Fire protection market in construction will be worth $4.32 billion in 2022

The global fire protection materials for the construction market is expected to grow from $3.81 bn in 2021 to $4.32 bn in 2022 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.4%. These projections are based on a report published on Reportlinker.com titled ‘Fire Protection Materials For Construction Global Market Report 2022’. 

The growth is mainly due to the companies resuming their operations and adapting to the new normal while recovering from the Covid-19 impact, which had earlier led to restrictive containment measures involving social distancing, remote working, and the closure of commercial activities that resulted in operational challenges. The market is expected to reach $6.04 billion in 2026 at a CAGR of 8.7%.

The fire protection materials for the construction market consist of sales of fire protection materials by entities (organisation, partnership, sole traders) that are used to protect the construction sites from fire and other safety situations. Fire-resistant building materials are any materials that resist fire and do not melt for a long time, that is, they can withstand heat long enough for the residents of the structure to safely leave the premises. Fire protection materials include concrete, reinforcement steel, gypsum, cast iron, bricks, asbestos cement, timber, stone, glass, among others.

The main types of fire protection materials for construction are coatings, mortar, sealants and fillers, sheets or boards, spray, preformed devices, putty, cast-in devices, and others. Mortar is a substance used to fill the gaps between bricks and blocks in masonry construction.

The growing regulations on the mandatory use of fire safety materials are likely to have a positive impact on the growth of fire protection materials for the construction market. Fire safety standards generally aim to reduce the fire-response of products and materials used in various living environments, such as domestic dwellings, household equipment, furnishings and electronics, buildings, and various modes of transportation.

Globally, fire safety standards aim to prevent fires from starting by establishing performance-based norms that, if followed, will improve the fire safety of materials and products. For instance, in March 2020, to improve fire safety in buildings in England and Wales, the Home Office introduced the new Fire Safety Bill.

Key manufacturers in the fire materials for construction market are constantly focusing on cutting-edge research and technological advancements to create improved fire protection materials that can withstand fire for a longer period and emit less smoke when burned. In September 2020, CIN, a Portugal-based company developed two new products C-THERM S110 and C-THERM S111 FD, to protect steel structures from fire.

West Midlands strengthen incident response with real-time data receiver tech

West Midlands Fire Service and West Midlands Ambulance Service will implement data-receiver technology to enhance situational awareness, improve collaborative working across services, and assist incident resolution.

The authority is using the radio frequency technology supplied by Enterprise Control Systems (ECS).

The West Midlands emergency services will integrate ECS’s portable monitoring terminal, Handyview, onto command vehicles and in control centres to gain instant access to encrypted audio and video footage of live incidents transmitted via ECS video link equipment, Evenlode Airborne Data Link (ADL) – fitted on the National Police Air Service’s (NPAS) fleet of nineteen helicopters and four aeroplanes.

Gaining real-time access to this intelligence improves decision-making and ensures a faster more collaborative response to critical incidents such as large-scale and industrial fires, flooding, road traffic collisions, monitoring crowds at large events, and aiding the search for missing people.

West Midlands is one of the first regions in the UK to adopt this capability. The contract comes as a natural progression to the services’ advanced technological capabilities and is testimony to their ongoing commitment to innovation which helps to ensure the safety of communities, firefighters, and paramedics. It also follows the Grenfell Tower fire inquiry report, which highlighted the importance of access to NPAS footage to help teams on the ground effectively coordinate and respond to major emergencies.

Handyview complements both services’ existing drone capabilities and ensures crews can access live intelligence even when their drones can’t fly – for example, during poor weather conditions. Handyview will improve commanders’ situational awareness, allowing them to make better-informed operational decisions.

Marc Haysey, managing director, Enterprise Control Systems said: “This announcement represents an important next step in how the West Midlands emergency services – and the industry as a whole – are continually seeking to improve their multi-agency communications and collaborative response to incidents. At ECS we’re proud to design and manufacture equipment that’s already being deployed by air and ground teams, facilitating access to crucial data that empowers them to continue performing the essential task of protecting our communities and saving lives.”

Colin Waite, UK Police business development manager at Enterprise Control Systems said: “The ability to receive live high-quality video and data has always been key for the security and emergency organisations we work with. Now with more collaborative and joint operations, not only is it essential to have interoperable voice communications, but the ability to share situational awareness information which will be key in being able to resolve incidents efficiently and safely.”

Richard Moore, group commander, West Midlands Fire Service said: “We’re really excited to be linking up with our ambulance and police colleagues for this downlink project. It’s the latest innovation in our drive to keep our communities safe with a digital and data-driven approach. We’ve been trialling our own drones for a year, so appreciate how an aerial dimension can complement our work on the ground. The NPAS partnership will help our decision-making as we bring incidents to a safe resolution.”

Cameron McVittie, tactical incident commander, West Midlands Ambulance Service said: “Learning from incidents is at the forefront of our command development as an organisation, and the addition of the airborne Data Link into our command toolbox will be a fantastic asset to ensure that as a multi-agency command team we can make the best decisions to keep our patients and staff safe at incidents such as water rescue, fires or terrorist attacks.”

Alabama Fire College programme will benefit firefighters globally

Alabama Fire College in Tuscaloosa, USA has developed a way to help firefighters focus on their main mission while easing the paperwork burden. Firefighters like fighting fires and caring for sick and injured people, but they are not overly fond of paperwork, the US-based college justified.

Tracy McNair, the college’s database administrator, led a team to come up with a data management system that is changing the way fire departments manage and track their training, certifications and record keeping.

The system turned what has been a frustrating paper-based system into a sophisticated online records management system that will benefit every paid fire department in Alabama and many around the world, Tuscaloosa News reported.

McNair’s system is set to benefit people who must deal with the administrative side of the fire service.

The first phase of the programme involves the development of a new website. The second phase, which came online in November 2021, was the rollout of a new department dashboard, which allows officers and administrators to manage most of the training and certifications, class registrations and record keeping. This means that all that information can now be accessed and controlled by each individual fire department.

The third phase of the rollout is the development and will allow individual firefighters to create a profile and manage their own records and personal information.

The Alabama Fire College is accredited through Pro Board, the National Board on Fire Service Professional Qualifications and through the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress.

Global fire protection systems market to reach $130bn by 2030

The global fire protection system market size is expected to reach $130.37bn by 2030, according to a study. It is expected to expand at a CAGR of 6.7% from 2022 to 2030. Increasing adoption of wireless technology in fire protection systems, growing human and property loss owing to fire breakouts, and stringent fire safety regulations are projected to fuel the market growth.

Increasing implementation of building safety codes and renovation projects is also anticipated to be a major factor influencing the market growth. The application and usage of fire protection systems are anticipated to increase continuously with the developments of commercial entities and corporations.

Reportlinker.com released a report titled ‘Fire Protection System Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product, By Service, By Application, By Region And Segment Forecasts, 2022 – 2030’.

Technology enhancements such as extinguishing technology based on mist and products such as laser optical / infrared smoke detectors, alarms with embedded voice evacuation announcements, hypoxic air fire suppression systems, and wireless fire alarm systems are expected to gain traction in the market globally. In addition, in 2020, the market was hampered due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which has interrupted production, impacted demand, and caused supply chain disruption.

The growing trend of integrating fire alarm and detection systems with building automation systems offers vast growth opportunities to the market. Connectivity with building automation systems is increasingly becoming a major feature of fire protection systems in commercial, industrial, and residential applications.

This can be attributed to the fact that such integration allows for the development of systems that are capable of sharing and gathering data, which can help in alerting individuals about fire safety issues in the premises. A notable rise in investments in smart building automation technologies across several regions is expected to lead to new opportunities for building automation systems in the industrial and commercial sectors.

Consumers in developed regions such as Europe and North America have seen a steady rise in demand over the past few years, and the growth trend is also projected to continue over the next few years. However, a lack of stringent regulations and the high cost of advanced fire protection systems have kept the markets in emerging countries largely untapped.

Nevertheless, improving economic conditions in countries, including Brazil and India, are anticipated to boost the demand for fire protection systems over the forecast period.

Infrastructural development activities across the Asia Pacific region owing to the rising demand for new transport and utility infrastructure will drive the demand. The high rate of urbanization is placing increased pressure on under-invested, weak city infrastructure.

The consecutive rise in focus on new residential and infrastructural development projects is expected to propel the demand for fire protection systems across this region; thus, such factors are fuelling the market growth.

Global fire alarm and detection market to reach $53.15bn in 2032

The global fire alarm and detection market is expected to be $53.15bn in 2032 expanding at a CAGR of 6% from 2022 through to 2032. The market is currently valued at $29.68bn in 2022.

The increase is forecasted to comes from a demand for developed fire safety systems in mining, automotive, petrochemical, oil and gas exploration, and power and utility sectors.

Rising deployment of fire alarm and detection systems across educational institutes and increasing awareness about its benefits among residents for fire detection systems are key factors propelling market expansion during the forecast period. Furthermore, ongoing technological developments in fire detection and alarming devices is expected to boost the industry’s growth in the coming time.

In addition, the advancement of wireless and remote function fire detection and alarm systems are anticipated to offer significant opportunities for expansion in the evaluation time.  

The Covid-19 pandemic ushered in a change in the demand and consumption pattern of fire alarm and detection systems. With increasing hospitalisation rates and shift towards remote working, the need for residential and healthcare setting oriented fire safety protocols have increased, leading to growing sales of fire alarm and detection systems across these domains.

Key players in the global fire alarm and detection market have adopted various strategies of mergers, acquisitions, and partnerships. In August 2021, ProPharma group acquired iSafety Systems, an Indian pharmacovigilance service provider.

Then in July 2021, ICON plc acquired a CRO, called PRA Health Sciences. The objective of the acquisition was to increase the services portfolio of ICON plc. In October 2020, Honeywell rolled out its first tools from its new suite of Connected Life Safety Services (CLSS), which is its first all-in-one cloud platform for fire safety systems.

From UFC fighter to US firefighter, who is Stipe Miocic?

Former UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic has been sworn in as a full-time firefighter. Miocic has devoted the last 12 years to an American fire station where he works as a firefighter.

The 39-year-old has been made fulltime firefighter after being put through several rounds of tests and checks. He now serves at the Westlake Fire Department in Ohio.

City mayor Dennis M. Clough described the occasion as a “a historic day for the city of Westlake.”

He previously worked part-time for Valley View Fire Department where he cleaned the toilets the morning after his fights.

Miocic last fought in March 2021, where he squared off against Francis Ngannou, which ended in a victory for the later. The loss also meant Miocic lost his heavyweight honours.

New fire standards launched in England

The Fire Standards Board has launched a new professional standard for fire and rescue services in England, it’s ninth such professional standard.

The Safeguarding Fire Standard aims to ensure that fire and rescue services are doing all that they can to support safeguarding. Its desired outcome is that services work proactively to promote the safeguarding of those within their communities as well as employees and volunteers, reducing the risk of abuse, harm, and neglect.  

The Safeguarding Fire Standard outlines what a fire and rescue service must and should do to achieve the standard.

The standard states that a service must have a designated Safeguarding Lead, and that it should work collaboratively with partners to share learning and experiences to contribute to the continual improvement of safeguarding. Full details of what services need to do to achieve this standard are detailed in the How to Achieve section of the standard.  

Lord Greenhalgh, Fire Minister said: “…Fire and rescue service staff play a vital part in protecting communities and it’s crucial that they use the tools at their disposal to do so.” 

Whilst it is not mandatory for services to comply with the Fire Standards, the National Fire Framework makes clear that services are expected to pay due regard to Fire Standards as will the HMICFRS in their inspections.

The Fire Standards Board are confident that in many cases services are already achieving the outcomes which are the foundation of each Fire Standard. Where they are not, they accept services will need to implement any changes to enable them to achieve the standards in a way that fits with their strategic planning, improvement work and timetable. 

This is the ninth professional Fire Standard and aims to help drive continuous improvement across England’s fire and rescue services. 

The Fire Standards Board published eight standards in 2021. These are on:

  • Emergency response driving,
  • Operational preparedness,
  • Operational competence,
  • Operational learning, and
  • Code of Ethics
  • Community Risk Management Planning
  • Prevention
  • Protection

Storm Dudley And Eunice to hit UK from Wednesday

The UK Met office has issued two amber warnings for two separate storms that are set to lash the country. Authorities have said Story Dudley and Storm Eunice will commence from Wednesday and last up until the weekend.

Various UK authorities have reinforced the warning about Storm Dudley and Storm Eunice. The storm could lead to damage such as uprooted trees, damage to properties, and automobiles.

The Met Office said: “Strong winds will cross western Scotland and Northern Ireland on Wednesday afternoon, pushing eastward to northern England by evening. 80-90 mph wind gusts are possible on exposed coasts and hills of Scotland with 60-70 mph possible further inland. The worst of the winds are expected to ease through Thursday morning. A yellow warning for wind has been issued for much of central and northern areas of the UK, including Northern Ireland. Embedded within that is an amber warning for southern and western Scotland, the north coast of Northern Ireland and northern England, where the strongest and most disruptive winds are expected.”

Meanwhile, Storm Eunice will cause the next low-pressure system, which is likely to track across central areas of the UK on Friday. Further impacts are expected from disruptive gale force winds with 60–70 mph winds expected inland.

Jeremy Phillips, head of road safety, National Highways said: “We’re encouraging drivers to check the latest weather and travel conditions before setting off on journeys and consider if their journey is necessary and can be delayed until conditions improve. If you do intend to travel, then plan your journey and take extra care, allowing more time for your journey.”

North America passive fire proofing system market size to cross $9 Bn by 2027

According to a recent study from market research firm Graphical Research, the North America passive fire proofing system market forecast is expected to register a significant growth by 2027, as the demand for high-quality and reliable fire protection infrastructure is growing at a robust rate. Both active and passive fire proofing systems are immensely important to keep the buildings and occupants safe from fire accidents.

Reputed companies are involved in the production of fire-resistant doors, walls & floors, and other structural components to prevent smoke and other toxic gases from spreading, thereby significantly reducing the chances of death.

North America passive fire proofing system market share is projected to be valued at more than $9 billion by 2027. Fire-resistant glasses held nearly 12% share in the regional industry in 2020. These glasses are widely used in the building’s openings and have several beneficial features.

These include efficient temperature radiation, durability, low maintenance, and high safety quality. The glasses have high integrity and can prevent heat transmission to the non-fireplaces, thereby augmenting their adoption.

In addition to fireproof glasses, fire & smoke dampers are commonly used in passive fire protection systems. Fire dampers help prevent the spread of flames across barriers and are highly used in places that have heat-sensitive devices installed, which may melt when exposed to extreme heat.

Structural fire protection application occupied over 25% share in North America passive fire proofing system market in 2020. A wide range of materials, such as plasters, fireproof coatings, sprays, cladding, and cementitious products are utilised to provide strong protection to the structural parts of a building, including columns and beams.

Fire compartmentation is one of the most important steps taken to prevent fire from spreading in other places. Fire-rated walls and floors shield the evacuation routes from smoke and fire migration. Since these building parts are structurally sturdy, they are likely to stay strong even during high temperatures.

Commercial end-users may hold a share worth $5.5 billion in North America passive fire proofing system market by 2027 as the regional construction sector is growing at a notable rate. Some of the major factors contributing to this growth are rising urbanisation, economic developments, and increasing levels of income.

Regulatory bodies, such as the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the U.S. government are taking appropriate steps to ensure that companies adopt the strict rules and standards to reduce the number of fire accidents in the construction sector.

Residential and institutional areas in North America are likely to heavily adopt passive fire proofing systems as the need to have reliable fire protection equipment is growing at a strong rate among citizens. Even though the installation cost of these systems is high for many consumers, the rising income levels, urbanisation, and the demand for an advanced fire proofing infrastructure among end-users will augment the deployment of passive fire proofing units in the region.

North America passive fire proofing system market outlook will continue to be progressive as leading organisations, including Saint-Gobain S.A., Assa Abloy AB, UK Performance Doorsets Ltd., Chase Industries, Inc., Mesker Openings Group, and Halton Group, among many others are involved in the production of passive fire proofing systems for residential, institutional, and commercial end-users.

Passive fire protection products, such as fire dampers, fire-resistant walls, floors & glasses, fire doors, stops, and structural steel protection items will find high application in structural fire protection, fire stopping materials, compartmentation, and open protection.

Exclusive: A ground-breaking return for Intersec

After a 2-year hiatus, Intersec will return to deliver a never-before-seen show in January 2022 

The largest, most comprehensive event in Intersec’s 23-year history is back. The world-leading emergency services, security and safety event will mark its return in with a ground-breaking, elevated new program, more opportunities for supplier buyer interaction whilst uniting global and regional leaders as they explore solutions for the rapidly evolving challenges facing the industry.  

The 23rd edition of the flagship event will be staged under the theme of ‘Uniting the World’s leading industry specialists for the safety & security of future generations.’ The extensive development of the show will see the best minds in the industry participate in a new 3-day conference program, with six industry pillars addressing the sector’s most vital issues and opportunities including the Global Security Leaders’ Summit, Protecting Future Connected Cities & Citizens Conference, Safeguarding Critical Infrastructure Conference, Agile First Responders Conference, The Cybersecurity Lab and a dedicated KSA Focus Day. 

Practical advice and tools will be available through The Nexus Workshops and Future Foresight Workshops, whilst cutting edge technology will be featured across the Tech and Innovation Disruption Zone. 

The world’s industry leaders including Executive Regional and International Government and Private Enterprise speakers will make for the most dynamic of industry conferences that will also include eminent speakers such as ex-MI6 Chief Sir Alex Younger and many others.  

To read the full Intersec programme, including conferences, speakers and themes, read the special Intersec edition of IFSJ.