IFSJ Leaders in Fire & Safety Podcast

Solar energy could well be the answer to our future clean energy demands. However, like all new technologies there are new risks. With the deployment of rooftop solar PV at an all time high so to are the solar PV fires. In this episode we explore with Nic Mogford-Revess from Signaline Linear Heat Detection why this fire risk is different to other power source fires, what the common causes of fire are and how we can use linear heat detection to mitigate future risks.

Software is fast becoming the new norm for fire risk assessors. But how do you get the benefits of tech without undermining your own expertise? Firehub's Carol Porter and IFSM President Matthew Spivey reveal the answer and give more digital fire risk assessment tips.

In this episode, Duncan J. White speaks with Mark Kendall, Director – Fire Solutions Group UK and Europe, Kevin Montgomery, Senior Manager – Fire Solution Group US, and Juri Poorter, European Business Development Manager. In the conversation they talk about the latest trends in data centres, why they need such advanced fire protection systems and how new systems have changed fire protection strategies. They also discuss how battery energy storage systems are being used as backup energy storage for data centres, adding further complexity to fire protection systems and how these are being tackled by companies like Fike.

Electric vehicles, lithium-powered tools, and e-mobility devices are transforming the world around us. But as lithium battery fires become an increasing concern, one question remains: Are the solutions we trust really up to the task? When a single experiment conducted outside established testing protocols went viral on social media, it sparked debate across the fire safety industry and raised questions about one of the most widely used fire containment tools: the fire blanket. In this episode, we separate fact from fiction. Join us as we speak with the team behind Bridgehill, a global leader in extreme fire blankets. With clients in more than 50 countries and a dedicated R&D department, Bridgehill has spent years testing fire blankets on EVs, lithium batteries, forklifts, and buildings under some of the harshest conditions imaginable.

As the construction industry advances, its methods change as well. However, fire test standards often lag behind, creating difficulties for stakeholders when it comes to applying tested details to modern applications. This podcast episode explores examples of gaps between testing and reality, and highlights the importance of early engagement and collaboration in achieving ultimate building compliance.

In this episode, Duncan J. White speaks with Neil Pedersen, CEO at Fire Containers Limited. In the conversation they talk about developing a training programme around electric vehicle lithium-ion battery fires which led to the founding of Fire Containers Limited to educate firefighters on how to tackle these challenging fires. Pedersen explains what makes his fire containers unique compared to similar products on the market, which includes being fully self-contained in either static or transport situations as well as using recirculated water mist rather than thousands of litres or water which produces a toxic soup inside the container.

An explanation of how the Fire Aware organisation is trying to implement cultural change in all those who hold a duty of care for public safety. How Fire Aware is weaponising ethics to the extent that they can become a consumer choice which can affect the market and use market force to influence better standards of fire safety design, construction and management

In this episode, Duncan J. White speaks with Gustav Stigsohn, Product Manager, and Pontus Andersson, Partner Manager and Segment Manager at Fogmaker about awareness of fire safety in vehicles and machines. The discussion explores the most misunderstood and biggest fire risks in electric vehicles, modern machinery and the industrial environment and the new risks that have arisen for firefighters tackling these fires. The episode also looks at how technology hasn’t necessarily evolved at pace with new fire risks, Fogmaker’s environmentally friendly ECO 1 PFAS free liquid which is being introduced to all markets and what decision makers should prioritise when it comes to fire safety.

In this episode, Managing Editor Duncan J. White speaks with Andy Slater, ManagingDirector of PGI Safety, and Robbie Burns, Hampshire firefighter and Watch Manager, about the critical importance of personal protective equipment (PPE), effective decontamination practices and firefighter health. The discussion explores the growing awareness of contamination risks faced by emergency responders, the long-term health implications of exposure to hazardous substances and the practical steps fire and rescue services can take to better protect personnel.

In this episode of the IFSJ Podcast, Thilo Horstmann, Project Director, INTERSCHUTZ, tells IFSJ what visitors can expect as the event nears its return.

In this episode of the IFSJ Podcast, Duncan J. White, Managing Editor of the International Fire and Safety Journal, speaks with Nathaniel Thomas Hall, Head of Export and Innovation at Evac + Chair, about the vital role evacuation chairs play in emergency planning and inclusive safety procedures. From high-rise evacuations to supporting individuals with mobility challenges, this episode explores best practices, training requirements and why every organisation should have a clear evacuation strategy in place.

In this episode of the IFSJ Fire Door Podcast, Managing Editor Duncan J. White speaks with Nicola John, Managing Director at FDM – Training & Development, about the role of competency frameworks, regulatory compliance and professional training in improving fire door safety. The discussion explores how structured training and clear standards can strengthen accountability and ensure fire doors perform as critical life-safety systems.

In this episode of the IFSJ Leaders in Fire & Safety Podcast, host Duncan J. White is joined by Intertek’s Laboratory Manager, Bhavika Harsora, and Country Business Line Leader – UK Electrical & Transportation Technologie, Andy Lowis, to discuss the work taking place at the company’s Leatherhead laboratory and how its testing and certification activity supports fire detection and security products seeking approval for market use.

Modern fires burn eight times faster, yet the technology fighting them has remained fundamentally unchanged. In this episode, Dr. Sunny Sethi, founder of HEN Technologies, shares how he is rewriting the rules of fire suppression, moving it from a battle of brute force to a precision science. We explore how HEN applies advanced fluid dynamics and technology to protect lives, their rapid adoption by over 1,000 fire departments, and the shift toward a future of predictive intelligence. This is the story of how scientific rigor is solving one of society's most critical safety challenges.

In this episode of the IFSJ Leaders in Fire & Safety Podcast, Managing Editor Duncan J. White is joined by Brad Taylor, General Manager at Kidde Global Solutions, for a focused discussion on why consumer awareness remains one of the defining challenges for fire safety in 2026. Drawing on extensive frontline and industry experience, the conversation explores the complex relationship between regulation, technology and real-world behaviour and examines why compliance alone does not always translate into effective protection inside the home. The episode also considers how changing lifestyles, emerging domestic risks and evolving energy systems are reshaping fire safety priorities, alongside the role of education, prevention and long-term engagement. Together, Duncan and Brad examine what meaningful progress looks like beyond detection and how the sector can build stronger foundations for safer behaviour, greater understanding and more resilient communities.

In this episode, IFSJ Managing Editor Duncan J. White is joined by Simon Ince, Richard Bristow, and Chris Johnson from UL Solutions to discuss the role of voluntary certification in fire safety and construction products, and how third-party conformity assessment supports regulatory confidence across the built environment. The conversation explores the difference between mandatory marking and voluntary certification, and why certification goes beyond one-off testing to include product evaluation, factory surveillance, and ongoing quality assurance. The discussion covers both active and passive fire protection – including fire detection and alarm systems, fire stopping, and fire doors – and explains how certification data is used by regulators, specifiers, installers and building owners, particularly in the context of evolving UK building safety requirements and higher-risk buildings.

In this episode, IFSJ Managing Editor Duncan J. White speaks with Dr Martin Langer, CEO and CTO of OroraTech, to explore how satellite-based thermal intelligence is reshaping wildfire detection, situational awareness and predictive modelling. The conversation looks at how compact thermal-imaging satellites, AI-driven fire modelling and direct-to-user data delivery are helping fire services worldwide make faster, safer and more informed decisions in high-risk environments.

IFSJ Managing Editor Duncan J. White sits down with Andy Spence, Joint Managing Director of Britannia Fire, to look at how the P50 composite fire extinguisher is the biggest innovation in portable firefighting equipment this decade.

In this episode, IFSJ Managing Editor Duncan J. White is joined by Stephen Marsh, Head of Sales, and Denley Nunn, Regional Sales Manager at Cygnus Systems, to explore the transformative impact of wireless technology on fire detection and alarm systems. The conversation covers Cygnus’s cloud-connected solutions - from the Configuration Tool to the Mesh Analyser and ALERT platform - which enable efficient on-site updates, streamlined commissioning, and improved system maintenance. The guests explain how cloud integration enhances operational efficiency through secure data management, remote software upgrades, and scalable features such as maintenance tracking and call-out functions. A key highlight is SmartNet, the world’s first EN 54-certified, 100% wireless system, which offers fast installation and robust performance without the need for gateways or translators - powered by patented self-forming, self-healing mesh technology.

The Building Safety Act has been a catalyst for cultural change, especially regarding attitudes towards fire safety - design, then build . In a discussion about the changes the industry is seeing, the Gateways, and the importance of early engagement, Alec Purdie and Glenn Hutchins from Quelfire sit down with Duncan White from the International Fire & Safety Journal.