Made use of a drone for the first time in the department’s history The Branford (CT) Fire Department made use of a drone for the first time in the department’s history during a fire at the J& J Blasting Company in Stony Creek Quarry last week. Firefighters called an evacuation based on the drones finding, causing the temporary displacement of 862 people who lived within a mile of the fire, according to the Branford Eagle. It was initially feared the fire was near explosives that might ignite, but a drone was flown over the site to take photos and fire officials later determined the location of the fire was about 30 feet from the explosives. At that point, a fire apparatus responded to the site to put the fire out. Fire Chief Jack Ahern told the Eagle last night that the fire was the result of human error, an accident caused by an employee who inadvertently burned boxes that once contained explosives. The burning took place near rubber mats made of tires that are used in explosive activity. There was snow nearby, it was difficult to see, and the embers that were thought to be out were not. The mats then ignited, causing huge columns of dense black smoke to rise from the quarry yesterday afternoon. The fire could be seen from miles around.

There has recently been a significant change in both UK & EU law There has recently been a significant change in both UK & EU law regarding the use of gases in fixed fire suppression systems. All EU member states now need to monitor the liquid level of fixed fire suppression systems using FM-200, NOVEC 1230, and old Halons • HFC-23 ; FE-13 • HFC-125 ; FE-25, ; ECARO, ; NAF-125 • HFC-227ea ; FM-200, ; FE-227, ; NAF-227 • HFC-236fa ; FE-36 That are in service. This represents a sea change in industry thinking and regulation in moving away from annual checks once a year. In addition the law in the UK has recently changed meaning that and fixed fire suppression systems containing more than 300kg of F-gases have to have automatic leak detection systems fitted. As a leading provider of ultrasonic liquid level monitoring systems for fixed fire suppression systems Coltraco Ltd can help companies comply with these regulations. With its range of monitoring systems including Permalevel™ Multiplex the world’s first system capable of monitoring up to 700 cylinder points to identify slow leakage or accidental discharge we are an ideal partner. As an industry leader in this segment we have long argued that in high risk instillations an annual check of a fire system is not sufficient. We believe this represents a marked change in the industry and are look forward to helping the industry improve its standards and become safer.

Fire and Fall Prevention Program for Older Adults conference The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 2014 Remembering When™: A Fire and Fall Prevention Program for Older Adults conference will be held June 4-6 at the Luxor Hotel in Las Vegas, Nev. NFPA will award scholarships to teams from up to 25 communities to attend. These teams of two will be made up of representatives of fire departments and home visit agencies across the United States and Canada and will discuss best practices regarding outreach to older adults through group presentations and home visits. Fire departments are asked to partner with an agency whose main outreach to older adults is through home visits. According to NFPA statistics, adults aged 65 and older are twice as likely to be killed in a home fire compared to the general population, and falls are the leading cause of death from injuries to those in the same age group. NFPA hosts this conference annually as part of its ongoing effort to help reduce fires and falls among older adults. The Remembering When program was developed by NFPA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to help older adults live safely at home for as long as possible. Together, NFPA and CDC created 16 key safety messages – eight fire prevention and eight fall prevention – to help educate and protect the most vulnerable of older adults. Each year, NFPA awards scholarships to establish partnerships between fire departments and home visit agencies for the implementation of Remembering When at the local level. To be considered for a scholarship award to attend this conference, submit an application no later than March 10. Teams who are awarded the scholarship will receive air travel, lodging at the Luxor, meals during the conference, and training all free of charge. The program now includes updated statistics and trivia questions, a modern look to appeal to younger, active seniors, and is also available as a free download at www.nfpa.org/rememberingwhen. During the conference, participants will be trained to perform group presentations for older adults to teach them about fire and fall risk reduction strategies, along with tips on how to include Remembering When components into home visits. The home visits allow the program to be personalized for each client’s unique safety needs in the home. NFPA is a worldwide leader in fire, electrical, building, and life safety. The mission of the international nonprofit organization founded in 1896 is to reduce the worldwide burden of fire and other hazards on the quality of life by providing and advocating consensus codes and standards, research, training, and education. NFPA develops more than 300 codes and standards to minimize the possibility and effects of fire and other hazards. All NFPA codes and standards can be viewed at no cost at www.nfpa.org/freeaccess.

NEBOSH says that gaining health and safety qualifications can help to advance careers NEBOSH is encouraging people throughout the world to make a vocational health and safety qualification their New Year’s resolution for 2014. The New Year is traditionally a time when people look at just how far they’ve come in their lives and then make a few changes for the better. NEBOSH says that gaining one or more of its suite of health and safety qualifications can help to advance careers at all levels. Last year there were more than 140,000 registrations to sit NEBOSH examinations, in one hundred and eleven different countries worldwide. “We know from feedback we receive from both employers and those who gain our qualifications that NEBOSH is held in high regard,” explained NEBOSH Chief Executive Teresa Budworth. “Our examinations are a true test of knowledge and application. As such they help people move forward into positions of greater responsibility in the workplace. In the UK, for example, a NEBOSH qualifications is required by employers in three quarters of all advertised health, safety and environmental management positions.” The professional level NEBOSH Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety is at the same level as a British honours degree. There are around 3,000 enrolments on NEBOSH Diploma courses throughout the world each year. NEBOSH’s Certificate level qualifications are even more popular. These not only act as a stepping stone for those seeking a career in health, safety or environmental management, but are also often taken by people whose primary responsibility at work is not health and safety. “Health and safety is now recognised as a core management skill in organisations with high standards of governance,” said Teresa Budworth. Mechanical Engineer Sean Minnican was the 150,000th person to pass the NEBOSH General Certicate. The qualification helped him find the kind of work he’d dreamed of. “I sent my CV off after gaining my degree in Mechanical Engineering and got one or two replies,” said Sean. “As soon as I put NEBOSH on my CV I was offered four different positions straightaway. My NEBOSH Certificate has certainly opened doors for me.” NEBOSH also offers entry level ‘Awards’ such as its Health and Safety at Work qualification. These can help employers at all levels understand health and safety better, reducing accidents and illness at work. To find out more about NEBOSH qualifications visit www.nebosh.org.uk/Qualifications/

Logo: Street1: 16 Ribocon Way Street2: Progress Business Park City: Luton County /State/ Province: Bedfordshire Postcode: LU4 9UR Telephone: +44 (0)1582 491616 Email: [email protected] Website: www.argonelectronics.com

Released 27 January 2014 E2S Warning Signals have today published a new ‘Guide for Hazardous areas’ which is available as a free download from their website.   The guide has been put together with specifiers and hazardous area engineers in mind with matrix tables that enable fast cross-referencing of information between the main certification systems: ATEX, IECEx, North American and Canadian standards. Protection concepts are listed along with applicable zone, class or division and typical equipment protection level in an easy to read format.   In addition, the guide contains ample reference information related to gas and dust atmospheres and potentially explosive environments, such as: Gas and dust groups and typical substances according to the main certification systems Maximum surface temperature of equipment, temperature classifications and ignition temperature limits of gas / dust Apparatus groups and typical ignition temperatures for common gases, vapours and dust Type of protection and basic concepts of protection listed by zone according to ATEX & IECEx and class and division according to US and Canadian standards IP ratings and NEMA enclosure types Typical equipment markings of hazardous area signalling products from the E2S portfolio To download the guide for hazardous areas visit www.e2s.com.

Extension of contract with the Hong Kong Fire Services Department On January 16th a reception was held at the main fire station of the Hong Kong Fire Services Department to celebrate the extension of the contract through to the year 2017. As a sign of the trustworthy partnership and the smooth cooperation, Andy Chan, Director of the Hong Kong Fire Services Department, presented the LHD Group, represented by Axel Nagel, CEO of the LHD Group of Companies, with an award and again reiterated the satisfaction of the Hong Kong Fire Service with the performance provided by the LHD Group. Among the guests were Chief Fire Officer Daryl Li, Hong Kong Fire Services Department as well as other high-ranking representatives of the Hong Kong Fire Service, Rüdiger Heeg, COO of the LHD Group of Companies and Daniel von Chamier, Managing Director of the LHD Group Hong Kong. During the visit, new innovations in the field of protective clothing and rescue service were discussed as well as further possibilities of intensifying cooperation. Within the scope of the TotalCare® contract with the Hong Kong Fire Services Department the LHD Group is responsible for the supply, cleaning and maintenance of more than 13,000 sets of firemen’s clothing for the ca. 6,500 members of the fire service, together with the logistics involved. “The continuous management of the clothing with our unique TotalCare® program ensures that every fireman wears a protective suit which is always “fit for the purpose” says Daniel von Chamier. “We are very proud that we have once again been able to convince the Hong Kong Fire Service, one of the services with the largest number of staff in the world, with our performance range and we are pleased that we can continue to serve them as our customers.”

Due to pension tax changes  Reductions in pensions taxation limits from April this year mean that more senior firefighters retiring after 5 April or receiving a promotion could breach the Lifetime or Annual Allowance for tax efficient pensions savings. From 6 April 2014, the Lifetime Allowance (LTA), which is the maximum amount of pension savings that benefits from tax relief over a person’s lifetime, will reduce from £1.5m to £1.25m. The limit on the tax efficient pensions savings that can be made in any one year, the Annual Allowance, will also reduce from £50,000 to £40,000. Firefighters could breach the new annual allowance if they have more than 20 years’ service. The changes don’t just affect the highest earners; an Area Manager receiving a promotion could breach the annual allowance if he or she has over 20 years’ service. Deputy and Assistant Chief Fire Officers retiring on full pension from April 2014 could breach the lifetime allowance for the first time when it reduces from £1.5m to £1.25m. The warning comes from MyCSP, UK central government’s first mutual joint venture and administrator of the civil service pension scheme. MyCSP is advising the Fire and Rescue Service to support firefighters through the changes so that they are aware of how they might be affected, the options available to them and the action they need to take. Firefighters should consider their intended retirement date, the amount of lump sum they plan to take and their likely increase in pay. Crucially, members need to consider whether to apply to for fixed protection to protect the current lifetime allowance of £1.5m before 5 April 2014. To help employers communicate the changes, MyCSP has launched a new service that helps explain to senior roles the impact of the changes. The service incorporates seminars, projections for individuals showing the potential impact of the changes in various scenarios and one to one sessions with senior staff. Virginia Burke, business development director, MyCSP; “It is important that scheme members are aware of the upcoming changes in order to make informed choices about their options and ensure the correct HMRC reporting procedures are followed.” Key Deadlines 31 January 2014 • Deadline to complete a self assessment for those who have a tax charge to pay for 2011/2012 or 2012/2013 pension accrual, or face interest payments 5 April 2014 • Employees must apply for fixed protection 2014* 6 April 2014 • Annual Allowance reduces from £50000 to £40000. Lifetime Allowance reduces from £1.5m to £1.25m. • Individual protection becomes available and members retiring will be subject to the lower Lifetime Allowance July – October 2014 • Pension Savings Statements issued in respect of 2013.14 tax year * If members are affected by the lifetime allowance they can apply for Fixed Protection 2014 to retain the current Lifetime Allowance of £1.5m or Individual Protection after 5 April 2014. Fixed protection would require accrual of all future pension benefits to cease at 5 April 2014 therefore it is important members register before this date. If pensions growth has exceeded the annual allowance charge in 2011/12 or 2012/13 and a tax charge is payable, a self assessment return completed by 31st January.

Jim Pauley to succeed James M. Shannon The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Board of Directors voted unanimously to name Jim Pauley of Lexington, Kentucky as the next president of NFPA. Pauley is currently senior vice president of External Affairs and Government Relations for Schneider Electric and will assume his new role in July.   “For more than 115 years, NFPA has been a leader in fire, life and electrical safety through codes and standards development, research, training and education. This appointment ensures the continued pursuit of the critical mission of NFPA and positions the association to address the challenges of our times,” said Philip C. Stittleburg, chairman of the board. “Jim is an experienced leader and very knowledgeable on many of the issues important to NFPA.”   Pauley has been with Schneider Electric since 1985 when he began as an application engineer. He has held a number of positions through the years and was appointed to his present position in 2011. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering from the University of Kentucky.   Pauley has served in a number of codes and standards-related activities including chairman of the board for the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), chairman of NFPA’s Standards Council and chair of the High Performance Building Council for the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA).   “I am excited about the opportunity to lead such a terrific organization in a time when there is tremendous opportunity to have even greater impact on fire and other hazards facing all of us,” said Pauley.   Pauley will succeed James M. Shannon who has served as NFPA president since 2002. Shannon has been at NFPA for 23 years, having joined the organization as vice president and general counsel in 1991. He had previously served as a Member of Congress representing Massachusetts and as Massachusetts Attorney General.   “Jim Pauley is a great choice to be the president of NFPA. I have worked closely with him over the years and especially during his time as chair of the Standards Council. He knows the organization and is committed to our safety mission.”   About the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) NFPA is a worldwide leader in fire, electrical, building, and life safety. The mission of the international nonprofit organization founded in 1896 is to reduce the worldwide burden of fire and other hazards on the quality of life by providing and advocating consensus codes and standards, research, training, and education. NFPA develops more than 300 codes and standards to minimize the possibility and effects of fire and other hazards. All NFPA codes and standards can be viewed at no cost at www.nfpa.org/freeaccess.

Workshop on SMART buildings and Fire Safety to be featured The Fire Protection Research Foundation’s 18th annual Suppression, Detection and Signaling Research and Applications Symposium (SupDet 2014) will be held March 4 – 7 at the University of Central Florida (UCF) in Orlando, Florida.   This year’s program is aimed at professionals in the fire alarm, suppression and emergency communications industries, and provides the opportunity to exchange ideas, best practices, and the latest research. Symposium attendees have the option to choose between the Detection and Signaling Program or the Suppression Program and can participate in more than 30 compelling presentations on the latest developments in research, technology and applications for the fire protection community including:   · Sprinkler protection with research on material failures in fire protection systems, a track dedicated to protection of high-hazard challenges, and an analysis of water distribution efficiency from a sprinkler head.   · Research on environmentally friendly fire suppression agents with a feature on U.S. Army hand held extinguisher development, along with recent developments of zero ozone depletion potential (ODP) and low Global Warming Potential (GWP) clean fire suppression agents.   · Signaling and notification, with research related to mass notification, nuisance alarms, new fire test sensitivities and computer modeling of detection systems, and parameters for indirect viewing of visual signals used in emergency notification.   In addition, a special workshop, "SMART Buildings and Fire Safety," will be held March 5 at the conference site, which all attendees are invited to attend free of charge. The smart buildings of tomorrow and their sensor-rich environments offer great fire safety potential to building owners, occupants, emergency responders, and all other participants in our built environment. The goal of this workshop is to establish a needs assessment of the use of systems in SMART buildings for fire safety.   SupDet 2014 is co-located with the International Crisis and Risk Communication Conference (ICRC Conference) held March 3 – 5, and hosted by the Nicholson School of Communication at UCF.   Register today for the full symposium or choose either the Suppression Program or the Detection and Signaling Program. All registration options entitle participants to attend the “SMART Buildings and Fire Safety” workshop on Wednesday, March 5.   For more information and to register online, contact Eric Peterson at +1 617 984-7271.   About the Fire Protection Research Foundation The Fire Protection Research Foundation plans, manages, and communicates consortium-funded research on a broad range of fire safety issues in collaboration with scientists and laboratories around the world. The Foundation is an affiliate of NFPA.   About the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) NFPA is a worldwide leader in fire, electrical, building, and life safety. The mission of the international nonprofit organization founded in 1896 is to reduce the worldwide burden of fire and other hazards on the quality of life by providing and advocating consensus codes and standards, research, training, and education. NFPA develops more than 300 codes and standards to minimize the possibility and effects of fire and other hazards. All NFPA codes and standards can be viewed at no cost at www.nfpa.org/freeaccess.