New fire protection classification rule set for Abu Dhabi consultants

by Featured NewsFire EngineeringMiddle East - Breaking NewsSafety

Fire protection accreditation becomes mandatory

The Abu Dhabi Civil Defence Authority has launched a mandatory accreditation programme for engineering consultancy offices in Abu Dhabi working in fire protection and life safety engineering.

Abu Dhabi Media Office reported that the scheme is described as the first regulatory model of its kind in the UAE and applies to consultancy offices submitting fire protection system designs in the emirate.

The programme was launched in collaboration with the Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).

It requires engineering consultancy offices to obtain a classification in Fire Protection and Life Safety Engineering Consultancy by completing the Certified Fire Protection Engineer (CFPE) programme.

The requirement is intended to improve the quality of engineering designs related to fire protection and safety systems and compliance with approved standards.

Certification deadline set for September 2026

Engineering professionals within consultancy offices in Abu Dhabi will complete an internationally recognised training and professional accreditation programme to obtain CFPE certification.

The certification will also be included within the classification management system of the DMT.

The Abu Dhabi Civil Defence Authority said the requirement will become mandatory when consultancy offices submit fire protection system designs in Abu Dhabi.

The deadline for completing the training programmes and obtaining official certification is 1 September 2026.

After that date, preliminary engineering design submissions from consultancy offices will not be accepted unless the registered engineer holds a valid CFPE certification.

Standards and design review requirements

The accreditation programme is intended to standardise design, review and compliance practices in line with NFPA standards.

It is also expected to improve the quality of design and review processes for fire protection systems in buildings and facilities.

The authority said the programme forms part of its work on fire protection and life safety systems in Abu Dhabi.

The future of wildfire technology

by Aerial FirefightingAmericasAmericas - Breaking NewsAmericas - EventsAviationEventsFire SuppressionWildland FireWildland Fire

The world is making significant investments to rise to the challenge of managing and responding to deadly wildfires. Not only has the US federal government expanded budgets to prevent and defend against wildfires, but it is also evaluating the organisation of its federal wildfire agencies.

Likewise, state and local governments and utility companies are increasing their investments in wildfire prevention, mitigation and suppression.

IDGA’s Wildfire Technology Summit, taking place on April 21-22, 2026, at the Kona Kai Hotel in San Diego, CA, convenes senior decision-makers from across the wildfire ecosystem to tackle real-world challenges, accelerate modernisation efforts and shape the next phase of wildfire resilience, prevention, and suppression.

IDGA’s Wildfire Technology Summit agenda

Here’s a sneak peek at what you’ll find in the agenda:

✔️ Timely and high-priority sessions, such as the role of the brand-new U.S. Wildland Fire Service, advancing wildfire capabilities, AI and its role in wildfire intelligence, management strategies, and more!

✔️ Recently confirmed speakers, including Dirk Giles and Jessica Haas from the U.S. Forest Service, Sean Triplett and Mike Falkowski from Earth Fire Alliance and Brian D’Agostino from San Diego Gas and Electric, alongside many new additions

✔️ Networking opportunities with more than 300 senior wildfire experts, all focused on exploring solutions for the prediction, prevention, detection, suppression, and mitigation of destructive wildland fires

Download the agenda to find out more.

Pye-Barker completes 57 company acquisitions in 2025

by Featured NewsMergers & Acquisitions

Pye-Barker acquisition growth in 2025

Pye-Barker Fire & Safety acquired 57 fire alarm, fire sprinkler, suppression and security companies in 2025, taking its workforce to 9,000 team members across 47 states.

The company announced the figures as part of its 2025 update, which also said it entered Hawaii and Arkansas during the year.

Pye-Barker said it continued to add locally operated branch locations across the United States.

Bart Proctor, CEO of Pye-Barker, said: “Each acquisition from 2025 plays a pivotal role in our continued impact.

“Our team deliberately acquired companies that align with our values and company culture to create a team of like-minded, driven individuals nationwide.

“We plan to continue this trajectory in 2026 as we elevate fire and life safety services to take care of our customers and the communities we serve and be a superior single source partner for all life safety needs.”

Pye-Barker programmes and 2025 recognition

The update also outlined internal programmes launched in 2025, including the ALL In employee ownership program for eligible full-time team members and the What Matters community impact platform.

The What Matters platform was described as a source of support for employees during hardship and emergencies, and for local causes across the U.S. and firefighter safety work through a partnership with the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.

Proctor added: “Our culture and the passion of our team members for taking care of each other and their customers nationwide is what makes Pye-Barker special.

“As I look ahead to 2026, I feel confident that we will continue to enhance everything we’ve been working on at Pye-Barker, including continuing to be a great place to work, a supportive resource to our communities and a trusted safety partner to our customers.”

Pye-Barker also said it rose to number four on the SDM 100, made the Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Private Companies list for the sixth time and received Great Places to Work certification in 2025.

VdS joins Euralarm as associate member in Extinguishing, Fire, Security and Services

by Featured NewsFire DetectionSafetyTraining

Euralarm adds VdS as associate member

Euralarm has welcomed VdS as a new associate member in Zug, Switzerland, in March 2026.

VdS will become a member of its Extinguishing, Fire, Security and Services Sections.

VdS services and areas of work

VdS described its work as covering fire protection, security, cyber security and natural hazard prevention.

Its services include risk assessments, testing and certification, inspection services, information systems for natural hazards and a training programme.

The institute also publishes guidelines that it said set international safety and security standards.

How Euralarm described member benefits and section roles

Euralarm said companies joining the association gain insight into other European markets and opportunities, alongside access to EU policy expertise and connections with technical and political experts and potential business partners.

It added that membership enables organisations to gain expertise on standardisation and support and direct standardisation and legislative processes.

The association outlined its four sections as Extinguishing, Fire, Services and Security, with VdS joining all sections.

FFE achieves FM Approval for Fireray One and Fireray Hub Reflective for key international markets

by Breaking NewsFire DetectionFire EngineeringPassive

FFE Ltd, a specialist manufacturer of fire detection solutions, has announced that Fireray One beam smoke detector and Fireray Hub Reflective have achieved FM Approval, supporting specification and use across the USA, Middle East & Africa (MEA), Australia and New Zealand.

Large-volume environments can present challenging detection conditions, where smoke may dilute, stratify or drift with airflows. FM Approval provides added confidence for stakeholders specifying fire detection solutions for applications where reliability, compliance and continuity of operation matter.

Fireray One is designed for beam smoke detection in large open areas, providing long-distance coverage suited to high-ceiling environments. Fireray Hub Reflective complements Fireray One by combining the same beam detection capability with a low-level controller, enabling a more system-based approach to installation and oversight, and supporting up to three detector heads from a single control point, helping simplify commissioning, verification and ongoing maintenance.

FM Approval an ‘important milestone’ for FFE

“FM Approval is an important milestone for Fireray One and Fireray Hub Reflective,” said Luke Brittany, Product Manager, Fireray Product Range, FFE Ltd. “It gives specifiers and project teams added confidence when selecting an approved beam detection solution for large, open areas, supporting reliable performance and clearer system oversight.”

More information and resources:

Quelfire’s technical solutions ensure compliance at Wales’ largest health and research hub

by Breaking NewsBuilding ManagementConstructionFire EngineeringHealth and Safety

Pentre Awel is the first development of its scope and size in Wales and one of the highest-valued schemes Carmarthenshire County Council has undertaken. This £84 million project covers 83 acres and has created an estimated 1,800 jobs.

The scheme provides medical research and health care, encouraging individuals to lead active lifestyles. Pentre Awel also includes integrated care and physical rehabilitation facilities and hopes to boost the local economy by £467 million over the next 15 years.

As the chosen passive fire protection system manufacturer, Quelfire worked alongside the main contractor, Bouygues Construction Ltd and all the relevant parties to deliver this project.

The main objective was to incorporate an early engagement approach to design and build Pentre Awel around the tested details available, creating safe and compliant buildings.

Challenges of the project

As this was one of Bouygues UK’s first early engagement projects utilising a new approach and systems, the initial cooperation of relevant parties proved to be the main challenge.

This later led to the coordination of service spacings being problematic due to the large number of services used on the project, steel beams and restricted space available.

Solutions to the issue

Bouygues UK’s initiative to implement a new system called Morta ensured Bouygues completed work in line with the Building Safety Act and built the Golden Thread of Information to hand over to the building owner on completion of the project. It also guaranteed they met Building Regulation 38 requirements.

The Morta system ensured that all service penetrations were covered. If critical information was not provided, the schedule would go back to the responsible person to collate and send over.

The idea of a clear ‘Builder’s Work in Connection’ (BWIC) opening schedule is to make sure all parties work together, take responsibility, and understand what is required.

To provide the most relevant firestopping tested solutions from Quelfire’s extensive library, Quelfire required a detailed schedule with specific information about the project’s service penetration applications.

This included information about the wall or floor construction, the required fire rating, and the dimensions of structural openings.

Additionally, they needed to know if the application involved a head-of-wall scenario, whether any movement was required, and details about the services – such as their type, material, size, and any insulation requirements, including thickness.

However, receiving the information and getting everyone on the same page proved to be quite challenging as, for many, this was a brand-new approach to building construction. Luckily, Pentre Awel discussions began in 2022, leading to the first early engagement meeting in January 2023.

After this, Quelfire had regular project meetings and workshops to discuss the firestopping package, BWIC openings and any non-standard details. This ensured all parties were on the same page and could provide the correct information, minimising confusion.

Senior BIM Coordinator, Bouygues, Tom Marsh’s statement

Tom Marsh, Senior BIM Coordinator at Bouygues, stated: “Quelfire have been very proactive in supporting our Golden Thread initiative via our Information Management platforms.

They have also provided a lot of technical insight which we have used to improve on Pentre Awel processes, as well as other projects moving forward.”

Design Manager, Bouygues, Matthew John’s statement

Matthew John, Design Manager at Bouygues, said: “Quelfire’s Technical Manager, Alec, has supported the Pentre Awel design team throughout the detailed design stage, giving pragmatic guidance on tested passive fire stopping solutions.

“This support has been invaluable in assisting Bouygues in delivering our Golden Thread builders work approval process.”

Quelfire provide technical solutions to Wales health and research hub: Summary

Pentre Awel is the first development of its size in Wales and it hopes to boost the local economy by £467 million over the next 15 years. Quelfire worked alongside Bouygues Construction Ltd to complete the project.

Bouygues Design Manager said that the support and advice from Quelfire has been invaluable.

South Wales Fire and Rescue Service publishes new prevention strategies framework

by Featured NewsTraining

Strategies outline prevention protection and response priorities

South Wales Fire and Rescue Service (SWFRS) has published new prevention, protection and response strategies outlining how it plans to reduce risk and support safer communities across South Wales.

The Service confirmed the strategies formalise existing operational work and link daily activity with outcomes aimed at protecting life, property and the environment.

Head of Operations Mike Wyatt explained: “One of the key areas highlighted by the HMICFRS inspection was the need to formalise the work we undertake in our communities across prevention, protection and response.

“These strategies bring together the activity delivered by our teams and help connect the work we do every day with the impact it has on saving lives.”

The framework sets out how SWFRS will work with partners to reduce the likelihood of fires and emergencies, strengthen public protection through education, regulation and enforcement, and improve its understanding of risks affecting communities, businesses and individuals.

The strategies also include commitments to reduce smoke, chemicals and carbon emissions, support sustainable building development and contribute to community resilience.

Five themes support implementation, including workforce support, environmental responsibility, collaboration with partners, innovation and continuous improvement.

Operational plans set prevention protection and response actions

The prevention strategy focuses on person-centred interventions such as home fire safety visits for vulnerable people, education programmes for young people and public safety information covering fire, road and water risks.

Partnership working remains central to prevention efforts, with a focus on inclusive delivery and shared responsibility across agencies.

The protection strategy outlines risk-based inspections, targeted engagement with high-risk premises, compliance support through Primary Authority Schemes and measures to reduce unwanted fire signals.

Fire investigation and intelligence sharing support efforts to improve safety standards and identify emerging risks.

The response strategy sets out how SWFRS will maintain operational readiness, meet statutory duties and address risks linked to climate change, urbanisation, industrial activity, public safety and workforce pressures.

Commitments include maintaining staffing levels, improving on-call availability, strengthening collaboration and embedding the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) Code of Ethics within operational practice.

The Service stated the strategies align operational activity with identified risks and inspection findings to support safer outcomes across South Wales.

Preventr fire protection group secures £10m expansion funding

by Associations and OrganisationsFeatured NewsMergers & Acquisitions

Preventr secures funding and expands passive fire protection capabilities

Preventr has secured a £10m funding facility from Growth Lending to support expansion and acquisitions, including the purchase of Passive Fire Safety Solutions Limited (PFSS).

Preventr confirmed that an initial £6.2m has been provided to fund the PFSS acquisition and support its growth plans.

The wider facility provides additional capacity to pursue further acquisitions and invest in operational capacity, workforce and technology across the UK.

The PFSS acquisition expands installation and compliance capabilities and complements existing fire door manufacturing operations.

This positions the business to deliver full passive fire protection services nationwide across regulated environments including social housing, NHS facilities, commercial real estate, airports and residential portfolios.

Preventr employs 75 people nationwide and operates as a London-based national fire protection specialist and a portfolio company of Tandy Ventures.

Preventr outlines strategy supported by funding and acquisition

Preventr stated that the funding supports its buy-and-build strategy and internal transformation initiatives, including the roll-out of AI-powered technology to analyse building safety data and prioritise fire safety actions.

This technology is intended to help engineers manage compliance workloads more efficiently and improve building safety data analysis.

Jamil Anakkar, Founder and Chief Executive of Preventr, said: “The financial support provided by Growth Lending has enabled us to accelerate our pace of growth through acquisitions as well as internal transformation projects, helping us to position as a leader in the UK fire safety marketplace.

“The acquisition of PFSS is an important milestone for the group as it complements our existing fire door manufacturing capability.

“We now have the ability to offer full-scope passive protection services on a national basis, strengthening our proposition to clients who require trusted partners capable of delivering at scale.”

Adam Brinn, Managing Director at Growth Lending, said: “Preventr operates in a market supported by clear structural drivers and has built a strong reputation for providing high-quality, compliant fire safety solutions.

“This transaction supports a compelling buy-and-build strategy led by an experienced management team and enables the business to scale its capabilities while delivering positive social impact through improved fire safety standards.”

The transaction was introduced by Langdon Capital, with due diligence support from FRP, tax due diligence provided by Wilson Partners, lender counsel from Browne Jacobson and borrower legal advice from JMW Solicitors.

Insafe launches lithium-ion battery safe range for storage and charging

by Featured NewsProductsSafety

Insafe launch covers Lite and Pro models

Insafe has launched a Lithium Ion Battery Safe range for the storage and charging of lithium batteries.

The UK distributor for Chubbsafes said the range includes two models, the Lithium Ion Battery Safe Lite and the Lithium Ion Battery Safe Pro, for use across commercial and industrial environments.

Simon Arthur, Managing Director at Insafe, said: “With lithium batteries now powering a wide range of tools, devices and workplace technologies, fire safety has become a critical consideration.

“These new Chubbsafes solutions have been developed to help reduce the risks associated with charging and storing lithium batteries, while maintaining practical functionality and ease of use.”

Features and certifications listed for each cabinet

The Lithium Ion Battery Safe Lite is described as a purpose-built cabinet for storing and charging lithium batteries with fire-resistant construction and Euroclass A1 insulation.

Two integrated fire alarms are located inside and outside the cabinet.

Surge-protected power sockets are included for charging.

Perforated steel shelving is listed with a 50-kilogram load capacity per shelf.

Optional features include electronic locks, additional power strips and connection to a building’s ventilation system.

The Lithium-Ion Battery Safe Pro is described as offering advanced fire containment and suppression capabilities.

It is certified to EN 14470-1 and EN 1363-1.

It is described as offering up to 105 minutes of fire protection from outside to inside and 90 minutes from inside to outside.

The cabinet is built to EI 180mm Type A1 and NF EN 13501-2 standards.

It includes thermo-expanding door seals, surge-protected sockets and adjustable perforated shelves.

Optional systems include an automatic fire extinguisher, a smoke detector and integrated alarm notifications.

Sizes, finishes and ordering

The Lite model is available in 185-litre, 730-litre and 1000-litre sizes with a RAL 9010 white finish.

The Pro model is available in four sizes from 165 to 665 litres, with a RAL 9010 white finish.

Arthur added: “By introducing both Lite and Pro options, Insafe supports organisations in choosing the level of bespoke protection that best suits their operational needs.

“It reflects Chubbsafes’ commitment to evolving with workplace safety challenges, giving businesses confidence their lithium batteries can be stored and charged safely, whatever the scale of their operations.”

The Lithium Ion Battery Safe Lite and Pro models are available to order through Insafe.

MHCLG consults on fire protection rules for telecoms work in buildings

by ConstructionFeatured NewsPassiveSafety

MHCLG: Fire protection and building control dispensations

A government consultation proposes streamlined building control procedures for certain telecommunications work while retaining fire protection requirements.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has opened a consultation on dispensations covering drilling holes through internal fire-resisting walls for fibre optic cabling and work to mobile communications masts.

The proposals focus on work to existing buildings, including existing higher-risk buildings, and also seek views on approval routes for fibre optic work in buildings outside the higher-risk regime.

The consultation document describes the higher-risk building control regime introduced in October 2023 and defines higher-risk buildings as buildings containing at least 2 residential units, care homes and hospitals that meet the 18 metre or seven storey height threshold.

How the higher-risk process would change

The consultation outlines that the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) is the sole building control authority for higher-risk building work in England.

For fibre optic cabling in existing higher-risk buildings, the proposal is to dispense with procedural requirements linked to gateway two, requirements during construction and gateway three, so work could proceed without applications to, or approval from, the BSR.

A condition under consideration is written notification to the BSR once the work is completed, alongside retaining a handover of accessible digital information covering how the work complies with parts B, F, L and O of Schedule 1 of the Building Regulations 2010.

For fibre optic cabling in existing buildings outside the higher-risk regime, the proposal is to dispense with procedural requirements related to giving a building control notice or submitting full plans, with a completion notification to the relevant building control authority also under consideration.

For mobile communications masts on existing higher-risk buildings, the proposal is to dispense with gateway two and construction-stage procedural requirements, while retaining gateway three checks including the need to apply for, and obtain, a completion certificate from the BSR.

Across the proposals, conditions under consideration include limits on hole size, fire-stopping requirements, product safety standards, time limits between start and completion and requirements for relevant qualifications, with the Principal Contractor identified as the party responsible for ensuring conditions are met.

Consultation dates and response route

The consultation runs from 27 January to 24 March 2026 and invites evidence and views on scope, conditions, enforcement and whether competent person schemes could be appropriate in future for the types of work covered.

Responses can be submitted via an online survey or by emailing buildingregulationsconsultation@communities.gov.uk, with respondents asked to confirm whether they are replying as an individual or on behalf of an organisation and to include contact details.