Competence becomes the fire safety dealbreaker

by Breaking NewsSafety

Fire safety buyers prioritise competence over cost, says NSI

NSI and BAFE’s The Fire Safety Buyers Report 2026 finds that UK organisations are placing greater weight on competence, assurance and third-party certification when selecting fire safety service providers, although many decision-makers remain uncertain about legal duties and how provider competence should be checked.

The report, based on independent research by Sapio Research, examines how UK buyers choose fire safety providers and how expectations have changed as fire safety responsibilities receive more attention from building owners, employers and duty holders.

Its central finding is that buyers increasingly want evidence that fire safety providers are competent, independently assessed and able to support defensible decisions if those decisions are later challenged.

Fire safety awareness has increased since Grenfell

The report places current buyer behaviour within the period following the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire, which claimed 72 lives and led to greater attention on fire safety procurement, competence and accountability.

NSI and BAFE say decision-makers now take fire safety responsibility more seriously than they did a decade ago, with 93% of those surveyed reporting greater focus and action around fire safety in the past five years.

The research also found that 89% believe fire safety is now more of a strategic business priority, while 76% say they prioritise fire safety more than they did five years ago.

Despite this shift, fire safety does not yet sit at the top of the building management agenda.

When respondents were asked what matters most in building maintenance and management, fire safety ranked fifth overall, behind general health and safety and cost control.

The report describes this as a challenge for both buyers and providers, because fire safety is receiving more attention but still competes with other operational and financial pressures.

Spending expectations are rising

The research indicates that spending on fire safety is expected to increase during the next five years.

Almost six in ten buyers, 59%, describe their current investment in fire protection as high, with 16% describing it as very high.

Looking ahead, 77% expect fire safety investment to increase during the next five years, including 39% who anticipate a significant increase.

NSI and BAFE also link higher awareness to higher spending expectations.

Among respondents who said they were fully aware of their legal fire safety responsibilities, 85% expect spending to increase, compared with 68% among those who said they were only somewhat aware.

The report says this matters because informed buyers are more likely to invest in fire safety and to scrutinise the competence of those delivering fire safety services.

As organisations become more aware of legal and reputational exposure, they appear less willing to rely on suppliers whose competence has not been independently checked.

Organisations view fire safety in different ways

The report says organisations do not all view fire safety through the same lens.

Some treat it mainly as a compliance requirement, while others view it as part of duty of care, risk management or business continuity.

The research found that 45% of decision-makers see fire safety as a compliance necessity.

A further 34% view it as a moral or ethical duty, while 21% mainly see it as supporting and enabling business operations.

This split has practical implications for providers.

Where buyers see fire safety as a compliance necessity, procurement may focus on minimum obligations, low cost or administrative completion.

Where buyers see fire safety as a duty of care, procurement is more likely to focus on competence, reassurance and evidence that decisions can be justified.

The report also identifies continued complacency in some organisations.

More than a quarter of decision-makers, 26%, believe fire safety is not taken as seriously as it should be within their organisation.

Among those respondents, 51% cited complacency that a fire is unlikely to happen, while 44% cited other strategic priorities.

Budget constraints were cited by 38%, 36% said fire safety is seen as compliance rather than business strategy and 31% referred to a lack of organisational sponsorship.

The report also found that 26% cited the absence of fire safety from anyone’s official role, while 21% selected none of the listed reasons.

Responsible Persons want reassurance

The report uses the term Responsible Person as a collective shorthand for persons with legal fire safety responsibility across UK jurisdictions.

It notes that England and Wales use Responsible Person, Scotland uses Duty Holder and Northern Ireland uses Appropriate Person.

These terms are not identical, because each jurisdiction has its own legal wording and duties.

In workplaces, the Responsible Person is generally the employer of those working in the premises.

In premises that are not workplaces, the person with control of the premises is usually responsible.

Where no one has control of the premises, the owner is almost always the Responsible Person.

NSI and BAFE say those who identify as Responsible Persons experience fire safety more personally than wider decision-makers.

Among this group, 45% view fire safety primarily as a moral or ethical duty, compared with 40% who view it mainly as a compliance requirement.

Responsible Persons are also more likely to place importance on reassurance and peace of mind when choosing a fire safety provider.

The report says this reflects the nature of the role, because those with legal duties must put appropriate measures in place and be able to show that their decisions were sound.

Confusion remains over legal duties

The research identifies uncertainty around the Responsible Person role and its boundaries.

A third of decision-makers express some level of doubt about the legal duties of the Responsible Person.

The report also found that 38% changed their answer about who the Responsible Person was after legal definitions were explained.

A further 66% selected responsibilities that do not formally sit within the role.

Among respondents who identify themselves as Responsible Persons, 15% are not fully confident in their responsibilities.

NSI and BAFE say this uncertainty creates an important role for fire safety providers.

Technical delivery remains essential, but many Responsible Persons are also seeking clarity on duties, support in understanding risk and help in demonstrating due diligence.

The report makes clear that organisations do not expect providers to assume legal responsibility.

It identifies an emerging buyer expectation that providers should explain risk clearly, show how competence is assured and support stronger decision-making.

Proof of competence outranks cost

One of the strongest findings concerns how buyers choose fire safety providers.

When decision-makers were asked what matters most when selecting a provider, proof of competence ranked as the single most important factor.

The research found that 69% said proof of competence was essential.

This placed it ahead of cost, reviews, recommendations and industry-recognised certifications.

The report also found that 94% of organisations ranked proof of competence as more important than cost.

Less than a third, 31%, placed pricing among their top three considerations.

Cost still matters in procurement, but the research challenges the view that buyers are primarily price-led.

NSI and BAFE say buyers are looking for providers that give them the greatest confidence, because fire safety decisions are more likely to be questioned and reviewed.

This means provider selection now needs to be defensible as well as operationally suitable.

A buyer may need to explain why a provider was selected, what evidence of competence was available and how that decision would stand up if challenged after an incident or inspection.

Certification is becoming a trust signal

The report says trust remains a major factor when choosing a fire safety provider, but the basis for trust is changing.

Using the Trust Equation developed by David Maister, Charles H. Green and Robert M. Galford, NSI and BAFE frame trust as a combination of credibility, reliability and personal reassurance, divided by self-interest.

In practical terms, buyers trust providers more when they appear credible, dependable and independently checked.

The research found that 79% of buyers rank certification and independent auditing among the strongest signals of trust.

Brand reputation was selected by 66%, testimonials by 33% and recommendations by 23%.

NSI and BAFE say this indicates that trust is shifting away from informal relationships and towards evidence that can be reviewed.

Providers relying only on reputation, personal relationships or online comments may find those signals carry less weight as buyers face greater scrutiny.

The report gives particular weight to UKAS-accredited third-party certification because it reduces reliance on self-certification.

A provider that certifies its own compliance may be viewed as less trustworthy than one assessed by an independent third party.

Buyers support third-party certification

The research found strong support for certification as a way to demonstrate competence.

The report says 83% of respondents agree that third-party certification is the standard route to demonstrating fire assessor competence.

It also found that 81% say certified providers are worth paying extra for.

When asked about the benefits of choosing a certified provider, 83% said certification helps meet legal or regulatory requirements.

A further 49% said it improves the quality and reliability of the service provided.

The research found that 46% said certification provides peace of mind in a worst-case scenario.

Among respondents designated as Responsible Persons, 55% rated peace of mind as a key benefit.

NSI and BAFE argue that certification is not primarily about branding for these buyers.

It helps address specific concerns around personal accountability, legal exposure, reputational risk and the need to show that decisions were reasonable.

Checks are still inconsistent

The report identifies a gap between the value buyers place on certification and the checks they apply in practice.

Although 84% of respondents say they use a certified provider, closer analysis found that 73% either do not know who certifies their supplier, are unsure whether their supplier is certified or use a supplier that is not independently certified.

This means competence may be assumed rather than checked.

Open-text responses showed that some organisations assess competence through online reviews, informal trust-building, gradual increases in responsibility or internal checks by non-specialists.

NSI and BAFE say this creates risk for competent and certified providers, because they may be assessed alongside unverified competitors on the basis of familiarity or informal signals.

It also creates an opportunity.

As scrutiny increases, buyers are likely to need clearer evidence that they have carried out proper checks before appointing a supplier.

The report says UKAS-accredited third-party certification is moving beyond a differentiator and towards an expected baseline in parts of the market.

What certification provides for buyers

The report identifies four practical functions of third-party certification.

The first is independent checking of competence.

This gives buyers an objective assessment that the provider meets recognised technical and operational standards.

The second is a clear due diligence trail.

This supports the Responsible Person in showing that a competent and independently audited provider was selected.

The third is greater confidence for clients and occupants.

This means buyers can have increased confidence that fire safety measures are being delivered in line with recognised standards.

The fourth is professional credibility for providers.

Certification gives providers a recognised signal that distinguishes them from unverified competitors.

When decision-makers were asked what choosing a certified provider would achieve, 97% agreed that certified providers bring clear benefits.

The research found that 70% say certified providers offer a trusted solution for fire safety needs.

A further 69% say they provide confidence that risk to life is minimised, while 68% say they provide an evidence trail of due diligence.

Implications for service providers

The report presents certification as a strategic choice for fire safety providers.

For providers, the issue is no longer only whether they can deliver the work.

Buyers increasingly want providers to show competence, explain how it has been assessed and provide evidence that can support the buyer’s own duties.

This changes the provider-client relationship.

A provider that only completes the required technical task may meet the immediate service need, but a provider that also explains risk, documents competence and supports defensible decision-making is more closely aligned with current buyer expectations.

NSI and BAFE say providers who combine technical delivery with support on responsibilities, clear risk communication and independently verified certification are better placed to build long-term client relationships.

For providers seeking to lead the market, the report says independently verified competence is becoming a defining feature of professional fire safety services.

Implications for Responsible Persons

The report also sets out a clear message for Responsible Persons and duty holders.

Fire safety management now requires greater focus on how provider competence is assessed and evidenced.

Responsible Persons may face questions about how they knew a provider was competent, how the decision could be evidenced and what assurance was in place if something went wrong.

This means provider selection must be documented in a way that can be explained after the event.

The report says Responsible Persons should be able to show why a provider was selected and how that provider’s capability was independently verified.

This is linked to broader regulatory and industry attention on competence, accountability and assurance.

The report does not say certification transfers legal responsibility away from the Responsible Person.

It says certification helps create a structured evidence trail for decisions made by those who hold fire safety duties.

How the research defines certification

NSI and BAFE define third-party certification in the report as independent, UKAS-accredited certification of fire safety service providers or fire risk assessors against recognised schemes and scopes.

The report says this does not include trade association membership, directories or unaccredited listing services.

It cites BS 8674:2025, published in August 2025, as one example of a recognised framework.

The standard sets out competence, skills and knowledge for fire risk assessors in the UK.

The report also explains that UKAS is the United Kingdom Accreditation Service and the UK’s National Accreditation Body.

UKAS assesses and accredits organisations that provide certification, testing and inspection services.

Organisations behind the report

BAFE and NSI commissioned the research to examine how fire safety is understood, how supplier decisions are made, how competence is assessed and where gaps exist between awareness and assurance.

BAFE says it has set fire safety competence benchmarks in the UK for more than 40 years.

Its third-party certification schemes are delivered through UKAS-accredited and licensed certification bodies, including NSI.

NSI is described as an independent, UKAS-accredited and BAFE-licensed certification body specialising in certification for the fire safety and security sectors.

The report says NSI has assessed companies against recognised technical and management standards through auditing and inspection for more than 55 years.

Sapio Research conducted the independent survey of UK decision-makers with responsibility for, or influence over, fire safety procurement across different organisation sizes, building types and UK nations.

Fire safety market is moving towards demonstrable assurance

The report concludes that fire safety expectations are rising faster than confidence in some organisations.

Awareness and investment are increasing, but many buyers remain uncertain about responsibilities, competence checks and evidence of due diligence.

This creates a gap between expectation and confidence.

For buyers, the report points to a need for more consistent checking of provider competence.

For providers, it points to a market in which independent certification, documented competence and clear support for duty holders are becoming more important.

The strongest message is that buyers are no longer satisfied with claims of competence alone.

They increasingly expect competence to be shown, checked and documented through independent means.

Water Mist Conference 2026 to take place in Prague

by Breaking NewsEventsFire Suppression

Prague to host conference on water mist technology

The 25th International Water Mist Conference (IWMC) will take place in Prague, Czech Republic, on 7th and 8th October 2026.

The conference webpage www.iwma.net/iwmc is now online.

Meaning: The ticket shop is open! And: The International Water Mist Association (IWMA) still has exhibition space on offer!

New training workshop for water mist systems

In 2026, IWMA will introduce a fresh element to the event.

The regular 1.5-day conference programme will be enhanced by a dedicated half-day training workshop focusing on the design and effective utilisation of water mist systems.

With this initiative, the association continues to invest in educating the fire protection industry on how to apply water mist technology more efficiently and confidently in practice.

CPD certificates will be issued to workshop participants.

Water mist technology, developed into its current form over the past three decades, is today a mature, well-established and environmentally friendly fire protection solution.

While the fundamental principles remain unchanged, significant progress has been made in expanding applications, strengthening validation methods and increasing international approvals.

These developments will be reflected in Prague.

Speakers will present case studies, discuss standards and guidelines, and address both achievements and remaining challenges.

Topics will include emerging risks, broader application areas and continued technological evolution.

Just as importantly, the conference provides valuable networking opportunities in an open and collegial atmosphere.

“Prague is more than a conference,” says Max Lakkonen, President of IWMA.

“It is where the global water mist community comes together to share knowledge, challenge ideas, shape the future of fire protection – and enjoy doing it together.”

Fire Safety in Lithium Ion Battery Facilities (2026 Risk Guide)

by Breaking News

Lithium-ion batteries are easy to ignore until something goes wrong. They sit inside forklifts, backup systems, energy storage units, and charging stations, quietly doing their job. Most of the time, nothing happens. That is what makes the risk easy to overlook. When a failure does happen, it does not behave like a typical fire. Lithium ion battery fire safety has become a growing concern for facilities because these fires escalate quickly. They generate intense heat, release toxic gases, and are difficult to control once thermal runaway begins. A small issue during storage or charging can turn into a serious incident within minutes.

Many of these environments already deal with complex safety challenges, and lithium-ion systems add another layer to the overall fire risk in energy storage facilities. The scale adds pressure. The global lithium ion battery market is expected to exceed $182 billion by 2030. More batteries in use means more responsibility for managing safety correctly. For facilities handling these systems, prevention is not optional. It is part of daily operations.

What Is a Lithium Ion Battery and How Does It Work?

A lithium ion battery is a rechargeable energy system used across devices, vehicles, and industrial equipment. In facility environments, it powers everything from material handling systems to backup energy units. Understanding this system is important for improving lithium ion battery fire safety in high-risk environments. At its core, the battery works through the movement of lithium ions inside the cell. During charging, energy is stored as ions shift in one direction. When the battery is used, those ions move back, releasing power.

This process depends on a few internal parts working in balance. The anode stores ions, the cathode receives them, the electrolyte allows movement, and the separator keeps everything from short-circuiting. When this balance holds, the system operates safely. The problem starts when that balance is disturbed.

Heat, damage, or improper charging can push the battery into unstable conditions. This is where lithium ion battery safety becomes critical, especially in high-volume environments. Understanding how these batteries function is not just technical knowledge. It is also part of maintaining lithium ion battery fire safety in real-world facility conditions.

What Causes Lithium Ion Batteries to Catch Fire?

Lithium ion battery fires usually don’t start out of nowhere. In most cases, there’s a build-up of stress inside the cell before anything visible happens. The core issue is heat. When a battery starts generating more heat than it can release, things can get unstable very quickly. This is what people refer to as thermal runaway in lithium ion batteries, where the reaction continues to build once it starts. Once it begins, the temperature keeps rising, and the reaction feeds itself.

Part of the risk comes from how these batteries are built. They store a lot of energy in a small space. That’s what makes them useful, but it also means a failure can escalate faster than expected. This is where lithium ion battery fire safety becomes important, especially in facilities handling large volumes of batteries. In real environments, a few conditions show up again and again:

Physical Damage

A battery that gets dropped, crushed, or punctured can develop an internal short. Even a small impact can be enough to trigger it later.

Overcharging or Unstable Power Input

Charging beyond safe limits or using the wrong setup can push the battery past its tolerance. This often happens during charging ion lithium battery processes in busy facilities.

Heat Exposure Over Time

Poor airflow or placing batteries near heat sources increases internal stress. It may not fail immediately, but the risk builds.

Cell Defects or Aging

Not every failure is visible from the outside. Some cells degrade internally or have hidden defects that show up under load. Once a failure starts, it moves fast. Heat, gas, and pressure build together, and controlling the situation becomes much harder. That’s why lithium ion battery fire safety is less about reacting to fires and more about catching these conditions early.

Common Mistakes That Increase Lithium Ion Battery Fire Risks

Most lithium ion battery fire safety incidents are not caused by complex failures. They come from small, repeated mistakes that seem harmless at first. In busy facilities, these issues are easy to miss until something goes wrong.

Using the Wrong Charging Setup

Not all chargers behave the same. In many cases, incompatible or low-quality chargers are used just to keep operations moving. Over time, this creates stress inside the battery.

Leaving Batteries Charging Without Supervision

Charging often continues after work hours or during shifts when no one is monitoring. If a problem starts, it is usually noticed late.

Poor Airflow During Charging

Heat needs somewhere to go. Charging batteries in tight spaces or stacking them close together traps that heat and increases the risk.

Ignoring Early Warning Signs

Swelling, unusual warmth, or a strange smell are often dismissed as minor issues. In reality, these are early indicators of internal failure.

Continuing to Use Damaged Batteries

A battery that still works is often kept in use, even after being dropped or stressed. Internal damage does not always show immediately.

Improper Storage Conditions

Storing batteries in hot areas or without spacing adds continuous stress. The impact builds over time rather than all at once.

Loose Handling and Contact with Metal Objects

In some cases, batteries are stored with tools or metal parts. This increases the chance of accidental short circuits.

Incorrect Disposal Practices

Disposing of lithium-ion batteries with general waste creates risk during transport and handling, especially in large facilities.

Most of these issues are preventable, but only if they are taken seriously in daily operations. Lithium ion battery safety is not about one-time checks. It depends on how consistently these small details are managed.

Storage and Charging Safety Guidelines for Lithium Ion Batteries

Most lithium ion battery fire safety issues do not start during failure. They start much earlier, in how batteries are stored and charged day to day.

In facilities, this is where risk either builds quietly or stays under control. Paying attention to these conditions is a core part of maintaining lithium ion battery fire safety over time.

Storage Guidelines

Keep the Temperature Stable

Batteries should be stored in a cool, controlled environment. Around 15°C to 25°C works well. Heat speeds up chemical stress, while very low temperatures can damage the internal structure.

Store at Partial Charge, Not Full

Keeping batteries around 30 to 50 percent charge reduces internal pressure. Fully charged batteries are more sensitive to stress during storage.

Allow Space Between Units

Stacking batteries too closely increases the chance of heat transfer. Proper spacing helps prevent one failing unit from affecting others.

Use Fire-resistant Storage Areas

Dedicated cabinets or enclosures can slow down fire spread and improve containment if something goes wrong.

Separate Damaged Batteries Immediately

Any battery showing signs of swelling, cracks, or unusual behavior should be isolated. Keeping it with other units increases risk.

Keep Away From Flammable Materials

Storage areas should be clear of combustible items and direct heat sources.

Charging Guidelines

Charge in Well-ventilated Areas

Batteries can release heat and gases during charging. Without airflow, that heat builds quickly.

Use Correct Chargers and Systems

Charging equipment should match battery specifications. Mismatched setups are a common cause of overheating during charging ion lithium battery operations.

Avoid Charging in Bulk Without Monitoring

Large-scale charging setups need supervision. Problems often start in one unit and spread if unnoticed.

Do Not Charge Damaged or Unstable Batteries

Charging a compromised battery increases the chance of immediate failure.

Monitor Temperature During Charging Cycles

Sudden heat changes are often the first sign of internal issues. These practices may seem basic, but they play a major role in lithium ion battery safety. In most cases, preventing a fire is less about complex systems and more about maintaining lithium ion battery fire safety through consistent daily control.

Lithium Ion Battery Fire Safety Standards and Regulations

Most facilities don’t think much about standards until something goes wrong or an audit comes up. But when lithium-ion batteries are involved, these guidelines matter earlier than that.

They are not just rules on paper. They exist because the same mistakes have already caused fires in real environments. In practice, a few frameworks show up more often than others.

NFPA Guidelines

These focus on fire risk inside facilities. One of the main ideas is simple. If one battery fails, it should not take others with it. That is why spacing and separation matter.

OSHA Requirements

These are more about people than batteries. Safe handling, proper charging practices, and clear procedures during incidents all fall under this.

IEC and UL Standards

These relate to how batteries and systems are designed and tested before they even reach a facility.

Instead of listing rules, it helps to look at what they are trying to prevent. This is where lithium ion battery fire safety becomes part of everyday operations, not just compliance.

Most lithium ion battery fire safety standards focus on:

  • Keeping temperature under control
  • Avoiding heat and gas buildup
  • Limiting how far a failure can spread
  • Identifying damaged units early

You’ll notice something here. These are the same areas where most real-world incidents begin.

The difference is consistency. Facilities that treat these standards as daily practice usually avoid major issues. The ones that treat them as checklist items often deal with problems later.

Conclusion

Lithium ion battery fires rarely come down to one mistake. In most cases, it is a series of small decisions that build risk over time. A battery stored in the wrong place, a charging setup that is left unattended, or a warning sign that gets ignored. None of these seems urgent on its own, but they add up.

That is where most incidents begin. Lithium ion battery fire safety is not about adding more systems or complex controls. It comes down to how consistently basic practices are followed inside the facility.

Teams that pay attention to storage conditions, charging behavior, and early signs of failure usually catch problems before they escalate. The difference is not knowledge. It is discipline. When those everyday practices are taken seriously, the risk becomes much easier to manage, especially when aligned with proven battery fire prevention best practices.

FAQs

Are lithium ion battery fires dangerous?

Yes. Lithium ion battery fires burn at very high temperatures, release toxic gases such as hydrogen fluoride, and can reignite after appearing controlled. That makes them more difficult and hazardous than typical fires.

What is thermal runaway in lithium ion batteries?

It’s when the heat inside the battery starts increasing on its own and doesn’t stop. Once that cycle begins, temperature, gas, and pressure build together. At that point, the battery can fail very quickly.

How do you extinguish a lithium ion battery fire?

There isn’t a simple one-step method. In many cases, the focus is on cooling the battery and stopping the spread rather than fully “putting it out” immediately. That’s why trained response and proper setup matter.

Are there regulations for lithium ion battery safety in facilities?

Yes, and most facilities follow them more closely after an incident or audit. Standards from groups like NFPA or OSHA focus on storage, charging, and handling. They’re meant to reduce risk before it turns into a real problem.

Professional development has always been a priority, says IFE

by Associations and OrganisationsBreaking NewsFire EngineeringTraining

Professional development through IFE resources

The Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) has published commentary outlining how professional development and accessible qualifications support the competency of fire safety professionals within the rapidly advancing sector.

The organisation stated that ongoing learning is necessary to ensure public safety and help individuals stay informed about regulatory changes and emerging technologies.

Membership progression offers a method for professionals to demonstrate their expertise and commitment to excellence as their skills exceed the level at which they originally joined.

The IFE notes that upgrading membership provides greater recognition within the fire safety community.

Members who advance their grades may also access opportunities to volunteer on panels such as the Membership Application Assessment Panel.

This panel involves volunteers assessing new applications to maintain public confidence in the fire safety profession.

Digital exams and the IFE Elevate series

The organisation has introduced digital exams to create more accessible qualification routes for candidates located around the world.

A new Fire Risk Assessment qualification suite was added to these digital offerings earlier this month.

These exams were developed alongside British Standard 8674 to support the framework for assessing Fire Risk Assessor competency.

The organisation also operates several Special Interest Groups that examine technical topics to produce resources for the wider membership.

Support for those entering the sector is provided through the Early Careers Networking Group which recently marked the anniversary of its webinar series.

Known as Elevate, the series provides free professional development aimed at addressing the skills gap in the fire safety industry.

Webinar topics include timber frame building design, ethics and fire safety within healthcare settings.

The series is intended to help organisations strengthen internal training programmes while giving employees the confidence to progress.

Closing the gap before combustion: Can Sonic Fire Tech replace traditional residential sprinklers?

by Americas - Breaking NewsBreaking NewsFire Suppression

Remington Hotchkis, Chief Commercialization Officer at Sonic Fire Tech, outlines how infrasound systems detect ignition signatures and deploy targeted acoustic suppression

Wildfires across California and other fire-prone regions increasingly spread through wind-driven embers that travel far ahead of the main fire front.

Structures can ignite even where vegetation has been cleared, because existing protection measures often activate only after combustion has already begun.

Most building systems depend on heat detection, water-based suppression or manual response, leaving a gap between the arrival of embers and the moment a system reacts.

This problem has encouraged interest in approaches that interrupt ignition earlier in the fire chain.

One proposal focuses on infrasound, a form of low-frequency acoustic energy that operates below the range of human hearing.

Sonic Fire Tech is developing systems that use targeted infrasound to interfere with the combustion process and suppress ignition without water or chemical agents.

The technology is being explored for homes, critical infrastructure and operational firefighting tools.

IFSJ Editor Iain Hoey sat down with Remington Hotchkis, Chief Commercialization Officer at Sonic Fire Tech, to discuss how infrasound fire prevention systems are intended to work and where they could be applied.

The term infrasound may be unfamiliar to many readers; how would you describe it, and why did you decide to use it for fire prevention?

Infrasound refers to low-frequency sound waves that are below the audible range of human hearing.

Since it is inaudible, it does not create noise pollution or interfere with electronics.

Household pets, or everyday life.

We chose infrasound because of its effectiveness and that it allows us to address fire risk without causing collateral damage.

How do you believe infrasound interacts with embers or the surrounding air in a way that could stop ignition before a flame forms?

Fire requires three elements: heat, fuel, and oxygen.

When these combine in the right conditions, combustion begins.

Our infrasound technology disrupts this chemical reaction.

The acoustic waves create rapid oscillations in the surrounding air, which interfere with the combustion process by destabilizing the oxygen-fuel interaction.

In simple terms, the sound waves vibrate oxygen at a rate that the chemical reaction of fire can’t take hold, thereby preventing the flame from sustaining itself.

Our early testing has shown when our system is deployed against airborne embers, the soundwaves act as a forcefield which the embers reflect from.

When they land on the ground, they then decay rapidly.

With connective fuels, we also see that combustion process is stopped, such as a wood fence that connects two structures, in the areas that our frequency is being deployed on.

When you install your residential system, what parts of a home are you protecting first, and why those areas?

We have been focused on testing and promoting that our technology is being developed for the exterior wildfire defense of homes.

But builders, insurers, architects, and homeowners realize that we must continue our path proving the technology in 80-100mph winds, ember storms, and 40ft flames 10ft away from another structure that’s burning.

Though initial testing shows we create essentially a sonic forcefield around a structure that mitigates the threat of common ignitions.

The market unanimously has asked, “can you protect the interior of a home from internal residential fires in place of water sprinkler systems?” And the answer is YES.

Because we can detect the flame much quicker, we can respond immediately and suppress a small fire in its earliest state rapidly, without collateral damage of water.

And the best part, no possibility of water leaks ever occurring, which is a well-known liability of internal based water sprinklers.

Further, the homes that burned in LA County are required to integrate water sprinklers to meet the NFPA 13-D mandate in California.

But the water infrastructure is not adequate to provide ample water pressure to meet the mandated system.

So, homeowners who are rebuilding are forced to purchase an upgraded water meter for $20,000 and up, just to meet the sprinkler code mandate.

Turns out, validating our technology on the internal residential path enables a strategic approach to delivering a solution to the market as a foundational pillar to validating our technology in defending the exterior of homes during a wildfire conflagration event.

How does the system know when to activate, and what happens in the moments after it does?

The system is designed to operate autonomously.

FM-certified IR3 sensors continuously scan for early ignition signatures, including fire chemical traces and ember activity.

These sensors feed data into our AI-driven detection system, which evaluates risk conditions in real time.

When the thermal conditions exceed a defined threshold, the system deploys automatically with no human intervention required.

Activation occurs well before traditional sprinkler systems would engage, which typically happens only after flames are fully established.

Once activated, targeted infrasound waves are emitted to interrupt combustion or decay embers on the exterior of a home.

The process leaves no residue, does not alter oxygen levels in living spaces, and does not interfere with electronics or indoor air quality.

It is a silent, rapid-response system designed to act in seconds.

Beyond individual houses, what kinds of sites are you exploring for larger-scale protection, and what makes those sites different from a typical home?

While residential protection is central to our mission, the same core science applies to a range of environments.

We are currently developing our technology to meet all industry demands that water-sprinkler based fire suppression systems currently meet.

We are engaging in commercial pilots this year with several forward-thinking customers who require the most sensitive fire detection and who see the clear benefit of no collateral damage.

In most cases, we are installing our system as a voluntary system that acts as the first stage suppression tech in advance of being certified.

You have also mentioned equipment intended to be carried by people working in fire-prone areas; what problem is that meant to solve, and who might use it?

The Sonic Backpack is designed as a lightweight, portable tool for firefighters and first responders for use on small fires in wildland or urban environments.

In urban areas we are seeing potential for success in extinguishing small rubbish fires., which in Los Angeles account for 120+ calls weekly.

In wildland applications, hot shot crews use 5-gallon initial attack packs, which are quickly depleted and require refilling.

Our backpack unit eliminates that dependency on refilling.

It allows continuous operation for extended periods without water refills and avoids chemical exposure.

The goal is to develop a new tool for firefighters that is dependable and which complements existing equipment and saves critical response time.

What testing, standards, or approvals do you need before this type of technology could be widely accepted by regulators, insurers, or fire services?

We are actively working with leading fire protection engineers to develop our validation case studies needed to inform our certification paths with UL, FM, NFPA.

Currently we are on an initial path to validate the technologies efficacy in exceeding the intent of NFPA 13D, residential interior water sprinklers.

The Sonic Backpack is currently undergoing real-world field testing with firefighters.

Feedback from these deployments informs ongoing research and development.

For regulators and fire services, acceptance ultimately comes down to performance data, reliability, and integration with existing wildfire mitigation frameworks, hence our initial pursuit of NFPA 13D equivalency.

Looking ahead, how do you see this approach fitting alongside existing wildfire measures such as building materials, defensible space, and conventional suppression systems?

Our approach is to complement the proven mitigations that are available in the market today and what comes tomorrow.

We do not intend for our tech to be the silver bullet.

The threat of conflagration events across the world are growing, and we are designing Sonic Fire Tech to be part of the solution to property and community resilience.

How, when, & where our technology best performs in the future of wildfires & urban conflagration events is frankly why we all wake up every morning and are working with purpose to push the tech forward.

This was originally published in the April 2026 Edition of International Fire & Safety Journal. To read your FREE copy, click here.

NFPA names Ross Ashley as new president and CEO

by Associations and OrganisationsBreaking NewsPeople

NFPA board confirms executive transition

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Board of Directors has appointed Ross Ashley as the organisation’s next president and chief executive officer following a unanimous vote.

Ashley will formally assume the leadership position on 1 July.

The appointment follows the retirement of Jim Pauley who has served as president and CEO since 2014.

David R. Paulison, chair of the NFPA Board, said: “For 130 years NFPA standards, research, public education and training have been the foundation of fire, life and electrical safety.

“Ross has the determination and skills to continue the growth of NFPA to further advance its critical mission.”

Professional background and strategic objectives for NFPA

The incoming executive brings three decades of experience in public safety, intelligence, emergency management and corporate leadership.

Ashley most recently served as Senior Director, Emergency Management at KPMG where he managed preparedness and mitigation programs for state and local clients.

His career includes a tenure as assistant administrator for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) overseeing $10 billion in annual financial assistance.

He also served 20 years in the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserves and was the first Air National Guard member to receive a master’s degree in Strategic Intelligence from the Joint Military Intelligence College.

Ashley said: “I am impressed with the trajectory of NFPA to reach new heights in order to meet the fire and life safety challenges of our times.

“The quest to better protect people and property from fire and other hazards should never be stagnant.

“I’m looking forward to building on the success that Jim and the team have built.”

Transition period and established growth pillars

Pauley will remain with the organisation through the end of July to work alongside his successor during the transition.

The outgoing CEO has held a 35-year affiliation with the body as a member, technical committee participant and standards council chair.

During his ten-year presidency the organisation adopted a strategy focused on becoming more digital, global, connected and diversified.

Pauley said: “I’m proud of our many advancements over the last 12 years.

“Today’s world requires not only change but faster change.

“Our information and knowledge today reaches more people, in more places, in more ways, which translates to greater safety against new and persistent threats.

“Ross Ashley is an excellent choice to continue the momentum at NFPA, and I am sure he will find it as fulfilling as I have.”

Eccotarp to exhibit at INTERSCHUTZ 2026

by Breaking NewsEventsEventsFeatured NewsFire EngineeringFire SuppressionFire SuppressionFirefighting EquipmentFirefighting EquipmentProducts

Eccotarp is to exhibit at INTERSCHUTZ 2026 (Hall 17, Booth E13), the world’s leading trade fair for fire and rescue services, emergency protection, safety and security, taking place in Hannover.

Visitors can explore and test solutions for firefighters and industry, including the ET-Roller 7 electric hose roller (for hoses up to 6″), magnetic leak patches, folding spill containment berms and tanks, drain covers, and more. Visitors can discover also the new range of spill containment berms made from the unique recyclable ReccoPro material.

INTERSCHUTZ , held every five years, brings together global leaders in firefighting, civil protection, rescue services and safety innovation. The event serves as a key platform for showcasing advancements in emergency response technology and fostering international collaboration.

Securiton’s digital-first approach breaks new ground with the ASD 2000

by Breaking NewsFire DetectionFire Detection

Aspirating smoke detection (ASD) has long been the gold standard for Early Warning Fire Detection. But until 2026, ASD systems remained locked in a bygone age. Securiton has changed that with the digital-first ASD 2000.

With the Swiss company’s new device family, gone are the buttons and complex displays of old: this is a futuristic looking graphite-coloured box controlled from an app on your phone. It was born of a brief focused not on hardware, but on a seamless user journey.

Today, that means a mobile app as the primary interaction interface, alongside intuitive design that reduces complexity and saves time throughout the design, installation and commissioning process.

As an ASD pioneer with over 50 years of experience in the field, it is appropriate that Securiton should provide this generational leap forward in ASD technology. As part of the security-focused Swiss Securitas Group, Securiton was also able to direct considerable efforts to build a secure interface for the app – essential because of longstanding concerns in some key industries.

Fire detection is life critical; it’s highly regulated; and it’s generally business-critical too: around half of businesses that suffer a major blaze never recover. Others, such as data centres, power networks or financial firms, will suffer heavy costs and reputational damage should their services be suspended due to a blaze or even a false alarm.

No surprise, then, that they do not wish for the devices protecting them to be hacked. However, the fire safety industry can no longer ignore the efficiency gains available through a digital approach.

Advantages of the ASD 2000

Securiton’s solution uses multilevel encryption and authentication to ensure only the company’s authorised partners can control a device. The security architecture followed the strictest industry protocols, and the result also offers significant advantages to the old ‘dongles’ which were used to identify authorised users up to now.

With the app system, levels of clearance and permissions can be set – or taken away – almost instantly. And all the actions of a given user are clearly recorded, whereas previously the shortage of physical dongles usually led to service engineers sharing hardware and accounts.

The first SecuriSmoke product where commissioning, configuration, diagnostics, and operation are all managed through an intuitive mobile application is therefore arguably its most secure yet.

Nevertheless, Securiton is pressing on with plans to roll out a version of the ASD 2000 that offers a more conventional set-up process. This will allow installers to access the performance benefits of the new device in areas where security protocols mean the app cannot be used.

Those performance benefits make the ASD 2000 an industry-leading device even without its digital interface: because they were designing a new device from scratch, the 60-strong development team were able to pack in many major performance upgrades.

The detection chamber has undergone a redesign from scratch, doubling the maximum sensitivity to 0.001% obs/m, and a 1000pa aspiration engine expands the potential pipe network and raises system limits, especially in the highest Class A EN 54 standard for Very Early Warning Fire Detection.

The SecuriSmoke ASD 2000 offers multiple leaps forward in terms of the technologies inside. For the industry as a whole, perhaps the move to a fully digital, remote interface is the most significant. It remains to be seen if other manufacturers will follow suit.

For more information see: www.securiton.com/onestepahead

Closing the fire door gap: Why compliance failures persist and how Global HSE provides the fix

by Breaking NewsFire Doors

Jason Challenger, National Sales Manager, Global HSE Group, explores why fire door compliance failures persist across sectors and how companies can fix them

Few elements in fire safety systems present as visible a compliance challenge as fire doors. Unlike many fire safety measures where systems often remain unseen, fire doors are front‑facing components used constantly by building occupants. Because fire doors are moving components, they are uniquely vulnerable and require ongoing maintenance to ensure functionality, effectiveness and compliance.

A fire door’s primary purpose is to act as a barrier in the event of a fire, protecting potential escape routes and limiting fire and smoke spread long enough for those within the affected building to safely evacuate.

Yet the day‑to‑day demands placed on these doors, particularly in high‑traffic environments, make them susceptible to deterioration, misuse and adjustment drift. Over time, even minor changes can compromise compartmentation.

A common failure is simple misalignment. For example, when a door falls out of adjustment, the risk of more significant damage increases substantially. What might have been an easy maintenance task becomes a costly remediation or even a full door‑set replacement.

This escalation happens because the underlying issues compound: a misaligned door is forced, catches on frames and puts stress on ironmongery. Without scheduled checks, these defects quickly escalate.

Compliance and competency

However, the physical condition of the door is often only half the challenge. Many compliance failures stem not from the door itself but from how it is used. In environments such as hotels, schools, Purpose-built Student Accommodation (PBSA) facilities and hospitals, it is common to see fire doors propped open.

Staff moving equipment, housekeeping pushing trolleys or occupants simply wanting convenience often wedge open cross‑corridor doors. These actions render the door ineffective during a fire.

As stated in section 5.2 of the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022: fire door guidance, all fire doors should be kept shut when not in use, residents or their guests should not tamper with self-closing devices and residents should report any fault or damage immediately to the responsible person.

Misuse often reflects a broader compliance gap. Even when responsible persons are in place, knowledge is not consistently embedded across the organisation. Without an organisation-wide culture of compliance, minor issues can quickly escalate into major risks

Beyond daily use, misunderstanding of inspection and certification significantly contributes to persistent failure rates. Anyone can download an inspection checklist, but this does not equate to competence and understanding of the regulations.

Identifying the root cause of issues requires experience, technical understanding and specialised training.

Ensuring quality in fire services

The industry is also saturated with companies offering passive fire services without the necessary third‑party accreditation. In these situations, work may be completed by individuals who lack the skills, knowledge and experience to perform compliant fire door work.

In some cases, they perform unnecessary remediation because they do not fully understand alternative compliant routes. In others, they undertake work that inadvertently compromises fire performance.

The purpose of surveys is also often misunderstood by clients themselves. Some are undertaken simply to “tick a box” during annual assessments, with no intention of addressing the findings.

Others are more strategically motivated and aimed at identifying latent defects or supporting claims against installers. Without understanding why a survey is commissioned, outputs become misaligned with organisational goals and compliance outcomes suffer.

Rectifying issues

The most effective remedy to persistent fire door compliance issues is the establishment of a robust, well‑informed and competence‑driven inspection regime. Competent inspectors apply skills, knowledge, experience and behaviour (SKEB) to provide accurate routes to compliance.

A competent inspection can identify the manufacturer’s certification details on the door leaf and frame, verify that maintenance or past remediation works were completed in accordance with certification and distinguish defects arising from misuse, structural issues, environmental exposure or installation errors.

A competent inspector should not take the easy route of condemning every door or marking difficult ones as “no access.” They must approach each door with an understanding of its role in the building, how it is used and the operational constraints of the client.

In large‑scale replacement projects, such as hotels undergoing refurbishment, competent planning prevents operational paralysis. Coordinating with other contractors, sequencing works to minimise downtime and considering the risks associated with installing doors before or after internal fit‑outs all require experience. These are the nuances that separate basic inspection from holistic, competent fire door management.

Ultimately, competent inspection creates the bridge between legislative requirements and practical, operationally sensitive solutions. It prevents unnecessary cost, ensures building safety and supports responsible persons in maintaining compliant environments.

Building competence through training

To address the industry’s competence gap, organisations must invest in structured, accredited fire door inspection training. Global HSE’s Fire Door Inspection Qualification, delivered through the Global Academy, is designed specifically to develop meaningful competence.

The course provides understanding of fire door systems and components, knowledge of certification, installation standards and maintenance requirements, skills to identify complex or non‑obvious defects and the ability to differentiate between compliant, repairable and non‑repairable conditions.

For organisations, the qualification supports a culture of embedded compliance and empowers staff to recognise misuse, understand the implications and take appropriate action long before small issues become significant risks.

By building internal competence, organisations reduce reliance on external corrective work, lower long‑term costs and significantly improve life‑safety performance.

Fire door compliance is not a singular challenge but a convergence of operational pressures, knowledge gaps, technical misunderstandings and skills shortages.

By upskilling staff through accredited training, organisations can transform their approach from reactive remediation to proactive and informed fire safety management, ultimately protecting both lives and assets.

This was originally published in the April 2026 Edition of International Fire & Safety Journal. To read your FREE copy, click here.

Detection over distance: How one UK start-up is disrupting a decades-old safety standard

by Breaking NewsFire DetectionWildland Fire

Matthias Jäger, Co-Founder and CTO at Optect, explains how optical design can extend flame detection range without weakening false alarm rejection

Fire detection systems are expected to respond quickly and reliably, yet performance can fall short in large or open environments where coverage distances stretch and installation demands increase.

Conventional infrared flame detectors remain widely used, but their limited range can require dense layouts that raise cost and complexity, particularly across infrastructure corridors, warehouses and remote sites.

Optect, a UK manufacturer based in Bath, has developed an optically enhanced IR3 flame detector designed to extend detection range while maintaining discrimination against false alarms.

The system combines long-range sensing with local coverage in a single device and is progressing through certification for broader deployment.

IFSJ Editor Iain Hoey sat down with Matthias Jäger, Co-Founder and CTO at Optect, to discuss the technology and its potential role in future fire detection strategies.

What distinguishes an IR3 flame detector and why was a new approach needed?

IR3 flame detectors identify fires by sensing the characteristic infrared radiation emitted by flames across three distinct spectral bands.

By analysing the relationship between these bands, the detector can distinguish real flames from common sources of interference such as sunlight, hot machinery or reflections.

Compared to smoke or heat detectors, IR3 systems can respond very rapidly and are particularly well suited to open, ventilated or outdoor environments where smoke may disperse and heat build-up can be delayed.

Most conventional IR3 detectors are designed around relatively short detection ranges and wide fields of view.

This works well in small enclosed industrial spaces, but becomes inefficient when protecting large areas, long perimeters or remote outdoor sites.

In those cases, achieving full coverage often requires a high number of detectors, which increases installation complexity, cost and maintenance.

The need for a new approach came from applications where early detection over distance matters, such as wildfire prevention, infrastructure protection and large buildings such as warehouses, but where existing solutions were impractical or uneconomic at scale.

How does Optect’s optically enhanced design work and what makes it different?

The core idea is a deliberate trade-off between field of view and range.

By narrowing the field of view using optical elements, we can concentrate infrared energy from distant flames onto the sensing elements, significantly extending detection range compared to conventional wide-angle IR3 detectors.

This approach allowed the system to pass formal flame detection tests at distances of 500 metres, with the limit set by the available test site rather than the sensitivity of the detector itself.

To ensure this does not create blind spots at close range, the system combines this long-range optical channel with a second detection element designed to cover nearby areas.

In effect, the detector provides focused long-range monitoring and local coverage within a single device, without requiring separate sensors or complex installation layouts.

Coverage geometry is defined optically rather than through placement density or software interpretation.

Installers can clearly understand what areas are being protected at short and long distances, while end users benefit from extended reach without losing near-field detection.

What were the main challenges in developing and certifying the detector?

We faced two significant challenges during development.

The first was operating as a startup in a highly regulated industry.

In many technology sectors, it is common to launch with a minimal viable product and refine it through rapid iteration in the field.

That approach is not viable in fire detection.

Certification is expensive and time-consuming, and once you enter formal testing, the product needs to be as reliable and as close to final as possible.

The second challenge stemmed directly from the extended detection range.

Sensitivity scales with the square of distance, so operating at around five times the range of conventional flame detectors means dealing with roughly twenty-five times the sensitivity.

At the same time, the detector still has to meet very stringent false-alarm immunity requirements in order to be certifiable.

Much of our innovation effort therefore went into ensuring that increased sensitivity did not translate into increased susceptibility to non-fire sources.

This challenge was compounded by the fact that existing certification standards were never written with detectors operating at hundreds of metres in mind.

For example, the European EN 54-10 standard currently defines three sensitivity classes with certified ranges of 12, 17 and 25 metres.

Although a draft revision introduces a new Class X with range defined by the manufacturer, today’s formal test framework is still anchored to short-range detectors.

What features support installers and end users?

From the outset, we tried to look beyond the detector itself and consider the whole system.

In many real installations, the detector hardware is only a small part of the overall cost.

The largest share is often the work required to install cabling, mount devices, commission the system and service it over its lifetime.

Improving coverage and reducing the number of detectors needed can therefore make a significant difference, but only if the installation process is also made as simple and predictable as possible.

That thinking drove many of the design decisions.

Extended and well-defined coverage means fewer mounting points, fewer cable runs and less time spent testing and validating installations.

We also use pluggable PCB terminal connectors rather than fixed terminals, which allows installers to terminate and check the wiring into the removable plug before mating it with the device.

There are also smaller details that come directly from spending time with installers.

One example is the cap on the configuration port, which is secured with a lanyard so it cannot be dropped while working on a cherry picker or lift.

Where will the detector be most valuable near term?

We currently see value emerging in two broad areas: new applications in wildfire detection, and more traditional industrial flame detection scenarios where long lines of sight are common.

On the wildfire side, the ability to detect small flames from flying embers quickly and incoming fires with high reliability opens up use cases that are difficult to address with conventional systems.

Examples include monitoring power line corridors, railway bridges or protecting private properties and estates in high-risk areas.

In these settings, early detection over distance can be critical, and reducing the number of detectors needed makes deployment more practical in terms of cost, infrastructure and maintenance.

In more traditional industrial contexts, the detector is particularly well suited to applications with clear, extended lines of sight.

This includes external building monitoring, large warehouses, car parks, process plants, conveyor routes or elongated outdoor installations where coverage is often dictated by geometry rather than floor area.

What is the status of Optect’s certifications?

From the outset, Optect’s detector was engineered to meet the requirements of widely recognised standards, EN 54-10 for Europe and FM 3260 for the US, Canada, Brasil, India and a number of other countries.

These standards are often a prerequisite for specification, installation and acceptance.

In terms of adoption, certification enables deployment in regulated industrial environments and integration into certified fire alarm systems.

It can also matter in fields without a formal requirement.

For example, in wildfire detection applications, insurance companies are increasingly looking for certified detection products.

How do you see flame detection technology evolving?

Over the past decades, flame detection has seen a great deal of iterative improvement, but relatively little fundamental disruption.

That is now beginning to change.

We are seeing movement at the standards level, for example with the draft revision of EN 54-10 introducing Class X, and with new standards emerging for AI-driven and camera-based fire detection systems.

We believe there is real value in adopting new and emerging technologies, particularly where they can extend coverage, improve situational awareness or enable new applications, while preserving the reliability, robustness and predictability that existing systems are trusted for.

Optect’s role in this is to contribute long-range optical sensing and certification-led engineering into that evolving landscape.

With a team that spans photonics, electronics and systems engineering, we are well positioned to help shape new classes of detection systems that are grounded in the practical and regulatory realities of real-world deployment.

This was originally published in the April 2026 Edition of International Fire & Safety Journal. To read your FREE copy, click here.