BULGARIA IS building at a pace that the fire detection sector needs to keep pace with, writes Petia Simeonova. Eurozone entry in January this year has removed currency risk for international investors and European Union (EU) structural funds are accelerating construction across public infrastructure, logistics and commercial real estate.

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FOLLOWING THE restructure of the BAFE Group, Dr Justin Maltby-Smith (Group CEO of BAFE Holdings) has spoken exclusively with Fire Safety Matters’ Editor Brian Sims to discuss the thinking behind the new operational model and proceeds to explain how this move will support a broader and more ambitious role for the organisation across the fire and life safety domains.

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MAJOR BUILDING failures rarely result from a single mistake, writes CROSS-UK. More often, they arise from a chain of assumptions, omissions and misunderstandings that accumulate over time. One professional assumes another has addressed an issue, responsibilities become blurred and critical information fails to reach the right people.

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RETAIL REFURBISHMENT projects present a rather unique set of fire safety challenges that must be carefully managed throughout every stage of the works, writes Ramtech Electronics. From the earliest design decisions and material selection through to construction methods and site management, fire risk should remain a central consideration. This is particularly important in retail environments, where refurbishment work often takes place in complex buildings that may remain partially occupied or operational during construction.

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INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S Day 2026, which is observed on 8 March, is a moment to recognise and celebrate the achievements of women, while reflecting on the progress still to be made. In the fire and life safety domain, writes the Fire Industry Association (FIA), that reflection carries particular significance.

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AS HOTELS across the UK now welcome record numbers of guests, one threat continues to grow quietly in the background, writes Hyfire. That threat is the fire risk posed in what are now increasingly complex buildings.

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TWO YEARS ago, Zzeus Training heralded a landmark moment for the fire and security sectors when the first candidates successfully completed the EAL Level 3 Diploma in Providing Electronic Fire and Security Systems. Those candidates’ certificates were formally presented by Dame Judith Hackitt DBE and recognised by EAL’s managing director Al Parkes, who praised Zzeus Training for being a “pioneer” in the domain of fire alarm systems training.

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AS 2025 draws to a close, the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) can reflect on a remarkable 12 months, writes Steve Hamm. The organisation has worked tirelessly to support and shape the evolving fire safety landscape through key initiatives, strategic partnerships and the continued dedication of its members and volunteers worldwide.

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2025 HAS been a transformative year for the Fire Industry Association (FIA), writes Helen Whittington, marked by a strengthened international footprint and a renewed commitment to sharing UK expertise across the global fire safety community.

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FIRE RISK assessments are a legal requirement and a vital safety tool underpinning all commercial buildings in the UK. They serve to protect people, property and business operations. Here, Anthony Walker sets out the requirements for, the procedures surrounding and also the significance of conducting fire risk assessments.

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PHOTOVOLTAIC (PV) SYSTEMS harness sunlight to generate electricity through semiconductor materials, providing a sustainable and renewable energy source. Being electrical systems, though, means that solar PV installations present common fire risks that need to be managed to ensure safety and performance, as Spike Armstrong discovers.

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2024, STATES Philip White, marked the shift from groundwork to meaningful action. There has been a demonstration of what’s possible when unity develops behind a shared goal, but that’s just the beginning. The long-term journey is all about building and managing a safer and more accountable built environment for everyone.

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IN ORDER to achieve the United Nations’ stated goal of ‘Net Zero’ carbon emissions by 2040, significant changes must be made, and particularly so in the construction sector. As the global population continues to grow, streamlining the construction industry becomes increasingly essential, emphasising the need to adopt more sustainable practices, as Ramtech Electronics reports.

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IN THE realm of fire detection and alarm systems, the visible costs associated with their purchase often represent merely the tip of the iceberg. The true cost of ownership, asserts Max Jones, encompasses a spectrum of factors that extend far beyond the initial installation price.

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CRAIG TAYLOR examines how systems integration not only facilitates the early detection of potential fire hazards, but also enables swift and co-ordinated responses, in turn minimising the risk of damage and ensuring the well-being of students and staff alike within the educational setting.

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EN 54-23 WAS published in the UK in 2010 and became mandatory on 1 January 2014. After that time, any visual alarm device (VAD) newly installed and used as the primary means of warning as part of a fire alarm system has to conform with this standard. Mike Sutton has the detail.

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OVER THE last few years, the use of multi-sensor detectors has grown in popularity. Due to such detectors’ ability to detect fire at the earliest possible opportunity by combining multiple sensors within one device, installers and end users alike are reaping the benefits, particularly so as they’ve been proven to reduce the UK’s multimillion-pound economic headache of false alarms. Ian Humby elaborates on the fine detail.

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THROUGHOUT 2022, as Tony Boyle observes, many notable topics came to the fore within social housing, but have we lost sight of one of the basics when it comes to not only compliance, but also improving the safety of others? Moving into 2023, it’s crucial to recognise and respect the fundamentals regarding safety within the residential environment.

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WAREHOUSE FIRES have the potential to be devastating, posing a threat to life, destroying business operations and exerting a detrimental impact on the supply chain. Ahead of the busy Christmas period, Neil Eves offers some Best Practice advice when it comes to fire safety strategies.

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THE COST of living is at an all-time high just now, so as a business owner how can you deliver a price increase announcement for your customers? Here, Simon Tushingham Jones provides key tips on how to do just that, as well as explaining an effective way in which to increase costs without losing valuable customers.

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The multilayer PCB segment is a big part of our production. In order to support this important segment, we have developed long-standing relationships with a broad factory base. The factories are carefully selected in our sourcing process.

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