Subsequent to the recent catastrophes caused due to fire
outbreaks on construction sites and facilities in the region,
stringent reviews and enforcement of mandatory fire safety procedures have been implemented throughout the region.

The course of action undertaken in 2007 by the authorities to comply with international standards, and sustain its remarkable construction of high-rise buildings has been pressing, and has attracted the worldwide media.

Former chief fire officer of the UK's Devon Fire & Rescue and the Chairman of Intersec conference in 2008, Neil Wallington, said at Fire and Rescue Middle East in 2007:
"It's a sad fact, but disasters do make news globally, and evenmore so those that occur in Dubai, where the media spotlight is shining brightly on current construction activity"

Unsurprisingly, when an event like Fire and Rescue Middle East - the largest show for fire-fighting and services in the region, part of Intersec Middle East - takes place, the participation by key names in the industry is huge.

"Highrise buildings are one of the issues that concern civil defence authorities around the world because the common humanitarian objective for the civil defence is to save lives. Reaching fire victims who are trapped in the higher levels of tall buildings where firefighting hoses cannot penetrate, is one of the issues that civil defence and fire equipment manufacturers are trying to address.
But the main solutions we depend on are advanced automatic firefighting and direct alarm systems that would stop the spread of fire and smoke all over the building" says brigadier general Al Matrooshi, director general,
Dubai Civil Defence, who will be speaking at the Intersec Middle East Conferemce in 2008.

Dubai Civil Defence (DCD) regulations in brief:

- All regulations issued by DCD for buildings are based on
the relevant American, European and British standards.
Regulations are applicable to all buildings except private
dwellings, where their application is optional.

- For buildings under construction, NFPA 1 Fire safety
standard and NFPA 241 Safety measures at under
construction/maintenance buildings must be followed.

- Building companies and contractors in Dubai have been
ordered to fit life-saving temporary sprinkler systems
during the construction of all high-rise projects. Systems
must be hydrostatically tested immediately after being
installed in each floor, then approved by Civil Defence and
connected to the supply pipe.

- Flammable construction materials such as paint, thinners
and oil are to be stored in areas where smoking and naked flames are completely banned.

- Fire fighting systems in buildings under construction
should include: fire hydrants, standpipes, fire
compartmentation, automatic sprinkler systems, fire alarm
systems, pressurised gases safety requirements and hot
work safety requirements.

Fire and rescue Middle East is scheduled from 13 - 15 January 2008 in Dubai. Over 100 companies from all the critical sectors of the fire safety industry have confirmed their attendance resulting in a growth in exhibiting space of 50%. The upsurge in bookings has assured an industry focused platform for sharing expertise and building global networks.

The combination of local and international companies, with the likes of - NAFFCO, Watania, DuPont Fluoroproducts, Novar Internation by Honeywell, Great Lakes Chemical Corporation, Bristol Fire Engineering, Tyco Fire & Security and LPCB (Loss Prevention Certification Board); will display under one roof the most advanced technologies for passive and active fire protection, fire fighting and rescue equipment. Training bodies and Consultancies will also be present.

By the grouping of an industry targeted and user driven visitor profile, the companies exhibiting will benefit from a highly focused audience; which not only includes civil defence forces, fire specialists and fire men, security and safety managers, but also hospitals, municipalities and construction companies. A high growth in visitor numbers will be seen this year - strong crowd is expected to arrive for the first day itself - in excess of 20,000 visitors are likely to visit the Intersec Middle East in 2008.

Conference elements includes seminars on - 'Emergency Services Response and the Management of Disasters', ' Dealing with Disaster' and 'Building and Construction Site Safety' - where distinguished speakers, such as - Mark Warrington, Vice President of Construction Safety, EHS (Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation) - EHS Arm of DubaiWorld portfolio; Deputy Chief Fire Officer Mark Yates, Hertfordshire Fire & Rescue Service; etc. - will converge on topics like - 'Fire and Rescue Service Organisation
and Training for a Major Gas Terminal', 'Planning and Training for Co-ordinated Responses to Disasters', 'New Fire Safety Initiatives in Modern Structures and Towers', and more.

These proficient speakers will share their worldwide expertise and experiences, and will help provide answers to key global fire, safety, 'policing' and security issues in the Middle East.

"The sustained interest being shown by leading companies and professionals, in Fire and Rescue Middle East, reflects the dynamism within the fire-fighting, safety and fire-rescue industry as a whole. The event will present an opportunity to look back on industry's progress over the time, and look forward to the future
developments of this crucial and burgeoning industry" says Eckhard Pruy, CEO, EPOC Messe Frankfurt GmbH.

Intersec Middle East in 2008 will again host a series of live outdoor demonstrations from both leading exhibitors and the Dubai Civil Defence. The purpose of these will be to demonstrate the latest technologies and products on the market and to highlight the latest fire fighting and rescue techniques.