The ultimate meeting place for senior fire and safety professionals

by Breaking NewsIFSJ ExclusivesIFSJ Leaders

Welcome to International Fire and Safety Journal’s official preview of the IFSJ Leaders in Fire & Safety Conference, held in association with MSA Safety.

On 11 May 2023, the IFSJ Leaders in Fire & Safety conference will bring together over 120 of the most influential figures in the Middle East and Africa fire and safety industry to deliver a high class business forum focusing on business strategy, the latest trends, regulations and innovations from the region.

Held in collaboration with prominent associations, regional authorities, top manufacturers, and innovative solution providers, this highly anticipated conference will take place at The Grosvenor Hotel, Dubai Marina and will offer a one-of-a-kind opportunity for the most outstanding fire and safety companies and personnel in the region to connect and gain knowledge from influential speakers in attendance.

By utilising interactive panel discussions and face-to-face networking opportunities at this invite only event, delegates will be able to engage in high-level conversations which will explore key areas for business growth in the region. The conference will explore key topics influencing the region from a fire and safety perspective whilst putting the biggest challenges facing organisations in the region under the microscope.

Duncan J. White, IFSJ Managing Editor, who will also serve as a panel moderator, says the event will bring together regional fire and safety leadership professionals from all facets of the industry, who all have a single goal, namely: “To promote and enhance professional fire and safety practices and develop understanding of an ever-evolving industry.”

“The ISFJ Leaders in Fire and Safety Conference is pivotal in promoting higher standards of fire and safety in the region,” says White. “The UAE is a rapidly evolving region, with fascinating new approaches and advancements in fire and safety. This event will offer an insight into a few of these, by leading regional fire and safety subject matter experts.”

The Leaders Conference

Attendees to the IFSJ Leaders in Fire & Safety Conference will hear insights from a wealth of industry experts working in and around the Middle East and Africa region.

After an introduction from Terry Johnson, Conference Chair, delegates will have the pleasure of being greeted by H.E. Brigadier Expert Ali Hassan Al Mutawa, Assistant Director-General of Dubai Civil Defense for Fire and Rescue Affairs, who will be presenting the Keynote Address and laying out the roadmap for fire and safety in Dubai throughout the rest of 2023 and beyond.

Panellists will be focussing their discussions on topics such as:  the impact of sustainability on fire safety in construction, artificial intelligence in fire-readiness, technology and innovation, health and wellbeing, the fire safety issues arising from lithium-ion batteries, PFAS in firefighting, carcinogen exposure, crisis management and strategic leadership in the fire sector.

As well as its proud partnership with Dubai Civil Defense, the IFSJ Leaders in Fire and Safety Conference is also delighted to be working alongside The Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE).

From a technology perspective, the conference is being supported by an elite range of solutions providers and manufacturers including MSA Safety, Global Fire Equipment, Dafo Fomtec, Reacton, Performance Advantage Company, Nightstick, PBI Performance Products and De-Wipe.

In late 2022, International Fire and Safety Journal announced MSA as the event’s Platinum Partner. Jason Traynor, General Manager, Global Fire Service for MSA Safety, said: “At MSA Safety, we’re proud of the strong relationships we have built in the Middle East since we opened our first office in Dubai in the early 1980s.  We’re proud to partner with IFSJ for Leaders in Fire to continue to advance the strong relationships we have built in the Middle East since we opened our first office in Dubai in the early 1980s. Bringing together leaders in the industry in a platform like this will help ensure the very best protective equipment is available to firefighters on the front line, wherever they are in the world.”

A word from our Conference Chair…

The Conference is to be chaired by Terry Johnson Manager Crisis Preparedness & Emergency Response – Group HSE Department, ENOC, and recently appointed Regional President of the Institution of Fire Engineer’s GCC UAE branch.

“I am extremely proud to be Chairing the inaugural IFSJ Leaders in Fire & Safety Event,” says Johnson. “This will be an excellent opportunity to bring together the most influential leaders from across the region, and further afield, to discuss current high-level issues and to explore opportunities for greater collaboration in the future.”

Dubai Civil Defense

Dubai Civil Defense (DCD) was founded in 1976 and is responsible for protecting the lives, properties, and environment of Dubai. DCD has a wide range of responsibilities, including: firefighting and rescue, emergency medical services, hazardous materials response, public education and awareness, disaster preparedness and response, urban search and rescue, marine rescue, aviation rescue, environmental protection, occupational safety and health, and security and law enforcement. DCD is also a leader in the field of emergency management and has a strong track record of success in responding to a wide range of emergencies. DCD is a valuable asset to Dubai and plays a vital role in keeping the city safe.

The Institution of Fire Engineers

The Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) is a global professional membership body for those in the fire sector that seek to increase their knowledge, professional recognition and understanding of fire through a global discourse. It is leading the way in enabling fire professions to become rigorously assessed through a well-established and dynamic system of internationally recognised membership grades and fire-related qualifications. Managed for fire professionals by fire professionals, the IFE aims to promote, encourage and improve the science, practice and professionalism of fire engineering, acting as a beacon of established expertise and guiding the way to a fire safe future.

Why Dubai?

Dubai has established itself as a leader in the fire and safety industry, thanks to a range of factors that have contributed to the city’s strong safety culture.

The government of Dubai has played a critical role in promoting fire safety, with rigorous regulations in place to ensure buildings are constructed and maintained to the highest safety standards. This has helped to create a culture of safety where residents and businesses prioritise fire safety.

The Emirate has also invested heavily in technology and innovation to improve fire safety, with advanced fire detection systems, firefighting drones, and smart firefighting equipment. These technologies have helped to improve the speed and effectiveness of emergency response, making Dubai a safer place to live and work.

The Dubai Civil Defense Academy provides high-quality training and education for firefighters and other fire safety professionals, covering fire prevention, emergency response, and risk management, ensuring that Dubai’s firefighters are well-prepared and well-trained to handle any fire-related emergency.

Dubai has developed strong partnerships with other countries and organisations in the fire safety industry, allowing the city to stay up to date with the latest technologies and best practices in the field. Its commitment to fire safety has not only helped to protect its residents and visitors, but has also set an example for other countries and cities around the world.

Editor’s Product: GFE’s FALCON and FALCON EX

by Featured NewsProducts

European manufacturer of fire detection equipment, Global Fire Equipment (GFE), has added to its product portfolio with the launch of two new fully certified control panels – the FALCON 2-wire conventional panel and the FALCON EX conventional extinguishing control panel. Both panels are designed and manufactured to comply with the standards EN54-4, as well as EN54-2 for the FALCON, and EN12094 for the Falcon EX.

The new FALCON conventional fire control panel is GFE’s first conventional control panel with 2-wire and 2-wire dwelling mode compatibility. Expandable from 8 to 16 zones, the FALCON is ideally suited for smaller premises such as shops, office spaces, schools and residential accommodation.

The 2-wire dwelling mode acts as a fire alarm confirmation enabler so that when a detector is activated within a dwelling zone, such as an apartment or room, the detector will warn of a fire on the first activation but then process the alarm before reconfirming the alarm condition, at which time it will sound the alarm. This significantly reduces the likelihood of false fire alarms. 

One of the key differentiating features of the new FALCON conventional panel is its ability to identify whether an alarm is activated by a detector or a manual call point and thus determine the appropriate action in response to either input.

GFE’s FALCON fire control panel also boasts fully customisable inputs and outputs, including a failsafe output so that in the event of any faults, passive fire safety equipment such as fire door holders and fire protection measures still activate. Remote inputs can be individually programmed with the following commands: restart, evac/silence, disable selected inputs, disable selected output, disable selected input and output, and class change).

The FALCON panel also features individual zone programming so each zone can be programmed as standard (no output) or as a 2-wire (output approx. nominal system voltage). This makes it easier for the fire control panels to adapt to different wiring configurations. In addition, there is NFC connectivity (for user access) and web connectivity which allows access and monitoring from a web browser. Finally, the FALCON’s maintenance menu can be pre-programed so a pop-up will appear when maintenance is required.

The FALCON EX is GFE’s first conventional extinguishing fire control panel and has been introduced by GFE to meet the increasing global demand for dependable fire detection and suppression systems. It can be integrated with addressable fire control systems and boasts extensive configuration options.

IFSJ Leaders in Fire & Safety Conference: Bringing decision makers together

by Breaking NewsEventsIFSJ ExclusivesIFSJ Leaders

With less than a month until to go until the IFSJ Leaders in Fire & Safety Conference, here’s everything you need to know

On 11 May 2023, International Fire & Safety Journal will bring together the most influential figures from the Middle East and Africa fire and safety industry at the ISFJ Leaders in Fire and Safety conference, held in association with MSA Safety. The one-day event will deliver a high-class business forum that focuses on business strategy, latest trends, regulations and innovations from the region.

Why you should attend

Taking place at The Grosvenor Hotel, Dubai Marina, the much-anticipated conference will provide a unique platform for the very best fire and safety companies and personnel in the region to network with one another and learn from the host of influential speakers in attendance.

By utilising interactive panel discussions and face-to-face networking opportunities at this invite only event, delegates can anticipate high-level conversations which will explore key areas for business growth in the region. The conference will explore key topics influencing the region from a fire and safety perspective whilst putting the biggest challenges facing organisations in the region under the microscope.

Keynote address

The IFSJ Leaders in Fire and Safety Conference is proud to partner with Dubai Civil Defense. H.E. Brigadier Expert Ali Hassan Al Mutawa, Assistant Director-General of Dubai Civil Defense for Fire and Rescue Affairs, will be presenting the Keynote Address and laying out the roadmap for fire and safety in Dubai throughout the rest of 2023 and beyond.

Event partners

IFSJ is delighted to be working alongside The Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE). The Conference is to be chaired by Terry Johnson Manager Crisis Preparedness & Emergency Response – Group HSE Department, ENOC, and recently appointed Regional President of the Institution of Fire Engineer’s GCC UAE branch.

“I am extremely proud to be Chairing the inaugural IFSJ Leaders in Fire & Safety Event,” says Johnson. “This will be an excellent opportunity to bring together the most influential leaders from across the region, and further afield, to discuss current high-level issues and to explore opportunities for greater collaboration in the future.”

In addition to Platinum sponsor MSA Safety, the conference has also attracted a significant amount of interest from solutions providers and manufacturers and is being supported by Global Fire Equipment, Dafo Fomtec, Reacton, Performance Advantage Company, Nightstick, PBI Performance Products and De-Wipe.

Learn and engage

Jason Traynor, General Manager at MSA Safety, the conference’s Platinum sponsor, says the conference will provide an opportunity to learn and engage with global manufacturers who wake up every day thinking about firefighters and firefighting safety.

“It is a unique opportunity for people in region in the industry to have something at home rather than being asked to fly to a massive trade show where you have a less controlled, more arbitrary experience,” says Traynor. “Leaders in Fire has a very clear agenda and opportunity to learn and engage and do it in a way that is specifically tailored towards the fire rescue service in the Middle East.”

Promoting higher standards

Duncan J. White, IFSJ Managing Editor, who will also serve as a panel moderator, says the event will bring together regional fire and safety leadership professionals from all facets of the industry, who all have a single goal, namely: “To promote and enhance professional fire and safety practices and develop understanding of an ever-evolving industry.

“The ISFJ Leaders in Fire and Safety Conference is pivotal in promoting higher standards of fire and safety in the region,” says White. “The UAE is a rapidly evolving region, with fascinating new approaches and advancements in fire and safety. This event will offer an insight into a few of these, by leading regional fire and safety subject matter experts.”

Advisory panel

IFSJ Leaders in Fire & Safety is pleased to announce the addition of Salma Al Ali, Head of Engineering Section at Dubai Civil Defense to our esteemed advisory panel.

She joins: Terry Johnson, Regional President of the Institution of Fire Engineer’s GCC UAE branch; David Campbell, General Manager, Dubai Civil Defense’s Emirates Safety Laboratory; Mark Buckingham – Head of Emergency Preparedness at Abu Dhabi Airport; Robert Davies BSc (Hons) MSc CEng MIFireE CFPS, Operations Director at WSP in the Middle East; Sinclair Duffie – Chief Fire Officer, Nawah Energy Company; and John Cowling – Security & Safety Specialist, Industry Influencer.

Register now

IFSJ Leader in Fire & Safety is an invite-only event. For those interested in attending, please register your interest at https://ifsjleadersinfireandsafety.com/register/ or contact iain.hoey@intfireandsafetyjournal.com.

IFSJ Exclusive: The Evolution of Fire Detection with GFE

by Breaking NewsFire DetectionIFSJ Exclusives

João Paulo Ajami, Managing Director and Founder at Global Fire Equipment (GFE), talks about the evolution of the fire detection company

How did you get started in the fire industry?

I first became interested in electronics when I was around 12. By the time I was 20 (in 1977), I started working in the electronics lab of a security company, working in repairs and development. In 1983, I launched my first company – a security manufacturing company – where we produced control panels for intrusion alarms. By 1986, we were supplying most of the security companies in Portugal before I sold the company.

I moved into fire detection through a collaboration between the company I was working for in Lisbon and I.A.S. Electronics in the early 1990s. Our plan was to establish a joint venture to manufacture fire alarm control panels in Lisbon. That fell through but I was then invited to move to England and help I.A.S. develop a new range of products. I stayed there until Spring 1993 when I moved to Denmark with my Danish fiancée.

In 1994, I established Global Fire Equipment, known as I.A.S. Denmark at that time. In 1998, the parent company I.A.S. Electronics was acquired, and our collaboration was left in limbo. I decided it was time to branch out on our own.

Why did you make the move to Portugal?

By 2000, we were doing a lot more manufacturing and needed to relocate to somewhere where it would be more cost effective to operate. I decided to move the company to Portugal – being Portuguese it was a natural move. Right from the beginning we opted to base the company in the Algarve. The quality of life in the south of Portugal is far better than in Lisbon. We were also in a place where there is very little other industry in terms of manufacturing which put us in a good position in terms of finding and retaining labour resources.

The fire safety sector is constantly evolving – how do you stay agile?

We keep re-inventing ourselves. The big difference between GFE and most of our competitors is that we are technology driven rather than commercially driven. We understand the importance of innovating and developing new products. We also understand that you always need to listen to customers – old and new – to understand the challenges they face. This is what sets GFE apart from our competition.

The challenging part is being able to continually innovate and deliver what the customers ask of us within their regulatory framework. We ensure that everything we do always conforms to the requirements of each customer’s regional regulation.

What different requirements are there in different regions and how you work to meet these?

The most important thing is listening to our customers. The big advantage we have against the larger corporations is that we work across more than 90 countries worldwide. This means we are fully versed in the differing requirements in countries all over the world.

What did you learn from working with them?

Well of course you need to understand the different legal systems. For example, in an unregulated market like Brazil almost anything goes. So, we spend a lot of time helping educate them so they understand that they are protecting lives and should pay attention to what the system is doing.

In comparison, our Scandinavian customers demand exceptionally high levels of functionality and reliability. There is a wide range of requirements, and we listen to all of them. It’s not easy, but it is a necessity and can be rewarding.

What are GFE’s biggest milestones as a company so far?

When we moved to the Algarve, we had been active for six years and we moved into a 200sq m facility. Seven years later, we moved to an industrial park where we had an 800sqm facility. In 2013, we moved again to an old mushroom canning facility that was 3,400sq m and at the start of 2023 we moved into a new estate converted from a cork transformation factory, which spans around 7,500 Sq m, with the option to expand up to 16,000sq m.

From a technology and staff point of view, we went from mainly supplying control panels to making our own range of sensors back in 2012. We decided we needed to have our own manufacturing facilities for everything in the fire detection system, so we parted with our detector supplier and designed and started making our own. This was the biggest milestone because it meant increasing our manufacturing by more than 60%. Today, we have a state-of-the art manufacturing facility and are able to cope with anything that is thrown at us.

What is GFE’s main focus for the years ahead?

Our goal is to strengthen our production capability – that is 100% necessary. We are looking to increase our autonomy and go into metal working because that’s the only thing we don’t do in-house currently.

Back in 2018, we acquired Createch, a company from the North of Portugal that specialises in emergency lighting. They were operating exclusively in Portugal and are the number two player in Portugal in their field. It’s an exciting opportunity that’s very much on the horizon but for now we are focused in growing the core fire safety business in new regions around the world.

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

Exclusive: Complete component compatibility and connectability with GFE

by Breaking NewsFire DetectionIFSJ Exclusives

Paul Pope, Group Business Development Director at Global Fire Equipment (GFE) explains the crucial role of EN 54-13:2017+A1:2019 in fire detection and alarm system components

EN 54-13 was first published in 2005 and has since been through a number of technical revisions. The latest version of the standard – EN 54-13:2017+A1:2019 – was published in February 2017. It supersedes EN54-13:2017 and replaces EN54-13:2005 which was withdrawn on the date of the publication of the latest version. 

EN 54-13:2017+A1:2019 is one of 23 standards for fire detection and alarm (products) systems in the EN 54 series of standards. The European standards define the requirements, test methods and performance criteria required by various individual components making up fire detection and alarm systems (FDASs).

Whereas other standards are ‘product’ performance approval, EN 54-13 is a ‘system’ performance approval. This makes it a particularly important standard as it confirms – through assessments and tests – the compatibility and ‘connectability’ of all the individual components of a FDAS. Even though some products on the network are not defined by an EN 54 standard, to achieve the latest EN 54-13 approval, all the individual components which make up the FDAS must be compatible and all the requirements relating to the performance of the overall system must be fulfilled.

The BSI addressed the importance of compatibility and connectability of components in a blog, stating: “Conformity of an individual component to a recognised standard does not necessarily ensure that it will operate satisfactorily in conjunction with another component that conforms to the relevant standard for that component. It is essential that compatibility between components is taken into account by the designer of the system. BS EN 54-13 can be used to confirm system compatibility”.

More stringent assessment procedures

The main difference between earlier versions of EN 54-13 and the latest version relates to testing procedures. Although the earlier versions of the standard emphasised the documentation analysis of the different components of a FDAS, the latest version tests a real-life installation of the system for worst-case scenario performance. This means that realistic cable lengths and number of devices must be installed in the set up. At GFE, we already take this approach and test all our products under extreme conditions to ensure full system compatibility.

The test procedures then create various fault scenarios and there is an evaluation of system performance under stress. As the possible configurations of FDASs are unlimited, the assessment is only carried out on the configuration(s) declared by the applicant.

Within the latest standard, two different component types are defined: Type 1 components (covered by an EN 54 standard) and Type 2 components (not covered by an EN 54 standard). Type 1 components are assessed for their compatibility with other Type 1 components of the system. Type 2 components, such as building management systems, printers etc, are assessed for ‘connectability’ to the system and for their ability to operate without negatively affecting the performance of the system.

The latest EN 54-13 standard takes into account new techniques such as Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) communications and new interface technologies available on the market. 

Benefits of whole system compatibility

There are two different classifications of approval – component suppliers (such as detector or panel suppliers) and complete systems providers like GFE. GFE was awarded EN 54-13:2017+A1:2019 system compatibility approval by an international third-party accredited laboratory in March 2021 for our entry level and high-end addressable fire detection and alarm systems.

We chose to go down the route of applying for EN 54-13:2017+A1:2019 approval because we have seen a marked increase in the number of authorities, specifiers, installers and end users in certain markets requesting compliance with the latest standard. We are also seeing the standard being stated in the approval requirements for commercial installations in several European countries.

It is important to be aware that not all FDAS manufacturers will have the latest EN 54-13:2017+A1:2019 approval. There are a number of component suppliers who, unlike complete systems providers, will only be able to achieve approval for their whole system if one manufacturer (e.g. the fire control panel manufacturer) takes responsibility for the other’s products (e.g. the detector manufacturer). This complicates the approvals process and requires a more stringent communications process if there are any changes to the individual components.

You will not know if the whole system is compatible if you purchase different components for the FDAS from separate suppliers. If, one the other hand, you purchase from a complete systems provider who also has EN 54-13:2017+A1:2019 approval, you can be confident that they have independent certification of system compatibility.

It is easy to understand the growing interest in this latest standard, and there are a number of benefits of whole system compatibility for installers and end customers. A complete systems provider who has EN 54-13:2017+A1:2019 approval has far greater control and can test and maintain compliance/certification, including developing new products and making any adjustments to existing products – all under one roof.

Communications about any changes are made much easier which is really important for whole system compatibility. Ongoing systems testing is also much easier when the manufacturer is responsible for the full system. Regular testing of the whole system is key to ongoing compliance and if the system’s components are not tested regularly, there is a risk that you will drift away from compliance.

At GFE, as we manufacture our own components we can fully test the whole system on a regular basis to ensure it works. When we went through the application process for EN 54-13:2017+A1:2019 approval in 2020, the most difficult test scenarios were related to cable interruptions and short-circuits in critical areas of the installation.

EN 54-13:2017+A1:2019 compliance demonstrates the systems supplier has achieved the highest level of certification so customers and installers can have full confidence that the system has been tested under the harshest of conditions.

By choosing a manufacturer who has EN 54-13:2017+A1:2019 approval and using system designers to ensure compatibility is achieved, customers are guaranteed that each individual component of the FDAS will be compatible with the other components which, in turn, conform to their own relevant standards.

Furthermore, the manufacturer takes full responsibility for the system compatibility and regular conformance testing must be undertaken and communicated to third party approvals.

Customers also benefit from having technical support from a single, dedicated point of contact. This makes it far easier to get quick and easy resolutions for any warranty issues or component failures.

Finally, it is much easier to establish the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) of a FDAS if you buy the whole system from one manufacturer.

The advantages of choosing a manufacturer with EN 54-13:2017+A1:2019 approval are clear so we anticipate more FDAS manufacturers will apply for this latest approval over the coming years. We are proud to be one of the first fire safety equipment manufacturers to have been awarded this latest approval.

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

A summary of the benefits associated with complete systems procurement

  • Total cost of ownership is much easier to establish the TCO of a FDAS if you buy the whole system from one manufacturer
  • System control is guaranteed as a complete systems manufacturer develops the entire system from scratch in-house and can therefore support full system design and advise on how all the different parts of the system interact. If you have separate suppliers, on the other hand, you don’t know where all the individual components are coming from and how they interact
  • Liability is through one company, whereas there is a question mark over where the liability lies if components are purchased from multiple suppliers
  • Independent testing is undertaken for the system as a whole whereas if you have different suppliers, none of them are responsible for whole system testing
  • Technical and service support is provided for the entire system instead of having multiple points of contact and being passed from pillar to post between different suppliers
  • Access to system information will be freely provided, ensuring easy access to all the required information about the system such as installation and commissioning manuals
  • A dedicated point of contact will be able to assist you with any required sales, technical, maintenance and warranty support
  • A competent trained fire alarm company will be able to install, commission and maintain the system, giving you greater choice of who to appoint 
  • Spare parts will be easier and often quicker to order as they come from one source

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

Exclusive: Effective evacuation procedures with Global Fire Equipment

by Breaking NewsIFSJ Leaders

Paul Pope, Global Fire Equipment’s (GFE) Group Business Development Director shares his views on some of the challenges the Middle East’s fire safety sector is facing.

The Middle East is renowned for high rise buildings and so-called megastructures, such as the 75-mile-long skyscraper that is being built as part of the NEOM megacity in Saudi Arabia. A spate of high-rise fires in the region three years ago thrust the importance of having effective life safety systems for these types of buildings into the spotlight and since then there has been progress in the region’s fire safety sector, with tighter legislation governing life safety systems. However, there are still plenty of opportunities for improvement and that is why events like the IFSJ Leaders in Fire and Safety Conference are so important as they bring together fire and safety thought leaders in the region to share insight, expertise and best practice.

The importance of effective evacuation procedures

One of the most important fire safety considerations for high rise buildings is their evacuation procedures, which require the input of fire safety specialists – from the initial consultation and design stage through to the commissioning stage and ongoing building management. Although the fire detection and alarm system (FDAS) provides the main method for the early warning and the evacuation strategy to begin, a lot of work is required to make ensure that all elements come together, and that occupants are given the best possible chance to exit the premises safely and quickly in the event of an emergency.

All areas of the building must be assessed to ensure the appropriate type of detection is used for the differing fire risks. Understanding the type of fire risk, materials present, fire load, environment, sensor technology and the best detector locations is critical for early and reliable fire detection. Some elements of the evacuation strategy are less obvious, such as ensuring that the fire detection system operates and monitors any fire protection measures correctly according to the fire evacuation strategy.

Furthermore, in high rise hotels or office buildings, occupants may not be familiar with their surroundings, possibly having arrived from a different time zone and speaking different languages. It is therefore essential that fire detection and evacuation strategies provide simple and intelligible methods of notification and guidance to allow for a safe controlled evacuation in a timely manner.

Why system survivability is key

One of the most critical factors in an effective evacuation strategy is the survivability of the FDAS. The FDAS must be designed to remain fully operational while under attack by fire. Some FDASs only need to initiate an alarm if a suspected fire is found, but when 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. This information is essential to ensure a safe and controlled evacuation. If a FDAS is badly designed, this could result in premature system failure which could be catastrophic as vital information about the location of the fire will not be available where it matters.

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.

Understanding the difference between a Notified Body and an approval

A challenge of particular importance in the Middle East is the inconsistent approach taken when specifying fire detection and alarm products. Unfortunately, in some countries it has become common practice to name a chosen ‘approval’ or ‘approval body’ on performance specifications as the sole mark of product certification or compliance. This misunderstanding of the certification process can have far-reaching consequences.

It is vital that specifiers understand the difference between a Notified Body and an approval. A Notified Body is authorised by the EU to assess products under the relevant EN 54 CPR regulations. Notified Bodies perform critical tasks including product testing, verifying the supporting evidence that a product meets the test requirements, and issuing a product certificate. They also undertake any required ongoing testing or surveillance activities. As long as an EU Notified Body is accredited to certify equipment or systems against the relevant EN 54 standards, manufacturers can choose them in order to achieve consistent regulatory compliance for their products.

An ‘approval’ is not the same thing as EN 54 product certification via an EU Notified Body. Whereas Notified Body 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. For example, some Notified Bodies run their own product directories, listings or certification schemes. These schemes may go beyond the legal EN 54 product standard requirements under their Notified Body activities and these schemes are not mandated by a regulation. This means that those approvals are the sole responsibility of the entities issuing them.

In the case of fire detection products, some of these schemes are promoted within the system performance specification and therefore may be perceived as the only route to compliance. However, 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. It is important to specify the correct product and system standards within the fire detection and alarm performance specification, rather than just a specific Notified Body.

We are very much looking forward to discussing these issues – and more – with delegates at the IFSJ Leaders conference.

Global Fire Equipment is a Gold Sponsor of the IFSJ Leader in Fire & Safety Conference which will be held on Thursday 11 May 2023 at The Grosvenor Hotel, Dubai Marina. For more information please visit https://ifsjleadersinfireandsafety.com/.

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

IFSJ Leaders in Fire & Safety: Conference Preview

by Breaking NewsEventsIFSJ ExclusivesIFSJ Leaders

International Fire and Safety Journal’s official preview of the ISFJ Leaders in Fire and Safety Conference, held in association with MSA, The Safety Company. By Duncan J. White, IFSJ Managing Editor.

On 11 May 2023, the ISFJ Leaders in Fire and Safety conference will bring together over 120 of the most influential figures from the Middle East and Africa fire and safety industry to deliver a high-class business forum that focuses on business strategy, latest trends, regulations and innovations from the region.

Working alongside key associations, regional authorities, leading manufacturers and innovative solutions providers, this much-anticipated conference – which is taking place at The Grosvenor Hotel, Dubai Marina – will provide a unique platform for the very best fire and safety companies and personnel in the region to network with one another and learn from the host of influential speakers in attendance.

Connecting likeminded senior fire and safety professionals throughout the course of this one day, invite-only event, the ISFJ Leaders in Fire and Safety Conference is taking a closer look at the key topics influencing the region from a fire and safety perspective whilst exploring the biggest challenges facing organisations in the Middle East and beyond. By utilising interactive panel discussions and face-to-face networking opportunities, delegates can anticipate high level conversations which will explore key areas for business growth in the region.

This event will bring together regional fire and safety leadership professionals from all facets of the industry, who all have a single goal, to promote and enhance professional fire and safety practices and develop understanding of an ever-evolving industry. Those attending the ISFJ Leaders in Fire and Safety Conference will get to hear from a wealth of industry experts working in and around the Middle East and Africa region.

As well as its proud partnership with Dubai Civil Defense, the IFSJ Leaders in Fire and Safety Conference is also delighted to be working alongside The Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE). From a technology perspective, the conference has also attracted a significant amount of interest from solutions providers and manufacturers including MSA, Global Fire Equipment, Dafo Fomtec, Reacton, Performance Advantage Company, Nightstick, PBI Performance Products and De-Wipe.

The ISFJ Leaders in Fire and Safety Conference is pivotal in promoting higher standards of fire and safety in the region. The UAE is a rapidly evolving region, with fascinating new approaches and advancements in fire and safety. This event will offer an insight into a few of these, by leading regional fire and safety subject matter experts.

Everything you need to know

Hosted by Centurian Media Ltd, IFSJ’s Leaders in Fire & Safety Conference will bring together leading figures from the Middle East fire and safety industries to deliver a high-class business forum that focuses on business strategy, the latest trends, new regulations and the most exciting innovations from the region.

Taking place at The Grosvenor Hotel, Dubai Marina on Thursday 11 May 2023, the one-day in-person conference will focus on the most important topics and verticals from the fire and safety sector, with expert commentary and views provided by our advisory panel, conference speakers, industry expert panellists and a host of high-profile influencers.

Who is involved?

The Conference, held in association with MSA Safety, will bring together over 120 of the region’s senior fire and safety professionals to network and share ideas on the latest trends and developments impacting the fire and safety sectors in the Middle East.

As well as its proud partnership with Dubai Civil Defense, the IFSJ Leaders in Fire and Safety Conference is also delighted to be working alongside The Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE).

From a technology perspective, the conference is being supported by an elite range of solutions providers and manufacturers including MSA Safety, Global Fire Equipment, Dafo Fomtec, Reacton, Performance Advantage Company, Nightstick, PBI Performance Products and De-Wipe. Hear from our sponsors (p42-54) about their view on the Middle East Market and why they are looking forward to the exclusive event.

In late 2022, International Fire and Safety Journal announced MSA as the event’s Platinum Partner. Jason Traynor, General Manager, Global Fire Service for MSA Safety, said: “At MSA Safety, we’re proud of the strong relationships we have built in the Middle East since we opened our first office in Dubai in the early 1980s.  We’re proud to partner with IFSJ for Leaders in Fire to continue to advance the strong relationships we have built in the Middle East since we opened our first office in Dubai in the early 1980s. Bringing together leaders in the industry in a platform like this will help ensure the very best protective equipment is available to firefighters on the front line, wherever they are in the world.”

The Conference Chair

International Fire & Safety Journal is pleased to announce that Terry Johnson, Manager Crisis Preparedness & Emergency Response – Group HSE Department, ENOC, and recently appointed Regional President of the Institution of Fire Engineer’s GCC UAE branch, will Chair the inaugural IFSJ Leaders in Fire & Safety Conference.

“I am extremely proud to be Chairing the inaugural IFSJ Leaders in Fire & Safety Event,” said Johnson. “This will be an excellent opportunity to bring together the most influential leaders from across the region, and further afield, to discuss current high-level issues and to explore opportunities for greater collaboration in the future.”

Advisory panel

David Campbell, General Manager, Dubai Civil Defense’s Emirates Safety Laboratory, and Robert Davies BSc (Hons) MSc CEng MIFireE CFPS, Operations Director at WSP in the Middle East have joined advisory panel for the inaugural IFSJ Leaders in Fire & Safety Conference.

Campbell and Davies join fellow advisory panel members Mark Buckingham, Head of Emergency Preparedness at Abu Dhabi Airports, John Cowling, Security & Safety Specialist, Sinclair Duffie, Chief Fire Officer at Nawah Energy Company, Jonathan O’Neill OBE, Managing Director of the Fire Protection Association, and Conference Chair Terry Johnson, IFE GCC UAE Branch President and Technical Service Manager – Group HSE Department, Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC).

The advisory panel have been instrumental in supporting the event and sharing their expertise, providing insight into the biggest challenges facing the Middle East and the issues which are keeping fire and safety professionals up at night. Thanks to their support, guidance and influence, the conference is surely the must-attend event for all leaders in fire and safety in the region.

On the agenda

After an introduction from Terry Johnson, Conference Chair, delegates will have the pleasure of being greeted by H.E. Brigadier Expert Ali Hassan Al Mutawa, Assistant Director-General of Dubai Civil Defense for Fire and Rescue Affairs, who will be presenting the Keynote Address and laying out the roadmap for fire and safety in Dubai throughout the rest of 2023 and beyond.

Panellists will be focussing their discussions on topics such as:  fire safety in buildings and construction, improving sustainability in the fire industry, the changing role of facilities management, equipment for the modern firefighter, industrial and airport firefighting challenges, the Middle East fire and safety landscape, firefighter health and safety, digital innovation, new constructions methods, fire and safety regulations, recruitment and training, product certification, integrated life safety systems and

The deadline for speaker submissions for the IFSJ Leaders in Fire & Safety conference is 24th March 2023, so if you have experience and skills that you would like to share in order to help other professionals within the region, contact Iain Hoey at iain.hoey@intfireandsafetyjournal.com.

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

Global Fire Equipment to showcase latest products at Intersec

by Breaking NewsFire Detection

European manufacturer of complete fire safety systems, Global Fire Equipment (GFE), is gearing up showcase the latest additions to its product portfolio on Stand F10 in Hall 3 at Intersec 2023 which takes place in Dubai from 17 – 19 January.  

Visitors to the stand will be able to find out about GFE’s range of advanced addressable fire alarm control panels and talk to GFE’s specialists about the benefits of working with a complete systems provider which has EN 54-13:2017+A1:2019 approval.

The manufacturer will also be showcasing the latest product innovation across its industry-leading detectors, emergency lighting and graphical fire alarm monitoring, control and communications software. One of the core products GFE will launch at the event is its new ZEOS 2 detector range.

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

“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 Middle East and our future plans.”  

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

The survivability of fire detection and alarm systems

by Breaking NewsFire DetectionProducts
Paul Pope, Group Business Development Director at Global Fire Equipment (GFE), speaks exclusively with IFSJ about the survivability of fire detection and alarm systems

Earlier this year, Global Fire Equipment (GFE) hosted an industry roundtable on the subject of survivability of fire detection and alarm systems. IFSJ sat down with Paul Pope, Group Business Development Director at GFE to understand the importance of system survivability and get an overview of the key points raised during the discussion which saw representatives from across the fire industry come together to discuss this important topic.

Can you define survivability?

When used in relation to fire and life safety systems, the term ‘survivability’ relates to capability of the entire fire alarm system to perform properly and remain fully operational, while under attack by fire.

Some fire detection and alarm system (FDAS) just need to initiate an alarm if a suspected fire is found, but for other systems that require a phased or complex evacuation, the FDAS needs to be able to continue working while the fire is occurring so that the fire management authorities can establish the location of the fire and monitor its spread. This information is essential to ensure a safe and controlled evacuation. If the FDAS is badly designed, it could fail relatively quickly. Premature failure of a FDAS could be catastrophic as vital information will not be provided to the fire and rescue services.

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 FDAS would be wiped out in a matter of seconds.

What was the key focus for the roundtable?

GFE hosted the industry roundtable to better understand the differing views on survivability across the sector. I was joined by Chris Taylor, Associate Director at engineering professional services consultancy WSP, Simon Hopkins, Marketing Manager from cable systems manufacturer Prysmian Group, Steven Daws, Senior Consultant & Quality Manager from independent fire consulting practice CS Todd & Associates.

The debate was very thought-provoking and highlighted that although a number of industry standards relating to survivability already exist, they each have a specific focus and there is no one piece of regulation which stipulates the need for the overall survivability of a FDAS.

Although there were differing views on this topic, there was a consensus that FDAS survivability should be a shared responsibility and that achieving survivability – and greater awareness of its importance – will require an industry-wide collaborative approach. We discussed the fact that there is no clear industry performance specification for FDAS survivability. How the standards are achieved comes down to the design, installation and system commissioning process. This is where the problem lies.

There are many different factors that 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. Engineers have to understand the fire risks associated with the whole system to ensure continued fire and evacuation strategy and system design compliance.

The foundations for improving the survivability of fire detection and alarm systems are already there thanks to the existing regulations, however, rather than introducing more regulation, we all agreed that the emphasis now needs to shift onto education and raising awareness across the sector about why survivability is such an essential consideration when designing FDASs.

How long should a fire alarm system be able to survive while under attack?

It is often assumed 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. 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.

BS 8519 takes into account the need for different survival times of fire-resistant cables and recognises three fire survival times according to the specific life safety or fire-fighting application: Category 1 – 30-minute fire survival time; Category 2 – 60-minute fire survival time; Category 3 – 120-minute fire survival time. If these category times are specified for cables on a project, for example, then the design of the whole FDAS must follow the same survival time criteria to ensure the entire system is capable of lasting that long. This requires careful consideration of which fire detection and alarm equipment to use, where to locate the equipment and where the equipment is controlled from so that it does not fail early and therefore negatively impact on the required fire survival time of the cables.

Specifiers need to fully understand the intended use of the building and its detailed fire/evacuation strategy, 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.

In our discussions, we agreed that an intrinsic approach is required to having an overall survivability time that those responsible for each element of the system should adhere to. Survivability should be a prerequisite of all complex systems and each building needs to be assessed on a case-by-case basis. As an industry we have a shared responsibility to better understand how to deliver survivability of fire and life protecting systems during an emergency.

What design considerations should be made when choosing a survivable fire alarm system?

One way in which GFE is leading the way in system survivability is our inbuilt mesh network. We have developed our Chameleon multi-master, multi-path peer-to-peer network which is a fundamental departure from previous fire alarm control panels’ (FACP) networking arrangements in that it creates an extremely resilient infrastructure for the management and interaction between multiple FACPs in a single system. A fully closed loop and multi-path solution, it 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 which means that in the event of a short circuit in the cables, for whatever reason, 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 to the right. In comparison, however, the Chameleon multi-master, multi-path peer-to-peer network has point-to-point communication across the entire network.

The network’s FACPs and other devices are directly interconnected via a dedicated ring topology link and can communicate bi-directionally. This means that in the event of a part of the network being lost, the remaining nodes will not lose their sub-networking capability. As each segment of the Chameleon network is galvanically isolated from all the others, the network also has superior immunity to electrical interference, further enhancing the overall FDAS’ survivability.

Where does the industry go from here regarding survivability?

The roundtable highlighted that one reason for the low profile of survivability of FDASs is due, in part, to the siloed approach taken by the sector whereby those specialists responsible for developing the regulations are focused on their own individual priorities. Key to increasing awareness of the issue is helping people to understand the regulations that are already in place.

As Chris Taylor explained: “When it comes to matters such as survivability of fire systems, we need to move away from the silo mentality that often permeates many aspects of the fire safety sector. Pushing the survivability of fire safety systems higher up on everyone’s agenda will take a coordinated approach and there needs to be clear lines of responsibility as to how we move from debate to action.”

Our industry roundtable and the collective experiences of those participating have demonstrated that there is a clear need for greater transparency about survivability times in performance specifications to ensure that survivability is achieved. This would help to create a level playing field where everyone understands, expects and quotes to an agreed specification.

We need to take a proactive stance in pushing for FDASs to be designed for survivability from the outset rather than as an afterthought. But there is also a need for greater awareness about survivability among those responsible for specifying, procuring, installing and using fire and life safety systems. Everybody has a part to play in ensuring that the operation of a building’s fire protection measures are maintained, and everything has to come together: from the design and specification through to installation.

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

GFE appoints new Regional Director for India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka

by People

Global Fire Equipment (GFE) appoints Vikrant Patil as Regional Director for India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, to help drive further growth in this key market.

The fire detection equipment manufacturer has set its sights on further growth in India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka with the appointment of Vikrant Patil as Regional Director to help deliver the company’s ambitious growth plans for this key market.

In this newly created role, Vikrant will be responsible for strengthening GFE’s brand awareness. Operating out of Mumbai, Vikrant will travel the length and breadth of the region to establish new long-term commercial partnerships and sales opportunities with installers, distributors and end users.

Vikrant brings more than 25 years’ experience of both process automation and fire detection solutions to the role, having worked for some of the world’s leading pioneers in automation – including Emerson (USA), Mettler Toledo (Switzerland) and Krohne Marshall – and in fire detection, having spent the past seven years as Regional Sales Manager for India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives for a leading manufacture in fire safety.

Vikrant’s previous experience includes product management, customer support, OEM sales, project sales, business development and channel development. With extensive experience of channel and distribution management, Vikrant is ideally placed to strengthen GFE’s presence in India and across the region to drive sustainable growth for the brand.

Paul Pope, Global Fire Equipment’s Business Development Director Worldwide, comments: “India is a key target market in GFE’s growth strategy. We anticipate considerable interest in our products and solutions, which are ideal for this market.”Joao Paulo Ajami, Managing

Director of Global Fire says: “We’re delighted to have Vikrant on board to help capitalise on the growth opportunities this dynamic region presents. Vikrant’s in-depth understanding of the local fire detection industry, coupled with his vast automation and fire detection technical expertise, make him an ideal addition to GFE’s global sales team. Having Vikrant present on the ground in India is bound to have a positive impact on developing new customers and providing ongoing support.”

Commenting on his role, Vikrant adds: “I’m delighted to join the GFE team at this exciting time. I believe the company has the best-in-class products, solutions and customer support to ensure its ambitious growth plans can be achieved.”

With a manufacturing base in Europe, GFE is part of the GSS Group which also includes the emergency lighting company Createch. In his new role Vikrant will also be responsible for sales of Createch’s emergency lighting equipment, which is also manufactured in Europe.

www.globalfireequipment.co.uk/