By Dr. Allan Jowsey MEng AIFireE MSFPE, Fire Engineering Manager for International Paint The intumescent coatings industry has moved at a fast pace over recent years. Understanding passive fire protection technology and the impact of legislation is important to ensure compliance with international standards for fire and life safety. Introduction The ever-increasing use of steel as a construction material has led to enhanced flexibility in design, as well as significant time savings in the construction industry. However, its use in social infrastructure and buildings has brought an additional challenge – that of fire safety. In the event of a fire, steel can lose its strength and collapse, resulting in damage to property and in the worst case, loss of life. Almost all buildings incorporate some fire safety measures. In the event of a fire, structures are required to maintain their stability for a reasonable period of time to enable occupants to evacuate and to provide safety to fire-fighters. There are numerous products available to designers to satisfy the fire resistance requirements of their projects. Intumescent coatings provide one such method. They react in the presence of intense heat to form an insulating layer, protecting the underlying steel and extending the duration of its structural integrity. Traditional methods of fireproofing, such as cementitious coatings and gypsum boards, can only be applied on-site and are often considered aesthetically unappealing for visually exposed steelwork and labour-intensive to apply. Intumescent coatings allow for easy off-site and on-site application during construction and provide an attractive finish that does not compromise intricate designs and shapes created from the steel. This allows maximum architectural expression for structures such as airports, stadia, leisure facilities, hospitals and office buildings. As with any fire protection product, it is important to understand its basis to ensure correct specification and one that is fit for purpose. This article outlines some of the keys issues that architects, engineers, fabricators, applicators and Approving Authorities should be aware of when dealing with intumescent coatings. To fully appreciate the role of passive fire protection, it is important to understand three main things: How a structure will perform in the event of a fire? What fire scenario may it be exposed to? What benefits can passive fire protection offer? Structural response Structural steel reduces in strength and stiffness with increased temperature. This can have a detrimental effect on the stability of a structure. Unprotected steel will heat very rapidly in a fire. The aim of an intumescent coating is to insulate the steel and keep it relatively cool for the required fire resistance rating. The response of a steel structure in a fire can be further influenced by the maximum temperature attained, the degree to which it is loaded, its restraint and the mechanical properties of the steel itself. The term ‘Fire Resistance Rating’ is associated with the ability of a building element to perform its function as a barrier or structural component for a specified time during the course of a fire. It is often specified in combination with a critical steel temperature as set by a qualified engineer. Durations vary with legislation around the world, but a typical period may be 60, 90 or 120 minutes. The basis for the rating is typically specified in accordance with design standards and guidance documents. These documents vary in nature around the world, but fire resistance requirements are strongly related to the risk of fire (occupancy use), the height of the structure and may be associated with provision of a suppression system. It is critical to understand the correct legislative requirements for a project. Intumescent coatings can cover a wide range of structural sections including universal beams and columns, circular and rectangular hollow sections and concrete-filled tubes. Depending on the type of intumescent coating, it is possible to protect members for up to 3 hours fire resistance. Manufacturers also assess their products over a wide range of critical temperatures – known as Multi-Temperature Assessments (MTAs). These may typically be 350°C to 750°C and can permit engineers to specify temperatures of their structural elements as part of an optimised design. Fire types The fire protection industry has adopted standard “fire curves” for different types of fires: Cellulosic fires are fuelled by combustibles such as wood, paper and textiles. They are typically associated with commercial infrastructure. Hydrocarbon fires, or pool fires, are fuelled by oil and gas and have a very rapid heat rise. They can be extremely turbulent as they entrain oxygen to maintain combustion. Jet fires are a particular group of hydrocarbon-fuelled fires expelled from an orifice under high pressure. They can have high erosive forces in addition to high heat fluxes above those experienced in open pool fires. Epoxy intumescents are used where there is a risk of hydrocarbon and jet fires, Thin-film acrylics are typically used where there is risk of a cellulosic fire, although an epoxy coating may be required for durability. Intumescent coatings Intumescent coatings work by undergoing a chemical reaction when heated to form an expanded, thermally insulating layer. The coatings include an acid source – typically phosphorous-based, a carbon source and one or more blowing agents dispersed in a suitable resin system. At temperatures of around 200°C the acid and carbon source react to form a carbonaceous melt which is then expanded by gases generated during the thermal decomposition of the blowing agents resulting in a sponge-like char. Intumescents are available in categories that include thin-film water-borne or solvent-borne acrylics and high-build epoxies. The choice of which to use on a specific project is dependent on factors that include : The fire resistance rating and fire exposure type: Often set by a design standard and influenced by the occupancy use of the structure Legislative requirements including the fire test standard: Strongly linked to global geographic location with fire test standards being referenced in design documents Durability and anti-corrosion requirements: The degree of environmental exposure of the steel is important in selecting an intumescent coating. Environmental Classifications are set out in ISO 12944 Part

Despite the economic troubles with clever thinking fire chiefs can still deliver high-quality service Many fire departments are being challenged by budget crises, rising call volume, personnel and equipment shortages, security issues and the overall expectation to do more with less. Effectively managing these challenges requires a basic understanding of how changes in levels of fire department resources deployed affect outcomes from emergencies that occur daily. Failing to manage these challenges can leave individuals, a fire department and a community vulnerable to undesirable events. Both in the UK and the US, fire departments have seen response times suffer as staff are laid off. For instance, Canvey Island, in Essex, has not had a full-time fire crew since October 2011. A part-time, but still fully trained, staff have been in place sine. However, figures released earlier this year have shown that this has had a dramatic effect on response times in the region. Average duty response times had risen by two minutes in first nine months after the change, and the average maximum response time rose by an alarming eight-and-a-half months. Since November 2011, the station’s average monthly responses have also consistently exceeded eight minutes, rising to more than ten minutes at the start of 2012. Prior to the switchover, the average monthly response time hovered between six and seven minutes. In March 2012, the average response time was eight minutes 56 seconds. Unsurprisingly, the news has not gone down well with local residents. One told the local press that “The fire service promised this would not have an impact on response times and it clearly has. In those extra two minutes you never know what could happen. It could be the difference between saving a life and not.” Essex Fire and Rescue, who are in charge of the Canvey area, say that the move will help save £845,000 a year, and argued that, although the response times had risen, it had meant that the local rescue pump has been more accessible: “Since the move to retained firefighters, Essex County Fire and Rescue Service has used mixed crewing to ensure Canvey’s rescue pump remained on the run, and availability has significantly improved. There has been no increase in appliances from elsewhere being the first appliance to be mobilised to incidents on Canvey.” On the other side of the Pond, in Los Angeles, fire chief Brian Cummings has been summoned to appear in front of the city’s council to explain why his department has “been unwilling or unable to develop a plan to reduce response times and improve public safety.” When he was elected in 2010, Cummings had devised an innovative cost-cutting plan to help Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa cut over $50 million from the city’s fire department budget, while nudging response times back down to pre-recession levels. However, his plans have largely failed to materialise: Response times are worse than when stations were fully staffed, and dispatchers are struggling to process 911 calls quickly. Cummings has argued that he is doing all he can with limited funds and promised to improve things if and when he gets more resources. He also said that other measures of his force’s performance had been ignored, with the media instead focusing too much on the negative headlines. LAFD Commissioner Alan Skobin has criticised Cummings, saying: “I saw no evidence that he had the professional focus or tools to approach it…” and suggesting that Cummings was not interested in ensuring the department’s performance reporting is accurate, thus undermining public confidence. While it is understandable that difficult economic times will have an impact on the fire service, fire professionals have to bear in mind the measures they take in order to both maintain public confidence and, more importantly, continue saving lives and protecting property. It is up to fire chiefs to decide what risks they are willing to take and how much they are prepared to cut back on. Cutting staff would lead to lead to longer response time and less quality of care; cutting equipment will mean there’s less to go round – either way, it will be more dangerous to the general public. The operational performance of a fire department depends on three key factors: Resource availability/reliability – the degree to which the • resources are ready and available to respond Department capability – the ability of the resources • deployed to deal with the incident Overall effectiveness – the outcome achieved by the • deployed resources To have a reliable, and thus successful, response to an incident, fire-fighters and their equipment must be properly equipped and available. As the number of calls increases and the number of fire- fighters/equipment available decreases, it is increasingly likely that the fire services will lose effectiveness. It is up to fire chiefs to ensure prioritise what equipment or how many personnel to send to each incident. It is often down to timing: It is pointless wasting time spending dozens of fire-fighters to a small-scale fire; similarly, assigning a large fire to a small team would endanger both their lives and the public’s, as well as risk even more property damage. The job of the fire chief is to decide when and where to deploy his staff. To do this, they target a point in the fire’s growth that marks a significant shift in its threat to life and property. This is called the ‘flashover’. At flashover, a fire engulfs everything in the room, and the ensuing heat, smoke and pressure begins to force the fire into adjoining rooms. This is a massive risk to the survival of any occupants of the room. It also creates an exponential growth to the rate of combustion and risk to the fire-fighters’ health and safety. Furthermore, more water and more fire-fighters are needed to extinguish the larger fire, and, as flashover fires cause more damage and cover a larger area than regular fires, more personnel are needed to perform a search and rescue operation once the fire has been put

Tim Banner examines the fire considerations on North Sea oil and gas facilities, and the latest developments in fire protection technology The North Sea is one of the world’s most developed oil basins. Hydrocarbons have been produced from the North Sea since the 1970s and the region leads the global offshore industry in terms of oil and gas production and export infrastructures, technical skill base and, most importantly, safety record. However, the drawback of such development is that most of the area’s largest oil and gas fields are now in decline and new discoveries are usually technically challenging and marginal in terms of volume. Even the more optimistic estimates of the remaining volumes of hydrocarbons in place estimate that roughly 70% of the recoverable UK sector oil has been produced. The same figure for Norwegian sector oil is estimated at roughly 50%. Because of this, it is not usually economic to commission new, dedicated offshore facilities to produce from these newly discovered yet marginal fields. Therefore, it is becoming increasingly important to make use of existing infrastructure in order to exploit new discoveries and maintain production levels. A common method of doing this is to tie new discoveries back to existing facilities, where the produced hydrocarbons can be processed and exported to shore. This can represent significant challenges in terms of subsea engineering, processing capacity aboard the host facilities, structural integrity of older platforms and the safety implications of extending existing processes. Fire protection technology has a vital role to play in extending the life of existing assets and thereby maximising the production potential of the remaining North Sea oil and gas fields. Whenever extending a process beyond its original design it is vital that the firewater system is upgraded accordingly. A typical fire protection system aboard an offshore rig can be described as a pipework circuit (called a ringmain) with water being driven around this circuit by a firewater circulation pump. At certain points, the circuit branches off from the ringmain to cover the various areas of the facility; flow to these branches is controlled by deluge valves, which in turn are linked to fire detectors. These branches network out to a series of deluge nozzles, which cover the platform area with a spray of protective water in the event of a fire. Under normal operation (without a fire), these deluge valves stay closed and the water circles around the ringmain loop. However, should the sensors detect a fire they send a signal to the deluge valves to open in the relevant area. This causes water to flow down the branches and out through the deluge nozzles. In turn, this causes the pressure in the ringmain to drop, which is measured by a series of pressures gauges fitted to the ringmain. These gauges are connected to a seawater lift pump, which responds the pressure drop in the ringmain by raising water from the sea to provide a continuous water supply with which to fight the fire. Extending existing processes often means extra deck space, which must be covered by extending the fire protection system. In addition, these extra modules can increase the water demands of the system in the event of a fire. Both of these aspects put additional strain on the firewater pumps that drive the system and the performance of the existing system must be assessed before oil and gas production can be enhanced. There are certain considerations that influence the design of an extension to an existing firewater system : How does the extension physically fit into the existing facilities? Space matters aboard an offshore oil and gas facility. Deck space is limited yet must accommodate the main processes for oil, gas and water treatment as well as the various utility systems: Steam, coolant, electrical systems, fire protection and so on. Therefore, effective piping engineering is essential to physically integrate the extensions within the space available. In addition, the points where the extensions tie-in to the original fire protection system must be carefully selected to ensure that they are accessible for modification work as well as viable from a hydraulic performance perspective (more on that later). How does the extension integrate with the existing control system? As mentioned earlier, the performance of the system is dependent on a series of sensors and control valves. When selecting these elements for the extensions it is vital to choose parts that are compatible with the existing control system. Since these modifications often involve mature assets, in some cases the original manufacturers no longer exist. Therefore, careful consideration must be given to whether new parts will work within older systems and whether certain older parts should be replaced to accommodate the changes, if necessary. What are the additional fire water requirements associated with the extended system? In effect, how much additional water will be required to cover the extra deck space? This is generally based on how much additional deck area must be covered and is also dependent on the type of deluge nozzles, how much water can be supplied to each nozzle and the pressure at which this water can be supplied. Nozzles have a typical spray pattern that is dependent on the flow rate and pressure of the supplied water. Each nozzle has a minimum requirement for water rate and pressure; if these minimum specifications are met then the nozzle can effectively distribute water over a certain area and protect it from fire. The total requirements for water flow rate and pressure can be established by considering the total number of nozzles required to cover a given area and the minimum flow rate and pressure required for each nozzle. How does the extension affect the hydraulic performance of the existing system? For the extensions to work, they must be hydraulically viable. The system must be capable of delivering water to the nozzles at the required flow rates and pressures. This capability is determined by the performance of the pump that drives the system, the diameters of the pipework that

Carbon monoxide and hydrogen cyanide are the silent killers that fire-fighters must be protected from Today’s fires are more hazardous than ever. The reason for this is not that residential and office fires are hotter or somehow more dangerous, but rather that the smoke associated with these fires is more toxic than ever. Inhaling this smoke can kill a fire-fighter immediately or cause chronic health problems. This is such a big problem that many organisations are changing the way they fight fires. Inhaling smoke used to be part of a firefighter’s job, but now that they realise how dangerous it is to do so, firefighters are increasingly using self-contained breathing apparatuses (SCBAs) during fire overhaul operations. Another safety measure that some organisations are using is deploying wireless gas-detection systems when they fight and overhaul a fire. These gas-detection systems can be deployed rapidly and give commanders the information they need to determine when the air at a fire scene is safe enough to breathe. Monitors are being deployed as personal monitors as well as in the command and EMS vehicles, so that all fire personnel can protect themselves from harmful smoke. The “toxic twins” The most dangerous components in fire smoke are carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen cyanide (HCN) gases, sometimes known as the “toxic twins.” Carbon monoxide is produced when materials containing carbon, such as wood or plastic, burn in an area where there is insufficient oxygen to burn completely. CO can cause tissue hypoxia when inhaled, which prevents the blood from carrying sufficient oxygen, and can cause dizziness, nausea, headache and, at higher concentrations, convulsions, tachycardia (excessively rapid heartbeat) and death. Like CO, HCN is an invisible gas that cannot be detected by the colour or the amount of smoke emitted by a fire. HCN is created as a result of burning laminates, synthetics, foams, plastics and wood—many of the materials found in furniture, PCs/office equipment, PVC pipe, carpet and upholstery items in homes and offices. While the dangers of CO have been long understood, the health risks of cyanide are now considered a substantial component of smoke inhalation. Exposure to large amounts of cyanide can cause convulsions, unconsciousness or death. When inhaled together, the “toxic twins” can have a synergistic effect, experts say, causing even more harm. The time it takes for a person to become incapacitated by HCN gas is reduced if they inhale CO at the same time. At high HCN concentrations (>200 ppm), a person becomes incapacitated in two minutes or less. Once incapacitated, they continue to inhale the HCN/CO mixture for as long as they continue breathing. While the majority of deaths may be attributed to CO inhalation alone, incapacitation due to inhaling HCN facilitates the process. This one-two punch is why HCN and CO are called the “toxic twins.” These gases also present long-term dangers: Firefighters are now developing chronic illnesses, including cancers and cardiac-related illnesses like never before. In a 2006 study, University of Cincinnati(UC) environmental health researchers determined that firefighters are significantly more likely to develop four different types of cancer than workers in other fields. The researchers found, for example, that firefighters are twice as likely to develop testicular cancer than non-firefighters and have significantly higher rates of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and prostate cancer. They also confirmed findings that firefighters are at greater risk for multiple myeloma (a cancer of the plasma cells). New operating procedures called for There is a growing awareness now that emergency responders must change the way they fight fires. The Fire Smoke Coalition (www.firesmoke.org) is a group that’s working hard to increase that awareness. Based in Indianapolis, the 501(c) (3) nonprofit organisation provides information and conducts hands-on workshops for firefighters and medical personnel focused on the protection against and the prevention and detection of smoke dangers. The workshops include global classroom and hands-on practical training that educate firefighters and others about the risk of fire-smoke exposure based on the latest research and institutional knowledge. The symposiums provide information that dispels the myths and misunderstandings about the threat of HCN exposure. The information also warns attendees about the long-term health effects of exposure. One of the founders of the Fire Smoke Coalition is Capt. Rob Schnepp of the Alameda County Fire Department in California. Capt. Schnepp states, “By raising awareness based on the latest research, we can eventually trigger a paradigm shift whereby fire smoke is scrutinised and appreciated for its impact on acute and chronic health of firefighters and its impact on civilians who get exposed.” “I think the effort is a game changer for our profession,” Schnepp says. “There are agencies that have made instant, and in some cases, widespread changes. There’s a huge movement now of departments doing more gas detection and monitoring, wearing air during overhauls and carrying cyanide antidote kits. There are a lot of people really embracing the message.” Wireless gas detection keeps firefighters safe Many of the toxic gases, including HCN and CO found at fire scenes, can only be detected with gas-detection instruments. Not only are today’s gas detectors more effective than ever, but they can now be connected wirelessly to create a system that makes fire overhaul much safer. A typical configuration might include : One or more area monitors, such as RAE Systems’ AreaRAE • multi-gas detection system (this could also be mounted near the command center or trucks). Personal monitors, such as RAE Systems’ ToxiRAE Pro or, or • multigas monitor such as the MultiRAE. A real-time monitoring and control platform, such as RAE • Systems’ ProRAE Guardian. The area monitor provides information on a number of different gases, including HCN, CO, and other hazardous gases. When equipped with a wireless interface, it can transmit continuous data readings in real time to the command centre. In addition to the area monitor, individual firefighters can be outfitted with personal monitors. Personal monitors are available that can detect volatile organic compounds (VOCs), toxic gases and oxygen, as well as combustible gases and vapours. These personal monitors can also be

The Solberg Company, a global supplier of firefighting foam concentrates and equipment, has announced the company will commercially introduce an environment-friendly 1% firefighting foam using no fluorinated compounds or other organohalogens at the upcoming 2013 INTERSEC Exposition 15-17 January, Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre. RE-HEALING™ RF1 foam concentrate from Solberg is environmentally-friendly 1% firefighting foam without fluorinated compounds or other organohalogens. RE-HEALING RF1 foam concentrate is formulated using a new high performance synthetic foam technology to replace traditional AFFF, FFFP foam concentrates and older protein and fluoroprotein foams. “RF1 is a uniquely advanced environmentally sustainable firefighting foam technology for use not only on land based and offshore installations in the petroleum, oil and gas industry but other industrial high-hazard high-risk industries globally,” explained Solberg managing director of business development, Jan Solberg. “We are excited to add RF1 to the family of RE-HEALING brand foam concentrates.” RE-HEALING foam concentrates from SOLBERG are an innovative environmentally sustainable fluorosurfactant and fluoropolymer-free firefighting foam used to effectively extinguish Class B hydrocarbon and polar solvent fuels with no environmental concerns for persistence, bioaccumulation or toxic breakdown. RE-HEALING foam concentrates can be used in fresh, sea or brackish water and possess excellent fire extinguishment and burn back resistance due to its flow and rapid sealing characteristics. The product takes its name from the foams physical “resealing” characteristics. The company’s forward thinking approach to fire protection and their shared commitment to environmental responsibility lead Solberg to develop RF1. For oil and gas operators, fire protection and environmental responsibility are extremely high operational requirements. RE-HEALING RF1 foam concentrate allows Solberg to provide the highest levels of safety for energy operators, while at the same time protects the environment for years to come. “RF1 is the most extensively tested foam product on the market today,” cited Steve Hansen, Vice President of Engineering and Research & Development of Solberg. “Over two years of hands on laboratory and field testing work went into the development of the product. As petroleum, oil and gas operators expand their global operations, Solberg is committed to supporting the energy industry with leading firefighting foam technologies and performance products wherever they are needed.”  

Becomes head of international sales    With his eyes firmly on expanding Apollo’s presence across Europe and other key territories, Neil Taylor, Sales and Marketing Director for the leading manufacturer of fire detection solutions, has appointed Eva Kosanovic to the newly created role of Head of International Sales. Eva has been with Apollo since 2008 joining the organisation from Xyratex, a provider of data storage solutions, where she performed an account and product management role. With a strong background in bringing new products to market Eva joined Apollo as Senior Product Manager where, amongst other achievements, she has grown the company’s sales in the US market year on year. She has now been promoted to the newly created role of Head of International Sales responsible for the expanding international sales team. Commenting on the appointment Neil Taylor says: “Eva has extensive experience in identifying and working with potential strategic partners to enter new markets. This, combined with her exceptional understanding of developing new channels and products, makes her ideally placed to lead the international sales team as it grows throughout the next year.” Eva continues: “2013 is going to be an exciting and challenging time for Apollo as it looks to expand its presence in a number of overseas markets. I look forward to bringing my experience to this new role and working with the sales team to secure additional business and promote the Apollo brand in countries around the world.” For further information, please visit: www.apollo-fire.co.uk

RE-HEALING RF1  The Solberg Company, a global supplier of firefighting foam concentrates and equipment, announced today the company will commercially introduce an environment-friendly 1% firefighting foam using no fluorinated compounds or other organohalogens at the upcoming 2013 INTERSEC Exposition 15-17 January, Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre. RE-HEALING™ RF1 foam concentrate from Solberg is environmentally-friendly 1% firefighting foam without fluorinated compounds or other organohalogens. RE-HEALING RF1 foam concentrate is formulated using a new high performance synthetic foam technology to replace traditional AFFF, FFFP foam concentrates and older protein and fluoroprotein foams. “RF1 is a uniquely advanced environmentally sustainable firefighting foam technology for use not only on land based and offshore installations in the petroleum, oil and gas industry but other industrial high-hazard high-risk industries globally,” explained Solberg managing director of business development, Jan Solberg. “We are excited to add RF1 to the family of RE-HEALING brand foam concentrates.” RE-HEALING foam concentrates from SOLBERG are an innovative environmentally sustainable fluorosurfactant and fluoropolymer-free firefighting foam used to effectively extinguish Class B hydrocarbon and polar solvent fuels with no environmental concerns for persistence, bioaccumulation or toxic breakdown. RE-HEALING foam concentrates can be used in fresh, sea or brackish water and possess excellent fire extinguishment and burn back resistance due to its flow and rapid sealing characteristics. The product takes its name from the foams physical “resealing” characteristics. The company’s forward thinking approach to fire protection and their shared commitment to environmental responsibility lead Solberg to develop RF1. For oil and gas operators, fire protection and environmental responsibility are extremely high operational requirements. RE-HEALING RF1 foam concentrate allows Solberg to provide the highest levels of safety for energy operators, while at the same time protects the environment for years to come. “RF1 is the most extensively tested foam product on the market today,” cited Steve Hansen, Vice President of Engineering and Research & Development of Solberg. “Over two years of hands on laboratory and field testing work went into the development of the product. As petroleum, oil and gas operators expand their global operations, Solberg is committed to supporting the energy industry with leading firefighting foam technologies and performance products wherever they are needed.” RE-HEALING RF1 foam concentrate is intended for use on Class B hydrocarbon fuel fires. The foam concentrate can be used to prevent re-ignition of a liquid spill and control hazardous vapours. On Class A fuels, RE-HEALING RF1 foam concentrate will improve extinguishment in deep-seated fires. Foam non-air aspirating discharge devices as well as air aspirating discharge devices, including standard sprinkler heads, can be used to obtain maximum results. The product is mixed 1 part foam concentrate to 99 parts water. It may also be used as a 1% pre-mix solution. RE-HEALING RF1 foam concentrate is compatible with dry powder agents.

Solid State complete major work SOLID STATE COMPLETE MAJOR PROJECT AT DEMENTIA CARE FACILITY Leading specialist electrical installation company, Solid State, has successfully installed a wealth of call communication and dementia care equipment at Abbey Court, a purpose-built facility in Cheshire for people with dementia and other mental health needs. Efficiency is essential in any care environment and the installation of one of C-TEC’s powerful Quantec addressable call systems was deemed vital to save staff time, minimise disturbance and improve patient care at the 30-bedroomed h ome. Quantec’s unique staff pendants ensure that patients receive the highest standards of care at the facility which is split into two sections – a 20-bedroomed unit housing people living with dementia and a 10-bedroomed unit for people with severe and enduring mental health problems. The pendants (each programmed with a unique User ID) allow nursing or security staff entering rooms to log their ‘Attendance’ via an infrared call point or receiver. By clicking their special infrared pendant, every visit to a room is logged in Quantec’s unique Surveyor data management software. According to Graham Bell, Solid State’s Sales Manager, this has enormous advantages. Said Graham: ‘The benefits of Quantec’s Attendance feature are immense – managers can rest assured that patients are being cared for and regularly checked on and staff can use the system to prove they are doing their job properly. Combined with the User ID function, which pinpoints exactly which member of staff has attended each room, Attendance is a very powerful tool." Solid State’s engineers also interfaced bed exit mats to the Quantec system using a number of Dementia Interface Units. As a result, staff are alerted if a patient leaves his or her bed at the home which is managed by Alternative Futures Group, a charitable organisation providing support, care, specialist services and accommodation for people with mental health problems and learning disabilities. For more information, contact Solid State on 01257 463018.  

For tunnel operator training The Hague, December 4th, 2012 – For its compulsory yearly training, the department for Roads & Tunnels of The Hague has organized three large scale tunnel incident exercises using the RescueSim virtual incident management simulator developed by VSTEP. Goal is to train tunnel operators for specific tunnel emergency response procedures and improve communication with the emergency services. RescueSim is a virtual incident training simulator that allows emergency and safety professionals to realistically train any thinkable incident in a safe virtual 3D environment. Both mono-and multidisciplinary training is possible. The tunnel incident exercises took place on 21, 22 and 27 November in the control room of the Hubertus Tunnel (The Hague). Each exercise consisted of two sessions in which 6 tunnel operators were trained in emergency procedures, incident response and communication during various tunnel disasters including tunnel fires, smoke hazards and traffic accidents. Using RescueSim, accidents and incident scenarios were simulated on the control room screens. These incidents only occurred in the virtual simulation, in the real tunnel there were no accidents at that time. With the virtual incidents taking place on their screens, the tunnel operators could train all necessary incident procedures and communications exactly as they would in real life. To ensure maximum realism for the tunnel operators, the Hubertus Tunnel was closed for traffic which allowed the operators to activate the actual tunnel alarm procedures during the virtual incident training. After going through various emergency scenarios and subsequent evaluation, the exercise was successfully concluded and the Hubertus Tunnel was reopened to all traffic. Virtual training and simulation of tunnel incidents allows tunnel operators to improve their skills and realistically train the emergency procedures and communication with emergency services in a safe and cost effective way. For more information about RescueSim visit www.rescuesim.com or contact [email protected] Social Media: VSTEP Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/vstepsimulation RescueSim Facebook page: www.facebook.com/rescuesim Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/vstepsimulation  

Teaser: Chicago, IL, USA     Website: http://www.iafc.org/conferences