Intersec Saudi Arabia: Day One highlights

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The fourth edition of Intersec Saudi Arabia, the exhibition which is a nexus of the Kingdom’s fire and emergency services, security, and safety industry, returns live and in-person to Riyadh today. The show and associated conference, which have attracted an extensive local, regional, and international exhibitor and speaker profile, will run at the Riyadh International Convention & Exhibition Center (RICEC) until Thursday, September 15.

His Excellency Mohammad Abdullah ALMarshed, Vice Chairman of Board of Directors, Chairman, Real Estate Committee of the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Intersec Saudi Arabia’s patron, inaugurated today’s exhibition.

He commented: “It is reassuring to welcome Intersec Saudi Arabia and all its local, regional, and international participants back to the capital for what promises to be an intense three days of partnership building, business deals and informative insights into the Kingdom’s comprehensive security market, its future needs and the new technology and systems which can serve it.”

More than 150 exhibitors from 20 countries are participating in the exhibition looking for market breakthroughs or expansion in the Kingdom – the largest and fastest growing market for security, safety, and fire protection in the Middle East, which is estimated, by analysts 6WResearch, to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 6.3% to reach US$1.2 billion in 2026.

Alex Nicholl, Intersec Saudi Arabia’s Show Director, said: “The potential of the Kingdom’s security market, which now covers cyber security which is being prioritised by the Kingdom’s national infrastructure security leaders, has drawn an expansive international exhibitor profile which covers the entire industry eco-system and includes manufacturers, service providers, distributors and wholesalers who are presenting a wide range of innovations from the key security and fire and safety product groups.”

The show covers five product groups across commercial & perimeter security, cybersecurity, homeland security and policing, fire and rescue as well as safety and health.

The fourth edition of Intersec Saudi Arabia also comes as the Kingdom looks to improve nationwide fire safety and industrial security regulations with 6WResearch forecasting the nation’s fire safety systems and equipment market – the largest in the GCC – will register 5.5 per cent compound annual growth until 2025 reaching a cumulative value of $402m. Growth is being driven in part by government regulation of compulsory installation of fire safety, detection, and alarm systems in buildings and the recent strengthening of the remit of Saudi Arabia’s High Commission for Industrial Security (HCIS).

Meanwhile, government leaders, agencies, organisational heads, world-class speakers, government stakeholders, policymakers, law enforcement, civil defence and private sector players are also gathering in Riyadh for Intersec Saudi Arabia 2022’s Conference. Over three days, the influential gathering will debate and define the future of the Kingdom’s security industry and its role in fulfilling its Vision 2030 goals.

The conference will feature a National Security Leaders’ Panel where industry leaders will examine ways of securing Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 through a multi-domain approach to addressing challenges from land, maritime, air, and space.

“Delegates will hear of the latest initiatives for national security, and the existing collaborations between the Government and the private sector to gain a deeper understanding of the implications of Vision 2030 in national security,” added Nicholl.

The conference will also examine strategic opportunities to solve the human resource gap within the Kingdom’s security Industry and the means to attract, retain, and grow local talent, while creating strong and successful succession planning programs, and reaching optimal Saudization levels in the sector.

Intersec Saudi Arabia is organised by Saudi-based Al-Harithy Company for Exhibitions (ACE) Group under licence from UAE-headquartered Messe Frankfurt Middle East, which organises Intersec, the world’s leading exhibition for security, safety, and fire protection.

Intersec Saudi Arabia is held in participation with Saudi Civil Defense, together with the industry at large.

More information on Intersec Saudi Arabia is available at www.intersec-ksa.com

Intersec Saudi Arabia returns

by Breaking NewsEventsMiddle East - Breaking NewsMiddle East - Events

After a three year gap, Intersec Saudi Arabia, the Kingdom’s largest trade fair for security, safety, and fire protection prepares for its long-awaited return in Riyadh this month. Taking place from 13-15 September 2022 at the Riyadh International Convention & Exhibition Centre, Intersec Saudi Arabia’s 4th edition will feature more 150 exhibitors from 20 countries, covering the four key pillars of Fire and Safety, Commercial Security, Homeland Security, and Cybersecurity.

The momentum of what has been a highlight on the annual events calendar for security and safety professionals across the Kingdom has been building since the trade show last took place in 2019 and now the annual three-day trade fair is set to be back in full force, with organisers turning away prospective exhibitor enquiries, having put up the ‘sold out’ sign on available exhibition space several months ago.

There is a clear pent-up demand to tap into the Middle East’s largest market, with Saudi’s Vision 2030, and the corresponding opportunities in securing infrastructure, people and assets a central talking point.

Intersec Saudi Arabia is organised by Saudi-based Al-Harithy Company for Exhibitions (ACE) Group under licence from UAE-headquartered Messe Frankfurt Middle East, which organises Intersec, the world’s leading exhibition for security, safety, and fire protection.

Safety in focus

Alex Nicholl, Intersec’s Director said that safety and security are high on the agenda of Saudi’s Vision 2030 and that there is a perennial requirement for safety and security products, fire protection and the accompanying innovations, all of which will be on display this year at Intersec Saudi Arabia 2022.

“Exhibitors are fully aware of the likes of NEOM, Amaala, Red Sea Project, and Qiddiya, and the immense opportunities these provide,” said Nicholls. “They’re accordingly tailoring their stand designs and solutions to target these ‘giga’ projects specifically and this will only ramp up in intensity every year as each project phase nears completion.”

Headline international exhibitors returning to the spotlight include Axis Communications, Hikvision, Genetec, Toshiba, and Milestone Systems, Nedap, Draeger, and Gatekeeper, while SAFE (National Security Services Company), Al-Alameya Group, Al Rajhi Telecom Company, Saudi Sicli Company, Abana Enterprises Group, and Al Aswad Fire Fighting System are flying the Saudi flag proudly.

NFSSP (National Factory for Safety and Security Products) is among those launching new products in Saudi Arabia, with the UAE company set to unveil its Hoods brand of tactical and safety footwear.

The UAE-made range of footwear, of which there are 41 models, are made of innovative materials including leather-tech air flow systems, fibre glass and Kevlar, offering lightweight, breathable, and durable footwear ideally suited to harsh Middle East climates. 

“Our company has been manufacturing in the UAE for more than 12 years, producing high quality tactical and safety shoes for many categories including military, police, security, oil & gas, construction and general factories,” said Jaime Ramirez, EMEA Sales and Marketing Manager at NFFSP.

“Saudi Arabia is a hugely important market for us and is continuously growing.  We see massive opportunity in particular in the construction and oil & gas sectors. We estimate we can contribute around 200,000 pairs of shoes to the market in 2023, growing 10 percent over the next five years.”

Elsewhere, SB Group International will showcase its Netix and Teknoware brands of IoT and cloud-enabled building automation and life safety solutions at Intersec Saudi Arabia 2022. SB Group’s Chairman Sanjeev Bhatia said the company is eager to connect digitalization and optimization savvy clients with its wide range of smart solutions, including control panels, luminaires, IoT controllers, and its AI-powered Netix Konnect platform.

“Saudi Arabia is a prime focus of our emerging business markets growth plan,” said Bhatia.  “Teknoware, being a global leader in the manufacturing of emergency lighting solutions, and Netix, driving Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG), is fully aligned with and compliments the growth and technology implementations of Vision 2030.

Security and fire protection

Intersec Saudi Arabia 2022 takes place amid rising national demand for security and fire protection.  Saudi has announced multiple infrastructure projects backed by the government sector, highlighting strong potential growth for the security industry.

According to consultancy 6Wresearch, Saudi’s spend on commercial security (CCTV, access control, and intrusion detection), safety, fire systems and equipment will reach nearly US$1 billion in 2022, and increasing to US$1.16 billion annually by 2025. 

“Growth is driven in part by government regulation of compulsory installation of fire safety, detection, and alarm systems in buildings and the opportunities emerging from new measures aimed at ensuring the security and safety for both citizens and visitors to the Kingdom,” explained Nicholl. 

“Intersec Saudi Arabia’s strategic location of Riyadh also means that exhibitors will have easier access to key decision makers and government and ministerial delegates based in the Saudi Arabia capital, which will enhance the sustainability of the event.”

Prevention and mitigation

In addition to a packed exhibition floor, a three-day Intersec Saudi Arabia Forum 2022 will gather security, safety and fire protection professionals with equipment manufacturers, integrators, consultants, and government authorities to navigate the future of the Kingdom’s integrated vision for safety, security, prevention and mitigation.

Saudi’s Vision 2030 will form the central theme for day one, revolving around core topics such as the implications of aligning security and safety strategies with some of the boldest ‘giga projects’ the world has ever seen. 

Speakers and panellists will address the challenges from land, maritime, air, and space in a multi-domain approach that is essential in securing the multitude of related vision 2030 projects that are expected to attract hundreds of billions of dollars of investment in the coming years.  

Day two of the conference will shine the spotlight on cybersecurity, including an opening keynote on Saudi’s National Cybersecurity Strategy, while safeguarding critical infrastructure, oil and gas, and energy assets from costly digital attacks will also be under scrutiny. 

The conference will wrap up on day three with key government partner sessions and regulatory framework updates from the Saudi Civil Defence and the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO), along with an afternoon session of fire protection. 

“While serving as a vital knowledge-sharing platform, the forum will bring together key government leaders, agencies and organisational heads with outstanding world-class speakers, innovative products, technology and solutions across all key sectors,” said Nicholl.

“The program will present a veritable ‘Think Tank’ for regional leaders in the security industry, bringing together stakeholders from policy makers, law enforcement, civil defence and private organisations to define the future of security.  Our advisory board of seasoned industry experts have crafted an engaging conference program.”

Saudi Arabia has also seen a boom in the cybersecurity sector, prioritising AI and digitisation as key pillars of its economic development in-line with its Vision 2030 initiative.  Nicholl said cybersecurity is likewise a key focus area for Intersec Saudi Arabia, with the objective to present those providers of cyber solutions for IP-based systems and networks at enterprise level across all sectors. 

“As technology advances and evolves, so too do risks associated with harmful breaches and costly downtimes of integrated networks,” he said.  “It’s important therefore that IT professionals and system integrators are aware and armed with the latest solutions that leading industry names are bringing to Intersec Saudi Arabia 2022.”

Back to business

Upon speaking to key exhibitors and government partners, Nicholl said the anticipation is building fast ahead the final countdown of what will be a welcome return to business for Intersec Saudi Arabia. 

“It’s been three years since the last Intersec Saudi Arabia, and we know our exhibitors are immensely excited to showcase their latest innovations and developments in Saudi’s security, safety, and fire protection market, that will reach nearly US$1 billion in revenues this year,” he concluded. 

“Aside from the conference, plenty of new product launches will be displayed in the Kingdom for the first time, targeting key sectors such as energy, healthcare, education, transportation and infrastructure.

“Safety and security is all around us, in everything we do, but in line with the Saudi Vision 2030 and its 24 key projects supporting the vision, we’re keen to drive the agenda of urban environments, tourism, residential, arts and culture.”

Intersec Saudi Arabia is supported by key government entities including the Saudi Ministry of Interior, and the Saudi Civil Defense.  More information for Intersec Saudi Arabia is available at www.intersec-ksa.com.

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

Mann McGowan expand Middle East distribution network with Emirates Technotrade LLC

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Mann McGowan has announced an agreement with Emirates Technotrade LLC to further expand the distribution of Mann McGowan intumescent fire, acoustic and smoke seals to the construction and passive fire protection industries in the United Arab Emirates and throughout the Middle East.

Mann McGowan already has a successful existing distribution and customer network in the region and the agreement further strengthens the company’s ambition to become the leading fire seal manufacturer throughout the Middle East.

The deal also extends Mann McGowan’s partnerships within the Emirates group of companies, with Falcon Acoustics & Passive Fire Solutions Pvt. Ltd distributor of Mann McGowan products in the Indian sub-continent.

Jamie Scott, Managing Director of Mann McGowan, commented: “We are excited to strengthen our position in the Middle East with this agreement with Emirates Technotrade. Their wealth of commercial and technical knowledge perfectly complements the existing distribution network for our high quality, third-party tested and certified seal solutions. This is another important step in Mann McGowan’s global business development strategy.”

Emirates Technotrade and its group of companies has been supplying Passive Fire Protection solutions to the construction industry in both the GCC and Indian sub-continent for more than 15 years and service the Middle East region through their sales office and warehouse in Dubai. Their Managing Director, Varghese Joseph Parackal, said: “Having worked closely with Mann McGowan in India and knowing full well their product testing regime, production capabilities and fast track delivery performance, it was the optimal choice for us to partner with Mann McGowan for the UAE and Middle East markets.”

Mann McGowan design, manufacture and supply a comprehensive range of fire, smoke and acoustic seals to meet industry requirements and customers’ needs and specifications. To ensure the safe compliance on all fire doors and to develop their product range, they work closely with door, glass and hardware manufacturers. Every product is subjected to rigorous quality control and most importantly independent third-party evaluation and testing to various national and international standards.

For further information, please contact Tim Foster on +44 (0)783 3052920 or tim@mannmcgowan.co.uk

www.mannmcgowan.co.uk

All UAE University buildings now linked to Hassantuk Safety System

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UAEU University has announced that all the buildings on all campuses are now connected to the Hassantuk safety system. The system is integrated with Civil Defense Command Centre in the UAE in line with an agreement with Injazat, the UAE’s leader in digital transformation. 

Hassantuk is a strategic public-private initiative between the UAE Ministry of Interior and Injazat designed to increase the efficiency of emergency services’ responses to all fire and life safety emergency alarms through a state-of-the-art smart system, helping to cut down response times and increase efficiency in all emergency events across the UAE, reducing the danger to life and damage to property. 

For the University, the Hassantuk system will send the alarm in real-time to the Command-and-Control Center, if smoke or fire is detected. The Center will then contact the UAEU Facilities Management (FM) team to check whether it is a real or a false alarm. The FM service provider will verify and repair the false alarm, but in case of a real fire, the Civil Defense team will arrive immediately. 

Prof. Ghaleb Al Hadrami Al Breiki, Acting Vice Chancellor, said: “The United Arab Emirates University adopts the latest technical solutions and standards to enhance occupational security, safety, and health. In addition, it uses the best technologies to protect university facilities and buildings, enhance the response to emergency situations, and reduce or prevent the loss of lives and property.

“The UAEU higher management considers the safe environment of the university community as a top priority.  We seek to link the UAEU facilities to the “Hassantak” safety system, the Ministry of Interior, and “Injazat” initiative to protect lives and property from fires and emergency situations. We are pleased to relate to it to protect lives and property and ensure the safety of the UAEU buildings using the latest innovative technological solutions.

Ayman Alsebeyi, General Manager at Hassantuk, commented: “Hassantuk is one of the world’s first federal fire and life safety services that is designed not only to help save lives and property but also to assist educational institutes to ensure the safety of its buildings and visitors.”

Eng. Mohammed Al Owain, Director of the Facilities Management Department, said the university continuously seeking to keep pace with the latest security services to improve the level of safety and readiness and response to accidents and fires.

He said: “The Facilities Management Department is responsible for the university’s quality of life for students, academic and administrative staff, partners, and visitors. Therefore, it has developed a system that meets all the requirements of international safety standards in general and the standards applicable in Abu Dhabi in particular.”

He also said that it provides a positive and effective environment that contributes to promoting creativity, ensuring the health and safety of students and academic and administrative staff, and improving the conservation and management of natural resources.

Owain added: “Hassantuk will continue to provide round-the-clock protection for connected buildings, creating a safer, smarter community.”

From schools and hospitals, residential and commercial buildings, warehouses, and workshops, Hassantuk monitors connected buildings’ fire alarm systems 24/7 from a central control room, liaising with Civil Defense Operators and emergency services to transmit fire and life safety events with greater detail and speed.

Its advanced AI engines generate regular operational and business intelligence reports for Civil Defense and the Ministry of Interior, while its dedicated online dashboards and real-time messaging enable building owners to constantly monitor their properties, adding an additional layer of information and actionable intelligence.

Hochiki fire detection devices deliver Dubai Metro safety boost

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Installation of Hochiki life safety devices aims to reduce false alarms and help make the 75km long Dubai Metro transport network safe for passengers. 

Dubai is home to more than 3.3 million people, and the world’s longest driverless single metro line – the Dubai metro. It’s designed to take up to 13,380 passengers an hour on its green line, and 11,675 passengers an hour on its red line at peak time, the Dubai Metro is almost 75 km long and operated by RTA and Serco.

Under contract to the Dubai Roads & Transport Authority, the network is run by a team of 2,000 staff with 57 trains running at peak times. 

Dafoos Fire and Security were commissioned to run the fire detection installation project on the entirety of the Dubai Metro. Trusted as a market leader in the Fire Protection Industry in the United Arab Emirates, Dafoos specialises in providing end-to-end design, erection and commissioning and maintenance of both active and passive Fire Protection Systems, and partners with some of the best OEMs in the world, including Hochiki.

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. The company’s Marketing Director, Vijay Chandran said about the project: “It was especially important as part of the life safety system design process to negate false alarms. Hochiki fire detection devices were chosen as they have a reputation for being the best in the market for their quality and their reliability when it comes to false alarm reduction. Our selection of Hochiki was confidently backed by the operators RTA and Serco” 

The Hochiki sensors were to be installed inside the metro and tram coaches. This is considered an extremely sensitive area with thousands of people transiting at a time, thus posing a higher chance of triggering false alarms. Any fire alarm trigger was programmed to send a command to the central station, and this would halt the operations within the entire network until the problem is rectified.

The Hochiki technical team also worked closely with the Dafoos team to negate the challenge of frequent dust build up in the chambers. It was advised that periodic maintenance of the sensors was moved from every 6 months to every two instead, which is customary practice for commercial buildings in the region. 

“Hochiki Smoke Sensors have been installed across the entire Dubai Metro and tram coaches; they have been functioning with minimal issues for the last three years. Periodic maintenance has been conducted in conjunction with Hochiki’s technical team recommendation. Our team would not hesitate to recommend Hochiki life safety systems and products to be used in other projects within the transport industry”.

Dafo Vehicle Fire Protection amplifies its presence in Eastern Africa

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Dafo Vehicle Fire Protection has started a partnership with Twakei Vehicle Fire Protection based in Nairobi, Kenya. Twakei is a specialist engineering company providing fire suppression services in Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Uganda, Sudan, Eritrea, Southern Sudan, Rwanda, Burundi, and Somalia.

“We are very excited to join Dafo Vehicle’s family because it complements our service offering, and will lower the total cost of ownership for our customers while protecting the environment,” says Caroline Wambua, Director at Twakei.

“We are glad to increase our presence in eastern Africa and especially within the mining industry as we through this partnership are now able to support our customers with shorter lead times,” says Fredrik Rosen, Dafo Vehicle Business Manager for Africa. Our commitment to the mining industry includes retrofitting and servicing fire suppression systems for all types of heavy-duty mining vehicles, both for underground applications and open-pit applications.

“Dafo Vehicle’s global experience and product portfolio synergize with our local expertise to expand the potential offering to clients in many segments from mining, construction, agriculture, etc. We are now able to tailor-make complete vehicle fire protection solutions and services and to help ensure that heavy-duty vehicles and equipment can be equipped and protected for our customers in the region,” concludes Wambua.

Why Dubai is the focus for emergency responders at Intersec 2022

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Thousands of fire professionals will be in Dubai next month for one of the world’s biggest safety events, Intersec 2022. Visitors will be able to meet with manufacturers, view the latest equipment and attend an industry leading conference programme which will focus on some of the disasters that have made headlines around the globe

Intersec 2022 from 16-18 January in Dubai is the region’s biggest exhibition for fire and safety showing the latest equipment, technology and protective clothing.

New to the event this year is the Agile First Responders Conference featuring first-hand insights from leading figures involved in major incidents that have made world headlines, including the Lebanese warehouse explosion in 2020 and fire at high-rise developments.

Head of Intersec Alex Nicholl said: “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.”

Speakers at the conference include Richard Reed, Head of Corporate Emergency Management and Continuity, Saudi Aramco; Sinclair Duffie, Chief Fire Officer, Nawah Energy Company; Deputy Chief Jeff Dulin Strategic, Advisor for National and International Programs, International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC); Anas Alzaid Middle East and North Africa, National Fire Protection Association; Alexander Castellanos Head of Fire & Safety, WSP; Kate Field Global Head, Health, Safety and Well-being, British Standards Institute (BSI); Ayssar Hanza Risk Engineering Director, Ace Energy Group (Ex BP).

A first day session of the conference examines the Beirut Port blast – the world’s largest peacetime explosion – where a presentation will look at the actions of first responders, the performance of equipment and recommendations for future incidents.

Day 2 includes a session titled ‘The Future of First Response: A vision for firefighting’, looking at enhancing resource allocation and advance panning.

Dubai is recognised for its soaring buildings and the second day also examines the response of its emergency teams to fires in the city’s high-rises, including the New Year’s Eve fire at The Address Hotel, in the heart of the city and the blaze at The Torch, one of the world’s tallest residential buildings.

But it is the London Grenfell Tower tragedy that offers a key focus for the day and the lessons for firefighters around the world from these tall tower blazes. Communication strategies are as important as the management and extinguishing methods and the conference will examine those.

The day includes a session with testimony from a first responder titled ‘Lessons Learned from the Boston Marathon bombing’.

Day 3, takes a more selective view including sessions titled ‘Healing a First Responder’ – what are the physical needs of emergency response individuals and how can that care be implemented?

Also reflecting on the previous two days’ examination of major incidents, a session titled ‘Resilient Cities’ asks how leaders can move forward after incidents and what is the involvement of the first responders in the healing process.

So a key theme of this year’s conference and event is about learning, examining past incidents to decide how our industry manages and prepares for the future.

Alongside the show and multiple conferences is a series of daily workshops on Before the incident – Emergency Planning for Disasters lead by experts from the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), Incident Management – The importance of assembling the right team; lead by Tim Briggs, Past president of IOSH, UK, and Post incident – The layers of incident investigation and reporting; lead by Assar Hanza, Risk Engineering Director, ACE Energy Group. These CPD accredited courses will provide training and practical tactics for emergency responders from multiple disciplines.

One of a number of international pavilions is from France. “Business France will once again foster business growth for French exhibitors by featuring two pavilions at Intersec 2022, bringing together innovative French exhibitors specialising in Commercial Security and Fire & Rescue securing coveted space at the event. Supported by La French Fab, French expertise will be represented across a variety of innovative solutions for the industry from perimeter and physical security to fire prevention and firefighting.”

Thousands of fire and safety brands and products from over 50 countries will be on show within the halls at intersec.  The theme for the event this year is Uniting the World’s leading industry specialists for the safety & security of future generations and is supported by government partners Dubai Police, Dubai Civil Defence, SIRA and Dubai Municipality with founding partner NAFFCO.

 “Intersec has been integral in the Dubai Civil Defense’s mission to adopt innovative solutions that are smarter, more sustainable, and that better serve our communities while preserving the natural environment. Intersec’s 23rd edition in January 2022 will be the first major gathering of its kind for the world’s security, safety, and fire protection industries, and the Dubai Civil Defence looks forward to reuniting safely with our international partners and colleagues once again “.

His Excellency Lt. Gen. Rashid Thani Al Matrooshi, Director – General of the DCD

For full details of Intersec 2022 in Dubai and registration, visit the website HERE www.intersecexpo.com

View the conference programme HERE www.intersecexpo.com/conference

Intersec to deliver ground-breaking show in 2022

by Middle East - Breaking News

Intersec – the world-leading emergency services, security and safety event – will mark its return in 2022 with a ground-breaking, elevated new program 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 the 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, Cyber Lab and a dedicated KSA Focus Day.

The conferences will feature over 500 speakers from more than 30 countries, more than 30 global case studies being presented, Executive Regional and International Government and Private Enterprise speakers will make for the most dynamic of industry conferences that will also include eminent speakers not seen before in the UAE.

Fire, Emergency, and frontline professionals have two industry specific conference pillars with a robust programme discussing the challenges facing the industry and future opportunities to build resilience through –The Agile First Responders Conference and Protecting Future Connected Cities and Citizens Conference. Vital discussions will drill down into the geopolitical and technological drivers of the challenges currently faced and how technology is driving new initiatives. Delegates from around the world will explore best practice, shared learnings and the latest innovations to identify future responses to emergencies that threaten local, national and regional security.

The Agile First Responders Conference will feature first-hand insights from leading figures involved in recent urban catastrophes, including the Beirut Port explosion and London’s Grenfell Tower disaster. The response to these events will be examined and include a closer look at resource optimisation and preparedness, as well as the wellbeing of first responders.

Contributing speakers are:

•             Tim Briggs, Past President, Institution of Occupational Safety and Health

•             Brigadier Khaled Al Hammadi, Director, Dubai Police Research Center Department

•             Nagi Souaiby, Head of Emergency Department, Notre Dame Maritime Hospital

•             Peter Van Gorp, Associate Technical Director, HKA

•             Dr. Nahed Abdul Khaleq Monsef, Director of Strategy & Governance Department, Dubai Health Authority

•             Graham Parker, CEO & IOSH Past President IOSH and Ambassador, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA)

Tim Briggs said: ‘‘When emergencies occur, all first responders, crisis communicators and local authorities have to cooperate in sharing information with the aim of reducing people’s vulnerability and increasing resilience, making sure everyone is giving out the same message.’’

The Protecting Future Connected Cities and Citizens Conference will convene global government and business leaders to share ideas and develop methodologies for the creation and maintenance of safe and resilient cities. The latest cutting-edge technologies and best practices from around the world will be showcased and the conference will also have demos and case studies on how to create safe venues.

Contributing speakers are:

•             Jan Fox, Executive Director – Safe Communities, REACH Council for Safe Communities

•             Tareque Choudhury, Vice President of Technology Risk & Enterprise Architecture, Dubai Airports

•             Amjad Alata, Senior Manager, Security, HSE & Business Continuity, Emaar Entertainment

•             Nathan Pierce, Programme Director of Sharing Cities & Head of Smart London Team, Greater London Authority

By examining real-life scenarios from Toronto, London and Japan, delegates will discuss the technologies needed to build the safe, connected, inclusive and resilient cities of the future. From emergency response systems, to leadership-in-crisis dynamics, citizen engagement strategies and the use of blockchain in urban management, the conference leave no stone unturned and will end with the SIRA Forum and a live Q&A, providing technical guidance and interpretations of new regulations within the Dubai Security Law.

Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansoor Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Intersec will be held from 16 -18 January, 2022 at the Dubai World Trade Center.

Intersec exhibitor spotlight: Ateis Middle East

by Middle East - Breaking News

International Fire and Safety Journal speaks exclusively with Philip Witts, Chief Operating Officer of Ateis Middle East

What gaps have you seen appearing in the fire market?

“Traditionally, the fire industry has always been somewhat behind the security in terms of the technology that is available, and that’s because of life safety rules and regulations. For example, you can’t do things with a life safety system that you can do with an intruder system. However, I think the industry is starting to realise that some of that technology such as remote access are now relevant for fire alarm products as long as they are used with caution, and in a way in which the life safety aspects are always considered.

“For example, you can’t silence a fire alarm system remotely until you have verified what is actually happening in the building, because if there is a fire and you have silenced the system then it’s potentially a life-threatening situation. Remote access and control can be used for good, but it needs to be used with caution and with robust operating procedures.”

How would you say the industry has adapted to the pandemic?

“In the UAE the sites never stopped, not for a day and business carried on as usual. We did have to have precautions in place for our employee’s safety. In terms of our business operation, a lot of it is done by visiting clients, consultants and key contractors and that just couldn’t happen when the pandemic started so we have obviously had to adapt and use systems like Zoom and Teams instead of carrying out visits. We jumped on this almost immediately and adopted a digital approach for things like webinars that could replace our usual lunch and learn approach.

“By adapting, I would say we have managed to diversify the geographic location of our training team, which has been predominantly based in Dubai, a lot of this is now done by our trainers based in other countries. It has improved a lot of aspects of what we do on a daily basis. Adopting these technologies has really helped us become more efficient and to connect to new customers in many markets worldwide.”

What innovations have driven the industry forward in the last two years?

“Again, remote monitoring and control, as well as service and maintenance records being created automatically and stored on the cloud. We were an early adopter of that kind of technology, and we have had our own cloud for about six years. This has enabled customers to be able to access the control panels remotely, as well as store every event and carry out remote maintenance.

“Customers now have the ability to test a smoke detector remotely and have someone on site to verify that the system is working. Because this is all seamlessly joined together in one platform you have an event log for every panel or detector on every site, in one place. When you offer that to a customer, not only can they be more efficient in their record keeping, they can also be more proactive when it comes to maintenance and going to sites to fix issues.”

Intersec is just a couple of months away. What can we expect from Ateis on the show floor?

“We like to use Intersec to launch new products, and we have some exciting new products that will be showcased there, but I want to keep them as a surprise for the show. We will of course be showing off our existing line of products as well, and we will also be demonstrating our remote platform the Velox Cloud, an app-based solution for control and access.”

The Velox Cloud by Ateis

What key themes do you think will dominate Intersec?

“The advancement of remote technology will play a huge part. We are working day and night to make our systems safer, so if we can incorporate technologies that give a faster response, more control and better records then and I think that this will be picked up on by more manufacturers at the show.”

How are excited are the Ateis team to be returning to Intersec?

“People are looking forward to returning to exhibitions and seeing what is available in the market and our team are extremely excited to meet the global customers. The team here are motivated and ready for the return of the show. The UAE has already put on some great events that have been well attended and I expect that to carry on.

How important is the event for the fire and safety industry?

“Intersec has become the leading show in the world and also the number one show for product launches for all manufacturers. For us, the show is vital, and we have exhibited every year that it has taken place. It’s also important for the industry to have a show like this in a global hub where visitors can see the latest products that are available. Intersec is the key event of the year for us.”

What new innovations are you expecting to see at Intersec?

Technology like the Velox Cloud will feature heavily at Intersec

“It’s always interesting to walk around the show and see what is being exhibited. For example, firefighting drones and products like that which are using the technology available and using it to make solutions better. I also think that we could see some of the technology that is being used in security to start to come across to life safety systems.”

Ateis will be exhibiting at Intersec when the show returns in January 2022 (Hall: 4 – E20). For more information on the line of Ateis solutions, visit their website.

Intersec will return between the 16th – 18th of January 2022. Visit the Intersec website to register your interest in attending.

G3 Systems Fire Protection Services conclude operations at Mazar-e-Sharif Air Base

by AviationIndustry SectorsMiddle East - Breaking News

On the 6th June 2021 at 07:30 (AFG Time), G3 Systems handed over its Fire Protection Service (FPS) function to DEU (German Armed Forces) Air Operations Group firefighters, marking the conclusion of a continuous working relationship at the Mazar e Sharif (MeS) airbase which began on 21st November 2014.

During the last 6 and a half years, G3 Systems Limited, working through the NATO Supply & Procurement Agency (NSPA), has successfully provided the DEU at MeS with continuous aviation and structural fire cover, ensuring all airfield emergency responses to ICAO CAT 9 requirements, along with structural firefighting response to all elements of the airbase infrastructure and personnel.

This essential emergency service provision has been achieved with a total of 59 staff delivering ARFF, Structural, Fire Safety and Emergency Vehicle Technician support to fulfil 24-hour coverage for the changing mission requirements, in this austere and often challenging environment.

G3 Systems has also trained 14 Afghanistan Civil Aviation Authority (ACAA) firefighters during an 18 month ‘on the job’ training contract, which resulted in the airport gaining ICAO certified and trained staff, available to provide fire cover for the civilian side of the Mazar e Sharif International Airport. This training comprised Basic Firefighting skills, specialised aircraft firefighting, incident command and management, technical rescue skills, working at height and driver training.

Commenting on the handover, Chief Fire Officer Derek Tomlinson said “I would like to thank everyone who has worked, assisted and been a part of the incredible journey over the G3 Systems MeS FPS contract. I would also like to dedicate this final message to the memory of our colleague Firefighter Myank Mishra, who very sadly lost his life to COVID-19 in India during the demobilization of this contract”.

G3 Systems has also provided the FPS to the airbases in Herat and Kandahar and continues to support NATO and the ACAA in Afghanistan with FPS at Hamid Kharzai International Airport in Kabul.