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...
We are all aware that fire cannot be bound by regulations and a mismatch in international regulations can make planning and building a fire safe society challenging. It is the opinion of the International Fire Safety Standards (IFSS) Coalition, explains Gary Strong, Chair - IFSS...
The paper fire logbook is a fixture of millions of buildings across the world and plays a crucial role as a central record of fire safety actions and information. Despite their vital importance, paper-based logbooks are often inaccurate and incomplete, can only be easily accessed...
The concept of holistic fire engineering has always resonated with Dr Bob Docherty, MD of Flamerisk Safety Solutions Ltd. and President of the Institute of Fire Safety Managers. Three years ago I was reading an article and then listening to an old fire engineering friend and...
In the wake of the Grenfell Tower fire - the UK’s greatest loss of life in a building fire in 100 years - the UK Government requested Dame Judith Hackitt to review the UK Building Regulations and Fire Safety. From her damning report, one of...
The world is ever-changing, as are ships and cargoes, thus regulations are frequently reviewed and updated and the industry is constantly looking for innovations to improve safety aboard ship, as well as firefighting techniques and equipment. Seafarers, whether on passenger or cargo ships, all have a...
July 2021 had unenviably been labelled Earth’s hottest month on record, thanks to data from NOAA’s National Centres for Environmental Information. The land surface temperature in the northern hemisphere was an unprecedented 1.54C (2.77F) above average. It is no wonder then, that 2021 has seen...
Currently, there are no specific provisions in standards for the fire design of bridges, neither in terms of protection, nor from developing fire mitigation strategies in bridges. Peter Stephenson, Business Development Manager, and Doctor Mostafa Jafarian PhD MSc, Technical Manager – Structures & Façades, Warringtonfire...
December 2021 marked the 75th anniversary of the deadliest hotel fire in U.S. history – the Winecoff Hotel in Atlanta. The hotel was full that night, with 280 guests and the fire killed 119 people. In the same year 61 people lost their lives in the...
Cooking equipment, careless smoking and electrical malfunctions are three of the leading causes of fire in hotels. Aside from the serious threat to life and property posed by genuine fires, failure to provide and maintain high-quality fire protection measures has other dire consequences too as...
Every market and industry segment has faced enormous struggles throughout 2020 and 2021, and in the fire safety certification business, the pandemic has added another layer of difficulties to an already complex process. Fortunately, reflects Len Swantek, Director – Global Regulatory Compliance, Victaulic today’s technology...
... how the Gulf is adopting and implementing change As jurisdictions, developers, specialist consultants, contractors and suppliers work towards designing and / or implementing new regimes to minimise potential future damages due to façade fires, Abhishek Chhabra, Market Development Manager, Thomas Bell Wright provides an overview...
It is imperative that all businesses prepare themselves for unseen disasters, particularly the risks associated with fire. In the case of data centres writes Peter Stephenson, Business Development Manager, Warringtonfire, reliable fire protection systems and a robust fire protection strategy should provide continuous availability of...
The aviation sector has been seeking change in the fire protection requirements for hangars and the newest edition, 2022, of NFPA 409, Standard on Aircraft Hangars, takes a more holistic approach to a hangar’s fire risk and the protection that should be required. Now Aaron...
Fire is something that ignores boundaries, does not care about money, and has destructive and potentially life-threatening impacts. We have seen building fires and disasters in recent years sending shockwaves across the world writes gary strong, Global Building Standards Director Fire Safety Lead, RICS and...
Sometimes knowledge and understanding of industry specific terms, applications and purpose are presumed, so here Harrison Spencer goes back to basics with regards to fire protection methods, explaining the differences between active and passive fire protection, and the importance of balance for the safety of...
It may be a European Standard, but it could well have a worldwide impact: EN 14972, the European standard for fixed land-based water mist systems. Based on the Vienna Agreement – which stipulates the exchange of information and increased transparency – standardisation bodies can adopt...
Under the NFPA's Response and Responder Safety Document Consolidation Plan, it intends to create a single source where NFPA 1960 will specify minimum requirements. The consolidation plan aims to improve the overall experience of the ERRS standards development process. The current NFPA standard – NFPA 1964...
There are many scenarios where working at height is simply unavoidable and some of the most hazardous work sees operatives working on top of an elevated surface or structure. It’s here where selecting the correct fall arrest solution is critical. Jon Rowan, Product Line Manager...
The task of meeting a wide range of global regulations also continues far beyond the final product design and the factory floor procedures. Products that have been tested and qualified for certification by various agencies and Notified Bodies for many years can be met with...
The response to the COVID-19 pandemic by the healthcare profession rightly deserves the global accolades and thanks given by the media and public alike says Peter Stephenson, Business Development Manager, Warringtonfire. Hospitals provide a cornerstone of support to the community for emergency and general medical...
It is hard to over-emphasise the importance of a passive fire protection (PFP) strategy and its subsequent governance in building design reflects Peter Stephenson, Business Development Manager at Warringtonfire. The perfect fire-resistant construction would be made of non-combustible, heat-insulating materials and have no doors, windows,...
In the event of a fire in a building, active fire suppression systems can have a major impact in fire development and spread, and they can be one of the crucial factors in affecting occupant safety. Here Mina Abdo, Senior Fire Safety Engineer at Warringtonfire...
For manufacturers of fire safety products and systems, reflects Len Swantek, FP Auditor with Victaulic, the initial design qualification and agency certifications are only the beginning of a long-term commitment to compliance, quality and consistency. Managing Change Throughout the product life-cycle, manufacturers may need to implement changes...
Passive fire protection measures are a key consideration in every building’s design and ensuring there is adequate protection in place for structural steelwork is an important part of the fire strategy. Among a variety of steelwork protection options, writes Dr Jifeng Yuan, General Manager -...
Alexander Emery, Associate, BuroHappold Engineering explains that before undertaking a fire strategy for a scientific building, or simply diving into following prescriptive design codes, the fire engineer needs to engage proactively with the end users and client team to appropriately respond to their needs. At no...
The long awaited arrival of winter, as the first two snow producing cold fronts filled the skies of California with thick grey clouds, would have been almost unanimously welcomed by the state’s residents. It will have raised their hopes that an end might finally be in...
Most people, when they think of blockchain, see it as some mysterious technology that is hard to understand and implement. Or they confuse it with cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, and its well publicised bull and bear runs, remarks Szymon Fiedorowicz, CEO and co-founder, Smartkey. However, smartkey has...
Driver’s cab, passenger monitors, train-land communication interfaces or automatic door control: these are just a few examples of on-board systems in trains that need to communicate with each other to ensure smooth train operations. As a result, modern trains are becoming more and more high-performance...
Some people find that the monotonous noise produced by train wheels on the tracks makes them sleepy; others struggle to cut out external influences of this kind in order to sleep or work in a concentrated manner. Sound insulation and the reduction of structure-borne noise...
Within 10 years of the first recognised manned flight in 1902, the Wrights’ Vin Fiz hd crossed the United States in 84 days, with 70 stops including innumerable crash landings. Inventors continued to improve airplanes and within 8 years the Atlantic was conquered by flight...
Globally, there are several noteworthy development projects in various stages of evolution within the commercial environment for larger vessels, both remotely controlled and fully autonomous. Here captain Don Cockrill MBE CMMaR explores the fire protection implications. Currently there are over 1000 non-military autonomous maritime craft in...
As the size and capacity of major distribution warehouses continue to increase, the inherent fire risks associated with these facilities has also become more pronounced. In addition to the devastation of loss of life reflects Tracey Bellamy, Chief Engineering Officer at Telgian Engineering & Consulting,...
From the very first electric fire panels introduced in 1920 to the next generation of digital panels connected to the Internet of Things (IoT), fire safety has come a long way. In the process, technology continues to follow the safety needs of building operators and...
A cable’s fire performance can make the difference between a small accident and a dangerous fire outbreak. BASEC certifies thousands of kilometres of cables every year, ensuring the quality safety and fire performance meets the standards and here invites FME readers to learn more about...
With the rapid advancement in technology in constructional techniques and the development of new materials, architects have identified an opportunity to harness those techniques and materials to design innovative high-rise constructions, with eye-catching façades, which have created striking new landmarks. However with these new advancements...
Despite the pandemic, firefighter Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) standards continue to be developed. Richard Ballheimer, Compliance Manager at Bristol Uniforms tells us more. Civil defences, and oil, gas and petrochemical companies, use PPE that conforms to standards set by the International Standards Organisation (ISO), the European...
For anyone working within the petrochemical and oil and gas industries, the need for flame and heat protection for workers is firmly established – especially against the devastating and ever-present risk of flash fire – thus it is essential to understand how effectively a garment...
One of the most fascinating aspects of bank construction is the bank vault - the sight of a bank vault being the epitome of security. Most bank vaults are custom built by specialist vault manufacturers. Because different banks store different items, ranging from money to...
Because secure prisons are designed to keep people inside, by their very nature they pose different challenges for fire safety when compared to museums and other similar types of secure but accessible buildings. There are many different functional areas/buildings, or sections of buildings, in a prison...
One of the most exciting aspects of working within the fire sector and fire engineering is providing bespoke solutions and building assurance to a diverse range of building types and occupancies - all requiring protection from the effects of fire writes Peter Stephenson, Business Development...
Water mist is eco-friendly and sustainable argues Bettina McDowell, General Manager of the International Water Mist Association, the organisation that is dedicated to the continuous development and extension of water mist technology. Here Bettina explains why water mist fits into a world facing many challenges...
On the 11th March the World Health Organisation declared the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) a pandemic as it quickly spread around the world and workers not only in healthcare or emergency response but throughout society, needed protection against viruses and bacteria. Here Anles Cabrera, Carrington...
Ensuring the right level of performance of doors within a structure is an essential part of creating a building that is fit for purpose and can protect its occupants. Robust testing, explains Peter Barker, Technical Manager with Warringtonfire, supported by third party product certification, delivers...
With the current furlough of 1000s of commercial cockpit crews due to COVID-19, you can be forgiven for thinking there may be an overcapacity of pilots lining up for alternatives such as aerial firefighting jobs. The short answer to that is, unfortunately: no, writes Eric...
Analysis of decades of accidents has helped us objectively quantify fire risks and the construction industry has been engineering solutions to address these. Iterative revisions of fire and life safety strategies have helped save countless lives and millions of dollars. But as the complexity of...
Across the world there have been many examples of fires in public assembly buildings which have resulted in the tragic loss of life. Fortunately, lessons learned from past events have led to the creation and updating of life safety codes to address these deadly types...