Fire investigations UK

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Author: chris

Hot topic: lessons on reacting to a solar panel fire

Despite this year’s uncertainty around the feed-in tariff cuts, the number of solar module installations on British buildings continues to rise. Whilst this is undoubtedly a positive sign for the industry, an absence of the UK or European standards means that consumers need to take more care with the installation and maintenance of these modules to ensure the safety and return on investment (ROI) of the product. One particular concern being discussed most frequently is the fire risks posed by solar installations. Link

Though there are no official industry statistics around solar module fires, incidents like the 2009 fire in Burstadt, Germany, or even last year’s fire in High Wycombe, England, keep the risk of fire front of mind. The main issue with solar modules and fire is that even if the modules are not the cause of the fire – which they rarely are – any fire in a building with a PV system can offer more risk to both homeowners and firefighters. However, by taking some simple precautions, owners can help prepare for such a scenario and make sure that if the worst were to happen, the consequences remain lower.

The key is preparation and communication.

One simple first step is to inform the local fire department that your building has been fitted with solar modules. Often, firefighters only learn that the building is equipped with a solar system when they arrive on the scene. This is a problem because solar rooftop installations demand a different approach both in terms of safety and because traditional extinguishing methods do not apply to electrical systems. Not only does the rooftop position, risk of falling glass and slippery surfaces of the modules need to be considered, but so too does the system’s high DC voltage.

In the absence of any kind of national database of systems, the responsibility falls to the owner of the system to inform the local fire department about the location and type of PV on their buildings, preferably as soon as the system is installed and at the very latest when the emergency call is made. Here, the more information that can be shared with the department regarding the wire routing, setup, isolator switches, inverters and supply stations the better. The circuit distributor, switch box and meter cabinet should also be equipped with a “Caution: Voltage” sign, which can be found in a number of equipment shops across the UK.

The danger posed by solar panels to fire crews is already a topic of much debate in the US. According to the Fire Protection Research Foundation, on average 215 firefighters are injured in the US each year by electric shock while responding to calls. Though there is no evidence as to how many of these injuries directly related to solar modules, such as the concern around the issue, that a legislative proposal is underway in the US fighting for an emblem to be placed on buildings where solar panels are attached to warn firefighters against electrocution.

“An average solar installation will produce several hundred volts between the modules and the inverters. For humans, anything over 120 volts can be deadly. Any contact with a burning system can therefore pose an extreme risk, particularly when the heat makes water pipes in the building burst, conducting the electricity,” said Daniel Heck, Marketing Director at Canadian Solar.

The German solar industry has fostered close relationships between local installers and fire stations, with many installers hosting workshops to educate fire crews about solar installations and offering up contact details for help in the case of an emergency. In turn, installers incorporate advice from the fire services when consulting customers on installations. One of our German suppliers, for example, recommends to customers that they consider the space needed for the firefighters to enter the room when they plan their system.

As soon as a fire has started it is time for the professionals to take over. The first thing required when extinguishing a fire is to switch off the system completely if possible. Under no circumstances should owners try to take matters into their own hands, especially if this involves a misguided attempt to extinguish the fire with water. In order to make sure there is no more voltage in the solar power system, the starting point should be to disconnect the inverter from the grid. This will remove any load from the PV system. Only after this should additional measures be taken.

Further risk of electric shock can be brought about by loose or dangling wires, damaged during the fire.

The fire and extreme heat will also affect the structure of the module. The high temperatures might cause the metal to warp and the modules to come loose from their anchor points. In a worst-case scenario, the heat could make the solar modules explode, sending splinters flying into the air, so special protective clothing is required. Proximity to any fire involving a photovoltaic system also brings with it an increased risk of inhaling toxic vapours that will clog the respiratory system. Firefighters will therefore have to use an autonomous respirator. All these separate elements show how crucial it is for the local fire department to know what it is dealing with in advance.

The final preventive measure when addressing fire is insurance. In the case of a fire, the homeowners’ insurance will typically cover the damage that has occurred, even if the fire department lets the house with the PV installation burn down under controlled conditions -85 per cent of all households have such insurance. However, it pays not to assume, so before installing a system contact your insurance provider to find out what its policy is.

Even if your provider will cover your system, it is best to inform them in writing that you own a new system. This is in order to prevent underinsurance in case of damage. In today’s climate of high energy pricing, PV systems increase the value of the property they are on. According to the Solar Trade Association, a recent survey by MORI found out that people are willing to pay up to £10,000 more for a home built to high environmental standards and estate agents are now de-valuing homes for sale with poor “Energy Assessments” results, due to HIP (Home Information Pack) reports. Therefore, the insurance company needs to know exactly which total value to insure.

The risk of a solar module fire is extremely low but by being armed with this knowledge and by working through a few simple steps you could ensure that a bad situation is not made much worse.

Wetherby to Waco – DNA lab’s demise

Scientists working at the Forensic Science Service laboratories in West Yorkshire led the world in DNA profiling, the senior scientist at the site said. link

The 150-strong team of experts at the lab off Audby Lane handled crucial evidence from a number of high-profile cases for police forces across the globe.

But 35 years after it opened and began using the cutting-edge forensic techniques that were the stuff of television dramas, its doors have shut for the last time.

Principal Forensic Scientist Tim Clayton said the closure would “lead to the loss of 1,000 years’ experience”.

Forensic work has been distributed to police forces and private sector providers because the Home Office said the service was economically unviable and incurred “huge losses”.

The union Prospect said it was “deeply disappointed” by the closure.

‘Historical accident’
Mr Clayton said that during a “purple patch” of a decade from the early 1990s most of the major DNA investigations across the world went through the laboratory.

Huge safes at the site held high-profile forensic evidence from around the world.
He said: “This lab had, by historical accident, developed DNA technology that developed into the [DNA] database.

“From 1993 this lab had a world-leading role despite its minor geographical significance, leading the whole of the UK and international excellence in the field of DNA.

“We had between 30 to 40 people working on the DNA cases, in a lab that was subject to an arson attack a few years ago.”

The laboratory at Wetherby has dealt with cases as diverse as the bodies recovered from the Waco siege at the Branch Davidians compound in Texas in 1993, to the assassination of the Swedish prime minister Olof Palme in 1986 and the disappearance of Huddersfield man Peter Falconio in Australia in July 2001.

Evidence from the Yorkshire Ripper murders, the disappearance of Dewsbury youngster Shannon Matthews and the death of Lesley Molseed was also analysed at the laboratory.

Shoe fetishist
In November 2008 at Leeds Crown Court jurors were told that forensic scientists considered the kidnapped youngster Shannon Matthews had been drugged.

The court heard the then nine-year-old Shannon had been given the sedative drug temazepam for up to 20 months before her disappearance.

The evidence had come from scientists analysing strands of the child’s hair that were found to contain traces of the drug.

In July 2006 printing firm manager James Lloyd, 49, a shoe fetishist of Thurnscoe, South Yorkshire, admitted raping four women and trying to rape two others.

Lloyd was traced when DNA from his sister, taken when she was arrested on an unrelated matter, was matched to samples taken at the time of the offences.

His conviction was hailed by police as the biggest victory yet in a “cold case” using this type of DNA evidence.

All the case files stored in huge safes at the site are to be transferred to the forensics archive in Birmingham.

Mr Clayton said for all the scientists employed in Wetherby the work had “never been just a job, it was a vocation”.

And he said the closure of the doors on Friday was for many scientists there “the end of a way of life”.

FI-UK join together with BRE

It is with great pride that we would like to announce that BRE Global are now full Partners with Fire Investigations (UK) and Fire Investigations (Global). We all signed the Partnership Agreement yesterday, 26th March 2012. We will now be able to offer the full range of fire investigation services from the origin, cause, development and expert evidence to computer fire modelling, fire testing, scene reconstruction and also fire investigation training.

SEE PHOTOGRAPH

Man Suffers Severe Injuries After E-Cigarette Explodes in His Mouth

A Florida man is recovering at a local burn centre after suffering severe injuries from an electric cigarette that exploded in his mouth.

Tom Holloway, 57, of Niceville, Fla., was smoking the e-cigarette Monday night when his wife heard an explosion from their study. She reportedly said it sounded like a firecracker had exploded in the house and she heard him scream, one of Holloway’s neighbours told ABC News affiliate WCTI.

Chief Butch Parker of the North Bay Fire District responded to the call. He said a faulty battery inside the electric cigarette likely caused the accident. Parker described the explosion as if Holloway was holding a “bottle rocket in his mouth.”

“I have never heard of or seen anything like this before,” Parker told ABCNews.com.

Parker said there was no way to recognize the brand of e-cigarette Holloway was smoking, but the battery appeared to be rechargeable lithium because there was a recharging station in the study.

Holloway, a Vietnam veteran, photographer and father of three, reportedly stopped smoking two years ago and turned to e-cigarettes to kick the habit.

Parker said the explosion knocked out all Holloway’s teeth and part of his tongue. The event also set fire to the room.

Electronic cigarettes have become a popular crutch for many who have quit smoking. The battery-operated smoking-cessation device simulates the act of tobacco smoking through physical sensation, appearance and even flavour.

E-cigarettes are currently not regulated by the FDA.

According to an FDA spokesperson, the government agency set forth its plans to develop a strategy to regulate additional categories of tobacco products in an April 2011 letter to stakeholders. In the Spring 2011 Unified Agenda (published in July), FDA announced its intent to issue a proposed rule deeming products meeting the definition of “tobacco product” to be subject to regulation by FDA under the Tobacco Control Act, which provides FDA with the authority to regulate certain categories of tobacco products, including cigarettes, tobacco and roll-your-own tobacco.

While the devices go unregulated, Americans who purchase e-cigarettes do so at their own risk, said Dr. Stephen Jay, professor of medicine and public health at Indiana University.

“These products, based on what we know and don’t know, should be regulated now,” said Jay. “There are no data regarding either their safety or effectiveness as an aid in tobacco-use cessation. Claims by manufacturers and distributors are just that – claims. The Internet is awash in pro-e-cigarette advertising [and] much of it is very misleading and aimed at vulnerable young people.”

Dr. John Spangler, professor of family and community medicine at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, agreed that the FDA should regulate these products.

“Anytime someone inhales a vapour of a drug administered by an electronic device, there should be strong evidence that the device and drug are safe,” said Spangler. “I personally believe that the FDA should require safety studies on electronic cigarettes and should regulate their use.”

Jay said he does not recommend electronic cigarettes to his patients because there are no published, peer-reviewed scientific data supporting their safety and efficacy. And because of this, the impact of these devices on the health of the public is unknown.

“First, we have no idea of what specific chemicals are contained in these products or the safety of components of e-cigs, including the batteries,” said Jay.

There is some data that has suggested using e-cigarettes will make “real” smoking more appealing to youth.

There is “the gateway problem and the dual-use problem,” said Jay. “Will e-cigarettes lead to decreased interest in quitting for youth and adults? We have no data that answers these basic questions.”

Spangler, on the other hand, neither recommends nor discourages the use of these devices for his patients.

“I tell patients that some people have found them helpful to quit smoking, but they are not regulated for safety or purity standards by anyone,” said Spangler. “I also mention that impurities such as antifreeze have been found in some samples. Then I let the patient decide.”

 

FI UK welcomes a new associate company

FI UK are please to welcome Fire & Rescue Solutions as a new associate company.  Fire & Rescue Solutions are a company that provides services and support to their clients in the fire and rescue sector ensuring that they achieve their organisational aspirations whether working in the public or private domain. They are able to offer their clients an unrivalled, in-depth and up to date knowledge of the fire and rescue sector.

They are able to provide professional advice, research and capacity to Fire and Rescue Authorities, suppliers of goods and services, Government and Devolved Administrations and large consultancy companies who do not specialise in the fire and rescue sector.

We hope that our two companies can compliment each other in the fire & rescue sector

 

Vehicle bursts into flames on driveway in Fairweather Green

The owner of a Mini Cooper which mysteriously burst into flames while parked on the drive of his Bradford home is in talks with the manufacturer as an investigation into the blaze continues.

Firefighters were called to Higher Downs, Fairweather Green, at 3.30 am yesterday after a fire started under the bonnet of the Mini, which had been parked for about five hours.

A West Yorkshire Fire Service spokesman said the fire was unusual in that it took so long to start after the engine had been turned off.

He said electrical fires in cars usually began while the engine was still warm.

The spokesman said Fairweather Green crews got to the scene just in time, as the brake cable had severed in the heat and the car was beginning to roll towards the house.

He said: “Had we been a couple of minutes later the flames would have damaged the house.”

A Mini UK spokesman told the Telegraph & Argus it was in contact with the owner, who did not want to be named, as the investigation into the cause of the fire was held.

The spokesman said: “We have already established contact with him. We take all incidents involving our cars very seriously and will continue to liaise with the owner as the investigation gets underway.”

The fire came a week after nearly 30,000 different models of Mini Cooper – the Mini Cooper S and Mini John Cooper Works – were recalled in Britain after makers detected an electrical fault with the water pump which could lead cars to catch fire.

The owner of Mini, German car giant BMW, said the recall concerned 235,000 vehicles worldwide.

Safety checks revealed a problem that can cause the water pump to fail, potentially causing the car to overheat. Manufacturers are investigating one case in Britain where a fire is being linked to the water pump, a spokesman said.

Owners are being issued with a recall notice in the next few weeks.

But a spokesman insisted the vehicles remain safe to drive and there is a “very low incidence” of the fault.

“In more extreme cases, it could create a heat build-up in the wiring and some smouldering,” he said.

“Potentially it could cause a fire.

“We are not aware of any accidents or injuries connected with this. The important thing is that when people receive the letter, they simply go to their dealer and get a new water pump fitted if there is a problem.”

 

West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service gets connected

West Yorkshire Fire Service (WYFRS) implements new solution to improve the outcomes of fire investigations.

The new solution from Active Solutions Europe ensures information is held securely, identifies trends, helps target repeat arson offenders, tracks documents and, importantly, provides the ability to share services with other organisations such as the Police and other Emergency Services.

Chris Clarke, Lead Fire Investigation Officer at WYFRS commented “Active has developed the first cloud-based solution dedicated solely to dynamically managing information within the UK Fire and Rescue Service, specifically for Fire Investigation purposes. We provide crucial and valuable services to protect communities and this offers a significant step forward to helping deliver a critical function of a modern day fire service.”

Based on Microsoft Dynamics technology the Connect Fire Investigation system provides a single system to manage and report against all the data and activities involved with every investigation whether it is at an individual or aggregated level.  Evidence immediately becomes more robust when used in court as it is stored and tracked electronically and individual cases can be linked seamlessly to identify repeat offenders or areas of risk before a serious incident occurs.

Responses to the local or national press and Freedom of Information enquiries can be completed quickly and with confidence that the information supplied is up to date, accurate and has been tracked to record everyone that has previously had access whether it involves written reports, photographs or building plans.  At the touch of a button Senior Management can view the progress of every investigation and identify bottlenecks that could fatally delay progress.

Steve Ainsworth, CEO at Active said “The demands facing the UK Fire and Rescue service is already at an all time high as greater expectation is placed on reducing risk within in the community whilst continually reducing costs and working more efficiently.  By adapting processes and moving to an online approach every Fire service can immediately improve public safety and yet still reduce operating costs”

 

Smoke alarm starts a fire

FIRE officers have stopped giving out free smoke detectors after one nearly burned down a house.

Shocked Sharon Gray returned home to find the Fire Angel alarm had ignited.

Her house in Bilton Grange, Yorks, was saved only when daughter Victoria, 16, doused the flames. Sharon, 42, said: “But for her, I dread to think what would have happened.”

Humberside Fire And Rescue Service immediately stopped handing out Fire Angel alarms until a probe into the cause of the incident is carried out. A spokesman said: “This was extremely rare, but we’ll err on the side of caution.”

Alarm suppliers Fire Angel said: “We are working closely with the Fire and Rescue Service.”

 

Southampton flats evacuated over roof blaze

A small block of flats in Southampton had to be evacuated when a fire broke out in the roof space.

Emergency crews were called to the four-storey building in Ordnance Road, off London Road, just after 07:00 BST.

No-one was injured and about 20 residents were given shelter in a nearby pub, which was specially opened.

The fire was quickly brought under control and crews spent time damping down. The cause is not yet known but an investigation is under way.

The blaze caused water damage to a number of flats and extensive damage to the roof.

The road, which is a dead end, was closed.

 

Special report – Freezer fires light up regulation concerns

In June, when a fire ripped through a concrete tower block in Bermondsey, a low-income neighbourhood in south-east London, residents initially blamed it on a lightning strike. “It was only later we heard the truth on the television,” said Kathy Pullady, who lives across a chipped tile-covered landing from the 17th-floor flat where the blaze took hold.

The London Fire Brigade had in fact been investigating the probable cause of the fire for years. In July it publicly pointed to a faulty fridge-freezer made by Turkish company Arcelik, Europe’s third-largest appliance manufacturer. The fire brigade says timers in certain models of Arcelik fridges have caused at least 20 fires in the UK since 2006. One man has been killed and at least 15 people injured.

Since 2005, the European Commission has recorded fire safety warnings for 37 fridge-freezer models. Sixteen of those models were made by Arcelik under the Beko brand, 18 by Swedish-based Dometic (including some fridge-freezer-oven combinations used in mobile homes), and three by South Korea-based Samsung.

Fire chiefs told Reuters they took the unusual step of issuing a public statement about the Arcelik appliances because the company itself had failed to publicise the danger. Consumer groups also charge the company — along with British regulators — with dragging its feet when it came to warning customers.

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