SIBEC 2025 gathers 1,000 delegates to discuss fire and life safety innovation

by EventsFeatured NewsMiddle East - EventsSafety

SIBEC 2025 strengthens Abu Dhabi’s regional safety role

SIBCA has concluded the fourth edition of SIBEC 2025 at The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday 26 November 2025, reinforcing the city’s position as a regional centre for innovation in fire and life safety.

The company described SIBEC as a platform that brings together decision-makers to share insight, review new technologies and shape approaches to smart governance and advanced infrastructure.

SIBCA operates as a fire, life safety and ICT solutions provider across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar and Egypt.

According to the organiser, this year’s event drew a record 36 partners and 1,000 attendees.

Delegates came from sectors such as heating, ventilation and air conditioning, building management systems, extra low voltage systems, audio-visual technology, lighting, information and communications technology and the Internet of Things.

Named participants included the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), UL Solutions, Emirates Safety Laboratories (ESL), Johnson Controls, Honeywell, Huawei, Siemens, Carrier, Hitachi, Motorola Solutions, Dahua, Hikvision, Uniview Technologies, AWEX, TTK, Doncaster Cables, Hanwha and Fogtec.

SIBCA reported that this mix of organisations supported discussion on how data-driven systems, connected devices and building services can be integrated to support safer buildings and communities in the region.

Safety 5.0 book launched at SIBEC 2025

A central feature of SIBEC 2025 was the launch of the book Safety 5.0: Building Safety in the Age of AI, Smart Technologies, and Sustainability.

The book is co-authored by Ibrahim Lari, Chairman and CEO of SIBCA, and Sudhi Ranjan Sinha, Vice President – Global and Strategic Accounts and Account-Based Marketing at UL Solutions.

SIBCA stated that the publication is intended as a practical guide for business, facility and technology leaders who are working with complex safety demands in modern buildings and infrastructure.

The book sets out tools to identify new opportunities created by AI and smart technologies within safety programmes.

It also presents frameworks for assessing how shifts in technology will affect safety outcomes across organisations and building portfolios.

According to SIBCA, Safety 5.0 emphasises the design of foundational systems that can support safer and more connected environments over time.

The company confirmed that the book is now available on a range of online platforms, including Barnes & Noble, Bookbaby, Booktopia and Amazon.

Industry leaders share SIBEC outcomes and future plans

As SIBEC 2025 closed, Ibrahim Lari, Chairman and CEO of SIBCA, said: “SIBEC 2025 has demonstrated that smart, data-driven technologies are no longer optional – they are essential to building safer, more resilient communities.

“Bringing together industry leaders, innovators, and partners under one roof allowed us to share solutions that will shape the future of safety and smart living in the UAE and beyond.

“We are proud to have hosted this event in Abu Dhabi, and we remain committed to driving meaningful progress across our industry.”

Lari’s comments framed SIBEC as a forum for both technology discussions and alignment between public and private stakeholders on safety priorities.

From the standards perspective, Mike Brunzell, Vice President of Global Business Development at the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), commented: “In today’s digital era, advanced technology plays a vital role in ensuring safety.

“SIBEC 2025 served as an outstanding platform for NFPA to engage with government, businesses, and technical experts on implementing smart life safety codes and standards across a rapidly evolving region.

“Our priority has always been to transform these conversations into actionable strategies that protect lives and property throughout the UAE.”

SIBCA noted that SIBEC’s stated mission is to support dialogue and collaboration that can lead to practical changes in the field.

Building on the 2025 event, the company is already planning SIBEC 2026 and intends to enhance the programme further.

How SIBEC 2025 supports safety decision-making

SIBEC 2025 is directly relevant for government departments, standards and certification bodies and senior officers in fire and life safety who are responsible for policy, regulation and technical governance.

The presence of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), UL Solutions and Emirates Safety Laboratories (ESL) indicates that code development, product testing and conformity assessment were active areas of discussion.

For building services engineers, architects, mechanical and electrical engineers and facility managers, SIBEC’s focus on heating, ventilation and air conditioning, building management systems, extra low voltage systems, audio-visual technology and lighting shows how safety requirements are being integrated into broader building performance strategies.

System installers, fire-protection contractors and electrical contractors can take practical interest in how information and communications technology and Internet of Things devices are being positioned within life safety architectures.

The Safety 5.0 book launch provides business, facility and technology leaders with structured tools and frameworks for evaluating the impact of AI and smart technologies on safety planning and operations.

The combination of event outcomes and published guidance means that attendees and wider stakeholders now have concrete reference points for aligning future projects, procurement and governance with emerging safety expectations.

Three join NFPA board of directors

by Featured NewsPeople

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has completed the election of its Board of Directors at its Annual Meeting on June 6, 2022, which includes three new members: “Butch” Browning, Adrián Gallardo Landeros, and Mark Ghilarducci. Patrick Morrison was re-elected for his second three-year term.

Browning served as the Louisiana State Fire Marshal since 2008 and on the NASFM (National Association of State Fire Marshals) Board of Directors for the last 12 years. With more than 35 years in the fire service, He will assume the role of Executive Director of NASFM July 1st.

Landeros has served as the general director of Servicios de Información Estratégica, S.C. for the last 20 years. During his career, he has provided professional advice and consulting services to 12 Mexican state governors, legislative bodies, and several federal ministries. He has also coordinated or co-authored more than 20 books on Mexican economic and political issues.

Ghilarducci, serves as the Director of the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (OES) within the Office of Governor Gavin Newsom. Prior to his appointments at Cal OES and FEMA, he served as deputy state fire chief at Cal OES. He also has more than 30 years of experience in public safety and government management at the local, state, and federal levels.

Morrison, the Assistant to the General President for Occupational Health, Safety and Medicine at IAFF (International Association of Fire Fighters), was elected to his second three-year term.

Previously, the Board elected a slate of officers that includes Russell Leavitt as chair, R. David Paulison as first vice chair, John Bonney as second vice chair, Roger Montembeault as secretary, Donald Cook as assistant secretary, Michael Wallace as treasurer, Stacy Welch as assistant treasurer, and Amy Acton as immediate past chair.

Fire Protection Association to participate at FIREX International

by EventsFeatured News

The Fire Protection Association is set to make its presence felt at this year’s FIREX International with key personnel from the FPA involved in delivering conferences and keynotes.

FIREX International welcomes thousands of fire safety professionals to explore the latest innovative products and solutions and meet face-to-face with the fire safety community – all under one roof, over three days.

“We’re delighted to be returning to FIREX International this year and we relish the opportunity it presents to connect with our members, customers, and the wider fire safety sector. FIREX will see the launch of several new and exciting FPA services including our Material Identification Laboratory, for identifying building insulation material; two fire resistance test furnaces, in collaboration with global safety science leader UL; and our newly developed fire compartmentation and door survey technology. “We are also pleased to be hosting the General Assembly of the Confederation of Fire Protection Associations (CFPA) Europe during the same week and our European partners are very much looking forward to the show.”Jonathan O’Neill OBE, Managing Director of the Fire Protection Association

Hear from industry experts in the FPA InfoZone theatre, featuring talks on the latest legislation, technology, and building safety. Highlights include:

Day 1: Bringing the global world of fire testing to the UK
Jonathan O’Neill OBE, FPA and Chris Miles, UL

Day 2: NFCC updates
Gavin Tomlinson, Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service & NFCC Protection Committee Chair

Day 3: Collaborative Reporting for Safer Structures UK (CROSS-UK)
Steve Hamm, IFE and Neil Gibbins, CROSS UK

Illinois fire department warns against leaving hand sanitiser in cars after dashboard fire

by Americas - Featured News

An Illinois fire department is warning drivers not to keep hand sanitiser in their parked cars amid the coronavirus after authorities said a bottle with high alcohol content appeared to have been left on a dashboard and helped spark a fire.

“The fire appeared to be caused by the owner’s small bottle of hand sanitiser that was left on the dashboard,” the Waukegan Fire Department wrote on Facebook.

The driver’s bottle contained 80 percent alcohol sanitiser that was left in direct sunlight, according to the department.

According to an April video from the National Fire Protection Association, while hand sanitiser is certainly flammable, it still requires an ignition source to catch fire. And the World Health Organisation (WHO), citing a 2007 study that looked at decades of hand sanitiser use in hospitals, said that fire hazards were extremely rare: There were a total of seven “non-severe fire incidents.”

“It appears sunlight shining through the windshield onto the sanitiser was enough to cause ignition,” the Waukegan Fire Department wrote in its Facebook post.

Photos of the damage show a melted dash, thick soot stains on the windshield and damage to the sun visor and headliner. The plastic frame of the rear-view mirror looks like it liquefied and dripped toward the floor before hardening again.

Authorities in Wisconsin issued, deleted and then clarified a similar warning last month after it went viral.

The Western Lakes Fire District had posted an image of a burned driver-side door along with a warning against keeping hand sanitiser in cars, The Hill reported. But after the post went viral, authorities removed it and said the image of a burned car door was not taken in the district and was not necessarily caused by “an exploding container of hand sanitiser.”

In its clarification, the fire district said that clear bottles – whether full of water or hand sanitiser or something else – could focus sunlight on a combustible surface and start a fire. It would be similar to aiming a magnifying glass near a piece of paper.

If the plastic container happens to contain alcohol that adds an “additional issue,” the district noted.

People have been increasingly using hand sanitiser when going out amid the coronavirus pandemic, in part due to state and federal health suggestions.

The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued safety guidelines designed to help Americans keep themselves safe as COVID-19 continues to flare up around the country. They include wearing face masks and disposable gloves or frequently washing or sanitising one’s hands.

The CDC recommends using hand sanitisers that contain at least 60% alcohol.