This article, Bob Rea QFSM’s fourth exclusive piece for FME, begins with him thinking about the effects of the devastating earthquake which struck Turkey and Syria in February this year and reflecting on the impacts of training programmes he has been responsible for. Recognising how...
The uk firefighter Contamination Survey was conducted between November 2019 and February 2020. This valuable research and the resulting report “Contamination of UK firefighters personal protective equipment and workplaces” published in January 2023 which provides comprehensive insight into the subject and will hopefully inspire positive...
An examination of flame retardant fabric terms, fibres, tests and norms. Common causes of ignition of a firefighter’s top layer apart from flames, flying cinders and smouldering materials include exposure to spark or spatter from cutting and other associated activities, ignition of flammable contamination on the...
Esther Gitau, Testing Technician, Emirates Safety Laboratory (ESL) explains ASTM E108 - a standard test method for evaluating the fire performance of roof coverings which determines the fire characteristics of various roof coverings, including asphalt shingles, tiles, slates, metals, and wood. This test method evaluates the...
During 2022 FIRE Middle East featured a series written by Abhishek Chhabra, Market Development Manager, Thomas Bell-Wright Consultants, introducing compliance in passive fire protection. This year, he will continue to build on the same, aiming to act as a guide to managers and leaders alike. If...
We all see them every day as we travel along various highways; the massive concrete structures that so neatly keep all our online purchases organised and ready for delivery. On the outside, these mammoth buildings all appear quite similar and each stand proud with their...
When Dubai boldly launched itself as a shopping destination in the 1990s, few expected that the city would soon rival Milan, Paris or New York – but 30 years on, it has helped catalyse an architectural and cultural revolution across the Middle East. Now as...
While with London Fire Brigade, IFE chief executive Steve Hamm, along with IFE technical advisor Paul Trew, were both involved in fire safety planning at the 2012 London Olympics in the UK. Here Paul reflects on the experience and lessons learned and the role that...
Stewart Kidd, a loss prevention consultant with extensive experience of managing fire safety and security in the Middle and Far East and Chair of the British Automatic Fire Sprinkler Association Water Mist Working Group in the UK, examines the concerns which may be inhibiting the...
2022 has seen another reduction in wildfires over all in Australia since the unprecedented season of 2021 through 2020, mostly because of La Niña. The most searched for phrase on the internet from the country this year has been “When will the rain stop?”, but...
Since the very first firefighter helmets were introduced across the USA and Europe in the 1820s, fire helmets have evolved significantly in response to the introduction of new materials and technology, and to suit the changing nature of incidents and operations. Adil Afzal, MSA Safety’s...
… an internationally recognised radio distress signal used by many professions including seafarers, aviators and firefighters who are in a life-threatening situation or the situation they are in could become life-threatening. It is a signal no one wants to hear on the radio, and one...
False fire alarms can cost companies money in both operation and reputation, as well as putting lives at risk. Sasi Kumar, Commercial Manager Middle East and Africa, Advanced explains. False fire alarms are a global problem. In the UK alone, they cost more than 1 billion...
Whether a manual hand pump, horse-drawn steam pumper, or a 400 HP engine, the apparatus sporting that iconic fire engine red paint – and in some cases white, yellow, or even lime – has been rushing down our streets and safeguarding human life and critical...
Foam-based fire protection systems provide an important role in the protection of life, property and business continuity for facilities manufacturing and using Class B ignitable liquids. The risks posed would not normally be managed by water alone and the scalable nature of a foam system...
The British Approvals Service for Cables (BASEC) provides FME readers with vital technical insight on critical testing and the difference between medium voltage and low voltage cables, plus the additional testing needed for medium voltage and the role of an independent third party and accredited...
This article is part of an exclusive series by Abhishek Chhabra, Business Development Manager, Thomas Bell-Wright International Consultants. Here he considers the compartmentation solutions that lets us 'see' through the passive fire protection focusing solely on understanding how fire resistance for glazing gets evaluated and...
The history of MSA Safety in the Middle East fire market and its plans for the future with Yassin Afroukh, the Middle East Sales Manager at MSA Safety. How and when was MSA founded? MSA Safety began as the Mine Safety Appliances Company in 1914, following a mining...
A phone call from a close friend and colleague is the catalyst for this article from Bob Rea QFSM, MBA, the third in his series. “Bob, I have a job for you! You are the only one I can think of who can bridge the...
As the movement towards clean energy gains momentum and interest and uptake of alternative energy sources grows across the globe, so too does a serious and unmitigated electrical safety risk for fire and emergency service personnel writes Jim Foran, Director, PVSTOP International. Photovoltaic (pv) systems, commonly...
The Smithsonian Institution was established with funds from Englishman, James Smithson, a British scientist who left his estate, which totalled half a million dollars, to the United States to found an establishment for the "increase and diffusion of knowledge." On August 10, 1846, the U.S....
From flame-free fittings to provision of training, ways to enhance fire safety should be a top priority for all building projects and construction sites writes Chris Meir, Sales Director, Conex Banninger Middle East. In a region where daring designs and ambitious architectural feats dominate the construction...
Visitors to any major city throughout the world will see some of the most beautiful buildings glistening in the sun with their seemingly endless matrix of reflective glass and trim. These massive structures are true engineering marvels both in terms of their breathtaking architecture and...
Aircraft are a very visible high value asset, and few would argue against protecting them from fire during maintenance and storage in hangars. Whilst the fuel load will be reduced during storage, the residual fuel is still of concern. As with other active fire suppression...
The versatility of helicopters makes them an ideal mode of transportation to remote land-based and off-shore locations both for resort visitors and for emergency response operations. The GACAR Part 138, covers all aspects of civil aviation activity in KSA along with local building/fire codes and...
The international connectivity to the Middle East continues to support the global aviation market as the restrictions imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic lessen and is re-emerging as one of the major markets as the sector bounces back from the global turndown. As well as the...
In a reflective mood, BOB REA QFSM, MIFireE, shares a personal thought after an exposure to a recent event when he had cause to reflect on some words written by a family member which made him realise how important every interaction we have with people...
In the years before the ubiquitous canary in a coal mine was used to detect gas leaks, newcomers to the mining team were sent in under a wet blanket carrying a lit torch which ignited the small pockets of gas or created an opening for...
Sprinklers have become much more widely recognised in building codes, with buildings of certain types and uses now routinely being protected with sprinklers however, Alan Brinson asks, could there also be a disruptive technology out there that could replace sprinklers? Since I set up the European...
Qatar is set to become the first Middle Eastern country to host the Men’s FIFA World Cup, as hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of football supporters from across the globe are set to descend upon the country in November and December 2022. Much has...
This is not a riddle from the future, writes Abhishek Chhabra, Market Development Manager, Thomas Bell-Wright, but from the past… And the answer is doors. Doors are also the key element of compartmentation which, as discussed in his previous article, helps to enclose and entrap...
In this article for Fire Middle East, Len Swantek, Director of Global Compliance, Victaulic explains how, as a global leader in the design and manufacture of fire safety products and systems, the company is sharing its knowledge and experience with today’s engineering and technology students,...
Whether it affects a business or a residence, a group of people or a single individual, in the event of a fire, the consequences can be highly damaging. Protecting human life is, of course, the highest priority above all else. However, writes Lewis Boyland, Middle...
We are proud to have the longest formal media relationship with Intersec Dubai. When the show first launched in 1999, Fire Middle East magazine was part of our sister publication Security Middle East magazine, and combined we were announced as the exclusive Regional Media Partner...
Contributors: William E. Koffel, P.E., FSFPE; Kerry Bell, P.E., FSFPE; and Phil Friday, P.E., FSFPE Presentations The Society of Fire Protection Engineers conducted the SFPE Forum on Fire Protection Engineering Challenges in Storage in September 2022. The Forum consisted of interactive presentations discussing some of the challenges...
Those who work in the order fulfilment, materials handling, warehousing, distribution or manufacturing industries, are familiar with automated storage and retrieval systems (ASRS). These robotic tools are being utilised as they can increase productivity and efficiency. However, as a local fire code official, or authority...
There is no doubt that the trend towards the use of synthetic fluorine free foams (SFFF) in fixed fire protection systems is gathering pace. The conversation is no longer if, or even when, it is simply that the market needs a solution now. Unfortunately, these...
Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) is the concept of crime prevention and neighbourhood safety accomplished through natural elements and structural design. CPTED utilises four strategies that contribute to “the proper design and effective use of the built environment that can lead to a reduction...
Kamal A. Hadi, Regional Director Middle East & North Africa (MENA) at Global Fire Equipment (GFE), outlines the considerations associated with gas detection and the latest innovations in this evolving field. Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is a compressed fuel gas that consists of flammable hydrocarbon gases,...
Drone aircraft have seen a boom in popularity over the past few years, both for recreation and for more serious applications. The ability of a drone to get to hard to reach, dangerous, or simply high, areas has become invaluable, but just how are they...
Producers who maintain a diverse product portfolio are often challenged to meet a wide range of regulations and standards in support of their global market initiatives. Here Len Swantek, Director – Global Regulatory Compliance, Victaulic puts global certifications under the microscope and examines those challenges...
We hear fire alarms activate every day. It’s vital for the early detection of fire and the evacuation process. The sound of the fire alarm can reach deafening levels. Not such a problem for me and you. But what if you have autism asks IFSM...
Firefighting foam is seen as a complicated firefighting method even though flammable liquid fires make up approximately one in five fires when they occur, they are particularly hazardous, so using foam correctly for extinguishing is critical and foam is the most critical component of a...
Outsourcing is nothing new, particularly in the Middle East, a market saturated with a variety of companies that deliver a whole host of piecemeal service elements to a granular level. Firms across the region outsource anything from procurement to business process optimisation, cleaning, security, IT,...
For the emergency services operating firefighting tenders, rescue vehicles, ambulances and other utility vehicles, minimising and eliminating risks from incidents on the road and at emergency scenes is a vitally important concern. Here, Corey Heniser, CEO of Brigade Electronics INC, discusses how technology can help...
Fire safety is achieved by a combination of complementary management, active and passive fire safety measures that together make a building safe from fire and resilient to its threat. In recent years sprinklers have become a more commonly applied measure yet they are still not...
As my career in the UK Fire and Rescue Service (UKFRS) drew to a close, reflects internationally recognised and respected expert in training Bob Rea QFSM. I felt too young to hang up my fire boots and helmet and settle into the easy chair ...
Dr Jifeng Yuan, General Manager - Fire & Building Products NE/SE Asia at Element Materials Technology, discusses testing processes and their importance to intumescent coatings for structural steelwork. Passive fire protection measures are a key consideration in every building’s design and ensuring there is adequate protection...
Mechanical pipe connections stand up to direct fire to ensure the water supply they carry to critical fire protection systems is never compromised. For the daily users of mechanical piping systems, what may not be so evident is the ability of these compact pipe connections...
