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Maxlogic fire detection integrated with Wisenet WAVE VMS

News Desk /

Mavili Elektronik Ticaret A.S. has developed a plug-in which enables its Maxlogic intelligent addressable fire detection system to interact with Hanwha Techwin’s Wisenet WAVE video management software (VMS). The integration of Maxlogic with Wisenet WAVE via the Mavili SPRVSR+ plug-in, ensures control room operators can rapidly visually verify a fire alarm event and take appropriate action. Detailed maps, together with information on the Maxlogic devices installed at each site, can be displayed alongside images captured by Wisenet cameras. When an alarm event occurs, a pop-up message instantly appears on the screen, with operators able to view live images from cameras installed at the event’s location. PTZ cameras are automatically moved to point to where there might be a fire. After viewing the video of an event, operators can use Wisenet WAVE’s graphical user interface to silence the alarm and reset the system, whilst an event log provides access to the recorded video for forensic post-event investigations. “Adding video verification to our Maxlogic fire detection system with the help of Wisenet high resolution cameras, means we can offer end-users even greater peace of mind in knowing they are benefiting from an integrated solution that offers them a very high level of protection from a potential fire”, said Mr Gurkan Erdem, Sales & Marketing Director of Istanbul based Mavili Elektronik Ticaret A.S. “In addition to capturing superb quality images, Wisenet cameras have an excellent reputation for being robust and ultra-reliable. Hanwha Techwin is therefore an ideal technology partner for us to work with to ensure our customers gain maximum advantage from their Maxlogic intelligent addressable fire detection systems”. Wisenet WAVE Wisenet WAVE is designed to make it almost effortless to monitor high-definition video streams. An auto-discover feature ensures connected cameras and a wide range of third-party IP network devices can be addressed and set up in just minutes. An intuitive ‘drag & drop’ tool makes it easy to set up a display of live and recorded images on a single screen or video wall, with customisable layouts and sizes. Other key features include a virtual PTZ which, with just a simple click of the mouse, enables operators to zoom in to see close-up detail of any suspicious activity, whilst motion detection and video analytics support can be configured to generate alerts when user-defined incidents occur, with push notifications sent to mobile devices. “We are delighted that an independent manufacturer such as Mavili Elektronik Ticaret A.S. has entrusted Hanwha Techwin to be its preferred technology partner and has invested its time in developing the SPRVSR+ plug-in”, said Uri Guterman, Head of Product & Marketing for Hanwha Techwin Europe. “The Maxlogic fire detection brand is highly respected and has achieved success in over 70 countries. Mavili Elektronik Ticaret A.S. shares our passion for providing the highest possible levels of pre and post-sales support and we are therefore very pleased that this integrated solution will be available to all our customers across Europe”.   To stay up to date on the latest, trends, innovations, people news and company updates within the global fire market please register to receive our newsletter here. Media contact Rebecca Morpeth Spayne, Editor, International Fire Buyer Tel: +44 (0) 1622 823 922 Email: editor@firebuyer.com

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Are our heroes at risk?

News Desk /

Are our heroes at risk? New research project launches to uncover the real issues our firefighters face when protecting the nation FlamePro, a British manufacturing specialist of life-saving garments for firefighters, has launched a national survey in a bid to uncover the key issues that firefighters are currently facing. The anonymous research will provide a rare opportunity to gain insight into the minds and experiences of frontline firefighters. It’s hoped the project will help shape the future of the industry and ensure the safety of firefighters across the country. The survey is designed to increase transparency across the firefighting industry, by providing an authentic, undisputed viewpoint into the sentiment of firefighters on the ground. The findings of the survey will be released and distributed amongst key industry professionals as a full written report, to help further drive innovation across the sector. Reece Buchner, technical sales manager at FlamePro, said: “The purpose of this survey is simple. We want to better understand how we can support the industry by speaking to those that have their boots on the ground. “Even when you take into consideration just the past 12 months – the role of the firefighter has changed drastically as a result of the pandemic. Yet, for an industry experiencing such rapid change, we worry that modernisation within the sector is falling behind. “We want to use this research as an opportunity to shine a spotlight on industry change, and help to support innovation from the ground upwards – something we know there is an appetite for at all levels.” The survey can be found here. Firefighters from across the UK are encouraged to take part and share their experiences in a bid to futureproof safety across the industry.   To stay up to date on the latest, trends, innovations, people news and company updates within the global fire market please register to receive our newsletter here. Media contact Rebecca Morpeth Spayne, Editor, International Fire Buyer Tel: +44 (0) 1622 823 922 Email: editor@firebuyer.com

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HAIX shares the evolution of fire boots

Exclusives /

Simon Ash, UK Sales Manager at HAIX, discusses exclusively for Fire Buyer the evolution of the fire boot Global footwear manufacturer HAIX began specialising in firefighter footwear nearly thirty years ago. In 1992, its founder’s son Ewald Haimerl used his experience as a certified master shoemaker and deputy chief of Mainburg fire service to create a collection of boots that best served his comrades. The new design included switching rubber for leather to improve comfort, durability and safety. Simon Ash, UK Sales Manager at HAIX, shares how far the industry has advanced since Ewald Haimerl first began designing firefighter footwear in his father’s factory. Material developments Rubber fire boots first appeared in the 1930s, offering a cheaper alternative to leather. However, leather became increasingly popular in the 2000s because it is easier to decontaminate, can be three pounds lighter and provides better heel support, preventing discomfort or even injury on the job. As the role of the firefighter has evolved over the last few years, intelligent use of new materials and closure systems such as the two zone lacing system have ensured a much more versatile, durable and comfortable boot. Upgrades in standards Firefighter footwear must withstand various challenges. As upgrades in safety standards have developed, historical pull-on rubber boots have been redesigned to incorporate a protective toe-cap, materials have been enhanced to better protect against hazards and there has been a shift towards leather as the material of choice. Ensuring footwear meets the EN 15090:2012 standard will provide chemical, water, puncture and slip resistance, antistatic capabilities and insulation against heat and cold, giving today’s modern firefighters the confidence to focus on the job at hand.   To stay up to date on the latest, trends, innovations, people news and company updates within the global fire market please register to receive our newsletter here. Media contact Rebecca Morpeth Spayne, Editor, International Fire Buyer Tel: +44 (0) 1622 823 922 Email: editor@firebuyer.com

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A500f/A700f cameras for fire detection

News Desk /

The FLIR A500f and A700f Advanced Smart Sensor ruggedised thermal cameras feature high-temperature detection for extreme environments paired with on-camera analytics and alarm capabilities – ideal for industrial early fire detection or outdoor condition monitoring applications. Along with enhanced spot, area, line, polygon, and polyline analytic functions that improve the definition of areas of interest and object curvatures, the A500f/A700f can help commercial and industrial organisations protect assets, improve safety, maximise uptime, and minimise maintenance costs. Fire Detection and Condition Monitoring for Industrial Facilities For early fire detection, the A500f and A700f thermal cameras can quickly identify increased temperatures related to potentially dangerous conditions. If smoke is present, the cameras can help provide increased awareness for decision makers to properly assess and address incidents. Both cameras feature Flexible Scene Enhancement (FSX) technology, found on Teledyne FLIR K-Series handheld firefighting devices. The result is an ultra-sharp, finer-textured image that shows subtler edge details supplied by the embedded visible camera onto the thermal image, enabling operators to recognise objects and people more easily. The A500f/A700f are also effective tools for pile-burn monitoring, providing automated early warnings for potential issues in waste management facilities or coal collection areas that operate around the clock. Manufacturing facilities, chemical processing locations, or power substations that use common communications and control language can also benefit from the A500f and A700f beyond fire detection.  These cameras empower those organisations to reduce maintenance costs by identifying heat anomalies from mechanical problems early, thereby extending the life of plant components while maximising uptime. Featuring a protective IP67-rated housing designed to withstand temperatures between -30° to 50°C (-22° to 112° F), the A500f/A700f cameras are designed for harsh environments and discreet enough to deter from theft.  In addition, the cameras use a single power-over-Ethernet (PoE) cable for both power and communication, helping to further minimise points of potential failure. The A500f/A700f offers superior thermal imaging capability with a resolution of 464 x 348 (161,472) for the A500f and 640 x 480 (307,200) thermal pixel resolution for the A700f. Users can expect a ±2° C (±‐3.6° F) temperature measurement accuracy. The A500f has a temperature detection range between -20° to 1500°C (-4° to 2732° F), while the A700f offers a temperature range of between 20° to 2000°C (68° to 3632°F) for detecting chemical fires and other extreme industrial fire conditions.  Along with thermal lens options ranging from 14° to 42° and an embedded HD visible camera, these devices fulfill the needs of most outdoor condition monitoring and fire detection applications. Installing the FLIR A500f/A700f cameras is seamless. Both cameras are ONVIF compliant and integrate easily into standard security VMS and NVR solutions including control of pan/tilts. For VMS integrations, thermal and visible streams can be viewed independently or simultaneously.  The cameras are easy to add, set up, and operate in HMI (Human Machine Interface) SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) systems, offering automation system solution providers a running start. Both the A500f and A700f fully support IIoT protocols such as MQTT (Message Queuing Telemetry Transport) and RESTful API with a system unique token key for extra security.   To stay up to date on the latest, trends, innovations, people news and company updates within the global fire market please register to receive our newsletter here. Media contact Rebecca Morpeth Spayne, Editor, International Fire Buyer Tel: +44 (0) 1622 823 922 Email: editor@firebuyer.com

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HD Low Expansion Foam Systems for storage tanks

Exclusives /

HD Fire Protect discusses how their innovative and environmentally friendly new foam system is the ideal solution for fixed-roof and floating-roof storage tank protection We know how devastating fuel storage tank fires can be, considering their intensity and scale. While these kinds of fires are not very frequent, due to their massive nature, it is extremely essential to design the tank fire-protection system with top quality products and in accordance with the regulatory codes and standards such as NFPA 11.  HD Fire Protect offers an excellent wide range of FM-approved and UL-listed foam suppression products for various storage tank applications. These include foam concentrates, foam bladder tank proportioning systems, proportioning devices and a diverse array of foam discharge devices comprising HD’s Low Expansion Foam System.  HD Low Expansion Foam Systems are most suitable for fixed-roof and floating-roof storage tanks. They are also ideal for protection of diked, loading and process areas as well as storage rooms of flammable liquids. FM and UL-listed HD foam chambers, rim seal foam pourers, water foam sprinklers, foam makers, foam monitors and so much more are some of HD’s wide range of product offerings for Class B fire protection. HD also offers graphite vapour seals for foam chambers for systems requiring accurate maintenance of back pressure. HD medium velocity nozzles and tank cooling nozzles have a wide selection of k-factors and spray angles, which system designers and integrators can select to design for cooling and exposure protection of storage tank surfaces and combustible liquid-filled equipment.  HD has a variety of fixed and variable flow foam monitors for supplementary protection of storage tanks. With HD’s new JRC controlled variable flow foam monitor, which has an effective foam induction mechanism, foam storage tanks and monitors can now be spaced further apart.  HD’s foam bladder tank proportioners are FM approved and UL listed and offer a very reliable and maintenance-free foam proportioning system. The pressure vessels of foam bladder tanks proportioning systems as designed as per ASME Section VIII Div. 1 Code. HD foam skids are customizable integrated foam proportioning units consisting of UL-listed inline balanced proportioner with new HD foam pump with options of electrical motors and diesel engine.  HD mobile foam extinguishing systems consist of a range of mobile foam units and trailer mounted monitors with foam tanks. These are helpful in extreme cases, when the fixed foam discharge system is damaged due to intense fire or if a supplementary system is needed to fight large scale fires.  HD foam range comprises a wide range of environmentally friendly foam concentrates approved by UL as well as FM. All HD foam concentrates are suitable for use on hydrocarbon fuel fires and spills while the AR-AFFF concentrates are suitable for use on polar solvent fuel fires and spills. HD technical teams can assist the clients with proper selection of required foam concentrate, proportioner and discharge devices, specific to the application, in accordance with NFPA 11 requirements. HD Fire Protect has been in the forefront of fire product innovations and technologies with more to come in the near future.   To stay up to date on the latest, trends, innovations, people news and company updates within the global fire market please register to receive our newsletter here. Media contact Rebecca Morpeth Spayne, Editor, International Fire Buyer Tel: +44 (0) 1622 823 922 Email: editor@firebuyer.com

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Saving lives and assets with smoke control

Event News, Exclusives /

Smoke control remains a fundamental component of fire detection and protection system solutions in buildings. Fire Buyer looks at how and why Studies have shown that most fire deaths are not caused by burns at all but instead by smoke inhalation. Smoke can be quite hazardous, and its effects stretch far beyond just being toxic. Smoke obstructs light and limits occupant visibility. This in turn diminishes travel speed so it takes longer for occupants to get to safety. Smoke can also be very hot, burning the interior of your lungs. Luckily, in the event of a fire, smoke control systems can help occupants avoid smoke when evacuating a building. NFPA 92, Standard for Smoke Control Systems, is the standard that contains requirements for the design, installation and testing of smoke control systems.  A smoke control system is a system that controls the movement of smoke and air in a building. It can be made up of multiple different components and use several methods to achieve its design objective, which is typically to maintain a tenable environment long enough for all occupants to egress the building. The design objective for a smoke control system can vary depending on the situation in which it is being used, for example a hospital might have a design objective of containing smoke to the zone of fire origin. These systems can also be part of the existing HVAC systems or they can be standalone systems. There are multiple ways to establish smoke control. NFPA 92 covers both types of smoke control systems: smoke management systems and smoke containment systems. Smoke containment systems keep smoke from entering specific areas using pressurization and are commonly found in enclosed stairwells. Smoke management systems maintain tenable environments in the means of egress from large volume spaces or prevent the movement of smoke into surrounding spaces. Smoke management systems are typically found installed in buildings with large multilevel atriums. Smoke control is an aspect of fire safety that refers to the principle of redirecting hazardous smoke and fumes in the instance of a building fire. A correctly-working smoke control system will keep smoke away from escape routes and enable easier ingress for fire fighting services, saving both lives and assets which are otherwise at serious risk from smoke during a fire. Such smoke ventilation systems can be passive or mechanically-assisted, utilising smoke detectors, vents, smoke curtains, smoke dampers, smoke shafts and fans to protect a building such as a multi-storey apartment block or an underground car park. The system is only truly operational if all elements work in the correct sequence (for example dampers blocking smoke from entering a floor where there is no fire, but opening on the fire floor to allow smoke to leave), and therefore their maintenance has to not only check each element is intact but that each is talking to the main control systems that govern them. Maintaining smoke control systems is a legal requirement under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. Protecting access routes When a building fire occurs, being able to maintain smoke-free access routes for as long as possible can significantly improve the outcomes for both occupants and property. Studies have repeatedly shown that smoke inhalation presents the most significant risk to life during a fire and, as the toxic mixture of fumes from the burning building contents will typically spread through a building much faster than flames, it is important that safety systems react rapidly to this threat. Smoke Pressure Systems (SPS) have been used across the globe for over half a century to help achieve this within key areas of a building. Technology in using mechanical ventilation systems has changed to protect access routes such as corridors and staircases within buildings even further. These routes not only provide a path for occupants to evacuate safely but can also allow fire services to navigate the building more quickly. As buildings grow in height and complexity and fire regulations tighten, these systems are becoming an increasingly popular option for a range of building types. But how exactly do modern systems function, and what are the considerations when incorporating them into a holistic fire safety strategy? At a fundamental level, all SPS operate on a principle of ‘controlled overpressure’. This means that the air within the designated escape and rescue routes is maintained at a higher pressure than the areas surrounding it. As air will naturally try to move from an area of higher pressure to an area of lower pressure, this differential prevents smoke from infiltrating the routes, helping them to remain clear and safe. This is the same approach which is successfully used to help to maintain sterile environments in many cleanrooms. Whilst this may sound relatively straightforward, achieving effective overpressurisation within a complex building requires careful planning and design. During a fire event, the SPS must constantly monitor the pressure within the escape and rescue route, quickly reacting to changes as a result of doors being opened and closed, and reinstating the overpressure within seconds. It must also ensure that the pressure differential is not too great to hinder doors being opened or closed. In our experience, the most effective and reliable approach to achieving this is with an actively controlled system. To understand how these systems function, lets look at how a typical SPS operating within the staircase of a multi-storey building reacts to a fire event. Once the fire ignites, the SPS will either be activated automatically by smoke detectors/fire alarms or manually from a call point. This sends a signal to a control unit in a command centre (often located in the ground floor or basement of a property). The control unit is the ‘brains’ of the SPS, collating all of the pressurisation data from within and outside the escape and rescue route/s and adjusting it as necessary. Within 60 seconds (max) of this signal being sent, the system will commence a ‘flushing stage’. During this period, roof vents at the top of the staircase

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Why are fire alarm systems necessary and important

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Pete Davies, Business Development Manager for Fireco discusses exclusively for Fire Buyer the necessities of fire alarm systems. The Regulatory Reform Fire Safety Order and Building Regulations, which form the basis of fire safety law in England and Wales, requires general fire precautions and that occupants of a premises be given sufficient early warning in the event of a fire. With few exceptions, this comes in the form of automatic alarm and detection equipment, commonly known as a fire alarm. The legal requirement for this equipment forms the basic necessity, but the importance of having this type of apparatus extends even further. Fire alarms not only give us the ability to warn people of danger but also to operate automated systems which allow us to protect our buildings. For example, without automatic detection, we can’t use hold-open devices for fire doors. These are vital for ensuring that fire doors are not wedged open and are able to close safely in an emergency, preventing smoke and fire from travelling through the building and causing damage that could bankrupt some businesses. These devices rely on some form of equipment which can detect smoke or heat, which could indicate a fire, in order to operate. We also rely on automatic alarm and detection equipment to operate sprinkler systems, a requirement under Approved Document B of the building regulations in new residential blocks of more than 30m in height. Automatic opening vent systems, used in buildings with complex or long escape routes which force smoke and toxic fumes out of a building, are also imperative. If you’re unsure if your premises needs a fire alarm system, you should have a suitable fire risk assessment carried out and seek guidance from your local fire and rescue authority. I don’t think it’s an overstatement to suggest that it could literally be the difference between life and death, and could save your business from financial ruin, should the worst happen in your building.  

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Regulation and standard compliance

Exclusives /

Fire doors are an integral part of fire safety in both residential and commercial buildings, but what regulations and standards do you have to adhere to? All buildings, both residential and commercial, must contain certain doors that are installed to protect their occupants and visitors from the risk of a fire outbreak. The main reason for a fire door is to help save lives and further damage to the property. It is essential that these doors are constructed to a certain standard, so they perform by slowing the progress of any fire outbreak within the building to the specified time limit (at a minimum). The most common fire door installed is an FD30 that provides fire protection for a minimum of 30 minutes, with commercial buildings more commonly having a FD60 (60 Minute door) installed. Where fire doors are required Stating the obvious, it is advisable to fit a fire door anywhere where there is a risk of a fire outbreak. Some areas carry a higher fire risk than others, kitchen areas, rooms that contain any electrical equipment or cupboards containing highly flammable materials for example. Doors allowing access to these rooms should be fire rated. There are legal requirements for all buildings, including domestic properties, and these regulations stipulate that any two-storey building that has a door leading into it from an integral garage, then it must be a fire door. Likewise, any new-build or renovation property with three or more storeys (including loft conversions), must have at least FD30 fire doors leading to and from every habitable room off the stairwell. For added safety, it is advisable to fit doors that provide greater protection, FD60 doors, provide additional safety and greater time for building egress in the event of a fire outbreak. Smoke seals are recommended where a fire door approaches or protects an escape shaft such as a staircase or corridor or where a fire door is between a private area and a common space. A good example is the front door of a flat. Smoke seals should also be used on doors in corridors leading to dead ends. Where a smoke seal is to be used, the threshold gap should not exceed 3 mm. It is important to remember that a fire door is an element of a whole system called a  “doorset”. BS EN 12519 defines a doorset as “supplied complete with all essential parts from a single source and for which the main intended use is the access of pedestrians.” Following the tragedy of Grenfell Tower in June 2017, the DHF / Secured by Design / Fire Industry Association published A Guide for Selecting Flat Entrance Doorsets. This makes the point that there is no conflict between fire and security with Building Regulations ADB (fire) and ADQ (security) carrying equal weight with neither taking precedence over the other. It explains why only factory produced doorsets can meet both ADB and ADQ. Fire door construction Different standard fire doors provide different levels of protection. FD30 fire doors must be a minimum of 44 mm thick as opposed to a standard, non-fire door of 35/40 mm. The FD60 doors are constructed as a minimum of 54mm thick. Fire doors have a solid core construction made from different materials such as flaxboard, particleboard and solid timber and their assembly can vary greatly. Many will have timber framing around the chosen core with a veneer finish, whilst others may be composed of a 5 to 20mm lipping around the core with a veneer on top. The actual construction materials could differ providing the desired and required fire protection rating is achieved. How fire doors work The door itself must be fitted with suitable intumescent strips, these strips play a vital role in providing the fire safety and achieving the legal fire door rating. These intumescent strips expand when subjected to heat, sealing any gap between the fire door edge and frame. The seals can be fitted within the door frame itself or grooved into the door edge. The materials used for the door frame must comply with the required standards, together with the ironmongery, which will have their own individual integrity test evidence. Performance All fire doors must be able to provide test evidence for proof of performance for the ratings they proclaim and display. They must be tested by an approved third-party body to either BS 476 Part 22 or to the European equivalent (BS EN1634-1) to resist fire for a minimum period of thirty minutes. Compliance to the FSO/ RRO: Building owners need to comply with Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 or the FSO. Article 17 of FSO mentions the need for a suitable maintenance regime and ensuring the efficient state of relevant equipment including fire doors and all types of escape doors. Article 18 requires the responsible person to appoint competent people to fulfil preventive/ protective measures. The FSO is closely related to Building Regulations, which include fire safety, ease of access, glazing safety, acoustics etc. Scotland has similar regulations mentioned in Fire Act 2005 while Northern Ireland has similar rules stated in Fire & Rescue Service Order 2006 and the latest Fire Safety Regulations 2010. Fire certificates issued by the local fire brigade have no legal status anymore for any building since the FSO anoints the responsible person in charge of fire safety, the doors and its maintenance. The responsible person needs to carry out fire risk assessment and ensure the residents safety too. The key changes in the FSO have been: Building owners, landlords, managers and the like can shoulder legal responsibility for fire safety.  A ‘responsible person’ should be appointed for each building and ensure that every year, a fire risk assessment is carried out with proper documentation.  The assessment should demonstrate that all aspects of fire safety management are met, along with respective fire measures; signage; escape door condition and easy evacuation procedures The responsible person can engage someone with expertise to implement on key areas as required. Specifications

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FeuerTrutz: On site and digital

Event News /

International Fire Buyer gains a greater understanding of what to expect from this years FeuerTrutz event, which will be held in person and in digital It’s just under six months until the 10th anniversary of FeuerTrutz, the International Trade Fair with Congress for Preventive Fire Protection. The fire protection community’s eager anticipation of their industry gathering is reflected in the registration numbers to date: more than 110 exhibitors have already made a firm booking. The modified concept developed by organisers NürnbergMesse and FeuerTrutz Network GmbH provides plenty of options for taking part.  What is FeuerTrutz? FeuerTrutz is Europe’s most important event for preventive fire protection, combining solutions for passive, active and organisational fire protection. At this event in Nuremberg, planners, experts, architects, building engineers, staff from official agencies and fire prevention authorities and fire officers can obtain specific information and discuss innovative solutions and products for fire protection and fire control. At the parallel Fire Protection Congress, organised by FeuerTrutz Network, prominent experts will speak on the key current issues relating to passive, active and organisational fire protection. How has FeuerTrutz been impacted by covid-19? “We have made the decision to postpone FeuerTrutz to October 2021. The new event will be a two-track combination of an online and an in-person event that had already been planned for June, to give everyone the chance to attend FeuerTrutz digitally if they were unable to attend in person because of travel restrictions. Following the latest decisions to extend the lockdown, however, and in view of the current coronavirus situation, it is becoming increasingly clear that a June event would have to be online only. The organisers have therefore decided at this early stage to postpone FeuerTrutz until October, to enable customers to plan reliably and give them a better prospect of a live event at which they will be able to interact in person once again. “We want to offer our customers the best possible in-person event for FeuerTrutz with its traditional sense of ‘experience’, and that’s why we’ve put it back to autumn. The sector urgently needs a return to personal interaction. To ensure maximum flexibility and the ability to plan reliably, we’re retaining the two-track approach, including the opportunity to participate online. The focus will be on the physical event, with sophisticated hygiene procedures in place, and the digital activities will be offered as an add-on. That way we can ensure everyone is able to take part in FeuerTrutz 2021,” comments Stefan Dittrich, Director FeuerTrutz at NürnbergMesse. How have you tackled a digital and on-site event? “This year, participants will be able to choose between an on-site event in Nuremberg, a digital-only platform, or a mixture of both. It’s great to see that our flexible concept for taking part in FeuerTrutz is going down so well with exhibitors. This shows that industry players are extremely keen to finally exchange ideas and information again and present their new products. Our preparations are currently in full swing and we can hardly wait to welcome new and familiar faces on 18 and 19 October,” says Stefan Dittrich, Director FeuerTrutz at NürnbergMesse. What will be available on live stream? “The parallel fire protection congress organised by FeuerTrutz Network will also be broadcast additionally as a live stream. One of the main congress themes in 2021 is ‘Solutions for Special Buildings’. Experienced practitioners will outline state-of-the-art solutions to problems and avoidable errors for various types of special building.  “We are looking forward to a lot of interesting topics relating to current challenges and some lively debate,” says André Gesellchen, Head of Programme Management at FeuerTrutz Network. You hosted FeuerTrutz 2020 in digital form, how did that work? “Trade fairs work even online. FeuerTrutz Digital, held on 30 September and 1 October, was ample proof of that. NürnbergMesse and FeuerTrutz Network pulled out all the stops to replicate all aspects of the Trade Fair for Preventive Fire Protection and the accompanying Fire Protection Congress in digital form – with complete success. A good 38,800 chat messages and hundreds of video calls showed just how intensively the sector used the event to interact and network. In total, about 1,500 participants learned about the latest product developments from 73 exhibitors, made new business contacts and engaged with each other, supported by a smart “matchmaking” system. “We started getting positive feedback from both exhibitors and visitors while the event was still running, which made us very happy. That showed us that a trade fair in the form of a digital platform can be a success. There was a lot of praise for the company profiles, and especially for the opportunities for contact, as well as the quality of the various expert lectures by the exhibitors. We are impressed by how intensively the sector made use of contact opportunities like chats and video calls. We were able to provide the fire protection community with a valuable platform for their dialogue and information needs. But at the same time we are very much looking forward to the next in-person gathering here in Nuremberg,” says Stefan Dittrich, Director FeuerTrutz. André Gesellchen, Head of the Fire Protection Programme at FeuerTrutz Network, adds: “The digital Fire Protection Congress attracted more than 700 participants – that’s an amazing result. We have also received positive feedback from the participants about the successful digital realisation of the congress. There was major interest in the 40 independent lectures on all aspects of preventive fire protection and lively participation to all lectures in the chat from the participants. All a wealth of highlights, new solutions and trends awaited discovery among the broad thematic blocks of fire protection in hospitals, fire protection in timber construction, organizational fire protection, fire protection concepts, new guidelines and legal aspects, engineering methods and plant technology.”   To stay up to date on the latest, trends, innovations, people news and company updates within the global fire market please register to receive our newsletter here. Media contact Rebecca Morpeth Spayne, Editor, International Fire Buyer Tel: +44 (0) 1622

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The future is smart

Exclusives, Project News /

The fire safety industry has evolved to incorporate IoT and smart fire detection systems, which provide added benefits to organisations and protection of life Fire is destructive to property and dangerous to life; therefore, you must protect your family or employees and your property against it by all means. Sometimes the fire may arise when you are not aware, and the best way to ensure the safety of those in the building is installing a system that will detect it early when there is still enough time for everyone to evacuate. There are so many fire detection systems in the market today, making it hard to choose the best, but you can use some help in knowing what to look at when selecting the best. Below are some of the factors to consider when looking for the best fire detection system. Consider the size of the building you will install the system so that you get the one with enough detectors to cover the inside and outside of the building adequately. Buying a smaller system will incapacitate the system and purchasing a larger system than you need is a waste of money, so know the size of the area you will be covering, and it will help you get the best system for your building. Choose to buy a flame camera that uses the latest technology so that you will benefit from high ‘intelligence’ that the system has. Technology has led to various improvements on the fire detector systems; therefore buy the latest in the market, and you will get high-quality services that help detect fire threats easily and faster. Do a thorough fire risk assessment so that it can help establish some of the fire hazards that you have in your workplace or home. This will help you know the nature of the fire hazards you are up against, and you will be able to find a detector system that is most suitable to detect it as soon as they appear. False alarms are a common problem for the wrongly installed fire detection systems, so make sure the one you choose keeps the possibility of false alarms away by having unique features that will help detect real fire, and you will know when it sounds, it is something for real. Look for a reputable fire safety and management company to work with, so that you can use their help in identifying the best system that will provide the services you need. From the many fire management companies out there choose the one with the best reputation, and you can rely on to make installations of the detection system in the correct way and advice on different areas you need help.  Smart detection A smart fire alarm system (otherwise known as smart fire alarm management), makes it easier to manage fire alarm systems and stay on top of your responsibilities for fire safety. The right system will integrate your existing fire alarm panel to capture and report alarm activity. This will help you ensure that your detection and alarm systems are fully operational and help you stay compliant with legal regulations. From a safety perspective, a smart fire alarm system can buy you precious time in the event of an emergency by sending instant alerts to the person responsible and everyone else on-site, even if it’s for multiple sites. But the benefits don’t end there… The smart system can heavily reduce your workload by automating routine tasks such as weekly testing and maintenance reports. It also supplements conventional logging methods – traditionally pen and paper – by delivering the results on software. This helps businesses and building managers save time and money on testing their fire alarm systems – weekly fire alarm tests are a legal requirement in some places. With the help of a smartphone app or software that can be accessed via a web browser, the owner can easily pull the right records and review the data. Also, the good news is that data can be stored off-site so will always be safe from the threat of a fire emergency on your premises. That data can provide vital insights into the health of the fire detection and alarm systems you have on-site. This can help bring down the costs of regular maintenance and troubleshooting, as your service provider will be better prepared prior to the visit. As you can see, there are several key benefits a smart fire alarm system can provide. As well as reducing your workload and saving money, the most important thing is that the people, property, and assets you are responsible for are protected. With all those benefits, you may worry that it’ll be complicated to install a smart fire alarm system in your building, but it may be simpler than you think. One of the benefits of a smart fire alarm system is that it can be integrated into an existing fire detection and alarm system. That means you won’t necessarily need to replace any equipment you already have on-site to upgrade it. Smart fire alarm systems work by connecting your existing systems using a gateway device. This then sends data to cloud-hosted software that can be accessed by the user. The software can send data and notifications directly to the user and can also be accessed by them whenever required. The smart system is compatible with most commercial fire alarm control panels too, so there is a good chance you can easily add it to your existing system.It’s a non-intrusive add on to an existing fire detection and alarm system it does not interfere, but enhance the performance of the Life safety fire alarm system. Naturally, this makes it a cost-effective and easy way to connect any number of disparate systems. This is helpful in any building, but especially supportive if you want to optimise the management of fire safety for multiple buildings or multiple sites. Smart alarms The concept is simple: A smoke alarm that tells you there’s a fire nearby is

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