Institution of Fire EngineersIssue 3
July 2007
Welcome to the third issue of the IFE newsletter. A number of key IFE events have taken place since the last newsletter - the Graduate & Rasbash Lectures and the IFE AGM, Conference & Exhibition, for which an update is provided below.
Please let us know what you think of this newsletter by contacting Helen Griffiths (e-mail: helen.griffiths@ife.org.uk ).
John Judd QFSM BA FIFireE
Chairman of the Board of Directors
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The Institution of Fire Engineers' (IFE's) 84th Annual General Meeting (AGM), Conference and Exhibition took place at Churchill College, University of Cambridge, on 12-13 July 2007. It was a tremendous success.
The IFE would like to thank Chief Fire Officer of Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service, Tom Carroll, for hosting the event and members of the Cambridgeshire and East Midlands Branch for supporting the staff team in planning and staging the event.
Sincere thanks also go to all the exhibitors, sponsors and all of the speakers and session chairs. A full review of the conference will by included in the September edition of the journal.
The AGM took place on 12 July and all matters of business were approved, including the passing of a Special Resolution to enable electronic voting. This ability brings additional flexibility and accommodates the needs of voting members who may be adversely affected by postal delays. The postal ballot facility, however, will continue to be in place and will safeguard the rights of members who do not have or do not wish to use the electronic voting system. Minutes of the AGM will be published in the September edition of the journal.
Bill Cox became the Immediate Past President after handing over office to Charles Chu, who was installed as the International President for the year 2007/2008. Paul Richardson took office as International President Elect.
Two nominations were received for the single vacancy for election by the Institution's voting members. Professor David Charters was re-elected to the Board. Sincere thanks to John Horswell for taking part in the election and facilitating the democratic process. Peter Holland was re-appointed to the Board by the General Assembly.
During the first Board meeting following the AGM, the Board re-elected John Judd as chairman. Peter Holland was re-elected vice-chairman.
A number of IFE AGM promotional items are availble to purchase from the IFE website, for further information, click here.
Click here to view photographs from the IFE AGM, Conference & Exhibition...
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The week commencing 9th July 2007 was an especially busy period for the Board members and staff of the Institution. With two meetings of the General Assembly, two meetings of the Board and the Annual General Meeting, all alongside an excellent and well attended conference and social events, the week was very demanding, full and fruitful. I would like to thank fellow Board Members, General Assembly Members, the wider membership and the staff of the Institution for all their efforts.
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At the 2005 Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) Annual General Meeting (AGM), Conference and Exhibition, many members expressed an interest in providing support to the Young Professionals Network. Indeed, speaking at the event, the vice-chancellor of the University of Birmingham stressed the role of professional institutions in developing their members. He explained that the UK is unique in having professional institutions which contain both fully qualified individuals and those progressing in the various membership levels. The role of the IFE therefore embodies a responsibility to care for fire engineers in the future. Research evidence suggests that most people achieve better levels of professional success if they have the guidance and help of a mentor; a wise and trusted professional friend with whom they can discuss their career plans, evaluate options and achievements, and work through issues. Many members of the Institution have a wide array of knowledge, experience and talent within the field of fire engineering which they could use to help and support others. In the light of this - and since many organisations now expect staff to take responsibility for their own development - the IFE has developed a mentoring scheme for young professionals.
Read Glenys Southworths article in full in the July edition of the journal.
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Over 120 delegates attended the 2007 Graduate Lecture, hosted by Arup, at the Arup Campus in Solihull in the West Midlands on 17 April 2007. The lecture, entitled The Art of Structural Fire Engineering, was delivered by Professor Colin Bailey BEng, PhD, CEng, FICE, MIStructE, MIFireE.
Click here to view photos of the prize winners...
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This year's lecture, Fire modelling - the story so far, given by Professor Geoff Cox (pictured left), explored both the 'tremendous advances' that have been made in modelling software over the last 50 years, while also raising concerns over the future use of these safety- critical tools. Professor Cox, a former technical director of the Fire Research Division of BRE, charted the development of models - from the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models first produced in the 1960s, to field- zone network models developed in the early 1990s, through to the present large eddy simulation (LES) models in wide use today and the new direct numerical simulation models.
Read the full article in the August edition of the Fire Prevention & Fire Engineers Journal...
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Representatives from the FSNBF attended the IFE President's Dinner in Cambridge on 13 July to promote the work of the charity and to encourage Institution members from all over the world to take part in the World Firefighter Games. During the evening a prize draw was held, which raised a total of £970.00
Fire Service National Benevolent Fund website...
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F Patrick Marlatt, Chairman of the Commission on Professional Credentialing for the Center for Public Safety Excellence has confirmed his support for the recent reciprocity agreement between the Institution of Fire Engineers and the CPSE. He said: "This agreement provides an opportunity for the operational fire service to recognize and be recognized by the broad fire engineering community, especially on an international level." The reciprocity agreement is the culmination of discussions over several months in the US, between the IFE US Branch and CPSE, and mapping work undertaken by Professional Competence Standards in the UK. As a result of these efforts, members (Member or Fellow grade), working in Fire and Rescue at the level of Chief Fire Officer, Deputy Chief Fire Officer or Assistant Chief Fire Officer, are eligible to apply for admission to the US Chief Fire Officer Designation programme.
Bill Kehoe, who has been at the forefront of the discussions in the US, said: "We welcome IFE members to become recognized in the US Chief Fire Officer Designation Program. It is another step in the globalization of fire engineering/service discipline and increases the international exchange of information, policies, procedures and practices."
For further information and application forms, click here...
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The Energy Institute (EI) is a leading provider of technical guidance for the energy industry.
The EI is the leading professional body for the energy industries, supporting over 12,500 individual and 300 company members internationally. Through its technical programme, the EI works with its member companies, wider industry and regulators to provide guidance and good practice on all aspects of health, safety, environment, marketing, aviation, test methods and hydrocarbon management. The EI is pleased to offer IFE Members a 25% discount on the titles listed here. To obtain the discount, visit www.energyinstpubs.org.uk and enter the discount code VIFE0725 when prompted.* (*Discount expires 30 June 2008. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other discount or offer.)
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The Institution of Fire Engineers in conjunction with Bodycote Warrington Fire Research announced in January 2007 a prize of £1000 for the best fire safety engineering paper. The best paper was selected by an expert panel selected from the fire engineering community. The winner of the 2007 Bodycote Warrington Fire Research Prize for the Best Fire Safety Engineering Paper is:
THE DALMARNOCK FIRE TESTS - C. Abecassis Empis, D. Snorasson, J. Lee, P. Reszka, T. Steinhaus, A. Cowlard, H. Biteau, T. Stratford, M. Gillie, S. Welch, & J. L. Torero - BRE Centre for Fire Safety Engineering School of Engineering and Electronics, The University of Edinburgh
View presentation photograph...
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To view IFE staff contact details and their roles, please click on the link below.
PLEASE NOTE: Helen Griffiths will be on maternity leave from 31st August 2007 to 28th September 2008. Please contact Helens successor Dr Gail Savage gail.savage@ife.org.uk during this period.
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The IFE has created a Register of Fire Risk Assessors and Auditors to assist employers, building owners and managers to source appropriately skilled consultants to help them meet the requirements of current and forthcoming legislation. The link provides an opportunity to search for registered assessors by name, location or stream. Please read the important information provided in the Clauses for Clients/Users the conditions of which must be accepted before progressing to the search function. Search Register
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Members will be deeply saddened to learn of the death of past president Alan Parnell, who died on 9 June, aged 80, after suffering a stroke. Mr Parnell became international president in 1986 and is remembered for his warm personality, strong opinions and technical expertise. A tribute by Dennis Davis outlines Alan's major contribution to good fire safety design during a long and distinguished career. The Institution is grateful to Alan for establishing a fund in partnership with the late Gordon Butcher, which finances the prestigious annual Graduate Lecture. Alan is survived by his wife Diana and two sons.
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Obituary: Mick Bitcon |
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A Personal View of His Contribution to the Institution by Dr Bob Docherty.
It was with deep regret and sadness that I heard of the death of Mick Bitcon. When close colleagues and friends leave in such an untimely way, we all like to be reflective and this was one occasion where I thought about the work that Mick did for the Institution and the vast contribution he made to the way in which the Examinations and Education Committee conducted its business and how the examinations themselves evolved over time. I was the Chairman of the Examination and Education Committee for some time and was so fortunate to have a committee of extremely enthusiastic people but none more committed and enthusiastic than Mick.
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The influential Life Fellow of the IFE passed away on 18 June, aged 93
The passing away of Ronnie Cox, an esteemed Life Fellow of the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE), marks the end of the dedicated life and career of this most influential of figures, someone who left his fingerprint on fire and ambulance services around the world. Ronnie's post-nominals give a clue to what an extraordinary person he was, yet his humble beginnings did not suggest the significant role he was to play in the fire and rescue service.
Born in August 1913 in Wolverhampton, England, Ronnie was one of six children. An average student at school, he decided to leave the Midlands aged 13 and join the Arethusa, a naval training ship for boys, docked at Greenhithe on the River Thames in London. He later completed an apprenticeship to become a shipwright in 1931, before working as a cabinet- maker for five years.
It was in 1936 that he began his fire service career with the Coulsdon and Purley Fire Brigade in South London. His naval training, discipline and emerging leadership qualities were soon noticed and he rose through the ranks quickly. In 1938, he was appointed assistant to the chief officer to help with the establishment of the Auxiliary Fire Service. In 1939, he became assistant HM Inspector of Fire Brigades for Kent, Surrey, and East and West Sussex, with responsibility for some 80 brigades. That same year he passed the Graduate exam of the IFE.
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