Putting fire safety back in the spotlight
Fire can impact anyone and yet few people see it as an immediate threat, holding on to the hope it could never happen to them. This complacency is a danger in itself,…
NIOSH releases fact sheet on odorant fade
Whole-system approach critical to product assurance
The new construction product regulator established within the Office for Product Safety and Standards certainly faces a complex and expanding task as it seeks to address systemic failings identified by the Hackitt…
CheckFire Group Ltd – Fire protection equipment: why a fire extinguisher presence is crucial
A trade supplier of high-performing fire extinguishers for over 45 years, CheckFire provides innovative products alongside unrivalled fire-safety insight and expertise. As a trusted source of information, CheckFire is often questioned about…
Streamlight Inc. – the broadest range of professional torches and lighting tools
Streamlight Inc., a leading provider of high-performance lighting devices, offers a range of high-quality products built with precision and performance especially for fire & rescue, law enforcement and the military. Streamlight earned…
Redtronic Limited – Leading the industry through innovative products for emergency and safety services
At Redtronic, we pride ourselves on providing exceptional-quality, UK-manufactured, visual and audible warning systems. Customers are at the heart of what we do and that is why we go above and beyond…
IFI Group – Independent Fire Inspections introduces IFI Group Ltd
Independent Fire Inspections Ltd is undergoing a re-brand and expansion! After the success of each arm of the business, the decision was made to split the different business entities into their own…
Cleveland Fire Brigade – Chief Fire Office Ian Hayton talks about the continued development of Cleveland Fire Brigade
It is a privilege to lead one of the top-performing fire and rescue services in the country and one that has been officially rated as good in all areas of work. Our…
Weber Rescue Systems – Well prepared for every operation with the RIT tool
With the RIT tool, a versatile special device which is part of the E-FORCE series by Weber Rescue, you are well prepared for all application scenarios. As part of the new generation…
FlamePro – All fired up with the launch of Valiant – the first-of-its-kind fire kit
FlamePro, a British manufacturing specialist of life-saving garments for firefighters, has announced the launch of a first-of-its-kind fire kit, having worked with its suppliers to bring new, innovative technologies to the market.…
Pork shoulders, fake motorways and ramping up the drama: my days reconstructing rescues for TV
Years of working with emergency-service crews on the BBC series 999 gave Tiggi Trethowan a unique insight into the world that many firefighters deal with day in, day out. Now living in…
Fire safety in buildings awaiting cladding replacement: waking watch vs fire-alarm system
Effectively supporting a temporary change of evacuation strategy from ‘stay put’ to ‘simultaneous evacuation’ requires the introduction of interim fire-protection solutions, but which approach is best, waking watch patrol or a fire…
Making the initial RNe response safer… and faster
All of us take things for granted. The light turns on when you click the switch, water comes out of your tap, you can check your social media account on your mobile…
Lessons learned: Schiphol Airport transitions to fluorine-free foams
At Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam the firefighting brigade has to be ready to provide at least 7,900 litres of water and foam per minute in order to battle any major fire that…
Embedding sustainable development goals in the DNA of Fire and Rescue Services
International Professional Security Association (IPSA)
October 2020 witnessed the revolution of the oldest-established security-trade association in the UK. The new IPSA rose like a phoenix thanks to one man, Simon Pears, Global Head of Security, Sodexo. When…
Intumescent materials – the vital technology in passive fire protection systems
They remain inert in normal conditions but expand to many times their dormant size to seal critical gaps around doors, glass, ironmongery and service penetrations when the worst happens. This feature explains…
Reflections of my time as HM Chief Inspector of Scottish Fire & Rescue Service
Having handed over the reins at the end of March to a new Chief Inspector, I have taken time to reflect on my four and a half years at the HM Fire…
MSA Bristol: expert protection from head to toe
The new year marked a new era for two of the most respected and well-established brands in the firefighter PPE industry. MSA Safety, a global leader in the development, manufacture and supply…
How much do the Fire and Rescue Service Leadership Qualities matter?
It’s been two years since the NFCC Leadership Qualities (LQs) landed on our desks. How have they been received? Are they useful? With everything else going on at the moment, do they…
Recommendations to reduce fire fatalities
From the previous phase of this work a number of recommendations were made to reduce fire fatalities. These were assessed to identify their potential effectiveness during a review of Fire Investigation reports.…
Innovations from Rosenbauer set the new standards for firefighting vehicles
Rosenbauer’s new firefighting vehicles are more than just the latest additions to their impressive fleet. These new vehicles are the pioneer for using state-of-the-art technology to create a bespoke fire-engine design that…
There are standards, then there are standards – the latter need not be complied with! Part 2
The motivation for this article arose from an observation overheard in a meeting when a consultant working for a social-housing provider questioned the need for BS 9251 to be specified for a…
The need for mandatory third-party certification in the fire-safety arena
Emergency evacuation systems have been a topic of conversation regarding High-Rise Residential Buildings (HRRBs) and high-risk buildings (HRBs) following the Grenfell Tower fire. Lewis Ramsay, Interim Chief Executive of BAFE and former…
Reality in virtual reality – the training of the future
Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service have been very progressive in the adoption of emerging technologies and are looking to change the training, learning and development landscape of the Fire and Rescue Service…
The use of firewall technology in building construction
As we learn more about the Grenfell Tower disaster, the tragedy for our industry is that it has taken substantial loss of human life to force change that has been needed for…
What is the new normal?
I would like to start my editorial by paying tribute to His Royal Highness, Prince Philip who passed away peacefully last month. Prince Philip leaves a legacy in the thousands of young…