Month: February 2024

Introducing the P50 Fire extinguisher: the biggest innovation in portable fire fighting equipment this decade

Diamond Systems is thrilled to announce the introduction of the P50 fire extinguisher to the Northern Ireland market. Designed and manufactured in Great Britain from concept through to product, the P50 composite fire extinguisher is the biggest innovation in portable firefighting equipment this decade. The P50 fire extinguisher promises to revolutionise the Northern Ireland fire safety landscape, and delivers a sustainable solution to customers throughout the province.

The P50 fire extinguisher was designed and developed by Britannia Fire, a leading manufacturer of fire extinguishers for over 50 years. With its unique 10 year manufacturing and workmanship guarantee, the P50 fire extinguisher offers a solution that enables a simple in-house annual inspection, reducing both lifecycle cost and carbon footprint.

“We are excited to introduce the P50 fire extinguisher to the Northern Ireland market,” said Angela Bennett, Joint Managing Director of family owned and operated Diamond Systems:

“We wanted to partner with a manufacturer who strived to deliver highly sustainable products for our customers – saving lives and the environment. We believe that the P50 fire extinguisher range  will set a new standard in the Northern Ireland market and we are delighted to have been selected as the distributor for this region.”

Key features of the P50 fire extinguisher include:

– No annual service required by third party engineers

– Self maintained annual inspection

– 20 year manufacturers operational corrosion guarantee

– 10 year manufacturing faults and workmanship guarantee

– Environmentally friendly PFAS Free Foam

– Recyclable

– Accredited to the highest standards

– Manufactured using 50% electricity from Solar Panels

Andy Spence, Joint Managing Director of Britannia Fire said,

“I am really excited about the future of Northen Ireland, now that we have a credible, reliable, professional partner, as we do with Diamond Systems. The ability to offer our services and vast cost savings to the likes of the NHS, Universities and local government organisations, means it is a win, win situation as we are also helping the environment with Eco friendly products”.

For more information about the P50 product range, visit https://www.britannia-fire.co.uk/p50/ and contact Diamond Systems for all Northern Ireland enquiries at sales@diamondsystems.co.uk or 02890 207 207.

BSI are inviting comment on the draft of BS 5839-1, the Code of Practice for the Design, Installation, Commissioning and Maintenance of Fire Detection and Fire Alarm Systems for non-domestic premises.

Proposed Changes within BS5839-1

In the light of a number of fatal fires, the following variations are to be considered unacceptable:

• the absence of a zone plan in premises in which there is more than one zone on any storey, particularly in premises in which people sleep
• the absence of a facility for transmission of fire signals to an ARC in a residential care home, or in supported housing in which the facility is necessary to meet the recommendations of BS5839-6

The changes to BS5839-1 also recommended that, in rooms in which people sleep, preference is given to forms of automatic fire detection other than heat detectors.

The siting recommendations for manual call points in multi-storey buildings with phased evacuation, in which only a limited number of floors are evacuated at one time, have been simplified (“the manual call points should be sited only within the accomodation”).

There are also new recommendations on modifications and extensions of fire detection and fire alarm systems.

The public comment period for BS5839-1 ends on the 16th April 2024. Comment may be submitted via the BSI standards development web portal at: https://standardsdevelopment.bsigroup.com/Projects/2023-00932#/section

 

National Apprenticeship Week is an annual celebration dedicated to recognizing the vital role that apprenticeships play in shaping our workforce and promoting economic growth. This week-long event highlights the success stories of apprentices, employers, and training providers while inspiring others to embrace apprenticeships as a pathway to personal and professional growth.

Within any business, the value of apprentices cannot be overstated. Apprentices are the future of our business, the heart of our workforce, and the embodiment of dedication and growth. Joint Managing Director of Diamond Systems, Angela Bennett, is a firm advocate of apprenticeships:

“At Diamond Systems, we have a long history of promoting apprenticeships within the fire and security industry. All fire and security apprentices who join our business complete the Diamond Development Programme as part of their initial onboarding. This provides them with the skills and understanding of the basic tasks performed by alarm engineers, and empowers them with the ability to carry these out independently within their first few months”.

Why Apprenticeships Matter

1. Hands-On Learning: Apprenticeships provide a unique blend of hands-on learning and classroom instruction, ensuring that our apprentices acquire the practical skills and knowledge necessary to excel in their roles.
2. Innovation and Adaptability: Our apprentices often bring innovative ideas and a willingness to adapt to the latest industry trends, infusing our organization with the energy needed to stay competitive in a fast-paced world.
3. Career Development: We believe in the power of apprenticeships to transform careers. For many, it’s not just a job but the beginning of a fulfilling and rewarding career journey.

Diamond Systems collaborate with local schools in Northern Ireland to promote apprenticeships through careers fairs, Young Enterprise initiatives, and participating in mock interviews. We also work closely with local further educational colleges including SERC and Belfast Met. In conjunction with our fire alarm partner, Siemens, we donated a fire alarm training board to SERC, to assist the fire alarm apprentices with their practical skills development.

Robin Hamill, Lecturer at SERC was delighted with the new training equipment for the apprentices:

“The equipment donated by Diamond Systems and Siemens will enhance the apprentices learning experience in the college workshops. SERC appreciates the support and encouragement the college and apprentices receive from key stakeholders in the fire industry.”

By recognizing and promoting the value of apprenticeships, we can all contribute to a stronger, more skilled, and resilient workforce, driving economic growth and innovation for years to come.

To find out more about apprenticeship opportunities at SERC and Belfast Met, visit their websites or careers fairs.