Terrorism
We all know that the world has changed in dramatic ways. People who want to do harm have become extremely resourceful in delivering fear and devastation. Limiting terrorist options without hindering normal daily activities is critical. National fire safety is on the minds of those dealing with fire safety legislation and regulations.
In recent years, terrorists have used fire extinguishers as Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) in order to cause destruction and harm in high traffic areas. The en-Gauge fire extinguisher monitoring system increases perimeter security in high traffic areas, such as airports, transportation facilities and government buildings, because security is alerted the moment an extinguisher is removed from the wall, thereby reducing the potential for a large-scale threat.
Fire extinguisher monitoring is an Office of Domestic Preparedness approved system, funded through the Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Program, Urban Areas Security Initiative, the Port Security Grant Program and the Transit Security Grant Program.
Department of Homeland Security funding is available. Contact us and we can help you identify funding.
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Bangkok - Fire extinguishers have become the latest lethal weapon in the militants’ arsenal in Thailand’s troubled deep South. On May 9, a mobile phone was used to detonate a fire extinguisher bomb exploded in Narathiwat, the ninth such device to be used there in recent weeks.
After a "suspicious" passenger left the lavatory of the plane, an alert flight attendant noticed a fire extinguisher was out of place and notified the pilots. The plane was diverted as a safety measure.
Fire extinguishers have been used as improvised explosive devices (IEDs) so this flight attendant was wise to call attention to it.
One way to immediately know if your extinguishers have been removed, depressurized or blocked is to monitor them with en-Gauge.
Fire codes require monthly inspections for a reason -- extinguishers frequently go missing, lose pressure or get obstructed. If any of those situations occur and it is not rectified -- a dangerous situation could be at hand.
Messing around with inspection records is bad enough, but the real crime is that the required monthly inspections are not being done. That puts lives and property at stake.
Electronic monitoring with en-Gauge eliminates the need for monthly inspections and creates records to show compliance with fire codes.
A man with a history of creating pipe bombs is suspected of leaving another bomb -- this time in a fire extinguisher -- in his car.
The car had been in the police impound lot before being picked up by family. There's a question whether the car had been searched by police before being released.
It's easy to overlook what appears to be a safety device but in reality has been transformed into a dangerous and life-threatening weapon. That's why many facilities have chosen to electronically monitor their fire extinguishers so they know where they are 24/7.
Whether real or a hoax, sadly this isn't the first time students have used a fire extinguisher as an IED (improvised explosive device).
Taking a common, "friendly" item, such as a fire extinguisher, and turning it into a dangerous weapon is becoming more and more prevalent. No one suspects a safety device would be used for anything other than safety; so it creates a great way to hide something very dangerous in plain site.