Top - Manufacturers - Glossary - Emergency Lighting - Fire Classifications

Ei Electronics is an acknowledged market leader in fire detection throughout Europe. Ei is one of Ireland's largest electronics manufacturers and employs more than 300 people.

The Company has achieved continuous growth through the development of a stream of innovative new products manufactured on state of the art process technology and delivered to the highest customer service standards. All business functions, Marketing, Research & Development and Manufacturing, are located in the Company’s own 12,000 sq. metre facility in Shannon, Co. Clare, adjacent to Shannon International Airport .

All Ei Electronics products are tested and approved to the most stringent standards that apply in each geographic market. The products are tested and approved to British Standards (BS) and often European Standards (EN) as well. The testing/approval process is carried out by independent and approved test organisations.

The Manufacturing Quality process is approved to International Standard ISO 9000.

Emergency Lighting Manufacturers, ELP are a small and focused UK company dedicated to providing superior service and products to all customers requiring Emergency Lighting Equipment. ELP are also part of a specialised group of Lighting Manufacturers and Emergency Lighting Manufacturers with ISO9000 registered factories and state of the art sheet metal forming and finishing capabilities. ELP are Emergency Lighting Manufacturers that can provide Lighting Solutions. ICEL1004 conversion of mains luminaires, sales of self-contained emergency lighting luminaires & exit signs, power packs for all types of lamps plus lighting products based on the latest light source technologies, Emergency Lighting Products are involved in all aspects of the safety lighting sector.

Emergency Lighting Warranty from ELP
ELP offer 12 months full warranty on their emergency lighting. This warranty includes batteries but not lamps.

FireAngel is a fire safety products manufacturer, who drives product innovation for user benefits. Originally a collaboration between a team of talented individuals and Coventry University, FireAngel has grown into a public company, whose status is noted on the London OFEX market. The parent company, Sprue Aegis, aims to become a recognised world wide brand leader in the supply of innovative and high technology safety protection systems.

Gloria, Europe's leading manufacturer of portable fire extinguishers, is part of Kidde Safety Europe. Gloria manufactures to the very highest level of quality, with control checks by active employee participation at every level of the process.

 

All of the Gloria products sold on this site are in accordance with all relevant British Standards and are, of course, CE marked.

The company maintains a continuous high level of investment in both personnel and plant, this ensures Gloria stays at the leading edge of manufacturing, producing some of the highest quality products currently on the market.

From the end of May 2002 the manufacture of fire extinguishers became subject to the Pressure Equipment Directive of the EU. Compliance with this Directive is mandatory and is aimed at ensuring the safety of such products across the EU. Once satisfactorily tested, products can bear the CE Mark. GLORIA was the first manufacturer in Europe to gain CE markings for its complete range of fire extinguishers.

Kidde PLC is a leading global supplier of fire safety products, systems and services under a range of well-known and trusted brand names. Kidde Safety Europe is part of Kidde PLC and has a trusted reputation for domestic fire protection. Kidde Safety Europe focus exclusively on fire safety and protection for the family and home.

Ringtail ™ is a long established and experienced manufacturer of Emergency Lighting systems in the UK The company is dedicated to the design, manufacture and supply of products and systems which are used in making buildings safer around the World. With such experience in this field, Ringtail ™ is fast establishing a reputation for quality and reliability, which are essential commodities where lives and property are at risk.

Emergency Lighting Warranty from Ringtail
Ringtail offer a 3 year return to base warranty on all of their emergency lights. This warranty includes the case, the electronic components, and the battery. Lamps are not included in this warranty.

Fire Kwencher are the world leaders in the production of CO2 cylinders and CO2 Fire Extinguishers. All extinguishers are manufacturered to the highest quality standards and meet the relevant BS Standards, Lloyds register mark, LCB approval, CE markings and British Kitemark.

In partnership with Fire Kwencher we are able to offer an extended 10 year warranty! on the 2kg CO2 model.

Top - Manufacturers - Glossary - Emergency Lighting - Fire Classifications

BSI was the world’s first national standards-making body (NSB) and is number one in the world today.

BSI is globally recognized as an impartial body, serving both the private and public sectors. BSI works with manufacturing and service industries, businesses, governments and consumers to facilitate the production of British, European and international standards. As the UK's National Standards Body (NSB), BSI represents UK interests across all of the European and international standards organisations and through their committees.

BSI British Standards, part of BSI Group, has a close working relationship with the British government, primarily through the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). The commitments and intentions of both are set out in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The MoU provides a framework for BSI and the government to meet the challenges to the UK’s standardization infrastructure. Together with a Royal Charter, the MoU outlines the BSI's role in the development of standards for public use, the promulgation of standards, the voluntary nature of standards and their relationship with legislation.

BSI is a non-profit distributing organization, which means that any profits are reinvested into the products and services it provides.

Code of practice for the design, installation and maintenance of fire detection and fire alarm systems in dwellings.

BS 5839: Pt.6 is not intended for householders themselves, but to provide guidance and recommendations for architects and other building professionals, enforcing authorities, contractors and others responsible for implementing fire precautions in buildings.

The Code of Practice should not be quoted as if it was a specification and the standard itself warns that particular care should be taken to ensure that claims of compliance are not misleading.

It is also pointed out that compliance with a British Standard cannot automatically confer legal immunity. However, for a landlord or installer, compliance with the latest Code is obviously the best line of defence in any claim made against them.

All European standards (ENs) are adopted by British Standards (BS ENs).

All British Standard versions of European Standards (BS ENs) are the original English language versions – so you can be sure they are accurate.

The European Standard covering portable fire extinguishers. This new standard replaces the former BS 5423: 1987, which was withdrawn by the BSI on 1/1/1997: Effectively only one standard now applies, that is the new BS EN 3: 1996. In some cases BS EN 3 places more stringent test criteria on the manufacturer which includes:

• Discharge tests at different temperatures
• Minimum hose lengths are specified
• Crush testing of extinguisher bodies
• Minimum wall thickness
• Maximum residues after testing.

Products with a Kitemark have been independently tested by the BSI. By granting the Kitemark, BSI confirms that a product conforms to the relevant British Standard. Part of the kitemarking process is a regular audit of the manufacturer.

The Kitemark is the symbol that gives consumers the assurance that the product they have bought really does conform to the appropriate British Standard and should therefore be safe and reliable.

Manufacturers are not legally required to display a Kitemark on their products, but many everyday products and appliances such as fridges, electrical plugs and crash helmets feature kitemarks.

The British Woodworking Federation (BWF) is recognised as the leading representative body for the woodworking industry and builders’ joinery and represents leading manufacturers, distributors and installers of doors, windows, conservatories, staircases, architectural joinery, timber frame buildings and engineered timber components. It provides a complete range of services to its Members including expert advice on technical issues, employment and contractual law, health and safety, tax issues, environmental matters.

The BWF-CERTIFIRE Fire Door & Doorset Scheme was established by the fire door manufacturing industry to:

• Guarantee the product through assessing and certificating the design and production process, testing its performance and carry out regular audit checks
• Offer a clear, simple method of tracing a fire door back through all stages of manufacture to ensure the quality of manufacture and maintain the guarantee
• Bring together fire door manufacturers, their suppliers, door convertors, retailers and installers to work in an alliance across the supply chain
• Undertake a vigorous promotional campaign to raise awareness of the importance of fire doors and understanding of how they work

Carbon Monoxide (chemical symbol: CO) is a colourless, odourless, tasteless and toxic gas created by the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels (gas, oil, coal and wood), as used in our everyday appliances such as heaters, engines and boilers.

Having no colour, smell or taste means that it is very hard to detect.
Inhaling carbon monoxide reduces the blood's ability to carry oxygen, leaving the body's organs and cells starved of oxygen.

The letters 'CE' on a product are the manufacturer's claim that the product meets the requirements of all relevant European Directives.

CE marking on a product:

• Indicates that the product can be legally sold within the European Union (EU) and the European Free Trade Area (EFTA)
• Ensures the product can move freely throughout the European Single Market
• Indicates to customers that the product meets designated minimum safety standards and therefore a minimum level of quality

CE marking is mandated by New Approach Directives. Many products are covered by these directives, and to be placed on the market in the EU, some must bear CE marking - it is a legal requirement. CE marking is the manufacturer's claim that the product meets the essential requirements of all relevant European Directives.

From the end of May 2002 the manufacture of fire extinguishers became subject to the Pressure Equipment Directive of the EU. Compliance with this Directive is mandatory and is aimed at ensuring the safety of such products across the EU. Once satisfactorily tested, products can bear the CE Mark. GLORIA was the first manufacturer in Europe to gain CE markings for its complete range of fire extinguishers.

DIN, the German Institute for Standardization, is a registered association, founded in 1917. Its head office is in Berlin. Since 1975 it has been recognized by the German government as the national standards body and represents German interests on International and European level.
DIN offers a forum in which representatives from the manufacturing industries, consumer organizations, commerce, the trades, service industries, science, technical inspectorates, government, in short anyone with an interest in standardization, may meet in order to discuss and define their specific standardization requirements and to record the results as German Standards.
Standardization as undertaken by DIN is a service that aims to benefit the entire community.
DIN Standards promote rationalization, quality assurance, safety, and environmental protection as well as improving communication between industry, technology, science, government and the public domain.
In DIN, standards work is carried out by some 26,000 external experts serving as voluntary delegates in more than 4,000 committees. Draft standards are published for public comment, and all comments are reviewed before final publication of the standard. Published standards are reviewed for continuing relevance every five years, at least.

Since its inception, in 1978, ICEL has been publishing guidance documents and standards for emergency lighting product types and installations to ensure the best practices are employed.
ICEL continues to provide expert advice and guidance to all specifiers and users on the requirements for Emergency Lighting.
Its representatives serve on BSI committees and represent UK interests within European committees dealing with emergency lighting.

If you hold a position of responsibility in any premises in England or Wales, this relatively new piece of legislation could have important implications for you. The original document, available here, is nearly 80 pages long, but Safelincs customers will be pleased to know that we have outlined what we think are the most important points for you on this page. Our summary is not supposed to be a replacement for reading the original document, but we understand that lengthy and verbose legal documents can be confusing, threatening and unhelpful, so we hope you will find that our guide provides you with a handy and friendlier overview.

TÜV CERT – TÜV Zertifizierungsgemeinschaft e. V. – is the umbrella organisation of the German and Austrian Technische Überwachungsvereine (technical inspection associations). Its objective is to supply the market with standardised management-system, product and personnel certification through its individual members.

With its members’ 20,000-plus specialists in a broad array of technical and scientific fields, TÜV CERT boasts expertise ranging from occupational and product safety to automotive, medical, energy, electrical and environmental engineering, microelectronics, and informatics.

TÜV CERT and its members’ TÜV CERT certification bodies maintain a close-knit global network of branch offices. We currently operate in more than 80 countries, and thus count among the key international certification organisations.
Our international presence is also reflected in our membership of IIOC (Independent International Organisation for Certification), the most important association of globally operating management system certifiers.

As a global provider of certification services, TÜV CERT, is also involved in the preparation and interpretation of relevant international standards and regulations, represents the interests of the certification bodies in various PAC (Pacific Accreditation Organization) and IASG (International Automotive Sector Group) committees, and participates actively in IAF (International Accreditation Forum).

Top - Manufacturers - Glossary - Emergency Lighting - Fire Classifications

Top - Manufacturers - Glossary - Emergency Lighting - Fire Classifications

Fires are classified according to the type of fuel that is burning. If you use the wrong type of fire extinguisher on a fire, you can, in fact, worsen the situation. It is therefore very important to understand the four different fire classifications.

Class A fires involve common combustibles such as wood, paper, straw, textiles, coal and car tyres. They are common in commercial and home settings.

Fires caused by combustion of liquids or materials that liquify, e.g. petrol, benzene, oils, fats, paints, tar, ether, alcohol, stearin and paraffin.

Fires caused by combustion of gases e.g. methane, propane, hydrogen, acetylene, natural gas and city gas

Class D fires involve combustible metals such as magnesium, aluminium, lithium, sodium, potassium and their alloys. Combustible metal fires are unique industrial hazards which require special fire extinguishers.

Class F fires involve combustible cooking media such as oils and grease commonly found in commercial kitchens. The new cooking media formulations used form commercial food preparation require a special wet chemical extinguishing agent that is specially suited for extinguishing and suppressing these extremely hot fires that have the ability to re-flash. Never use other pressurised extinguisher types, as water, foam, powder or CO2 on burning cooking oil, as the pressure jet might carry the burning oil and spread the fire!

Top - Manufacturers - Glossary - Emergency Lighting - Fire Classifications