A must-attend for rescue and civil security services

From 7 to 12 June 2010, Leipzig, Germany,will be the place to be for anyone involved in the rescue and civil security services. The Leipzig Exhibition Centre will be hosting INTERSCHUTZ 2010, the international trade fair for everything the global market has to offer for the rescue, fire prevention, disaster relief, safety and civil security sectors. Organised by Deutsche Messe, Hannover, and the German Fire Protection Association (GFPA), the fair will occupy five of the venue’s exhibition halls and its open-air site and is expected to field over 1,000 exhibitors and attract more than 100,000 visitors. It will be co-located with the 28th German Firefighting Convention.

INTERSCHUTZ 2010 is still some months away, but with over 1,000 exhibitors from 42 nations registered so far, it is already enjoying strong international support. The top exhibitor nation is Germany, with 471 exhibitors registered so far, followed by China, the USA, Italy and the UK. In addition, the upcoming INTERSCHUTZ will, for the first time, feature exhibitors from Australia, Hong Kong and Peru.

Spotlight on rescue and fire prevention

The fair has a broad exhibition focusing on rescue and fire prevention. These key display areas have been expanded significantly.

Topical supporting programme

The exhibits are complemented by a supp orting programme of specialist forums, seminars, congresses and demonstrations on the open-air site.

Safety on the move

Innovations make fieldwork easier for fire departments and disaster relief organisations. All around the world, fire departments and relief organisations are the agencies we rely on to respond to the complex challenges of natural disasters, terrorist attacks, serious road accidents and chemical spills. Successful outcomes in these areas require new technology, improved operational methods and efficient networking. All of which are keynote themes at INTERSCHUTZ 2010, the international exhibition for rescue, fire prevention, disaster relief, safety and security.

INTERSCHUTZ 2010 will profile the latest innovations and trends in fire protection and disaster relief. The exhibits will include ultra-modern vehicles equipped with highly advanced communication and navigation systems, plus control centres that can directly transmit video images of accident and disaster sites to response vehicles underway. There will also be displays of robots and drones used to support rescue workers in hazardous situations, as well as cutting-edge localisation systems that protect aid workers and help locate victims trapped in avalanche and earthquake debris.

The upcoming INTERSCHUTZ will have a strong emphasis on solutions for the emergency and rescue services. The exhibitors from these sectors will be clustered primarily in Halls 2 and 3 and on the open-air site. Here, too, exhibitor numbers are up substantially since the last INTERSCHUTZ.

Safety: a key topic for planners and architects

There is currently a great deal of R&D going into electronic safety systems. The EU is helping out with 1.4 billion Euros in funding over a five year period for development work on sensors, actuators and systems. The fire pro – tection and safety systems being developed are of immense importance not only to fire services and rescue organisations, but also to city planners and architects, as the dictates of preventive and responsive safety mean new buildings and facilities must meet certain technical, structural and logistical standards.

IdF Sachsen-Anhalt presents latest research findings

Germany’s Saxony-Anhalt Fire Services Institute (IdF) will be presenting its latest fire prevention research findings at the German Fire Protection Association (GFPA) stand and at the University of Magdeburg group pavilion. The institute uses state-of-the-art measurement, laboratory and computer systems. Its large scale testing facilities include a 20-metre high fire-test building, a test tunnel and specialised laboratories for combustion analysis and testing fire extinguishing agents. It also uses a Mobile Fire Laboratory (MOBLAB) and parallel computers to simulate and analyse hazardous situations on-site. Other specialties include performance testing of personal protective equipment.

Exciting shows

Spectacular live demonstrations on the open-air site The bleachers at the demonstration grounds can seat 3,000 and they will be filled to capacity when the disaster and emergency rescue demonstrations are on. Located on the open-air site in the north-east section of the exhibition centre, the grounds will host spectacular shows and live displays every day of the fair from 10am to 5.30 pm. The highlights will include firefighting and fire protection demonstrations and simulated rescue operations. The organisers are reporting strong exhibitor interest in this part of INTERSCHUTZ.

Fire out!

The Rosenbauer Group will be putting on two amazing, jaw-dropping shows. One is a live firefighting and passenger evacuation exercise involving a smoldering Airbus A380 fuselage. The passengers will exit the smoking plane via an emergency exit eight metres off the ground and climb down a rescue ladder. Once they have been brought to safety, the Panther CA7 airport fire truck will roll into action. Using a piercing nozzle integrated into its high-reach extendable turret, it will puncture the cabin skin and extinguish the fire using a fine-spray mist. The second show is a simulation of the start and escalation phase of a forest fire. It will demonstrate the use of a range of response vehicles – motorcycles, quad bikes and Unimogs – on difficult terrain.

Strong presence by Leipzig Fire Department

The Leipzig Fire Department will be using its home advantage to good effect. Its display stand in Hall 1 will feature information on day-to-day firefighting challenges and training, as well as opportunities for new recruits. In addition, every day of the fair from 10am to 12.30pm there will be an informal ‘roundtable’ discussion where senior firefighting professionals from all around Germany will meet to talk about current issues.

Hot stuff for ‘Thermo Man’

The Leipzig Fire Department will be turning up the heat at its display on the open-air site. There, in association with Dupont, the department’s very own ‘Thermo Man’ will be putting fire-resistant protective clothing to the test. The life-size test dummy will be wired with 122 heat sensors and blast-fired for eight seconds at 1,000 degrees Celsius (1,832 °F). The sensors will determine the degree of burning that a person in this extreme situation would suffer. The department is also planning a flashover training session for firefighters in a live fire training simulator. It is currently in negotiations with manufacturers of breathing apparatus and protective clothing.

German Firefighting Convention

Organiser expecting 100,000 attendees
From 7 to 13 June 2010, Leipzig will be hosting the 28th German Firefighting Convention, an event expected to attract over 100,000 attendees. Organised by the German Fire Services Association (DFV), the convention is dedicated to preparing Germany’s fire services for the challenges of the future and will have a strong emphasis on youth involvement, the future of volunteer firefighting, and forging links with Central Europe. DFV President Hans Peter Kröger said: “The 2010 German Firefighting Convention will set the agenda for the future. We are looking forward to being part of this great event in the heart of Europe!” The DFV, CTIF (International association of fire and rescue service) and DJF (German Youth Fire Brigade) will be providing an interesting and varied programme for trade visitors, firefighting fans and the general public.

The programme’s array of congresses, meetings, workshops and forums will facilitate knowledge networking, provide further education and training opportunities and explore highly topical issues. For instance, there is a ‘Diversity in the Fire Services’ congress (Monday 7 June), focusing on opening up the fire services to hitherto under-represented sectors of society, and a ‘Help for the Helpers’ workshop (Tuesday 8 June) on psychosocial support. There will also be a theme day on firefighters’ tools of the trade. Then, on Thursday 10 June, there’s the DFV and DJF ‘Future Conference,’ and from Thursday to Sunday, the DJF youth camp.

The initial days of the convention will have a strong international focus. For example, on Tuesday 8 June there will be an ‘EU Summit’ at the Congress Centre Leipzig (CCL) for fire service managers. “Our aim is to initiate a European fire service platform in order to be able to lobby more effectively on common issues at EU level,” explains DFV President Hans-Peter Kröger. The summit will close with an International Evening at the DFV and CTIF joint pavilion in Hall 1. The CCL will be hosting the CTIF Assembly of Delegates on Wednesday 9 June, while on Thursday 10 June, a conference on firefighting in Central Europe will examine key issues relating to cooperation and the international coordination of firefighting interests.

Street fair and fire service party in city centre

There will be fire brigade brass band music in downtown Leipzig as well as at the Exhibition Centre. From Monday to Saturday, Grimmaische Strasse, between the “Markt” market square and Augustusplatz square, will be given over to a street fair featuring live exhibitions, activities and educational displays on fire prevention. In addition, the market square will be home to a firefighters gettogether from Thursday to Saturday, followed by a fire service party on Saturday evening. For fans of historic fire engines there is a real treat in store with the ‘Nostalgia in Red’ vintage rally. This will culminate on Sunday in a grand cavalcade through downtown Leipzig by more than 200 classic fire trucks – from tenders from the ‘Roaring Twenties’ to the very latest models.

For further details, visit www.feuerwehrtag.de (German only)

(Text and images Courtesy of Deutsche Messe)