www.ushalonbank.com 1.800.433.1751                                   February 2022 - Vol 4, Issue 6
Volta Bets on Space Technology for Battery Storage Fire Prevention – Clean Agent Systems Need Not Apply
12/21/21

By Jason Plautz, Contributor
Utility Dive

Energy storage developer Volta Energy Products announced a three-year deployment order with San Diego-based KULR Technology Group to apply KULR's thermal safety solutions — initially designed for space missions — to energy storage. KULR's passive propagation resistant (PPR) solution suite — designed to stop lithium-ion battery failures from spiraling out of control without external fire suppression — has been used on NASA missions. The system prevents cell-to-cell thermal runaway and contains any fire and debris inside a battery pack protection, turning the system off to prevent any spread in damage.
National Grid
FAA Proposes Fixes on Boeing 777s After Engine Fires
12/23/21

Tech Xplore

The US aviation regulator proposed modifications and safety inspections on some models of the Boeing 777 jet, following a number of engine incidents.

The most recent and dramatic one involved an engine on a United Airlines 777 bursting into flames shortly after takeoff in February, scattering debris over a Denver suburb.
What Caused A Qatar Airways A300 Fire?
The aircraft involved was 14 years old at the time of the fire. Photo: Getty Images
12/22/21

By Jake Hardiman
Simple Flying

After just over seven years of otherwise uneventful service at Qatar Airways, A7-ABV flew to Abu Dhabi for maintenance in April 2007. According to FlightGlobal, this was to be carried out by Gulf Aircraft Maintenance, known in short as Gamco. However, the aircraft would never leave the hangar as, one night, it was damaged beyond repair by a severe fire.
Ozone Hole, Larger than Antarctica, Set to Close
This year's hole in the Earth's ozone layer — which grew to be larger than Antarctica, as pictured here on Oct. 15 — is finally set to close, atmospheric scientists have said.
12/21/21

By Ian Randall
Daily Mail

This year's hole in the Earth's protective ozone layer — which grew to be larger than Antarctica — is finally set to close, atmospheric scientists have said. Acting like a shield, ozone absorbs UV light from the sun. Its absence means more of this high-energy radiation reaches the Earth, where it can harm living cells. The ozone layer is depleted by chemical reactions, driven by solar energy, that involve the by-products of human-made chemicals that linger in the atmosphere. The size of the annual hole — which forms during the southern hemisphere's summer — is strongly dependant on weather conditions, and boosted by cold. Despite these natural fluctuations, experts expect the hole to close permanently by 2050, in response to restrictions on ozone-depleting chemicals introduced in 1987.
Expert Criticizes ATF, Navy Finding on Cause of Bonhomme Richard Fire
Federal firefighters assess damage in the hangar bay aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6) on July 15, 2020. US Navy Photo
12/20/21

By Gidget Fuentes
USNI News

SAN DIEGO -- An expert in electrical engineering told a Navy court that an electrical short in a forklift or some faulty batteries could have sparked the fire that ultimately led the service to scrap the former USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6), countering the Navy’s acceptance from a federal fire investigation that a disgruntled sailor deliberately set it.

Andrew Thoresen, a forensics engineer, said that in a limited, four-hour visit to the ship’s lower vehicle deck one year ago, he found a wire in a forklift’s main conductor feed had a “globule” of melted copper wires.
California Banned PFAS Foams Beginning January 1, ‘22
12/16/21

By Kerry E. Shea and Maureen S. Bayer
Davis Wright Tremaine LLP

In recent years, "forever chemicals," otherwise known as PFAS, have been extensively discussed in the scientific community and reported on by the media. And as the notoriety of PFAS grows, regulation of these widespread chemicals is anticipated to flourish across the country.

This summer in California, the state legislature banned the manufacture, sale, and use of firefighting foams that contain PFAS, beginning on January 1, 2022. Colorado, New Hampshire, New York, Maine, and Washington have already enacted similar bans.
NTSB Finds Used Vehicle Battery Caused Cargo Ship Fire
12/16/21

By The Associated Press
The Seattle Times

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- An electrical fault from an improperly disconnected battery in a used vehicle led to the fire aboard a cargo ship docked in Florida that resulted in $40 million worth of damage, officials said.

The National Transportation Safety Board released a report of its findings, along with eight safety recommendations to federal regulators and the companies involved in the June 2020 blaze.
Gas Facility Fire Started During Tank Heater Replacement
12/11/21

By Dennis Webb
The Daily Sentinel

A fire at a Terra Energy Partners natural gas production facility outside New Castle, CO occurred when crews were removing a defective burner tube/tank heater from an empty condensate tank, according to reports the company has filed with the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission.

The tank had been emptied of fluids several days before replacing the heater, but dense vapors from the tank opening settled within the secondary containment around the base of the tank and ignited, the company said.
Pratt Whitney Manager Arrested by FEDS -- Tried to Depress Engineers Pay
12/11/21

By Alex Wood, Journal Inquirer, Manchester, Conn.
Yahoo! Sports

Federal authorities are accusing a Glastonbury, CT man of orchestrating a criminal conspiracy to depress the wages of aerospace engineers through informal agreements among managers of "one of the largest aerospace engine design, manufacture and services companies in the United States" and five of its "outsource engineering suppliers."
Navy Sets Up Fire Safety Office after Billions $$ Lost
12/7/21

By Justin Katz
Breaking Defense

The new NAVSEA office is being established in response to an estimated $6 billion spent in recent years to repair or replace fire-damaged vessels.

WASHINGTON: The Navy’s agency in charge of ship construction and maintenance announced it is establishing an office focused on fire safety.

Naval Sea Systems Command in a written statement said the Industrial Fire Safety Assurance Group will report directly to Vice Adm. William Gallinis, the agency’s chief. The Navy cited more than $6 billion spent over the past 12 years replacing and repairing 14 capital ships and other assets damaged by shipboard fires.
Port of San Diego Harbor Police Department boats combat a fire aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) at Naval Base San Diego, July 12, 2020. (Photo by Lt. John J. Mike/U.S. Navy via Getty Images)
Death Toll in Massive Bangladesh Ferry Fire Rises to 40
A burnt passenger ferry is seen anchored off the coast of Jhalokati district on the Sugandha River in Bangladesh, Friday, Dec. 24, 2021. Bangladesh fire services say at least 37 passengers have been killed and many others injured in a massive fire that swept through a ferry on the southern Sugandha River. The blaze broke out around 3 a.m. on the ferry packed with 800 passengers.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
12/25/21

By Abdur Rahman Jahangir, Associated Press
Yahoo! News

DHAKA, Bangladesh -- Bangladeshi authorities buried 23 unclaimed bodies on after a day-long search failed to recover more victims or survivors of a massive fire on a crowded river ferry that left 40 people dead.

Habibur Rahman, a top government official, said he had an incomplete list of 17 missing people who were on board the ferry when the fire awoke passengers around 3 a.m., forcing many to leap into cold waters and swim ashore.
Louisana Supreme Court Drastically Lowered Amount Awarded to Man who "Bear-Hugged" Huge Fire Extinguisher
12/16/21

By Daniel Fisher
Legal Newsline

The Louisiana Supreme Court slashed a judge’s award of $1.9 million in damages to a man who “bear-hugged” a 245-pound fire extinguisher cylinder and accidentally caused it to discharge, creating a spinning menace that left him with extensive injuries and psychological trauma.

Not only were the damages too high, the state’s highest court ruled, but the trial judge should have assigned the majority of the blame to the plaintiff’s employer and the plaintiff himself, both of whom violated safety protocols by manhandling the dangerous cylinder. The trial judge instead assigned 100% of the blame to a contractor that was hired to inspect the fire-suppression system on an offshore oil rig.
Goodman Drain Pans Recalled Because of Potential Fire Hazard
1/4/22

By By Greg Zimmerman, HVAC
FacilitiesNet

Evaporative coil drain pans on light commercial and residential condensing gas furnace in a vertical, or “upflow configuration,” manufactured by Goodman Manufacturing Company are being recalled due to a fire hazard.

The drain pans can overheat, melt, and deform, potentially resulting in fire, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. The furnaces were installed between January 2019 and November 2021. Evaporator drain pans with serial numbers with prefixes ranges from 1901 to 2101 are covered by the recall. The evaporative cool is on top of the vertically installed furnace and the serial number is on a label attached to the front of the coil.
Fire Equipment Distributor Market Heats Up in 2022
2/7/22

By John Mackey
Mackey Group

The fire protection and life safety industry has continued to capture the interest of private equity firms and other investors over the last several years, and this year looks even hotter. The highly fragmented nature of our industry coupled with its stability makes for an attractive path for private equity funds. According to KPMG Corporate Finance, LLC, and Grandview Research, Fire Safety Equipment Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report (June 2019), the fire and safety market shows:

  • 8.8% projected compound growth rate (CAGR) globally from 2019-2025
  • 9.3% projected CAGR for the suppression segment (the fastest-growing segment)
  • Twenty-four percent of global insurance claims between 2013 and 2018 were related to fire/explosion (top cause of loss based on total value)
  • #1 cause of corporate insurance losses in the United States, Canada, Germany, and China.
AE Industrial Acquires Alarm and Suppression
11/30/21

By AE Industrial Partners

BROOKLYN, N.Y. -- Cross-Fire & Security Co., Inc., a full-service life safety company specializing in the design, engineering, installation, maintenance, monitoring and servicing of state-of-the-art fire and life safety systems, announced it has acquired Alarm & Suppression Inc. A&S is a provider of fire alarm, fire suppression, fire extinguishers, security and life safety systems, serving customers in northeastern New York and Vermont. A&S owner Tom Murray will remain with the Company and maintain a minority stake. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
$3.1B Sale of Chubb to APi is Complete
1/3/22

Carrier

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. -- Carrier Global Corporation, the leading global provider of healthy, safe, sustainable and intelligent building and cold chain solutions, announced it has completed the sale of its Chubb fire and security business to APi Group Corporation for an enterprise value of $3.1 billion. The sale enables Carrier to focus on its core businesses and to re-allocate the net proceeds consistent with its stated capital allocation priorities, including funding organic and inorganic growth, a growing and sustainable dividend, and share repurchases while maintaining a solid investment grade credit rating.
Johnson Controls Acquires Irish Sprinkler Company
12/9/21

By Laurence Kilgannon, Digital News Editor
Insider Media Limited

Provincial Sprinkler Company, a specialist fire suppression business based in Cork, has been acquired by Johnson Controls.

The acquisition was said to follow Johnson Controls' strategy of offering a complete fire suppression offering across the whole of UK and Ireland. It enhances Johnson Controls' ability to provide fire suppression products and services in the Republic of Ireland.
Pye Barker Acquires Mountain Alarm and Yarnell Security Systems
12/10/21

By Paul Ragusa, Editor
Security Systems News

Pye-Barker’s first venture outside the fire space makes them major player on security side

ATLANTA, Ga. -- Pye-Barker Fire & Safety, based here, has acquired super regional systems integrator Mountain Alarm Fire & Security, headquartered in Ogden, Utah, and comes on the heels of the purchase of Yarnell Security Systems, based in Lancaster, Pa.

Both Mountain Alarm and Yarnell will retain their name and teams, and Mountain Alarm will continue to be led by CEO Eric Garner, the existing management team, and their highly skilled team members. Financial details were not provided for either deal.
Advanced Security Technologies Acquires Premier Security and Fire
12/9/21

By Paul Ragusa, Editor
Security Systems News

RIVERSIDE, Calif. -- With Advanced Security Technologies’ recent acquisition of Premier Security and Fire of Modesto, CEO Bob Ricucci told Security Systems News that AST adds a mostly commercial account base in the “heart of one of our more dense customer areas, featuring many of the same services.” The purchase was financed by Alarm Financial Services (AFS) for an undisclosed amount.
Gardiner Acquires Continental Fire & Security
1/4/22

By Gardiner
Cision PR Newswire

SOLON, Ohio -- As a leader in Northern Ohio's commercial HVAC & building technologies industry, GARDINER announced the acquisition of Continental Fire & Security, Inc., an Independence, OH based provider of fire and life-safety and security systems.

Founded in 1987, CFS specializes in clean-agent fire suppression, fire alarm and mass notification systems, access control, and video surveillance as well as nurse call and intercom communication systems. GARDINER leadership cites a mutual commitment to clients and a great cultural fit between the two companies as keys to the deal. Current owners Jim Kousagan and Ray Webb will be staying on to continue leading the CFS business.
Florida-based Metro Fire Protection Services, Inc Acquired by Protegis Fire & Safety
2/15/22

By Protegis Fire & Safety

Cleveland, OH – Protegis Fire & Safety announced that it has completed the acquisition of Stuart, Florida-based Metro Fire Protection Services, Inc. which significantly expands Protegis’ existing Florida operations. Like Protegis, Metro provides installation, inspection and repair services. Metro covers the full range of fire protection and life safety disciplines and serves commercial customers in a variety of end markets in Southeast Florida.
The Environmental Cost of Burned Buildings
November 2021

Fire Safety Search

When a building burns down what is the cost to the environment?

In recent months, there have been a number of newsworthy industrial and commercial fires where we have seen a long distant shot of a large smoke plume palling over a local community. There are images of firefighters and pumps trying to contain the fire but once the fire is under control, the press attention wanes and the incident is largely forgotten. We should stop to think about the financial impacts of the lost building, contents, the business disruption and jobs – but what about the environmental impacts? In a world where sustainability has never been more important, why do we not ensure these events don’t happen in the first place, preventing such unnecessary damage to the environment?
The Future of Fire Safety is Green
November 2021

Fire Safety Search

The rise in environmental awareness and the burden of creating sustainable and renewable solutions across all industries includes fire safety in the quest for green status. Many manufacturers are leading the way with the technological innovation of their environmental extinguishers and sustainable suppression systems. The clear message from buyers is it has to be green or it’s no good.
The Explosive Problem of Killer Dust
11/30/21

By Katherine McKeen
The Regulatory Review

Between 1980 and 2005, 281 combustible dust explosions led to the deaths of 119 industrial workers and injuring of 718 others. And in the years since, similar disasters have caused numerous additional fatalities; in 2008, a single sugar dust ignition killed 14 workers in Georgia.

Such tragedies may have been “readily preventable” if workplaces adopted certain engineering controls, ventilation systems, and training protocols. Yet the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has retreated from setting specific regulations for combustible dust hazards, citing resource constraints.
PFAS Chemicals Have Completely Taken Over the Environment
12/22/21

By Mike Papantonio
Ring of Fire

Many are cheering President Biden for signing the $1.2 trillion infrastructure act into law, which includes $10 billion to help address PFAS contamination in America’s drinking water. But is it enough to clean up the mess? At the Mass Torts Made Perfect conference in Las Vegas, RT’s Brent Jabbour, filling in for Mike Papantonio, sat down with attorney Joshua Harris to discuss the countless products that remain tainted by these forever toxins, while lawsuits continue to mount against industrial manufacturers 3M and DuPont.
Most Popular Stories from 2021
There were so many great stories that we highlighted in 2021 that it was hard to just pick a few. So here are the top 20 most read stories in the Halon Herald in 2021: