ISSUE 70 • 2026 | Q2

ISSUE 70 • 2026|Q2

FIREMIDDLEEASTMAG.COM

THE MAGAZINE FOR FIRE PREVENTION, FIREFIGHTING & RESCUE

SEEING RISK BEFORE IT ESCALATES Anthony D Parfitt of Ci Global on the future of predictive electrical fire safety

THE NANO SHIFT

THE FIREFIGHTER’S LIFELINE

THE TALENT EQUATION

Can nanotechnology redefine the future of fire protection in the Middle East?

From whistle signals to digital command – the evolution of communication tools

Why recruitment is only the beginning of building a resilient fire service workforce

Well prepared for the heat of the moment

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PUBLISHED BY MDC Middle East Ltd +44 (0)1752 267 330 6 Woodside Lane, Plymouth, Devon, PL4 8QE, UK This publication may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form in whole or in part without the written consent of the publishers. ©MDC Middle East Ltd. 2026 For subscriptions and advertising enquires, or for further information on the magazine visit our website at: firemiddleeastmag.com

As we move into the second half of the year, preparations are gathering pace for what promises to be an exciting few months for the region’s fire safety community. November will see two major industry events take centre stage, with both Intersec Saudi Arabia and the Fire Middle East Conference (page 22) bringing together experts, innovators and decisionmakers to discuss the challenges and opportunities shaping the sector. We look forward to meeting many of you there as we continue the conversations that drive our industry forward.

In the meantime, this edition explores several of the issues influencing fire safety across the Middle East today.

Our cover story examines how the growing intelligence of modern buildings is transforming fire protection. As buildings become increasingly connected, the electrical systems that power them have often remained one of the least visible elements of critical infrastructure.

Anthony D Parfitt of Ci Global explains how greater electrical intelligence is helping to improve fire safety, resilience and operational performance (page 18).

Elsewhere, Vinay Deshpande shines a light on one of the most overlooked aspects of emergency planning: Assisted evacuation. As buildings become more

complex and occupancies more diverse, ensuring everyone can evacuate safely has never been more important (page 81).

Innovation also takes centre stage as Yousif Mohamed, P.E., explores whether nanotechnology could redefine the future of fire protection in Saudi Arabia and the wider Middle East (page 50), while fire service veteran Bob Rea QFSM reflects on the remarkable evolution of firefighting communications – from simple voice commands to today’s intelligent digital systems – and explains why effective communication remains one of the most critical tools for firefighter safety (page 45).

As always, we hope this issue provides valuable insight, sparks new ideas and supports the important work you do every day to protect lives and property.

Cora Lydon Editor editor@firemiddleeast.co.uk firemiddleeast Fire Middle East Magazine

FIRE MIDDLE EAST | ISSUE 70 | 3

CONTENTS ISSUE 70 • 2026 | Q2

40

50

REGULARS 03 Up front

45 The firefighter’s lifeline

Foreword from the Editor

Fire service veteran Bob Rea QFSM explores why reliable communication remains a firefighter’s most vital safety tool

07 Regional news

The latest fire safety and protection news

13 International news

Fire-related news and advancements from around the globe

15 Product showcase

Find out about some of the newest products to reach the market

93 A day in the life

Faris Alzahrani takes time out to speak with Mohammed Aldajani, Director of Security, Safety and Occupational Health for a government entity, about his working life

94 Diary

Diary dates for forthcoming fire safety exhibitions, conferences and events

FEATURES 18 Cover story

As buildings become more connected, the electrical systems that power them remain one of the last hidden layers of infrastructure. Anthony D Parfitt of Ci Global explains how electrical intelligence is transforming fire safety

27 Bracing for impact

Eitan Charnoff, veteran firefighter and Founder and CEO of Potomac Strategy, explores the operational lessons for fire and rescue services from missile and drone incidents

31 From recruitment to retention

Sawsan Dahham shares her expertise on the importance of building a sustainable ground for highly skilled talent

36 Readiness meets responsibility

Ahmad Al-khawaja considers how modern fire apparatus are advancing environmental responsibility and enhancing sustainability

40 Protecting vertical spaces

FLS specialist, Peter Stephenson considers the critical role of passive fire protection in compartmentalising fire to protect lives and assets across the region’s high-rise estate

Abhishek Chhabra explores how the code-neutral DIIM™ framework aims to establish a common language for responsibility throughout a building’s lifecycle

50 The nano shift

Can nanotechnology redefine the future of fire protection in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East? Asks Yousif Mohamed, P.E

63 Catching the fire before it starts

Stuart Phythian, Regional Director, FireDos Middle East shares an introduction to coupled thermal imaging IR systems with fire suppression

66 Aimed at the hazard

Mark Fessenden, Managing Director and CEO of the International Fire Suppression Alliance (IFSA), looks at understanding NFPA 15 and how water spray fixed systems protect the region’s oil, gas and power infrastructure

45

22 Fire Middle East Conference

Saudi Arabia’s mega-event future is raising the bar for fire and life safety, and Fire Middle East Conference is helping shape the next generation of professional excellence

31 4 | FIRE MIDDLE EAST | ISSUE 70

48 The universal language of passive fire protection

CONTENTS

81

THIS ISSUE’S PARTNERS & CONTRIBUTORS Sawsan Dahham

70 Safeguarding systems in crisis

Fire safety performance depends not only on compliance, but on how well systems withstand unstable power, site conditions and legacy infrastructure, according to Youmna Zod ElChehimi, Operations Director, ZOD Security

81 The blind spot

Founder and CEO, SIENA

Sitting at the helm of SIENA, a specialist engineering consultancy, Sawsan became the first Arab woman Authorised NFPA instructor in 2017.

Eitan Charnoff

CEO, Potomac Strategy

Eitan Charnoff is the founder and CEO of Potomac Strategy, a public safety and geopolitical advisory firm based in the UAE, and an emergency preparedness expert specialising in missile and drone response.

Vinay Deshpande looks at the most overlooked gap in emergency planning: Assisted evacuation

Faris Alzahrani

87 The science of layered fire safety

Faris Alzahrani is an NFPA-approved Training Instructor with 13+ years of experience in academic and industrial environments.

Safety, security and fire management specialist

Amer Al Merabi, Team Leader at Jensen Hughes, considers the fundamental principle behind modern fire and life safety engineering: Defence-in-Depth

91 Getting water mist right

The International Water Mist Association looks at the importance of getting it right, when it comes to the installation of water mist systems

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REGIONAL NEWS

IN BRIEF QATAR A major explosion and fire at the Barzan gas processing facility in Ras Laffan killed 13 people and injured dozens. The incident has renewed attention on industrial fire protection and emergency response capabilities at critical energy infrastructure sites.

GLOBAL

Global Fire Congress establishes Secretariat to drive international collaboration The World Fire Congress (WFC) has announced the creation of a permanent Secretariat designed to strengthen international cooperation and maintain momentum between its biennial events. The Secretariat will be led by the Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association (Metro Chiefs), a section of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC).

The new structure aims to provide continuity for global fire service collaboration by preserving institutional knowledge, coordinating with host nations and supporting ongoing engagement on emerging fire and life safety challenges.

Alongside the announcement, UL Research Institutes’ Fire Safety Research Institute (ULRI) confirmed it will support the development of global Communities of Practice focused on key issues including climaterelated disasters, artificial intelligence, firefighter health, fire response systems and diversity within the fire service.

The next World Fire Congress will take place in London on 8–9 September 2026, hosted by the UK’s National Fire Chiefs Council, with representatives from more than 60 countries already registered.

Looking ahead, Dubai has been confirmed as host of the 2028 Congress, underlining the growing international reach of the event.

The global fire safety equipment market is projected to grow from US$64.1 billion in 2026 to US$96.3 billion by 2033, according to Persistence Market Research. The report attributes the growth to stricter fire safety regulations, rapid urbanisation and increasing demand for smart, connected fire protection systems across sectors including data centres, healthcare, transport and critical infrastructure.

UAE The UAE and Saudi Arabia are among the world’s leading adopters of agentic artificial intelligence, with 38% of organisations in both countries already using the technology in live business environments, according to Confluent’s 2026 Data Streaming Report.

BAHRAIN Residents were evacuated from a building in Juffair, after a fire broke out. According to the Ministry of Interior, firefighters were able to bring the fire under control and The Civil Defence evacuated the buidling as a precaution.

DUBAI LEADS THE WAY IN AI CONSTRUCTION SAFETY The arrival of AI-powered robots on live construction sites in Dubai is another sign that automation is moving from concept to reality across the region’s built environment. Innovo Group’s decision to deploy autonomous robots at the Ghaf Woods development promises improvements in productivity while removing workers from some of the industry’s most hazardous tasks.

For the fire and life safety sector, however, the story is about much more than labour efficiency. As robotics become established on construction projects, they also create opportunities to improve site safety, undertake inspections in high-risk areas and support emergency response before a building is even occupied.

Autonomous systems equipped with advanced sensors could eventually monitor temporary fire protection measures, identify blocked escape routes, detect overheating equipment or combustible material build-up, and provide continuous oversight in locations where routine manual inspections are difficult or hazardous.

The technology will not replace competent fire safety professionals, but it has the potential to become another valuable tool in the industry’s risk management arsenal.

As with any new technology, successful deployment will depend on robust governance, clear operational procedures and confidence that AI systems can operate safely alongside people.

FIRE MIDDLE EAST | ISSUE 70 | 7

REGIONAL NEWS

ROBOTICS PROVING VALUE IN HIGH-RISK EMERGENCY RESPONSE A recently published field report from researchers at the Technical University of Darmstadt has provided further evidence of the growing value of robotic systems in emergency response, demonstrating how unmanned technology can support incident commanders in managing complex, high-risk industrial incidents while reducing firefighter exposure to harm.

The report examined a chemical plant emergency where responders faced the prospect of a potentially catastrophic explosion. Hazardous materials, elevated temperatures and uncertainty surrounding the condition of critical infrastructure created an environment in which traditional reconnaissance operations would have exposed personnel to significant risk.

Instead, emergency managers deployed an unmanned ground vehicle equipped with visual, thermal and environmental monitoring capabilities. The platform was able to enter the hazard zone, transmit real-time situational intelligence and provide incident commanders with a clearer understanding of the evolving threat picture. Information gathered by the robotic system enabled responders to make informed tactical decisions and implement mitigation measures that ultimately prevented further escalation.

For fire and rescue services, the incident reinforces the growing operational case for integrating robotics into frontline response. While unmanned systems have been used for several years in specialist applications, advances in sensor technology, communications and autonomous navigation are rapidly expanding their potential role across a wider range of incidents.

The question for many organisations is no longer whether robotics have a role in emergency response, but how quickly they can be integrated into operational doctrine, training and capability development.

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REGIONAL NEWS

Intersec Saudi Arabia appoints advisory committees for 2026 summits Intersec Saudi Arabia has announced the formation of advisory committees for its Future Security Summit and Fire Protection & Technology Summit, which will take place during the exhibition from 16–18 November 2026 at the Riyadh Front Exhibition & Conference Center.

The committees bring together experts from organisations including Saudi Aramco, Red Sea Global, Qiddiya City, King Fahd International Airport and AECOM for the Fire Protection & Technology Summit Advisory Committee, and the Royal Commission for AlUla, Ministry of Municipalities and Housing, International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Dubai Airports, IFPO MENASA, King Salman International Airport and other leading

organisations for the Future Security Summit Advisory Committee.

According to the show’s organiser, the committees will help shape the programmes for the CPD-certified conferences, ensuring they address the key challenges facing the Kingdom’s security and fire protection sectors.

Topics expected to feature include performance-based fire engineering, AI-enabled security operations, critical infrastructure protection and emergency management and resilience planning, reflecting Saudi Arabia’s continued investment in major infrastructure and Vision 2030 developments.

Intersec Saudi Arabia 2026 is expected to attract more than 25,000 visitors and over 500 exhibitors from around the world.

Strong early demand for SICUREZZA 2027 as rebooking tops 60% Preparations for SICUREZZA 2027, taking place at Fiera Milano from 17–19 November 2027, are already well underway, with organisers reporting strong early demand from exhibitors.

More than a year before the event opens, over 60% of the available exhibition space has already been booked, while international exhibitors account for 30% of confirmed participants.

Paola Sarco, Head of Building & Industrial Exhibitions at Fiera Milano, said the level of early rebooking had exceeded expectations and reflected continued confidence in the exhibition.

SICUREZZA 2027 will showcase technologies spanning video surveillance, access control, intrusion detection, cybersecurity and fire protection, alongside an expanded focus on remotely controlled vehicles. Spain has also been named as the event’s first ‘Guest Country’, with institutional organisations and trade

associations expected to contribute to the programme.

The exhibition will once again form part of the Milan International Building Alliance (MIBA), bringing together four complementary events covering design, construction, security and smart buildings.

MIDDLE EAST EXPERTS HIGHLIGHT AI’S GROWING ROLE IN FIRE SAFETY AT NFPA CONFERENCE Artificial intelligence and digital technologies took centre stage at this year’s NFPA Conference & Expo, with fire and life safety professionals from across the Middle East playing a prominent role in discussions on the future of fire protection and emergency response.

Held in Las Vegas from 22–24 June, the annual event brought together thousands of fire, electrical and life safety professionals from around the world to explore emerging technologies, evolving standards and best practice. This year’s programme placed a particular emphasis on the practical application of AI across the fire sector.

Experts from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Lebanon and Türkiye contributed to a range of technical sessions, sharing regional experience of deploying new technologies to improve resilience and operational performance.

The conference featured contributions from UAE Civil Defence, the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone (FOIZ), SIENA Lebanon, Saudi Aramco, SIBCA, Omniconn and NFPA International Business Development, covering topics including emergency preparedness, lessons learned from major incidents, resilience and standards implementation.

The strong regional participation reflects the growing influence of Middle East fire professionals on the international stage, particularly as countries across the Gulf continue to invest in smart infrastructure, performance-based fire engineering and digital technologies to support increasingly complex developments.

FIRE MIDDLE EAST | ISSUE 70 | 11

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

UNITED KINGDOM WALES Wales’ new Fire and Rescue National Framework highlights the forthcoming Building Safety (Wales) Bill, which will significantly reshape fire safety regulation in residential buildings and replace parts of the existing fire safety regime.

The UK Government has published an update on implementation of Grenfell Tower Inquiry recommendations.

Revised national operational guidance for fire and rescue services is expected to be announced soon, alongside new learning modules aimed at embedding lessons across the sector. A key recommendation is for the UK government to establish an independent College of Fire and Rescue to boost skills and undertake research.

GERMANY More than 300 senior fire and civil protection leaders gathered in Hannover for the inaugural Federation of European Fire Officers (FEU) Leadership Conference, focusing on resilience, climate impacts, workforce challenges and future emergency response strategies. The conference was held at Interschutz 2026 in June.

UNITED STATES Firefighters in Los Angeles have battled a massive cold-storage warehouse fire in Boyle Heights that burned for over a week due to heavy insulation, collapsed roofing and rooftop solar panels. The fire triggered a significant ammonia release after refrigeration pipework was damaged. Hazmat teams were deployed and shelter-in-place orders issued, demonstrating the complex risks associated with refrigerated logistics facilities.

EUROPE The European Commission has launched its biggest-ever summer wildfire preparedness programme. A total of 777 firefighters from 14 countries (including Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Spain and Portugal) have been pre-positioned across southern Europe, supported by 22 firefighting aircraft and five helicopters under the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.

AUSTRALIA Queensland’s 2026–27 budget includes funding for a new, modern fire and rescue station in Hervey Bay. The investment is aimed at improving emergency response capability in one of Australia’s growing coastal regions.

FIRE MIDDLE EAST | ISSUE 70 | 13

  

PRODUCT NEWS

Siemens unveils connected fire notification platform Siemens has launched its new Acend Intelligent notification portfolio, introducing a digitally connected approach to fire safety notification designed to improve operational efficiency while supporting reliable life safety performance.

The new portfolio transforms traditional fire notification into a data-driven system that integrates with wider building operations, providing enhanced visibility of system status while reducing disruption during testing and maintenance.

A key feature of the Acend Intelligent range is its integrated DisturbanceFree Testing (DFT) technology, which enables fire notification systems to be tested without activating audible or visual alarms. Individual devices, including horns, strobes, speakers and combination notification appliances, can also be monitored and activated separately, allowing faults to be identified more quickly and reducing the need for manual inspections.

The portfolio also incorporates Class X isolation technology, enabling the system to continue operating if wiring faults occur by isolating affected sections while maintaining functionality across the remainder of the network.

Acend Intelligent connects with Siemens’ cloud-based Building X Fire Apps, allowing facility managers and fire safety professionals to monitor system performance remotely, carry out

diagnostics and testing, and identify maintenance requirements before issues develop.

Peter Nebiker, Head of Fire Safety at Siemens Smart Infrastructure Buildings, said: “As buildings become increasingly connected and digitalised, safety systems must evolve alongside them. With Acend Intelligent, we are transforming fire notification into a foundational technology for these nextgeneration environments by combining cloud connectivity, real-time data, and digital integration.”

Designed with resource efficiency in mind, the Acend Intelligent portfolio incorporates recycled materials and carries the Siemens EcoTech environmental product performance label. The range is available in markets where UL certification standards apply. siemens.com

Firetrace and Standard Fluids form strategic fire protection partnership Firetrace International and Standard Fluids Corporation have announced a strategic partnership aimed at expanding the delivery of fire protection solutions across industrial, clean energy and critical infrastructure sectors.

The agreement, unveiled during the 2026 NFPA Conference & Expo, brings together Firetrace’s expertise in special hazard fire suppression systems with Standard Fluids’ portfolio of fire protection fluids and fluorochemical technologies. The companies say the collaboration will strengthen their ability to support customers operating in manufacturing, electrical infrastructure, renewable energy and data centre environments. firetrace.com • standardfluids.com

KASK expands Quantum range with fire-resistant goggles KASK has expanded its Quantum rescue helmet range with the introduction of new FR Goggles, designed to provide eye protection for wildland firefighting and technical rescue operations.

Compatible with all KASK Quantum Series helmets, the goggles feature a 2 mm fire-resistant polycarbonate lens offering Optical Class 1 clarity, alongside anti-fog and abrasion-resistant coatings to maintain visibility in demanding environments. They are engineered to protect against smoke and airborne debris and comply with EN 166 and EN 170 Category II standards.

The fire-resistant frame and elastic headband are designed to retain their integrity at elevated temperatures, while a segmented nose bridge improves comfort and fit across a range of face shapes.

Developed as part of the Quantum ecosystem, the goggles complement KASK’s helmet range for wildland firefighting and rescue applications, providing responders with integrated eye protection suited to challenging operational conditions. kask-safety.com

FIRE MIDDLE EAST | ISSUE 70 | 15

PRODUCT NEWS

International launches new passive fire protection coating for structural steel International, AkzoNobel’s protective coatings brand, has introduced Interchar 1150, a new waterborne intumescent passive fire protection (PFP) coating designed to improve efficiency for onsite structural steel applications.

Developed for the built environment, the coating is suitable for a range of projects including data centres, commercial buildings, airports, industrial facilities and stadia. According to the company, Interchar 1150 can reduce intumescent coating volumes by up to 50% on open structural member projects compared with other products on the market, while faster drying times can halve application programmes from four days to two in some instances.

The coating provides fire protection ratings of between 30 and 120 minutes and has been optimised for 4-sided I/H beams and columns.

Ian Fletcher, Senior Product Manager at AkzoNobel, said the formulation was designed to deliver “very low loadings” alongside faster drying times, helping reduce costs while maintaining high standards of fire protection.

Interchar 1150 has been tested to EN13381-8:2013, and has a C-s1,d0 rating for fire reaction in accordance with EN13501-1:2018, and is compatible with a range of International primers and topcoats. international-pc.com

BLACKLINE SAFETY GAS DETECTOR INTEGRATED WITH SPOT ROBOT Blackline Safety has partnered with MFE Inspection Solutions to integrate its cloud-connected portable gas detector with Spot®, Boston Dynamics’ mobile industrial robot, enabling remote gas detection in hazardous environments.

The solution allows Spot to collect real-time gas readings, alerts and location data before personnel enter potentially dangerous areas. Information is displayed through Blackline Live software and on Spot’s operator tablet, while automated returnto-home functions can be triggered if predefined gas thresholds are exceeded.

The system supports interchangeable sensors for applications including oil and gas, semiconductor manufacturing and chemical processing. According to the companies, the integration provides organisations with greater visibility of atmospheric hazards while helping reduce worker exposure by extending connected gas detection into robotic inspection workflows. blacklinesafety.com

FDI Consultancy Services launches in Dubai FDI Consultancy Services has expanded into the UAE with the launch of a new office in Dubai, offering independent fire safety and fire engineering consultancy services across the built environment.

Part of the UK-based FDI Group, the company will support developers, contractors and asset owners with services including fire strategy development, design reviews, regulatory approvals, construction oversight and ongoing compliance management. Founded in 2020, the group has built its reputation in the UK through fire door consultancy, inspection services and digital fire compliance.

The expansion comes as the UAE continues to strengthen its building safety framework.

FDI Consultancy Services is also recruiting in Dubai to support its regional growth and deliver technology-enabled passive fire protection expertise across the Middle East. the-fdi.com

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COVER STORY | CI GLOBAL

PROACTIVE SAFETY – CONTINUOUS SUPERVISION As buildings become more connected, the electrical systems that power them remain one of the last hidden layers of infrastructure.

Anthony D Parfitt of Ci Global explains how electrical intelligence is transforming fire safety A new approach to fire safety is needed, not simply more monitoring but continuous supervision – intelligent systems that give building owners the visibility they need to predict, identify and intervene earlier, before developing risks turn into incidents.

Modern buildings are becoming increasingly intelligent. Building Management Systems (BMS) regulate heating and cooling in real time, security platforms monitor occupancy and movement, and predictive maintenance is improving how owners identify developing issues in order to manage risk. Across buildings and broader infrastructure, the expectation is shifting from responding to

18 | FIRE MIDDLE EAST | ISSUE 70

problems to understanding how systems continuously change and behave.

Yet one critical layer of the built environment has remained surprisingly difficult to supervise: The electrical system.

Electricity powers almost every essential function within a building, but electrical safety has until now solely relied on robust installation standards, periodic inspection and protective devices that respond when defined fault conditions occur.

These principles and safeguards remain fundamental today. However, with buildings becoming ever more demanding and increasingly dependent on electrical continuity to keep critical

systems running, Ci Global’s industryfirst intelligence system, Ci Safe can now provide an important protective layer, continuously monitoring, learning and supervising electrical and environmental conditions through AI. Developing risks can be identified and addressed before they escalate, as continuous supervision and a prevention-first approach emerges as the natural evolution of electrical fire safety.

Beyond compliance

Electrical protection has evolved significantly over many decades.

Installation standards, inspection regimes, circuit protection and fire detection

COVER STORY | CI GLOBAL

systems continue to form the foundation of electrical fire safety, preventing countless incidents and safeguarding people, property and critical infrastructure.

What has changed is the environment in which they operate. Today’s buildings are ever more electrically demanding, with connected technologies, continuous cooling, electric vehicle charging and digital infrastructure placing sustained loads on electrical systems. Inspections can provide confidence at a point in time, but they cannot show how a system behaves or condition changes between visits.

The challenge is no longer simply protecting electrical systems when faults occur. It is learning how and when risk forms, conditions shift and when intervention can prevent failure.

As regulatory expectations focus on continuous safety management rather than periodic compliance alone for public safety, visibility becomes essential to modern building operation.

Missed signals

Electrical failures rarely occur without warning. Loose connections, deteriorating insulation and rising resistance often develop gradually, creating subtle changes in electrical behaviour that remain undetected before protective devices are required to operate, or a fault becomes serious enough to trigger intervention.

These signals may be too subtle to trigger a breaker or alarm, but together they can reveal the early pattern of an emerging problem.

The warning signs have always existed.

The difference today is that intelligent systems can observe and interpret them continuously, rather than discover retrospectively. Understanding these subtle changes opens the door to a new approach to electrical fire safety – one that focuses not only on responding to faults but recognising the conditions that lead to them in the first place, and intervening before risk escalates.

Electrical intelligence

This is the role of electrical intelligence: The ability to understand, interpret and respond to nuanced changes within electrical systems as they occur.

By combining continuous monitoring with intelligent analysis, subtle variations in temperature, current, resistance and environmental conditions can provide

meaningful operational insights, showing patterns and context, rather than just isolated data points.

The value lies in understanding how risk develops over time, not simply identifying faults sooner. Instead of reacting to a single fault event, building owners gain a clear, dynamic view of the condition of electrical infrastructure, supporting earlier intervention, better informed maintenance decisions and a proactive, prevention-first approach to electrical fire safety.

From electrical intelligence to action

This emerging discipline is already influencing the way intelligent safety systems are designed. Ci Global has developed a fully integrated ecosystem that applies the principles of electrical intelligence across buildings and critical infrastructure, combining continuous monitoring, intelligent analysis and connected building technologies into a single prevention-first approach.

At the heart of the ecosystem is Ci Safe, which continuously supervises electrical and environmental conditions, identifying developing risks before they escalate. Through Ci SafeLink, data from existing BMS, fire control panels, sprinkler systems, HVAC equipment and other third-party platforms can be brought together, providing Ci Safe with a rich understanding of the building’s operational environment without replacing existing infrastructure.

Rather than functioning as isolated systems, these technologies contribute to a single layer of operational intelligence, enabling more informed decisions and earlier intervention.

Extending visibility across critical infrastructure

The same need extends beyond commercial buildings. Plant rooms, substations, EV charging infrastructure, data centres, renewable energy installations and industrial facilities operate under sustained electrical demand. In these environments, the earliest, subtle deviation from normal behaviour may be the only warning before equipment failure, outage or fire.

To fully support these, Ci Global has developed Ci DirectView, a standalone industrial monitoring unit that applies electrical intelligence to critical infrastructure. By continuously supervising

live electrical and environmental conditions in real time, it helps operators gain earlier insight into developing risks, supporting resilience, operational continuity and a prevention-first approach across some of the built environment’s most demanding applications.

The next layer of proactive fire safety

Continuous supervision is unlikely to replace established fire engineering principles, nor should it.

Compliance, inspection, circuit protection and fire detection will remain fundamental to protecting life, property and critical infrastructure. The opportunity lies in strengthening those foundations by adding a layer of intelligence capable of continuously observing systems that have historically remained beyond view.

This evolution reflects a broader shift in regulatory thinking. Public safety frameworks are increasingly placing emphasis on preventative safety standards, such as recent legislation introduced in Dubai, ensuring international best practice and underlining the ongoing responsibility of building owners and operators to maintain safe environments for all those who depend on them.

As expectations evolve, continuous supervision, electrical intelligence and the insights created has the potential to become an increasingly important part of modern building and infrastructure management, complementing and strengthening established fire protection strategies and creating understanding of not only whether systems are compliant, but also how they are performing.

Electrical intelligence represents the next step in that evolution. By transforming electrical behaviour into actionable insight, Ci Global’s technology supports earlier intervention, more informed operational decisions and a prevention-first model of electrical fire safety. In doing so, it becomes the next protective layer in electrical fire prevention, one designed ultimately to save lives.

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FIRE MIDDLE EAST | ISSUE 70 | 19

PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

Flexible and unlimited mobile water transport when it matters most The future of emergency water supply rests on proven expertise, seamless deployment and large water capacity. Preparedness can no longer be regarded as a supporting function; it is now a strategic necessity, according to Hytrans, the innovative market leader in mobile water transport systems Natural disasters are growing in scale and complexity, industrial incidents demand faster response times, and emergency teams are under constant pressure to act decisively in situations where it matters most. The effectiveness of an emergency response often hinges on one essential factor: Access to dependable water transport solutions that deploy effortlessly, scale efficiently and can be trusted without hesitation.

This is precisely where Hytrans has built its reputation.

For over 35 years, Hytrans has supported emergency teams with advanced mobile water transport systems designed to prevent and mitigate the impact of large-scale disasters and emergencies. Built on strong Dutch engineering principles and backed by decades of expertise in hydraulics, mechanics and electronics, Hytrans delivers solutions that combine speed, reliability and operational value in the moments that matter most.

Speed is crucial in emergency response

Large-scale incidents rarely allow time for complex preparations. Whether responding to a wildfire, industrial fire,

flooding or an emergency water-supply challenge, the first phase of deployment is often decisive. Delays in setup, excessive manpower requirements or complex equipment can limit operational effectiveness when time is short.

A Hytrans system can be deployed in minutes with minimal effort, a capability that is increasingly important in today’s market. Emergency teams require practical solutions, not complicated ones.

They need equipment that enables rapid response, performs under pressure, and helps them quickly establish capacity, even in challenging situations. This allows first responders to focus on the incident rather than on equipment limitations.

Bring the pump to the water source

Access to open water is often as challenging as achieving speed. The water may be nearby, but reaching it quickly and effectively is difficult. Conventional pump systems can struggle with draft limitations, reduced capacity and difficult terrain. The solution is hydraulically driven submersible pump technology.

By placing the submersible pump directly in the water and keeping the HydroSub at a safe distance, hydraulic

“Through advisory services, training and lifecycle support, the company helps clients strengthen operational readiness long before a crisis.”

20 | FIRE MIDDLE EAST | ISSUE 70

systems efficiently transfer power through high-pressure lines over relatively long distances. Whether lowered from a bridge, positioned at the edge of a river, or deployed in challenging terrain, the HydroSub is designed to perform where conventional systems cannot, without capacity loss. With a standard hydraulic hose length of 60 metres, it can operate both horizontally and vertically.

Complete solutions for emergency teams

For emergency teams, a product alone is rarely enough. What matters is a complete solution that integrates seamlessly with broader operational strategies, strengthens preparedness, and supports teams before, during and after deployment. This is where Hytrans makes a clear difference. The system’s key strength lies not only in its reliability but also in its versatility.

Hytrans solutions are designed to serve both firefighting and flood control with a single investment. That same flexibility is matched by remarkable performance: From 3,800 litres per minute at 10 bar with the HydroSub 150 to continuous water supply capacities of up to 45,000 litres per minute for large-scale incidents. This is especially relevant for fire brigades, civil protection teams, industrial response units and government organisations planning for a range of emergencies.

A complete solution offers certainty, supports better implementation, and ensures that technology directly contributes to the mission.

PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

HydroSub 1400 at the Port of Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Image by Megin Zondervan

Scalable deployments for unpredictable scenarios

Emergencies happen unexpectedly.

A local incident can escalate rapidly, and a manageable situation can spread over a larger area. Modern water transport for crisis response demands flexibility: systems must cover extensive distances, operate in harsh conditions, and meet shifting demands during incidents.

Recognising this need, Hytrans values scalable deployments. Its mobile water transport systems are designed to provide adaptability across a wide range of emergency scenarios. Investing in preparedness offers a strategic advantage. This enables responders to adjust their operations to the actual circumstances rather than being constrained by traditional methods.

The global benchmark in mobile water transport

Reliability isn’t just theoretical in emergency response. It must be demonstrated in practice, over time, and under pressure. Hytrans’ experience sets it apart. More than 1,300 units are in operation worldwide, supporting fire brigades, civil defense forces and industrial sectors where water supply reliability is critical.

This experience offers more than technical knowledge; it builds confidence. Innovation in this context is never merely about novelty. It’s about operational purpose: helping emergency organisations respond faster, work smarter and act with confidence in critical moments. This makes Hytrans stand out, reassuring customers that they are partnering with a specialist who understands both the urgency of emergency response and the practical realities of deployment.

A partner for the challenges ahead

True preparedness rests on planning, system integration, maintenance and long-term support. A partnership with Hytrans means we not only deliver technology but also help emergency teams build the capacity to use it effectively. Hytrans offers comprehensive solutions for first responders and emergency teams as part of a broader commitment to readiness.

Through advisory services, training and lifecycle support, the company helps clients strengthen operational readiness long before a crisis. This reflects a clear understanding of modern emergency response: The strongest response is built in advance through the right systems,

expertise and partnership. Risks will remain dynamic, expectations will continue to rise, and the need for effective preparedness will grow more urgent.

The value of Dutch Premium Quality

In sectors where equipment performance directly affects safety, continuity and effectiveness, quality is fundamental.

Hytrans’ positioning on Dutch Premium Quality carries significant meaning.

Dutch engineering is widely recognised for practical innovation, precision and expertise in addressing water-related challenges.

Premium quality means robust design, dependable operation, long-term value and the discipline to continually improve solutions to meet evolving operational needs. From hydraulically driven pumps and hose-handling systems to hoses, monitors, foam systems and distribution hardware, every component is designed to deliver one goal: Reliable mobile water transport systems when it matters most.

hytrans.com

FIRE MIDDLE EAST | ISSUE 70 | 21

| FIRE MIDDLE EAST CONFERENCE 2026

VOCO HOTEL, RIYADH | 30.11.2026

GLOBAL EVENTS DEMAND GLOBAL STANDARDS Saudi Arabia’s mega-event future is raising the bar for fire and life safety and Fire Middle East Conference is helping shape the next generation of professional excellence The world is watching Saudi Arabia.

Over the next decade, the Kingdom will host some of the largest and most complex international events ever staged in the region. The Asian Winter Games in 2029. Expo 2030 in Riyadh. The FIFA World Cup in 2034. Alongside these landmark events sits an ambitious pipeline of gigaprojects, tourism destinations, smart cities and critical infrastructure developments that are transforming the built environment at an unprecedented pace.

While much attention is rightly focused on economic growth, tourism and infrastructure investment, another equally important conversation is taking place behind the scenes. How do nations prepare to safely welcome millions of visitors, athletes, dignitaries and VIP delegations from around the world?

The answer lies in world-class fire protection, life safety and emergency management systems.

Major international events present unique challenges for fire and rescue

22 | FIRE MIDDLE EAST | ISSUE 70

agencies, regulators, building owners and safety professionals. Stadiums, exhibition centres, hotels, transport hubs and entertainment venues must not only meet stringent fire safety requirements but also operate seamlessly under intense public scrutiny. Emergency response arrangements must be tested, interoperable and capable of managing complex incidents involving large crowds, international stakeholders and critical infrastructure.

As Saudi Arabia’s global profile continues to rise, so too does the expectation that its fire and life safety standards will meet, and increasingly exceed, international best practice.

Building a global benchmark

Riyadh offers a compelling example of this evolution.

Over recent years, the Saudi capital has emerged as one of the fastest-growing centres for safety, security and resilience in the Middle East. New developments are

incorporating advanced fire engineering principles, digital technologies and integrated emergency management systems from the earliest stages of design.

The city is also becoming a focal point for professional collaboration and knowledge exchange.

International exhibitions and conferences dedicated to safety and security have experienced significant growth, reflecting both the scale of development underway and the increasing recognition that fire and life safety are fundamental enablers of sustainable growth.

The success of events such as Intersec Saudi Arabia demonstrates the growing appetite for professional learning, innovation and industry engagement. Attendance has increased year-on-year, attracting fire service leaders, consultants, engineers, regulators, manufacturers and technology providers from across the region and beyond.

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This growth is not simply a reflection of market opportunity. It signals a broader shift in mindset. Organisations increasingly recognise that protecting people, property and critical infrastructure requires continual learning, collaboration and investment in professional capability.

For fire and rescue professionals, Riyadh is rapidly becoming a destination where important conversations about the future of the profession are taking place.

Learning from global experience

One of the defining characteristics of successful international events is the ability to learn from previous host nations.

The challenges faced by organisers of major sporting events, world expos and global summits are rarely unique.

Crowd management, emergency planning, business continuity, evacuation strategies, incident command, mass notification and resilience planning are issues that have been encountered and refined across multiple continents.

The opportunity lies in sharing these lessons.

As Saudi Arabia prepares for a decade of international events, there is significant value in bringing together experts from around the world to discuss emerging risks, operational innovations and best practices that can help shape future preparedness.

Conferences and professional forums play an important role in this process. They create opportunities for practitioners to exchange ideas, challenge assumptions and gain insights from those who have successfully managed similar challenges elsewhere.

In an increasingly interconnected world, professional networks can be just as valuable as technical knowledge.

The rise of micro-credentials and professional recognition

Alongside technological advancement, another trend is reshaping professional development across the fire and safety sector: The rise of micro-credentials.

Across industries, employers are increasingly recognising that professional competence is built through continuous learning rather than solely through traditional qualifications. While degrees, diplomas and professional certifications

| FIRE MIDDLE EAST CONFERENCE 2026

“At Fire Middle East Confence, held in Riyadh on November 30, attendees will have the opportunity to engage with subject matter experts” remain important, short-form learning experiences are becoming an increasingly valuable way for professionals to demonstrate specialist knowledge and ongoing development.

Micro-credentials, digital certificates and digital badges provide a modern mechanism for recognising learning achievements and professional engagement.

Unlike traditional qualifications that may take months or years to complete, micro-credentials allow professionals to build evidence of knowledge acquisition in specific subject areas. Topics such as fire engineering, emergency management, leadership, risk assessment, resilience planning and emerging technologies can all be recognised through targeted professional development programmes.

Importantly, these credentials are increasingly being incorporated into professional portfolios, LinkedIn profiles and continuing professional development (CPD) records.

For employers, they provide visible evidence of an individual’s commitment to lifelong learning. For professionals, they offer a practical way to demonstrate expertise, support career progression and remain competitive in an evolving marketplace.

Investing in future capability

As the demands placed upon fire and safety professionals continue to grow, organisations are placing greater emphasis on workforce capability and professional development.

The challenges of tomorrow will require leaders who understand not only traditional fire safety principles but also emerging technologies, complex infrastructure, resilience planning and multi-agency collaboration.

Professional events provide a valuable platform to support this development journey.

At Fire Middle East Confence, held in Riyadh on November 30, attendees will have the opportunity to engage with subject matter experts, explore emerging trends and gain valuable insights into the issues shaping the future of the profession. In partnership with the University of South Florida, participants will also receive digital certificates recognising the professional learning and knowledge gained through attendance.

While the certificate itself represents an important achievement, the broader value lies in the investment professionals make in their own development and future capability.

Looking ahead

Saudi Arabia’s journey towards hosting some of the world’s most significant international events presents an extraordinary opportunity for the fire and safety profession.

The scale of ambition demands worldclass standards. It requires innovation, collaboration and a commitment to continual learning.

As Riyadh continues to strengthen its position as a regional hub for fire, safety and security, the conversations taking place today will help shape the resilience, preparedness and operational excellence required for tomorrow.

For professionals seeking to remain at the forefront of these developments, there has never been a more important time to engage, learn and contribute to the future of fire and life safety in the region.

We hope to see you at the Fire Middle East Conference – arriving in Riyadh on November 30.

Register to attend firemiddleeastconference.com

FIRE MIDDLE EAST | ISSUE 70 | 23

VOCO HOTEL, RIYADH | 30.11.2026 PIONEERS OF TODAY, SHAPING TOMORROW

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FIREFIGHTING | MISSILE INCIDENTS

Bracing for impact Eitan Charnoff, veteran firefighter and Founder and CEO of Potomac Strategy, explores the operational lessons for fire and rescue services from missile and drone incidents Recent conflicts across the Middle East and Europe have moved aerial threats from a military concern into a civilian one.

Weaponised drones, long-range rockets and ballistic missiles are now striking populated areas with regularity across multiple continents. The technology has become cheaper and more widely available, and the targeting has expanded to include cities far from any front line.

Fire and rescue services everywhere should treat this as a planning priority rather than a remote contingency.

Air defence is essential, but it is not a complete answer. No interception system stops everything, and the threats it does

engage still produce falling debris, fires and structural damage on the ground. The operational burden therefore shifts to the responders who arrive after impact. The following lessons are drawn from recent incidents and are intended to inform that response.

Interception does not mean the scene is safe

There is a common assumption, among the public and sometimes among responders, that a successful shoot-down ends the danger. It does not. Fragments and debris from an intercepted projectile fall across a wide area at high speed, and

they have caused fatalities, ignited fires and damaged buildings. A responding service should treat the aftermath of an interception as a live incident. Public information campaigns should reinforce the same point, because the moments immediately after an interception are often when civilians move into the open to look at the sky.

Assume unexploded ordnance is present

A measurable proportion of these munitions fail to detonate on impact, and some are designed to delay. On arrival, the threat may still be live, lodged

FIRE MIDDLE EAST | ISSUE 70 | 27

FIREFIGHTING | MISSILE INCIDENTS

“Strikes routinely sever gas, electrical and water supplies”

in debris, beneath a collapsed slab or embedded in a structure. Crews should move deliberately, identify and mark suspected ordnance without disturbing it, and request explosive ordnance disposal support early, since those teams rarely arrive quickly. Every responder on scene should be briefed that the site itself is a hazard, independent of any visible fire.

Civilians present often hold valuable information about where a munition landed and who remains inside; that information should be gathered and then verified.

The threat may not be over

A single impact is frequently the beginning of a sequence rather than the end of one. Swarms arrive in waves, and barrages are designed to sustain pressure. A first strike can also function as a lure, drawing crowds and responders into the open before a second strike follows. Responders should identify cover before it is needed, locate the nearest hardened structure, stage vehicles with a clear route of withdrawal, and keep clear of glass. Where drones may still be operating overhead, crews should minimise their signature: Speak quietly, use hand signals and avoid bright lights that could attract targeting.

Structural integrity cannot be assumed

Explosions compromise buildings in ways that are not always visible. Walls that appear sound can fail and floors can

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collapse. Before committing crews to an interior, obtain a structural assessment, and repeat that assessment as conditions change during the operation. Situational awareness of the structure is a direct safety control, not an administrative step.

Damaged utilities create secondary hazards

Strikes routinely sever gas, electrical and water supplies, introducing risks of electrocution, flooding and secondary fire on top of the original incident. Damage to the water network may also remove the supply that firefighting depends on.

Utility teams should be brought into the response from the outset, downed lines treated as live, and any indication of a gas leak treated as genuine until confirmed otherwise.

No single agency can manage the scene alone

An aerial strike in a populated area is a multi-agency event from the first minute. Fire and rescue suppress fires, conduct rescues and assess structures.

EMS triages and treats. Police evacuate, manage crowds and secure the perimeter.

EOD secures ordnance, and engineers stabilise structures and utilities. Effective coordination requires an Incident Command System established on arrival, with a single commander, a shared operational picture and clearly defined responsibilities and information flows.

When multiple sites are struck in close succession, services will find themselves

running parallel operations under triage conditions across an entire urban area, which is a capability that has to be built in advance.

That advance preparation is the decisive factor. The services that perform well in these incidents are those that have trained for them specifically, through scenario-based exercises that reproduce the actual conditions: Simultaneous fires, blocked access routes, live ordnance, panicked civilians and degraded communications caused by jamming.

Tabletop drills and full-scale exercises both have a role, and the lessons of each real incident should be fed back into the next round of training. Training should also be adapted to local conditions, because population density, building stock, geography and water supply all shape the response. The underlying principles are constant; their application is local.

Plan and preparation

The conclusion is straightforward.

Governments invest heavily in intercepting these threats in the air, and that investment should be matched by an equivalent investment in preparing for the threats that reach the ground.

Some always will. It is among the fires, the rubble and the casualties that the outcome is ultimately decided, and the readiness of the services that respond is what determines it. potomacstrategy.biz/aerial-threats

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INDUSTRY | RECRUITMENT

Sawsan Dahham shares her expertise on the importance of building a sustainable ground for highly skilled talent

In today’s fiercely competitive world, the challenge is no longer hiring the right people, but keeping them. In the fire and life safety field, where expectations are soaring, demands are ever-growing, and quality resources remain in short supply. Retention has become a strategic business priority.

The life we once knew has drastically changed, and the sense of contentment is nearing extinction. Satisfaction is often mistaken for a lack of ambition, while genuine ambition itself has become rare, lost amid unrealistic aspirations.

In such an environment, finding highly skilled professionals seems like mission impossible, and retaining true talents has become an increasingly difficult endeavour.

Striking a balance

A key aspect of this challenge lies in the imbalance between experience and availability. Seasoned professionals are in high demand; however, many are already employed, seek higher compensation packages, or have elevated expectations in terms of roles and responsibilities. Others may be located abroad or approaching retirement, further shrinking the accessible talent pool. This situation creates a noticeable gap at the leadership level, particularly in markets where succession planning and talent development are not sufficiently robust.

Over the past 20 years in the construction industry, I have grown from a fresh graduate into a fire expert, led a global team, and eventually founded and

now run my own Fire and Life Safety consultancy. This journey has given me a clear and practical understanding of both sides of the equation: What employees truly expect, and what employers genuinely look for. From my experience, these expectations are rarely aligned and can vary significantly from one individual to another on both sides.

Understanding retention

While some employees are primarily driven by salary, others seek a broader mix of financial and non-financial benefits.

Although competitive compensation remains important, professionals increasingly value work-life balance, growth opportunities, a supportive environment, recognition and a sense of purpose.

FIRE MIDDLE EAST | ISSUE 70 | 31

INDUSTRY | RECRUITMENT

From the employer’s perspective, expectations are equally high.

Organisations seek not only technically competent individuals but also those who demonstrate commitment, initiative, sound judgment and accountability.

Employers increasingly value creativity, alignment with company values and a genuine drive to contribute to organisational goals, particularly in leadership roles that influence long-term growth and performance.

Even so, people leave for a range of reasons. Some are attracted by better salaries, stronger benefits, more flexibility or a more appealing title. Others leave because they feel overburdened, undervalued or stuck with limited progression. In some cases, culture, lack of respect or poor leadership is what pushes them to move on.

As crucial as it is to recruit the right candidates, retaining exceptional employees, particularly in specialised sectors such as fire and life safety, where expertise is both rare and invaluable, must remain a top priority for any organisation.

What skills matter most when recruiting fire and life safety professionals?

While technical expertise is the foundation, communication remains a cornerstone in such a multidisciplinary field. Problem-solving and critical thinking are essential for navigating complex projects, while leadership roles demand resilience and the ability to manage work effectively under pressure. Above all, when people’s lives are at stake, responsibility, sound judgement and professional conscience are non-negotiable.

32 | FIRE MIDDLE EAST | ISSUE 70

To reduce the risk of losing highperforming professionals, organisations should implement effective retention strategies that support engagement, development and inspire long-term commitment.

The benefits of retention

A well-executed retention strategy benefits both employers and employees, playing a critical role in organisational success and employee career growth.

Higher proficiency Long-tenured employees typically contribute more effectively to the company’s success than newcomers. Their accumulated experience and deep understanding of the company’s vision give them a significant advantage driving longterm initiatives.

Increased productivity Employees who have been with the organisation for an extended period are well-adapted to its standards, processes and culture. Their familiarity enables them to perform daily responsibilities more efficiently, minimising errors and maximising output with less oversight.

Stronger commitment Committed employees develop a strong sense of loyalty and belonging, not only to their work but also to their colleagues, the organisation’s values and its vision. This commitment fosters collaboration and strengthens team morale. Conversely, the departure of valued team members can demoralise those who remain.

Reduced costs From a cost and time perspective, retention offers significant advantages,

which ultimately boost overall revenue and profitability. Losing an exceptional performing individual incurs higher costs associated with recruiting, hiring and training a replacement to reach the same level of performance and integration within the company’s framework.

Sustainable trust Clients often prefer to work with familiar faces within an organisation, individuals who have earned their trust through deep knowledge, consistent commitment and a diplomatic approach. Such employees become valuable assets in maintaining strong client relationships. Losing them for the wrong reasons can jeopardise client confidence and raise concerns about the company’s stability and reliability.

Key elements of retention

Understanding the varied motivations that keep skilled professionals engaged and performing at their best is key to building stronger retention strategies and fostering a more committed and productive workforce. By recognising that individuals are driven by different factors, organisations can better align their approaches to meet these varying expectations.

Performance-based incentives Compensation and rewards should be driven by performance, not by age or years of experience. Raises, bonuses, training opportunities and even

INDUSTRY | RECRUITMENT

“While technical expertise is the foundation, communication remains a cornerstone in such a multidisciplinary field.”

flexibility in work arrangements should be granted based on true merit and measurable contributions.

Recognising and rewarding actual performance fosters a culture of excellence, motivates employees to continually grow, and ensures fairness across the organisation.

Prominent growth plan Talented employees are driven by ambition, and when the workplace begins to feel like a graveyard for their goals, their motivation diminishes and their desire to leave increases.

Organisations must keep ambitious professionals engaged and committed through well-defined and rewarding growth opportunities.

Purpose-driven work Qualified experts strive to make a meaningful impact in their field. Assigning them to plain, repetitive tasks can discourage them, stifle their creativity and significantly lower their level of innovation. To retain top talent, organisations must provide exciting work that challenges and inspires.

Valuable recognitions Recognition is not solely materialistic. Feeling valued, supported and acknowledged by company leaders or owners significantly strengthens employees’ sense of belonging and reinforces

their commitment to driving the organisation’s success.

Positive work-place culture Fostering a healthy and constructive environment, while promoting a strong work-life balance, is essential to creating and maintaining a positive workplace culture where employees can continuously grow, thrive and achieve their full potential.

People are not just a number!

Retention extends beyond material incentives. It depends on fostering an environment where top talent feels valued, challenged, recognised and supported to continuously strive for excellence while remaining committed to the organisation’s goals.

In a world where true ambition and niche expertise are increasingly rare, investing in employee retention is, in reality, investing in the future stability, growth and sustainability of any company. At the same time, employees should keep greed out of the equation, understand their true worth and seek

environments where they feel genuinely valued, supported and motivated to grow steadily.

Ultimately, the current talent landscape, particularly in the growing fire and life safety field, reflects a complex interplay between supply and demand, expectations and realities. While organisations must align their offerings with both employee expectations and actual capabilities, candidates must also make decisions based on realistic assessments rather than wishful thinking.

When this balance is achieved, retention is no longer a challenge but a natural outcome. It becomes the result of integrity, trust and shared purpose, where both employer and employee grow together, not by chance, but by choice.

Sawsan Dahham is the founder and CEO of SIENA. She has nearly two decades of experience in fire and life safety and engineering consultancy, and serves on three NFPA 101 committees.

FIRE MIDDLE EAST | ISSUE 70 | 33

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PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

Designing for scale Sargunan Sellamuthu, Business Development Manager for the Middle East at Advanced, discusses how fire system design is responding to the realities of phased construction Q: Many developments are now delivered in phases rather than as a single build. How does that change fire system design?

It shifts the focus from short-term delivery to long-term performance. Traditionally, systems were designed around a fixed scope, a building or a specific phase. But with phased developments, you need something that works immediately while also supporting future expansion.

That means thinking ahead. How will new buildings be integrated?

How will the system scale? How do you maintain performance as complexity increases? This is where systems like Axis AX come into their own. Because they’re modular and flexible, they’re well suited to projects where requirements are constantly evolving, rather than fixed from the outset.

Q: Is that why networked fire systems are becoming the standard on large projects?

Yes, networked systems are now central to large-scale fire strategies. Instead of having isolated systems in each building, you’re creating a unified network across the entire development. With Axis AX, multiple control panels can be connected into a single system, allowing new phases to be integrated in a structured way as the project grows.

That continuity is important. It avoids the need for complex integrations later on and ensures a consistent approach to fire safety across the whole site.

Just as importantly, the system needs to maintain performance at scale. As networks expand, reliability and response times have to remain consistent.

Q: What are the main technical challenges when scaling systems in this way?

The biggest challenge is maintaining reliable communication as the system grows. As more panels and devices are added, the network becomes more complex. If the architecture isn’t

right, that can introduce delays or vulnerabilities.

That’s why modern fire systems increasingly rely on distributed, peer-topeer networking. With Axis AX, each panel operates independently while still being part of the wider network. This improves resilience because there’s no single point of failure.

If one part of the system is affected, the rest can continue to function, which is critical on large, multi-phase developments.

Q: With networks becoming so large, how do operators maintain visibility?

Central visibility is key. Even with distributed systems, operators need a clear overview of the entire network.

Graphical command interfaces and command centres allow them to monitor alarms, faults and system status in real time.

With Axis AX, this information can be brought together into a single interface, making it much easier to manage complex, multi-phase environments. Without that level of visibility, it becomes difficult to maintain control as systems scale.

Q: What should consultants and developers prioritise when specifying fire systems today?

The key is designing for the full lifecycle of the project, not just the first phase.

That means selecting systems that can expand without redesign, maintain performance as they grow, and adapt to

different building uses and operational requirements over time.

Scalability, resilience and visibility are the fundamentals. Systems like Axis AX, with their flexible configurations and powerful networking capabilities, are designed to support exactly that kind of long-term approach.

Q: How do you see fire system design evolving in the region?

Phased delivery is becoming the norm, so fire systems will continue to evolve to support that. There will be an even greater focus on flexibility and futureproofing, with systems designed to grow alongside developments rather than being fixed at installation.

At the same time, there’s a real need to keep things manageable. Even as systems become more capable, they still need to be intuitive to configure, operate and maintain.

Ultimately, it’s about ensuring fire protection remains consistent throughout the life of a project. Systems like Axis AX, along with EN-based solutions where required, are helping to set that direction by combining scalability, resilience and usability in a single platform.

To learn more about Advanced’s approach to scalable fire system design, visit advancedco.com or email enquiries@advancedco.com.

FIRE MIDDLE EAST | ISSUE 70 | 35

SUSTAINABILITY | FIRE PROTECTION

Readiness meets responsibility

36 | FIRE MIDDLE EAST | ISSUE 70

SUSTAINABILITY | FIRE PROTECTION

Ahmad Al-khawaja considers how modern fire apparatus are advancing environmental responsibility and enhancing sustainability

Sustainability has become a key consideration across all industries, and the fire service is no exception.

While emergency response remains the primary mission of every fire department, apparatus manufacturers and fleet operators are increasingly exploring ways to reduce environmental impact without compromising operational readiness. From lower vehicle emissions and environmentally responsible foam technologies to water conservation and circular design principles, modern fire apparatus are evolving to support broader sustainability goals.

Readiness: The often-overlooked sustainability metric

Operational readiness is rarely discussed as a sustainability metric, yet it may be one of the most important.

A fire apparatus that is unavailable due to mechanical failure, deferred maintenance or degraded system performance cannot protect lives, property or the environment. Every hour of unplanned downtime increases operational risk and potentially increases the consequences of a fire event.

Modern apparatus fleets represent substantial investments in materials, manufacturing energy, logistics and maintenance resources. Maximising availability and extending service life ensures that these resources continue

delivering value throughout the apparatus lifecycle.

From this perspective, readiness becomes more than an operational objective, in fact it becomes a sustainability objective.

Sustainable foam systems: Fluorine-free foam (FFF)

The transition from fluorinated firefighting foams to fluorine-free foam (FFF) concentrates represents one of the most significant environmental developments within the fire protection industry.

Driven by environmental concerns and evolving regulations, many fire departments and industrial operators are evaluating fluorine-free alternatives while maintaining the performance necessary for challenging fire scenarios.

However, sustainability is influenced not only by the foam concentrate selected, but also by how the foam system is maintained throughout its lifecycle.

Routine inspection, testing and maintenance activities have traditionally required flushing portions of the foam system, resulting in concentrate consumption and replacement costs.

For departments operating multiple apparatus, these losses can accumulate over time.

Wet foam circulation systems provide an alternative approach. By keeping foam concentrate moving through the

proportioning circuit without discharging product, departments can verify system functionality while significantly reducing unnecessary concentrate loss.

The concept is straightforward: The journey toward fluorine-free foam does not end when the concentrate is replaced.

True sustainability is achieved when environmentally responsible agents are combined with equally responsible operational practices. By reducing unnecessary foam consumption while maintaining system readiness, the fire service can ensure that the transition delivers both environmental benefits and operational confidence.

Innovative engines and smarter fleet operations

Vehicle emissions remain an important component of apparatus sustainability.

The adoption of Euro V and Euro VI diesel engine technologies has significantly reduced particulate matter and nitrogen oxide emissions compared to previous generations.

These improvements will result in lower emissions during operations while helping departments meet increasingly demanding environmental expectations.

The environmental footprint of a fire apparatus also includes maintenance activities, replacement parts, logistics, consumables and lifecycle support.

Consequently, fleet sustainability

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SUSTAINABILITY | FIRE PROTECTION

“Reduced manufacturing demand means lower consumption of steel, aluminum, copper, plastics and electronic materials.”

depends not only on lower emissions engines but also on how efficiently the apparatus is operated and maintained throughout its life.

Future developments including hybrid drivetrains, electrified auxiliary systems and idle-reduction technologies, and alternative fuels may further contribute to reducing the environmental footprint of emergency response fleets.

Circular economy: Designing fire apparatus for longevity

One of the most promising opportunities for improving sustainability may lie in the application of circular economy principles to apparatus design and maintenance.

Traditionally, industries have followed a linear model of manufacture, use and replacement. Circular economy principles seek to maximise the useful life of products while reducing demand for new raw materials.

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Modular electronic architectures, replaceable subassemblies, remanufactured components and standardised parts can significantly reduce lifecycle resource consumption.

A failed electronic module should not necessarily require replacement of an entire control system. Likewise, standardised sensors, valves, displays and control interfaces across multiple apparatus platforms can reduce sparepart inventories while simplifying maintenance and training.

Reduced manufacturing demand means lower consumption of steel, aluminum, copper, plastics and electronic materials. Fewer replacement parts mean lower transportation requirements and reduced waste generation. Extended service life reduces the frequency of apparatus replacement while maximising the value derived from existing assets.

Digitalisation and the next generation of sustainable fire apparatus

Digital technologies are creating new opportunities to improve both sustainability and readiness.

Remote diagnostics, fleet telematics, predictive analytics and connected maintenance platforms allow departments to better understand apparatus performance throughout its lifecycle. Rather than reacting to failures, organisations can proactively manage maintenance activities, optimise inventory levels and improve fleet reliability.

Looking ahead, artificial intelligence and advanced analytics may further support sustainability by identifying maintenance trends, predicting component failures and helping fleet

managers make more informed lifecycle decisions.

These technologies will not replace sound engineering or operational expertise, but they can provide valuable tools for maximising apparatus performance while minimising resource consumption.

Sustainability through protection

The fire service has always protected communities, infrastructure and critical assets. Sustainability simply expands the way we measure that protection.

Whether through fluorine-free foam transitions, wet foam circulation systems, Euro VI engine technology, predictive maintenance or circular economy design principles, the objective remains the same: Delivering effective fire protection while using resources responsibly.

Ultimately, sustainable fire protection is not defined by a single technology, suppression agent or emissions standard.

It is defined by our ability to design, operate, maintain and continuously improve fire apparatus that remain ready when needed, protect valuable assets and minimise environmental impact throughout their entire lifecycle.

Because in the end, the most sustainable fire protection strategy is not the one that uses the fewest resources. It is the one that prevents the greatest loss of resources in the first place.

Ahmad Al-khawaja is a Fire Protection Specialist at Saudi Aramco with over 12 years of experience focusing on fire trucks and hydraulic aerial platforms.

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HIGH RISE | PASSIVE PROTECTION

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HIGH RISE | PASSIVE PROTECTION

Protecting vertical spaces Peter Stephenson considers the critical role of passive fire protection in compartmentalising fire to protect lives and assets across the region’s high-rise estate From Riyadh and Jeddah to Dubai, Doha and Manama, the Gulf skyline is rising faster than almost anywhere on earth.

With Jeddah Tower pushing past 400 metres and a generation of supertalls anchoring our cities, the question is no longer whether active suppression and detection will perform on the day.

It is whether the building itself, its compartments, its structural frame, its façades and its service penetrations, will hold the fire long enough for everyone to get out and for crews to get in. That is the job of passive fire protection.

Why high-rise is different

Fire behaves differently in tall buildings.

Heat and smoke rise buoyantly through any vertical pathway, stair shafts, lift wells, service risers, and travel distances to safety are far longer. External rescue is rarely viable above the reach of aerial appliances, which top out well below the heights now permitted. Evacuation is therefore phased or defend-in-place, and

those strategies only work if the building buys the time they depend on. Active systems are essential but not infallible, pumps fail, valves close, supplies are interrupted and sprinklers were never designed for façade-driven external spread. Passive fire protection (PFP) is the layer that remains when everything else is having a bad day.

What PFP actually does

PFP works on two fronts. The first is structural protection, keeping the building standing. Steel sheds roughly half its yield strength by 550°C, which a developing fire reaches in well under an hour; coatings, sprays and encasements delay that loss long enough for occupants to escape and firefighters to work beneath the structure. The required fire-resistance period, typically 90 to 180 minutes in tall buildings, is matched to the time the structure needs to survive, not the time the fire is expected to last. The second front is compartmentation, confining

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HIGH RISE | PASSIVE PROTECTION

fire to where it started, so an incident in one tenancy or plant room cannot propagate through the building, making phased and defend-in-place strategies tenable and protects the stairs, lobbies and firefighting shafts occupants and responders rely on. Structural protection buys time for the building; compartmentation buys space within it, and a weakness in either weakens the whole.

Codes and the resilience they don’t reach

The GCC operates within a layered code environment. The UAE Fire and Life Safety Code, administered by Civil Defense, sets structural ratings, compartmentation, height and area limits and finish restrictions; SBC 801 plays the comparable role in the Kingdom under the GDCD. Both lean heavily on the NFPA family; NFPA 101, NFPA 5000, NFPA 80 for fire doors, NFPA 221 for fire walls and NFPA 285 for exterior assemblies, and increasingly crossreference EN and BS standards. UK instruments too, the Building Safety Act 2022, Approved Document B, BS 8414/ BR 135 façade testing and revised BS 8214 door guidance, shape how clients with international portfolios assure passive measures. A tower may be designed to a national code but evidenced against a basket of standards.

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There is also a distinction worth holding onto. Most codes assure life safety and stop there; insurers work to a more demanding standard of property protection, captured in Estimated Maximum Loss (EML), the share of a building and its business a single fire might consume. For a 20-storey tower an insurer might write off the fire floor, two above to smoke and one below to firefighting water, an EML of 20 per cent, but only if compartmentation holds and fire cannot run up the façade or through cavities. Defeat those assumptions and credible loss climbs toward 100 per cent.

On giga-project assets, where business interruption dwarfs the cost of any component, the passive package is what underwrites insurability.

The post-Grenfell decade

No high-rise fire conversation here can avoid cladding. A succession of Emirates façade fires, and Grenfell in 2017, showed how combustible ACM panels and poorly fire-stopped cavities defeat every measure inside a building, flames climbing the exterior faster than any sprinkler can address. UAE Civil Defense has since tightened approvals, mandated re-cladding of non-compliant stock and brought façade fire-stopping into the inspection regime. The settled lesson, restated by the International Code Council, is that façades must be assessed

as systems – insulation, panel, cavity, barriers and fixings together – under full-scale conditions such as NFPA 285 or BS 8414. A panel passing a small-scale test in isolation says little about how the assembly will behave on a 60-storey tower in 45-degree heat with prevailing onshore winds. The test regime is also evolving: the UK insurance sector’s RISC 501:2023 runs alongside BS 8414 but applies stricter criteria, hard-codes contested detailing such as a default penetration test and defined cavity-barrier placement, and requires results to be published openly. It is an insurer standard, not a code, and will not transfer automatically to SBC 801 or NFPA, but for international clients it increasingly defines credible façade assurance.

The Wang Fuk Court fire in Hong Kong on 26 November 2025, which claimed 168 lives across seven of eight 31-storey blocks, reopened the conversation globally. The towers were wrapped in bamboo scaffolding and combustible netting for renovation, with lift lobbies temporarily sealed in polystyrene; fire ran vertically and between blocks faster than compartmentation or crews could contain it. The lesson is direct: The temporaryworks envelope of an occupied tower can defeat its permanent PFP. Nor is the risk confined to scaffolding, hot works remain a leading ignition source, and best practice now bars hot work on or above a

HIGH RISE | PASSIVE PROTECTION

stair shaft and a chimney. The revised BS 8214 guidance and growing alignment with schemes such as Q-Mark and Certifire are pushing the industry towards documented door performance over a building’s life, not just at handover.

Where the discipline is heading

“Passive fire protection rarely makes the press release when a tower tops out” façade while combustible elements are exposed. With the region’s stock entering its first major refit cycle, that risk is no longer theoretical.

Compartmentation in towers that never sleep

Compartmentation is only as good as its weakest penetration. A 2-hour-rated slab may be pierced hundreds of times for services, cable trays, busbars and risers, and every one needs a tested, certified fire-stop installed to the manufacturer’s system and documented, as do dampers and gap seals at slab and curtainwall interfaces. Two factors make this demanding here. Pace: Towers rise fast, and fire-stopping is often the last item addressed and the first value-engineered.

And change: A Gulf tower at half the age of its European counterpart may already have been refitted three times, each refit degrading compartmentation a little further. One asymmetry deserves

attention, envelope penetrations are not controlled like internal ones, yet they are the routes by which fire breaks onto, or back off, a façade; treating them rigorously is voluntary property protection that, on a combustible façade, can decide whether spread stays contained.

Structural protection

Intumescent coatings – thin-film paints that expand into an insulating char when heated – are the default for exposed architectural steel, with cementitious sprays where appearance is not a factor.

Specification must align coating thickness with section factor and required fireresistance period, and inspection during application is where most defects are caught or missed. Fire doors are the most frequently mis-maintained passive item: Every stair door is a life-safety device, and smoke seals, intumescent strips, selfclosers, certified hardware and correct gaps are the difference between a tenable

Three trends will define the discipline.

Digital asset records; BIM-linked, photograph-tagged fire-stop and door registers, traceable to product certification, are moving from a nicety to a client requirement on the major giga-projects. Performance-based design is increasingly accepted for towers beyond prescriptive height envelopes, but only where the passive package is rigorously justified, not assumed.

And lifecycle accountability is rising: Owners and Responsible Persons, a role now formalising across the Gulf on the UK model, are asked to evidence compartmentation’s ongoing integrity, not merely original compliance.

Closing thought

Passive fire protection rarely makes the press release when a tower tops out. It is invisible the day the building opens, and most days thereafter. But on the day a fire starts on the 30th floor – and somewhere in this region that day will come again – it is the wall that did not let the fire through, the slab penetration that held, the door that closed properly, the steel column still standing at 90 minutes and the cavity barrier that stopped the flames climbing the façade that will decide how the story ends. For those who design, specify, inspect and govern fire safety, that is reason enough to give PFP the attention it has too often had to wait for.

Peter Stephenson is an international Fire & Life Safety Specialist with over 40 years of experience and is a Committee Member of the IFE GCC UAE Branch.

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FIREFIGHTERS | COMMUNICATION TOOLS

The firefighter’s lifeline Fire service veteran Bob Rea QFSM explores how communications have evolved from basic voice commands to intelligent digital systems – and why reliable communication remains a firefighter’s most vital safety tool There are few pieces of equipment more important to a firefighter than the means to communicate. Firefighters enter environments which most people would shy away from. When conditions deteriorate rapidly, buildings behave unexpectedly or the operational plan must change, the most important piece of equipment may be the one that allows a simple message to be passed clearly, quickly and without misunderstanding.

Considering my career in service and now post-service, the development of communication methods has been astounding. From being committed to building fires with no communication, reliant on whistle evacuation signals and shouting to be understood by my BA partner, through to commanding incidents and relying on crews to follow their briefing and employ their knowledge and skills, to the gradual development

of BA communications equipment and the ability to receive direct feedback from working crews. Fireground radios with limited range. Main scheme radios on different frequencies between services, some on VHF, some on UHF. The journey has been significant.

When we consider the Incident Command System, it becomes clear how the lines of communication are structured and how essential they

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are to safely delivering the strategic, tactical and operational plan. Firefighter communications are the lifeline of the incident ground, underpinning situational awareness, tactical decision-making, firefighter accountability and multi-agency coordination. When communications work well, they are often taken for granted.

When they fail, the consequences can be immediate, serious and sometimes fatal.

This subject is therefore not simply about radios or networks. It is about interoperability, operational confidence and command resilience. It is about ensuring that the firefighter entering the building, the BA team working in heat and smoke, the pump operator, the aerial operator, the ambulance commander, the police commander and the control room are all working from the same understanding.

From the shouted message to the digital network

For much of the fire service’s history, communication on the fireground was physical, visual and verbal. Hand signals, shouted instructions, runners and whistle signals still have value at small incidents and within close crew operations, but they are limited by distance, noise, smoke, building complexity and the pace of developing incidents.

The introduction of handheld radios transformed fireground command.

Portable radio allowed officers to communicate with crews, pumps, control rooms and specialist functions without physically leaving the task area. However, filtering information was always essential.

Too much information creates decision

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paralysis for incident commanders.

Structuring communications in line with the ICS ensures the right information reaches the right person in the command structure, maintaining situational awareness and facilitating quality decision-making.

Early radio systems suffered from poor coverage, interference and limited battery life. Local workarounds helped, but they were never a complete solution.

The move to digital radio marked a major step forward. Improved security, clearer audio, group management, emergency button functionality, status messaging and more structured control of talk groups all followed. For fire and rescue services, talk groups could now reflect operational sectors, command structures and specialist functions.

Emergency alerts could be escalated quickly. The key benefit was not simply that the radio became digital, it was that communications became more operationally structured.

In the United Kingdom, the FireLink/Airwave project delivered the transition from a patchwork of local analogue arrangements onto a common digital platform. It was more than a technical upgrade. It improved national resilience and interoperability while demonstrating that new communications systems require changes in training, procedures and organisational culture as well as equipment.

Interoperability: Talking is not the same as communicating

Major incidents rarely belong to one agency. Interoperability is therefore not

simply the ability to connect one radio to another. It is the ability of organisations to work together coherently under pressure.

The Joint Emergency Services Interoperability Principles remind us that communication is only one part of joint working. Co-location, coordination, joint understanding of risk and shared situational awareness are all essential.

Communication technology only succeeds when agencies share the same operational understanding.

This is where standard messaging becomes critical. Models such as METHANE bring structure to the first report from a major incident, reducing ambiguity and giving commanders a common framework. A clear assistance message, emergency evacuation signal, BA emergency message or sector report can change the outcome of an incident.

For firefighters, standard messages are not administrative exercises. They are life safety tools.

Radios connect people. Doctrine connects decisions.

The breathing apparatus challenge

Communications become most difficult in the very environment where firefighters need them most.

Many firefighters will recognise the historic problem of muffled, distorted or broken messages from BA teams.

A message that sounds clear to the sender may be almost unintelligible to the receiver. Improvements in speech diaphragms, facepiece design, in-mask microphones, remote speakers and integrated voice amplifiers have all

FIREFIGHTERS | COMMUNICATION TOOLS

“The future will bring richer information, improved firefighter tracking, live video, resilient broadband and smarter systems.” helped, but there remains no single perfect answer.

An effective system must combine compatibility with PPE, comfort, durability, audio quality, battery life and the ability to operate under stress. A system that performs well in a quiet demonstration room may not perform on the incident ground. Testing under realistic operational conditions is not optional. It is essential in any procurement process.

The future: Intelligence, not just information

Firefighter communications are entering another phase entirely. The Internet of Things, smart buildings and digital infrastructure are creating a new operational environment, and I see this as a major opportunity.

Imagine an incident commander receiving live internal location data from BA teams, drone imagery from the roof sector, hydrant information, building plans, fire alarm zone data, hazardous materials information and casualty

reports on a resilient command platform.

Imagine a BA entry control officer able to monitor team location, cylinder pressure and distress alarms in real time.

Many of these capabilities already exist, but the challenge is no longer collecting more information; it is presenting the right information at the right time. Future systems must simplify, prioritise and support decision-making rather than overwhelm commanders.

Artificial intelligence has the potential to filter data, identify emerging risks and compare live conditions against pre-incident plans, but it must support command, not replace it. The incident commander remains responsible for tactical judgement and firefighter safety, supported by accurate, cyber-secure and resilient information that strengthens situational awareness and operational decision-making.

More data does not automatically mean better command. Too much information, poorly presented, can slow decision-making. Future systems must

be built around operational usability.

Technology should simplify, prioritise and support, not distract.

The future should not be a firefighter standing outside a building surrounded by screens and uncertainty. It should be a commander supported by clear, trusted and prioritised intelligence that improves situational awareness, shortens decision time and strengthens firefighter safety.

Communications as a critical control measure

Firefighter communications are a critical control measure, underpinning firefighter safety, effective command and organisational resilience.

The journey from analogue handheld radios through digital systems, structured interoperability and SCBA-integrated communications represents real progress.

Yet the fundamental requirement remains unchanged. Firefighters need to communicate clearly in the most hostile environments we ask people to enter.

The future will bring richer information, improved firefighter tracking, live video, resilient broadband and smarter systems.

But the principle must remain simple.

When a firefighter presses the button, the system must work.

That is why communications are not an accessory to firefighting. They are the firefighter’s lifeline.

Bob Rea is an emergency response professional with over 40 years of experience, who is recognised globally for his work in crisis management. He was awarded the Queen’s Fire Service Medal (QFSM).

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PASSIVE FIRE PROTECTION | DIIM FRAMEWORK

The universal language of passive fire protection As construction projects become increasingly global, inconsistent approaches to passive fire protection can create critical gaps in life safety. Abhishek Chhabra explores how the code-neutral DIIM™ framework aims to establish a common language for responsibility throughout a building’s lifecycle In the current global landscape, we find ourselves at a critical juncture where the promise of connectivity meets the harsh reality of a fractured world. The year 2025 was marked by a profound paradox: While the shifting geopolitical realignments accelerated the regionalisation of supply chains, the technical challenges of life safety became more interconnected than ever.

High-rise construction and complex data centres are being built across the globe using identical materials and methodologies. Yet, as borders tighten and instability persists, the regulatory oversight governing these structures remains stubbornly fragmented. In this era of uncertainty, the industry can no longer afford to treat life safety as a local variable; it requires a universal framework that holds firm even when the global order is in flux.

Beyond the ‘narrow straw’ of local codes

For too long, the passive fire protection (PFP) industry — specifically firestopping and compartmentation — has been viewed through the narrow straw of local building codes. While codes like the IBC, NFPA, EN or the Saudi Building Code (SBC) are essential benchmarks, they are often treated as the final destination rather than the starting point.

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This reliance on prescriptive ‘rules’ has masked a systemic vulnerability: Passive fire protection fails not because of a lack of products or tests, but because of a lack of a cohesive, global language for responsibility.

The DIIM™ solution: Governance, not just compliance The DIIM™ framework (Design, Install, Inspect, Maintain) was engineered to solve this. It is not a code, it is not a standard, and it is not a specific

certification scheme. It is a system of governance.

By aligning DIIM™ with the rigorous conformity assessment logic of ISO CASCO, we have created a ‘CodeNeutral’ framework that allows the global community to achieve life-safety outcomes that transcend borders.

Why code neutrality matters

Construction is a globalised industry.

An architect in London may design a hospital in Riyadh, managed by a firm in

PASSIVE FIRE PROTECTION | DIIM FRAMEWORK

“Passive fire protection failures are rarely productspecific; they are systemic”

1. Design: Is the solution justified by data?

2. Install: Is the entity competent and the process repeatable?

3. Inspect: Has an independent party verified the intent?

4. Maintain: Does the rating survive the life of the building?

Defining trust through ISO CASCO If DIIM™ defines the where and when of responsibility, the ISO CASCO standards define the how of trust. To move towards a global consensus by 2030, we must rely on a shared infrastructure of credibility: • Competence (ISO/IEC 17024): Focusing on the individual’s skill.

• Process (ISO/IEC 17065): Focusing on the organisation’s quality management.

• Independence (ISO/IEC 17020): Focusing on impartial, third-party verification.

Bridging the gap: Prescriptive vs. performance

DIIM™ acts as the bridge between prescriptive codes (which tell you what to do) and performance-based codes (which tell you what the outcome must be).

• In a prescriptive environment: DIIM™ ensures the recipes are followed.

• In a performance environment: DIIM™ provides the documentation trail to justify ‘alternative means and methods’.

The global collective

New York, using products manufactured in Germany. When these stakeholders collide on a project site, the gaps between their respective codes become the cracks through which life safety slips.

Passive fire protection failures are rarely product-specific; they are systemic.

A firestop system tested to the highest laboratory standards (ISO, UL or EN) will still fail if it is: • Selected for the wrong application (Design) • Placed by an untrained hand (Install)

• Breached by a trade worker after handover (Maintain)

DIIM™ as a lifecycle responsibility model

The genius of the DIIM™ framework lies in its refusal to be ‘point-in-time’ compliant.

In many regulatory cultures, ‘compliance’ is viewed as a hurdle to be cleared at the moment of handover.

DIIM™ rejects this premise. Fire safety is a continuous state, not a static achievement.

The firestopping industry can only function when all stakeholders work in tandem. The DIIM™ framework provides the common language for this consensus.

The DIIM™ framework is a governance lens, not a technical rulebook. Its codeneutrality is its greatest strength, allowing it to function as an editorial anchor for the entire industry. By focusing on responsibility, competence and lifecycle continuity, we are not just following codes — we are building a foundation of trust that will protect the built environment for generations to come.

Abhishek Chhabra is an assurance industry expert with nearly 20 years of experience in conformity assessment. His goal is to bridge the gap between complex standards and practical application to enhance overall safety.

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FIRE PROTECTION | NANOTECHNOLOGY

The nano shift Can nanotechnology redefine the future of fire protection in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East? Asks Yousif Mohamed, P.E Fire protection is entering a new technological era. For decades, the industry has relied on proven systems such as sprinklers, foam, dry chemical extinguishers, clean agents, passive fireproofing and conventional detection.

These systems remain essential and will continue to form the backbone of fire safety. However, the risk profile of modern infrastructure is changing faster than traditional methods alone can address.

Cities are becoming smarter. Battery energy storage systems are expanding.

Electric vehicles and charging networks are growing. Data centres are becoming larger, denser and more critical to national economies. Industrial facilities are increasingly automated, and buildings are packed with sensitive electronics, sensors and digital control systems.

These environments create fire risks that are more complex, more compact and often less tolerant of water, powder residue, downtime or delayed detection.

This is where nanotechnology, advanced aerosol suppression, intelligent sensing and nano-enhanced materials are attracting growing interest.

Nanotechnology will not replace conventional fire protection overnight. In many applications, it should not replace it at all. Its real value lies in targeted integration: faster detection, improved passive fire resistance, localised suppression, lighter firefighter protection, and better protection for high-value electrical and battery environments.

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For Saudi Arabia and the wider GCC, this opportunity is especially relevant.

Vision 2030, Giga-projects, renewable energy infrastructure, AI data centres, EV adoption, industrial localisation, and sustainability objectives are all creating demand for advanced, certified and performance-driven fire protection technologies.

The future of fire safety in the region will not be defined by “nano” branding alone. It will be defined by technologies that are tested, listed, approved, locally supported and intelligently integrated into real engineering designs.

A changing fire risk landscape

Fire protection has traditionally evolved through incremental improvements.

Sprinklers became more reliable, detection systems became faster, extinguishing agents became cleaner, and passive fire protection materials became more durable. Yet the core philosophy remained relatively stable: detect the fire, activate a system, suppress the fire and protect life safety.

Today, that model is being challenged by new types of infrastructure.

Modern buildings and industrial assets now include lithium-ion battery rooms, battery energy storage systems, EV charging stations, server halls, telecom shelters, autonomous control rooms, solar and renewable energy facilities and smart buildings with dense networks of electronic equipment. These assets

introduce hazards that traditional systems were not originally designed to manage on their own.

Lithium-ion batteries, for example, can experience thermal runaway. A fire in this environment is not simply a surface flame problem; it can involve cell-to-cell propagation, off-gassing, explosion risk, toxic emission and prolonged cooling requirements. This means that suppression alone is not enough. A complete strategy must include early detection, ventilation, separation, cooling, emergency response planning, and tested system design.

At the same time, data centres, telecom facilities and critical control rooms cannot tolerate unnecessary water discharge, heavy residue or extended downtime. In these settings, the objective is not only to extinguish a fire, but to protect continuity, electronics, data, and business operations.

This shift is driving interest in more specialised fire protection technologies,

FIRE PROTECTION | NANOTECHNOLOGY

including nanomaterials, advanced detection, condensed aerosol systems and intelligent monitoring platforms.

What nanotechnology means in fire protection

Nanotechnology refers to materials and particles engineered at an extremely small scale, often below 100 nanometres. In fire protection, the term covers several different applications rather than one single product category.

In active suppression, nano-scale or ultra-fine particles can improve heat absorption, flame interaction and chemical interruption of combustion.

Condensed aerosol systems are often discussed in this context because they discharge very fine particles and gases into a protected enclosure to interrupt the combustion chain reaction. These systems are already supported by specific standards such as NFPA 2010, UL 2775 and ISO 15779, although their suitability depends heavily on the hazard,

listing, enclosure design, occupancy and authority approval.

In passive fire protection, nanomaterials can be added to coatings, composites and intumescent systems to improve thermal stability, char formation, barrier performance, corrosion resistance and durability. These materials are especially relevant for steel structures, tunnels, modular construction, transport infrastructure and industrial plants.

In fire detection, nano-enabled sensors and advanced gas sensors can identify smoke, toxic gases, electrolyte vapors or abnormal thermal behaviour earlier than traditional point detectors in certain applications. This is particularly important for lithium-ion battery environments, where early off-gas detection may provide critical warning before a full thermal runaway event develops.

Nanotechnology is also relevant to firefighter personal protective

equipment. Nano-fibres, nano-coatings and advanced textile structures can improve thermal insulation, breathability, moisture resistance, flexibility and weight reduction. For firefighters, lighter and more breathable protective clothing can improve mobility and reduce heat stress during operations.

Where advanced fire technologies fit best

The strongest near-term applications are not general building spaces. They are compact, high-risk, high-value and difficult-to-protect environments.

These include electrical cabinets, control panels, telecom shelters, battery cabinets, BESS containers, marine enclosures, wind turbine nacelles, industrial automation cabinets and specialised equipment rooms. These spaces are typically enclosed, have defined volumes and contain assets that may be damaged by water or dry chemical powder.

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FIRE PROTECTION | NANOTECHNOLOGY

For these applications, compact aerosol systems, early gas detection, thermal monitoring and intelligent shutdown logic can provide a valuable layer of protection. However, aerosol should not be treated as a universal substitute for sprinklers, clean agents or water-based cooling. Battery fires in particular often require a broader strategy because suppressing flame does not necessarily cool battery cells or eliminate the risk of re-ignition.

In data centres, the most accepted strategies still tend to combine very early smoke detection, clean agents or inert gas systems where appropriate, pre-action sprinklers, compartmentation and strong operational controls. Aerosol may have a role in selected cabinet-level or enclosed equipment applications, but open server halls and occupied spaces require careful evaluation because particle discharge, exposure limits, equipment concerns and authority approval can become major constraints.

The lesson is clear: advanced fire protection must be engineered, not marketed. The correct question is not “Is it nano?” but “Is it tested, listed, approved, compatible with the hazard, and integrated into a complete fire strategy?”

Battery energy storage: The strongest driver

Battery energy storage systems are one of the most important drivers of advanced fire protection globally. As countries expand renewable energy, grid stabilisation and distributed power systems, large lithium-ion battery installations are becoming more common.

Incidents at battery storage sites, including major events such as Moss Landing and other documented BESS failures, have shown that battery fire risk is different from conventional electrical fire risk. Thermal runaway can generate heat, flammable gases, toxic emissions, explosion hazards and long-duration emergency response challenges.

This has accelerated demand for layered safety approaches, including: battery management systems; thermal and gas monitoring; early off-gas detection; fire-rated separation; explosion control; ventilation; emergency response planning; water supply for cooling; localised suppression; compartment-level containment.

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Aerosol and nano-related technologies can support this strategy, especially for localised flame knockdown and enclosed compartment protection. But they should be viewed as one layer of defence, not the whole solution.

For Saudi Arabia and the GCC, this point is strategically important. As renewable energy, grid storage, EV charging and AI infrastructure expand, battery fire safety will become a core engineering discipline rather than a niche specialty.

Data centres, EV infrastructure and smart cities

The Middle East is rapidly becoming a digital infrastructure region. Saudi Arabia is attracting hyper-scale cloud investment, AI infrastructure and data centre development as part of its broader transformation agenda. This creates major demand for fire systems that can protect electronics, maintain uptime, reduce false alarms and avoid unnecessary collateral damage.

Data centres require fast detection and carefully selected suppression. Water remains important for life safety and building protection, but water discharge inside sensitive electronic spaces can create operational losses. Clean agents, inert gases, aspirating smoke detection, pre-action sprinklers and intelligent monitoring are therefore widely used in mission-critical environments.

EV infrastructure creates another opportunity. Charging stations, enclosed parking areas, battery storage rooms and maintenance facilities all introduce new electrical and battery-related hazards.

Early detection, thermal imaging, ventilation, compartmentation and

localised suppression will become more important as adoption grows.

Smart cities add a further layer. A smart building is not just a building with sensors. It is an interconnected system of power, communication, automation, security, mobility and emergency response. Fire protection in this environment must become predictive, data-driven and integrated with building management systems.

This is where nano sensors, AI analytics, IoT (Internet of Things) integration and advanced materials can add value.

Saudi Arabia and the GCC opportunity

Saudi Arabia is uniquely positioned to become a major market for advanced fire protection technologies. Vision 2030 is driving investment in smart infrastructure, tourism, entertainment, logistics, renewable energy, industrial development, digital transformation and Giga-projects. Projects such as NEOM, Red Sea Global, Qiddiya, and other PIFbacked developments are associated with large-scale infrastructure, high-value assets, sustainability goals and advanced building technologies.

At the same time, Saudi Arabia’s digital infrastructure is expanding through cloud regions, AI hubs and data centre investment from major global technology companies. These assets require highly reliable fire detection, suppression, compartmentation and continuity planning.

The Saudi Green Initiative and wider sustainability objectives also support technologies that reduce unnecessary water use, limit environmental impact, and improve infrastructure resilience.

FIRE PROTECTION | NANOTECHNOLOGY

“Saudi Arabia is uniquely positioned to become a major market for advanced fire protection technologies.”

Advanced aerosol systems, intelligent detection and nano-enhanced passive coatings may align with these objectives when they are properly certified and applied to suitable hazards.

The opportunity is not limited to importing products. Saudi Arabia could build a regional ecosystem around advanced fire engineering, testing, certification support, local manufacturing, specialised maintenance and applied research. This would align with industrial localisation and technology transfer goals.

Certification and regulatory reality

The biggest barrier for nano-based and advanced aerosol fire technologies is not technical imagination. It is approval.

In the GCC, authorities having jurisdiction — such as Saudi Civil Defense, Dubai Civil Defence, Qatar Civil Defence, and related building code authorities — prioritise proven performance, recognised standards, listed products and reliable maintenance. Consultants, insurers and project owners are cautious because fire protection is a life-safety discipline.

A technology may be innovative, but without recognised testing, listing, local acceptance and project references, it will face resistance.

UL Listing, FM Approval, NFPA compliance, ISO standards, LPCB approval and local Civil Defense acceptance all influence whether a system can move from presentation to specification. For aerosol systems, standards such as NFPA 2010, UL 2775, and ISO 15779 provide important pathways, but each product and application still needs to be evaluated against its listing and intended use.

This is why many nano-branded products struggle commercially. Some are promising, but others lack independent testing, consistent quality control, longterm environmental data, or recognised

approval. In fire protection, branding cannot replace certification.

Investment perspective

The strongest investment areas are likely to be technologies that solve specific, urgent and code-relevant problems.

Battery fire protection is one of the highest-potential sectors because BESS, EVs and renewable energy systems are expanding quickly. Technologies that combine gas detection, thermal monitoring, compartment protection, suppression and emergency response integration are likely to see strong demand.

Smart detection is another promising area. AI-supported detection, aspirating systems, thermal analytics and gas sensing can reduce false alarms and improve early intervention.

Nano-enhanced passive fire protection may also grow as Saudi Arabia continues to build large steel structures, transport assets, modular buildings, airports, industrial plants and Giga-project infrastructure.

Advanced firefighter PPE offers long-term potential as governments and emergency response agencies place more emphasis on occupational safety, heat stress reduction and operational endurance.

The weakest area is likely to be consumer-grade ‘nano extinguishers’ or products that rely heavily on marketing without strong listing, testing or approval.

The fire protection market rewards trust, evidence and compliance.

Strategic recommendations

Manufacturers should focus on certification pathways, local technical support, GCC partnerships and transparent performance data. Without these, even strong technology will struggle to win consultant, insurer and Civil Defense confidence.

Investors should prioritise companies working in battery safety, smart detection,

passive fire protection and mission-critical infrastructure protection. These areas are tied to long-term structural demand rather than short-term product trends.

Regulators should consider pilot programmes, regional testing frameworks and innovation pathways that allow new technologies to be evaluated safely without bypassing life-safety standards.

Mega-project developers should involve advanced fire protection specialists early in the design phase.

Retrofitting fire strategy after architectural, electrical and mechanical systems are already fixed is more expensive and less effective.

Redefining an industry

Nanotechnology will not replace conventional fire protection in Saudi Arabia or the Middle East. Sprinklers, fire pumps, alarms, clean agents, extinguishers, passive fireproofing, emergency response systems and building codes will remain essential for decades.

However, nanotechnology and advanced aerosol systems can redefine parts of the industry where conventional methods alone are not enough. Their strongest role is in high-value, compact, electronic, battery, industrial and smart infrastructure environments.

For Saudi Arabia, the opportunity is significant. Vision 2030, Giga-projects, digital infrastructure, renewable energy, AI data centres, EV infrastructure and sustainability targets are creating the right conditions for advanced fire technologies to grow.

The future will not belong to experimental products or generic ‘nano’ claims. It will belong to integrated systems that are intelligent, certified, tested, maintainable and accepted by authorities.

In that sense, nanotechnology can help redefine fire protection — but only when it moves from innovation to engineering discipline.

Yousif Mohamed, P.E. is a a Licensed Professional Engineer in Fire Protection with 12+ years of experience in fire safety engineering, prevention and life safety management. He currently serves as a Fire Prevention Officer at King Fahd International Airport.

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Detection Starts the Response.

Communication Determines the Outcome.

DESIGNING LIFE SAFETY SYSTEMS FOR MODERN TOWERS As towers become taller, denser and more complex, the challenges facing fire protection consultants continue to evolve.

This supplement explores the practical considerations influencing high-rise fire alarm, voice evacuation and life safety design across the Middle East, from occupant communication and phased evacuation strategies to software-driven system management and long-term asset protection.

HIGH-RISE FIRE SAFETY IN THE MIDDLE EAST

Inside: • High-rise design considerations • Voice evacuation strategies • Software-defined life safety • A real-world sequence of actions • High-rise approval milestone in Dubai • The complete Potter high-rise ecosystem FIRE MIDDLE EAST | ISSUE 70 | 55

FIRE MIDDLE EAST SPECIAL | HIGH-RISE FIRE SAFETY

WHAT CONSULTANTS ARE REALLY DESIGNING FOR Most high-rise fire strategies are designed around a simple assumption: Occupants will respond appropriately when an alarm occurs.

In practice, that is rarely what happens.

Across residential towers, hotels and mixed-use developments, occupants often hesitate, seek confirmation, make phone calls, investigate conditions or simply wait for someone else to act.

The challenge becomes even greater when thousands of occupants, multiple languages and complex building layouts are involved.

This is particularly relevant across the GCC, where high-rise buildings routinely combine residential, hospitality, retail and commercial occupancies within a single development.

The question is no longer simply: Can the system detect an event?

The question is: How will occupants respond once it does?

For many consultants, this is driving a renewed focus on communication, evacuation strategy and system behaviour.

Key Considerations • Occupant behaviour under stress • Multi-language environments • Mixed-use developments • Phased evacuation strategies • Authority requirements • Building lifecycle changes 56 | FIRE MIDDLE EAST | ISSUE 70

Good fire strategy isn’t just about detection.

It’s about predicting human behaviour.

FIRE MIDDLE EAST SPECIAL | HIGH-RISE FIRE SAFETY

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER DETECTION? A Typical High-Rise Sequence of Actions A successful evacuation depends on predictable system behaviour.

6.

1. Smoke detected on Floor 86 2.

Fire safety panel initiates pre-alarm

3.

Notification devices activate

4.

Second detector or pull station confirms alarm

5.

6.

7.

Evacuation message plays on Floors 85 and 87 Alert messages delivered elsewhere

3.

6.

6.

4.

3.

6.

4.

88

3.

6.

4.

87

1.

4.

86

SMOKE DETECTED

3.

Elevator recall initiated

8.

AHU shutdown activated

9.

Firefighter communication available

10. System continues to adapt according to programmed logic

6.

4.

85

3.

6.

4.

84

3.

6.

2.

4.

DESIGN CONSIDERATION The objective is not simply to activate devices.

The objective is to guide occupants safely through a controlled and predictable response.

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FIRE MIDDLE EAST SPECIAL | HIGH-RISE FIRE SAFETY

WHY VOICE EVACUATION MATTERS A horn tells people something is wrong.

A voice message tells them what to do next.

Across the Middle East, many high-rise buildings accommodate occupants from multiple countries and language backgrounds.

This is particularly true within hospitality developments, serviced apartments and mixed-use environments.

Simply translating a message is NOT always enough.

Emergency communication must be concise, clear and easy to understand under pressure.

This is one reason voice evacuation systems are increasingly being considered as part of modern high-rise fire strategies.

IPA-4000V

The Potter IPA-4000V combines fire alarm control, voice evacuation and emergency communication within a single platform.

Key capabilities: • Phased evacuation by zone • Single and dual channel operation • Text-to-speech messaging • Network paging • Scalable architecture for high-rise applications

58 | FIRE MIDDLE EAST | ISSUE 70

FIRE MIDDLE EAST SPECIAL | HIGH-RISE FIRE SAFETY

SOFTWARE IS CHANGING LIFE SAFETY Buildings change.

Operators change.

Tenants change.

Usage changes.

The life safety strategy must be able to adapt accordingly.

Increasingly, consultants are looking beyond hardware and considering how systems will be configured, managed and maintained throughout the building lifecycle.

Potter IntelliViewTM and PotterNetTM provide tools that help visualise, configure and monitor life safety systems throughout their operational life.

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Practical Benefits: • Graphical event visualisation • Multi-site monitoring • Historical event review • Floorplan-based navigation • Remote supervision • Centralised management

“What we’re seeing across high-rise projects is a shift in priorities. Building owners and consultants want to understand how a building will behave once an event is detected.”

Wilson Cheung

International Product Director FIRE MIDDLE EAST | ISSUE 70 | 59

FIRE MIDDLE EAST SPECIAL | HIGH-RISE FIRE SAFETY

HIGH-RISE PROJECTS DEMAND CONFIDENCE Whether the project is a 40-storey residential tower, a 60-storey mixed-use development, an 80-plus-storey landmark building or a luxury hospitality complex, consultants are evaluating whether the complete life safety strategy can perform at scale.

Detection.

Voice evacuation.

Emergency communication.

System behaviour.

Long-term maintainability.

A recent approval for a major residential development in Dubai demonstrates Potter’s ability to support this type of application through an integrated fire alarm and voice evacuation solution.

The approved scope includes: • Fire Alarm • Voice Evacuation Potter products are also supported by globally recognised approvals including UL and FM certifications, which continue to play an important role in projects throughout the region.

“When consultants are designing towers of this scale, the conversation extends far beyond individual products. The focus is on how detection, voice evacuation, emergency communication and system behaviour work together as part of a complete life safety strategy. The recent approval of Potter’s solution for a 78-storey residential tower in Dubai demonstrates that integrated approach in a high-rise environment.”

Mohammad Saleh General Manager, Middle East

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FIRE MIDDLE EAST SPECIAL | HIGH-RISE FIRE SAFETY

THE COMPLETE HIGH-RISE LIFE SAFETY ECOSYSTEM For many years, Potter has been recognised throughout the region for monitoring switches and sprinkler-related products.

Today, consultants are increasingly evaluating Potter as part of a complete high-rise life safety strategy.

DETECT PAD300 Detection

CONTROL Relay Modules and Interfaces

COMMUNICATE IPA-4000V Voice Evacuation

FIRE PROTECTION DOESN’T END AT DETECTION High-rise buildings are designed to operate for decades.

While detection and evacuation systems are critical during emergencies, long-term sprinkler reliability remains equally important.

Potter IntelliGenTM Nitrogen Generators help reduce internal sprinkler pipe corrosion, supporting system reliability and reducing lifecycle maintenance challenges.

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“Many of the projects being designed across Saudi Arabia today are expected to operate for decades. The challenge isn’t simply meeting today’s fire strategy requirements.

It’s ensuring that fire alarm, voice evacuation and Ahmed Sultan communication systems can adapt as buildings evolve, Country Sales Manager, KSA occupancies change and operational requirements develop over time.”

FIRE MIDDLE EAST | ISSUE 70 | 61

THE BUILDING DOESN’T NEED MORE ALARMS. IT NEEDS BETTER COMMUNICATION.

EV ZOACUA NE TI 1 ON

EVA ZONCUATIO E2 N

DETECTION IDENTIFIES THE HAZARD. COMMUNICATION GUIDES THE RESPONSE.

EVACU ZONE ATION 3

The Potter IPA-4000V combines fire detection, integrated voice evacuation and software-driven logic to help high-rise and hospitality buildings respond predictably when it matters most.

Phased evacuation by zone Integrated voice communication Software-driven cause and effect Scalable architecture for complex buildings IntelliViewTM configuration and management tools

IPA-4000V INTEGRATED VOICE PLATFORM Designed for High-Rise, Hospitality and Mixed-Use Developments

Learn more: customerserviceme@potterglobaltech.com Dedicated to Fire. Trusted for Life.

FIRE SUPPRESSION | THERMAL IMAGING

Catching the fire before it starts Stuart Phythian, Regional Director, FireDos Middle East, shares an introduction to coupled thermal imaging IR systems with fire suppression

Industrial fire protection has, for most of its history, begun at the moment a flame appears. A detector sees the fire, a panel raises the alarm, and a suppression system discharges. The whole chain starts after combustion, by which point the question is no longer whether a fire will happen but how much it will cost to control. Here, we address radiant-energy fire detection, the family that senses the heat and light of a developing fire, rather than gas or smoke detection, which work on different principles. This approach worked when hazards were predictable and suppression was fixed: A sprinkler over a known risk, a deluge system over a fuel tank. The weakness shows when the hazard does not stay where it is supposed to, or when the most dangerous phase happens before any flame appears. Two sectors now expose that weakness daily, and they do it in opposite ways: Battery energy storage and waste.

Heat before flame: The battery problem

A lithium-ion cell entering thermal runaway doesn’t start with a flame. It heats up and the cell undergoes a selfsustaining reaction, venting gas and rising in temperature. If that heat is not removed, it propagates to the next cell and the next battery and/or container. By the time there is open fire, propagation is under way and suppression applied then does little to stop it. The decisive act is earlier, during the temperature rise, before ignition, and is the phase a flame detector cannot see because there is no flame yet to detect. The standards have

Interception in practice: the monitor moves to the identified position and cools a smouldering pile inside a waste bunker, while the camera scans the rest of the facility. Source: ACEDES.

started to recognise this. NFPA 855, the standard for stationary energy storage, named thermal imaging explicitly in its 2026 edition, where the previous edition was far narrower, and UL 9540A underpins it as the test method for thermal runaway propagation.

The unpredictable hazard: Waste

Waste facilities present the opposite problem. Where a battery fire is hidden in its early phase, a waste fire is hidden in its location. A tipping hall or refuse-derived fuel store is a large open volume where the next ignition could occur anywhere: Spontaneous combustion in compacted material, a discarded lithium battery in the domestic stream, or a leakage of reactive mixed chemicals. Material recovery

facilities are among the most frequently fire-affected industrial sites anywhere, and the incidence is rising as more batteries enter the waste stream. Fixed suppression cannot cover this efficiently, because you cannot put a sprinkler over every square metre of a tipping floor and expect it to find a smouldering pocket two bays away. The hazard moves and the protection has to be able to move with it.

Closing the loop: From detection to interception

The technology that answers both problems works on a simple principle.

A thermal imaging IR system scans the protected area continuously, identifying a heat anomaly regardless of its cause, before flame. Instead of sending that

FIRE MIDDLE EAST | ISSUE 70 | 63

FIRE SUPPRESSION | THERMAL IMAGING

Differentiating between a fire and an exhaust: the system identifies and discounts non-fire heat sources, vehicle exhausts, hot brakes, sunlight and reflections, while the thermal view picks out the genuine hotspot. Source: ACEDES.

information only to an alarm panel, the system passes the coordinates of the hotspot to a controller, which drives a remote-controlled extinguishing monitor to that exact position and delivers a targeted water jet to cool the source.

The monitor aims at the threat rather than to a predefined zone, which means earlier intervention, far less water and far less collateral damage. In a battery installation it means cooling a container in early runaway before propagation, and in a waste hall it means reaching a smouldering pocket before it becomes a fire that closes the facility. The principle is the same across industry sectors: Detect the heat, locate it and cool it, before there is a fire to fight.

The false-alarm problem, and the honest position on ‘intelligence’

Any detection system that cries wolf will eventually be switched off. This is the single most common reason early-warning systems fail in practice: The operators lose trust in the alarms, mute them and the protection becomes decorative. A thermal system on a busy site will see sunlight on metal, the hot exhaust of a passing loader, the reflection off glass. A system that cannot tell these apart from a developing fire is worse than useless, because the operator learns to ignore it.

The answer is signature handling: The system recognises the heat patterns that are not fires, applies confirmation logic before it acts, and allows defined areas to be excluded or tested independently.

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A word of caution on language, because the industry has earned some scepticism.

Many systems are now marketed as AI or ‘self-learning’, and in most cases what sits behind the label is a large library of pre-loaded signatures and threshold logic. That can be very good, but it is not learning in any meaningful sense, and the honest measure of one of these systems is not the marketing term attached to it, but whether it reliably tells a fire from a hightemperature vehicle exhaust and goes on doing so as site conditions change.

Where the standards sit, and where the technology has gone

Flame detector (Radiant Energy sensing) approval was built around one question: Is there a flame, and has the panel been told. FM Approvals evaluates radiantenergy detectors under Approval Standard 3260, dividing the field into flame detectors and spark or ember detectors, with video-based units under a parallel standard, 3232. Both describe a device that sees a fire already in progress, then signals a panel. The UAE Fire and Life Safety Code of Practice inherits the same logic, defaulting detection to NFPA 72.

There is no category for a system that detects a rising heat signature before flame, and none for a detector whose output is anything other than an alarm, so a camera that locates a sub-ignition hotspot and aims a monitor at it has no standard to refer it to. It is approved as a flame or video-image detector, a classification that describes the sensor it

is built from rather than the job it performs.

NFPA 855 naming thermal imaging is the first real crack in that wall, and the wider framework has not yet followed.

The Middle East requirement, and where this is heading

For industrial and oil and gas facilities across the region, approval is not optional and the conditions are particularly hazardous. A system must satisfy the Authority Having Jurisdiction, which in the UAE means alignment with the Fire and Life Safety Code of Practice and Civil Defence acceptance, and increasingly it has to function in or around potentially explosive atmospheres, which brings hazardous-area certification for the electrical equipment on top of the fireperformance approval. This raises the bar usefully, filtering out systems that perform under carefully controlled test conditions but cannot be certified for the environment where the client needs them. A coupled thermal-imaging and suppression system can hold full FM and Civil Defence approval today, certified under the flame-detector standards that exist, while delivering well beyond the minimum those standards describe. The hazards have changed, the technology has been solved by moving the point of intervention earlier, and the standards are following but slowly, so a buyer who waits for the rulebook to catch up will be protected only to yesterday’s requirement. firedos.com

Fighting fires before they become a fire

■ VISUALIZING HEAT SOURCES – FIGHTING THEM IN A TARGETED AND AUTOMATED WAY INFRARED CAMERA AND FIREFIGHTING MONITORS www.firedos.com

ACTIVE FIRE SUPPRESSION | CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

AIMED AT THE HAZARD Mark Fessenden, Managing Director and CEO of the International Fire Suppression Alliance (IFSA), looks at understanding NFPA 15 and how water spray fixed systems protect the region’s oil, gas, and power infrastructure Across the Gulf and the wider Middle East, the facilities that carry the regional economy concentrate enormous value, and enormous fuel, within a small footprint. Refineries, gas processing trains, tank farms, petrochemical plants and the power infrastructure that supports them present concentrated, high-hazard fire risks that general building fire protection was never designed to address.

The protection that answers this risk is the water spray fixed system, governed by NFPA 15. Around a power transformer, a bank of storage tanks, a cooling tower or a run of process piping, a fixed arrangement of pipe and open nozzles aimed directly at the equipment performs work a traditional sprinkler system cannot. A water spray system can be designed to meet any of four distinct objectives, and the objective the designer selects determines the entire installation.

66 | FIRE MIDDLE EAST | ISSUE 70

Objective 1: Extinguishment

The first objective is extinguishment, and the method depends entirely on the fuel. Surface cooling lowers the burning material below the temperature that sustains combustion, while a sufficiently intense fire can be smothered by the steam the spray generates.

Liquids that do not mix with water can be controlled through a temporary non-flammable emulsion at the surface, those miscible with water can be diluted until they will no longer burn, and dense materials such as tar and asphalt can be held under a continuous film of water.

Objective 2: Control

The second objective is control of burning, which applies wherever extinguishment by an automatic system is not practical.

In oil and gas service this is common, and the goal becomes containing the fire so that the fuel can burn off safely, a leak can be isolated, or the fire team can finish the work. The classic candidates are loading and unloading racks, pumps and

ACTIVE FIRE SUPPRESSION | CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

“Spray nozzles are the working end of the system, highly versatile and, above all, directional.” compressors, pressurised liquid and gas releases, and pool fires inside a tank dike, situations in which the fuel cannot be stopped instantly, or in which extinguishing the flame would only release unburned and possibly explosive vapour.

Objective 3: Exposure protection

The third objective, and the most common reason these systems are installed, is exposure protection, in which the system does not engage the main fire at all. Water applied to the surface of a nearby asset intercepts the radiant and convective heat from the fire, and the temperature rise of the water and the steam it forms carry that energy away, so the heat transmitted into the equipment is reduced to a fraction of what it would otherwise be. On a refinery or gas plant, the failure of a single vessel, pump or pipe rack can escalate a contained incident into a site-wide emergency, so holding equipment below a damaging temperature is often of greater value than attacking the flames.

Objective 4: Mitigation

The fourth objective is flammable vapour mitigation, a prevention measure that acts before any fire exists. During a spill or leak of flammable liquid or gas, water spray can dissolve, dilute, disperse or cool the material until it is no longer able to ignite, and where the concern is a drifting vapour cloud, the work depends on gas and

vapour detection to open the system before ignition.

Applications within the Middle East

Four applications dominate the regional landscape. The electrical transformer is the most familiar. Filled with mineral oil, a transformer that fails can throw burning oil across a wide area, and a water spray system blankets the unit and its surroundings to cool the case and supports while the oil fire is brought under control. The spray must be kept off energised bushings and surge devices, and the nozzles and piping must hold the electrical clearances the live parts demand.

Flammable liquid storage tanks present a second and ever-present hazard. Across the region’s tank farms, water spray cools the shell of a burning or exposed tank to slow the boiling of its contents, to guard against rupture, and to protect neighbouring tanks within the same dike.

Cooling towers are a third application, and one easily underestimated. Many are built with combustible fill and structural members, and a tower fire can be intense and difficult to reach, taking critical cooling capacity offline at the worst moment, so directional nozzles wet the fill and framing to bring the fire under control.

The fourth and broadest application is the process area itself, the pumps, compressors, vessels, pipe racks and loading facilities where flammable liquids and gases are handled under pressure. Here, water spray serves more than one objective at once, cooling equipment against an exposure fire and mitigating vapour before it can reach an ignition source.

In every case the protection is shaped to the asset rather than to the enclosure around it.

Water spray fixed systems

The hardware reflects this targeted purpose. Spray nozzles are the working end of the system, highly versatile and, above all, directional. A nozzle can be aimed at almost any angle and set to a chosen pattern, from a broad fan to a tight cone, which lets a designer wrap a transformer or a tank in water from several sides, and because no fixed coverage area applies, each layout is worked out for its own circumstances. Almost all of these nozzles are open, because almost all water spray systems are deluge systems: A deluge valve holds back the supply until a separate detection system trips it, at which point every nozzle floods at once.

Detection may use heat, smoke or gas detectors, manual stations or a pilot line.

The NFPA contribution

NFPA 15 also governs how a system is proved on the day it is installed, through flushing, hydrostatic testing and an operating test in which every nozzle is observed to confirm its pattern reaches the surface it protects. Responsibility then passes to NFPA 25, which sets the routine inspection, testing and maintenance that hold the system ready for decades, work that carries added weight in the dusty, high-temperature and corrosive coastal environments of the region. NFPA 15 builds and accepts the system, and NFPA 25 sustains it.

Water spray fixed systems occupy a narrow role, and an essential one. Where the threat is not a room of ordinary combustibles but a single high-value, high-hazard asset, a transformer, a storage tank, a cooling tower, or a process unit moving hydrocarbons under pressure, the protection that answers it is targeted water, delivered at the density and location the asset requires and designed for the specific case rather than the space around it.

For the oil, gas and power infrastructure of this region, that is the contribution NFPA 15 makes.

Mark Fessenden is a globally recognised authority on active fire protection systems with more than 30 years of experience in technology development, codes, standards and management within the fire protection manufacturing industry.

FIRE MIDDLE EAST | ISSUE 70 | 67

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FIRE SAFETY | UNSTABLE INFRASTRUCTURE

Safeguarding systems in crisis

Fire safety performance depends not only on compliance, but on how well systems withstand unstable power, site conditions and legacy infrastructure, according to Youmna Zod ElChehimi, Operations Director, ZOD Security In 2026, Lebanon is rebuilding. Again.

The conflict that escalated in March 2026 has killed more than 600 people, displaced over 800,000 and damaged or destroyed tens of thousands of structures, adding to wreckage never fully repaired after previous conflicts.

The World Bank has committed US$250 million to reconstruction, but speed of

70 | FIRE MIDDLE EAST | ISSUE 70

rebuilding and quality of rebuilding are two very different things. For fire safety professionals, the question is the same as always: will life safety infrastructure be embedded from the start, or treated as an afterthought?

Those installing and maintaining fire and safety systems in Lebanon for about 50 years, like ZOD Security, rarely ever

have the luxury of stable conditions.

Power cuts, voltage fluctuation, ageing distribution boards, buildings that were never designed to support modern safety technology: for us, these are the baseline. That experience is what this article draws on.

In August 2024, Electricite du Liban ran out of fuel and the entire country lost state

FIRE SAFETY | UNSTABLE INFRASTRUCTURE

power. Hospitals switched to generators.

Airports, water pumping stations and prisons operated without mains electricity for more than 24 hours (Human Rights Watch, 2024). For any building relying on standard mains-dependent fire alarm continuity, that moment was a silent test, and most infrastructure was not built to pass it.

When compliance is not enough: Beirut 2020

The clearest proof of what non-compliance costs remains the Beirut port explosion of 4 August 2020. On that day, 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate detonated, killing at least 218 people and injuring more than 7,000. It was a fire safety failure:

hazardous material stored for six years without the safeguards NFPA 400 exists to enforce.

Guy Colonna, Engineering Director at NFPA, described what proper compliance required: “Chapter 11 imposes additional safeguards when you exceed 1,000 pounds. Clearly there should have been increased safeguards: certain construction requirements, no incompatible materials, separation distances from adjacent structures and populated areas.” (NFPA, 2020).

The power problem no one documents

One of the most consistent findings from our maintenance work is that recurring

faults are more often infrastructure problems than equipment failures.

Voltage instability, undersized power supplies and poorly maintained batteries cause nuisance alarms and communication faults that get logged as detector issues, until someone maps the electrical environment and finds the real source.

NFPA 72 requires backup power to sustain a fire alarm system for at least 24 hours in standby, followed by five minutes in full alarm. In environments with frequent outages, that is the floor.

A site-specific power assessment before installation or retrofit is what raises it, covering voltage instability, outage frequency and generator transfer behaviour. The teams who understand

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FIRE SAFETY | UNSTABLE INFRASTRUCTURE

“Even a well-designed system loses value if site teams cannot tell a transient fault from a real fire condition” their environment early can act on it.

The ones who discover problems mid-fault are already behind.

False alarms: Trend them, do not reset them

False alarms erode trust. Site teams hesitate. Zones get disabled. The system installed to save lives starts working against that purpose. We have seen this on sites where alarms were repeatedly silenced rather than investigated.

The cause is rarely the detector alone.

Dust, humidity and power disturbance combine to create patterns that look random but are consistent. In our experience, a repeated issue in one zone almost always points to something systematic: airflow, cable degradation, a contamination source nearby. Maintained fault histories are what allow teams to identify those patterns before reliability collapses across the site.

Codes and conditions: Bridging the gap

The UAE’s Hassantuk mandate, effective January 2024, reflects a regional recognition that passive compliance falls short. By requiring smart, monitored fire alarm systems in all villas with fines for non-compliance, it shifts focus from installed hardware to real-time

72 | FIRE MIDDLE EAST | ISSUE 70

monitoring and fast response: the intent that should drive specification anywhere infrastructure is constrained.

It also helps to distinguish risk from uncertainty. Risk (outages, dust, poor power quality) can be anticipated and engineered around. Uncertainty (sudden infrastructure failure, access constraints) calls for operational flexibility instead.

As Ian Bremmer noted in the Harvard Business Review, “The greatest risk is when shocks are likely, imminent, and have widespread consequences.” (HBR, 2005). Where full modernisation cannot happen at once, the priority should be the most critical functions: alarm continuity, pump reliability and suppression release logic.

Treat retrofits as investigations

Legacy buildings are where retrofits most often fail. At ZOD, we have been asked to commission systems onto degraded cabling, unlabelled circuits and documentation that bore no relation to what was actually installed. New equipment on a compromised foundation defers the failure, it does not prevent it.

In reconstruction contexts like Lebanon today, the temptation to move fast is real.

Cable testing, load verification and causeand-effect testing are essential steps.

They are what separate a functioning

system from one that looks functioning… until the day it matters.

Training and decision speed

Even a well-designed system loses value if site teams cannot tell a transient fault from a real fire condition. Training and clear procedures matter as much as hardware. Decision speed matters equally. In Lebanon, we have seen long reporting chains delay responses that a clearer escalation path would have resolved in minutes. Fire systems are only as effective as the people who act on them.

A resilience mindset

As Theodore Levitt famously argued, people do not buy a quarter-inch drill; they are looking for a quarter-inch hole.

No one buys a fire system. They are buying safety. A system that is installed but fails under the conditions it actually faces has not delivered the product at all.

Resilient fire protection depends on three habits: design for the actual environment, maintain based on evidence, and prioritise continuity of critical functions. Fire systems are expected to perform on the worst day, not only on commissioning day. That is where performance is won. zodsecurity.com

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The result? Fewer false alarms. Greater confidence in every alert. So when it sounds, people act.

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Product Spotlight: Soteria UL Multi-Criteria Detector – Smarter Fire Detection for Demanding Environments False alarms remain one of the biggest challenges in fire detection, but in today’s complex buildings, simply turning down sensitivity isn’t an option. The industry instead needs smarter, more balanced solutions. That’s where Apollo’s Soteria UL multi-criteria detector (SA5150750APO) comes in, bringing together intelligent sensing and robust design to deliver reliable performance without compromise.

Developed in response to evolving UL 7th Edition requirements, the Soteria UL range has been engineered with the goal of preventing nuisance alarms while maintaining fast, dependable fire detection. This is particularly relevant as modern construction methods and materials continue to change fire dynamics, making accurate detection more critical than ever.

At its heart is a multi-criteria sensing capability, which combines optical smoke detection with heat sensing. This allows the device to identify both fast-flaming fires and slow, smouldering events more effectively than single-sensor solutions, without increasing susceptibility to false triggers. It can be switched to detect, smoke, heat or a combination of both.

One of its most notable features is the advanced optical chamber design.

By drawing smoke in from the outer edges of the detector, it improves airflow and enables faster detection. A patented venting system also helps manage pressure differences between ceiling voids and occupied spaces, ensuring smoke can reach the sensor even in challenging airflow conditions.

Environmental resilience is key, especially in varying climates where dust, insects or airborne contamination can trigger false alarms. To address this, Apollo incorporates a serpentine air inlet and fine mesh barrier, alongside lightabsorbing internal surfaces to minimise optical interference to help maintain stable operation over time.

Consistency is equally important in large systems, and here Apollo’s precision manufacturing and calibration processes stand out. Each detector is individually

measured to ensure operation within a tightly controlled sensitivity range, reducing variability across installations.

All of this is supported by intelligent signal processing, which continuously evaluates sensor data to differentiate between real fires and everyday environmental factors. The result is a detector that responds quickly when it matters… without unnecessary disruption.

For specifiers and installers, the Soteria UL range offers a compelling mix of advanced detection, reduced false alarms and dependable performance in demanding environments. It is a smarter evolution of fire detection, built for the realities of modern life.

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FIRE MIDDLE EAST | ISSUE 70 | 75

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ENGINEERING THE FIRST 15 SECONDS Roger Barrett James, Executive Vice President, Unifire AB, considers how digital engineering is transforming Autonomous Robotic Fire Suppression Systems (ARFSS) Every fire protection system is ultimately judged by a single moment: the first few seconds after a fire begins. Those critical seconds determine whether a small incident is quickly contained or develops into a major emergency. Yet the effectiveness of those first moments is not determined when the fire starts — it is determined months earlier, during the engineering and design of the protection system.

As industrial facilities become larger and more complex, so too have the systems designed to protect them.

Autonomous Robotic Fire Suppression Systems (ARFSS), such as FlameRanger™

by Unifire AB, integrate robotic nozzles, multiple fire detection technologies and distributed control systems into a single coordinated fire protection system.

Designing these systems requires far more than selecting equipment and placing it on a drawing.

Designing beyond the drawing board

The engineering challenge is no longer simply determining whether a robotic nozzle can reach a particular location.

Engineers must evaluate suppression overlap, detector integration, autonomous nozzle selection, water utilisation and the behaviour of the complete system as an integrated network.

The answer lies in digital engineering (Figure 1). To support the engineering of every FlameRanger project, Unifire has developed a proprietary digital engineering environment that allows complete Autonomous Robotic Fire Suppression Systems to be designed, analysed, simulated, optimised and documented in a virtual environment before installation begins. Facilities are modelled in three dimensions, enabling Unifire’s engineers to optimise nozzle reach, detector visibility, suppression coverage and blind spots before installation begins.

Figure 1. FlameRanger™ Architect digital engineering model illustrating detector placement, robotic nozzle coordination, suppression trajectories and obstacle analysis used to optimise an Autonomous Robotic Fire Suppression System before installation.

The real value of digital engineering lies in enabling better engineering decisions. Alternative layouts, detector configurations, suppression strategies and levels of redundancy can be compared objectively in minutes rather than days, making it practical to optimise every project instead of settling for the first design that satisfies the minimum requirements. Owners and consulting engineers can clearly understand the technical advantages of different design approaches before equipment is purchased or installed.

Testing performance before installation

Simulation adds another important dimension. Virtual fire scenarios allow engineers to verify system response before commissioning. Detection devices identify the simulated fire, control logic selects the appropriate robotic nozzles, and the resulting suppression strategy can be evaluated and refined in the virtual environment before installation.

Because every drawing, hydraulic calculation, detector layout and bill

of materials is generated from the same engineering model, consistency is maintained while documentation is produced faster and with fewer opportunities for error.

This engineering philosophy has shaped the development of FlameRanger™ Autonomous Robotic Fire Suppression Systems. Every FlameRanger project is now digitally engineered from the earliest proposal stage, enabling Unifire’s engineers to optimise detector placement, suppression overlap, network response and overall system performance before the first component is installed.

As Autonomous Robotic Fire Suppression Systems continue to evolve, the application of digital engineering — such as that now employed by Unifire — will become essential to delivering safer, more reliable and more effective fire protection. When the first flame appears, there should be no uncertainty, no guesswork and no delay. The response has already been engineered. unifire.com

FIRE MIDDLE EAST | ISSUE 70 | 77

Safety and reassurance, always in reach.

Deafgard - The fire alarm for the deaf & hard of hearing.

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Deafgard: The alarm for the deaf and hard of hearing Guest safety is a top priority for hotels, and providing inclusive solutions is essential in today’s hospitality landscape. Fireco’s Deafgard is an innovative device designed to protect deaf and hard of hearing individuals during emergencies, offering peace of mind to both guests and hotel operators.

Deafgard seamlessly combines functionality, portability and compliance, making it a vital component of modern safety protocols.

Deafgard is a battery or mains-powered unit designed for bedside use. It includes a vibration pad placed under the pillow, a flashing light and a screen that displays the word “FIRE” when an alarm is detected.

If the fire alarm sounds, the pad vibrates and the lights flash, ensuring immediate and clear notification for guests who cannot rely on audible alerts.

A portable, cost-effective solution One of Deafgard’s greatest advantages is its portability. Unlike hardwired systems, Deafgard requires no installation or integration with a hotel’s fire alarm system. This makes it an ideal solution for properties of all types, whether new builds or heritage hotels. Guests can take the device to their room and set it up independently, ensuring their safety while maintaining their privacy.

This simplicity also translates into cost savings for hotel operators, as there’s no need for expensive retrofitting or complex installation processes. Additionally, Deafgard complies with elements of the Equality Act 2010, helping hotels meet their legal obligations to provide an inclusive environment.

Enhancing guest confidence

For deaf or hard of hearing guests, staying in a hotel equipped with Deafgard offers reassurance. It provides independence and ensures guests are alerted in emergencies without the need for intervention by staff or strangers.

“For someone who is deaf or hard of hearing, a stranger coming into your hotel room to alert you of an emergency could be distressing. Thankfully we found

Deafgard. Our guests can take the device to their room as it is easily portable, and they can relax knowing they will be alerted automatically in the event of a fire” explained Ben Hewitt, Hotel Manager.

Operational benefits for hotels

Deafgard also streamlines hotel operations. Its portability allows staff to allocate devices to specific rooms when needed, and its straightforward design makes maintenance simple.

“The Deafgard unit provides our hotel customers with a reliable solution that ensures deaf and hard-of-hearing guests will be alerted if a fire breaks out” shared Babette Potter, Sales Administrator.

With its focus on safety, inclusivity, and practicality, Deafgard from Fireco is a valuable investment for any hotel. fireco.uk 01273 320650

FIRE MIDDLE EAST | ISSUE 70 | 79

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EMERGENCY PLANNING | ASSISTED EVACUATION

THE BLIND SPOT Vinay Deshpande looks at the most overlooked gap in emergency planning: Assisted evacuation In modern fire and life safety engineering, significant progress has been made in building codes, evacuation strategies, fire suppression systems and performancebased design. Yet one critical issue remains under-addressed across many projects and emergency response plans: The assisted evacuation of Persons of Determination and mobility-impaired occupants.

Across the Middle East, cities are developing increasingly complex built environments — supertall towers, transport hubs, airports, mixed-use developments, healthcare facilities and high-density public infrastructure. Many of these projects achieve impressive levels of code compliance and technological sophistication. However, the practical realities of evacuating vulnerable occupants during an emergency are often not fully considered beyond minimum regulatory requirements.

This is where the gap between compliance and capability becomes most visible.

Compliance does not always mean capability

In many projects, assisted evacuation is addressed through standard provisions such as refuge areas, evacuation chairs,

wider staircases, accessible exits and emergency communication systems.

These measures are important and form an essential baseline for inclusive life safety design.

However, one question often remains insufficiently answered: Who will actually assist vulnerable occupants during a real emergency, and how effectively can that assistance be delivered under stress, congestion, smoke conditions and time pressure?

In practice, emergencies rarely unfold in the controlled manner assumed during design calculations.

Occupants may delay evacuation, wait for instructions, attempt to contact family members, or assume an alarm is false. In high-rise buildings, people may still move toward lift lobbies despite instructions not to use elevators. For elderly occupants, wheelchair users, visually impaired persons, hospital patients, children or people with temporary injuries, evacuation depends not only on building design but also on human coordination, trained assistance and operational decision-making.

This is why assisted evacuation cannot be treated only as a design compliance item. It must be treated as an operational life safety strategy.

High-rise buildings and the vertical evacuation challenge

The challenge becomes even more significant in high-rise buildings.

Traditional evacuation strategies rely heavily on stair-based evacuation, assuming occupants can descend multiple floors under emergency conditions. While this may be reasonable for able-bodied occupants over limited distances, it can be extremely difficult for mobility-impaired occupants.

Evacuation chairs are often proposed as the default solution. Yet many organisations do not realistically assess the number of trained personnel, physical effort, stair management, rest points and communication support required to move even one wheelchair user down multiple floors during a high-stress incident.

A compliant building may therefore still face a serious operational gap if the assisted evacuation process has not been tested, resourced and understood by those expected to implement it.

The role of evacuation lifts

One important development in modern evacuation strategy is the increasing acceptance of evacuation lifts.

Historically, occupants were universally instructed not to use elevators during

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EMERGENCY PLANNING | ASSISTED EVACUATION

“A building should not only be capable of passing design review. It should be capable of supporting all occupants during a real emergency.” fires. However, advances in protected lift lobbies, fire-resisting construction, emergency power supplies, smoke control, water protection and firefighter lift technology are changing this approach.

For supertall buildings, healthcare facilities, airports and transport infrastructure, evacuation lifts can provide a practical assisted evacuation strategy where stair descent is unrealistic.

However, their success depends on more than engineering design.

Key operational questions must be resolved before an incident occurs.

Who controls the lift operation? How are vulnerable occupants prioritised? How is communication maintained with waiting occupants? What is the fallback strategy if lift use becomes unavailable? How are evacuation lift operations coordinated with first responders?

Unless these questions are answered through procedures, training and drills, the presence of evacuation lifts alone does not guarantee evacuation capability.

Airports, transport infrastructure and public facilities

Assisted evacuation is especially important in airports, metro stations and large public facilities. These environments accommodate constantly changing occupant profiles, including elderly travellers, wheelchair users, families with children, international passengers, persons with sensory impairments and people unfamiliar with the building.

In such facilities, evacuation is not simply an engineering exercise. It is a large-scale human management challenge.

Design teams may provide compliant exit widths, smoke control systems and alarm arrangements, but operators must still manage communication, crowd movement, passenger assistance, staff deployment and coordination with

82 | FIRE MIDDLE EAST | ISSUE 70

emergency responders. The more complex the facility, the more important it becomes to connect fire engineering design with operational readiness.

A practical framework for assisted evacuation

To close this gap, assisted evacuation should be addressed through a practical framework, not only through drawings and code checklists.

First, buildings should identify likely assisted evacuation needs based on occupancy type. Residential towers, hotels, hospitals, offices, airports and public venues all have different occupant profiles, and these profiles should be reflected in the emergency plan.

Second, assisted evacuation procedures should assign clear responsibilities. It should be known who will assist, who will communicate with occupants waiting in refuge areas, who will coordinate evacuation lift use, and who will liaise with first responders.

Third, evacuation equipment should be selected based on actual operational requirements. Evacuation chairs, communication systems, refuge intercoms and lift controls must be suitable for the building height, staffing levels and expected occupant needs.

Fourth, emergency drills should include assisted evacuation scenarios.

Many drills confirm alarm activation and general evacuation flow, but do not test how vulnerable occupants are identified, assisted, moved or communicated with during an incident.

Fifth, assisted evacuation arrangements should be reviewed whenever the building changes. Fit-outs, occupancy changes, refurbishment works, new operators, changes in staffing levels and changes in use can all affect evacuation capability.

Finally, training must be continuous.

Security teams, facility managers, fire wardens, hotel operators, airport staff and emergency response teams should understand the assisted evacuation strategy before they are expected to perform it during an emergency.

Bridging design and operations

One of the biggest challenges in the industry is the disconnect between design-stage compliance and operational readiness.

Fire and life safety consultants may produce compliant evacuation strategies, smoke control analyses and occupant movement calculations. But unless these strategies are translated into procedures, staff training, drills and incident command protocols, their real-world effectiveness remains uncertain.

True evacuation resilience requires coordination between fire engineers, architects, building operators, facility managers, accessibility specialists, emergency responders and authorities having jurisdiction.

A building should not only be capable of passing design review. It should be capable of supporting all occupants during a real emergency.

Be prepared

The effectiveness of any fire and life safety strategy should ultimately be measured not only by compliance certificates or design calculations, but by its ability to protect people under real emergency conditions.

Assisted evacuation remains one of the most overlooked yet operationally critical aspects of emergency planning.

As buildings grow taller, infrastructure becomes more complex and occupant diversity continues to increase, the industry must move beyond theoretical compliance and place greater emphasis on practical evacuation capability.

Because in a real emergency, life safety is not defined by what is written in the design report. It is defined by whether every occupant can actually reach safety.

Vinay Deshpande is Founder and Managing Director of Vitruvius Fire Safety Consulting FZ LLC,. He has over 30 years of international experience in fire protection engineering, code consultancy and life safety strategy.

TAKE CHARGE

with the new LUKAS E4 rescue range

That is what shaped the new LUKAS E4 range. A next-generation ecosystem of rescue tools built around the operator and engineered for the demands of modern extrication.

More than a product launch, E4 represents a new approach to rescue performance.

By combining intelligent connectivity, advanced ergonomics, integrated safety systems and greater power, the range gives crews greater control, clearer operational insight and the confidence to act decisively in critical moments.

The challenge of modern rescue Modern rescue operations are becoming increasingly complex. Ultra-highstrength steels, reinforced safety structures and evolving EV technology create new challenges for crews attending road traffic collisions.

At the same time, responders must work faster and more safely in unpredictable environments where tight access, unstable structures, poor visibility and extreme weather can impact operations within seconds.

In these conditions, rescue tools need

Built around the operator Every aspect of the E4 range has been designed to improve usability, visibility and situational awareness during live rescue scenarios. Enhanced ergonomics, intelligent alerts and integrated illumination systems all help crews maintain control in demanding conditions.

more than raw power. Operators also need precision, control and reliable feedback.

The E4 range was developed specifically to meet these demands. Every cutter, spreader, combi tool and ram operates on a single intelligent platform, creating a consistent user experience across the portfolio.

Familiar controls, intuitive handling and seamless functionality help reduce complexity and improve operational confidence when time is critical.

A major innovation is the new LUKAS intuitive dashboard - the most advanced operator interface ever integrated into a rescue tool.

With a display that is twice the size of its predecessor and LED technology four times brighter, operators can instantly access critical information, even in smoke, rain, darkness or high-noise environments.

Real-time stroke indicators show remaining opening width or extension travel, helping crews maintain precision during complex extrications.

An intelligent three-stage roll warning system provides escalating visual and acoustic alerts when tool positioning becomes unsafe, improving operator safety and overall control during rescue operations.

One range. More capability Across the entire range, the focus is not simply on force, but controlled performance. Helping operators work accurately and safely in the most challenging rescue environments.

E4 cutters combine high cutting force with

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strength steel. Wider blade openings improve access and reduce the risk of blade twist, while integrated light bars improve visibility in low-light conditions.

combine cutting and spreading capability in a single agile solution, ideal for confinedspace operations and rapid intervention.

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and structural movement.

Built-in geofencing and on-tool charging Asset management is another key part of the E4 ecosystem. Integrated geofencing technology provides continuous location awareness and instant alerts if equipment moves outside its designated zone. Because the technology is built directly into the tool, there is no need for external hardware or additional infrastructure.

If a tool leaves its approved area, highintensity LED alerts activate immediately, audible alarms sound and designated personnel receive instant notifications via SMS or email. Location updates continue every 30 seconds with a battery installed, while hourly tracking remains available for up to 10 days without battery connection.

At the centre of every E4 tool is a purpose-built LUKAS rescue battery.

Fully sealed to IP68 standards, the battery is designed to withstand water, mud, fuel, hydraulic oil and extreme operating temperatures. Integrated on-tool charging helps ensure tools remain deployment-ready while reducing downtime and eliminating frequent battery swaps.

Connect to Captium connectivity TM

One of the most significant developments within the E4 range is its integration with Captium™ technology, an advanced connectivity platform that transforms every tool into a live source of operational data.

Each E4 tool continuously transmits diagnostics, performance information and system status to a secure cloud-based platform, giving departments unprecedented visibility across their rescue fleet.

This allows teams to move beyond reactive servicing and manual inspections towards predictive maintenance strategies that maximise uptime and operational readiness.

Before deployment, crews know tools are charged and operational-ready. During incidents, operators receive live performance insight and intelligent alerts that support faster, safer decision making. After incidents, usage data and operational trends can be reviewed to strengthen training, optimise workflows and improve long-term readiness.

A new benchmark in rescue performance The E4 range is more than a new generation of rescue tools. It represents a step-change in how rescue operations are supported, monitored and performed.

By combining advanced connectivity with operator-focused design, LUKAS has created a fully integrated rescue ecosystem built for today’s incidents and tomorrow’s challenges.

Operators need visibility.

Departments need readiness. Crews need confidence. E4 delivers all three.

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ENGINEERING | DEFENCE-IN-DEPTH

The science of layered fire safety Amer Al Merabi, Team Leader at Jensen Hughes, considers defence-in-depth in practice, from a Saudi Arabian perspective Fire and life safety engineering is fundamentally based on the principle of Defence-in-Depth, a systematic design philosophy that employs multiple independent and complementary layers of protection to reduce both the likelihood of fire occurrence and the consequences should a fire develop. Rather than relying on a single protective measure, Defencein-Depth recognises that no individual system, component or human action can be considered infallible. Consequently,

an acceptable level of fire safety is achieved through redundancy, diversity and independence between protective measures, ensuring that the failure of one layer does not result in catastrophic system failure.

Defence-in-Depth philosophy

This philosophy underpins virtually every modern fire and life safety code and standard. Prescriptive codes are often perceived as a collection of isolated

requirements, including automatic sprinkler systems, fire alarm systems, fire-resistance ratings, smoke control systems, emergency lighting and means of egress. In reality, these requirements are not independent obligations but interconnected components of a comprehensive risk management strategy.

Their collective purpose is to establish successive layers of defence that interrupt the progression of a fire from ignition through to its potential impact on life

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ENGINEERING | DEFENCE-IN-DEPTH

“This philosophy has become increasingly significant within mega-projects in the KSA” safety, property protection, environment, public safety and business continuity.

It is important to recognise that fire and life safety codes are not intended to prescribe solutions for every conceivable design scenario. The diversity of building uses, architectural forms, occupant characteristics, operational practices and emerging technologies makes such an objective neither practical nor achievable.

Instead, codes establish minimum performance objectives supported by multiple protective measures, each addressing a specific stage within the fire development process. This layered approach acknowledges the inherent uncertainties associated with fire events, including equipment failure, human error, maintenance deficiencies and unforeseen operating conditions.

Fire and life safety layered defence

From an engineering perspective, Defence-in-Depth can be considered as a sequence of independent barriers acting throughout the lifecycle of a fire event.

The first layer seeks to prevent ignition through appropriate building design, control of ignition sources, management of combustible materials and operational procedures. Should prevention fail, fire detection and occupant notification systems provide early warning to facilitate evacuation and initiate emergency response. Passive fire protection systems including compartmentation, structural fire resistance and protected escape routes restrict the spread of fire and smoke while maintaining tenable conditions for occupants. Active fire protection systems such as automatic sprinklers, water mist systems, gaseous suppression systems and smoke management systems then act to control or suppress fire growth. Finally, means of egress, emergency response planning and firefighter facilities provide the final layers of protection should the preceding barriers prove insufficient.

The effectiveness of this philosophy lies in the statistical improbability that all protective layers will fail simultaneously.

For a major fire incident to develop

88 | FIRE MIDDLE EAST | ISSUE 70

into a life-threatening event, numerous independent failures would typically need to occur concurrently. Even where one or more safeguards are compromised, the remaining layers continue to reduce the probability of escalation and mitigate the overall consequences. Defence-in-Depth therefore shifts the design objective from attempting to eliminate all risk – an impossible undertaking – to managing risk through resilience and redundancy.

Applying Defence-in-Depth

A common example of Defence-inDepth can be observed in the design of large mixed-use developments and giga projects across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where expansive atria, interconnected occupancies, high occupant loads and complex architectural features present challenges that extend beyond traditional prescriptive code provisions.

Consider a multi-storey mixed-use development comprising retail, offices, hospitality and entertainment spaces connected by a central atrium. Rather than relying solely on an automatic sprinkler system to achieve an acceptable level of fire safety, the design incorporates multiple independent layers of protection, each addressing a different stage of a potential fire event.

The first layer seeks to minimise the likelihood of ignition through appropriate electrical design, management of combustible materials and operational controls. Should ignition occur, an automatic fire detection and alarm system provides early warning to occupants and initiates emergency response procedures. Passive fire protection measures, including firerated compartmentation and protected exit enclosures, limit the spread of fire and smoke while maintaining tenable evacuation routes. Active fire protection systems, such as automatic sprinklers and dedicated smoke management systems, control fire growth and maintain smoke-free conditions within the atrium and escape paths. Simultaneously, emergency lighting, voice evacuation systems and carefully designed means of

egress facilitate the orderly evacuation of occupants, while firefighter access provisions and fire command facilities support emergency operations.

Importantly, these measures are not intended to function independently but as an integrated fire safety strategy.

Should one layer become impaired, for example a delayed sprinkler activation due to an obstruction or an open fire door reducing compartmentation, the remaining layers continue to provide protection by detecting the incident, limiting fire development, maintaining evacuation routes and supporting firefighting operations.

This layered approach is increasingly relevant throughout Saudi Arabia, where performance-based fire engineering is frequently adopted to accommodate innovative architectural designs while demonstrating compliance with the objectives of the Saudi Building Code. Defence-in-Depth therefore provides the engineering framework that enables designers to achieve resilient fire safety strategies, recognising that while individual systems may fail, the overall level of protection is maintained through the interaction of multiple independent safeguards.

Applicability within the Kingdom of Saudia Arabia

This philosophy has become increasingly significant within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as projects continue to increase in both scale and complexity. Vision 2030 developments encompass mega-scale mixed-use districts, supertall towers, underground transportation networks, airports, entertainment venues, healthcare facilities, industrial complexes and hyperscale data centres. Many of these developments incorporate architectural features and operational characteristics that extend beyond the assumptions traditionally considered by prescriptive building code, and as such Defence-inDepth becomes a more important item that needs to be addressed early on design, and maintained throughout the developments’ lifecycle.

Amer Al Merabi is a Licensed Professional Fire and Life Safety Engineer and Team Leader at Jensen Hughes. His areas of expertise include performance-based design, code compliance reviews, fire hazard assessments and audits for complex facilities.

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WATER MIST | INSTALLATION

Getting water mist right The International Water Mist Association looks at the importance of getting it right, when it comes to the installation of water mist systems “The installation of water mist fire protection systems is a highly specialised activity that must be undertaken by a competent and approved installation company” said Lee Haines, Sales Director at Fireworks Fire Protection Ltd., UK. He added: “It is imperative that the installer is an authorised partner or distributor of the original equipment manufacturer (OEM). This approval demonstrates that the installer has direct access to the OEM’s technical support, system components, and up to date design requirements.”

Approved installers are required to have completed OEM-led training and certification. This training ensures that engineers fully understand system design principles, hydraulic calculations, component selection, commissioning requirements and ongoing maintenance obligations. Certification provides assurance that the system will be installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s tested and approved methodology.

Prior to any system being offered for installation, the OEM must have undertaken comprehensive fire testing at an ISO accredited fire test laboratory. These full-scale fire tests form the basis of the system’s performance claims and are essential in demonstrating compliance with recognised standards. The test programme results are captured within a Design, Installation, Operation and Maintenance (DIOM) manual.

The DIOM defines the exact conditions under which the system has been proven to perform, including nozzle spacing, discharge characteristics, ceiling heights and the presence of obstructions such as beams, ductwork or services. Installers must strictly follow the DIOM to ensure that real world installations replicate the tested configuration.

Correct installation by an approved and trained contractor is therefore critical to system effectiveness, regulatory compliance and life safety.

More on water mist applications, standards, training and research on 7th and 8th October in Prague at the 25th International Water Mist Conference which is organised by the International Water Mist Association (IWMA). For more details visit: www.iwma.net/iwmc.

International Water Mist Association Poststrasse 33 (HBC) 20354 Hamburg, Germany +49 (0) 174 3013878 info@iwma.net www.iwma.net

25th International Water Mist Conference Prague, Czech Republic 7th and 8th October 2026

Programme out now! ... Get your ticket today!

www.iwma.net/iwmc

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INDUSTRY | INTERVIEW

A day in the life Faris Alzahrani takes time out to speak with Mohammed Aldajani, Director of Security, Safety and Occupational Health for a government entity, about his working life Tell us about a typical day

There’s nothing fixed about my daily routine. I assess current risks on all projects first thing, specifically impending schedule pressures that may affect safety decisions. I work directly with design and operations teams to identify patterns in recurring issues, rather than solely dealing with individual incidents.

I focus on improving how policies are applied in practice rather than in writing, particularly in cases where automation can eliminate errors by reducing the human aspect.

My favourite part of the day is actually being in the field. The benefits of being on-site will expose gaps that can’t be captured with reports: Temporary changes, undocumented workarounds and unverified assumptions.

What are the first two years like for a beginner?

The move from education to work is an unsettling one for many.

Young engineers soon discover that while codes should be adhered to literally, they require interpretation, prioritisation and professional judgment.

In many cases, you will have too little information to do your job properly, time constraints and competing needs of stakeholders.

Therefore, the main challenge is not so much knowing how to use the code as 1. Understanding the code’s intent, 2. Framing risks, and 3. Making defensible decisions.

Flexibility is a key requirement, but this flexibility should be based on a stable foundation rather than convenience.

What is the first thing you focus on when reviewing a project?

Life safety comes first.

I start with means of egress, not just from a compliance perspective, but from performance under real fire conditions:

1. Smoke movement; 2. Visibility levels; 3. Human behaviour under stress.

What are common mistakes among beginners?

Then I evaluate: 1. Detection systems (response speed and reliability); 2. Fire suppression systems; 3. Compartmentation effectiveness in delaying fire spread.

There is a phrase I repeat to colleagues: Do not please the client nor upset them.

The client here includes even senior management. Both reduce effectiveness.

The goal is not to approve or reject, but to ensure the client understands the risks.

When people understand consequences, they support the decision.

Compliance is the minimum. Readiness is the true measure of safety.

How do you make critical decisions under pressure?

Can you share an experience that influenced your approach?

In a high-rise hotel project we identified increased risk for guests with mobility impairments on upper floors due to reliance on refuge areas. The simplest solution was to restrict their stay to lower floors. Technically, it would reduce risk, but it creates inequality.

Instead, we: • Enhanced protection measures; • Developed evacuation strategies; • Achieved an equivalent level of safety for all.

This reinforced an important principle: Safety is not just about reducing risk, but distributing protection fairly.

What non-technical skills contributed to your success?

Understanding the intent of the code is more important than memorising its text.

This enables you to: 1. Develop alternative solutions when strict compliance is not possible.

2. Justify your decisions using engineering principles.

3. Adapt in existing buildings or constrained conditions.

In many retrofit projects, full compliance is not achievable. The value lies in achieving an equivalent, or better, level of safety with practical solutions.

Pressure reduces time, but predefined standards in mind helps significantly.

I rely on a clear framework: 1. What is the worst-case scenario?

2. Is the decision reversible?

3. What assumptions might be wrong?

Life safety always takes priority over business continuity.

How can someone start today, especially with AI?

Artificial intelligence is a powerful tool, but not a substitute for engineering judgement. It can support: 1. Data analysis; 2. Pattern recognition; 3. Efficiency improvement.

But it cannot fully grasp real-world context, human behaviour, or uncertainty.

Those who excel are the ones who: 1. Challenge AI outputs.

2. Verify them.

3. Use them as support, not a replacement, for decision-making.

What gives you satisfaction?

Simply: When people are returning to their families safely.

Faris Alzahrani is an NFPA-approved Training Instructor with 13+ years of experience in academic and industrial environments.

FIRE MIDDLE EAST | ISSUE 70 | 93

INDUSTRY MONITOR | EVENTS

2026–2027 October

November

January

April

7–8 October

10–12 November

29 November

12–14 January

27–29 April

25TH INTERNATIONAL WATER MIST CONFERENCE

THE FIRE SAFETY EVENT ASIA

SECURITY MIDDLE EAST CONFERENCE

INTERSEC GLOBAL

THE FIRE SAFETY EVENT

Sands Expo & Convention Centre, Singapore

Voco Hotel, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

iwma.net

safetysecurityasia.com

securitymiddleeastconference.com

12–14 October

18–20 November

30 November

FIREX EGYPT Egypt International Conference Centre

INTERSEC SAUDI ARABIA

FIRE MIDDLE EAST CONFERENCE

Riyadh Front, KSA

Voco Hotel, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

firexegypt.com

intersec-ksa.ae. messefrankfurt.com

firemiddleeastconference.com

19–20 October

18–20 November

30 November

OFSEC

SECUTECH THAILAND 2026

THE SECURITY & FIRE AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE

The Grand Hotel International, Prague, Czech Republic

Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre, Muscat, Oman

Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, Bangkok

ofsecevent.com

secutechthailand.tw. messefrankfurt.com

NEC Birmingham, UK

intersecglobal.ae. messefrankfurt.com

firesafetyevent.com

JW Marriott Grosvenor House, London, UK securityandfireawards.com

Please check the event websites for the most up-to-date details as dates can change all the time.

94 | FIRE MIDDLE EAST | ISSUE 70

SCIENCE. SERVICE. SAFETY.

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