Posts in category: Events

Preparations to re-start the world’s leading trade fair for the fire-fighting, rescue and emergency services, civil protection, safety and security are well under way. INTERSCHUTZ will take place from 20-25 June 2022 as a live physical event and, for the first time, will be supplemented by an online component, thus considerably extending its outreach.

The core of the event will remain the face-to-face interaction between exhibitors and visitors from every sector, including opportunities to meet in the exhibition halls, on the open-air-site and in the city centre of Hannover. The event offers attendees the chance to personally experience a diverse range of products and equipment.

“We are really looking forward to this INTERSCHUTZ reunion with exhibitors, business friends and visitors in Hannover. The keen anticipation and palpable interest in this long-awaited event across the entire sector is overwhelming. Due to the pandemic it was necessary to postpone the trade fair twice. As a result of this difficult but nonetheless unavoidable decision the anticipation of the event in June is now all the greater. Hannover will once again offer a central platform for countless innovations and innovations for the rescue and fire-fighting services, civil protection, security and safety”, explains Dr. Jochen Köckler, chairman of Deutsche Messe AG.

“INTERSCHUTZ is a very special trade show as it generates a wide range of different emotions, images and narratives. Compassion and commitment play a quite decisive role in this sector and it is heartening to see such across-the-board enthusiasm and commitment to INTERSCHUTZ and to the sharing of know-how and the promotion of networking. INTERSCHUTZ is the ultimate platform for the international community and we are confident that the next event will build on the success of the previous trade fair in 2015”, says Bernd Heinold, project manager of INTERSCHUTZ at Deutsche Messe AG.

The whole sector is buzzing about the upcoming event

INTERSCHUTZ 2022 can already boast an encouraging number of bookings. Market leaders have long since booked their company’s trade fair stands, while the event’s long-standing partners, in particular professional bodies such as the German Fire Protection Association (vfdb), the VDMA Fire Protection Technology Association, the German Fire Services Association (DFV), the Hannover fire-brigade service and other representatives from the community of professional fire-fighters, rescue services, technical assistance sector and civil protection services are enthusiastic about the return of INTERSCHUTZ.

The President of the German Fire Protection Technology Association, Dirk Aschenbrenner, declared: “The crises and disasters of the recent period have underlined the importance of both voluntary services and reliable, innovative technical support. INTERSCHUTZ provides the worldwide community of emergency, protection, rescue and security services with a central platform for the further development of organisations, systems and technical solutions. After seven years, we are finally able to welcome this opportunity for users and industry to get together again and promote the solutions of the future.”

The managing director of the VDMA, Dr. Bernd Scherer, is also looking forward to INTERSCHUTZ and emphasised the significance of the event for this sector of industry: “INTERSCHUTZ has always played a role in encouraging innovation in the field of fire-fighting and fire-prevention technology. It has, for example, helped promote smart networked solutions for various operations, as well as reliable real-time communication using 5G networks, digital assistant devices and electronic drives. Hannover has always been, and still is, the perfect international showcase for exciting user-oriented technological solutions for fire detection and control.”

This view is shared by the President of the German Fire Services Association, Karl-Heinz Banse: “I am really looking forward to the 29th German Fire Services Day and INTERSCHUTZ, which will take place at the same time in Hannover in mid-June. The German Fire Services Association and its partners will be presenting content and concepts on the theme of “Safe Living – together in safety”, as well as highlighting the work of the fire-brigade services under current conditions. We are confident our event will prove a great success!”

Wide-ranging program with the focus on digital networking

The overarching theme of INTERSCHUTZ is the digitisation and networking of the various “players” in this sector in Germany and other countries. This topic is becoming more and more important in view of the increasing frequency of major catastrophes and climate change. Numerous exhibitors will therefore be placing the spotlight on the value and potential benefits of digital technology at their stands as well as in forums and symposia.

The program presents data exchange technology and networked systems for use in diverse types of operation, including the use of drones in rescue missions. For instance, in areas that are difficult for teams to access, drones can be used to assess conditions more quickly and accurately, as well as to localise and identify dangerous situations.

Emergency apps on mobile devices is a topic which has moved up the agenda: these are invaluable when emergency services cannot be reached or communication systems break down, as happened last year when severe flooding in southern and western Germany caused major damage and disruption.

Of course, digitisation is also crucial in smart routing which uses real-time traffic data to calculate the fastest routes to an incident and has the capacity to manage traffic lights automatically to ensure a green light for emergency services.

The INTERSCHUTZ exhibition portfolio is structured in six different keynote themes. In addition to the large category dedicated to the fire services, the program features the rescue and emergency services, civil protection, communication and control centre technology, as well as protective equipment. Fire prevention and protection will be featured for the first time as a separate display category in its own right. Suppliers of fire extinguishing equipment and extinguishing agents will exhibit here, alongside exhibitors from the construction sector and the areas of technical fire prevention and building protection.

Visitors can expect to find a varied program comprising congresses, workshops and training sessions, as well as live demonstrations and exciting competitions. The program will boast a total of more than 70 separate events.

The German Fire Services Association will be holding its 29th German Fire Services Day parallel to INTERSCHUTZ. The event is dedicated to the theme of “Safe Living – together in safety” and can be expected to attract a large number of visitors interested in various aspects of fire-fighting. It is organised in cooperation with the Federal State of Lower Saxony, the Lower Saxony Fire Services Association, the city of Hannover and the Hannover Fire-brigade Service. On the eve of INTERSCHUTZ, Sunday 19th, the inner-city area of Hannover will again see the “Blaulichtmeile” – a line-up of blue emergency lights which gives a taste of what is to come and marks the advent of the trade fair.

As an important international meeting-place INTERSCHUTZ attracts visitors interested in the fire services from across the world. Continuing the practice of earlier trade fairs, there will be three Nation Days dedicated to a specific nation, this year France, Italy and the USA. The first Nation Day, on Tuesday 21st June, will feature France, followed by Italy on Wednesday and the USA on Thursday, when American professional rescue teams and volunteers will take centre stage.

INTERSCHUTZ tickets now available online

Visitors can now secure their admission tickets for the event. The online ticket shop can be found on the INTERSCHUTZ website: www.interschutz.de

Registration is now open for the National Volunteer Fire Council’s (NVFC) 2022 Health & Safety Training Summit. The Summit will take place Friday, June 24, and Saturday, June 25, in Orlando, FL. The conference is open to all volunteer firefighters, EMS providers, department leadership, and other fire department personnel from across the United States. Click here to register now.

This two-day classroom-based training is an opportunity to learn from leading subject matter experts, share ideas and best practices, and network. Attendees will be able to select up to seven breakout sessions to attend, addressing behavioral health, fireground safety, leadership, roadway safety, and more. The conference will also feature keynote speakers and networking opportunities. Full course information and instructor details are available on the registration page. Additional event details will continue to be announced at www.nvfc.org/summit.

The conference will be held at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Lake Buena Vista Resort, an all-suite hotel featuring family-friendly amenities such as a splash park, evening dive-in movies, a putting green, and more. Guests can also enjoy free cooked-to-order breakfast, a nightly reception, free WiFi, and a Disney theme park shuttle. The NVFC has negotiated a room rate of $149 for conference attendees. Find more travel information here.

As in previous years, the NVFC will offer a networking social event after class concludes on Friday, June 24. The reception will include a vendor area featuring sponsors and partners. Sponsorships are available – click here for more information.

The registration fee for the Summit is $129, which provides two days of training from nationally recognised instructors, lunches, light refreshments, and the networking social event. To help more first responders attend, a travel stipend will be available for select attendees. The stipend will reimburse for travel-related expenses, including lodging and transportation. Stay tuned for stipend information in the coming weeks.

Find detailed travel information and register today at www.nvfc.org/summit. Can’t make it to the Summit? Access dozens of on-demand online courses at www.nvfc.org/classroom.

Questions? Contact Rachel Buczynski, NVFC conference planner, at 202-887-5700 or Rachel@nvfc.org.

A group of Cambridgeshire firefighters are taking on a gruelling challenge, used as part of the SAS selection process, to raise money for charity.  

The group of six firefighters from across the county will be taking on The Fan Dance, a physically demanding 24 kilometre trek over Pen y Fan, the highest mountain in the Brecon Beacons. They are due to take on the challenge on Saturday January 29.  

Firefighter Jon Yarnold, the organiser of the challenge, said: “We have chosen to take this on as it is extremely demanding. People can relate to how hard SAS training is, so this challenge really shows how much effort an determination is going to be needed by us all to complete it. It also shows how much the charities mean to us.”  

The infamous march is the world’s oldest Special Forces test and is used as the first major indicator of whether a candidate has the physical and mental aptitude to complete the legendary Selection course. 

Jon and the team are raising money for two causes, The Fire Fighters Charity and Iceni Amateur Boxing Club in South Cambridgeshire. He added: “We are supporting The Fire Fighters Charity as it’s an extremely important service that is offered to firefighter’s physical and mental health. They rely on funding from fundraisers like this in order to keep going. 

“The boxing club is also a non-profit club used by children with disabilities and some that can no longer attend school, as well as adults to help with their physical and mental health. It is run solely by volunteers. During the pandemic the club had to close due to the restrictions, but still needed to pay the rent for the premises. This has had a massive impact in the running of the club, with money for new equipment being needed for the running costs of the building.” 

The group has been training hard over the last few months, replicating the inclines on treadmills as well as long walks in the cold carrying the weight on their backs to simulate the conditions they’ll face.  

Jon added: “Anything raised will be a great benefit for both charities. The Fire Fighters Charity is a vital service for us, our families and retired firefighters when help is needed regarding physical and mental health.  

“The money raised for the boxing club will go towards new equipment, including new bags, ropes and gloves, as well as contribute towards a new ring and running costs. Anything that is donated will be greatly appreciated and used to help many individuals in the future.” 

The team will be taking the challenge on Saturday January 29. Anyone wanting to support can visit the Just Giving page here.

A further seven Fire Standards are currently in development by the Fire Standards Board. These include Safeguarding; Fire Investigation; Emergency Preparedness and Resilience; and Data, as well as three Leadership Fire Standards.

Safeguarding

This consultation was completed late 2021 with the results and revised standard being presented to the Fire Standards Board in December. Quality assurance has now been completed and this standard is due for publication in January 2022.

Fire Investigation

Consultation for this standard was completed in December. Quality assurance is set to take place in January with expected publication by March 2022.

Emergency Preparedness and Resilience

This standard, which has seen a name change from Emergency Planning and Resilience following peer review feedback, is set to go out for consultation in January 2022.

Data

The Data Fire Standard has been drafted and is due to go out for consultation in spring 2022, depending on feedback from the peer review.

Leadership x 3

These standards are currently in the peer review stage, with consultation set to take place in spring.

All of these standards are in addition to the eight previously published, which are all accompanied by an Implementation Tool:

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

Remaining areas

Research into the remaining areas from the Activity Framework will be explored in the first part of 2022 to clarify a what is envisaged as a third phase of Fire Standards development.

Remaining areas to explore include:

• Communication, engagement, consultation 
• Health and wellbeing 
• Resources (encompassing Procurement, Contract management, Commercial activities, Fleet management, Estates and asset management)
• Assurance 
• Digital and Technology 

Opportunities to get involved

The Board rely on the invaluable NFCC networks to reach the subject matter expertise that helps develop the Fire Standards and peer review them. The Board value feedback from all services and stakeholders during the early development stages, during peer review and at formal consultation stage.

If you want to know more, you can join the mailing list to get general updates and notifications by using the contact form

Or, you can get involved in standards development or peer review through volunteering with the NFCC committees and practitioner groups.

Registration for FIREX International 2022, taking place on 17-19 May 2022 at ExCeL London, has officially opened. Secure your place today!

After almost three years apart, FIREX International returns in-person to London in May 2022.

Get your FREE ticket

As always, the event will offer an immersive experience for the entire fire safety buying chain – and it’s FREE to attend! Don’t miss the opportunity to reconnect with the entire fire safety community, share expertise and get up to speed on the latest legislation.

Why attend FIREX International?

Reconnect with the fire safety community and meet leading suppliers throughout the three days, alongside key industry associations such as the Fire Industry Association (FIA), Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP), Fire Protection Association (FPA), and more! Enjoy a plethora of networking opportunities to reconnect with the industry, ranging from breakfasts and drink receptions to closed-door roundtable discussions.

Stay on top of the legislation and guidance by joining the Expertise and Guidance Theatre and the FPA’s InfoZone seminars to keep on top of the latest government legislation, industry standards and best practice guidance.

Source the latest fire safety solutions by accessing hundreds of fire safety suppliers, from the likes of Kentec, Aico, Baldwin Boxall, Securiton, Coopers Fire, ARGUS SPECTRUM, Apollo Fire Detectors, and more! Plus, get access to hundreds more exhibitors across security, smart buildings, facilities management and health and safety.

And, for 2022, FIREX has taken the decision to fully commit to supporting and promoting third-party approvals, independent accreditation and competency for construction products and services. This will mean all exhibiting companies with relevant fire protection or prevention systems and materials will need to hold – or be in the process of acquiring – recognised third-party approval on their products.

Learn more about the safe measures FIREX International is putting in place to reunite the security community safely.

Register your place at FIREX International 2022, here!

MSA Safety, the global leader in the development, manufacture and supply of safety products that protect people and facility infrastructures, announced its participation at Intersec 2022 in the Dubai World Trade Center. Over the three-day conference, MSA will showcase its extensive portfolio of connected safety solutions and personal protective equipment (PPE) for both the industrial and fire markets, representing an innovative range of top-to-toe protection.

Nigel Evens, Business Director at MSA for First Responders and Milipol in Europe, Middle East and Asia said: “We are happy to be back with our customers at Intersec – the world’s leading trade event for security, safety, and fire protection.  The Middle East has always been a strategic market for MSA and we have a long-standing presence there.  From gas detection, head and fall protection, to what we offer to the  fire and rescue services, we’re proud to support the Middle East and have  been investing heavily to create connected and user-friendly equipment that helps to protect workers around the world and meets requirement of this market.”

Having a range of international standards that meet the requirements and demands of those the company serves in the Middle East, MSA’s PPE ranges from firefighter helmets to protective clothing, and work in synergy together with cutting-edge technology products, like LUNAR. LUNAR is a cloud-connected, comfortable to carry in hand and wireless device that provides enhanced thermal imaging, combined with Search and Rescue capabilities enabled by the F.A.S.T Technology (Fire Fighter Assisting Technology).

With LUNAR, firefighters know who’s in distress and need help; F.A.S.T. provides first responders with direction and distance information to help find separated teammates and decrease response time, and incident commanders receive alerts as to who’s down and who’s searching for them – all while still having the ability to monitor the scene.

Designed for every firefighter on-scene, both those on air and off, LUNAR is the latest addition to MSA’s Connected Firefighter platform – a suite of products that offer accountability and keep everyone on scene connected to each other.

Other products comprising MSA’s Connected Firefighter platform, which will also be on display at the show, include:

• The company’s industry-leading G1 and M1 Breathing Apparatus, specifically designed to meet the needs of International markets;
• The MSA HUB base station – a small, modular device that enables on scene data and asset management;
• FireGrid, which gives incident commanders the ability to evaluate and manage multiple situations at one time from any location;
• A new M1 Control Module that monitors the proper functioning of a respiratory protective device;
• The C1 voice communication module that allows for exceptional voice transmission when wearing breathing apparatus; and
• The ALTAIR 4XR and 5X portable multigas detectors with embedded Bluetooth technology to provide complete scene management.

In addition to LUNAR and the Connected Firefighter suite of products mentioned above, MSA will also showcase a comprehensive line of industry leading fire helmets and the latest offerings in MSA’s Bristol and Globe lines of fire protective clothing, all of which represent a step forward in the company’s cutting-edge PPE of Top-To-Toe protection.  On display at the show will be: 

• The GALLET F2XR fire and rescue helmet, which is ideal for specialized tasks and non-fire related incidents.  Touting modular “click-in” accessories, including an internal ocular visor, an integrated dual-beam headlamp with tail light, and Responder Goggles, the GALLET F2XR fire and rescue helmet is designed and third-party tested to meet the latest EN Standards for Technical Rescue, Wildland Firefighting, and Water Rescue operations.
• Remastered company’s iconic GALLET F1XF helmet, which has been serving firefighters since 1985. The refreshed design features complete protection of the head, eyes, face, and ears and now incorporates an enhanced lighting module and improved soft goods. Its extended face shield is the largest on the market. 
• MSA Bristol’s EOS line of firefighter protective apparel, representing the latest addition to the structural firefighting equipment.  The new line is sleek, modern, and ultra-flexible, enabling superior maneuverability, all while providing protection against the build-up of toxic smoke particles.
• Globe Athletix turnout gear with stretch fabrics that allow closer, body-contoured fit to provide an unprecedented range of motions.
• The company’s comprehensive range of anti-riot and aviation helmets, including the most iconic models of LA 100, LH 250, and MO5006.

Meet the MSA Team at the stand 5A10  to experience how our solutions protect protectors, have a demo, or chat with us.

As a key-event in the protection and security sectors, fourteen French companies will take part in Intersec 2022. Considered as a major challenge in the region, this security-focused trade show will allow to reconnect with the industry players in order to enhance the protection of businesses and industries across the Middle East.

A French Pavilion with a major objective: develop collaborations with both public and private stakeholders in the region

The UAE represent a particularly attractive market for French players in the security sector with a lot of investments opportunities. On the one hand, the commercial security and infrastructure protection market is expected to reach USD 7.4 billion by 2024, and on the other hand, fire safety and rescue is a sector that is worth around USD 699 billion in 2021. These trends bode well for future collaboration. For these reasons, French security experts are eyeing the GCC market with high interest and will be present on the French pavilion at INTERSEC to promote their solutions and know-how.

Taking into account the strategic importance placed by the UAE on data management and security, to address digital sovereignty challenges, that got bigger with the pandemic and the increase of digital transformation, the key technologies that will be presented on the French pavilion at Intersec align perfectly with the local needs. Indeed, the French exhibiting companies that have been selected to participate specialise in cybersecurity, firefighting and rescue solutions, perimeter and physical security including monitoring and maintenance devices to ensure environment protection.

Amongst these companies, we can find innovative solutions such as biometric keys to protect the user’s identity through built-in fingerprints analysis, next-generation optical fibre sensor systems for infrastructure maintenance and monitoring, optronics for monitoring extended sites, industrial thermography, test applications and infrared metrology, access control equipment, fire-fighting systems, coated technical textiles and protective clothing, to name just a few.

The United Arab Emirates, a priority market for the French Security sector

Whereas the UAE position national security as a top priority over the next ten years with USD 10 billion to be invested in the sector, France is willing to strengthen agreements and co-operation measures by introducing specific solutions that remain crucial for the security of the country.

With an existing solid presence in the region, through technical co-operation agreements, military and security assistance for air, land, maritime forces, as well as in the area of civil security, the UAE recently reinforced their long-standing partnership with France through a strategic deal of €17bn defence contract involving  a major French group along with mid-sized companies.

An efficient French industrial sector at the cutting edge of innovation

Considered as an industry of excellence, the French security industry had revenues of €28bn in 2020, in which approximately 50% came from exports. It is highly technological and represents 130,000 highly qualified jobs, mainly in the fields of electronic security (44%), physical security (33%) and finally cybersecurity (23%). 

Many technological innovations are specific to the sector and France is very well positioned both in terms of industrial players and scientific know-how. It relies on significant skills in engineering and industrial processes from the defence and digital sectors (biometrics, smart cards, etc.). Its ranks include major international leaders in their fields, a dense fabric of dynamic and innovative SMEs, as well as numerous start-ups.

It also relies on world-class R&D (19 competitiveness clusters and 36 academic laboratories), which enables France to excel, in Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, behavioural biometrics, in innovations combined with safety features.  France is one of the top three countries in the world in the area of post-quantum technologies (cryptographic developments), in real-time analysis of wide area observation data

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), which has been at the heart of health and safety for over 100 years, will be showcasing its driver training, membership and awards scheme at this year’s Intersec.

RoSPA’s driver training is renowned worldwide and is held in such high regard that many industry leaders advocate that their stakeholders adopt our high standards. RoSPA also works with many driver training providers and driving schools in the region to help develop and improve the service they provide, resulting in safer driving and fewer road traffic accidents and injuries.

RoSPA is also keen to talk to anyone who would like to know more about our membership scheme. RoSPA membership is a subscription-based service that provides organisations with a wealth of information surrounding legislation and best practice in their industry and beyond, as well as support, resources and opportunities to build networks and develop knowledge.

The RoSPA Health and Safety Awards scheme is one of the most prestigious and recognised schemes in the world with almost 2,000 entries every year in nearly 50 countries and has a reach of over 7million employees. The awards are truly global and open to teams and companies from anywhere in the world. Visitors can talk to the team at Intersec to find out how they could benefit.

If you are interested in RoSPA training, consultancy or fleet and driver safety, the team will be available on stand C30

Intersec will open its doors to the best of the best in the fire industry this week, with exhibitors travelling from 90 countries to return to the show. Hundreds of the world’s leading fire and safety suppliers including key companies such as SFFECO, SIBCA, 3M Gulf, BRE Global (LPCB) ,Bristol Fire Engineering, MSA Safety, Dafo Middle East, Eaton, FM Approvals, Hochiki Middle East, Honeywell and Lifeco will be in attendance.

With important international pavilions from Germany, India, Korea, France and the UK, Intersec is set to welcome back visitors safely to the largest and most important event in the business calendar, and with a packed 3 day agenda of CPD accredited conferences, workshops, meetings and networking put together with essential subjects, case studies, training and insights, visitors will have access to the industry’s leading minds and experts.

Dubai Civil Defence – Foresight workshop hall 5

16^th January – Dubai Civil Defense Session – taking place in the Foresight Workshop

17^th –DCD sessions taking place in the Agile First Responders Conference

18^th   Dubai Civil Defense Session – taking place in the Foresight Workshop

Programme and speakers are available on the Intersec website.

Registration for delegate passes are available here.

Agile First Responders – Hall 6

Given the ever-changing nature of threats, whether natural through climate change, man-made through terrorism activities or human error, either physical or virtual, ensuring safety remains the number one priority and the FIRST line of defense are the nation’s first responders.

The Dubai Civil Defence programme is a jam-packed three-day technical conference loaded with best practices and latest developments used by crisis and emergency response teams to tackle pandemics, major asset failures, fire, disasters & security lapses. The programme is a direct reflection of the industry’s most pressing issues which includes preventing injuries and ensuring that functional safety safeguards and equipment are available and operating at peak performance.  

Nexus Workshops – Hall 3

The Nexus Workshop stages provide a space to share bi-lateral knowledge, expertise and approaches to incident management before, during and post incident. Session content includes live demonstrations, interactive workshops, practical presentations and discussion sessions

Day one of the three day programme kicks off with:

10:00 – 17:00  Emergency Planning for Disasters 

Jeff Dunlin, Strategic Advisor IAFC National & International Programs, IAFC (International Association of Fire Chiefs) Retired Deputy Chief Charlotte Fire Department Charlotte, NC USA comments: ” Emergency service organisations (ESO), as a whole, are efficient planners. We plan for disasters that may happen in our community. We plan to replace apparatus, we even go so far as to preplan our response, strategy and tactics for major incidents in our response area. But how well do we plan for an emergency or a disaster that might happen to us?”

The full workshop programme is available here.

Bringing the industry together

“We are excited to welcome the world of fire and safety back to Intersec since the last edition in 2020 and there is an air of real excitement. It’s been a challenging couple of years but the thirst for business and desire to reconnect is obvious with companies, speakers and visitors travelling from all parts of the globe.  

“Our programme this year has been created to bring attendees up to date with the learnings of the past couple of years, with advice and insights from industry experts and leaders and a look to towards the future.  We have a huge programme of conferences, meetings, workshops and of course the largest showcase of products and solutions from companies keen to meet and do business. Intersec is here to once again bring the industry together, and with our partners  we look forward to business as usual.”

DCD insight series at Intersec

Session 1 | New ESL certification service for fire and life safety products

Product certification is used globally as a successful market and regulatory tool to prove product benefits and its compliance with code requirements. How new ESL Certification is designed to remove bureaucratic frictions to allow businesses to gain trusted and efficient certification services for fire and life safety products?

The presentation aims at providing practical information on the certification process and certification requirements from the perspective of fire and life safety legislation in UAE for companies’ success.

Session 2 | Certified assemblies supplied or installed on site: who does what?

Certification provides a unique opportunity to demonstrate product compliance with the regulatory requirements. Nonetheless, this competitive advantage can be easily lost especially when responsibilities over product supply or installation on site are overlooked. This challenge particularly affects certified assemblies i.e., products delivered in pieces and installed on site.

The workshop targets manufacturers and distributors of assemblies used in fire and life safety (façade systems, fixed firefighting gas extinguishing systems, etc.), as well as any other interested parties. It will raise awareness on aspects of control over delivery and installation of manufactured components and subassemblies intended to form the final assembly, required to satisfy the regulatory requirements in place.

DCD Fire & Life Safety’s annual pitch competition

Showcase your products to panel of DCD, Developers, fire safety and business experts and demonstrate how your solution contributes to enhancing fire and life safety.

Email your application to B2Gconnect@dcd.gov.ae before January 12^th, 2022.

The National Fire Protection Research Foundation, the research affiliate of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), was founded 40 years ago today to sponsor and promote research and the development of technology that helps to protect life and property from fire.

The mission of the research group back in 1982 was to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of fire protection systems and safety messaging for the benefit of the public and workers. Seventeen years after its launch, the name of the organisation changed to the Fire Protection Research Foundation (FPRF or Foundation). Today, the research arm continues to be guided by the same core principles – only with a much broader reach, given a wide array of emerging hazards, persistent life safety challenges, and global demand.

The Foundation is a separate, independent, nongovernmental organisation with its own board of trustees and a team of five that effectively manages more than four dozen research projects at any given time. FPRF research reports have been downloaded by safety-focused practitioners in more than 160 countries, and cover everything from fire suppression systems, emergency response, public policy, public education, detection and signaling, industrial hazards, wildfire, electrical services, and building safety.

The FPRF staff plans, facilitates, and manages research, specifically in support of the NFPA mission to make the world safer from fire, electrical, and related hazards and regularly assists NFPA technical committees with difficult problems. The Foundation works with many organisations and individuals, including project sponsors who help to fund efforts; project contractors who do the research; and advisory panels comprised of volunteers who provide subject matter expertise (panels are distinctly separate from NFPA technical committees and function according to the FPRF’s policies for the conduct of research).

“The Fire Protection Research Foundation could not have possibly had the impact it has over the past 40 years without strong support from NFPA and so many others who have funded our efforts and joined forces with us in the interest of safety,” said Amanda Kimball, the Foundation’s executive director. “This milestone was made possible by diverse thought leaders who recognise the value of research and a devoted FPRF team who works each day to reduce risk in the world. And we look forward to many more years of collaboration and discovery.”

The Foundation is self-funded and self-sufficient, deriving funding from management fees from consortia projects, in which project sponsors pool their funding in support of research; direct labor rates for grant-funded projects; attendance fees at FPRF-hosted symposiums; sponsors of online webinars; and occasional projects that the FPRF staff directly handles.

Each year, the Foundation hosts the Suppression, Detection and Signaling Symposium (SUPDET®). Every three years, this becomes a joint conference with the International Conference on Automatic Fire Detection (AUBE) hosted by the University of Duisburg-Essen (Germany). SUPDET draws a diverse crowd with a vested interest in learning about advancements in suppression and detection technology. The partnership with the AUBE conference provides additional opportunities for global updates on relevant research.

To learn more about SUPDET, how the Fire Protection Research Foundation works, current FPRF projects, research reports, recent RFPs, and more, visit www.nfpa.org/foundation.