Halma buys Global Fire Equipment for €42.5 million

by Breaking NewsFire DetectionSafety

Halma expands fire safety sector with Global Fire Equipment acquisition

Halma, a technology company, has announced the acquisition of Global Fire Equipment, S.A. (GFE) for its safety sector company, Ampac.

As reported by Halma, the cash consideration for GFE is €42.5 million (£36 million) on a cash- and debt-free basis.

The acquisition will be funded from Halma’s existing facilities.

GFE, based in Faro, Portugal, designs and manufactures fire detection and alarm systems.

The company’s products are installed in over 90 countries.

GFE’s unaudited revenue for the 12 months ending 31 March 2024 was €16.2 million (£13.7 million).

Global impact of fire safety

Ageing and crowded infrastructure contribute to fire-related deaths, with around 200,000 people dying globally each year.

Many of these deaths are preventable with fire protection systems.

Governments worldwide are introducing regulations focusing on prevention, early detection, and effective response to reduce fire-related fatalities.

GFE’s fire detection and alarm systems are tailored to meet diverse fire protection needs for commercial and industrial applications.

The systems are fully certified and known for their reliability and effectiveness.

Statements from Halma and Ampac executives

Tony Messercola, Managing Director of Ampac, expressed satisfaction with the acquisition, stating: “We are pleased to add GFE to our portfolio of fire detection and evacuation systems.

“GFE has a strong brand reputation, backed by proven technology and outstanding customer service.

“This acquisition aligns with our strategy of expanding our presence internationally and providing the most effective fire detection and evacuation solutions in the industry.”

Marc Ronchetti, Group Chief Executive of Halma, commented: “GFE’s technologies are complementary to Ampac’s fire safety systems portfolio and will further expand the geographical markets it serves.

We are excited by the opportunities we continue to see for purpose-aligned acquisitions to join Halma.

It is also great to see our existing companies adding new capabilities and distribution reach through bolt-on acquisitions to accelerate their long-term growth.

We are delighted to welcome GFE to our portfolio of market-leading fire detection companies.”

Financial details of the acquisition

The acquisition of GFE was completed for €42.5 million (£36 million) on a cash- and debt-free basis.

Halma will fund the purchase from its existing facilities.

For the 12 months ending 31 March 2024, GFE reported unaudited revenue of €16.2 million (£13.7 million).

GFE’s acquisition is expected to strengthen Ampac’s position in the fire safety market and expand its product offerings.

The integration of GFE’s technologies with Ampac’s existing systems is anticipated to provide enhanced fire detection and evacuation solutions globally.

Global Fire Equipment: Where innovation meets sustainability

by Breaking NewsFire Detection

João Paulo Ajami, Managing Director at Global Fire Equipment (GFE), reveals insights into GSS Group’s acquisition of NIBBLE and the significant strides toward sustainability in GFE’s operations

How significant is the UK market to Global Fire Equipment’s overall business strategy?

The UK market is crucial to our strategy and always been a key focus due to its potential.

In the early stages, it comprised about 47% of our turnover.

The presence of dominant domestic players who hold a substantial market share has been challenging, but our business levels in the UK have remained steady for a long time.

We now have a really secure presence in the UK thanks to our partnership with Global Fire Equipment UK which is headed up by Matt Ketley.

Since January 2021, GFE UK has been the sole importer of all our products into the UK, and Matt and his team are doing a great job of representing the brand in the UK and growing our sales steadily.

Can you tell me about the acquisition of NIBBLE and the strategic decision behind this move?

The acquisition of NIBBLE was a strategic decision, driven by a longstanding relationship.

I’ve known the team behind NIBBLE for decades.

They were previously partners at a specialist emergency lighting company, CREATECH, which we acquired in 2018.

We maintained close contact with NIBBLE following the acquisition and have continued to be impressed by their innovative product range which very much complements our own range of panels.

But the strategy behind the acquisition is also very much aligned with our continued focus on R&D activities.

NIBBLE’s strengths lie in R&D, and they excel in creating innovative fire and security systems, including wired and wireless addressable systems, as well as a range of conventional products.

The biggest consideration was integrating their team into our structure, and I’m pleased so say that this process has gone very smoothly so far.

What steps is GFE taking to integrate sustainable practices into its products and overall business model?

GFE is fully committed to sustainability.

While others in the industry are aiming to become carbon neutral in 10 or 15 years, we’re determined to achieve this goal within the next five years.

We’ve already transitioned to exclusively electric vehicles for our company fleet, and we have recently installed 330 kilowatts of photovoltaic panels that generate more power than we need at any given time.

Building a sustainable and energy-efficient manufacturing facility was one of our key pre-requisites, and our on-site solar energy generation has jumped an impressive 600% compared to our former manufacturing plant.

There’s also a strong culture here of being mindful about not wasting resources.

It’s not just about being environmentally responsible; it makes sound commercial and financial sense, too.

Sometimes there’s inertia in the industry – a reluctance to change quickly while others don’t.

But at GFE, we’re proactive and fully committed to this fast-paced shift towards sustainability.

How do you see GFE’s acquisition of NIBBLE and its focus on sustainability influencing the company’s growth?

We need to think far beyond the immediate future.

The NIBBLE team aligns perfectly with our vision; they are as committed to sustainable practices as we are.

NIBBLE, being primarily an R&D company and not involved in production, brings an edge to our innovation efforts.

This synergy will be central to our growth and advancement in the coming years.

Integrating NIBBLE into GFE’s structure was a strategic move that provided NIBBLE with a manufacturing base.

This integration significantly boosts their capacity to innovate and develop solutions tailored to our market.

The potential for growth is substantial, more so than we’ve experienced before.

A key factor is their previous limited exposure; like CREATECH, NIBBLE was only really known within Portugal.

Now, with GFE, they have access to more than 90 countries.

This expanded reach allows us to leverage global contacts, enhancing the visibility and growth of their products, including NURIA, NIBBLE’s technologically advanced 1 – 4 loop analogue addressable fire alarm panel.

It’s an exciting time, as we open up new markets and opportunities for NIBBLE’s innovative solutions.

Currently, our primary focus is on enhancing our production capability.

My main priority at this juncture is ensuring that we grow at a sustainable pace.

We are very mindful of not overextending the business – rather we need to make sure every step we take is measured and within our capabilities.

Maintaining this balance is key to our ongoing success and growth.

This article was originally published in the April 2024 issue of International Fire & Safety Journal. To read your FREE digital copy, click here.

Detection dynamics with Global Fire Equipment

by Breaking NewsFire Detection

João Paulo Ajami, Managing Director of Global Fire Equipment (GFE) outlines the key factors to take into consideration when designing fire detection and alarm systems for hotels

Over the years, Global Fire Equipment (GFE) has designed, supplied and commissioned fire detection and alarm systems (FDASs) for a number of hotels globally, including some of the world’s largest hotel chains such as Radisson Blu, Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts and Vila Galé.

Designing FDASs for hotels can be complex. Depending on their size, hotels can be occupied by hundreds if not thousands of people when the staff, guests and other visitors are taken into account.

This sheer volume of traffic and level of occupancy is a challenge, but you also have to take into account that hotels often cover vast areas and regularly incorporate high-rise buildings or different types of connected buildings such as spas, health clubs, meeting rooms, restaurants, bars and children’s clubs.

The combination of these factors means that designing FDASs for hotels presents a number of unique challenges.

Clarity of communication is key

The importance of clarity of communication about every fire event across the entire system cannot be underestimated when designing FDASs for hotels, and even more so for larger hotels.

To ensure the safety of a hotel’s occupants and staff, the fire detection and alarm control panels must be capable of continually monitoring each individual device on the system and logging every event.

This enables those responsible for monitoring and managing the system to take immediate action and respond – irrespective of whether there is a genuine fire event, a false/unwanted alarm or a fault condition.

The primary goal is to provide for timely alarm notifications and the safety of all occupants in accordance with an evacuation strategy which should be designed and tested to avoid panic and confusion in exit routes.

Addressing the challenge of false alarms

Although it is difficult to completely eradicate false or unwanted alarms, developing a robust emergency and management strategy will help to reduce instances as it will ensure minimum inconvenience in the event of an alarm.

Working alongside safety specialists and authorities to develop a Transmission Delay approach can also be useful to ensure there is a well-planned phased evacuation strategy, alongside a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP).

Thankfully there are far fewer incidences of false alarms today due to advances in fire detection technology and premises management.

Why a one size fits all approach doesn’t work

As every individual hotel presents its own issues that need specific management, a one size fits all approach simply doesn’t work.

When it comes to a hotel’s accommodation areas, each room has to be assessed for the type of guests in occupancy and fitted with adequate audible/intelligible alarms, visual Alarm Devices and, where necessary, vibrating devices.

However, when it comes to a hotel’s communal areas such as restaurants and bars, they need a dedicated wide area audible/intelligible alarm and visual alarm devices.

Each area of a hotel will have different hazards so the system also has to be designed to cope with varying levels of compliant sensitivity requirements, and each area must be protected with the right type of fire sensor.

During working hours, for example, a kitchen area should have heat detectors or multi-sensors configured for heat only.

Where the control and indicating equipment is positioned is also important.

In the event of a fire event, the hotel’s emergency team and the first responders arriving on scene must be able to access the event information in strategic locations throughout the premises.

This information can be delivered in a number of ways, including via SMS pager messages or the strategic placement of additional control and indicating equipment (repeaters).

One of the most common mistakes is the placement of detectors in a hotel bedroom’s entry hall, close to or in front of the bathroom door.

This can result in false alarms due to water vapour/steam ingress in the detector chamber.

In standard hotel rooms (from 15 to 30sqm), the ideal placement of a smoke detector is in the centre of the sleeping area.

The importance of resilient networking

A system survivability performance specification must be incorporated within the scope of works by system specifiers.

The design, installation and type of products used in the system should be compliant and verified against the system survivability time specified.

With the requirement of distributed systems, GFE has manufactured highly resilient networked FDASs since the company was established in 1994.

We use highly robust physical layers such as enhanced fire-resistant cabling and we insist on using fully redundant multi-master peer-to-peer network technology which can also be further enhanced in a mesh topology to increase the systems survivability rating.

With our current range of fire control panels, we can achieve distributed architectures with up to 128 loops and we can network 64 of those with our top layer of Building Management System (BMS) monitoring.

Our sophisticated networking capability and the cause-and-effect software analyses exactly what is going on across systems, providing invaluable information to aid decision making.

To conclude, designing FDASs for hotels is complex because a number of additional factors need to be taken into account, including high occupancy coupled with unfamiliarity, complex layouts, varied use spaces and compliance.

Case Study: GFE solutions chosen for Mövenpick Hotel Cebu in the Philippines

Fire detection solutions GFE have been chosen to protect guests, staff and visitors at the 5-star Mövenpick Hotel Cebu on Mactan Island in the Philippines.

Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts, part of the Accor S.A., are the sixth largest hospitality company worldwide.

Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts has over 80 properties globally, including hotels, resorts and Nile cruisers.

Located just 15 minutes away from Mactan Cebu International Airport, Mövenpick Hotel Cebu is a luxury Mediterranean-inspired beachfront hotel.

The hotel comprises 245 guest rooms with private balconies, along with meeting and event facilities, three restaurants, a selection of bars, a 24-hour gym, a swimming pool, a children’s club and a private beach with a club.

The hotel and grounds was severely damaged at the end of 2021 when the Philippines was hit by a Category 5 super typhoon, Odette, which swept through 11 of the country’s 17 regions, causing a trail of destruction, killing 410 people and causing damage estimated to have cost about £972m.

Although the hotel’s structure remained intact, its interior suffered extensive damage and the windows were all destroyed.

The hotel’s beach bar was swept away into the sea, and a 12,000-tonne ship was washed up onto the hotel’s private beach.

The extensive restoration work on the hotel has taken around two years, but today Mövenpick Hotel Cebu is once again welcoming guests from around the world.

The chosen 12-loop fire detection and alarm system comprises fire alarm control panels from GFE’s OCTO+ range, along with approximately 800 ZEOS AS-S smoke detectors, 37 ZEOS AS-H heat detectors, 71 manual call points, 65 sounders and 27 i/o modules.

The installation of the new fire detection system was completed in phases, allowing the refurbishment work to continue as quickly as practicable.

For further information on Global Fire Equipment, please visit www.globalfire-equipment.com.

This article was originally published in the April 2024 issue of International Fire & Safety Journal. To read your FREE digital copy, click here.

The importance of appropriate certification

by Breaking NewsEventsFire Detection

Joao Paulo Ajami, Managing Director and Founder of Global Fire Equipment (GFE), explains why taking a consistent approach to certification is key when specifying fire detection and alarm products

Many in the worldwide fire safety industry have noticed a worrying trend towards performance specifications naming a chosen ‘approval’ or ‘approval body’ as the sole mark of product certification or compliance.

Misunderstanding the certification process in this way can have far-reaching risks.

To understand why, we firstly need to understand the difference between a Notified Body and an approval.

A Notified Body

For EN certification, a Notified Body is authorised by the EU to assess products under the relevant EN 54 CPR regulations.

Under the Nando (New Approach Notified and Designated Organisations) Information System, notification is an act whereby a member state informs the European Commission and the other member states that a body, which fulfils the relevant requirements, has been designated to carry out conformity assessment according to a specific standard.

The Notified Body has responsibility for testing the product/s, verifying the supporting evidence that a product meets the test requirements, issuing a product certificate and undertaking ongoing testing or surveillance activities.

To achieve consistent regulatory compliance for their products, manufacturers can choose which EU Notified Body to appoint as long as it is certified to test against the relevant EN 54 standards.

An ‘approval’

An ‘approval’ is not the same thing as EN 54 product certification via an EU Notified Body.

Whereas a Notified Body’s work is regulated and verifies that products comply with a standard, approvals are normally voluntary schemes which certain Notified Bodies sometimes offer as an additional service.

Some Notified Bodies run their own product directories, listings or certification schemes, for example.

These schemes are not mandated by a regulation and may go beyond the legal EN 54 product standard requirements under their Notified Body activities.

In some regions, some of these schemes are being promoted within the system performance specification, with the suggestion that they are the only route to compliance, but that’s not the case.

The only performance route to EN 54 standard compliance is via an EU Notified Body certifying that products meet the requirements of the relevant EN 54 standards.

Instead of specifying a particular Notified Body, it is essential that the correct product and system standards are cited within the fire detection and alarm performance specification.

In some countries where the CE mark is not recognised, we have seen a rise in the number of performance specifications which state that a product must be approved by a particular ‘approval body’ – who may or may not be an EU Notified Body.

The end client may specify a particular approval as they believe it to be EN 54 compliant within that region.

As I explained above, if any type of mark or logo other than the CPR CE mark is specified, this is a risk as it goes against the ISO/IEC 17000 standards which are there to ensure that the product has been certified and tested appropriately to the relevant EN 54 standard.

If performance specifications only state that products must have an approval (rather than a CPR CE mark from a Notified Body), there is a real risk that the manufacturer might have outdated products and may not have updated their standards in line with EN 54 requirements.

By writing performance specifications that quote the European EN 54 standards, specifiers will be adhering to the CPR regulations.

This will ensure that the manufacturer and its products are certified by an EU Notified Body through the CPR to EN 54 products standards and can therefore carry the appropriate CE Mark as required.

With more widespread awareness of the need for appropriate certification, it is hoped that fire safety system specifiers will place more emphasis on the right standards and accreditations, rather than the approval body.

This would create greater competition among those accredited manufacturers who meet the specific EN 54 standards for fire safety products.

Globally, we are seeing a shift in the fire safety sector away from a product-based approach and towards a systems-based approach to specifying fire detection equipment.

There is a marked increase in the number of authorities, specifiers, installers and end users requesting latest version of EN 54-13 compliance.

We are also seeing EN 54-13 compliance being stated in the approval requirements for commercial installations in several European countries.

Moving forward, we anticipate that EN 54-13 – the whole system standard – will be specified in an increasing number of projects.

EN 54-13, which was first introduced in 2005, is a rigorous standard that proves all the components in a fire safety system are compatible and connectable, thereby working effectively as one system.

The standard was upgraded in 2017 when the previous 2015 version was withdrawn.

There are currently two versions of the standard in place with the most up to date one being EN 54-13:2017+A1:2019.

There are two different classifications of approval – component suppliers (e.g.

detector or panel suppliers) and complete systems providers.

Having been awarded EN 54-13 2017/2019 approval in March 2021, GFE is a complete systems provider and takes full responsibility for the system.

To ensure continued compliance, regular conformance testing will be undertaken internally and communicated to third party approvals.

Ongoing systems testing is much easier when the manufacturer is responsible for the full system.

At GFE, for example, we continually test all the components of our systems under extreme conditions to ensure full system compatibility.

A key benefit for installers and end customers of choosing an EN54-13:2017+A1:2019 approved supplier is that they will take full responsibility for the system, and you have one dedicated point of contact and full technical support, making it much easier to get quick and easy resolutions for any issues such as system computability and any warranty issues or component failures.

Further guidance

I hope that by highlighting the importance of accreditation it will encourage more companies to understand the right route to EN 54 certification of fire detection and alarm products.

EN 54 product certification is clearly a legislative minefield, so it is easy to see why some confusion exists around the difference between Notified Bodies and approvals.

Our experts are available to support any companies who require further clarification on this complex matter.

If you’re going to be attending Intersec 2024 (16-18 Jan) in Dubai, come to our stand (Stand F10, Hall 3) where you will be able to talk to our experts about certification.

Intersec Dubai will take place between the 16th and 18th of January at the Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai. Global Fire Equipment’s Stand Number is 3-F10. For further information on Global Fire Equipment, please visit www.globalfire-equipment.com.

This article was originally published in the January 2024 issue of International Fire & Safety Journal. To read your FREE digital copy, click here.

Global Fire Equipment to showcase latest products at Intersec 2024

by EventsFeatured NewsFire Detection

GFE’s participation in Intersec 2024

Global Fire Equipment (GFE), a European leader in fire safety systems, has announced its participation in the upcoming Intersec 2024.

The event, a prominent industry exhibition, will take place in Dubai from 16 – 18 January.

GFE will be located on Stand F10 in Hall 3, presenting the latest additions to its product portfolio.

Advanced fire safety solutions

The GFE team will be available to demonstrate the company’s range of advanced addressable fire alarm control panels and detectors.

Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about the advantages of working with a complete systems provider like GFE, especially with its compliance to the latest approval standards such as EN 54-13:2017+A1:2019.

Innovation and expansion

GFE is set to reveal its latest innovations in detectors, emergency lighting, and graphical fire alarm monitoring, control, and communications software.

João Paulo Ajami, Managing Director of GFE, expressed enthusiasm for the event, stating: “Intersec is widely regarded as one of the most important industry exhibitions in the Middle East.

The Middle East is a strategically important market for GFE so we are delighted to have a strong presence again at this year’s show.”

Ajami further commented: “We look forward to welcoming customers – new and old – on stand and bringing them up to speed on our latest product innovation, our projects in the region and our future plans.”

Arranging meetings with Global Fire Equipment

For those interested in pre-arranging a meeting with GFE at Intersec 2024, the company encourages contacting them at +351 289 896 560 or via email at info@globalfire-equipment.com.

More information about Global Fire Equipment can be found on their website.

IFSJ Comment

Global Fire Equipment’s participation in Intersec 2024 represents a significant step in showcasing cutting-edge fire safety technology.

The event offers an invaluable platform for GFE to demonstrate its latest advancements in fire safety solutions, emphasizing the importance of modern, integrated systems in fire detection and prevention.

This move reinforces GFE’s standing in the industry and highlights the ongoing evolution of fire safety technology.

Such innovations are crucial in enhancing safety standards, especially in regions rapidly expanding their infrastructure like the Middle East.

GFE’s presence at Intersec 2024 is expected to contribute positively to the discourse on fire safety and encourage the adoption of advanced technologies in this crucial sector.

Global Fire Equipment to debut at Fire India next month

by Featured NewsFire Detection

Global Fire Equipment’s maiden exhibition

For years, Global Fire Equipment (GFE) has been a familiar name across the Indian Ocean region.

Now, the company is poised to make its first appearance at Fire India.

The event is scheduled at the Bombay Exhibition Centre in Mumbai from 5th to 7th October 2023, with GFE setting up at Stand D39.

Unveiling OWL: GFE’s advanced fire alarm management software

GFE is set to introduce the audience to OWL: their new advanced fire alarm management and remote monitoring software.

This state-of-the-art system makes it easier than ever to manage the CHAMELEON protocol supported range of intelligent fire alarm control panels.

What OWL does is give remote users the ability to monitor their fire alarm panels’ status and gain comprehensive insights into their fire detection alarm system (FDAS).

GFE emphasises on EN 54 certification

The European manufacturer will not only showcase OWL but also display its latest product suite.

This includes cutting-edge addressable fire alarm control panels, detectors, sounders, VADs, and MCPs.

Furthermore, Global Fire Equipment will underline the significance of EN 54 certification for fire detection and alarm products.

Attendees at the GFE stand can seek guidance from GFE’s experts about the relevance of accreditation and the right pathway to achieving EN 54 certification.

Additionally, they can discover the advantages of partnering with a complete systems provider that boasts the EN 54-13:2017+A1:2019 approval, a credential GFE proudly holds.

GFE’s longstanding association with India

Having had a substantial presence in India for an extended period, GFE is a respected member of the Fire Industry Association (FIA) and the Fire & Security Association of India (FSAI).

On GFE’s participation in Fire India, Paul Pope, Group Business Development Director at GFE, said: “India is a strategically important market for GFE, and our commitment to expanding our operations here is unwavering.

“Fire India is a crucial event for the industry, so it’s an honour to be a part of it this year.

“We are eager to engage with both existing and potential clients and inform them about our latest products, our ongoing projects in India, and our forward-looking strategies.”

IFSJ Comment

For the fire safety industry, this move by Global Fire Equipment is a notable one.

As a distinguished brand, GFE’s decision to participate in Fire India not only showcases their commitment to the Indian market but also gives industry professionals and customers an opportunity to directly interact with the company and understand their latest offerings.

With GFE being a significant player in fire safety across the Indian Ocean region, their presence at such a key industry event will certainly be of interest to many.

Comprehensive fire detection and alarm system safeguards Turkey’s leading health university

by Featured NewsProjects

Biruni University selects advanced fire system

After a competitive bidding process, Biruni University in Istanbul, Turkey’s premier comprehensive health and public health educational institution, selected the Global Fire Equipment (GFE) Turkey’s proposal.

The fire and security company was tasked to design, supply, commission and install a fire detection and alarm system across the university’s vast campus. The university was founded under the auspices of the World Education Foundation and currently has a diverse student population of 6,000 students, with more than 400 from overseas.

Wide-reaching system to cover expansive campus

Biruni University’s campus, located in the heart of Istanbul, spans a staggering 70,000 m2. The new fire detection and alarm system has been designed to safeguard 20,000 m2 of structures on this campus. Key locations include a 153-bed hospital, dental healthcare facilities, state-of-the-art laboratories, computer rooms, and the campus library. On an average day, the campus population is around 800 people.

Robust and responsive fire protection system

GFE Turkey led the design, installation and commissioning of the fire detection system. The sheer size of the campus and the variety of structures that required protection necessitated an addressable system with high-capacity loop panels, ensuring optimal fire detection for all individuals and buildings within the university.

State-of-the-art equipment deployed

The system consists of more than 1,100 GFE devices. These include 1,000 ZEOS addressable smoke detectors, 20 ZEOS addressable heat detectors, 150 addressable manual call points and two addressable gas detectors. The operation of all these devices is coordinated via two of GFE’s addressable fire alarm control panels.

Overcoming design and installation challenges

Throughout the project, GFE Turkey faced and overcame several challenges. These included managing elevators, pressurising fans, dampers and photocell doors. The ever-evolving nature of the project also required expanding the number of zones covered by the fire detection and alarm system due to significant distances between some of the buildings.

Praise for GFE Turkey’s technical expertise

Levent Aydın, the Head of Support Services Directorate at Biruni University, said: “We were very impressed by the expertise and technical support provided by GFE Turkey. Their team clearly understood the unique demands of protecting an expansive university campus, and we are confident in the system they designed. It meets our present needs and can accommodate future expansions should we add new buildings.”

A significant achievement for GFE Turkey

Murat Efir, Regional Director at GFE in Turkey, who is based at GFE Turkey’s headquarters in Istanbul, remarked: “We were thrilled to be chosen for this project, not only because we could fully comprehend and meet our customer’s requirements, but also due to our technical expertise. Our fully addressable system is a perfect fit for the vast campus and buildings at Biruni University.”

For more information on Global Fire Equipment, interested parties can visit the official website at www.globalfire-equipment.com.

Trailblazing the future of fire and safety

by Breaking NewsIFSJ Leaders

Senior professionals came together for the first ever IFSJ Leaders in Fire & Safety Conference

On the 11 May 2023, a remarkable gathering of fire and safety industry leaders took place at the prestigious Grosvenor Hotel in Dubai Marina, UAE. The event that unfolded was the highly anticipated, inaugural IFSJ Leaders in Fire & Safety Conference, organised by International Fire & Safety Journal in collaboration with MSA Safety. With an impressive turnout of 308 esteemed senior professionals from the Middle East and Africa fire and safety industry, it was a day brimming with extraordinary opportunities for high-level networking and captivating discussions.

The attendees, comprising influential decision makers in the field, were treated to an immersive experience characterised by expert presentations and engaging panel sessions. These sessions delved into the most pressing issues currently faced by leaders in the fire and safety sector, including health and wellbeing, sustainability, leadership strategies and crisis management. The conference has garnered widespread acclaim for its unwavering commitment to delivering high-quality content, leaving no stone unturned when it comes to the issues keeping fire and safety leaders up at night.

In addition to the educational sessions, the conference provided an ideal platform for the industry’s luminaries to converge and interact. The air was charged with excitement as professionals seized the chance to engage with one another and forge meaningful connections with their peers as well as key industry brands that had lent their support to the event. These moments of exchange and collaboration elevated the conference to new heights, fostering an environment ripe with possibility and potential.

A historic event

Dubai Civil Defense (DCD), the emergency management organisation in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, has been an invaluable strategic partner throughout the conference. With over 50 esteemed delegates in attendance, this organisation has been at the forefront of safeguarding lives, protecting properties, and preserving the environment in Dubai since its establishment in 1976.

Setting the tone for the conference, H.E. Lt. General Expert Rashid Thani Al Matrooshi, Director-General of Dubai Civil Defense, delivered a warm and engaging welcome address via video, extending his heartfelt wishes for attendees to have a truly fruitful and amazing time. H.E. Brigadier Expert Ali Hassan Al Mutawa, Assistant Director General of DCD for Fire and Rescue Affairs, gave a captivating keynote address expressing his great pleasure at being amongst so many stars at the Leaders in Fire and Safety Conference.

A pivotal moment unfolded during the event as a historic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Dubai Civil Defense and the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE). This momentous occasion established a platform for the exchange of knowledge, learning, and best practices between these two esteemed organisations. The MoU was signed by the presence of Terry Johnson, IFE GCC Branch Regional President, H.E. Brigadier Expert Ali Hassan Al Mutawa, and Steve Hamm, Chief Executive of the IFE, who hailed the MoU as a ‘key milestone’ in their collaboration.

Through this MoU, the IFE will establish a branch in Dubai, fostering a vibrant environment for continuous professional development. His Excellency emphasised that DCD is an open platform, eager to engage with counterparts from across the globe. Brigadier Expert Al Mutawa underscored the significance of this partnership: “The new interactive platform will enable members to exchange invaluable best practices and lessons learned from their vast experiences.”

One of the day’s highlights was the presentation on the Dubai Civil Defence’s Readiness Programme. Captain Essa Ahmed Al-Mutawa, Director of the Control and Monitoring Department at DCD, unveiled the world’s first AI-enabled fire readiness programme. This ground-breaking initiative employs artificial intelligence to analyse past incidents and provide proactive recommendations to prevent future events.

Thought leadership

The question posed by the conference through its presentations and discussions was ‘What is keeping leaders from the fire and safety industry up at night?’ From forever chemicals in firefighting foam to strategic leadership and crisis management, the leading minds of the fire and safety industry came together to ponder the biggest issues facing those in attendance.

A panel discussion on the impact of sustainability on fire and life safety management in buildings and construction highlighted the challenges of fire safety in repurposed buildings and emphasised the need for resource availability for future generations. Other discussions focused on the rapid pace of technological advancements and how they are transforming the fire safety industry, emphasising the importance of balancing innovation with survivability, and the challenges of transportation infrastructure and evacuating large transportation hubs.

IFSJ Managing Editor Duncan J. White led the day’s most heartfelt session on “Health and Wellbeing: Dealing with the human issues” in which panellists shared personal experiences highlighting the impact of mental and physical health on leadership and emphasising the critical role of good health in making sound decisions.

Lithium-ion batteries and forever chemicals were also under the spotlight as speakers explored safety, environmental, and social factors related to lithium-ion battery use, highlighting the need for public awareness and improved regulations the health impacts and the delicate balance between legislation and responsible practices around PFAS in firefighting foam.

And of course leadership came under scrutiny as experts debated the crucial role of crisis management in risk management strategies, the need for proper training to ensure effective response during crises, and the importance of consistency in leadership.

First-rate networking

A key aim for the IFSJ Leaders in Fire & Safety was to bring together Leaders from across, giving them the opportunity to engage with one another and open up discussion about the issues they face, facilitating engaging conversations, promoting knowledge sharing, and fostering a sense of community among delegates. By connecting individuals with a common goal of promoting professional fire and safety practices, the conference played a pivotal role in advancing the industry and raising standards in the region.

The quality of the networking opportunities at the event was further enhanced by the exclusivity of the invite-only format. By carefully curating the guest list, IFSJ ensured that participants were senior professionals who are actively involved in shaping the industry. This exclusivity helped to foster a focused and intimate environment, promoting meaningful connections among attendees.

The interactive panel discussions played a significant role in facilitating networking opportunities. These sessions allowed attendees to engage with subject matter experts and gain valuable insights into the latest advancements and approaches in fire and safety. By participating in these discussions, delegates had the opportunity to exchange ideas, perspectives, and best practices with their peers, fostering a sense of community and collaboration.

The conference’s emphasis on exploring key areas for business growth in the region created additional networking prospects as attendees connected with professionals who have a deep understanding of the fire and safety landscape in the Middle East. The exchange of knowledge and experiences at the event has led to valuable partnerships and collaborations, contributing to the overall advancement of the fire and safety industry.

The best event in years

The IFSJ Leaders in Fire & Safety Conference held in Dubai garnered high praise from key industry figures, who lauded its execution, networking opportunities, and focus on important topics.

Paul Davison, CEO at Proteus Communications Group, with his three-decade experience in marketing, attested to the exceptional organization of the event. He stated: “the Leaders in Fire & Safety Conference here in Dubai has been one of the best organised and executed events I’ve been to in this region or indeed anywhere over the last few years.” Similarly, Paul Pope, Group Business Development Director at Global Fire Equipment, admired IFSJ’s organisation skills, calling the event “truly incredible”.

Networking was also a strong highlight, with Even Ottsen, International Sales Manager at Fomtec, acknowledging the conference as a: “great opportunity to meet important people in the industry”. Sam Malins, Group CEO at Reacton Fire Suppression, shared this sentiment, highlighting the coming together of: “So many passionate people from around the fire safety industry in one room.”

The conference’s diverse agenda was another point of praise. Beyond networking and industry discussions, the conference also addressed health and wellbeing in the workplace, as Sawsan Dahham, Head of Fire and Life Safety at Dar, appreciated.

Sponsors also found value in the event. Amin Muhtaseb, Regional Manager at Nightstick, stated: “We’ve been a sponsor this year and it’s been a great event. Thanks to the team for organising and all the communication that happened beforehand – we look forward to being here next year.”

This exclusive article was originally published in the June 2023 issue of International Fire & Safety Journal. To read your FREE digital copy, click here.

IFSJ Leaders in Fire & Safety Conference: Meet the Speakers

by AmericasBreaking NewsMiddle East - Breaking News

The IFSJ Leaders In Fire & Safety Conference promises to be a must-attend event for anyone in the Middle East fire and safety industry, and will bring together some of the most prominent figures in the industry as speakers and panellists to discuss the biggest issues facing leaders in the industry.

Among them are experts in business strategy, emerging trends, regulations, and innovation from the region. Attendees can expect to hear from an array of speakers, including industry leaders, top executives, and influencers, who will share their insights and perspectives on the latest developments and challenges in the field. The diverse range of speakers promises to make the conference an informative and engaging experience for all attendees.

IFSJ is proud to introduce the speakers and panellists who will be sharing their insights with attendees to the exclusive one-day event.

KEYNOTE ADDRESS

H.E. Excellency Brigadier Expert Ali Hassan Al Mutawa, Assistant Director General of DCD for Fire and Rescue Affairs

CONFERENCE CHAIR

Terry Johnson, Technical Service Manager at ENOC and President of The Institutions of Fire Engineers GCC Branch

Terry Johnson’s career began in the UKFRS and progressed to international development with the United Nations Development Program (UNIDO) as an ‘Technical Assistant Expert’ Fire Safety Training in the Oil & Gas sector. He spent some time at the Fire Service College UK looking at international development subsequently seconded to Dubai Civil Defence (DCD) UAE.

He represented DCD on various Emergency Crisis committees and working groups as a Senior Fire, Rescue & Emergency Services Professional, disciplined for All Operational requirements, including Major Emergency Incident planning and crisis liaison. Now, Johnson is currently engaged by Emirates National Oil Company ENOC, looking at sustainable and environmental solutions to match the resilience needed for asset and response team protection for ENOC assets. 

PRESENTERS

Jason Traynor, General Manager at MSA

Jason is the General Manager of Global Fire Service Products and Integration Leader of MSA Bristol for MSA Safety. In this role, he is responsible for establishing the global vision, strategy and growth initiatives for MSA Safety’s global portfolio of Fire Service Products and provides leadership for the integration of MSA Bristol. Upon joining MSA in 2012 as the Product Group Manager for Respiratory Protection, Jason revolutionized MSA’s approach to Fire Service Marketing and was critical to the successful launch of the G1 SCBA and M1 SCBA platforms.

Sinclair Duffie, Chief Fire Officer – Nawah Energy Company

Sinclair Duffie joined the Scottish Fire Service in 1983 with Central Region Fire Brigade. In 1993, he moved into Fire Prevention as Station Officer in and remained there and promoted to Station Manager in 2004. Duffie spent the remaining nine years of service between operations, training, and community safety before retiring in early 2012 with 29 years’ service. In 2012, Duffie joined ADNOC offshore operations on Das Island as Incident Command System Coordinator responsible for major incidents response planning and development. In 2017, he joined Nawah as a Team Leader. He was promoted to his current position which he has been held since 2018.  Duffie has been active on the Middle East conference circuit. He currently lives in Al Dhannah city in Abu Dhabi.

James Clarke, Fire Officer with Bedfordshire and Luton Fire and Rescue Service

James Clarke is Station Commander with 24 years operational experience. He has worked in research, development and procurement within the fire service. He has been instrumental in moving one the most influential services in the UK towards best practice with regards to post fire decontamination. Clarke has previously presented at the UKs first seminar on occupational cancer in the fire service on post fire decontamination and implementing policy and procedures.

Howard Leedham MBE, Managing Director, ESID DMCC

Howard is the Managing Director of ESID DMCC, a Special Situations and Global Consultancy company based in Dubai. He has lived and worked in the Middle East for much of the past 15-years and is a licensed “Security Expert” with the Security Industry Regulatory Authority. He is a member of the Security Professionals Association, and was most recently the Industry Ambassador to Intersec 2022.

Captain Essa Ahmed Al-Mutawa, Director of the Control and Monitoring Department at DCD

PANELLISTS

David Campbell, General Manager – Dubai Civil Defence Emirates Safety Laboratory

David Campbell is General Manager for Dubai Civil Defence’s Emirates Safety Laboratory, educated in Applied Sciences – Fire Technology, Fire Engineering and Environmental Sciences – Natural Resource Management and Digital Transformations with 33 years working in the sector of which the past 13 years supporting the Middle East region.

Alexander Castellanos, Head of Fire & Life Safety – Middle East at WSP

Castellanos has close to two decades of experience in the Fire and Life Safety Engineering field. He graduated from the prestigious University of Maryland Fire Protection Engineering program from where he went on to practice in New York City, China, and London. He relocated to the UAE in early 2012 and is currently the regional Head of Fire and Life Safety for WSP in the Middle East where his focus is on client care and technical excellence of the team. Alexanders experience ranges from working with fire and egress modelling early in his career to site supervision and client, authority and stakeholder liaison in recent times. He was part of the UAE Fire Code 2018 development committee and has continued to support similar roles in developing governance for semi-governmental entities.

Sawsan Dahham, Head of Fire and Life Safety at Dar

Sawsan is a Fire and Life safety specialist and a code expert, currently assigned as the Global Head of Fire and Life Safety at Dar. She is also an Authorized NFPA instructor.  
She has acquired an extensive experience having worked on all types of major projects such as mixed-use complexes, airports, health care facilities, and prestigious urban developments located in the Arab Gulf region, the Middle East, and Africa. She is also a contributor to publications in the fire and life safety industry.

Cristina Perez Domper, Regional Manager at Intertek Building and Construction

Cristina is a civil engineer with Master’s of Science in Structural Engineering. She gained her experience in the fire industry in Spain and for the last 4 years has been in the Middle east acting as Regional Operations Manager for Intertek. She specialises in product testing and certification for building products focused passive fire protection, and actively works to increase awareness on the importance of a comprehensive approach to fire safety. 

Mark Fenton, Sales Director – EMEA & APAC at Amerex Corporation

Mark is the Sales Director for Amerex Corporation, part of McWane Group, looking after the company’s full range of fire protection products and systems across EMEA and APAC. Prior to that he spent 3 years as a business consultant working with companies in the Middle East and the UK and 20 years with Honeywell where his last role was General Manager for MEA & EEU looking after their life safety and security businesses.

Engineer Salma Humaid, Head of Engineering Section at DCD

Engineer Salma Humaid is an accomplished fire safety engineer at Dubai Civil Defense. Her work plays a critical role in ensuring buildings and structures in Dubai meet the highest fire safety standards. She has helped implement fire safety regulations and codes, delivered presentations at various conferences, and worked closely with architects, contractors, and engineers to promote fire safety education and training. Her contributions have been recognised numerous times, and she continues to make Dubai a safer place for residents through her expertise in fire safety engineering.

Dr Susan Lamont is Director, Fire Group Leader Middle East at Arup

Dr Lamont has worked in the fire protection industry for over 20 years in the UK, USA, Middle East and parts of Asia and Africa. She is a chartered engineer, a Fellow at Arup, a Fellow of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE) and a board member of the Fire Protection Research foundation. She has worked though all stages of design and construction on a diverse range of projects.

Paul Pope, Group Business Development Director at Global Fire Equipment

Paul Pope is Group Business Development Director at Global Fire Equipment. Paul has been active in the fire and security industry since 1985 and has held senior management positions in some of the leading international fire and security companies. Pope has been active in the Fire Industry Association (FIA). He also is a member of the Building Fire Safety Systems Section of the NFPA in the USA.

Sajid Raza, CEO of Butler Engineering Middle East

Sajid Butler is the CEO of Butler Engineering (ME) & Butler Engineering Int’l Ltd (UK), responsible for overall operational steering of the organization in Middle East, Europe and Asia. His all-round contribution to fire consulting fraternity globally led him to be part of several UL Standards Technical Panels (UL-STP), IAS Technical Advisory Council (IAS-TAC), FCIA Standards Committee, International Firestop Council (IFC) Inspector and Special Inspection Training Committees.

Bob Rea, Director and Lead facilitator at BR Training Solutions Ltd

Bob is a recognised professional in crisis management, with over 30 years of experience of emergency management and preparation. He was awarded the Queens Fire Service Medal (QFSM) for his work leading the implementation of the UK National Urban Search and Rescue capability under the UK government’s New Dimension project. Bob established BR Training Solutions Limited to develop organisational response plans for middle eastern students in the USA.

Steven Reilly, Principal Engineer, Fire & Life Safety Lead MENA at Cundall

Steven is the Fire & Life Safety Lead for the MENA region at Cundall, with over fifteen years experience in fire & engineering consultancy. He has vast experience in Fire Safety, from carrying out Fire Risk Assessments & Audits on new and existing international developments to leading multidisciplinary teams. Zero Carbon Design 2030 has seen Cundall commit to only designing zero carbon projects by 2030.

Muzaffer Ahmed Syed, Regional Manager (Firestop) at fischer FZE

Muzaffer is the Regional Manager – FireStop for Fischer FZE. He manages the Technical and Commercial aspects of the FireStop within the Middle East and North Africa Region from the Regional HQ in Dubai, UAE. He is an Associate Member of The Institution of Fire Engineers, UK, and has been involved in the fire protection industry for over 10 years. He is involved in providing firestop solutions, testing, certification, liaising with the authorities, and providing educational seminars to consultants and contractors.

Peter Stephenson, Director, Fire Safety Division at Hydrock

As a Director (Fire Engineering) at Hydrock, Stephenson co-ordinates the companies international expansion into the Middle East and consultancy activities including developing fire strategies, fire and emergency response strategies and fire systems analysis for projects. His experiences in fire safety engineering and rail infrastructure projects includes working as a Business Development Manager at Warringtonfire, Associate Director at Buro Happold, Senior Fire Safety Engineer for Network Rail, Fire Safety Officer for Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service and as a consultant in both large multi-disciplinary and small independent practices.

Joanne Taylor is Director of De-Wipe and Reach & Rescue

Jo Taylor is an experienced entrepreneur International Sales Director and Managing Director having built two businesses with in the Emergency Services Industry with unique products over the last 13 years from start-up to global success. She has a wealth of knowledge and respect in the Fire and Rescue Industry and was previously a personal assistant to CEO’s for 16 years working in the Utility and Construction industry. She was honoured in NY2020 by HMQ with an MBE for safeguarding Fire Fighters.

Peter Van Gorp, Technical Director Fire, Life Safety and Loss Prevention at HKA

Peter Van Gorp has over twenty-five years of experience working as a Fire Engineer and has spent more than fifteen years of his career working in the Middle East. Peter is highly experienced in the areas of fire, life-safety and loss prevention and has been engaged on various building-fire and life-safety projects ranging across schools, hotels, hospitals, large shopping malls, multi-occupancy high-rises and industrial developments. 

Duncan J. White, Managing Editor at International Fire and Safety Journal

Duncan has worked in the fire industry for over 35 years, having started his career as a firefighter in 1987. Following almost 30 years as an operational fire officer he has continued his involvement with the fire industry as an editor within global publishing.

Tom Wood, Regional Director, Middle East at Vortex Fire

Tom Wood is a Fire Engineering professional with over 10 years working experience, and over 6 years based in the Middle East. His work has included airports, rail, commercial offices and residential buildings, malls and warehouses. He is an experienced fire consultant with a thorough knowledge of NFPA, SBC, IBC, EN and British codes and standards. He develops practical and cost-effective fire safety strategies and alternative fire engineered solutions using relevant guidance and present these to Authorities for final approval.

Other Panellists

Also featuring on panel sessions throughout the day are:

  • Engineer Pramod Challa, Senior Engineer, Dubai Civil Defense
  • James Grew, Deputy Divisional Director at Hydrock
  • Andy Hall, Owner and General Manager of Hall Fire and Safety Consultants
  • Carlo Loveri, Business Continuity Manager at Emirates Steel
  • Sam Malins, CEO at Reacton Fire Suppression
  • Even Ottesen, International Sales Manager at DAFO Fomtec AB
  • Mrinaal Sapru, Head of Regional Sales for Dubai Civil Defence’s Emirates Safety Laboratory
  • Eiad Shami, Senior Consultant, Fire & Life Safety at WSP;
  • James Varley, Associate Director at WS Atkins
  • Steve Walker, Director of Fire Safety at Hydrock.

Exclusive: The importance of fire system survivability with GFE

by AmericasBreaking NewsFire Detection

Paul Pope, Group Business Development Director at Global Fire Equipment (GFE), takes a closer look at the complex but important subject of fire system survivability

Fire system survivability relates to ability of the entire fire detection and alarm system (FDAS) to perform properly and remain fully operational while under attack by fire. If systems require a phased or complex evacuation, the FDAS needs to be able to continue working while the fire is taking place as this will ensure that the fire management authorities can establish the location of the fire and monitor its spread – information which is critical to ensure a safe and controlled evacuation.

A badly designed FDAS could fail relatively quickly, and failure in one area due to poor survivability could result in the system being unable to activate audible and visual alarms to warn people of the imminent danger. In the case of a phased evacuation, the system might be incapable of further evacuating another alarm zone area where the fire is spreading to. If all the detection control panels are located in one area and there is a fire in that area, for example, the entire system would be wiped out very quickly.

System survivability should be a shared responsibility

Survivability should be a prerequisite of all complex systems, and each building needs to be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Although some standards touch on survivability – including BS7975, BS8629, BS 5839 and BS 8519 – there is no clear industry performance specification for FDAS survivability and how the standards are actually achieved comes down to the design, installation and system commissioning process. And this is the root of the problem.

Many different factors determine the survivability of a FDAS and unless it has been designed with survivability in mind from the outset – and each individual element of the system is capable of surviving for the length of time required by the building and its evacuation strategy – the risk of system failure is high.

There is a lack of industry understanding about the length of time FDASs should be able to survive. There is a common misconception that the different elements of the FDAS only need to survive for 30 minutes before they can fail, but this is not long enough in complex buildings such as large residential buildings, offices, shopping malls, airports and hospitals etc.

Complex buildings must be actively assessed as a single, coherent system of interdependent components. In these types of buildings, the design and the connectivity of a FDAS and the building’s evacuation system have to last much longer than 30 minutes.

Specifiers need to fully understand the intended use of the building, its detailed fire/evacuation strategy and must specify the survival time of fire alarm/fire-fighting systems. Engineers must understand the fire risk experienced by the whole system to ensure continued fire/evacuation strategy and system design compliance. And those responsible for procurement need to manage expectations of survivability performance.   

Using technology to achieve system survivability

One way in which GFE is leading the way in system survivability is our inbuilt mesh network. Our Chameleon multi-master, multi-path peer-to-peer network is a fundamental departure from previous fire alarm control panels’ (FACP) networking arrangements as it creates an extremely resilient infrastructure for the management and interaction between multiple FACPs in a single system.

Every FACP connects directly, dynamically and non-hierarchically to all the other FACPs in the network. This contributes to extremely high resilience, particularly in complex buildings, where higher levels of system are required for life safety and fire-fighting applications, including circuit integrity during a fire.

A fully closed loop and multi-path solution, Chameleon addresses and overcomes the limitations associated with traditional RS485 multi-drop topology. When RS485 multi-drop topology is used, there is no redundancy in the network so in the event of a short circuit in the cables, all interaction and communication between the different FACPs would cease because the information can only travel from node to node in a linear manner, to the left or right. In comparison, Chameleon has point-to-point communication across the entire network.

The FACP forwards every event through all network communications ports, effectively broadcasting the event across the entire network. Each node then records the event on its local event log (up to 10,000 entries). Each FACP can send and receive messages from other FACPs, ensuring high network redundancy because all FACPs are interconnected. If one or more FACP links go down, all the other FACPs participate in the information relay so the entire network will continue working while the individual incident or issue with the FACP/FACPs is resolved. 

What next?

Moving forward, we need to push for FDASs to be designed for survivability from the outset rather than as an afterthought. We also need to ensure those responsible for specifying, procuring, installing and using fire and life safety systems have a better understanding of system survivability and accept shared responsibility for it.

For further information on Global Fire Equipment, please visit www.globalfire-equipment.com.

This exclusive article was originally published in the May 2023 issue of International Fire & Safety Journal. To read your FREE digital copy, click here.