www.ushalonbank.com  1.800.433.1751                                         May 2015 - Vol 2, Issue 41                      

News
Tyco Back in Acquisition Game
Lithium Battery Fires Alarm Aviation Industry
New mindSHIFT Data Center to Include Clean Agent Fire Protection
Valvitalia Acquires Eusebi Group (Italy)
Amerex Forms Distributor Group - Plans Expansion
Diehl Showcases Halon Replacement Extinguisher
Montreal Protocol Reaches Historic Agreement on HFCs - Agrees to Hold ANOTHER Meeting
Never Before Seen Photos of FSSA Conference
Siemens Announces Layoffs
Video of the Month
Most Popular Stories from March 2015
Join Our Mailing List!
People in the News
Studies and Presentations


Tyco Back in Acquisition Game

5/5/15

By Lou Whiteman
TheStreet

NEW YORK (The Deal) -- The old Tyco International under CEO Dennis Kozlowski was never shy about deal-making. Much has changed at the company since Kozlowski's fall from grace last decade. But after a lackluster quarter marked by tepid guidance, there are calls for the industrial firm to again rev up the M&A machine.

Dublin-based Tyco on April 24 reported quarterly results that topped estimates, but its shares traded down more than 5% after warning that its fiscal third quarter would come in well below expectations. The company mentioned forex issues, weather-related construction delays, and a slowdown in energy spending when discussing the weakness.

Click here to read the full article.

 


Lithium Battery Fires Alarm Aviation Industry

5/1/15

By Joan Lowy
Associated Press

International aviation officials are trying to quickly come up with safer packaging for cargo shipments of lithium-ion batteries on passenger planes after U.S. testing confirmed that aircraft fire suppression systems can't prevent overheated batteries from causing powerful explosions and fires.

The hazardous cargo committee of the International Civil Aviation Organization, a U.N. agency, met this week in Montreal. Officials familiar with the discussions said the panel heard a detailed presentation by aircraft manufacturers and pilot unions on the potential for the batteries to cause an explosion and resulting fire capable of destroying a plane.

Click here to read the rest of the article.

 


New mindSHIFT Data Center to Include Clean Agent Fire Protection

4/27/15

Area Development Online News Desk

A technology company specializing in office imaging equipment, production print solutions, document management systems and IT services, mindSHIFT Technologies, Inc., a Japan-based Ricoh company, signed a long term lease agreement for the construction of a new data center and office space in Commack, New York.

Mona Abutaleb, President/CEO, mindSHIFT said: "Since mindSHIFT became part of the Ricoh family, we've been working diligently to deliver enhanced products and services to our growing customer base. Today's expansion announcement is a wonderful testament to that effort - providing access to a world class and technologically superior data center to support our customers' complex IT and cloud demands."

Click here to read the rest of the article.

 


Valvitalia Acquires Eusebi Group (Italy)

5/6/15

Oil & Gas Technology

Valvitalia, a company participated by FSI Fondo Strategico Italiano, have signed the acquisition of 100 per cent of the capital of Eusebi Group, a leading manufacturer of fire fighting systems for the naval, civil, railway and oil and gas industries

Headquartered in Ancona and with three additional plants in Russia, Poland and Kazakhstan, Eusebi employs 250 people and have a turnover of EUR 60m.

This acquisition follows the recent one of Silvani completed by Valvitalia last December 2014 and, thanks to these two historical brands, it gives the opportunity to Valvitalia to become the Italian leader and one of the most important in Europe, manufacturer of fire fighting systems and equipment.

Click here to read the rest of the article.

 


Amerex Forms Distributor Group - Plans Expansion
Steve Foulk and Anna Gavin
Dennis Kennedy (President of Amerex), Diane Pein (President of Approved Fire Protection), Andrew Halasz (VP Sales - Amerex) and Steve Dmitrovich (General Manager, Janus Fire Systems)




















Amerex organized a group of distributors from within the Amerex, Janus Fire Systems, and Solberg group of Amerex companies. This group, known as the Amerex Group of Business Companies is designed to provide an exchange of information between the distributor network and the manufacturer. This is the first time a formally recognized group of distributors has been invited to participate in such a function. The inaugural meeting was held the week of April 20 in Birmingham, Alabama. The group will meet on a regular basis, and will conduct ongoing dialogues between themselves and the manufacturer (Amerex), and may include input from existing distribution.

 


Diehl Showcases Halon Replacement Extinguisher

4/13/15

By Kerry Reals
Flightglobal

Diehl Aerosystems' division AOA is demonstrating its FIREX water-mist fire-suppression system for aircraft cargo compartments, which it says is the only halon replacement system to have passed all US FAA proof-of-concept tests.

FIREX comprises a water tank and nitrogen bottles linked to a common pipe and several spray nozzles that distribute water vapour and nitrogen throughout the cargo hold to extinguish fires.

It has been developed as an alternative to existing halon fire suppression systems, which are to be excluded from new European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) aircraft programme certifications from 2018 due to environmental concerns.

Click here to read the full article.

 


Montreal Protocol Reaches Historic Agreement on HFCs - Agrees to Hold ANOTHER Meeting

4/24/15

Switchboard
Natural Resources Defense Council Staff Blog

David Doniger's Blog

Deal on HFC Super-Pollutants Inches Forward

A global deal to phase down the powerful heat-trapping chemicals called hydrofluorcarbons (HFCs) inched forward after a week of international negotiations in Bangkok under the Montreal Protocol, the world's most successful environmental treaty.

Prospects for progress rose sharply in mid-April when India put forward its own proposal to phase down HFCs on the Montreal treaty. The Indian initiative means there are now four specific phase-down proposals under discussion - including ones from the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, from Micronesia, and from the European Union. China also supports an HFC phase-down. Curbing HFCs also has the support of the entire African bloc and nearly all Latin American, Asian, and small island nations. (NRDC and our partners have put together a fact sheet on the four proposals.)

Click here to read the full article.

 


surveyIndustry-Wide Survey - Clean Agent System Installers
 Your Responses Are Needed!


Attention FSSA Installer Members, NAFED Members and any fire equipment distributor who services clean agent suppression systems - if you have not completed your confidential HEEP Survey please click on the link below.  Responses will only be viewed by Tom Cortina, Executive Director of HARC.

The Halon Alternatives Research Corporation (HARC), with support from FSSA, NAFED, and FEMA, has been gathering data regarding emissions of HFCs for more than 10 years. Project HEEP (HFC Emissions Estimating Program) has played an important role in communicating the fire protection industry's careful product stewardship over the chemical fire extinguishing agents used in our industry. The survey below will be helpful in assuring that we are capturing accurate and complete data.

All responses to the survey, which will be submitted anonymously, will be kept confidential and only viewed by Tom Cortina, HARC Executive Director, for tabulation purposes.  HARC is also the recipient of the HEEP data.  No company names are tied to this data.

Please complete this survey only once even if you are a member of multiple trade associations (e.g. FSSA and NAFED, etc.).

To take the survey, click here.

 


Never Before Seen Photos of FSSA Conference

Last month we published some photos from the FSSA 2015 Annual Forum, which took place February 21-24, 2014 at the Sandpearl Resort in Clearwater Beach, FL. We thought you might like to see some more!



Click here to see even more photos from this conference.

 


Siemens Announces Layoffs

5/7/15

By Jack Ewing
The New York Times

FRANKFURT -- Siemens, the German industrial giant, said on Thursday that it would cut 4,500 jobs as it reacts to a slump in oil prices that has eroded its sales of equipment to the energy industry.

Lower oil prices have generally been a boon to the eurozone economy, freeing up cash that consumers can spend on other things. But in the case of Siemens, the effect is the opposite because of its large business supplying producers of oil, gas and electricity.

Siemens said it needed to cut jobs and reduce costs because of "the persistently difficult environment in the global power generation market," which the company said included "regulatory changes, massive price erosion, aggressive competitors and regional overcapacities."

Click here to read the rest of the story.

 


carmenFSSA Elects Tim Carmen President

PRESIDENT: Tim Carman | Janus Fire Systems
VICE PRESIDENT: Steve Carter | Orr Protection Systems, Inc.
SECRETARY/TREASURER: Helen Lowery | DuPont Fluoroproducts
IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT: Eric Burkland | Healey Fire Protection Inc.

Click here to see the rest of the 2014-2015 FSSA Leadership.

 


carterSteve Carter Leaves Orr

Steve Carter
Spring 2015

FSSA Annunciator

The Fire Suppression Systems Association (FSSA) would like to thank Steve Carter, formerly of ORR Protection Services, for his years of service to the association. A former FSSA Director and FSSA Vice President, Steve played a vital role in the association's leadership. In addition to his board roles, he served on the FSSA Technical Committee and was Chair of the FSSA Website Subcommittee while also representing the association on several National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) committees.

The FSSA Board of Directors are sad to see Steve depart, but everyone wishes him well on his new career path as a minister.

"Steve Carter resigned from ORR Protection Systems to pursue a full-time position in ministry," said Ray Aldridge, President of ORR Protection Systems. "We, at ORR, are very happy for Steve - his faith has always been at the core of his life."

During his service to the association, Steve was recognized for his commitment and dedication and his "not so" artistic capabilities. During one Annual Forum, Steve made a technical presentation on the NFPA 72 Update. Laughter filled the room as Steve kicked off his session by drawing a stick figure on a flip chart in reference to Wahl. The following evening at the President's banquet, the paintings and Steve's drawing were auctioned off the raise money for the FSSA Educational Foundation. Steve's drawing raised $1,500.


carlaCarla Pizzarello Joins Kidde



Please join us in congratulating Carla Pizzarello on her new position as Fire Protection Vertical Market Sales Manager at Kidde-Fenwal!

 


pitchingPitching Clean Agents to Mission Critical End Users - And Why They Don't Like Them!!

2/21/14

By David Quirk, PE, LEED AP, CEM
DLB Associates

Mission Critical Fire Protection is a tough sell.

It requires a detailed understanding of RISKS and an awareness of these risks across all stakeholders involved. Today's data centers are getting more complicated with alternative means of cooling technologies, adjusting business models, and transitioning service offerings.

This session provides insights into the End-User perspective on Mission Critical Fire Protection, how to ask the right questions, raise awareness on the risks, and make the sale.

Click here to see the full presentation.

 


etabletsFire Behavior of E-Tablets Stored in Aircraft Galley Carts

April 2015

FAA

The use of electronic-tablets (e-tablets) as replacements for conventional in-flight entertainment systems has gained popularity among airlines globally. Innovative methods of storing and charging e-tablets in galley carts have been suggested or are already in service with some airlines.

The danger of thermal runaway in the lithium-ion-pouch batteries that are used in these e-tablets is well known, but the potential fire hazard resulting from e-tablets being stored and charged in galley carts or a similar enclosure has not been established. To examine this potential fire hazard, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore and the Federal Aviation Administration conducted a series of tests to investigate the behavior of e-tablet fires.

Tests were conducted within a galley cart and thermal runaway of the e-tablet lithium-ion-pouch battery was initiated by either a heat plate or an external alcohol fire. The arrangement of e-tablets inside the galley cart followed the typical methods of storage proposed by airlines and design organizations. The objectives of the tests were to determine a suitable storage configuration for the e-tablets, which would prevent the propagation of thermal runaway, and to determine the effect that thermal runaway would have on a typical galley cart.

Click here to read the full report.

 


safeEngineering a Fire Safe World

February 2015

By Paul Rivers
Senior Fire Protection Specialist, 3M Company

Quantifying Safe HF Exposure Limits for Sensitive Materials in Museums and Archives

Problem Definition

  • Lack of understanding potential of thermal decomposition product (TDP) effects on museum materials.
  • For halocarbon based systems, level of HF generated in a fire directly correlated not only the size of the fire but the room volume as well. (kWfire/m3room).  
    Significant data set available...
    • Peatross, et al, Hughes Associates 1996, 1998
    • Ditch, 2002, WPI, others
  • Advanced detection technologies detect to control fire to a certain size, thus limiting resultant HF to a specified level.
  • Bottom line: Advantageous to determine a safe, maximum level of HF that will not adversely affect sensitive content materials that are typical to museums or archives

Click here to view the full presentation.

 


 

Video of the Month

Here is a video of an accidental Halon system dump (complete with captions) that was uploaded by Specialized Fire & Security in Fort Lauderdale, FL.

Halon System Discharge
Halon System Discharge

 


Most Popular Stories from March 2015  


   

 

If you have any questions, comments, would like to be featured in a future Halon Herald, or would like to be added to our mailing list for this newsletter, please contact Kari Buser at [email protected].

WESCO HMB
1.800.433.1751
www.ushalonbank.com
OUR BLOG

View our profile on LinkedInFind  us on Facebook