What do offshore workers think?  All Super Puma helicopter flights to UK oil installations remain temporarily suspended following a crash off Shetland in the North Sea on Friday that left four people dead. So what are the views of some of those workers who travel in the helicopters to get to and from their jobs? "I’m due offshore today but I’ll be back in two weeks and I’m very scared about it," says Amy, who works in the same part of the oil industry as Sarah Darnley, 45, from Elgin – one of those who died in Friday’s crash. She says she will "personally refuse" to get into a Super Puma if they are reinstated and "will consider a job change if something is not done by the industry to address the issue of safety". The Super Puma AS332 L2 had been carrying 16 passengers and two crew from the Borgsten Dolphin oil rig to Sumburgh airport in Shetland when the incident happened on Friday evening. Along with Ms Darnley, Duncan Munro, 46, from Bishop Auckland, Gary McCrossan, 59, from Inverness, and George Allison, 57, from Winchester died. An investigation now under way has not yet established the cause of the crash. "It´s a terrible loss," says Amy. "I only wish that they had grounded the Super Pumas when they had previous warnings." Friday’s crash was the fifth time in four years that Super Pumas have been involved in North Sea incidents, and another model – the Super Puma EC225 – was grounded following two emergencies in 2012. Those aircraft were only given the go-ahead to resume flying earlier this month. Commenting on Friday’s fatal crash, Super Puma manufacturer, Eurocopter, says: "At this point in time, limited technical information is available regarding the cause of this accident. "Eurocopter’s experts are in Aberdeen working closely with the investigation authorities to determine the cause." ‘Safety concerns’ Other employees describe the cramped conditions of some Super Pumas. "The EC225 is a flying death trap," says one oil worker who has been travelling offshore for 20 years and wants to remain anonymous. "The internal seat layout means [those] in the back… are so close that your knees are interlocked with the passenger sitting opposite you. "In an emergency it would be nigh-on impossible to get out of such a small space." About 26,000 people, from technicians to catering staff, work for more than 100 nights a year offshore in the UK, according to Oil and Gas UK. The number rises to more than 50,000 when others working offshore for a few nights a year are included. Aviation experts argue the Super Puma has a relatively good safety record, having been service in the North Sea for some 30 years and with over 800 aircraft operating around the world. Another unnamed oil worker, who accepts the helicopters are doing hundreds and hundreds of flights a day without any problems, goes on to say: "If a fixed-wing airplane had as many accidents as the Super Puma nobody would fly in it." He says he will have his reservations about taking the helicopter again. "Everyone who gets on tries to get a window seat in case of an emergency." An oil worker from Fochabers in Moray, based on a platform near Shetland, agrees many workers have lost faith in the aircraft. "The general feedback from the guys out here is that if they were asked to go on Super Puma helicopters they would certainly have doubts – to the point of refusing point blank. "But you are then put between a rock and a hard place because if you don’t go to work you can’t support your family, pay your mortgage etc." RMT union’s Jake Molloy says: "There’s certainly a groundswell of concern across the industry, but workers say they can’t comment openly because of worries about their employment." ‘Vastly improved’ safety The partner of someone who works on a rig west of Shetland says: "Morale regarding flights is at an all time low, with many people extremely nervous to fly." But she says most of them are reluctant to speak out. "The fact that workers are put in this position… where they feel speaking the truth about safety issues concerning transport to and from work may result in lost jobs, is an absolute disgrace." However, Duncan Trapp from CHC – which operated the helicopter that crashed on Friday – says: "We understand the concerns and anger among the workforce and we are devastated by Friday’s tragedy. It is too early to identify the cause of the accident. "Any offshore worker should be assured that no helicopter operator and no pilot will fly unless they believe it is safe to do so. We do not and will not cut corners on safety." The company also stresses that "significant work by those involved in safety" in the oil and gas industry has "vastly improved the safety of those travelling to offshore installations" in the last four years. And a spokeswoman from Oil and Gas UK, representing the industry, says "questions and any concerns" should be flagged up to the Helicopter Safety Steering Group (HSS), which is now deciding whether to continue suspending Super Pumas. "Helicopter safety remains a focus" for the industry, she adds. (SOURCE: BBC)

3-6 September 2013 in Aberdeen Oldham will be showcasing its fixed gas monitoring products at the Offshore Europe Conference and Exhibition, 3-6 September 2013 in Aberdeen, UK. You’ll be able to find us at stand 3D81. Meet our representatives to say hello and learn about our wide array of products, such as the iTrans 2, MX 43, and the OLCT 80 Wireless! We are looking forward to speaking with you at the event! About Offshore Europe: Offshore Europe conference and exhibition attracts a global audience of engineers, technical specialists, industry leaders and experts to share ideas and debate the issues of the moment in the upstream industry. It is a multi-faceted event that reflects the E&P community’s desire for continuous learning, showcasing the innovation, solutions and tools required to compete in an accelerating technology race in an increasingly complex business.

For advanced incident training  The Attunda Fire & Rescue Service has chosen RescueSim for its incident management and emergency response training. The Attunda F&R Service is the latest customer in Sweden to be using the RescueSim Virtual Incident Training Platform for enhanced training of its personnel. The Attunda Fire & Rescue Service is a municipal association servicing six large member municipalities, Knivsta, Järfälla, Sigtuna, Sollentuna, Upplands-Bro and Upplands Väsby. Each district of the Fire Service consists of station officers, fire inspectors, fire engineers and fire teams. Its federal management, administration and process group is positioned at the Sollentuna fire station. The Attunda Fire & Rescue Service currently employs around 270 employees working for the safety in the region. RescueSim is developed by VSTEP and is a new generation of virtual training tools for emergency responders and Fire and Rescues services. RescueSim allows emergency crews to virtually train and experience any thinkable incident as they would in real-life. They assess the situation and determine the best response strategy, implement it and then observe the consequences of their decisions. The RescueSim virtual incident training platform is currently used in over 20 countries worldwide and its customer base continues to increase as more emergency services and safety professionals recognise the positive effect virtual training has on their incident response effectiveness and as enhancement of their practical training. The Attunda F&R Service will use the Scandic version of RescueSim which includes Swedish Police, Ambulance and Highways Agency vehicles, appliances and personnel for realistic training of incidents. More info about the RescueSim virtual incident simulator can be found on www.rescuesim.com For more information about RescueSim in Sweden, contact SkySkol AB, official RescueSim agent for Sweden at www.skyskol.com

Teaser: Copenhagen Website: http://www.arena-international.com/fpst/

Has roots in Scotland  Who knew that each time you put on your Nomex® fire fighter turnout gear you might be wearing a little bit of British history? Whilst Nomex®, the fibre that provides the heat and flame protection in turnout gear, is manufactured and distributed the world over, its roots are in bonnie Scotland. Nomex® fibres were first explored in the 1950’s by Scottish developer Dr Wilfred Sweeny, who won a Lavoisier Medal, the highest award for scientific and technical achievement from DuPont, in 2002 for his work with the fibre. Born in Glasgow, Scotland in 1926, he developed a keen interest in science and attended Glasgow University where he earned his Bachelor’s degree and Ph.D in Chemistry. This innovative fibre protects wearers from heat and flames by using three crucial mechanisms. The fibre absorbs heat, keeping it away from the wearer. The fibre also swells and thickens when exposed to heat, increasing the protective barrier between the heat source and the skin. After the fibre has completely cooled down and is taken out of the heat, the garment may crack or break open, showing that the fibre has done its job and has absorbed the heat and has carbonised, providing extra seconds of protection without impairing mobility. A garment made with Nomex® is not designed to stay intact or look pretty after an incident. It is designed to protect people! Today, Nomex® is worn by more than three million firefighters around the world who are protected by turnout gear, stationwear and accessories made from Nomex®. Due to its specific combination of flame protection, durability and breathability, Nomex® is also used in apparel worn by military pilots and combat vehicle crew; car racing drivers, pit crew members and track officials; as well as industrial workers at risk from flash fire and electric arc hazards. Nomex® is a truly amazing invention that the British are proud to call their own. Never one to rest on its laurels, garments made with Nomex® fibre continue to develop and improve day by day.

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Data centres demand a unique perspective on fire prevention Data centres and server farms are a vital part of the modern landscape. Their importance to modern society is reflected in the commensurate level of investment being made to ensure they stay up and running 24/7 Ask anyone which commodity is the most valuable in the modern business environment and most will respond with "data". The investment in data gathering, cleaning and storing followed by dissemination via comprehensive global communications networks is truly vast, with billions being spent around the world to build up personal and corporate profiles and histories in order to tailor business transactions and advertising down to an almost individual, personal level. One look at the money companies like Google, Apple and Microsoft pour into data gathering activities and you will be left in no doubt that knowing the ins and outs of every person on the planet must be the ultimate aim. Even if you are ‘Big Brother’ averse, you will not have escaped the eye of some form of data-gathering exercise. What most people don’t see is what goes on behind the scenes. Server farms, data centres and telecoms hubs can occupy hundreds of thousands of square feet of real estate, with racks upon racks of servers and communications modules catering to the demands of the modern consumer and business environment. To illustrate the scale and complexity of such an installation, Google recently threw the doors open on one of its many worldwide locations. It simply has to be seen to be believed. With their value skyrocketing everyday and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) promising 99.99% uptime, the integrity of these installations is paramount. One of the biggest hurdles is the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) environmental control – coping with the staggering amount of heat that is generated by thousands of server racks or exchange points. The second is fire protection, both passive and reactive. These are not ordinary buildings and, as such they demand a rather unique way of dealing with fire issues. The problem with heavy-demand HVAC solutions is that unobstructed airflow is essential for their optimal operation. This immediately creates issues from a fire-containment perspective as it leaves clear paths through which fires can propagate. This is dealt with to a certain degree automatic-duct-closure systems and by one of the primary approaches to passive fire protection – compartmentalisation. By segregating servers into sub groups and keeping them separate from others, fire containment becomes a lot simpler. It also makes sense from a computing perspective where back-up servers should be isolated and remote relative to each other. Complementing the architectural segregation many sever cabinets have built in fire resistance, or at the very least solutions to help fires propagating too far too quickly. Where the cable runs and other interconnecting or structural elements are concerned, architects often specify intumescent or vermiculite fire protection. Vermiculite fire protection is where structural elements are covered very thick layers of protective materials, although a cheap option it is not all that pleasant to look at so tends to be hidden away – especially in instances where cleanliness and flowing lines are the order of the day such as what we can see in the Google server farms. Intumescent fireproofing normally comprises a layer of paint, which is applied along onto structural members in coating thicknesses that are commensurate with the cross section and perimeter of the item being coated. Because of their relatively low thickness, appealing finish and corrosion protection capabilities, intumescent coatings are often preferred in terms of both performance and aesthetics, although not generally in terms of price. Passive fire protection appears in multiple other guises, but in most instances it is the ruggedising of structural elements in order to reduce the risk of fire or, at the very least, slow or even prevent it spreading any further. Should the worst happen, we quickly dive into the world of active fire-fighting solutions. Like any other industrial installation, fire detection and suppression is key; and in many instances the fire detection technology is very similar to what you would see anywhere else, although in some case it may be tuned to adapt to higher operating temperatures. Fire suppression is when it becomes awkward… rather than accepting asset damage as an unfortunate side effect of fire fighting, the solutions demanded by data centres often lead to highly advanced techniques and materials that although costly compared to more general fire suppression approaches, can do the job with negligible damage to the assets being protected. One of the most effective ways to fight fires is through the use of gaseous systems, which deploy proprietary materials specially developed to extinguish flames and sources of ignition. One of the most well known solutions is Novec 1230 Fire Protection Fluid from 3M. A proprietary technology form 3M, Novec is a fluoroketone that works as a gas upon discharge, yet it is a liquid at room temperature. It can be used for total flooding applications in engineered and pre-engineered systems and is ideal for environments such as switching centres, computer rooms, control rooms and data centres where uninterrupted operation is critical. In addition to its impressive fire-fighting capabilities, Novec 1230 fluid also offers zero ozone depletion potential, a five-day atmospheric lifetime and a global warming potential of just 1 – an environmental profile that hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and other halocarbon agents can’t begin to match. Because of this, Novec 1230 fluid – unlike HFCs – is not targeted for phase-down or regulatory restrictions anywhere in the world, making it today’s sustainable choice for clean agent fire protection. Gaseous systems can also be used to prevent fires. Hypoxic air fire prevention systems can be deployed to permanently reduce the oxygen concentration inside buildings or sub sections. They are installed to actually prevent both ignition and spreading. Although they are the ultimate in fire prevention they do have a downside in that operators rely on the oxygen that they replace – leading to the need

Label: Hochiki Title: Single point of contact Teaser: The benefits of partnering with a single source supplier Label: Darley Interview Label: Sherwin-Williams Label: Mark Fletcher Title: Data centres Teaser: with fire protection you can trust Teaser: a unique perspective on fire prevention

With his company offering a total life safety solution along with a comprehensive range of fire detection components, Hochiki Europe’s sales director, Graham Lowe, explains the benefits of partnering with a single source supplier and how this can help all parties grow their businesses. The life safety industry is a highly competitive environment with a wide array of companies all vying for position as the manufacturer of choice. Things are very similar at installer level and with pressure on margins it is increasingly important to work with vendors that can provide excellent service and support, reliable products that are easy to configure and, in a significant number of cases, a complete system from control panels through to individual devices. It is the latter point on this list that has driven Hochiki Europe to take the step of adapting its business model from being simply a component provider to one that also offers complete end-to-end systems solutions. Hochiki has been offering systems solutions for a number of years and this strategy has been enhanced by the acquisition last year of one of the world’s leading control panel manufacturers. Our ability to now offer a total solution means that we can develop our own business whilst also helping our chosen partners enhance their profits and grow their own organisations. This, in the current economic conditions, is good news. However, the question that we are often asked is how exactly will this work and what are the benefits of working with a systems provider? The first thing I should point out is that our open protocol device business is incredibly important to us, particularly in the UK and specific European markets and has been the backbone of our operation for some while. However, what we have realised is that in order to be involved in higher profile projects, we need to offer the broadest possible selection of solutions, as well as the expert support that goes with them. Partnering with a number of carefully selected integrators that fulfil specific qualifying criteria means we can offer them exclusive access to the full range of products and systems. This includes technology that is suited to more specialised environments including wireless fire detection for use in locations where minimum disturbance to the fabric of the building is important, as well as aspirating and voice evacuation systems. A manufacturer that can complement these options with an emergency lighting offering will, therefore, be able to fulfil most project requirements. Offering a control panel range as part of an overall system means that approval can be given for EN 54-13 compliance. This calls for the testing of a system to ensure full functional compatibility of the various components, regardless of the manufacturer or brand. Incidentally, some European states are calling for fire alarm components such as control & indicating equipment, and detectors & notification devices to be third-party tested for compatibility and certified to EN 54-13 before entry into the market is allowed. For installers and integrators, when it comes to deciding which manufacturers to work with, there are a number of factors to consider. Although the initial cost of the system is important, the total cost of ownership – maintenance, servicing, breakdown charges and product replacement costs – can be many times higher than the initial investment. A reliable high quality fire detection system will ensure that unwelcome and disruptive incidents will be all but eliminated, and that the costs associated with ensuring that it remains fit for purpose are kept to a minimum. While it is obviously important to make sure that a systems provider has the widest possible selection of quality products, so too is ensuring that the right level of service and support is available. Hochiki Europe sought to prove its credentials in both areas by carrying out a survey of its customers’ views regarding the quality and reliability of its products and the standard of its customer service. It found that 96% of respondents rated the company’s product quality as ‘good’ or ‘excellent’, while nearly 90% reported that its products met all their requirements and 87 per cent regarded the quality of its service as ‘good’ or ‘excellent’. As well as striving to provide complete customer satisfaction, Hochiki Europe’s manufacturing plant in Kent also continues to be accredited with the ISO 9001 Quality Management System. There are also a number of other advantages to using a single system provider that may not at first be apparent. For example, it makes invoicing more efficient, as rather than billing several different manufacturers only one is needed. Also, placing and tracking orders is much simpler and less overall administration is required, while gaining the right technical information is easier as the manufacturer’s technical experts will have a full understanding of all the constituent parts of the system and will be able to advise accordingly. Supporting installation partners that want to improve and develop their organisations should be at the very heart of any productive business relationship and by including a systems based approach, Hochiki Europe has put itself in an excellent position to achieve this objective. Open protocol solutions will continue to be an important part of our business. The system solution will enhance our offering and strengthen what we do – something that will benefit everyone in the long-term. www.hochikieurope.com