Main School of Fire Service

The challenges faced by the metallurgical industry implicate that actions aimed at reducing negative impacts on the environment are becoming extremely important. This is justified both in the search for economically competitive methods of producing basic construction materials, consistent with the circular economy policy, and in improving the efficiency of metal production technology. An essential aspect of biomass use is the introduction of an energy source that naturally reduces the energy supplied to the reactor, thereby reducing the carbon footprint of the metal produced. In this case, the research undertaken aims to determine the possibility of using a bioreductant that will allow for the reduction or elimination of the fossil raw material, which is coal, thus reducing the costs associated with ETS and ETS II (European Union Emissions Trading System). This paper presents the results of research on the reduction process of oxide metal-bearing raw material, the chemical composition of which is similar to slags from the copper industry. The effects of slag reduction time on the degrees of copper and lead removal were examined. The process was carried out at 1300 °C, with the constant addition of a reducing agent, in the form of crushed pine cones. After processing for 1 h, the copper content in the waste slag was 1.30 wt%, whereas extending the process to 5 h reduced the copper content to 0.15 wt%. For lead, at the exact reduction times, the element’s contents in the slag after processing were 1.92 wt% and 0.79 wt%, respectively. The results of the studied process showed that, in the first stage of the slag reduction process, intensive reduction of copper and lead oxides occurs. Research was also conducted to characterize the biomaterial during the high-temperature process. Results show high degrees of removal for basic metals at the following levels: 99% for Cu and 72% for Pb. The waste slag is characterized by low metal content, which allows for safe storage or use in other sectors of the economy. This type of biomaterial is, therefore, recommended for research in large-scale laboratories or on a semi-industrial scale, particularly in relation to the gas phase formed and its possible impacts on the structural elements of industrial installations. It should be noted that there is a lack of data in the literature on the use of forest biomass in the form of pine cones as an alternative to coke as a reducing agent for use in pyrometallurgical processes.

This article reviews and discusses the behaviours and patterns associated with panic evacuations, as documented in the literature, which must be considered when analysing and modelling such events. Where possible, diverse perspectives from existing research have been contrasted with the author’s own observations and reflections. Structured as an overview, the article introduces subsequent analyses and highlights several non-intuitive questions that arise during the investigation. The study examines the relationship between movement velocity and crowd density, comparing experimental data with simulations conducted to date. It explores the connections between flow rate, crowd density, and ve-locity, and suggests potential directions for further research in this field. Additionally, the article addresses the loss of evacuation coordination under crowding conditions and pre-sents studies that demonstrate optimal evacuation at speeds that differ from the so-called comfortable pace. The positive effects of strategically placed obstacles in reducing conges-tion and improving evacuation times are also analysed. This literature review is conduct-ed from a practical perspective, with the primary aim of deepening our understanding of panic evacuation phenomena. Furthermore, the article categorises the impact of various phenomena associated with stampedes and panic evacuations on the requirements for safe evacuation. A tabular summary of the technical and structural measures for evacua-tion is provided, which may prove useful in designing effective evacuation strategies when dealing with heightened emotional states among evacuees.

Currently, strengthening timber elements with the use of various materials has become popular.Reinforcements are used to repair existing elements or improve the static operating characteristicsof new elements. Fibre composites are being increasingly used as reinforcement. Investigationshave shown that the use of fibre composites influences the nature of static work. However, anunder-researched issue is the determination of the influence of composite reinforcement ontemperature distributions and, consequently, the depth and shape of charring in the cross-sectionduring fire. The article presents a numerical thermal analysis of cross-sections of glulam beamsreinforced with aramid materials in various forms. Fire action was assumed in accordance with theISO fire curve and the fire load on three of the four edges of the beams was modelled. Temperaturedistributions are presented for all analysed cases, which shows the beneficial effect of the use ofaramid reinforcement on the temperature distribution in the cross-section during a fire.

The article describes new silicone self-adhesive adhesives modified with the addition of talc. The obtained self-adhesive materials were characterized to determine their adhesive properties (adhesion, cohesion, and adhesion) and functional properties (pot life of the composition, shrinkage, and thermal properties of adhesives). Novel materials exhibited high thermal resistance above 225 °C while maintaining or slightly reducing other values (adhesion, cohesion, shrinkage, and tack). Selected composition: T 0.1 was used to prepare self-adhesives in industrial-scale production. Moreover, conducted test results revealed that the addition of talc delayed the thermal decomposition of the adhesive and provided reduced intensity of smoke emissions during combustion as well as the flammability of the adhesive layer.

W przedmiotowym artykule zostały poruszone wybrane aspekty dotyczące procesu dekontaminacji, który jest nierozłącznym ogniwem systemu bezpieczeństwa wewnętrznego państwa i jest uruchamiany do łagodzenia skutków zagrożeń CBRN. Autor wskazał obszar logistyki, bez której prawidłowa organizacja, realizacja przedsięwzięć, jak również tworzenie punktów dekontaminacyjnych, nie byłaby możliwa. Ponadto artykuł poruszył problematykę aspektów logistycznych w zdarzeniach masowych wywołanych skażeniem czynnikiem CBRN, przed wszystkim prawidłowego przygotowania jednostek ochrony przeciwpożarowej.

A rare type of risk associated with firefighting activities and affecting the central nervous system (CNS) is acoustic trauma. The main causes of acoustic trauma in professional firefighters include long-term exposure to noise from fire engine sirens, emergency call alarms in the fire stations (fire halls), and the operation of equipment used during rescue and firefighting operations.The study was based on an analysis of data obtained from the HR Department of the National Headquarters of the State Fire Service (NHSFS). The analysis included cases of acoustic trauma suffered by firefighters while on duty, which were reported to the control room of their firefighting units as rescuer accidents, and followed up with medical interventions.The average number of accidents among SFS firefighters per year during the study period was n=1.617.During the study period (2015-2022), there were seven incidents in which a total of 11 firefighters suffered acoustic trauma affecting the CNS and the organ of hearing.To prevent on-duty accidents, both practical and theoretical training sessions are provided, covering measures aimed at reducing accident rates to minimum levels. Other important activities include hearing prophylaxis; medical examinations; breaks during work, appropriate organisation of work and the working environment; compliance with the applicable regulations, internal procedures and safety instructions; the use of personal protective equipment, and the good technical condition of vehicles and equipment.

Majority of anthropogenic air pollutants enter the atmosphere as a result of material combustion, industrial production and transport. Fires not only cause air pollution, but also disrupt ecosystems. Knowledge of the flammability parameters and proper flame-retardant modification of materials hinders the origin and spread of a fire, while also protecting against air pollution. The aim of this study was to obtain fire-retardant modifications of the epoxy resin, and then to analyse the effect of the introduced additives on the rate of heat release, the thermokinetic properties and the toxicity of volatile combustible products. The modifiers of the epoxy resin were organophosphorus compounds and aluminium and magnesium hydroxides, with a grain size of 10 nm. The introduced additives were found to be effective flame retardants as they reduced the rate of heat release and the amounts of toxic products of thermal decomposition and combustion. The HRRmax and HRRav values of all fire-retardant modifications were lower compared to the corresponding HRR values of the unmodified epoxy material.

Globalizacja zmienia swoje oblicze, jednocześnie zyskując na sile w obszarach technologii informacyjnych. Także kwestie związane z transportem osób powracają do dawnej świetności. Oba aspekty są wykorzystywane przez Federację Rosyjską przy prowadzeniu działań hybrydowych. Same działania hybrydowe, wojna hybrydowa czy zagrożenia hybrydowe są obiektem wielu dyskusji i sporów. Wraz ze zmianą sytuacji bezpieczeństwa na arenie globalnej wzrastają podatności, które mogą być wykorzystane przy prowadzeniu działań hybrydowych, jak skala migracji spowodowanej zmianami klimatycznymi i niepokojami politycznymi, zwiększa się ilość cyberataków czy wykorzystania mediów do prowadzenia kampanii dezinformacyjnych. Powyższe ma źródło w ogólnym trendzie informatyzacji, cyfryzacji i rozwoju działalności w internacie w wyniku pandemii COVID-19. We wszystkich powyższych przestrzeniach Rosja bezwzględnie wykorzystuje słabość atakowanych państw, wykonując plan powrotu do pozycji mocarstwa.