IFSJ Leaders in Fire & Safety Conference: Meet the Speakers

by AmericasBreaking NewsMiddle East - Breaking News

The IFSJ Leaders In Fire & Safety Conference promises to be a must-attend event for anyone in the Middle East fire and safety industry, and will bring together some of the most prominent figures in the industry as speakers and panellists to discuss the biggest issues facing leaders in the industry.

Among them are experts in business strategy, emerging trends, regulations, and innovation from the region. Attendees can expect to hear from an array of speakers, including industry leaders, top executives, and influencers, who will share their insights and perspectives on the latest developments and challenges in the field. The diverse range of speakers promises to make the conference an informative and engaging experience for all attendees.

IFSJ is proud to introduce the speakers and panellists who will be sharing their insights with attendees to the exclusive one-day event.

KEYNOTE ADDRESS

H.E. Excellency Brigadier Expert Ali Hassan Al Mutawa, Assistant Director General of DCD for Fire and Rescue Affairs

CONFERENCE CHAIR

Terry Johnson, Technical Service Manager at ENOC and President of The Institutions of Fire Engineers GCC Branch

Terry Johnson’s career began in the UKFRS and progressed to international development with the United Nations Development Program (UNIDO) as an ‘Technical Assistant Expert’ Fire Safety Training in the Oil & Gas sector. He spent some time at the Fire Service College UK looking at international development subsequently seconded to Dubai Civil Defence (DCD) UAE.

He represented DCD on various Emergency Crisis committees and working groups as a Senior Fire, Rescue & Emergency Services Professional, disciplined for All Operational requirements, including Major Emergency Incident planning and crisis liaison. Now, Johnson is currently engaged by Emirates National Oil Company ENOC, looking at sustainable and environmental solutions to match the resilience needed for asset and response team protection for ENOC assets. 

PRESENTERS

Jason Traynor, General Manager at MSA

Jason is the General Manager of Global Fire Service Products and Integration Leader of MSA Bristol for MSA Safety. In this role, he is responsible for establishing the global vision, strategy and growth initiatives for MSA Safety’s global portfolio of Fire Service Products and provides leadership for the integration of MSA Bristol. Upon joining MSA in 2012 as the Product Group Manager for Respiratory Protection, Jason revolutionized MSA’s approach to Fire Service Marketing and was critical to the successful launch of the G1 SCBA and M1 SCBA platforms.

Sinclair Duffie, Chief Fire Officer – Nawah Energy Company

Sinclair Duffie joined the Scottish Fire Service in 1983 with Central Region Fire Brigade. In 1993, he moved into Fire Prevention as Station Officer in and remained there and promoted to Station Manager in 2004. Duffie spent the remaining nine years of service between operations, training, and community safety before retiring in early 2012 with 29 years’ service. In 2012, Duffie joined ADNOC offshore operations on Das Island as Incident Command System Coordinator responsible for major incidents response planning and development. In 2017, he joined Nawah as a Team Leader. He was promoted to his current position which he has been held since 2018.  Duffie has been active on the Middle East conference circuit. He currently lives in Al Dhannah city in Abu Dhabi.

James Clarke, Fire Officer with Bedfordshire and Luton Fire and Rescue Service

James Clarke is Station Commander with 24 years operational experience. He has worked in research, development and procurement within the fire service. He has been instrumental in moving one the most influential services in the UK towards best practice with regards to post fire decontamination. Clarke has previously presented at the UKs first seminar on occupational cancer in the fire service on post fire decontamination and implementing policy and procedures.

Howard Leedham MBE, Managing Director, ESID DMCC

Howard is the Managing Director of ESID DMCC, a Special Situations and Global Consultancy company based in Dubai. He has lived and worked in the Middle East for much of the past 15-years and is a licensed “Security Expert” with the Security Industry Regulatory Authority. He is a member of the Security Professionals Association, and was most recently the Industry Ambassador to Intersec 2022.

Captain Essa Ahmed Al-Mutawa, Director of the Control and Monitoring Department at DCD

PANELLISTS

David Campbell, General Manager – Dubai Civil Defence Emirates Safety Laboratory

David Campbell is General Manager for Dubai Civil Defence’s Emirates Safety Laboratory, educated in Applied Sciences – Fire Technology, Fire Engineering and Environmental Sciences – Natural Resource Management and Digital Transformations with 33 years working in the sector of which the past 13 years supporting the Middle East region.

Alexander Castellanos, Head of Fire & Life Safety – Middle East at WSP

Castellanos has close to two decades of experience in the Fire and Life Safety Engineering field. He graduated from the prestigious University of Maryland Fire Protection Engineering program from where he went on to practice in New York City, China, and London. He relocated to the UAE in early 2012 and is currently the regional Head of Fire and Life Safety for WSP in the Middle East where his focus is on client care and technical excellence of the team. Alexanders experience ranges from working with fire and egress modelling early in his career to site supervision and client, authority and stakeholder liaison in recent times. He was part of the UAE Fire Code 2018 development committee and has continued to support similar roles in developing governance for semi-governmental entities.

Sawsan Dahham, Head of Fire and Life Safety at Dar

Sawsan is a Fire and Life safety specialist and a code expert, currently assigned as the Global Head of Fire and Life Safety at Dar. She is also an Authorized NFPA instructor.  
She has acquired an extensive experience having worked on all types of major projects such as mixed-use complexes, airports, health care facilities, and prestigious urban developments located in the Arab Gulf region, the Middle East, and Africa. She is also a contributor to publications in the fire and life safety industry.

Cristina Perez Domper, Regional Manager at Intertek Building and Construction

Cristina is a civil engineer with Master’s of Science in Structural Engineering. She gained her experience in the fire industry in Spain and for the last 4 years has been in the Middle east acting as Regional Operations Manager for Intertek. She specialises in product testing and certification for building products focused passive fire protection, and actively works to increase awareness on the importance of a comprehensive approach to fire safety. 

Mark Fenton, Sales Director – EMEA & APAC at Amerex Corporation

Mark is the Sales Director for Amerex Corporation, part of McWane Group, looking after the company’s full range of fire protection products and systems across EMEA and APAC. Prior to that he spent 3 years as a business consultant working with companies in the Middle East and the UK and 20 years with Honeywell where his last role was General Manager for MEA & EEU looking after their life safety and security businesses.

Engineer Salma Humaid, Head of Engineering Section at DCD

Engineer Salma Humaid is an accomplished fire safety engineer at Dubai Civil Defense. Her work plays a critical role in ensuring buildings and structures in Dubai meet the highest fire safety standards. She has helped implement fire safety regulations and codes, delivered presentations at various conferences, and worked closely with architects, contractors, and engineers to promote fire safety education and training. Her contributions have been recognised numerous times, and she continues to make Dubai a safer place for residents through her expertise in fire safety engineering.

Dr Susan Lamont is Director, Fire Group Leader Middle East at Arup

Dr Lamont has worked in the fire protection industry for over 20 years in the UK, USA, Middle East and parts of Asia and Africa. She is a chartered engineer, a Fellow at Arup, a Fellow of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE) and a board member of the Fire Protection Research foundation. She has worked though all stages of design and construction on a diverse range of projects.

Paul Pope, Group Business Development Director at Global Fire Equipment

Paul Pope is Group Business Development Director at Global Fire Equipment. Paul has been active in the fire and security industry since 1985 and has held senior management positions in some of the leading international fire and security companies. Pope has been active in the Fire Industry Association (FIA). He also is a member of the Building Fire Safety Systems Section of the NFPA in the USA.

Sajid Raza, CEO of Butler Engineering Middle East

Sajid Butler is the CEO of Butler Engineering (ME) & Butler Engineering Int’l Ltd (UK), responsible for overall operational steering of the organization in Middle East, Europe and Asia. His all-round contribution to fire consulting fraternity globally led him to be part of several UL Standards Technical Panels (UL-STP), IAS Technical Advisory Council (IAS-TAC), FCIA Standards Committee, International Firestop Council (IFC) Inspector and Special Inspection Training Committees.

Bob Rea, Director and Lead facilitator at BR Training Solutions Ltd

Bob is a recognised professional in crisis management, with over 30 years of experience of emergency management and preparation. He was awarded the Queens Fire Service Medal (QFSM) for his work leading the implementation of the UK National Urban Search and Rescue capability under the UK government’s New Dimension project. Bob established BR Training Solutions Limited to develop organisational response plans for middle eastern students in the USA.

Steven Reilly, Principal Engineer, Fire & Life Safety Lead MENA at Cundall

Steven is the Fire & Life Safety Lead for the MENA region at Cundall, with over fifteen years experience in fire & engineering consultancy. He has vast experience in Fire Safety, from carrying out Fire Risk Assessments & Audits on new and existing international developments to leading multidisciplinary teams. Zero Carbon Design 2030 has seen Cundall commit to only designing zero carbon projects by 2030.

Muzaffer Ahmed Syed, Regional Manager (Firestop) at fischer FZE

Muzaffer is the Regional Manager – FireStop for Fischer FZE. He manages the Technical and Commercial aspects of the FireStop within the Middle East and North Africa Region from the Regional HQ in Dubai, UAE. He is an Associate Member of The Institution of Fire Engineers, UK, and has been involved in the fire protection industry for over 10 years. He is involved in providing firestop solutions, testing, certification, liaising with the authorities, and providing educational seminars to consultants and contractors.

Peter Stephenson, Director, Fire Safety Division at Hydrock

As a Director (Fire Engineering) at Hydrock, Stephenson co-ordinates the companies international expansion into the Middle East and consultancy activities including developing fire strategies, fire and emergency response strategies and fire systems analysis for projects. His experiences in fire safety engineering and rail infrastructure projects includes working as a Business Development Manager at Warringtonfire, Associate Director at Buro Happold, Senior Fire Safety Engineer for Network Rail, Fire Safety Officer for Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service and as a consultant in both large multi-disciplinary and small independent practices.

Joanne Taylor is Director of De-Wipe and Reach & Rescue

Jo Taylor is an experienced entrepreneur International Sales Director and Managing Director having built two businesses with in the Emergency Services Industry with unique products over the last 13 years from start-up to global success. She has a wealth of knowledge and respect in the Fire and Rescue Industry and was previously a personal assistant to CEO’s for 16 years working in the Utility and Construction industry. She was honoured in NY2020 by HMQ with an MBE for safeguarding Fire Fighters.

Peter Van Gorp, Technical Director Fire, Life Safety and Loss Prevention at HKA

Peter Van Gorp has over twenty-five years of experience working as a Fire Engineer and has spent more than fifteen years of his career working in the Middle East. Peter is highly experienced in the areas of fire, life-safety and loss prevention and has been engaged on various building-fire and life-safety projects ranging across schools, hotels, hospitals, large shopping malls, multi-occupancy high-rises and industrial developments. 

Duncan J. White, Managing Editor at International Fire and Safety Journal

Duncan has worked in the fire industry for over 35 years, having started his career as a firefighter in 1987. Following almost 30 years as an operational fire officer he has continued his involvement with the fire industry as an editor within global publishing.

Tom Wood, Regional Director, Middle East at Vortex Fire

Tom Wood is a Fire Engineering professional with over 10 years working experience, and over 6 years based in the Middle East. His work has included airports, rail, commercial offices and residential buildings, malls and warehouses. He is an experienced fire consultant with a thorough knowledge of NFPA, SBC, IBC, EN and British codes and standards. He develops practical and cost-effective fire safety strategies and alternative fire engineered solutions using relevant guidance and present these to Authorities for final approval.

Other Panellists

Also featuring on panel sessions throughout the day are:

  • Engineer Pramod Challa, Senior Engineer, Dubai Civil Defense
  • James Grew, Deputy Divisional Director at Hydrock
  • Andy Hall, Owner and General Manager of Hall Fire and Safety Consultants
  • Carlo Loveri, Business Continuity Manager at Emirates Steel
  • Sam Malins, CEO at Reacton Fire Suppression
  • Even Ottesen, International Sales Manager at DAFO Fomtec AB
  • Mrinaal Sapru, Head of Regional Sales for Dubai Civil Defence’s Emirates Safety Laboratory
  • Eiad Shami, Senior Consultant, Fire & Life Safety at WSP;
  • James Varley, Associate Director at WS Atkins
  • Steve Walker, Director of Fire Safety at Hydrock.

Audit finds public safety concerns in Nova Scotia Fire Marshal’s Office

by AmericasFeatured NewsSafety

Nova Scotia’s auditor general, Kim Adair, has issued a report stating that the provincial fire marshal’s office is failing to manage fire and building safety, placing the public at risk. The report, which is the third of its kind since 2001, concludes that the fire marshal’s office is not providing adequate oversight of its operations.

Adair’s audit focuses on buildings that serve vulnerable populations, such as hospitals, schools, and long-term care facilities. She found that 40% of fire inspections in these buildings were completed late, with inspections for some facilities delayed by up to 445 business days. The report also notes that the fire marshal’s office does not keep a complete list of buildings that require inspections, nor does it have an archive of reviews of inspections or complaints.

According to Adair, the office’s explanations for missed deadlines, including staff vacancies and the COVID-19 pandemic, could not be verified due to a lack of data and management information. The report calls for a comprehensive review of the office’s organisational structure and recommends that the fire marshal’s office introduce performance standards, implement a fire safety complaint tracking and resolution process, as well as update the fire inspection policy and the list of buildings that require inspections.

Municipal Affairs Minister John Lohr has acknowledged the need to improve administrative processes and assures Nova Scotians that work is underway to address the recommendations made in the report. However, Adair has warned that there is a public safety issue at stake, and urgent action is required to rectify the shortcomings identified in the audit.

This report highlights the importance of ensuring that government agencies responsible for public safety are adequately resourced and that their operations are subject to regular review and oversight. The Nova Scotia government must take immediate action to address the issues raised by the auditor general’s report to protect the safety and well-being of all citizens.

Exclusive: The importance of fire system survivability with GFE

by AmericasBreaking NewsFire Detection

Paul Pope, Group Business Development Director at Global Fire Equipment (GFE), takes a closer look at the complex but important subject of fire system survivability

Fire system survivability relates to ability of the entire fire detection and alarm system (FDAS) to perform properly and remain fully operational while under attack by fire. If systems require a phased or complex evacuation, the FDAS needs to be able to continue working while the fire is taking place as this will ensure that the fire management authorities can establish the location of the fire and monitor its spread – information which is critical to ensure a safe and controlled evacuation.

A badly designed FDAS could fail relatively quickly, and failure in one area due to poor survivability could result in the system being unable to activate audible and visual alarms to warn people of the imminent danger. In the case of a phased evacuation, the system might be incapable of further evacuating another alarm zone area where the fire is spreading to. If all the detection control panels are located in one area and there is a fire in that area, for example, the entire system would be wiped out very quickly.

System survivability should be a shared responsibility

Survivability should be a prerequisite of all complex systems, and each building needs to be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Although some standards touch on survivability – including BS7975, BS8629, BS 5839 and BS 8519 – there is no clear industry performance specification for FDAS survivability and how the standards are actually achieved comes down to the design, installation and system commissioning process. And this is the root of the problem.

Many different factors determine the survivability of a FDAS and unless it has been designed with survivability in mind from the outset – and each individual element of the system is capable of surviving for the length of time required by the building and its evacuation strategy – the risk of system failure is high.

There is a lack of industry understanding about the length of time FDASs should be able to survive. There is a common misconception that the different elements of the FDAS only need to survive for 30 minutes before they can fail, but this is not long enough in complex buildings such as large residential buildings, offices, shopping malls, airports and hospitals etc.

Complex buildings must be actively assessed as a single, coherent system of interdependent components. In these types of buildings, the design and the connectivity of a FDAS and the building’s evacuation system have to last much longer than 30 minutes.

Specifiers need to fully understand the intended use of the building, its detailed fire/evacuation strategy and must specify the survival time of fire alarm/fire-fighting systems. Engineers must understand the fire risk experienced by the whole system to ensure continued fire/evacuation strategy and system design compliance. And those responsible for procurement need to manage expectations of survivability performance.   

Using technology to achieve system survivability

One way in which GFE is leading the way in system survivability is our inbuilt mesh network. Our Chameleon multi-master, multi-path peer-to-peer network is a fundamental departure from previous fire alarm control panels’ (FACP) networking arrangements as it creates an extremely resilient infrastructure for the management and interaction between multiple FACPs in a single system.

Every FACP connects directly, dynamically and non-hierarchically to all the other FACPs in the network. This contributes to extremely high resilience, particularly in complex buildings, where higher levels of system are required for life safety and fire-fighting applications, including circuit integrity during a fire.

A fully closed loop and multi-path solution, Chameleon addresses and overcomes the limitations associated with traditional RS485 multi-drop topology. When RS485 multi-drop topology is used, there is no redundancy in the network so in the event of a short circuit in the cables, all interaction and communication between the different FACPs would cease because the information can only travel from node to node in a linear manner, to the left or right. In comparison, Chameleon has point-to-point communication across the entire network.

The FACP forwards every event through all network communications ports, effectively broadcasting the event across the entire network. Each node then records the event on its local event log (up to 10,000 entries). Each FACP can send and receive messages from other FACPs, ensuring high network redundancy because all FACPs are interconnected. If one or more FACP links go down, all the other FACPs participate in the information relay so the entire network will continue working while the individual incident or issue with the FACP/FACPs is resolved. 

What next?

Moving forward, we need to push for FDASs to be designed for survivability from the outset rather than as an afterthought. We also need to ensure those responsible for specifying, procuring, installing and using fire and life safety systems have a better understanding of system survivability and accept shared responsibility for it.

For further information on Global Fire Equipment, please visit www.globalfire-equipment.com.

This exclusive article was originally published in the May 2023 issue of International Fire & Safety Journal. To read your FREE digital copy, click here.

Tennessee passes Bill creating PTSD presumption for firefighters

by AmericasFeatured News

Tennessee has taken a major step towards supporting its fire fighters by unanimously passing legislation to create a post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) presumption for them. The James “Dustin” Samples Act, named in memory of a brave firefighter who succumbed to PTSD after years of battling the disease, has been championed by the Tennessee Professional Fire Fighters Association (TPFFA).

Thanks to the tireless lobbying efforts of the TPFFA, the bill has now passed both the Tennessee House and Senate and is expected to be signed into law by Governor Bill Lee. The act seeks to honor the legacy of Samples, who devoted 22 years to his profession and bravely fought PTSD for many years.

“Our members are exposed to trauma on a daily basis, putting them at significant risk for developing PTSD and other behavioral health concerns,” said TPFFA President Matthew Tomek. “This legislation will enable us to honor Brother Samples’ memory and allow our members to get the help they need early. We are grateful to all our friends in the General Assembly for supporting this bill.”

The new presumption will enable fire fighters to access workers’ compensation benefits for PTSD under certain stipulations. The disorder must be diagnosed by a mental health professional, and must be the result of a direct witness to the death of a minor, an individual whose death involved serious bodily injury, or responding to an event where there was a victim with a serious bodily injury or a responder, co-worker, or family member of a responder who sustained a serious bodily injury or died.

The act not only presumes PTSD as a work-related injury for fire fighters, but also establishes a grant program to help employers cover the cost of workers’ compensation claims. Employers will need to provide mental health resiliency training as part of their regular education program to qualify for the grant.

The James “Dustin” Samples Act will take effect on January 1, 2024. Tennessee has taken a significant step in supporting its fire fighters and acknowledging the inherent risks and trauma that come with their profession. The TPFFA is proud to have championed this legislation and will continue to fight for the health and safety of its members.

Exclusive: Choosing the right fire system with Advanced

by AmericasBreaking NewsFire Detection

Advanced looks at the key things to consider when deciding on the best fire system for your site

Choosing the right fire system can be a challenge. With a variety of solutions and options available, knowing which products are best suited to your needs and meets the right fire safety legislation and regulations for your location can prove confusing.  

Whether you are looking for a panel or a full system, here are some of the key choices to make when deciding on the best solution for your site.

Protocol compatibility

At the centre of any active system is the fire panel – single or multi-loop, standalone or networked. The choice available is wide, and the priority should be finding a solution that offers versatility.

Open- or multi-protocol fire systems allow much greater freedom of device choice, allowing you to choose devices that best suit the site’s needs rather than restricting you to what’s available in a particular manufacturer’s range. Some brands of devices lend themselves much better to the demands of areas prone to false alarms, for example, while others are ideal for buildings that require flush-mounted devices for reduced visual impact.

Leading detector protocols include Apollo, Argus, Hochiki and Nittan, and it’s worth looking out for these names when choosing your fire system to ensure you can access a complete range of wired and wireless devices. For retrofit projects, backwards compatibility and the option to easily combine existing and new equipment are also important considerations, and choosing a fire panel that works with a variety of protocols can save time and money.

Compliance

Fire industry legislation and regulations can be a minefield, and it can be frustrating trying to find a product that has the features you want, approved for use in your region.

Advanced offers solutions for both UL and EN markets – so you can be confident you’re getting the great Advanced features you need while complying with your country’s local fire safety standards.

Featuring a high-performance addressable panel approved to EN54 Parts 2, 4 and 13, Axis EN has been tested to the highest standards of quality, reliability and technical integrity. Offering the versatility of UK best-seller the MxPro 5 panel, combined with complete peripheral and wired and wireless device ranges, it’s a great fire system option for territories that have adopted European product standards.

Part 13 compliance ensures that a fire system will continue to perform to its maximum capability during a fire situation. Increased current in alarm conditions combined with a high-resistance connection (e.g. an incorrectly tightened screw in a sounder base), could prevent the sounders and beacons from operating on what would have incorrectly appeared to have been an acceptable ‘fault-free’ installation. Axis EN continuously monitors all transmission lines for compliance, checking and reporting faults every minute of every day to ensure maximum safety.

Meanwhile, Axis AX offers the same high-performance and flexibility of Axis EN to those who require UL compliance, combining feature-packed addressable panels with audio systems, command centres and a comprehensive range of detectors.

Built with versatility and choice in mind, Axis AX is designed to be scalable and flexible, allowing you to easily adapt your fire alarm system to suit your needs with minimal disruption. Its modular system makes customisation easy, offering a wide variety of configurations and applications.

Even better, Advanced’s easy-to-use fire panel software is available for both its EN and UL-approved products, so benefits like easy configuration, networking and BMS integration are available no matter where you are in the world.

Site size

While large business sites might need complex multi-loop networked fire panels with a high number of detectors, smaller and medium-sized businesses, such as coffee shops, GP surgeries, small offices, bars and restaurants often have far more straightforward requirements for a simpler alarm solution with fewer detectors.

These types of sites generally don’t have the capacity to invest in a solution that goes beyond their needs, instead looking for systems offering value for money, reliability, performance and quality. For example, in a small coffee shop if a fire occurs the shop will be instantly evacuated so there is no need for a sophisticated multi-loop fire panel which allows the phased evacuation that would be necessary in a hospital.

With small-site budgets in mind, cost-efficiencies have been central to the development of Advanced’s Go, the new generation, single-loop fire alarm control panel which gives access to popular MxPro 5 premium features but in a simpler, non-networkable format for complete fire protection peace of mind. Developed for smaller locations while still offering flexible and powerful protection, Go’s versatility provides complete freedom to quickly and easily design the perfect wired or wireless solution for any standalone site.

Advanced also offers a cost-effective, single-loop option for countries where EN standards apply, in the form of AxisGo. Featuring the same reliability and flexibility of the premium Axis EN range, AxisGo is a great choice for simpler sites where networking isn’t required.

Wired or wireless?

For many locations, standard wired devices are the go-to option. But what solutions are there for sites where cabling would impact the building’s aesthetic, or be difficult and costly to reach inaccessible areas?

Choosing a fire alarm system that supports wireless detection means you’ll have the flexibility to opt for wireless devices, whether you require a fully wireless or hybrid system.

Wireless solutions not only mean lower visual and physical impact, they are also faster and cheaper to install, making them an increasingly popular alternative for sites where downtime isn’t an option, or re-wiring would prove disruptive. Thanks to two-way communication with the panel, battery replacement and fault reporting can also be worked into the on-going maintenance schedule via the panel service tools.

Advanced open-protocol MxPro 5 and Go panels both support a versatile range of wireless devices, including Apollo REACH, Argus Taurus and Hochiki Ekho so there’s plenty of flexibility to customise your system to best suit your needs.

There are wireless options available for Axis EN users too. Axis wireless devices are powerful, reliable and fast to install and configure. They’re also rigorously tested to meet EN54-25 standards and can be used as part of completely wireless or hybrid systems, providing a trusted, flexible solution.

System integration

When choosing your fire system it is a good idea to consider any add-ons you might want to incorporate – either now or at a later stage – to ensure your system supports them. For example, do you want to integrate your fire alarm panel with other safety or security systems, or a wider Building Management System (BMS)? It is worth checking with your chosen supplier if they have their own solutions for your requirements, or if you will need integration with third-party equipment for full protection.

A popular requirement is the option to link the fire control panel to an intelligent emergency lighting system, such as Advanced’s Dynamic Safety Signage (DSS). Available in the UK, it can be used as a standalone system, or integrated with a fire alarm panel programmed to trigger emergency lighting if an incident occurs.

Proven to make building evacuations faster and safer, DSS uses green moving and pulsing LED arrows to clearly indicate safe exits and red LED crosses to boldly show no-go areas. It provides a safer alternative to traditional static signage, particularly when installed at high-footfall sites where people are likely to be unfamiliar with the layout, such as transport hubs, hospitals, and stadiums.

Fire system integration means it’s also possible to program cause and effect, allowing DSS to be used adaptively. This ensures that as evacuation situations evolve, only the safest escape routes are highlighted whilst unviable exits are clearly marked as no-go areas. For added safety, DSS is also compatible with Advanced’s LuxIntelligent emergency lighting test system, making it easy to prove compliance and identify any parts of the system requiring attention.

Depending on your site, you may also want to consider including additional fire protection measures in your system. For example, high-risk and sensitive areas such as IT server rooms, or museums housing historic or cultural collections, may benefit from including a gas extinguishing panel such as Advanced’s ExGo.

Like Dynamic Safety Signage, ExGo offers the versatility of standalone use, or it can be integrated with an Advanced MxPro 5 panel or Axis EN fire system, or with any third-party fire system.

Used all over the world to protect sensitive and strategic assets – from the Magna Carta at Lincoln Castle, to M Station, the United Arab Emirates’ largest power generation and desalination plant – ExGo provides a simple, dependable solution to complex fire protection problems.

The choice is yours

When it comes to making decisions about your fire system, the options really are endless. Ultimately, the key thing to look out for is versatility. Your supplier should be able to offer everything you need to achieve your required level of functionality, while providing peace of mind that your site and the people in it are being effectively protected. Choosing a fire equipment manufacturer that offers a versatile range of options is the best way to guarantee compatibility, compliance and above all, safety.

This exclusive article was originally published in the May 2023 issue of International Fire & Safety Journal. To read your FREE digital copy, click here.