East Fire Extinguishers and Alarms acquired by Kings Secure Technologies

by Featured NewsFire Detection

Kings Secure Technologies (KST) has announced that it has signed an agreement to acquire one of the UK’s leading providers of Fire and Life Safety Systems; East Fire Extinguishers and Alarms T/A EFire.

EFire was first established in 2011 and headquartered in Norwich with over 50 engineers across the UK. It provides the full range of consult, design, install and maintenance services, successfully delivering into the Healthcare, Education and Industrial sectors.

EFire, combined with KST’s existing specialist smoke ventilation business, Silver Group will strengthen the companies’ experience and offerings in the life safety systems market.

Darren Gamage, Chief Operating Officer of Kings Secure Technologies commented: “I am excited to be able to announce this acquisition. KST’s vision is to lead, transform and innovate in the security, fire, life safety and compliance environments.  Our acquisition of EFire will turn this vision in to a reality; we will move forward at pace self-delivering in all key areas of fire and life safety systems to our national client base.”

Commenting on the acquisition Roger Sparrow, Managing Director of EFire said: “With the backing of KST’s resources and reach, we look forward to delivering a wider range of services to our clients.  We will combine our core strengths with those of the existing companies within the KST group, deepening our industry expertise. We recognised KST as the perfect fit for our business and I am delighted that this acquisition is now complete.”

Bob Forsyth, CEO KST Group said “This is our fourth acquisition in just over 2 years, strengthening our position in the fire and life safety arena.  Our standing as a critical solutions provider has been enhanced; we are tremendously excited to welcome our new colleagues into the Group and watch the business flourish and grow.”

KST was advised by Squire Patton Boggs, the team consisting of Partner Paul Mann, Director Louise Parker and Associate Indy Bening.

FIA urges European Parliament to extend EU AI Act deliberation

by Featured NewsFire Detection

Euralarm has undersigned a joint industry statement on the EU AI Act, supported by the Fire Industry Association, urging the European Parliament to consider a number of key principles and take more time for deliberation.

Together with other undesigning organisations, Euralarm has has followed the work of the EU Institutions on Artificial Intelligence, supporting the European Commission’s original intent for a risk-based approach to AI.

AI will constitute a key technology for economic development in the European Union, and its integration into industrial processes is a priority for the EU and its Member States. The AI Act has the opportunity to set out a first-of-its-kind legislative framework on Artificial Intelligence and will shape how AI is developed and deployed in Europe.

The European Parliament has so far suggested many important modifications to the original proposals, and FIA said it applaudsthe constructive spirit that has been prevalent during the negotiations on a Draft Report whilst remaining concerned by the possibility of significantly deviating from the AI Act’s original proposal and goals to establish a risk-based approach to AI that fosters innovation and uptake in Europe.

The European Parliament is being urged to ensure that any possible new requirements and amendments to the Act are introduced taking into account their technical feasibility, impact on legal certainty, and the ability of AI developers, deployers, and users to comply with them.

As the Rapporteurs and Shadow Rapporteurs work to finalise a compromise text to form the European Parliament position, Euralarm and the FIA have urged them to consider the following key principles and take more time for deliberation, ensuring that the AI Act:

  • Maintains the risk-based approach of the original proposal while defining “high-risk” in a way that reflects it;
  •  Allocates responsibilities properly along the value chain and allows contractual freedom to do so;
  • Includes in Annex III only use-cases that are truly high-risk;
  • Uses a definition of AI that is recognised by industry, is in line with OECD work, and does not include non-AI tools;
  • Establishes legal certainty for the extraterritorial application of the Act’s scope and effect on the EU’s international partners;
  • Ensures that the AI Act does not overlap or create competing obligations with existing legislation; and
  • Avoids uncertainty for further investment, trade, and innovation.

Signatories:

  • ACEA – European Automobile Manufacturers Association
  • AFNUM – The French Alliance of Digital Industries
  • BSA | The Software Alliance
  • BusinessEurope – The Confederation of European Business
  • CECIMO – European Association of the Machine Tool Industries and related Manufacturing Technologies
  • EuroCommerce
  • Euralarm
  • EGMF – European Garden Machinery Federation
  • INFOBALT Lithuania
  • Insurance Europe
  • ITI – Information Technology Industry Council
  • LIKTA – Latvian Information and Communications Technology Association
  • MedTech Europe
  • SEPE – Federation of Hellenic ICT Enterprises

Hochiki Europe buys multi-million pound facility in Kent

by Breaking NewsFire Detection

Global life safety company, Hochiki Europe has announced the purchase of multi-million-pound facility in Chatham, Kent representing an investment of £5.5 million by the group.

Residing on a site of 1.92 acres, the new building is over 24,000 square feet and will be in addition to the European Headquarters and Research and Development Centre in Gillingham, Kent.

The building is part of the ongoing strategic expansion of footprint for the European arm of the group and will afford the company space to expand the existing operations in warehousing, production and distribution as well as the sales and administrative teams.

2023 marks the 30th anniversary of Hochiki’s operations in Europe. Hochiki said the news can be seen as a significant investment in the future infrastructure of the company. The new facility will ensure future demand is met and order volume is delivered efficiently and effectively to customers in the UK, across Europe, the Middle East, India and Africa.

Speaking about the expansion plans Graham Lowe, Managing Director at Hochiki Europe said: “Despite the challenging few years we have faced as a global community, I am proud of the efforts our teams have made to ensure our continued growth and I would like to thank each team member. Over the last six months we have been able to expand our teams to strengthen the expertise we offer our customers and now, with this new building, we can continue to deliver a world class service in fire safety to existing loyal customers and ever-growing pool of new customers”

Globally Hochiki employ over 2000 employees who work across six manufacturing plants, 38 sales offices and 14 subsidiaries. The new facility will bring with it new employment opportunities to the South-East, adding to the 180 strong staff already employed at the Head Office in Kent.

IFSJ Exclusive: No cause for alarm

by Breaking NewsFire DetectionIFSJ Exclusives

Shahab Anjum, Head of Sales, Hochiki Middle East talks Intersec 2023

For over 100 years Hochiki Corporation has led the way in the design and manufacture of innovative life safety solutions. IFSJ sat down with Shahab Anjum, Head of Sales, Hochiki Middle East, to find out more about the Middle East branch’s 10th anniversary, Hochiki’s plans for Intersec 2023, and its latest products.

What is your role at Hochiki and what is your background in the industry?

I have worked in the fire industry for over 20 years, with almost half of that time at Hochiki as head of sales for the Middle East operation. In that time, I have seen Hochiki lead the world in life safety technology, helping our customers around the world to ensure they have the best on the market when it comes to fire detection.

Can you give me a brief overview of who Hochiki is and what they do?

Hochiki was launched in Japan in 1918 as a fire alarm design and manufacturer. Since then, with its HQ still in Japan, Hochiki has grown to become a multinational, publicly listed group of companies with over 2000 employees working across six manufacturing plants, 38 sales offices and 14 subsidiaries including the Middle East, India, Europe, the USA, Australia, Asia Pacific, Taiwan and Mexico.

For over 100 years Hochiki Corporation has led the way in the design and manufacturing of innovative life safety solutions. I am immensely proud to be a part of a global team whose fire detection innovation has acquired global acceptance as the benchmark for high-integrity and long-term reliability.

The Middle East Hochiki operation is a team made up of fire industry experts and we are proud that Hochiki Fire Detection and Emergency Lighting Solutions are approved in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Ras al-Khaimah, Ajman and Sharjah.

Congratulations on Hochiki Middle East’s ten-year anniversary – are you doing anything to mark the occasion?

Thank you. Ten years is quite the landmark for the Middle East team, and I am proud of the work we do – the feedback from our customers is testament to my team’s hard work in building trusted customer relationships. We will be celebrating with our valued customers and partners at a seminar for our business partners during the Intersec 2023 show followed by dinner that evening.

We are also going to be previewing our new emergency lighting system at the Intersec event ahead of the official launch in 2023, so it’s a great opportunity for visitors to see a demo on our stand.

Can you tell me about Hochiki Middle East’s history in the region and how it has grown and developed?

 Many countries in the region are now expanding into new economic activities, such as banking, tourism and manufacturing. This diversification has led to a substantial increase in infrastructure, and therefore, an increased requirement for the installation of fire detection and emergency lighting systems.

Hochiki products were already selling in the Middle East region directly via our American and European offices. However, as the demand grew, we felt it was important to establish an office in the Middle East to be near our customers and provide them with the support and products, they needed. So, in November 2012 the Hochiki Middle East office was established and here we are ten years later celebrating with our customers.

Are there any lessons you have learned since entering the Middle East market?

Fire safety awareness has increased substantially over the past decade, which is partly due to western influence. However, as regulations and standards in the Middle East are developed, installers are looking to Europe and America for best practice. As such we are now seeing an increased demand for EN, UL and FM approved fire detection and alarm systems.

We are working in a fast growing and competitive market, and as such we have always offered a high level of service to our customers, in order to build confidence. I’d say this is the most important aspect, to really listen and understand the customer in order to achieve their goals. You are always learning as the market evolves so we keep our eyes and ears open as there might be learnings from one sector that could be applied to another. By understanding the marketplace, and how modern technology might evolve you can provide better options to your customer.

Have you noticed any recent trends in the Middle East region in terms of detection?

Yes, there is a greater awareness of the importance of life safety – protecting people, assets and buildings. The customers we work with understand this is an essential part of their business, they also want to know if the technology can be more efficient, so in the case of our emergency lighting range it has been proven to save money on running costs. Or perhaps they are looking to reduce false alarms which can lead to less interruptions to productivity levels, especially in manufacturing businesses. These are important questions for businesses in the Middle East, all of which we can help with.

Do you have any examples of customer projects you would like to talk about?

Hochiki offer a wide range of robust and reliable solutions, all approved to the highest standards. In addition to point detectors, beam detectors, wireless devices etc. we also offer devices for specialist application. For example, our Intrinsically Safe (I.S.) and SIL approved products are ideal for use in hazardous environments – particularly useful when you consider most of the revenue in the region comes from the oil and gas sector.

As a global business, at Hochiki we are always striving to be the first to provide the latest and most reliable technology to our customers. We have worked on some of the most prestigious projects in the Middle East – Hochiki has been installed to protect lives and property. One such example would be an exciting and intricate project we completed with Dafoos Fire and Security, where we installed a new fire safety system for the Dubai Metro.

With tens of thousands of passengers using the network daily and the system itself operating in a hot and sandy environment, any false alarm could potentially cause mass disruption and cost the operator financially, especially during peak service times. Hochiki sensors were installed inside the metro and tram coaches and the feedback we had from the customer has been excellent.

We are a customer insight driven company, and feedback like this from the Dubai Metro project is encouraging. Our customers are vital to the research and development arm of our business and often that feedback leads to improvements to many of our products. It also shapes the training we provide to our customers.

What is Hochiki’s focus for Intersec this coming year?

Firstly, Intersec is a great opportunity to meet with customers, new and old, as well as colleagues from across the fire sector. We’re looking forward to many conversations on innovation and the latest news from the wider industry, as well as running demos on a range of high-quality products including our fire detection system, Latitude and FIREscape Nepto, the latest generation of our intelligent emergency lighting system.

What is the Latitude range?

The Latitude range of fire alarm control equipment combines the very latest hardware and software to produce an approved control and indication system, which is powerful and sophisticated, yet simple to use and understand. The flexibility of the Latitude platform is such that it can be re-configured to realise many other control and indication applications, with direct integration into intelligent buildings.

The modular nature of the Latitude system allows all field wiring to be connected to a passive mother board enabling addition, re-configuration or replacement of all electronic hardware without the need to disconnect any field wiring.

This modularity also allows each panel to be customised with addressable loop detection circuits, conventional detection circuits, relay cards, sounder outputs or programmable I/O modules as required.

What is FIREscape Nepto?

Brand new to the market and demonstrated for the first time exclusively at Intersec 2023, FIREscape Nepto is the latest generation of our environmentally friendly, cost effective, compliant emergency lighting system.

Moving away from bulk heads and central battery systems, Hochiki offers a unique, cost effective and fully compliant emergency lighting system. FIREscape Nepto is based around an addressable, emergency lighting control panel with addressable, intelligent self-contained LED luminaires and exit signage connected via screened, extra-low voltage (40V) cabling.

The whole system is networkable, fully self-monitored and self-testing with a central point of control, with the added benefit of cloud-based interrogation and reporting. These features, along with integral batteries with a 10-year lifespan, make installation and maintenance of the FIREscape Nepto system quick and easy.

Hochiki will showcase Latitude, FIREscape and more at Intersec 2023 In Hall 4, Stand 4 B22.

This article was originally published in the January edition of IFSJ. To read your FREE digital copy, click here.

IFSJ Exclusive: Versatile Fire Safety Solutions from Advanced

by Breaking NewsFire DetectionIFSJ Exclusives

Sasi Kumar, Commercial Manager Middle East and Africa at Advanced, speaks about Intersec and current trends in the GCC

Are you looking forward to Intersec 2023? We’re delighted to be exhibiting at Intersec again and demonstrating why we are a ‘one-stop shop’ for a variety of fire-safety needs across a wide range of different sites and sectors – from high-rise and infrastructure to hospitality and commercial. As well as showcasing some innovative new and updated products we will also be demonstrating the benefits of each and the problems they can solve.

What new products is Advanced showcasing this year?

Our AxisGo will be on our stand, it is the new-generation single-loop non-networkable fire panel that is versatile and packed with premium features, offering a powerful option for protecting smaller sites. AxisGo gives access to Advanced’s Axis EN range performance, quality, and ease of use but in a simpler, non[1]networkable format for complete fire protection peace of mind. We’ll be demonstrating AxisGo and outlining the typical settings where it can be used, such as villa projects and smaller commercial sites. Visitors to Intersec will also be able to see the benefits of AxisGo being available as a wired, wireless or hybrid system.

What requirements does the GCC have compared with other regions?

The Middle East is a unique market with both EN and UL solutions being used. GCC customers can be disappointed if a fire system doesn’t meet the standard they require on a project, but we offer solutions for both standards in our Axis EN and Axis AX product ranges respectively. Few competitors are able to match us from that respect and this flexibility is valued by our GCC customers.

We will have our Axis ranges, with solutions for both EN and UL standards on show. The Axis ranges are not only robust and versatile, but also easy to use – from installation and commissioning to servicing, maintenance and day-to-day operation.

Providing powerful networking capacity, the Axis EN system supports robust networks of up to 200 panels per network. Networks can also be combined to create very large fire systems making the Axis EN ideal for complex, large-scale installations. Whether networking high-risk sites with complicated cause and effect, remotely monitoring networked sites, or integrating with building management systems, intuitive software and panel navigation make setup straightforward.

Meanwhile, the UL 864-approved Axis AX fire system makes light work of integrating the smoke control and audio or voice options which are frequently required for fire systems in the Middle East. The flexible Axis AX offers integrated audio for automatic (and manual) fire alarm signalling and live voice paging during an emergency. The system also provides access to DynamixSmoke, a revolutionary approach to smoke control that radically reduces the time and associated costs of configuring fans and dampers.

What trends are you seeing in wireless technology?

 Versatility is becoming key in wireless technology. We are therefore seeing heightened interest in both our Axis EN wireless system and our MxPro 5 and Go open protocol solutions. Open protocol fire panels offer great versatility by allowing customers to choose from a range of different leading detector protocols to suit individual sites and needs.

We are also seeing a growth in hybrid wireless solutions. While many companies offer wired or wireless systems, we can offer both as well as combining wired and wireless elements in one system. This versatility is ideal for existing systems requiring expansions or upgrades in settings where fire system work needs to have minimum disturbance.

What is the most common question installers ask when they come to your stand at Intersec?

They ask about false alarms – these can cause financial, operational and reputational damage, as well as costly downtime. Where they occur frequently, they can even put lives at risk through fire alarm complacency.

Our solution is AlarmCalm which allows easy, flexible configuration of false alarm strategies. It provides unprecedented control of verification and investigation delays thanks to its unique use of ‘building areas’, independent of fire zones, for programming. This feature allows precise application of different false alarm strategies across various parts of a building. Kitchens, bathrooms and conference rooms in a hotel for example require very different approaches and AlarmCalm provides plenty of freedom to choose exactly the right one.

What will visitors be looking for at Intersec when it comes to fire systems?

Reliability and quality of product – customers want complete peace of mind. We’re proud our UK-made products are proven to be robust, reliable, resilient and efficient. Some of our systems which were installed way back in 1999 are still working in 2022.

Innovation – specialist fire system manufacturers like Advanced have the innovation expertise to be able to build what the customer wants and turn things around quickly. We offer our AdSpecials service for more complex sites requiring customised fire safety equipment and we can provide both EN and UL systems as well as extinguishing systems, 100% redundant backup – and more.

Will you have any products on show for critical and high-risk sites?

Yes, we will have our ExGo gas extinguishing panels on display. It is vital to be able to protect critical infrastructure, data centres and sensitive sites where water extinguishing could destroy irreplaceable assets, so gas extinguishing is required. ExGo provides the control for the extinguishing system and is certified to extinguishing system standards.

We will also have on show our specialist redundant panel that kicks in if the main fire panel stops working and so maintains fire protection. It’s ideal for big oil and gas power plants, manufacturing, datacentres and places requiring uninterrupted fire protection. We provide a 100% hot redundant panel so users have the assurance the fire system will continue to work should a fire panel fail as the redundant panel takes over completely. This also allows repairs and maintenance to take place without any operational downtime.

What are the current trends in the Middle East when it comes to fire systems?

Most high-rise buildings require an option of voice activation but issues can arise if the audio doesn’t sync and people are able to hear multiple messages at once. To solve this our Axis AX range features PerfectSync which ensures audio synchronisation across the entire network to avoid confusion by a mixed message. This includes large networks where we are able to deliver the message from the first panel to the 200th with highly synchronised fast messaging to help people evacuate faster in case of fire.

Is building management system (BMS) connectivity important?

As buildings become increasingly complex and we see the rise in smart buildings, the use of BMS continues to grow. There has been a rise in open communication protocols such as BACnet and Modbus which allow third-party devices, such as fire panels, to be easily integrated with the BMS.

What support does Advanced provide to back up its products?

We have a highly experienced technical support team. They offer support from presale, through design and installation to maintenance. We also provide training and want users to be confident they are specifying and installing the right solution for their customers every time. Plus, this is all backed up with a good warranty for extra peace of mind.

How does Advanced see the GCC market?

We’re committed to the GCC market and are expanding our presence for the long term and we’re recruiting in the region to expand our sales and support teams. Advanced has distribution partners in UAE, Oman and South Africa and we are actively looking for partners in the rest of the GCC and beyond, as well as OEM partnerships across the world.

Visit Advanced at Intersec on 17-19 January at stand F24, Hall 4. For further information about Advanced and its products tel: +971-504854165 email: skumar@advancedco.com or visit: https://uk.advancedco.com

This article was originally published in the January edition of IFSJ. To read your FREE digital copy, click here.

IFSJ Exclusive: Investing in the future of detection

by Breaking NewsFire DetectionIFSJ Exclusives

IFSJ looks at Global Fire Equipment’s new fire safety system manufacturing plant, its recent work in Istanbul and its plans for Intersec 2023

Just ahead of Intersec 2023, leading European-based fire safety system manufacturer, Global Fire Equipment (GFE), announced the opening of its new manufacturing facility in the Algarve region of Portugal. The new facility represents an investment of €7.5 million by GSS Group, creating a new home for two of the group’s companies – GFE and CREATECH Emergency Lighting.

One of the largest fire safety system manufacturing plants in Europe

At 7,500-sq m, the facility is more than twice the size of GFE’s previous plant, and the land purchased spans 16,0000 sq m so there is plenty of scope for further expansion should this be required as the company works towards its ambitious future growth targets. GFE has sustained impressive growth over the last 10 years, including double digit growth during the COVID-19 pandemic.

CREATECH Emergency Lighting has also achieved strong growth and will need the increased manufacturing capacity to help deliver its international sales ambitions. GSS Group sees a significant market advantage of integrating both its fire safety and emergency lighting divisions under one roof, with space to expand in the coming years.

Initially the new facility will operate a single 8-hour shift pattern, but GFE could triple production capacity as there is the option to add two further 8-hour shifts thus allowing the facility to operate 24/7.

A number of dedicated manufacturing zones are incorporated into the new facility, including on-site injection moulding and PCB SMD/THT assembly. The new assembly lines have been designed to maximise efficiency in the manufacturing process and, with the additional space, GFE has been able to increase stock storage and dispatch areas by 400% compared to its previous plant. Other areas include product testing, general assembly and management, sales and administration.

All manufacturing and office support are scheduled to be in place by the end of January 2023, with the remaining services moving in by the end of February. The new facility is located within 2km of the former site so all employees will retain their positions and GFE will continue to have good access to the labour market within the Algarve.

Building a sustainable and energy-efficient manufacturing facility was one of GFE’s key pre-requisites for the new plant. The Algarve is one of the sunniest places in Europe which allows GFE to maximise on[1]site solar energy generation. By installing a large number of solar carports, GFE’s on[1]site solar energy generation has jumped an 600% compared to the former plant which means that almost 90% of the facility’s energy needs can be supplied by solar power.

Paul Pope, GFE’s Global Business Development Manager, comments: “Our new manufacturing facility reflects the vast amount of work and investment every member of the GFE team has put into the company over the past few years. Our drive to deliver high quality and affordable fire safety systems is at the forefront of our operations and is clearly evident in the design of this facility. We are also delighted that we have been able to invest in energy efficiencies which will undoubtedly make our business more sustainable.”

Joao Paulo, GFE’s Founder and Managing Director, adds: “Building on our years of manufacturing experience and technical developments, this facility will ensure that we not only continue supporting our existing customers with industry-leading products and technical support, but also that we will be able to expand further into new markets around the world.

“We have always been focused on ways to improve efficiencies in our manufacturing process and have been able to develop sophisticated automated production lines in our new facility to increase our manufacturing capacity. While these productions lines will carry forward GFE’s drive for automation, we will also be looking to expand our team to ensure we continue to meet the high quality standards our customers know they can rely on.”

Intersec 2023

The opening of GFE’s new manufacturing facility coincides with the company’s launch of a number of new products which will be showcased on GFE’s stand (F10 in Hall 3) at Intersec 2023 in Dubai. The new manufacturing facility will be vital in ensuring GFE can meet the anticipated high market demand for these new products which include a new ZEOS 2 range of detectors and new panels.

Commenting on the products on show at Intersec, Paul Pope, says: “Intersec is widely regarded as one of the most important industry exhibitions in the Middle East, and as it’s such a strategically important market for us, we’re delighted to have a strong presence again at this year’s show. We are also particularly pleased to have Intersec as a platform to showcase our new ZEOS 2 range of detectors which we believe will generate a lot of interest in the market.

“Innovation is at the heart of GFE, with further new products expected later this year. The combined impact of our new manufacturing facility, new products and the expansion of our international sales teams means that 2023 is set to be a very exciting year for GFE and the market as a whole.”

Equipping Istanbul

A strategically important region for Global Fire Equipment, the local team in Turkey has been operating since 2013, completing a vast range of projects. GFE Turkey, was chosen to design, supply and install the fire detection and alarm system for Eston Sehir Mahallem, a prestigious residential development located in the Bahcesehir district of Istanbul, Turkey.

The development comprises 315 flats and villas on 68,000-sq m area, 70% of which is dedicated to green spaces and social and leisure areas, such as pedestrian walkways, bike paths, a children’s park and sports fields.

The design, installation and commissioning of the fire detection system for the development was undertaken by GFE’s appointed distributor in Turkey, GFE Bina Kontrol Sistemleri. GFE’s fire alarm system was chosen because it is modern and innovative, and also because it meets the legislative requirements set by the Turkish Government for residential developments which have become increasingly stringent in recent years.

The system for Eston Sehir Mahallem comprises eighteen addressable control panels, 500 ZEOS addressable smoke detectors, as well as other addressable devices including manual call points, sounders and Gas detectors.

Feride Cilesun, Site Manager at Eston Sehir Mahallem, comments: “We have been very impressed with the support and expertise of GFE Turkey at every stage in this project. They were able to give us a working system in a very short space of time which offers extensive configuration options and a great range of value-added features. The quality of all the equipment installed throughout the development is very high, and the technical support and expertise of the GFE team has been invaluable.

“We have been particularly impressed with GFE’s remote monitoring and control software, Odyssey, which allows us to manage the development in a preventative failure manner. Odyssey has also enabled us to integrate the fire detection and alarm system with the development’s third-party public address system and voice alarm system so that in the event of a fire, we are able to quickly and easily notify residents in the affected areas to evacuate their properties. The finished system is very user friendly and reliable, and we now have an ongoing maintenance contract with GFE which we have also been very happy with.”

Murat Efir, Regional Director (Turkey and Balcans) at GFE, who operates out of GFE Turkey’s headquarters in Istanbul and has worked for GFE since 2013, adds: “There was strong competition during the tender process, GFE was chosen because of our bespoke approach to the project and our extensive expertise in large[1]scale projects in the region, including hospitals, hotels, schools and other residential developments. GFE’s reputation in Turkey is very strong and we have experienced significant sales growth over the past 8 years. We have stepped up our presence in the region and are continuing to strengthen our customer offering. We are also looking forward to launching a number of new products in the coming year, including products that have been designed specifically for the Turkish market such as a detector which is capable of detecting both LPG and PNG leaks.”

This article was originally published in the January edition of IFSJ. To read your FREE digital copy, click here.

Comelit-PAC evolves LogiFire range to enable monitoring and management

by Featured NewsFire Detection

Comelit-PAC has evolved its LogiFire fire safety range to enable monitoring and management via cloud technology through its powerful MyComelit app.

The fire safety system, enhanced with its user-friendly touchscreen display and stylish design, is now available to operate with the fully responsive app from Comelit-PAC, it enables users to log, manage and administrate the commissioning, servicing, maintenance, testing, performance and day-to-day use of the connected fire alarm systems.

Says Mandy Bowden, Fire Manager at Comelit-PAC: “At a time when fire safety is high on the agenda for so many, to comply with new legislation and provide ultimate peace of mind, the addition of cloud capability and monitoring via MyComelit is a great asset for LogiFire. 

“It presents an ideal management tool for service, building and estate managers who need to maintain a lifetime electronic log of their fire alarm systems. Fire alarm installers and service companies can also benefit, by offering it as a value-added service to their customers and using it to help streamline their own service operation.

LogiFire is guaranteed by a range of control panels. The systems can be expanded from 1 to 8 loops and support up to 2000 devices on an 8-loop system and have a greater loop capacity of 700mAh. The panels are feature rich and have many onboard fault-finding diagnostics.

The evolution to cloud technology and remote monitoring via MyComelit app, means that users can check their status across their fire safety network on a remote basis, making sure they are always connected and fully operational. Event notifications can be sent via email and/or SMS messaging.

Mandy concludes: “LogiFire now being cloud enabled demonstrates how Comelit-PAC is constantly looking to develop its product portfolio to ensure our customers can manage systems faster and more efficiently. Our aim is to work with our customers to allow for optimal time to evaluate a risk, respond, remediate and potentially avoid evacuation, damage or loss.”

“It’s another example of our commitment to being with our customers every step of the way when it comes to fire safety.  From training to initial design, installation, maintenance and monitoring, with dedicated sales and technical support throughout, we really are ‘with you always.”

Logifire addressable system, has been designed to offer a simple to install, fire safety solution that is compliant with BS and EN standards. It is complemented with a new range of detectors, offered with award-winning designs to ensure systems blend with their surroundings.

IFSJ Exclusive: Is the UAE still suffering from alarm fatigue?

by Breaking NewsFire DetectionIFSJ ExclusivesMENA

Liam Hunt, Marketing Manager at STI, looks at the response to false fire alarms in UAE

The UAE had set its sights on bringing false fire alarm numbers down to zero by 2021, aiming to pull the country in line with its goal of being one of the safest countries in the world, however, as we head into 2023 is the country still suffering from alarm fatigue?

With one in three GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) residents who ignore false fire alarms coming from the UAE, experts have warned of a ‘cry wolf’ attitude towards fire alarms in the country.

Alarm fatigue occurs when a person becomes desensitised to an alarm due to repeated false alarms and as a result, fails to react appropriately in an emergency – having potentially fatal effects.

From Dubai to Abu Dhabi, frequent false alarms have unfortunately made residents complacent causing them to delay evacuation and put lives at risk.

A common cause of false fire alarms is the accidental activation of manual call points and pull stations, often placed in high traffic areas it is easy for sensitive units to be knocked or mistaken for other electrical buttons.

After an incident at the Dubai Mall, the Dubai Police reported: “Dubai Police would like to clarify that a person mistakenly set off the fire alarm at the Mall after he had broken the emergency button fixed on a wall inside the Mall.”

It is not uncommon for public buildings across the UAE to be evacuated because of false alarms: affecting routine, costing businesses valuable time and money, and reducing the confidence the general public have in fire alarms.

Frequent false alarms at the Duja Towers in Dubai meant that when an actual fire broke out in the building in February 2020, many tenants ignored the warning bells.

Describing the incident, one tenant said he didn’t immediately evacuate the building upon hearing the fire alarm: “I ignored it as usual. When it kept ringing, I went down the stairs to check with the security who confirmed there is a fire in the building.”

Whilst another tenant added: “I myself have come down the stairs at least twice in the past because of the false fire alarm. So, it is natural that people do not take it seriously.”

Just two months later, as flames ripped through the 190-metre Abbco Tower in Sharjah, residents ignored multiple alarms before finally scrambling for safety.

Suffering from alarm fatigue, one resident said: “We ignored it thinking it was just another false alarm. But when it rang a second time and then a third, we got intrigued and looked out of the window.

“The sight that greeted us looked straight out of a disaster movie. Huge flames licked one side of our building as thick plumes of black smoke billowed the darkening sky.”

And as recently as November 2022, in the shadow of the Burj Khalifa, firefighters tackled a large blaze at 8 Boulevard Walk in Downtown Dubai as residents experienced alarm fatigue.

A housemaid who looks after families in the 35-floor building said: “My madam thought it was a false alarm at first as it goes off quite often.

“There are lots of children in the building but everyone got out.”

Alarm fatigue is addressed in Chapter 18 of the UAE Fire and Life Safety Code of Practice: “It is resident’s responsibility to take every fire alarm and fire sounders seriously. Though there are false alarms sometimes, it is resident’s responsibility to verify the fire alarm without neglecting and communicating with facility management.”

False fire alarms allow for a dangerous relaxed attitude towards evacuations, however, they can be prevented. As recommended in BS 5839-1:2017 manual call points can be fitted with a protective cover to prevent false fire alarms, and halt alarm fatigue.

The British Standard Institute recommends in section 20.2b, that: “All MCPs should be fitted with a protective cover, which is moved to gain access to the frangible element.

“It is now recommended that a protective cover is fitted to a Type A manual call point to help prevent false alarms.”

A British Standard with global reach, BS 5839-1, has been used on high profile construction projects across the Middle East, including Dubai – the Standard recognises that false alarms can seriously prejudice the safety of occupants by contributing to alarm fatigue.

The dangers of false alarms are too highlighted in Chapter 8 of the UAE Fire and Life Safety Code of Practice: “Fire Detection and Alarm Systems are many a times despised and ignored because of frequent experience of false alarms, which can be nuisance and waste of time when unwanted evacuations take place.”

Consequently, in Section 4.10. Manual Fire Alarm Initiating System (Manual Call Points), the Code of Practice advises protective covers: “Listed protective covers shall be permitted to be installed over single or double-action manually actuated alarm initiating devices.”

Safety Technology International manufacture a range of protective covers, from integral covers to outdoor, sounder, and UL listed models; there are variations to suit all applications. These covers are specifically designed to protect manual call points and pull stations from false fire alarms.

Manual Fire Alarm Initiating Systems

The design, installation and spacing of manual fire alarm initiating devices must be securely mounted onto a background of contrasting colour. The alarm-initiating devices can be single action or double action and listed protective covers shall be permitted to be installed over single-or double-action manually actuated alarm initiating devices.

Manual fire alarm boxes are only to be used for fire alarm initiating purposes and be installed so that they are conspicuous, unobstructed, and accessible. Unless installed in an environment that precludes the use of red paint or red plastic, manual fire alarm boxes shall be red in colour and should be located within 1.5 m of each exit doorway on each floor. The maximum travel distance to nearest Fire Alarm box should not exceed 61m, measured horizontally on the same floor and be mounted on both sides of grouped openings over 12.2 m in width, and within 1.5 m of each side of the grouped opening.

This article was originally published in the January edition of IFSJ. To read your FREE digital copy, click here.

IFSJ Exclusive: An inside looks at Teledyne FLIR’s SIRAS drone

by Breaking NewsFire Detection
Michael Walters, Vice President Product Management LWIR Uncooled Cameras, Teledyne FLIR, talks about the SIRAS drone designed for search and rescue

The unmanned aerial vehicle market is continuously evolving as use and related benefits become more integral to professionals’ daily lives. SIRAS is a purpose-built drone providing pilots with a flexible, data secure, non-geofenced, airframe that features a swappable, high-performance payload.

SIRAS has been designed for professional drone pilots in public safety and industrial inspection roles who must respond quickly and fly when and where they need to, without risk to their data. It is also a platform that through its quick-connect swappable payload can grow along with the pilot and their organization. This makes the drone a perfect solution for the newly trained as well as the most demanding experienced pilots.

Search and rescue

Drones, particularly those equipped with thermal-visible sensors, are useful for firefighting and search and rescue missions in that they provide operational flexibility, whether at night or in challenging lighting conditions, so operators can keep a safe standoff distance when surveilling an area, looking for missing people, or identifying hot spots in structure or wildfires.  Thermal cameras can see through smoke and when equipped on a drone, provide increased visual awareness and operator safety which helps to decrease flight and mission time.

SIRAS provides an aerial perspective unique to drones, supplementing the use of handheld thermal imagers on the ground. Furthermore, with no geofencing capabilities, public safety professionals can have peace-of-mind knowing they can fly the airframe to where it needs to be to complete the mission.

Special features

SIRAS includes a thermal and visible sensor and is built for improved data security (does not include Wi-Fi or cellular capability). The existing SIRAS dual thermal and visible payload includes a visible 16MP camera with up to 128x zoom to pinpoint details. The companion 640×512 pixel high-resolution FLIR Boson infrared thermal camera provides clear imagery, 5x digital zoom, and temperature-measuring capabilities. It is the only drone that offers the patented FLIR MSX technology, adding visible edges and outlines to thermal imagery and providing critical information in real time.

The airframe provides high quality imagery, mission flexibility, secure data, and compatibility with FLIR Thermal Studio and photogrammetry software such as Pix4D enable professionals to get the job done. 

Secure recording

Public safety budget constraints and mission profiles drove specific features including the IP-54 rating and hot-swappable batteries put in place to maximize efficiency. SIRAS was primarily designed for ease of use, to quickly get up in the air, and for improved security. It does not connect to the internet, local Wi-Fi networks, or cellular networks, other than to comply with future RemoteID regulations.

This is to prevent pathways that may enable third parties to view or upload data and images. All data is stored in high resolution on the aircraft SD card where low resolution data can be stored on the controller SD card. Its capabilities make it a difficult airframe to hack remotely while protecting the drone data.

Also, SIRAS is not subject to geo-fencing, so control remains in the hands of the pilot. Public safety personnel especially need to launch quickly and get the mission completed wherever they are, as lives and property are often on the line. They cannot wait precious seconds to get permission from an entity in a foreign country to fly where and when they need to.

SIRAS enables pilots to launch within a minute of power up but it is the responsibility of the pilot to know where and when it is safe to fly. It is designed for first responders looking for a reliable, high-performance, data secure airframe with dual visible-thermal payloads from a trusted USA-based brand.  

Software

The quick-connect Vue TV128 payload features patented MSX technology, adding visible-light outlines to thermal imagery to provide critical information in real time. The visible 16MP resolution camera zooms up to 128x to pinpoint details, offering 30 percent more pixels on target at max zoom in comparison to the leading China-based brand. A companion 640×512-pixel, radiometric FLIR Boson provides sharp thermal imagery, 5x digital zoom, accurate temperature-measurement, and compatibility with FLIR Thermal Studio analysis software.

The onboard processing capabilities of SIRAS enable pilots to use multispectral dynamic imaging, known as MSX. This feature adds visible light details to thermal images in real time for greater clarity, embedding edge and outline detail from the visible camera onto thermal readings. Unlike image fusing (merging of a visible light and thermal image), MSX does not dilute the thermal image or decrease thermal transparency. In search and rescue and fire scenarios, being able to read signs and labels within full thermal imaging provides greater clarity and context for the pilot to complete the mission.

The SIRAS controller includes the Go Fly application that allows pilots to manually fly, plan missions, map missions, and control the aircraft payload. The imagery is compatible with FLIR Thermal Studio and is or will be compatible with industry-leading photogrammetry software such as Pix4D.  

Industrial applications

SIRAS represents is a full-feature airframe for FAA Part 107-certified pilots who require a reliable, secure, easy-to-fly platform for commercial/industrial and public safety missions. All Teledyne FLIR tools work as independent devices or as part of an ecosystem tied together through the use of software including FLIR Thermal Studio.

SIRAS is no different and provides additional, valuable data from the air to complement the Teledyne FLIR line of handheld inspection tools from thermal to acoustic imagers.  SIRAS offers an alternative to the current market leading professional drones with all the professional grade features and security pilots have come to expect from Teledyne FLIR.

This article was originally published in the November edition of IFSJ. To read your FREE digital copy, click here.

Euralarm Task Group extends database on residential fire safety

by Featured NewsFire Detection

Euralarm, which represents the electronic fire and security industry, providing leadership and expertise for industry, market, policy makers and standards bodies, has successfully extended its database with relevant information on residential fire safety.

Last year, the Task Group Domestic Life Safety was reactivated and started its work on the important issue of fire safety in the domestic environment. During the European Fire Safety Week, focusing on citizen safety at the heart of the energy transition, Thorsten Teichert, chair of the Task Group, spoke about the progress that had been made.

The Task Group resumed, Euralarm said, due to the fact that in addition to 5,000 deaths per year due to residential fires, more than 2.7 million people end up in emergency rooms where fire is the cause. In recent years homes are increasingly becoming ‘intelligent’ due to the emergence of new technology, but these have become homes in which fires are also spreading ever faster.

Euralarm noted that research has shown that, three decades ago, residents had 17 minutes to escape their homes in the event of a fire. Because today’s homes and the furniture in them burn faster, that escape time is now only a few minutes.

To properly ensure the domestic life safety, be it fire safety or protection against CO poisoning, Thorsten Teichert, chair of the task group, said it is necessary to have a good overview of all related standards: “Over the past year we have fully updated the database with information about standards, legislation, national application guidelines and statistical data about residential buildings. The database now covers all EU member states as well as the EEA states (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) and other affiliated or associated states, like Switzerland and the UK.

“The database is not only targeted at smoke alarm but also on CO alarms. That makes it more difficult because quite some countries don’t have data available on this. There are even data available on the causes of domestic fires in the Nordic countries. These data could also become part of the database but that would require an extension of the database. A decision on whether or how intensively we will look at the statistics on fires and fire injuries and fire deaths in 2023 has not yet been made.”

Thorsten added that the major challenge now is the diversity of the available data: “One year ago, we started with gathering data and updating the database. Thanks to the work that everybody has done and the collaboration between all group members, we have succeeded in that. We now have to decide what our next steps will be and if we are able to make that step considering the time that our members have available.”

As part of the active involvement in citizen safety, the Euralarm Task Group decided to support the European Fire Safety Week which took place last week.

“The Task Group Domestic Life Safety is actively involved in the preparation of a part of the program”, Thorsten Teichert added. “Both the European Fire Safety Alliance and the Task Group Domestic Life Safety are involved in raising the awareness on the topic of fire safety and influencing stakeholders to make the right decisions when it comes to legislation.”