‘ActiV’ is fully certified by Intertek Branded ‘ActiV’, the detectors have been third-party certified to the relevant parts of EN54 parts 5, 7 and pr29 by leading notified approval body, Intertek, and are available to purchase today. Daniel Griffin, Intertek’s Business Development Director, presented C-TEC Directors, Andrew Foster and Andy Scott, with the official approval certificates at Firex International where the detectors were not only on display but featured on a breathtaking 3.5 metre wide videowall presentation. Said Daniel: "C-TEC’s detectors have undergone rigorous laboratory testing for quality, functionality and performance. Only products manufactured to exceptional quality standards are awarded Intertek’s prestigious stamp of approval." Easy-to-fit, with a 9-33Vdc operating voltage, ActiV detectors offer outstanding detection performance at a very competitive price. Suitable for use not only with C-TEC’s CFP, FP, MFP and EP203 conventional fire panels but with many other manufacturers’ control panels, the range also carries the prestigious pan-European ‘CertAlarm’ System 5 mark. C-TEC also unveiled its proprietary new analogue addressable CAST protocol and fire detectors at Firex International. Although third-party certified by Intertek at the same time as C-TEC’s conventional detectors, CAST addressable detectors will not be available for sale until Q4 2013 when the company’s BETA site test regime is complete. Said C-TEC’s MD Andrew Foster: "As one of very few independent companies in the fire industry, C-TEC is in an incredibly fortunate position as we are not beholden to shareholders and thus have the freedom to create truly innovative products. The launch of our own UK-manufactured detectors and revolutionary new CAST analogue addressable protocol mark a major milestone in our history and we are looking forward to expanding and forging new business relationships in the coming months."

Locked exits ‘blocked escape’ A fire at a poultry processing plant in China has killed at least 119 people, officials say. The fire broke out at a slaughterhouse in Dehui in Jilin province early on Monday. Accounts speak of explosions prior to the fire, which caused panic and a crush of workers trying to escape. Some exits were said to be locked. The fire is now said to have been mostly put out and bodies are being recovered. Sources including the provincial fire department suggest there may have been an ammonia leak which either caused the fire or made fighting the blaze more hazardous. Other reports speak of an electrical fault. Dozens of injured have been sent to hospital. It is China’s deadliest fire since 2000, when 309 people died in a blaze in a dance hall in Luoyang, in Henan province. A labour activist told the BBC it was the worst factory fire in living memory. About 100 workers had managed to escape from the Baoyuan plant, Xinhua said, adding that the "complicated interior structure" of the building and narrow exits had made rescue work more difficult. It said the plant’s front gate was locked when the blaze began. Firefighters have still not completed the job of recovering bodies from the building, meaning the death toll may rise yet further, say correspondents. Dozens of injured have been sent to hospital, but the severity of their injuries remains unclear. Pictures from the scene showed the roof mostly burned away to reveal blackened, twisted girders. The provincial government said it sent more than 500 firefighters and at least 270 doctors and nurses to the scene, evacuating an area nearby that is home to 3,000 people as a precaution, reported Reuters news agency.  Workers interviewed by state broadcaster CCTV said the fire broke out at about 06:00 (22:00 Sunday GMT) during a shift change and may have started in a locker room. Those who managed to escape from the factory describe panic and chaos as the lights went out, the building filled with smoke, and they found exits blocked or locked. Guo Yan told Xinhua the emergency exit for her workstation was blocked and that she was knocked to the ground in a crush of workers trying to escape through a side door. "I could only crawl desperately forward," said Ms Guo, 39. "I worked alongside an old lady and a young girl, but I don’t know if they survived or not." Another unnamed survivor said: "I escaped by climbing out of a window. There was a huge cloud of black smoke coming down the corridor. It was burning hot. It engulfed me. As soon as I was outside I collapsed unconscious." Family members were quoted as saying the factory doors were always kept locked during working hours. An investigation into the cause of the fire is under way, Xinhua said. The plant is owned by Jilin Baoyuanfeng Poultry Co. It was only established in 2009 and is not an old or antiquated facility. Located around 800km (500 miles) north-east of Beijing, it employs some 1,200 people and produces some 67,000 tonnes of chicken products every year. Chickens are slaughtered at the plant and then cut up for retail – a process that takes place in cold conditions. Ammonia is used as part of the cooling system and in such plants flammable foam insulation is commonly used to keep temperatures low. Workplace safety standards can often be poor in China, with fatal accidents regularly reported at large factories and mines, says the BBC’s John Sudworth in Shanghai. Those lax standards are variously linked to corruption, the prioritisation of efficient production over worker safety in building design, and poor enforcement of safety rules. Comments posted on the Chinese micro-blogging site Weibo about the fire included: "Why was the gate locked from outside!" "Work safety… everyone should be responsible. Sense of safety… should be taught early." "The province should lower national flags. Relevant bosses should be sacked."

Including five engines, one aerial platform, one heavy-duty rescue and three tankers Pierce Manufacturing, an Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE:OSK) company, received an order for 10 fire apparatus from Polk County Fire Rescue (PCFR) in Polk County, Florida. The purchase includes five pumpers, a 100-foot Pierce Aerial Platform, and a heavy-duty rescue/hazmat vehicle, all built on the Pierce® Velocity™ chassis, as well as three tandem rear axle tanker/pumper vehicles. “Polk County Fire Rescue became a new Pierce customer just over two years ago, and this significant new purchase is a direct result of how our first vehicles have performed on front line duty over that time,” said Jim Johnson, Oshkosh Corporation executive vice president and president, Fire & Emergency. “We are proud to be selected to build these ten new apparatus for one of Florida’s largest fire departments.” “We purchased our first Pierce Velocity engine in 2010, and our personnel are very impressed with its dependability and overall build quality – so when the time came to order new vehicles, we concluded that it was the right decision to continue with Pierce,” said Fire Chief David Cash of Polk County Fire Rescue. “These new Pierce vehicles will reduce a significant amount of our ongoing maintenance costs, while providing state-of-the-art technology to help our firefighters save lives and protect property.” Pierce dealer, Ten-8 Fire Equipment, Inc. of Bradenton, Florida, provides local service and support. “Comprehensive support after the sale is critical to keeping any fire apparatus fleet on front line duty,” said Chief Cash. “Having the excellent team at Ten-8 available is a big plus for our department.” The PCFR pumpers and aerial platform feature an optional forward roof cab design, which enhances interior space for the crew and improves visibility. The Department’s pumpers are designed to function as paramedic engines, and will be assigned to the busiest of its 45 stations. Each vehicle features seating for six firefighters and a forward facing EMS cabinet inside the cab. The pumpers also feature a 450 hp DD13 engine, Pierce Command Zone® advanced electronics and a 1,250-gpm single-stage pump. The Pierce Velocity Aerial Platform features TAK-4® independent front suspension, a 500 hp DD13 engine, a 19-inch front bumper extension, a 300-gallon water tank, a 2,000-gpm single stage pump, Pierce Command Zone advanced electronics, and blue LED lighting along all three sections of the aerial. The three Pierce tanker/pumper vehicles, built on Freightliner chassis, each feature a DD13 engine, a 2,500-gallon water tank, seating for three firefighters, and a 1,000-gpm PTO driven pump. “The larger Pierce tankers will enable our department to replace eighteen smaller and aging tankers that have ongoing maintenance issues,” added Chief Cash. The Pierce Velocity non-walk-in, heavy-duty rescue features a 3-door cab with raised roof, seating for four firefighters, and a 21.5-foot body with roof hatches and recessed walkways. The vehicle offers a wide range of rescue equipment exterior compartments with adjustable shelves, slide-out toolboards and trays. PCFR is a division of the Polk County Board of County Commissioners. PCFR provides fire, emergency medical, and emergency management services to residents in a 2000-square-mile area, and mutual aid to surrounding counties. PCFR has more than 600 full-time employees throughout 45 stations, and runs more than 80,000 calls each year.  

Company adapts technology to create brighter flashlights with same high standards Streamlight® Inc., a leading provider of high-performance lighting and weapon light/laser sighting devices, recently marked its 40th year of operation. Since it was founded in 1973, Streamlight has grown from a small company with a single product to an international provider of a broad range of high-performance lights for law enforcement, military, firefighting, industrial, automotive, and outdoor professionals. A pioneer in the development of rechargeable flashlights, lanterns and LED lighting, the company is known for its expert engineering approach to creating lighting products that feature extraordinary brightness while also offering high value and durability. “We are proud to have provided such reliable and durable lighting tools for our many customers, including first responders, industrial and automotive professionals, and outdoor enthusiasts, for 40 years,” said Streamlight President and CEO Ray Sharrah. “As technology has evolved, Streamlight has continually leveraged it to produce ever brighter, more feature-rich lights without sacrificing our exacting standards for quality and capability.” Recently, Streamlight adapted new LED technology to create “High Lumen” flashlights for maximum illumination, delivering at least 500 lumens. The new lights are designed for flooding an area with light, such as when illuminating a dark alley, work area, or outdoor path. Made possible by a recent shift in LED manufacturing, the high lumen lights also feature Streamlight’s trademark long-reaching beam and extended run times. Sharrah said that this new LED technology also has led to improvements in the company’s “Tradition” line of lights, designed for the broadest array of applications, and “High Performance” models, which deliver superior down-range lighting because of their increased candela. Today, Streamlight offers a full line of flashlights, headlamps, weapons lighting, lanterns and accessories, which are sought after by military, law enforcement, fire service and emergency, automotive and industrial professionals worldwide. What began in 1973 as a small operation with several employees has grown into a 165,000 sq. ft. – manufacturing and office space in Eagleville, PA with more than 250 employees. The company holds over 110 U.S. and foreign patents. Based in Eagleville, PA, Streamlight, Inc. is marking 40 years of making tough, durable, long-lasting flashlights designed to serve the specialized needs of professionals and consumers alike. Since 1973, the company has designed, manufactured and marketed high-performance flashlights, and today offers a broad array of lights, weapon light/laser sighting devices and vehicle solar charging devices for professional law enforcement, military, firefighting, industrial, automotive, and outdoor applications. Streamlight is an ISO 9001:2008 certified company. For additional information, please call 800-523-7488 or visit www.streamlight.com  

Replaceable tips can be changed in a second  The "Diamond" shaped tips utilized with SP 300/E models have received a really great resonance from all our customers. What they liked is, that the Diamond tips are literally “biting” into slippery surfaces, namely sheet steel of vehicles“. As a consequence, many have been suggesting that such a tip should become standard with the SP 310, as well. However: on the other hand there were quite a few whose first choice was definitely the multifunctional tip of the SP 310. What they liked was, that this tip is offering extra opportunities beyond the traditional RTA applications such as: USAR, Disaster Management, Railway- and Aircraft accidents etc. The best of both worlds is available for LUKAS customers: The new interchangeable spreader tip system is featuring field replaceable tips which can be changed in a second. The snap mechanism is functioning like the one already known from existing SP 300 / SP 300E models. Models SP 300 E (eDRAULIC) and SP 300 will be delivered as standard with the Diamond tip, as exercised before. This is to highlight its position as light spreader dedicated to typical RTA scenarios. Standard tips with SP 310 will be the well known multifunctional tips. Those are now promoted as “Universal” tips. "Universal" is highlighting SP 310’s position in the portfolio as the strong all – rounder that reliably masters every challenge beyond the traditional RTA application. The optional tip packages "Universal" and "Diamond" are meant as accessory kits, each including two tips. Utilizing the same, the SP 300 user will be able to make his tool fit for scenarios beyond RTA. And the SP 310 user will benefit from the Diamond shape in special RTA applications. In order to serve all customers who like the new tip system, arm retrofit kits have been created. Those are required on top of the tip package for adapting the new tips to existing “traditional” spreaders SP 310 or LSP 40EN. KSV 11 chain set can be used with both SP 300/E and SP 310 and with both "DIAMOND" tips and “UNIVERSAL“ tips. SP 300 and SP 310 have successfully completed the EN 13204 test and certification procedure.

In partnership with DECT Training Fike Safety Technology (FST), the leading manufacturer of intelligent fire detection solutions, has donated its popular TWINFLEXpro intelligent 2-wire fire alarm systems to DCET Training, one of the UK’s leading providers of accredited training courses for the UK fire industry. DCET Training is a specialist training provider that was formed in 1995 by the electrical contracting industry and since then they have consistently provided quality training for all electrotechnical disciplines. DCET have three training centres in Exeter, Plymouth and Redruth and provide a wide range of training including, apprenticeships, wiring regulations, inspection and testing and advanced level 4 diplomas. DCET has always had close links with the fire industry and has developed and delivered its own fire alarm familiarisation courses for many years. They actively promote the importance of fire alarm training and work with the FPA to offer accredited fire alarm and emergency lighting courses at their centres and on site. FST’s TWINFLEXpro panels and detectors will be used not only on FPA courses but also to show their electrical apprentices a fully functioning fire alarm system based on the latest advanced technology. To further enhance their training, DCET will be taking a number of their students to visit FST’s design and manufacturing facility in South Wales later this year. “The support of Fike Safety Technology has been invaluable and will enable us to use state of the art technologies in our training. It shows that a leading fire alarm manufacturer recognises the importance of quality training using quality equipment,” said Bernard Collins, Curriculum Manager at DCET Training. The TWINFLEXpro system incorporates the Multipoint combined smoke and heat detector with built-in sounder, which allows the whole system to be easily installed using only one pair of wires per zone. As Multipoint offers 7 different modes of detection, the installation is made even simpler since one device suits all applications. Checkpoint Alarm Confirmation Technology is a feature of the system that has seen TWINFLEXpro installed extensively in applications such as Houses of Multiple Occupancy (HMO). This is a configurable pre-alarm that can be set on detectors in dwelling areas that allows time to investigate the cause of the alarm before building-wide evacuation is initiated. This can significantly reduce the disruption from nuisance alarms. For further information please contact Fike Safety Technology on Tel: 01633 865 558, Email: [email protected] or visit www.fikesafetytech.co.uk

The 10th award for Xtralis in two years  Xtralis, the world’s leading provider of early & reliable detection and remote visual verification safety & security solutions, was awarded Fire Product Innovation of the Year for VESDA ECO Ex at IFSEC/FIREX International 2013, held 13-16 May 2013 in Birmingham, UK. Xtralis was presented the award at the IFSEC & FIREX Awards gala, a celebration of the best product and solution innovations in the security and fire markets. ECO Ex, a gas detector module for use with VESDA smoke detection system in Class I Division 2 classified hazardous locations, was selected by an independent, blue-chip panel of judges over three other finalists. The award is the 10th major award won by Xtralis safety and security solutions worldwide in in the past two years. “VESDA ECO Ex provides early warning of toxic, oxygen and flammable gas hazards to protect personnel and property while ensuring business continuity in Class I Division 2 areas, where ignitable concentrations of flammable gases, vapours or liquids are not likely to exist under normal operating conditions,” commented Claudio Groppetti, Vice President Business Development — Environmental Protection & Gas Monitoring at Xtralis. “The Fire Product Innovation of the Year award is an independent validation of our approach to life safety solutions at Xtralis. We build innovative smoke and gas detection solutions, as well as advanced security solutions, that protect lives and assets with a reliability you can depend upon,” Groppetti added. Working within a VESDA pipe network, ECO Ex eliminates any uncertainties associated with locating traditional spot gas detectors, providing a reliable solution to detect gas threats, regardless of air movement. VESDA ECO Ex also provides significant installation and routine maintenance cost savings over conventional multi-point gas detection solutions by reducing the number of detectors required to cover an area, and providing easy access for routine maintenance. VESDA ECO Ex has been deployed by hundreds of blue-chip companies worldwide providing point, zone, or total-area coverage to suit different applications in a wide array of hazardous environments. Installations include datacenters, battery-charging rooms, pharmaceutical warehouses, paint storage rooms, national testing laboratories, boiler plant rooms, underground utility, service, and road tunnels, refrigerated stores and plant rooms, water treatment and sewage plants, power generation plants, metal processing plants, and steel mills. Each VESDA ECO Ex gas detector can house up to two gas sensors, and additional detectors can be added easily to the VESDA pipe network to monitor more gases if required. Seventeen different gas sensors are already available, and re-calibrated sensor cartridges are easily replaced in the field and make converting to different gas sensors or replacing sensors a simple task. Learn more about VESDA ECO Ex here.

Introduced three bespoke new nozzles Delta Fire , the UK’s largest manufacturer of Fire Fighting Nozzles, has taken a very pro-active role in the provision of specialist nozzles and equipment to deal with fires in high rise buildings. There are a number of problematic issues in maintaining nozzle performance on every floor of a high rise building due mainly to the reduction of water pressure experienced on upper levels. Working closely with UK Fire and Rescue Services, Delta Fire have been instrumental in developing three bespoke fire nozzles that have combatted this problem allowing for safe, efficient firefighting at every level of the building. Based on the highly reputed Delta ‘Attack’ range these new High Rise variants have been tailored to suit the specific requirements of each Brigade. Manchester Fire and Rescue have recently taken delivery of the New Delta Attack 750 Hi-Flow/Lo-Flow High Rise Nozzles & others such as Nottingham Fire and Rescue the Specialist Attack 500 High Rise Nozzles. Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue have had the Delta Jet/Spray Smooth Bore Combination High Rise Nozzles in use for some time designed to provide all the Jet/Spray benefits of the ‘Attack’ but with the added advantage of a detachable front end allowing the firefighter to swap to a Smooth Bore front should the Jet/Spray become blocked by debris. Alongside the developments in High Rise Branches Delta Fire is nearing completion of their new High Rise ‘Floor Below Nozzle’. This nozzle allows the firefighter to tackle a fire in an upper floor from the floor below by means of a long nozzle (jointed for ease of lift access) manufactured to the optimum angle to fire a solid jet of water through the window of the room above, hitting the ceiling and providing gas cooling prior to a firefighter entering the room. In preliminary tests at a UK Brigade an upper room was taken to 600 degrees in a controlled fire situation. Using the ‘Delta Floor Below Nozzle’ the temperature was reduced to just 90 degrees in only 20 seconds. This is a major step forward in firefighter safety and reduces the risks associated with rising room temperatures. The ‘Delta Floor Below Nozzle’ will be officially launched at the NEC Emergency Services Show later this year but will be available for earlier trials upon request. Delta Fire has become synonymous with unsurpassed quality and reliability amongst professional Fire Fighters with the Delta Fire Nozzles now in service with over 60% of the UK Fire and Rescue Services.

Says government review  Fire and rescue services in England need to be "transformed" to become more efficient and effective, a government-commissioned review has said. Sir Ken Knight said incidents were down 40% over the past decade but the number of firefighters was roughly the same. Former chief fire and rescue adviser Sir Ken said having 46 separate authorities was not "sensible". The Fire Brigades Union described the review as a "fig leaf" for increased cuts to the fire service. Sir Ken’s ideas for the future included the creation of a single fire service for England, mirroring Scotland’s system. Ideas for debate Sir Ken, who recently retired as the government’s chief fire and rescue adviser, also found inexplicable variations in the amount different fire and rescue authorities were spending. After finding that, in some areas, services cost twice as much to provide as they did elsewhere, he suggested tens of millions of pounds could be saved every year. Sir Ken said many local authorities were considering ways to save money in fire services – including mergers, new shift patterns and greater use of part-time firefighters. Cannot play media. You do not have the correct version of the flash player. Download the correct version Sir Ken Knight: "There will be an adjustment of numbers, of jobs, of people" But he warned the "scale of change is unlikely to be achieved through local action alone". The review noted little change in expenditure and personnel levels despite the decrease in the number of callouts. Although the report made no firm recommendations, it listed a number of ideas for future debate. These included more collaboration between fire and other emergency services, privatisation, as well as the possibility of a single fire service for England. Fire service cuts Matt Wrack, general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union, criticised the reports as "a fig leaf for slashing our fire and rescue service to bits". Cannot play media. You do not have the correct version of the flash player. Download the correct version "David Cameron has promised to protect front-line services. That has been exposed as a lie over the past three years as the fire service has faced the biggest cuts in its history." He said 1,200 firefighter jobs had been cut in the past year and the cutbacks had resulted in "a poorer service for the public". Later, speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Mr Wrack discussed a forthcoming study by the Department for Communities and Local Government that he said would show "reaction time has increased… and it will show it has resulted in additional deaths and additional fire losses". He also criticised Sir Ken’s plans to decrease the number of full-time firefighters. He said: "In a full-time fire service, firefighters are available in a matter of seconds – a huge difference in time from someone mobilised from home." ‘Need to answer’ Sir Ken insisted the review was about adjusting the service to current needs, not cutting it. He said: "When I was a firefighter, fire deaths in the home were 700 and 800 a year. Now, they’re 180 a year. "It’s a really good news story, but the service itself must adapt and change, not only to maintain that fire safety and prevention front, but to adapt its service. "So why have – even though those fires have gone down 40% – the number of firefighters remained broadly the same. "It’s a question that the local authorities and fire authorities will need to address and need to answer." He told the Today programme "increasing retained [on-call] firefighters from 10% to 40% would save £130m". Ministers will now consider the findings. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service was created on 1 April, replacing the country’s previous eight regional services. The Scottish government said savings could be made by pooling resources into one, therefore protecting front-line staff and services. There is a new headquarters in Perth, with three operational "hubs" in the north, west and east of Scotland.