Nine new control centres for the entire English Fire Service are due to open in the next two years – Industrial Fire Journal experienced first hand the extensive fire protection systems in place.

Spain’s 28km-long Guadarrama Tunnel (the fourth longest rail tunnel in the world) and the 8.5km San Pedro Tunnel together form part of the recently-opened Madrid-Valladolid high speed rail link.

Chiltern International Fire’s Head of Fire Resistance Mark Cummings and Principal Test Engineer Ross Newman highlight some of the market trends affecting fire testing.

Jo Bird has long been recognised as a leading manufacturer of GRP storage cabinets for firefighting and lifesaving equipment in some of the most inhospitable climates in the world. The company’s latest order involves 24 insulated and heated cabinets that will house hydrants at the monumental Kashagan oil project in Kazakhstan. IFJ visited Jo Bird to find out more

Who do responders turn to when they need immediate hazmat advice?

Eurotunnel, the operator of the world’s longest undersea tunnel and one of its busiest rail routes, has chosen Sepura’s new STP8000 hand-held TETRA radio for its communications in emergency operations.

EADS Defence & Security in collaboration with Beijing Satellite Science & Technology Co will provide the first TETRA project in China’s oil and gas fields.

John Campbell of Stena Drillmax writes about the unprecedented ongoing assessment of the emergency response capabilities in all semi-submersible drilling units and drill ships of Stena Drilling Ltd.

Emergencies dealing with tank fires are a stressful time for everyone involved, including the owner of the facility and surrounding communities. Although this is an infrequent occurrence for most fire chiefs, just one event is enough to leave a lasting impression, writes Gordon Lohmeyer, Texas Engineering Extension Service (TEEX) Private Sector Program Director.

George Quick, Assistant Director for Programs and Operations of the University of Nevada, Reno Fire Science Academy, emphasises the importance of storage tank fire training for non-industrial departments who deal with high risks in their immediate vicinity.  

With an increasing demand for E5 petrol and B5 diesel it is important to be aware of the differences when it comes to an emergency. The Energy Institute’s Guidance for the storage and handling of fuel grade ethanol at petroleum distribution installations contains a highly useful firefighting section – IFJ reproduces some of the highlights here.

Head of L’Oreal Corporate Fire Security Eric Issartel and MD of Ai Group Pierre Christophorov talk to IFJ about the challenges of aerosol spray fires, and how high expansion foam offers an effective alternative to traditional extinguishing systems.

In recent years, the Angus Emergency Foam Service has mobilised its emergency foam services for incidents in the UK, Japan, Turkey and Spain, and most recently in Libya. Indeed, since its inception in the late 1970s, it has responded to customer requests for large quantities of firefighting foam and equipment by road or air within 24 hours. Depending on the scale and location of the emergency, Angus Fire says that up to 40,000 litres of foam concentrate can be deployed within two hours, with additional stocks following rapidly. 

Chemguard has recently introduced Ecoguard 3% and 6% fluorine-free synthetic firefighting foam concentrate – the first and only UL Listed fluorine-free foam for multiple applications, Ecoguard is an effective and eco-friendly training foam.

Industrial fire brigades need to be trained in the use of Class B foam for hydrocarbon-type fires as well as alcohol-resistant variants, writes Dr Roger Klein.

When BAA Heathrow’s fire brigade started preparing for the arrival of the Airbus A380 around three years ago, the airport fire brigade conducted its annual emergency evacuation on a wide-bodied aircraft. The exercise was carried out on a 747, and rather quickly the brigade realised that managing a large number of people on the runway during an emergency would be a problem. How do you gather these people together in order for them to go through full casualty reception, while at the same time dealing with the incident from an emergency response perspective?

The Saudi Civil Aviation Authority has placed a significant order of Panthers from Rosenbauer.

UK company GSF slides has launched a new brand called Promount – a versatile and unique tool mounting system. Jeremy Binnington, GSF’s Sales and Marketing Director explained at the Fire and Rescue Show held in Birmingham, this month, that he was very pleased to discover that Promount is already making a name for itself in the industry.

Simulator training for the use of high reach extendable turrets is soon to be available for Rosenbauer vehicles.

Airport operations are extraordinarily complex and every aspect of operations, safety and security needs to be seamlessly integrated.  Assets have to be accurately logged and monitored, legislative compliance must be assured, and responsibilities need to be clear-cut.  Colin Simpson, Chairman of the International Aviation Fire Protection Association, outlines a new initiative that the IAFPA is pioneering with the airside team at one of the largest airports in the world.

Thermal imaging cameras are increasingly finding their way into airport firefighting brigades where their applications are numerous, as Biggin Hill found out.

Modern large buildings, ships and  aircraft pose special problems for fire safety practitioners, and no aspect is more difficult than getting people out in an emergency, writes Patrick G Cox.

George Privalov and James A Lynch of axonX introduce video image fire and smoke detection (VID) technology as it applies to industrial applications; present three case studies of companies who have successfully implemented the technology; and highlight the advantages and limitations of the system in each installation.

Increasingly CCTV-based video smoke detection (VSD) is being relied upon in today’s power stations, including seven that are operated by the Irish Republic’s main generating company ESB, keeping a watchful eye on turbine halls. Ian Moore, MD of D-Tec, explains more.