INDUSTRY NEWS


fi ghting performance and not a simple demonstration. What end-users need to know is that the foam will put out the fi re in their particular scenario. With regard to CAFS, it does seem to be the next ’big thing’; East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service promoted the use of CAFS for general fi re fi ghting. In their view it gave them better throw and knockdown, used less water whilst giving them more foam and most importantly, CAFS systems were easy to operate. Day two started with a change, looking at issues related to Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), including how PPE Standards are developed, new lightweight materials and issues relating to PPE gloves. The most interesting part of the gloves paper was the speaker, Jeremy Dawkins of Slocombe Brothers, admitting that in all the tests done of PPE gloves, they were not checked for the effect of fi re fi ghting foam on them. It would appear there is none, but no one had asked this question before. The conference fi nished with a series of papers on new Newtonian Fluorine free foams; new commercial methods for treating water contaminated with foam, moving away from simply burning the foams to the use of chemical techniques. There are still best value issues with these new methods but they are getting more cost effective, however, full scale commercialisation is still a way off. In all, the seminar didn’t announce any signifi cantly new information but provided updates on the technologies and chemistry, and gave a strong indication of the way forward which is, like it or not, edition’s impact on the environment is now the key factor in choosing a fi re fi ghting foam.


Robert Thilthorpe, Technical Manager


FIRE SECTOR ENVIRONMENTAL AND LEGISLATION NEWS


T


here’s always plenty to keep abreast of in the


fi re world, with legislation, standards and best practice to monitor when managing your work and business. Environmental management is no different to this, and at the moment there’s a lot of new information about changes that are afoot. • The EU Construction Product Regulation comes into force on 1st July 2013. The FIA has released a Guidance Document: EU Construction Products Regulation 305/2011. For more information read this edition’s Technical News.


• The new Restriction of Substances Hazardous to Health (RoSH) Regulations came into force on 2nd January this year. Read this edition’s Technical News for more information.


• There is a consultation out currently about amendments to the UK WEEE Regulations, to align them to the Recast EU Directive which came into force last year. This consultation is mainly focussed on the setting up of Producer Compliance Schemes in the UK and the FIA will be submitting a response to the proposals.


• ISO14001, the international Standard for Environmental Management Systems (EMS), is under review and is expected to be published in early 2015. Changes are focussed around ensuring EMSs are integrated into the


organisation’s central business processes and strategy; assessing positive impacts and added value through implementation of the EMS; and improving product and services across their lifecycle.


• If EMAS (EU Eco- management & Audit Scheme) is more up your street, there is a new user’s guide (2013/131/EU) published in the Offi cial Journal of the European Union. The guide provides


a breakdown of the steps involved in achieving certifi cation to EMAS as well as evidence as to the benefi ts that can be gained from an EMS. The document is available at http://eur-lex.europa.eu.


Don’t forget, more detail on legislative requirements and environmental management systems can be found at www.fi a.uk.com under resources, and in the members’ area. Vicky Keeble, FIA Compliance Manager


FIRE SAFETY TRAINING SEPTEMBER


16th One Day Fire Risk Assessment Refresher course - Sheffield This course has been awarded 5.5 IFE CPD hours.


17th-20th 3.5 Day Fire Risk Assessment course - Sheffield 30th-3rd Oct 3.5 day Fire Risk Assessment course - Surrey


All one day courses are charged at £185 + VAT The cost of a 3.5 day FRA course is £525 + VAT


We can also offer the following courses: • Fire Safety Legislation


• 3.5 day IFE approved Introduction to Fire Safety • One day refresher training for Fire Risk Assessors • BS 7273-4: Interpretation and Application • BS 9999: One or two day courses • Fire Drills, Fire Warden and Fire Awareness training


Bespoke courses can be tailor-made to suit your requirements.


For further information and to book a course:


Please email: office@cstodd.co.uk, or call 01252 792088, or visit our website www.cstodd.co.uk


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