Britannia Fire launches new CPD and immersive VR training programme

Leading UK fire extinguisher manufacturer, Britannia Fire, is expanding its industry education programme with a new series of FIA-certified continuing professional development (CPD) sessions, alongside immersive virtual reality (VR) fire safety training with FLAIM Systems technology.

The new CPD programme, certified by the Fire
Industry Association (FIA), has been developed around three increasingly
important areas of fire safety: the changing regulatory landscape surrounding
PFAS in firefighting foams, the issue of solar panel safety, and the growing
risks associated with lithium-ion batteries.

The PFAS course provides fire safety professionals
with an overview of what PFAS ‘forever chemicals’ are, why they are under
increasing scrutiny, and the regulatory developments taking place in the UK and
Europe. It also looks at the practical implications for organisations,
including reviewing existing firefighting assets, planning for the transition
to PFAS-free solutions, and managing disposal and environmental compliance.

The
solar panel fire safety course addresses the emerging risks associated with the
rapid expansion of solar installations across both domestic and commercial
sectors.

Two further courses focus on lithium-ion battery
fire risks.  The first covers battery
technology, how batteries can fail, the causes and development of thermal
runaway, and the challenges associated with incidents involving battery-powered
products.  An additional, advanced
lithium-ion battery CPD course is also available, exploring battery chemistry
and behaviour in greater depth. With lithium-ion batteries now widely used in
everything from mobile devices and e-bikes to electric vehicles and energy
storage systems, understanding the associated fire risks is becoming
increasingly important for those responsible for fire safety and risk
management.

Initially, these courses will be delivered in
person to local organisations at Britannia Fire’s headquarters in Norfolk, with
plans to offer live, interactive online workshops from the new year, making
them accessible to organisations further afield and overseas.

For visitors attending in person, the CPD sessions
can also be combined with a guided tour of Britannia Fire’s Norwich facility,
offering an opportunity to see how its P50 composite fire extinguishers are
manufactured. All Britannia Fire’s P50s are now PFAS-free, including the P50
AVD, specifically designed to tackle lithium-ion battery fires, and its
innovative PVSTOP solar panel block out solution, delivered in P50
composite cylinders.

Alongside its CPD programme, Britannia Fire has
become a UK distributor for FLAIM Systems, supplying immersive training
technology to larger organisations looking to provide staff with a safe and
repeatable way to practise responding to realistic fire scenarios.

Developed in Australia, FLAIM uses virtual reality
and multisensory technology to recreate fire scenarios in the workplace,
reducing the need for dedicated training grounds and live-fire exercises for
certain applications.

FLAIM FEX is designed for fire extinguisher and
fire warden training, allowing users to assess a virtual fire scenario, select
the appropriate extinguisher and practise their response in an immersive
environment.

For more advanced applications, FLAIM FTS combines
virtual fire environments with industry-standard equipment and multisensory
elements to support individual, team and incident-command training. It is
designed to complement live-fire training by providing additional opportunities
to practise skills, decision-making and situational awareness in a controlled
environment.

Matt Humby, Head of Client Support and Development
at Britannia Fire, comments:

“The fire sector is changing rapidly, and we
believe education needs to change with it. There is a growing need for people
responsible for fire safety to understand emerging risks, new technologies and
an increasingly complex regulatory landscape.

“Our new education programme brings together
independently certified CPD, practical learning and immersive technology, while
giving customers the opportunity to see UK manufacturing first-hand.

“Our investment in Norwich has created a facility
where we can bring customers into our operation, demonstrate what we do and
provide meaningful education alongside it. We’re excited about developing the
programme further and making it accessible to a wider audience.”

For further information on Britannia Fire, please
visit www.britannia-fire.co.uk.