This year’s International Firex was the venue for the world launch of a revolutionary new product concept from Kentec Electronics Ltd that is designed to take power, flexibility and performance to a new level. This year’s International Firex was the venue for the world launch of a revolutionary new product concept from Kentec Electronics Ltd that is designed to take power, flexibility and performance to a new level… Taktis.  The name Taktis, derives from the Latin for ‘a sense of feeling’. And certainly, Taktis is an exciting breakthrough in intuitive, tactile, touchscreen command of life safety system management. By combining the very latest hardware and software, Taktis is a control and indication system that is amazingly powerful and sophisticated, yet elegantly simple to use and understand. Easy-to-configure solutions Taktis is the ideal management tool for building managers and service companies. This concept is devised to comprehensively answer market demands for simple-to-operate unified functions. Using some of the most advanced technology available, revolutionary new Taktis is designed to provide System Designers, Integrators and Service Companies with the ability to remotely access and comprehensively manage any system using intelligent analysis of data collected from those systems. The products and services offered under the Taktis brand provide easy-to-configure solutions for the most technically challenging applications in life safety. Primarily based on a platform of fire detection and alarm system functions, Taktis has a very high degree of flexibility for rapid reconfiguration, enabling users to realise many other control and indication applications, with direct integration into intelligent buildings and remote interrogation of their systems. Cost-efficient remote management Taktis’s remote management features offer particular cost efficiencies to users, with the merit of reduced fault-callouts, improved servicing regimes, more effective maintenance, reduction of unwanted alarms and improved overall service for system management. By employing the latest communication and analytical technologies, Taktis delivers benefits for users that can reduce costs, add value and improve service integrity. Taktis product range Taktis is a comprehensive range of control equipment, communication equipment and software products, with the power to produce the most complex configurations for the most demanding applications, including: Taktis Fire, an all new range of market leading Fire Control panels ranging from 2 loops to 16 loops; Taktis Net, with networking up to 128 nodes achieved on the new high integrity Taktis Net network bus; Taktis I/O, a new range of I/O modules for system expansion; Taktis Vision, the most versatile range of configurable annunciator panels available today for system status indication; Taktis Connect Media Gateway for data communication between any system and our dedicated server network; Taktis Configure provides a customisable configuration tool that can be tailored to specific customers, languages and loop protocols. Virtual Resource suite of software To add real value to service management, a comprehensive suite of Taktis Virtual Resource software based tools provides a complete systems management environment, including: VR Access, data access to all systems for assessment of performance, checking status and decision-making based on facts, not assumptions; VR Vault, a secure online document vault providing secure storage area for all system documents and files; VR Print permits review of the system event log via web browser from almost anywhere, and eliminates the need for panel mounted printers; VR Service, a complete service management utility for both the service provider and client with automated data transfer and browser accessible review. Taktis is the new way to view, manage, service, and maintain fire detection and alarms systems while improving customer service, increasing efficiency and reducing waste. Taktis features powerful utilities that deliver tangible benefits for service providers and their customers through the intelligent management of real data from connected systems. With Taktis, Utilities Administrators can add and set up an unlimited amount of users and produce and customise an unlimited amount of site records. Simple plug-in installation and rapid configurable functionality now allow multi-path communications to remote servers in a powerful package distinguished by one over-arching concept… Taktis. For product information Kentec +44 (0)1322 222121  

Label: Detection Title: Taktis Teaser: Power, flexibility and performance Label: Sprinkler Systems Label: Detection Label: Mark Fletcher Title: Fire services embrace online technology Teaser: Protecting assets, facilities and people from hazards Teaser: With the discipline constantly evolving

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The Holmatro CU 4055 C NCT II cutter combines a wide blade opening (202mm) and deeper reach with a significant cutting force of 1018 kN / 103.8 t. The cutter has been developed in response to the evolution of car pillars which have become substantially wider, deeper and thus stronger. While these developments increase occupant safety, they prove difficult barriers for rescuers when they are extricating crash victims. This second-generation solution with its characteristic U-shaped blades is specifically designed for cutting the hard materials found in modern vehicles. The Holmatro blades do this more efficiently and at lower working pressures than is possible with regular blades. www.holmatro.com

Label: Editors Choice Title: Fireworld Teaser: From Britiannia Fire Label: This editions winners Label: Editors Choice Label: Editors Choice Title: Industry Insight Teaser: From Holmatro Teaser: By Markus Neiderberger

Yet another prestigious international award for Best Detection and Alarm Product (Xtralis, the company who brought you VESDA and the leading global innovator in early warning safety and security detection solutions for over 25 years, announced today it was named the recipient of the esteemed 2011 Fire Excellence Award in the Best Detection and Alarm Product category for its revolutionary new Open- Area Smoke Imaging Detection (OSID) product. The product was shortlisted along with six other products before being revealed as the overall winner last night. The Fire Excellence Awards 2011 celebrate the best products, services and individuals in the Fire Safety industry. Held every two years to coincide with the International Firex exhibition, the awards are the chance to gain unrivalled industry recognition for exemplary service to the fire protection industry. The award is the latest in a string of accolades afforded Xtralis worldwide and the second one for the OSID product this year. OSID was the prestigious winner of the ‘Judge’s Choice Award’ at the ISC West 2011 New Product Showcase, one of the largest global shows in the industry, last year attended by over 23 thousand people. OSID’s portfolio of awards recognises its value as a revolutionary technology that will reshape detection in open spaces. OSID greatly enhances the protection of life and valuable assets while dramatically reducing the cost of ownership. OSID impressed the judges with its use of ground-breaking technology which overcomes the weaknesses of traditional optical beam detection solutions often used in open spaces where standard sensitivity, code-compliant detection is required. The patented combination of dual wavelength Emitters, a CMOS Imager, advanced detection algorithms and 3D coverage, delivers unsurpassed reliability, high immunity to false alarms, and intuitive, low cost installation and alignment. OSID installation and alignment can be 50%- 75% less than existing products. In addition, OSID provides more than 50% increase in sensitivity over traditional beam detectors. The product’s unique characteristics make it superbly tolerant to building movement, steam, insects, dust and solid object intrusions. OSID’s performance has been proven in a variety of challenging environments throughout the globe. “We are very proud to receive this prestigious award for this exceptional new product,” says Dr Peter Meikle, VP Strategy and Products for Xtralis. “Just as with VESDA, Xtralis continues to be recognised as a true innovator solving real problems and delivering true value. OSID replaces current technologies used in open spaces, providing a superior sensitivity and more robust solution yet at the same time reducing the lifetime cost of the system.” Among other applications, OSID is ideal for warehouses, airport terminals, commercial centres and educational campuses. With OSID Xtralis continues its commitment to excellence and innovation in the global Fire Safety industry. About Xtralis Xtralis is the leading global provider of powerful solutions for the early detection of fire, gas and security threats. Our technologies prevent disasters by giving users time to respond before life, critical infrastructure or business continuity is compromised. We protect high-value and irreplaceable assets belonging to the world’s top governments and businesses. Our solutions include VESDA by Xtralis – the world’s No.1 brand of very early warning aspirating smoke detection (ASD) systems, VESDA ECO by Xtralis™ – ASD plus gas detection and environmental monitoring, ICAM™ by Xtralis – flexible aspirating smoke detection, ICAM ECO by Xtralis – ASD plus gas detection and environmental monitoring, OSID by Xtralis – smoke detection for open areas, ADPRO® by Xtralis – perimeter, multisite and enterprise security, and ASIM™ by Xtralis – traffic detection. To learn more, please visit us at www.xtralis.com

Market overview and industry definitions from Frost and Sullivan Overwiew The North American fire alarm equipment market is a well-established market, with the participation of over 30 main manufacturers. The number of competitors has reduced slightly since 2005 due to a series of mergers and acquisitions, which resulted in higher consolidation of the market in a few large conglomerates. In 2007, revenues for fire alarm equipment were estimated at $1,025.3 million, with a growth rate of 4.6 percent over 2006. The North American fire alarm equipment market is expected to grow moderately from 2007 to 2014. The North American fire alarm equipment market is likely to witness favourable demand, mainly due to the increasing activity in renovation and retrofit of existing buildings, as the non-residential building construction levels are not showing signs of recovery. New non-residential construction activity had been experiencing a serious diminution since 2001. However, renovation and retrofit of existing buildings have compensated for this decline in activity and also maintained market growth.   The fire alarm industry is mainly driven by the fire and building codes, which have been maintained in a conservative manner, as they deal with issues of life safety. Some of the main pieces of legislation driving the market are National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 72, which is the national fire alarm code covering the application, performance, and maintenance of fire alarm equipment, the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) that requires specific notification devices for the hearing impaired, and Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) guidelines. Moreover, there are approvals and listings given by nationally recognised testing laboratories such as the Underwriter’s Laboratory (UL) and Factory Mutual (FM), for the various components of the fire alarm system as well as for the complete system. These conservative codes, legislation, and standards explain the historical stability of the North American fire alarm equipment market, which is characterised by slow growth and the cautious nature of the market in adopting advanced technologies. Manufacturers have to deal simultaneously with old conservative codes and an increasing end-user demand for innovative solutions. Currently, most technical advances are mainly advocated to respond to the push from end users to integrate fire alarm systems with other building safety and building management systems. Building control has traditionally been divided into separate as well as disparate systems. With an increase in the trend toward automated buildings, these independent, proprietary technology driven and legacy systems have to be interconnected to constitute an intelligent building. Intelligent buildings converge data, voice, and video with security, HVAC, lighting, and other electronic controls on a single IP network platform, which facilitates user management, space utilisation, energy conservation, comfort, and systems improvement. The market for fire alarm equipment is very price-sensitive, as installing this equipment is a requirement and not an option. As building codes mandate that, all non-residential buildings must have an effective method for the detection and suppression of fire in the incipient stage, some end users with low budget tend to install the minimum to comply with the codes. Consequently, there is fierce competition among participants to attract customers and price is a major competing factor. Other key competitive factors in the market are code compliance, brand recognition, and a proficient distribution network. Generally, participants in the fire alarm panels industry utilise traditional distribution channels through engineered systems distributors, fire and security distributors, and original equipment manufacturers. Some of the larger companies offer support through their branches and representatives, but most of them follow the usual methods of distribution. Definitions Fire detection and alarm systems are universal in their applications and are installed in all building types, irrespective of whether it is a shopping centre, an office building, or a manufacturing facility. In terms of the end use, all buildings can be classified into residential and non-residential buildings and this is consistent with the industry classification of buildings. End – user definition Key end users for the fire alarm equipment market encompass the entire spectrum of the non-residential sector and are best described in terms of building categories. In this research service, end users have been divided into the following groups: Office buildings Commercial buildings Manufacturing buildings Educational buildings Healthcare buildings Other buildings The other buildings category includes the buildings for nonresidential use, which do not come under any of the above categories such as cinemas, theatres or hotels and motels. Product definition The North American fire alarm equipment market has been segmented based on the type of equipment and this is consistent with the industry’s segmentation of the market. This study considers all types of fire alarm equipment, except the automatic initiating devices such as fire and smoke detection devices. Fire alarm equipment can be broadly classified into two product groups as shown below: Fire alarm panels: Panels are the heart of any fire alarm system and include the controls, which process the signals received from input devices and give out signals to the output devices Fire alarm devices: This product group takes into account devices that are connected to the main fire alarm panel, and that either send to (initiating devices) or receive (output devices) signals from the same Fire alarm panels are further sub-segmented into the following types: Conventional fire alarm panels Addressable fire alarm panels Voice evacuation systems Fire alarm devices are further sub-segmented into the following types: Annunciators Notification appliances Manual pull stations Chart 1.1 depicts the market segmentation of the total North American fire alarm equipment market in 2007. Total Fire Alarm Equipment Market: Market Segmentation (North America), 2007 / Source: Frost & Sullivan The geographic region covered in this study is North America, which includes the United States and Canada. Moreover, this study examines the current structure of the industry and analyses its competitive factors from 2004 to 2014, with 2007 as the base year. Summary of key findings Market trends The following are some of the major market and technology trends: Addressable fire alarm systems offer more value for money and are being preferred over conventional systems. The

Finding better ways to ensure people safety Society has long learned to accept fire as one of the many risks to life and property that simply must be effectively managed. Improved fire detection and protection systems, tougher construction codes, more extensive safety standards and more sensitive planning have all helped reduce the threat over recent years. But better ways still need to be found, not only in terms of limiting damages and costs, but also to ensure people safety, particularly as threats and our living and working environments become ‘denser’. This calls for a wider scope of emergency preparedness to intelligently respond to both traditional and new threats, a preparedness in which technology has an increasing role to play. Despite all of the advances that have been made, the estimated economic cost of fire still stands at around one percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in developed countries , while 70% of business victims of a major fire close down after three years – a stark reminder that it is not just a life safety issue. With terrorist attacks also a factor and industrial incidents, natural disasters and extreme weather claiming thousands of lives, people generally believe that their safety is more at risk than ever before. It seems ironic therefore, that on first hearing a conventional fire alarm, many people will hardly react. Many will often assume that a ringing alarm is a test procedure or an unwanted ‘false’ alarm and hesitate for several vital moments before taking action. In some cases, people are unaware of the correct emergency or evacuation procedure relevant to their location. Quite simply, they do not know what to do – and when faced with the very real dangers of a genuine emergency, some people will become flustered, disoriented or even ‘Simple detection is no longer accepted as sufficient’ panic-stricken. Most people using a hotel or an airport, for example, will not be familiar with its layout and, in a potentially life-threatening fire, may struggle to find the nearest emergency exit.   Studies have also shown that on-site response personnel are not immune to the effects of stress in a real-life emergency. They, too, sometimes panic and are overwhelmed by the responsibilities involved. Addressing the ever wider “duty of care” To cope with fire and other life-threatening emergencies, there is a noticeable change of priorities taking place today. Simple detection is no longer accepted as sufficient and, driven by insurance companies and end-users – and the increase in the personal liability burden and prosecutions – the focus has shifted towards incident prevention and response management through emergency preparedness. For real contingency planning necessitates the implementation of solutions that are as widely comprehensive as possible and fire and security systems are currently needed to support real response capability in all kind of events. Regardless of the organisation – hotel, university, airport, shopping centre – the owner/operator has a duty of care towards its employees, customers and visitors, so procedures need to be put in place to reduce the potential for incident. Protection systems should also be implemented to detect the very earliest signs of combustion, intrusion, attack or other hazardous event. Building owners and occupants should be prepared to react and have plans in place to safeguard people and property – reliably and efficiently directing people to safety in any emergency situation in order to keep the consequences to a minimum, not only in terms of fatality or damage but also commercial disruption. Post-event analysis and reporting mechanisms should also be put in place both to speed up recovery and also to enable “lessons learned” to be converted into continuous improvements with regards to emergency measures and policies, as well as protection system upgrades for the prevention, detection and response to incidents. Train, retrain, and train again – yes, but is it enough? The current focus on preparedness lies predominantly in the structural (e.g. emergency stairs) and organisational (e.g. emergency plans) spheres, drawing from scenarios and known risks to derive appropriate response actions by first responders and building occupants. However, while training and drills are an essential part of emergency preparedness, they bring their own set of problems. For one, effective preparedness based mainly on organisational and structural measures necessitates the meticulous and regular training of all fire/security staff, relying on their efficiency and competence (this ranges from ensuring emergency exits are left clear at all times to ensuring regular system checks), regardless of illness, holidays or changing personnel and shift rotas. In addition, they can sometimes fail to cover the need to instruct visitors and other people unfamiliar with the building and site emergency procedures. In industries with a very international mix of staff and visitors, such as hospitality, the lack of international standards in some areas can also easily cause confusion in an evacuation situation, therefore increasing the need for clear and appropriate “training” being given to all building occupants. One example is the emergency exit sign: while the green ISO-1987 “running man” pictogram is widely used in many parts of the world, it is only starting to make its way into the US. In high-risk facilities and installations such as power stations, petrol, oil and gas refineries where there is a strictly limited number of untrained visitors, ‘rehearsed scenarios’ based on past event analysis and incident development can be usefully implemented. On other, less contained sites where there are large open areas, different buildings and/or large, inexact numbers of people in scattered locations – such as large education campuses or leisure parks – such response guidelines for the widest range of possible emergencies, are usually less viable. The difficulties include the need to ensure that everybody receives the appropriate information relevant to their own particular location and situation, as well as ensuring that everyone has been safely evacuated before extinguishing and fire-fighting activities begin. On certain remote sites, the longer mobilisation times of the emergency services will increase the challenge. So too will the extended evacuation time of certain complex facilities

Label: Market Research Title: North American Fire Alarm Equipment Market Teaser: Market overview and industry definitions Label: Industry Insight Label: Product Profile Label: Product and Industry News Title: Passive Protection Teaser: A revolutionary design that will save money Teaser: International Firex and NFPA releases