The Gulf region is experiencing an unprecedented period of growth.

Its economy continues to be buoyant, as the region diversifies from its traditional oil-based wealth into new sectors such as financial services, property development and tourism. In fact, some local economies in the region are outstripping global trends altogether. Qatar is cited as one example: its economy is reckoned to be even stronger than those of China and India, if on a more modest scale.
Economic strength is leading to a boom in development – and an increase in traffic. In Dubai, population increase is forecast to continue at an annual rate of 6.4 per cent to reach some three million by 2017, with tourist numbers projected to reach 15 million by 2010. Major construction and infrastructure projects, such as the Dubai Metro network and development at Dubai and Qatar airports, demonstrate how the region is responding to these pressures.
Of course, the Gulf prides itself on the fact that its new facilities will meet the highest international standards. One area in which awareness is growing rapidly is the field of fire detection. Kim Williams is export sales manager, Middle East, for Apollo Fire Detectors Limited and he has seen the demand for more sophisticated fire protection technology developing across the region.
He says: “Apollo has been trading in the Gulf region for around 20 years now. Until five years ago, it was seen very much as a traditional market for conventional fire detection. However, as the economy has grown and more international companies are being attracted into the area we have seen a significant shift towards intelligent fire detection technology. This was very much the theme among visitors to our stand at Intersec this year.”
In fact, Apollo’s product offering at Intersec reflected how the company is responding to the demands of the Middle East for fire solutions that are appropriate for modern, complex developments like multi-storey hotels and leisure sites. Among the new products on display was XPander, a range of wireless fire detectors designed for interiors where wired devices would be inappropriate – such as ceilings with ornate decoration.
XPander devices are very easy to install as they connect to the fire system via an interface which is wired to a loop. No special adjustment or programming is required. Once connected, the XPander devices are recognised by the control panel simply as another detector connected to the system.
Apollo is also experiencing an increase in demand in the Middle East for its leading intelligent fire detection range, called Discovery. It has been developed for installations where adaptability to changing conditions and protection against unwanted alarms are of paramount importance. For example, all detectors in the Discovery range are equipped with inbuilt drift compensation sensitivity, a non-volatile memory and fail-safe operation. However, it is the inclusion of a multisensor in the range that really gives Discovery-based fire systems their flexibility.
Multisensor detectors incorporate two or more sensors of different types and process the signals to produce one output on which the decision ‘fire/no fire’ is based. Apollo’s Discovery multisensor is equipped with an optical smoke sensor and a heat sensor and offers five operating modes that are selected by the system designer or commissioning engineer via the control panel.
It can be selected to operate as a smoke detector only, a heat detector only, or as one of three combinations of both. If an “in combination” selection is made, the signals from each sensor are considered in relation to each other. The Discovery multisensor is certified to EN54 standard in every one of its five operating modes and its reliability in the field in reducing nuisance alarm incidents has been proven over several years.
According to Williams, keeping up with international standards like EN54 will be just as important to sustainable growth in the Gulf region as learning about intelligent technologies and new products. Traditionally, countries in the Middle East have adopted regulations based on British standards, but European and American standards like UL are also universally recognised.
Apollo Fire Detectors has a vast amount of knowledge to share with customers when it comes to understanding the relevant standards. It sells into over 100 countries around the world and its products hold over 2,500 international standards.
Says Williams: “Apollo is committed to educating the market about its products, particularly its intelligent ranges, and supporting its customers with technical help regarding standards and system specification. We firmly believe in partnering and knowledge sharing is part of this process.”
Apollo already has a number of ways in which it supports its customers in this area. For example, it works with customers to train their staff regarding the products available and how best to apply them in the field. It has also recently produced a handy free pocket guide for installers to enable them to check compliance with BS5839 – the regulation governing fire detection systems in the UK. It also supports its representatives in organising workshops and roadshows at which officials and customers can learn about the latest legislative and technological developments in fire safety.
The company is already represented in the Middle East by a network of loyal distributors, including Telectron in Abu Dhabi, Nar Koob in Iran, New Age in Dubai and Khayber Trading in Bahrain, and is well-known by specifiers and end users in the area for its strong support offering. It is planning to open a direct office in Dubai within the year, which will provide technical support and training opportunities to its customers in the Gulf region.