IFEDA IS RIDING HIGH AS TRAINING INITIATIVE IS SHORTLISTED

The Independent Fire Engineering & Distributors Association (IFEDA) is delighted to have been shortlisted in the Best Training Initiative category of the renowned Fire Excellence Awards 2011.

Committed to raising standards within the fire industry, IFEDA was shortlisted for this prestigious award, in recognition of their new, ground breaking dry riser training course. Having identified a clear gap in the marketplace for an approved dry riser maintenance course that not only tested the theory of dry risers, but also the practical elements of servicing them, they successfully brought to market a suitable course that could be measured against BS9990: 2006. A purpose-build dry riser stack was commissioned and built by IFEDA member Giles Payne. Payne come up with a stack that comprised all the necessary components, enabling it to be charged with water to the required pressure, allowing technicians to be assessed on the practical servicing of dry risers as required in the British Standards six monthly and annual checks.

The purpose built dry riser stack (right), designed to provide practical hands on experience and assessment of dry riser technicians.

Graham Ferris, General Manager at IFEDA, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have been shortlisted for an award that has a huge amount of competition. The dry riser course has proved so popular that we’ve had to triple the number of times we were due to run it this year.

The introduction of this course is part of the continuing commitment of IFEDA to raising standards within the fire industry.” The two day course which includes theory, one-to-one practical tuition, together with an examination, is available to both IFEDA members and non-members.

Further details of the course can be found at http://www.ifeda.org/ or by emailing info@ifeda.org.

Care Home Manager Fined: Breach of FSO

Following the successful prosecution of a fire alarm technician (see this blog 24th December 2010) there have been further developments i.e:- A CARE home manager who was in charge when a fire alarm was silenced during a blaze has been convicted of a safety breach. Karen Sykes, 41, of Brooklands Road, Sale, appeared before Manchester Crown Court under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 following the fire at Oldfield Bank Residential Care Home in Highgate Road, Altrincham. The court heard how fire broke out in May 2009 when Sykes was duty manager. The fire alarm went off at about 6pm, the alarm was silenced but Sykes failed to ensure that a proper search of the premises was carried out. A fire was later discovered in room 25 and a 999 call was made at about 7.15pm. The alarm was discovered in 'silence' mode when crew from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service arrived to tackle the blaze. Elderly resident Beryl West died following the fire and an inquest into her death is scheduled to be heard by Stockport Coroner in April. In sentencing Sykes, who was fined £500 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £15, Judge Justice Lakin said: "My duty is clear. I have to apply the law. As the manager of the care home it was Sykes responsibility for the fire alarm and evacuation." Previously fire alarm engineer Christopher Morris, 56, of Llandudno, North Wales, has already been sentenced in relation to the same incident and was ordered to pay £5000, with £6000 being awarded to the Authority. Assistant County Fire Officer from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service Peter O'Reilly said: "This case clearly highlights and enforces the message that employees have a duty to ensure the safety of the people they are looking after. This type of behaviour simply isn't acceptable and we should not forget that an elderly resident in Sykes care died that night."This is the first time an employee has been prosecuted under this legislation, as opposed to the employer, and I am proud of Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue for bringing this about." IFEDA fully supports Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue and all other fire authorities in their efforts to enforce all aspects of the FSO.

Nitrogen Regulators and CP23

Readers may like to be aware of the following from Nick Jones of Express Fire in Manchester and the attached leaflet.

“Many service engineers may not be aware of The British Compressed Gases Association’s Code of Practice (CP23) ‘Application of the Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000 to Industrial and Medical Pressure Systems’ which includes a requirement to replace regulators every five years with a new or refurbished unit or to refurbish the regulator with approved spare parts.

Express Fire has recently been working with one of their suppliers to develop a new nitrogen regulator and they are of the opinion that it would be more cost effective to replace the regulators with new every five years for engineers.

As you will see from the information below, the TITAN regulator (pictured left) has a maximum pressure of 20 bar which means that it offers increased safety for operators as it reduces the risk of accidental over pressuring of extinguishers. Whilst available to all customers, as a member of IFEDA, Express Fire would be pleased to offer an introductory 10% discount to all other IFEDA members who wish to purchase the regulator meaning that they can purchase for only £117.00 each plus VAT (plus any applicable carriage charge as detailed in our Terms and Conditions) rather than the standard list price of £130.00.”

Please contact Nick and his team at Express Fire directly for more information or to make a purchase – details below.

Nick Jones Express Fire Equipment Ltd.

Units 3-4 Mersey Road Industrial Estate, Mersey Road North, Failsworth,

Manchester, M35 9LU.

Tel: 0161 688 5050 Fax: 0161 688 5151

Website address: http://www.expressfire.com/

Email address: nick@expressfire.com

Express Fire Equipment Ltd. Is registered in England and Wales No. 4183211.

Are your Nitrogen Regulators and delivery hoses in Date?

The British Compressed Gases Association states within Code of Practice CP23 titled “Application of the Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000 to Industrial and Medical Pressure Systems Installed at User Premises” that all of the following equipment shall be subject to the following inspection and replacement schedule.

Written Scheme of Examination for Pressure Systems Attached to Transportable Pressure Vessels:-

Plant/Equipment - Examination Period - Guidelines for written scheme of examination.

Hoses (Non-metallic Lined for High Pressure Gas Cylinders) 5 Years (a) Replace with new item. (b) Record replacement

Hoses – Stainless Steel (For High Pressure Cylinders) 5 Year (a) Replace with new item. (b) Record replacement

Process Relief Valves 6 Year (a) Visual, external examination (reference Appendix 6). (b) Replace valve with new or refurbished unit. (c) Record all details of examination.

Flame Arrestors 5 Year or suppliers’ recommendation (a) Replace with new or refurbished unit. (b) Record all details of examination

Regulators and their inter-stage/outlet integral Protective devices 5 Year (a) Replace with new or refurbished unit, or (b) Refurbish with approved spare parts kit and functionally check.

The new Titan High Pressure single stage regulators offer a compact option for applications with high outlet pressure requirements of up to 20bar. Used in a wide range of applications from high pressure testing and purging to charging fire extinguishers this regulator is a versatile option for many process gas applications. In addition the regulator features a ball control valve at the delivery outlet port. The regulators cannot deliver more than 20bar, which is high enough to safely pressurise all portable fire extinguishers whilst greatly reducing the risk of accidental over pressurising the extinguisher. Date stamped 2016 Available now from Express Fire Equipment Ltd. Special 10% discount for IFEDA members. Prices are valid until 31st December 2011 - Unit just £130* + vat

*Any prices quoted exclude any applicable carriage charges as detailed in Express Fires terms & conditions to be found on the Express Fire website - prices valid till 31st December 2011