which had been envisioned, but had yet to be built. "You already have those kinds of ideas in your mind. And then when you have an incident like this, it drives you to take action," Sawyer said. "It becomes urgent and you say, ‘We can’t let this happen again.’" Developed over a six-month span by city staff, the application was mirrored after a program for the Philadelphia Police Department that is used to track and map crime. "Crime-fighting has always been proactive, and fire is traditionally reactive. And now, we’re taking a proactive approach to doing things…and saving lives in the process,” said Grant Ervin, one of the app’s primary developers. Smarter Firefighting So far this year, 21 lives have been lost in fires across the city. Last year, 25 people were killed. The department hopes to hold the lower number through the end of 2013, but Sawyer says an application like the GIS can also help further cut the number of fire deaths. Sawyer says the application can help visually show where groups at high-risk of fire reside in the city. That will assist the department in identifying where they should focus prevention efforts. "If we can identify those risk groups in advance, if we can identify which sections of the city they live in, we can be more proactive and go out and install alarms and do public safety education and reduce those fatalities," Sawyer said. Ervin says his team also wants to develop ways to help fire officials see trends by telling a story with the data being collected and shown through this application and others. As an example, should an electrician have a high number of fires related to their work, Ervin would like to give officials the ability to identify the jump by cross-referencing L&I data. Then the city can step in. "You can tell L&I ‘We should probably bring these people in and have a conversation with them like, Are you doing something different? Because you have a higher fire rate than all the other electrical contractors in the city,’" he said. "It’s one thing to give the guys in the field information, but how do you keep them better informed? It would stop things from happening before they happen." The GIS mobile application is the first major push by the department to use real-time technology to assist in firefighting in the field. The application is currently being beta tested by a battalion chief in North Philadelphia. Officials hope to roll out a final version, to be used on tablets, in the coming months.

No more are reported missing An explosion occurred at around 3.00pm on Tuesday 19th November at a refinery in Antwerp. The explosion resulted in the deaths of two contractor employees, working for French oil company, Total. No more are reported missing, said Total’s Production Director, Stanny Serrien. The tragedy occurred while maintenance work was being carried out on a steam generation system in a gasoline production unit. No fires resulted from the explosion, and according to Total the situation is now under control. Following the explosion the refinery’s emergency plan was activated resulting in the evacuation of the facilities and the shut down of part of the plant. The company has said that the blast occurred in the steam system of a unit producing petrol.  

At gala event in London  Xtralis today announced its next-generation Xtralis Everywhere (Xtralis-E) portfolio of converged safety and security solutions. This innovative portfolio provides early, reliable detection and remote visual verification of smoke, gas, and perimeter threats for businesses, governments, and critical infrastructure. All of the solutions were revealed at a gala event in London, featuring presentations from the City of London Fire Brigade, U.S. Homeland Security Investigation (HSI) directorate, and the Bank of England on 14 November 2013 in London, UK. Among the next-generation solutions released were VESDA-E and VESDA Laser Quantum (VLQ) aspirating smoke detectors (ASD), and the ADPRO FastTrace 2E Remotely Managed Multi-service Gateway (RMG) security platform. The new safety and security platforms can be enhanced with seamless hardware expansion modules and innovative, remotely downloadable software analytics, called Xapps. Using Xtralis Xchange, an online licensing portal with a downloadable PC application, Xapps can be quickly deployed to remotely manage, configure, and exchange licenses to Xtralis platforms. In addition, Xtralis revealed its comprehensive safety and security convergence strategy using these platforms to achieve 100% detection with 0% false alarm rates, a goal previously thought to be unattainable. VESDA-E is the next-generation of VESDA, the world’s leading ASD system. While current-generation VESDA was considered the benchmark for ASD systems, VESDA-E surpasses VESDA with 15 times greater sensitivity to smoke and double the longevity while maintaining sensitivity over its lifetime, all with 4% less power consumption. Xtralis will continue to offer VESDA as best-in-class ASD for a wide variety of applications, while initially targeting VESDA-E to retail, healthcare, education, and office building segments which comprise a large cross-section of the fire prevention market. VESDA-E also delivers a first in aspirating smoke detection — pin-point ASD addressability at up to 120 holes. This unprecedented capability brings the early, reliable detection of VESDA to main stream applications with a lower total cost of ownership advantage. VESDA-E can quickly add monitoring, servicing, and detection capabilities with the addition of bolt-on hardware modules called VESDA Stax, including a version of its award-winning ECO gas detection solution. The Stax do not require re-engineering of the smoke detection pipe network. VESDA-E brings superior setup, configuration, monitoring, and connectivity options, and features unique, innovative, downloadable Xapp software applications, which enable new, on-demand monitoring services. Available immediately are WireTrace Xapp, to isolate threats from overheating cables and electrical wires; DieselTrace Xapp, for monitoring diesel smoke trends to enable on-demand ventilation systems; and, DustTrace Xapp, for monitoring dust conditions and enabling corrective response to take place with ventilation. Monitoring of the VESDA-E detector is available on popular tablets using an iVESDA application. The ADPRO FastTrace 2E is a 4-to-20-channel next-generation version of the award-winning FastTrace 2, a Remotely Managed Multi-Service Gateway platform for video recording, bi-directional audio for deterrence, transmission over any network, and remotely downloadable software analytics to eliminate threats to a facility through automatic visual detection and verification. The FastTrace 2E provides superior detection capabilities and is up to 86% lower in total cost of ownership (TCO) than solutions combining discrete recording, transmission (for remote access over any network), and analytics capabilities. The ADPRO FastTrace 2E is packed with pay-as-you-grow features that can easily be upgraded in-the-field with minimum effort, and provides significant installation and operational cost savings versus traditional deployment methods. ADPRO FastTrace 2E allows users to add video channels or migrate between analogue and IP on-site with an upgrade package, and remotely download applications such as IntrusionTrace, an intrusion detection analytic that is i-LIDS® approved as a primary detection system for operational alert use in sterile zone monitoring applications; LoiterTrace, a detection analytic for unauthorized loitering in indoor & outdoor applications; and, SmokeTrace which allows monitoring sites to visually verify fire threats before calling the fire brigade, reducing false alarms and significantly lowering the large cost of responding to false fire alarms. VESDA Laser Quantum (VLQ) brings VESDA-quality value and very early warning (VEW) to compact areas where VEW was previously unaffordable. VLQ offers 4 Class-A VEW holes and quick and easy installation and commissioning, covering 1002 meters (1,000 sq-ft). Target applications include remote telecom exchanges, base stations, portable data centres, and other compact critical infrastructure applications. Xtralis unveiled its first converged safety & security solution, called SmokeTrace — a FastTrace 2E video analytic to provide remote visual verification of smoke threats to eliminate false alarms and provide real-time situational awareness to improve first responder efficiency and effectiveness. SmokeTrace PLUS uses the Xtralis OSID smoke detector to alarm on real smoke threats in existing installations where video cameras and traditional smoke detectors are already installed, providing certain visual verification and real-time situational awareness of a smoke threat. When used with VESDA-E, SmokeTrace provides real-time situational awareness to complement VESDA-E’s addressable pinpoint location identification.  More information on each of these solutions is available at www.xtralis.com/xtralis-e