Critical incident management system using an interactive simulated environment Dr Jane Barnett from Middlesex University explains the CRISIS Project – an on-demand training platform for incident management Crisis management training occurs infrequently. Full-scale incident training exercises are often conducted every two to three years, with up to three small-scale scenario training sessions each year. This is because the cost of preparing a large-scale training exercise is expensive. For example, a one-day exercise conducted by a UK-based police force required a 90,000 page script, 4,500 actors, which included 200 victims and 250 emergency service personnel; the subsequent evaluation took three months and even longer to disseminate the learning points. Overall cost: More than £500,000. Similarly, Lisbon Airport and other major airports conduct a major exercise once every two years. Within the intervening two years, staff who have been involved in the exercise may have left or taken up new appointments or roles elsewhere, leaving gaps in the organisation’s preparedness. Large infrequent exercises are therefore used mainly as a validation or assessment of readiness exercise, rather than as training exercises to prepare the team for such an eventuality. This raises the need for alternative avenues for training the crisis and airport operations managers in dealing with unusual, out of the norm situations and major incidents such as a terrorist attack. The CRISIS Project In May 2010, the CRISIS project started, a 36-month project, with 12 partners from across Europe led by a team from Middlesex University, United Kingdom. The partners combined their skills and expertise to develop a train-on-demand simulation platform, which adapts advanced video game technology to train crisis managers within complex and uncertain environments. The project is based on iterative user studies at Lisbon Airport, Caiscais Aerodrome (Portugal), Reykjavik Airport (Iceland), and the British Transport Police (UK). Through a ‘smart’ interface, users with limited programming ability will be able to configure the simulation (avatars, props and their behaviours) thereby allowing the same engine to be used to train crisis managers at other airports, rail crossings, or even a football stadium. In terms of competency-based training, CRISIS will emphasise real-time cue recognition diagnosis, planning under uncertainty and stress, decision-making, information handling, team coordination and human interoperability, rather than just the presentation of a situation and to choose between predefined options. The CRISIS system will take instructors and trainees through three phases: Planning, training, and evaluation. Planning By making use of a concept known as the Variable Uncertainty Framework, the instructor can plan reusable training scenarios of varying levels of complexity, which will play out differently each time they are run. Additional unexpected or startling events can also be injected to occur at random intervals, which test the decision-making skills of the trainee. Training The exercise is run inside the CRISIS training environment, presenting trainees with a complex 3D view of the scene. Allowing them to freely navigate through the environment allows them to build up a situational assessment of the occurrence, guiding their decision-making processes. They can also interact and communicate with fellow trainees inside the 3D world. Evaluation An after action review system allows instructors to provide quick and detailed feedback to the trainees through the use of data visualisations and a communication playback feature. A decision support and knowledge management system also provides real-time feedback regarding trainee performance. End-user involvement and research: The keys to success The key to the CRISIS research project is basing the design principles on gathering real-world data and undertaking specific research to maximise the level of realism for the trainees. Attending live-action training events has provided us with an excellent opportunity to capture the work of real-world crises that have been organised by our end users. The most recent event was organised by ISAVIA, the Icelandic airport and air navigation authority, who developed a live airport accident response exercise during 2012 in accordance with an airport and aircrash rescue plan. The CRISIS partners were invited to attend the event, take notes, and interview the participants so we could get a clear picture of the roles undertaken by each organisation, and how they work together when a crisis occurs. Many organisations were involved in the Iceland live-action event such as various police groups, ICE-SAR (the Icelandic voluntary rescue service), the Red Cross, airline companies, airport services, accident investigations, and volunteers who acted as passengers and their relatives. As a result of participating in the event, CRISIS partners were able witness first-hand the training of crisis management, especially instructors’ roles, training objectives, communications and transfer of training. A thorough research protocol was followed and data gathered from four posts in the exercise with the help of the CITE software, developed by our partner VSL Systems AB, which reports and monitors observations in exercises. Crisis events are not pre-scripted and unexpected events may occur at any time. Therefore, a core area of research in CRISIS is investigating how unexpected events and startle reactions may negatively affect subsequent decision-making during a crisis. The appearance of an unexpected event may cause emergency services personnel to experience a sudden startle reaction, a psychophysiological defence behaviour, which activates the fight, flight, or freeze response. The momentary pause that is experienced as a consequence of this reaction is the body’s way of assessing the nature of the threat (is it something that can be controlled?), and the necessary action that may be taken to address it (implementing decision-making). Acquiring an understanding of these circumstances and the ways in which they are experienced by personnel is crucial for us when designing training simulations that can effectively prepare individuals for real-world crisis management. We acquired this understanding in two ways – by conducting research, and attending real-world crisis training events. When conducting our early research, we specifically wanted to acquire a deeper understanding of four key areas: (1) Investigating the types of unexpected events that cause a startle reaction; (2) Capturing the environmental and cognitive cues generated by these events; (3) Examining the cognitive and behavioural responses experienced by emergency personnel before, during,

Inert gas data centre fire protection and hard disk drive damage Introduction From their advent in the mid-late 1950’s, data centres have faced a universal threat: Fire. One data centre fire in particular sent a clear message to both the computer industry and the fire prevention community. On July 2, 1959, a fire started in the computer room operated by the United States Air Force. It was located inside the Pentagon building complex. The fire burned for more than five hours and caused an estimated $7 million in damages. Fire investigators attributed the fire’s ignition to an incandescent light bulb in a magnetic-tape storage area. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) responded by drafting the first edition of NFPA Standard 75: Fire Protection for Electronic Data Processing Equipment. The standard has continued to be revised to keep pace with the evolution of information technology electronics, the advancements in fire detection and protection, and the end-user requirement for system availability. NFPA Standard 75 The NFPA Standard for the Protection of Information Technology Equipment is a comprehensive document, the purpose of which is to define the minimum requirements for protecting equipment, and the areas where that equipment is installed, from fire as well as associated threats such as heat, smoke and water. The NFPA Standard was developed in the United States, but it is widely accepted and adopted in many countries. Independent, country-specific standards also exist and should be consulted for the regions in which they apply. Fire suppression Water is a universally accepted method of extinguishing a fire. As such, NFPA 75 and other standards state that if the building structure that houses the data/technology room is fire protected with a water sprinkler system, so must be the data/technology room. If the data/technology room is not in a sprinkler-protected building, then the data/technology room owner can elect to use a water sprinkler system, a gaseous clean-agent system or a combination of both. Standards also state that the user can always upgrade from the basic requirements with acceptable methods or technology. In other words, even if a building has water sprinklers installed, and the standard prescribes water sprinklers for the data/technology room, the user can elect to use a suitable gaseous fire suppression agent. The ability to choose the method of fire suppression provides the end user with options to address risk factors that vary from one user site to another. Water and subsequent potential water damage has been viewed as a risk concern since the time of early computer rooms. In the 1960s, bromotrifluoromethane, also known as Halon, was introduced as an effective fire suppression gas agent. Halon 1301 became the total flooding gaseous agent of choice for data centres, since it was effective at fire suppression and was considered safe for human occupants at properly engineered concentration levels. Halon is a chlorofluorocarbon (CFC), or ozone-depleting chemical; consequently, new production ceased on January 1, 1994. The United States Environmental Protection Agency created the Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP)3 to evaluate suitable replacements for Halon. Keep in mind that the cessation of new Halon production did not make Halon systems illegal. System owners have the choice of when and how to convert to a different fire suppression system. Owners must decide between installing a new fire suppression system, retrofitting the existing system with a new gas agent or waiting for a Halon discharge event before making a decision. The list of alternatives provides a number of viable options. Each gaseous agent has some unique characteristics and differences that include concentration level, delivery system, discharge pressure and storage volumes. The gaseous agents are classified in two general categories: chemical agents and inert gases. Inert Gas Fire Suppression Systems The Inert Gas Fire Suppression System (IGFSS) is comprised of Argon (Ar) or Nitrogen (N) gas or a blend of those gases. Both are inert, unreactive gases, which present no danger to electronics, hardware or human occupants. The systems extinguish a fire by quickly flooding the area to be protected and effectively diluting the oxygen level to about 13–15%. Combustion requires at least 16% oxygen. The reduced oxygen level is still sufficient for personnel to function and safely evacuate the area. Since their debut in the mid 1990s, these systems have proven to be safe for information technology equipment application. The systems store the inert gas blends in high-pressure cylinders that can be connected in parallel. Depending on the manufacturer, cylinder pressure ranges from 2,200–2,900 pounds per square inch (PSI), or 152–200 bar, and discharge at pressures of 870–1,000 PSI (60–69 bar). Because of the sudden addition of inert gas within the protected area, automatic venting is a component of the design to prevent pressure buildup. Hard disk drives Roughly around 2007, reports started to surface saying that hard disk drives (HDDs) were damaged during gas discharges from IGFSSs. Since then there has been significant speculation and misinformation as to what the cause of failure is, so we should identify what is not the cause to clear up the confusion. • Damage is not due to a chemical reaction—the gases used are inert and naturally occurring in our atmosphere and pose no danger to HDDs. • Damage is not due to air pressure in the data centre. IGFSS systems do release a large volume of gas, but as previously mentioned, the data centre is designed with a vent system that limits pressure buildup to less than one PSI. The drives have a “breather hole” that allows equalizes the inside of the HDD with the higher pressure outside, but the air first passes through a multistage filter in the HDD, which prevents contamination. Work done by Siemens and failure analysis by HDD suppliers on failed drives shows that the air pressure is not the issue. • Damage is not due to temperature change. IGFSSs release about one-third of the data centre’s volume in gas when deployed. The gas is stored at high pressure, so when it is released and falls to normal atmospheric pressure, the

Label: Tunnel Fires Title: Fires in tunnels Teaser: can the risks be designed out? Label: Training Label: Data Centres Label: Skyscrapers Title: High-rise rescues Teaser: Inert gas data centre fire protection Teaser: A growing problem

Directive will help to safeguard existing, well-functioning regimes The International Association of Oil & Gas Producers (OGP) welcomes the political agreement on offshore safety reached by the European Parliament and Council. The upstream oil and gas industry has worked constructively to support the legislative process and looks forward to further co-operation with regulators during implementation. OGP believes that this Directive takes a Europe-wide approach to ensuring high standards of safety, while taking into account the necessary flexibility required for the diversity of oil and gas operations in European waters. This Directive is a positive step since it will help to safeguard existing, well-functioning regimes whilst driving safety across all Member States. The Directive is founded on the proven ‘goal-setting approach’ which has been developed over the past 20 years by the countries around the North Sea. This is a key concept for a robust safety regime that will strengthen the EU’s indigenous offshore oil and gas production, which is an essential part of Europe’s energy mix and vital to security of supply. Some areas of concern remain. These include requirements around managing risk and the reduced implementation period and will have to be addressed to provide clarity for operators and national regulators. ‘Building on the positive outcome of the Offshore Safety Directive, OGP welcomes further constructive dialogue with the EU institutions on new ways to improve the safety of the EU’s offshore oil and gas activities,’ says the Association’s Executive Director Michael Engell-Jensen. ‘Protecting people and the environment are top priorities for OGP’s membership.’ For more information on OGP, visit www.ogp.org.uk

The Fire Department Instructors Conference, held each year in Indianapolis, is the fire industry’s largest and most-attended conference and exhibition. Following on from 2012’s great success, the 2013 edition promises to be the biggest and best to date. Kicking off on April 22nd with pre-conference workshops and hands-on tutorials and seminars (the best of which are featured on the following pages), the conference itself begins on Wednesday, April 24th with the opening ceremony and first general session. These will feature highlights of the workshops from the days before, and feature keynote speeches from some of the brightest lights in the fire industry. Between April 25th and 27th, the Lucas Oil Stadium and Indiana Convention Centre will play host to the FDIC exhibition, where the fire industry’s largest companies will be showcasing their latest innovations and technology on the world stage. Visitors will be able to network and build professional ties, as well as training with the most up-to-date and best techniques in the world. They will be able to visit the manufacturers directly and discuss the latest developments within the fire industry. Over 800 companies and organisations will be exhibiting at FDIC, from areas including: • Apparatus and apparatus accessories
 • Protective clothing
 • SCBA and supplies
 • Education/colleges/training services
 • Tools • Nozzles, hoses and reels
 • Ropes, chains, and safety belts
 • Personal safety devices/accountability systems • Pumps and gauges • Monitors and detectors • Sirens, lights, alarms and signalling devices The extensive range of companies exhibiting, including Elkhart Brass, 3M and Solberg, make FDIC the must-attend event for any fire industry professional looking to further their business domestically or abroad. The 22nd and 23rd of April will feature a series of workshops and tutorials designed to advance the skills of a firefighter, and change the way they look at a fire scenario. Below, we have selected a number of the most progressive and groundbreaking workshops from across the two days: 4-hour workshops: Monday, April 22nd 8:00a.m. – 12:00p.m. Building Effective Teamwork Battalion Chief Jerry Wells, Lewisville (TX) Fire Department In this inspiring, thought provoking, and professionally and personally challenging class, the sport of football is used as the teaching mechanism to illustrate how “the fire service is a team sport”, and how it can be used to develop teamwork, leadership and decision-making Extrication Zone: Hybrid/New Vehicle Technology Matt Stroud, President, MGS Tech With the rapidly growing popularity of hybrid, EV, and other alternative fuel vehicles, this course provides first responders of all levels with the knowledge needed to safely and confidently manage any new technology vehicle incident. Medical Mayday Firefighter/Medic Robert Owens, Henrico Fire (VA) The focus is on medical emergencies, including cardiovascular events, which have been the number one killer among firefighter line-of-duty fatalities and other medical- and trauma-related, emergencies that occur on the fireground. The focus is on both prevention and care. 4-hour workshops: Monday, April 22nd 1:30p.m. – 5.30p.m. Incident Action Plan Development and Implementation Battalion Chief Michael Walker, Oklahoma City (OK) Fire Department The class focuses on how to develop, implement, and evaluate the incident action plan (IAP) and the incident commander’s need to be able to decipher multiple, dynamic aspects of the fire scene in seconds. Lessons Learned from a Wind-Driven Dwelling Fire Deputy Chief Mike Piper, Arvada Fire (CO) Protection District The objectives are to prevent injury or death from wind-driven, single-family dwelling fires and to stress the importance of donning a complete full structural protective ensemble at every incident. Responding to and Preparing for Acts of Violence Lieutenant Steven Hamilton, Fort Jackson (SC) Fire Department The focus is on all aspects of response to violent scenes ranging from a single-company response to a domestic violence scene through a multiagency active shooter response. The incidents covered include violence, terrorism, mass shootings and domestic violence. 4-hour workshops, Tuesday, April 23rd 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Reading Buildings Battalion Chief (Ret.) John Mittendorf, Los Angeles (CA) Fire Department and Battalion Chief (Ret.) Dave Dodson, Response Solutions, LLC Using a size/type/use/era model, participants get to practice making street reads from the authors’ collection of building photos. Tactical considerations such as access/egress, ventilation, forcible entry, and fire attack needs are emphasised. Drills You Will Not Find in Books Captain Raul Angulo, Seattle (WA) Fire Department If you have ever wondered, “What can I drill on at drill night?” this class is for you. You will be presented with step-by-step slides covering unique and innovative “think outside of the box” drills and evolutions for engine and truck companies that will make drilling challenging, exciting, and fun. Suburban Fire Tactics Captain/Training Officer Jim Silvernail, Metro West (MO) Fire Protection District The focus is on the differences between suburban-based fire operations and capabilities and urban-based operations and capabilities, and adjusting tactics to ensure operational success. The critical importance of a coordinated fire attack and how to achieve an efficient attack are emphasised. Three-day workshop, Monday, April 22nd – Wednesday, April 24th 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. FDIC Blue Card Simulation Lab and Conference Chief (Ret.) Alan Brunacini, Deputy Chief (Ret.) Nick Brunacini, and Captain (Ret.) John Brunacini, Phoenix (AZ) Fire Department The Blue Card certification process requires students to participate in a 24-hour simulation lab as the culminating element after they have completed the 50-hour Blue Card online training programme. Students completing this 24-hour training session will then have the opportunity to attend any of the 200 classroom sessions being offered at FDIC 2013, as well as take unlimited advantage of the largest North American fire exhibition floor. This offer is available to an extremely limited number of students, and early registration is critical. Hands-on training sessions 4-hour sessions, Monday, April 22nd & Tuesday, April 23rd 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. & 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Aerial and Tower Operations Lead Instructor: Lieutenant Michael Wilbur, Fire Department of New York Students will learn the proper techniques for safely operating aerial ladders, rear-mounted tower ladders, and mid-mounted tower ladders. Topics include scrub area feathering hydraulic controls and

Merseyside Fire & Rescue and Goliath form a partnership  Goliath Footwear Ltd has been awarded a framework contract by Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service on behalf of North West Fire & Rescue Services to supply YDS CROSSTECH® Fire boots. YDS is Europe’s largest manufacturer of police and military footwear and owns Goliath Footwear in the UK. The framework agreement worth around £620,000 will make YDS leather Fire fighter boots available to Fire and Rescue services such as Merseyside, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Cumbria, Cheshire, Northern Ireland, Isle of Man Fire and Rescue Services and Liverpool Airport fire crews. The region has selected the ‘Pluto’ fire boot which features a dual density injected rubber sole technology, which because of materials and manufacturing process, gives the boot incredible upper and sole bond strength and durability in the harshest environments. ‘Pluto’ uses the most advanced membrane system, CROSSTECH® fabrics manufactured by GORE, which protects the wearer from blood and body fluid penetration in combination with waterproofness, breathability and chemical protection. Amongst the protective features is cut resistant material to the uppers and an L-Protection® textile nail-proof midsole to resist puncturing and lacerations to the boot. Lindsey Savage, Purchasing Commodity Manager, from Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service said ‘YDS Boots scored highly in areas of quality and value for money and were found to be the best overall solution for our region.’ Steve Hall, Sales and Marketing Director for YDS Boots in the UK explained “The intense development of YDS boots over recent years has resulted in a highly technical and reliable fire boot range that offers optimum protection and comfort. We are delighted to have won this fire boot contract with North West Fire & Rescue Services, it reflects the work we are doing to drive forward high performance footwear demanded by frontline emergency services personnel.’ Thousands of YDS Pluto fire boots are being stocked in the Goliath Footwear distribution centre in West Yorkshire ready to service the North West Region for the duration of the 3 year (plus 1 optional year) contract.

Klaxon Signals has developed a new range of fire signalling devices Sonos Pulse fire beacons and sounder beacons emit a high-brightness pulsating light, complying with the new European standard EN54-23 for visual alarm devices. By using light, Sonos Pulse beacons reach those who may be audibly impaired, or those working in noisy environments, achieving effective evacuation. Pulse Alert Technology disperses light evenly, providing maximum coverage using minimal consumption. Sonos Pulse devices are designed to fulfil evacuation requirements with just a single device for most rooms, reducing costs and increasing energy efficiency. Sonos Pulse devices use the same base connections as previous models; upgrading existing systems to use EN54-23 compliant products is typically a simple process. EN54-23 specifies the minimum performance requirements for visual alarm devices. Klaxon Signals has exceeded these requirements, ensuring all personnel are alerted in a fire emergency. For more information about Sonos Pulse fire beacons and compliance with EN54-23, please visit the company’s new dedicated fire evacuation website at www.klaxonsignals.com/fire or call +44 (0)1706 233879 to speak to an expert.

In Kansas City, Missouri  Search crews are picking through rubble as they search for a missing employee after a gas explosion destroyed a restaurant in Kansas City, Missouri. Seven people injured in Wednesday evening’s blast and inferno at JJ’s eatery remain in hospital, two critically. At least seven others were treated and released after the explosion in the Country Club Plaza retail centre. Officials suspect a utility contractor accident could be to blame. A woman, an employee of the restaurant, remained missing on Wednesday morning. A doctor with St Luke’s Hospital told reporters two of the injured being treated there were in critical condition, one with "pretty severe burns". Six others walked into the hospital with minor injuries. The Kansas City Star reported a total of 15 patients across three area hospitals, including St Luke’s Hospital. Sniffer dogs were being used to search the smouldering wreckage for bodies, city officials said. First images from the scene showed firefighters and other emergency teams battling a massive blaze that appeared to have engulfed an entire block. Jill Chadwick, spokeswoman for the University of Kansas Hospital, said one patient had told her that the restaurant was being evacuated when the blast happened and the roof fell in. "This patient told me there had been the smell of gas and that they had evacuated any patrons and that employees of the restaurant were in the process of shutting off gas valves and trying to get out of the restaurant when there was the explosion," she told the BBC. "He said the last thing he remembered was the roof collapsing. I asked him how he got out and he said the front of the restaurant was blown away and he just walked through the rubble." The initial blast was felt beyond the shopping area. Matthew Noonan, who lives just under one mile away, told the BBC: "My wife and I were in the house playing with our daughter when something shook our windows. It sounded like a loud thunderclap, and we were pretty sure it was an explosion. Just after that we saw it come on the news. "The severity of the explosion is quite shocking." Peggy Zilm, who lives about seven blocks from the fire, told the Star: "I thought something had exploded in my house." The shopping area, established in 1922, is based on the architecture of Seville, Spain, and includes retail, restaurants, apartments and offices. There were signs saying that utility work was being carried out in the area ahead of the blast, and one man told told the Star he saw Missouri Gas Energy workers inside JJ’s with gas detectors.