FLIR to showcase early fire detection and firefighting technology at NFPA 2026

FLIR will present its fire safety and first responder technologies at the NFPA Conference & Expo 2026, taking place from 22 to 24 June at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas.

The company will exhibit at Booth 471, where it will demonstrate industrial Early Fire Detection solutions and tactical firefighting equipment, including A-series thermal monitoring cameras and K-series hand-held cameras.

Thermal monitoring for high-risk environments

FLIR said its Early Fire Detection systems use continuous radiometric monitoring and intelligent alarming to identify abnormal heat patterns before smoke or flame is visible.

The technology is designed for high-risk environments including battery storage sites, solar fields, manufacturing lines, waste facilities, warehouses and logistics centres. According to FLIR, the systems can be integrated with plant safety controls to trigger automated responses and support 24/7 situational awareness.

Keynote session to discuss life safety compliance

On Wednesday 24 June, Aaron Lawrence, Director of Sales, Automation at FLIR, will lead a keynote session alongside Martin Casillas, Clark County Fire Inspector, and Ryan Sandler, Vice President of Fire & Life Safety at Everon.

The session will examine how thermal imaging, analytics and system design are influencing the next generation of life safety compliance.

FLIR said its technologies are intended to help operators detect risks earlier, support faster response and improve performance in challenging fireground and industrial conditions.

New Korean Fire Protection Association Chief shifts focus from response to prevention

The newly appointed chairman of the Korean Fire Protection Association, Kim Ki-hwan, has pledged to shift the organisation’s focus from post-accident response to proactive risk management and prevention.

Speaking at his inauguration ceremony on Monday, Kim said: “Our mission is to identify risks before they materialize, prevent accidents and help build a safer society.

“Over the past 53 years, the association has helped shape Korea’s history of risk management and disaster prevention. The expertise, experience and data we have accumulated over these decades are valuable assets that only few organisations can match.”

Kim pointed to growing challenges posed by climate-related disasters, electric vehicles, energy storage systems and data centres, saying rapid technological change is creating new demands for risk management.

The chairman also emphasised the role of artificial intelligence (AI) and data analytics in strengthening disaster prevention capabilities, pledging to transform the association into an AI- and data-driven risk management organisation.

Kim said the association would seek to expand its expertise in risk assessment and prevention, while strengthening cooperation with leading international institutions.

Kim previously served as CEO of KB Insurance and held several senior positions at KB Financial Group and KB Kookmin Bank, including chief risk officer and chief financial officer.

Founded in 1973, the Korean Fire Protection Association conducts fire safety inspections of large-scale commercial and industrial buildings and engages in a wide range of activities, including research into disaster prevention technologies, training programs and fire investigations.

The association has played a key role in advancing fire safety standards and risk management practices in Korea.

Northern Ireland emergency services thanked for response to recent disorder

Secretary of State Hilary Benn, recently met with Firefighters and other emergency service responders at Central Fire Station in Belfast, to thank them for their extraordinary response to recent disorder across Northern Ireland.

During the visit, Firefighters shared their experiences of protecting the community and responding to incidents during the challenging period last week.

Mr Benn praised the commitment of crews who continued to serve across Northern Ireland under challenging and difficult circumstances and acknowledged the vital role they all play in keeping people safe.

Compact water mist system for rail applications

Wagner Rail has expanded the WAGNER Group’s FirExting portfolio with the launch of Water Mist Compact, a water mist-based fire suppression system for use in passenger areas in railway carriages.

The system is said to provide high efficiency performance with a reduced space requirement and easier integration and maintenance.

Water mist systems work by releasing micro-fine water droplets that evaporate very quickly as mist, drawing heat energy away from a fire. This enables fast, effective, and gentle fire suppression with low water consumption.

“Thanks to their low water consumption, water mist systems cause very little secondary damage, making them ideal for areas where operations need to resume quickly after a fire,” explains Dr. Markus Müller, Managing Director of Wagner Rail.

“Our latest development goes one step further: it is our smallest and lightest water mist system. It can be installed in a more compact space while delivering the same performance. Both planning and integration into the vehicle are simpler than with conventional systems.”

According to Wagner Rail, the compact water mist system houses the water needed for fire suppression and the nitrogen gas required for atomisation in a single container. This is said to eliminate additional components and piping typically found in traditional water mist systems.

This design saves installation space and weight as well as reduces the number of interfaces with the vehicle. It also simplifies planning and execution of the installation process.

After an activation, the system can be replaced quickly as the containers can be kept in stock as compact replacement parts.

The system is claimed to comply with ARGE Part 2 and UNI 11565:2021, suiting it for use internationally. Since the containers can be heated or insulated, this solution is also suitable for demanding applications and operates reliably even at very low temperatures.

“Ultimately, what matters most to operators is a comprehensive package that combines safety, reliability, and cost-effectiveness,” Müller adds. “Our technology stands out for its high effectiveness, low impact on the interior, and excellent retrofitability. This makes it ideal for both existing fleets and new vehicle designs.”

Wagner Rail has begun implementing its first projects using the Water Mist Compact system, which will be showcased at InnoTrans in Berlin from September 22 to 25.

Construction site fire safety breaches fall but injuries remain high

Fire safety failures on construction sites across Great Britain fell by more than a third last year, but injury figures showed only marginal improvement, according to new data obtained from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

Research by CE Safety, based on a Freedom of Information request to the HSE, found 361 recorded incidences of fire-related non-compliance on construction sites in 2024/25, down from 536 in 2023/24. The figures cover failures categorised as both “fire and explosion risk” and “general fire precautions.”

The fall represents a 37% year-on-year improvement in recorded fire safety failings. Enforcement action also reduced, with 50 notices issued by the HSE in 2024/25, compared with 92 the previous year.

However, the number of non-fatal injuries caused by exposure to fire or explosion remained broadly unchanged, falling from 15 in 2023/24 to 14 in 2024/25. The HSE figures also recorded two deaths following explosions on construction sites in 2024/25. The individuals were not workers, and no further details were provided.

In 2023/24, inspectors recorded 82 cases of non-compliance relating to fire and explosion risk and 454 relating to general fire precautions. In 2024/25, those figures fell to 48 and 313 respectively.

Of the 50 notices issued in 2024/25, 38 were improvement notices and 12 were immediate prohibition notices. In 2023/24, the HSE issued 63 improvement notices and 29 immediate prohibition notices.

The HSE enforces the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, which apply to projects ranging from domestic renovations to major commercial developments. Sites become notifiable to the regulator when work is scheduled to last more than 30 working days with more than 20 workers on site at any point, or when construction exceeds 500 person-days.

Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, dutyholders must manage fire risks throughout construction work, including hazards linked to hot works, live electrical systems, flammable substances and combustible materials.

The regional picture varied significantly. Looking at both categories of fire-related non-compliance in 2024/25, the South East recorded the highest number of breaches, with 61, followed by London with 57, Yorkshire with 41, the East with 40 and the North East with 35.

For fire and explosion risk alone, Scotland recorded the highest number of breaches in 2024/25, with 11. The South East followed with nine, ahead of the East and London, both on six, and the South West on five.

For general fire precautions, the South East again topped the list, with 52 breaches. London recorded 51, Yorkshire 37, and both the East and North East were among the areas with the highest levels of non-compliance.

CE Safety said the findings show that while standards appear to be improving, construction fire risks continue to require close attention from contractors, site managers and dutyholders.

“Guidelines in construction are in place for a reason,” said Gary Ellis, fire safety training specialist at CE Safety. “Hazards are endless and risks are ever-present, so it is a good thing that the HSE approaches fire safety violations seriously, because those who flout the rules are not, and this potentially comes with a high cost, either to buildings, projects or lives.

“The construction sector is a dynamic working environment, where continuous change is taking place and because of this, the fire risk is constantly evolving. Having strong fire safety principles in place, which are monitored and enforced on site, will reduce the risk of serious fires and explosion.”

Fire safety failures can lead to enforcement action, project delays, prosecution and significant financial penalties. One recent case saw a construction firm fined £165,000 after repeated failures during a warehouse renovation, including inadequate fire detection, poor planning and no effective means of raising the alarm.

CE Safety said basic controls remain central to compliance, including site-specific fire risk assessments, management of ignition sources, safe storage of flammable materials, suitable fire detection and alarm arrangements, firefighting equipment, clear escape routes, construction phase planning and fire awareness training for workers and visitors.

The company added that construction firms should follow HSE guidance in HSG 168: Fire Safety in Construction, as well as the Joint Code of Practice on the Protection from Fire of Construction Sites and Buildings Undergoing Renovation, published by the Fire Protection Association and the Association of British Insurers.

Fire safety equipment market to hit US$96.3 billion as smart protection systems gain ground

According to Persistence Market research, the global fire safety equipment market is forecast to grow from US$64.1 billion in 2026 to US$96.3 billion by 2033, driven by stricter safety rules, rapid urban development and growing demand for smart protection systems.

High-rise buildings, data centres, healthcare sites, transport hubs and industrial facilities are increasing fire-risk exposure worldwide. In response, governments and building owners are investing more heavily in alarms, detectors, sprinklers and emergency communication systems.

Smart city projects are also reshaping the sector, with connected sensors and central monitoring platforms helping facility managers detect hazards earlier and coordinate faster emergency responses.

Key takeaways

  • The market is expected to register a CAGR of 6.0% between 2026 and 2033.
  • Active smart protection systems are set to lead the market with around 62% revenue share.
  • North America remains the largest regional market, while Asia Pacific is forecast to grow fastest.
  • IoT-enabled detectors, cloud-connected alarms and AI-based monitoring are becoming increasingly important.
  • Data centres, battery energy storage sites and smart infrastructure projects are creating new opportunities for suppliers.

Businesses are moving beyond conventional equipment and adopting intelligent systems that combine detection, monitoring, analytics and automated response. These tools can reduce false alarms, support predictive maintenance and improve visibility across large facilities.

North America leads the market thanks to strict regulation, strong insurance compliance and widespread use of advanced life-safety systems. Asia Pacific is expected to see the fastest growth as urbanisation, industrial expansion and updated fire safety standards accelerate demand in countries including China and India.

Major companies in the space include Honeywell International, Johnson Controls, Siemens Building Technologies, Robert Bosch GmbH and Eaton Corporation. Their strategies are increasingly focused on connected platforms, predictive analytics and integrated building safety solutions.

As buildings become smarter and fire safety requirements tighten, demand for advanced detection, suppression and monitoring systems is expected to keep rising through 2033.

Aero-X installs fire protection systems installed for Schilthorn cable car redevelopment

Fire protection specialist Aero-X has installed systems across the redeveloped Stechelberg–Mürren–Birg-Schilthorn cable car line in Switzerland, a route known both for its engineering complexity and its connection to the James Bond film On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.

Swiss company Aero-X was commissioned to provide fire protection for the recently redeveloped line, including systems for the dual-track Funifor cable car infrastructure and electrical control cabinets at all four stations.

The company selected Kentec Sigma XT extinguishant control panels for the project, with 14 panels installed across the station cabinets and connected to the site management system for supervision from the control room.

The Schilthorn route is internationally recognised as the location of Piz Gloria, Blofeld’s mountaintop lair in the 1969 James Bond film On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. The cable car line has undergone a major redevelopment as part of the Schilthornbahn 20XX project.

Originally built in the 1960s, the multi-stage aerial cableway system in the Bernese Oberland region had reached the end of its technical lifespan and required a comprehensive modernisation programme.

The redevelopment has increased passenger capacity from 400 to 800 people per hour and reduced the travel time from Stechelberg, on the valley floor, to the Schilthorn summit by around 10 minutes. The first section, from Stechelberg to Mürren, now operates as a direct line with a gradient of 159.4%, making it the steepest aerial cable car in the world.

Paul van Trigt, CEO of Aero-X, said: “It is so steep the cable car has to exit through the roof of the station.”

Aero-X was asked to protect the cable car system and electrical control cabinets at each station. The gondolas, which feature solar panels and battery storage, are protected using Aero-X extinguishant units.

The station cabinet protection includes integrated detection and suppression systems. The cabinets are “doubled up” at each station to support continuity of service in the event of a failure, according to van Trigt.

“The reason we used Kentec panels is that we needed to fulfil certain standards, in particular EN12094, EN15276-1 and EN15276-2,” he said. “I love the XT panel because it is plug and play. Connected properly, it simply works: there is no complicated programming to be done.”

Most of the cabinets are fitted with smoke sensors, while others use heat sensors. Van Trigt explained that some cabinets contain relatively high voltage, which can create electromagnetic fields that affect smoke detection.

Each cabinet includes fire-resistant cable connections, a sounder beacon and both automatic and manual aerosol extinguishant release capabilities.

Two or three extinguishant units are installed in each cabinet and connected to the Sigma XT panel via Aero-X’s sequential activator.

“This allows us to supervise the whole line and make sure all units are triggered in the event of a fire,” van Trigt said. “Two units are triggered, then we wait two seconds, then the next two are triggered, etc.”

The sequential activator is designed to ensure multiple extinguishant units can activate when required, rather than being limited by the current supplied by the panel. Van Trigt said the approach provides a higher level of fire security in line with regulatory requirements.

Van Trigt said the main challenge was logistical rather than technical. “Taking the materials up the mountain to each respective station and installing them during the construction phase was difficult, because there was really nothing to use. We had to find other ways!”

The upgraded cable car line is now carrying passengers on the route to Schilthorn, with fire protection systems from Aero-X and Kentec supporting safety across the redeveloped mountain transport infrastructure.

Robot dog Spot gets gas detection upgrade through Blackline Safety, MFE collaboration

Blackline Safety Corp. has partnered with MFE Inspection Solutions to integrate Blackline’s cloud-connected portable detector with Boston Dynamics‘ Spot mobile industrial robot dog.

“Gas detection is critical for safety. And teams are no longer limited to collecting that data only when a person enters the area,” said Dylan Duke, CEO of MFE Inspection Solutions. “Robots like Spot are already being used to collect inspection data remotely in hazardous environments. This solution adds real-time gas detection to those workflows, giving operators insight into gas hazards before deciding how and when to send people in.”

Industrial gas monitoring has traditionally relied on personal monitors worn by workers. Connected gas detection gives teams access to gas data from multiple sources (personal gas monitors, area gas monitors, and remote systems like robots or drones) with live, detailed views of atmospheric conditions that help organisations make faster decisions.

“This is about connecting technologies customers are already using and making them more useful together,” said Christine Gillies, Chief Product and Marketing Officer, Blackline Safety. “MFE has built the digital plumbing to connect Spot with Blackline’s connected gas detection platform, adding another layer to worker protection while giving organisations critical exposure data as it happens, not after the fact like with traditional monitors, so they can make informed decisions in the moment.”

The solution lets operators view gas readings and alerts in Blackline Safety’s Blackline Live software, directly on the Spot tablet during operation, providing real-time awareness in the field.

It also triggers automated return-to-home actions when defined gas thresholds, such as rising LEL, are detected, helping teams move Spot out of hazardous conditions and protect site personnel.

Teams can use a range of hot-swappable, configurable, cartridge-based sensors on the robot dog that can be tailored to different environments and applications: 

“Spot’s thermal, acoustic, and visual inspection abilities provide AI-powered predictive insights into facility health,” said Merry Frayne, Senior Director of Product at Boston Dynamics. “Integrating the Blackline Safety portable device gives process manufacturers an even more complete picture of their site while keeping people out of harm’s way.”

Britannia Fire launches P50 Monnex fire extinguisher

Britannia Fire has added to its P50 composite fire extinguisher range with the introduction of Monnex, a specialist, high performance dry powder for high-risk industrial settings.

Monnex powder is non-conductive and rapidly extinguishes Class B (flammable liquids) and Class C (flammable gas) fires. It works differently to standard dry powder, breaking into smaller particles in intense heat which increases its surface area and coverage to extinguish fires quickly and more efficiently.

Britannia Fire’s P50 Monnex fire extinguishers are designed for high-risk sites including petrochemical plants, airports, fuel depots, power stations and manufacturing facilities. They are also particularly suitable for isolated, offshore locations such as ships or oil and gas facilities.

All P50s are environmentally friendly and fully recyclable with a 20-year life span and a 10-year guarantee. Unlike traditional, metal fire extinguishers, they don’t require costly external annual servicing. Instead, simple checks can be carried out by a responsible person.

“High-risk industrial sites need fire protection that performs instantly and reliably in extreme conditions,” said Andy Spence, Managing Director of Britannia Fire. “The launch of our P50 Monnex extinguisher gives operators a specialist solution that delivers rapid knock-down on flammable liquid and gas fires, while also reducing long term maintenance and environmental impact.”

A model certified to the Marine Equipment Directive (MED) is also available, which includes the required Schrader valve for equipment used on ships, offshore platforms and marine installations.

“The MED approved P50 Monnex is ideal for offshore environments, where conditions are harsher and regulations are stricter,” added Spence. “The P50 doesn’t corrode like traditional metal extinguishers and is much more durable. It also doesn’t require annual servicing, something that’s historically been very difficult and costly in these hard-to-reach sites. The Schrader valve allows easy pressure checks and re-pressurisation.”

Ranger Fire and Security secures Inflexion investment to drive growth strategy

Ranger Fire and Security has secured majority investment from Inflexion, a European mid-market private equity firm, to accelerate its growth plans and acquisition strategy across the UK and Ireland.

The investment will support Ranger’s ongoing acquisition strategy, enabling the company to continue purchasing high-performing local fire and security businesses, a cornerstone of its growth model since launch.

It will also fund the further integration of back-office functions across the Group, a key factor behind Inflexion’s decision to invest.

It is expected that these measures will help strengthen Ranger’s ambition to build a truly national fire and security services platform, while supporting a potential move into continental Europe.

The deal follows a period of rapid growth for Ranger, which has completed more than 25 acquisitions across Great Britain and Ireland since its formation.

The Group has grown to employ more than 500 people and has achieved revenues exceeding £75 million.

Ranger has also been recognised for its growth strategy, winning the Actum Buy and Build Value Creation Award as a portfolio company of Hyperion Equity Partners.

In addition, the business has introduced an enhanced employee benefits package across the Group, with further details expected to be announced in the near future.

“This is a landmark moment for Ranger,” said Mark Bridges, CEO, Ranger Fire and Security. “In just a short space of time we’ve built a strong footprint covering all parts of the UK and Ireland.

“This investment is a strong endorsement of our strategy and the momentum we’ve built. With their support and expertise, we can accelerate our plans, scale faster and continue building a leading one-stop shop for fire and security services.”

As part of the transaction, Hyperion will be making a re-investment alongside Inflexion to support Ranger’s long term strategic goals.

All members of the Ranger leadership team will remain in post, ensuring continuity as the business enters its next phase of growth.

“Ranger has built a compelling platform and we are excited to be partnering with Mark and the team as they accelerate their next phase of growth,” said Michael Baster, Partner, Inflexion. “With a clear vision, acquisition strategy and a strong track record of integrating high-quality businesses, we see significant further opportunity ahead.”