A mobile proportioner creating a handy and flexible resource for fire brigades
With a water-driven volumetric pump proportioner, firefighters can easily build a robust multi-nozzle system, easy to adapt to different firefighting situations. This means that one can use several nozzles at the same…
Stadiums – fire and life safety
Modern stadiums are not just eye-catching architectural statements but dynamic hubs that cater to diverse activities beyond traditional sports and concerts. The success of the FIFA 2022 World Cup in Qatar and the thriving tourism market in the Gulf Cooperation…
Becoming green and the challenges for optical flame detection
We are all too aware of the drivers to become greener. In some cases, the introduction of new equipment and the transition to alternative fuels is bringing significant challenges for optical flame detection. This article will highlight just a few…
Role of fire-resistant cables in critical firefighting systems: a comprehensive review
Understanding life-safety and firefighting ‘wiring systems’ is essential, and several countries have now upgraded the testing of fire-resistant cables and wiring systems to adopt and harmonise with a more realistic standard time temperature curve. The logic behind this is that…
Fireside Chat – detector maintenance testing
Welcome to our latest edition of Fireside Chat, where we aim to shed light on the crucial and often underrated aspects of detector maintenance testing. I’m David Campbell, General Manager at ESL, and it’s my pleasure to bring you insights…
Ensuring fire safety through transparent installations & inspections of fire-door assemblies: a crucial element in modern building practices
The significance of correctly installed fire-door assemblies cannot be overstated, given their principal role in protecting lives and property during fire incidents. These door assemblies serve as the first line of defence, effectively containing flames and hot gases, extending the…
Condensed aerosol systems – basic design considerations
Condensed aerosol technology gained popularity in the 1990s due to the phase-out of ozone-depleting substances – a result of the Montreal Protocol enforced on 1 January 1989. With almost three decades of worldwide use, the technology is regulated according to…
Stopping the spread of fire through construction voids and joints
Paul Barrett, Head of Product Management, ROCKWOOL® UK, examines the key changes in standard BS EN 1366-4 and how they will help ensure firestopping products are thoroughly tested before certification. While active-fire-protection systems such as sprinklers are an important and…
Fire sprinkler and other water-based suppression systems: a little maintenance goes a long way
Fire sprinklers are incredibly effective. For example, in the United States, between the years 2015 and 2019, the civilian death and injury rates per fire were 89% and 27% lower, respectively. The rate of fire personnel injuries was 67% lower.…
Fire resilience and sustainability in buildings: initiatives and future directions
Fire resilience and sustainability in buildings have a common goal to help make buildings safer and more sustainable. The topic covers a wide range of subtopics including sustainable fire-protection products and systems, sustainable building design and development, resilient buildings and…
Nurturing safety in the age of electric mobility: managing new fire risks in public transportation
In the relentless pursuit of global climate change goals, the demand for renewable energy sources has spurred a transformative wave across various industries. One of the most significant shifts is the increasing popularity of electric and hybrid public transport, particularly…
Can artificial intelligence (AI) be used in fire safety?
Artificial intelligence (AI) is an aspect of technology that holds both many advantages and pitfalls for the fire-safety community and general public, but it’s one we can’t ignore. So, what can we expect from its use in fire safety? Fire…
Fire doors in high-density housing – post Grenfell
The day after the Grenfell Tower tragedy I received a call from a seasoned public-sector fire-safety expert and they said: ‘There is more to this than the cladding you know… the fire doors!’ As it turns out, there was much…
Protecting firefighters from airborne threats: strategies for health and safety
In the pursuit of safeguarding the lives and health of firefighters, the evolution of firefighting strategies and equipment has been nothing short of remarkable. Over the past five decades, the fire service has witnessed substantial improvements in Personal Protective Equipment…
How to care for firefighting gear between professional cleanings
Ensuring the longevity of their gear is a fundamental responsibility for every firefighter. Gear Wash, a subsidiary of Fire-Dex, and the largest third-party verified Independent Service Provider (ISP) for PPE care and maintenance in the world, recognizes the critical significance…
Why compartmentation testing is overlooked and undervalued in fire safety – but is its key
Compartmentation is related to firestopping in walls and floors, to reduce the spread of fire. Compartmentation often relates to room integrity testing to ensure that a room is sufficiently sealed, to hold in the gaseous extinguishing agent once it’s been…
Fire protection is environmental protection
‘We will need first to understand that it is much better to protect the planet than to repair it afterward. It is less expensive to protect the planet now than to repair it later.’ – Quote from José Manuel Barroso,…
Insight of RDC coordination in the Turkish earthquake
At approximately 01:17 (UTC) / 04:17hrs local time, on Monday, 6 February 2023 a massive 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit southern Turkey and northern Syria, shortly followed by a second 7.7 magnitude quake. This was the largest earthquake to hit the…
Design of flammable liquid tanks extinguishing systems
With technological developments, storage needs are increasing day by day as the unit volume of stored materials is increasing day by day. In a potential fire, the increase in the fire load in such places raises the fire hazard to…
Water Mist System Design and Review – The MATRIX from IWMA
An Instrument to Assist Fire Engineers in Selecting the Suitable Systems and The Authority Having Jurisdiction in Reviewing Them for Approval. Preface The water mist technology can now be considered a mature fire suppression technology as it entered the third decade…