Ron Alalouff, info4fire.com's editor, brings you a roundup of some of the product highlights at International Firex 2011, in words, pictures and video.

Last week’s International Firex event was by far the best I have attended, both in terms of educational content, feature areas and the buzz among exhibitors and visitors.

On the exhibition floor there were new product launches galore. The Fire Industry Association – in conjunction with the NSI – announced a new package to help companies achieve detection and alarm certification to BAFE SP-203.

Also on the detection and alarm side, Firefighting Enterprises launched its new ‘end-to-end’ optical beam detector range, while Xtralis took the opportunity to unveil its open area smoke imaging detection system, OSID, which also won the detection and alarm product category in the Fire Excellence Awards held during International Firex.

The Queen's Award for Enterprise presented to Advanced Electronics

Advanced Electronics showed its new Mx-5000 control panel approved to EN54 parts 2, 4 and 13, as well being presented with the Queen’s Award for Enterprise by the deputy Lord Lieutenant of the West Midlands, while Kidde Fire Protection unveiled its SynaG conventional panel, available for two, four or eight zones.

In the run up to International Firex, Kentec Electronics ran a teaser campaign inviting visitors to take a 'journey of discovery' with the company. The end of the journey turned out to be a green, forest themed stand complete with birdsong, where the company unveiled Taktis. The touchy-feely theme reflected the ‘tactile’ nature of the touch screen panel which, says Kentec, takes power, flexibility and performance to a new level.

Addressable fire control panels and an integrated safety and emergency management system were among the new products showcased by Autronica, including the AutroSafe 4, described as providing “a new level in interactive fire detection systems”.

Not to be outdone, C-Tec, which was celebrating its 30th anniversary, displayed its new range of multi-loop, touchscreen controlled analogue addressable fire panels, as well as launching its CFP and XFP panels.

Meanwhile Nittan was showcasing what it described as its most comprehensive range of conventional and analogue addressable products yet, with devices such as its Evolution analogue addressable photoelectric smoke sensor with built in sounder.

Apollo took the opportunity to promote its product lifetime guarantee – 10 years for fire detectors, five years for CO detectors – which is claimed to be the only one of its kind in the market. The company also demonstrated OpenConnectGateway, enabling a fire panel to fully communicate with a building management system.

Meanwhile over at the Fike Village, the company launched its SigniFire video image detection system which provides early detection of smoke and flames for large, open spaces. Also launched was Fike’s TwinFlex Pro control panel, available for two, four or eight zones – each with up to 32 devices.

Analogue addressable emergency lighting system from Hochiki Europe

Hochiki Europe, best known as a detector manufacturer, launched its addressable emergency lighting system, which also won the best means of escape product category at the Fire Excellence Awards held during the show. Firescape is described as an intelligent, low voltage LED  system comprising a control panel and a series of plug-in emergency light luminaires and signs for escape corridors and open area applications.

Getting active on passive fire protection
Passive fire protection made a welcome return to International Firex, led by the ASFP Passive Protection Zone. With a dedicated seminar theatre and a specially constructed module highlighting best practice in fire stopping and built-in protection, this feature provided a focus for passive fire protection manufacturers and suppliers to show their wares. Among them was testing and consultancy firms Chiltern International Fire and Exova Warringtonfire; boards, penetration seals, glazing and spray products manufacturer Promat UK; coatings specialist Fire Protection Coatings Limited; fire rated ductwork manufacturer Fire Protection Limited; boards, sealants and coatings manufacturer Firestopit; firestopping products supplier Hilti Great Britain; and curtain wall and rainscreen facade fire protection specialists, Siderise.

Freedor from Fireco

Another Fire Excellence Awards winner – this time in the passive protection category – was Fireco, with a new wireless device that holds fire doors open to improve access, but closes them when a fire alarm sounds. Freedor is installed at the top of a fire door, allowing the door to swing freely and to be left in any position. When the device ‘hears’ a fire alarm at over 65dBA over a 14 second period, the fire door is released to close.

One of the most graphic demonstrations of a fire safety product in action came with Gerda’s specially constructed smoke pods. With the release of cold smoke ‘on demand’, visitors to the stand were shown how a fully certified fire doorset performed in holding back smoke, compared to a door that had been upgraded with cold smoke seals. Dead impressive, so to speak, and you can watch it here.

Fire suppression companies were well represented at the event, among them Firetrace International, who launched a new FM-200 total flooding system for entire rooms.

The incidence of wildfires in the UK seems to have increased recently, and AFG Flameguard was on hand demonstrate its solution for preventing the spread of wildfires. Other products on show were Flameguard intumescent paints and coatings, SEAC passive fire products, and Supernova emergency signs.

ProInert valve technology from Fike

What was billed as the ‘next generation’ of inert gas fire suppression systems, ProInert 2, had its European launch at International Firex. Described by manufacturer Fike as featuring a constant flow valve which eliminates potentially hazardous pressure peaks, the latest versions come with the addition of actuation at the valve and three additional inert gas options.

Meanwhile, Tyco Fire Protection Products unveiled the Skum AP3x3 foam concentrate, said to be environmentally friendly and fluorine free. It is described by the company as suitable for all types of foam firefighting applications using standard foam proportioning and application hardware.

Argonite C60 is billed as incorporating a unique, patented controlled flow technology which, says Kidde Fire Protection, means a 60% reduction in the peak mass flow of the gas with no reduction in fire suppression efficiency. The system, which won the fire suppression category in the Fire Excellence Awards, can be used in a applications such as data processing and communication centres, clean rooms, oil and gas installations, power generation facilities, museums and galleries, says Kidde.

Victaulic launched AquaFlex, described as an easy to assemble sprinkler fitting for commercial suspended and hard ceilings for round or square duct work. The range, which comes preassembled, consists of a flexible stainless steel hose and is available in 790mm-1830 mm lengths.

Finally, if you’ve ever wondered how detectors are tested and calibrated, AW Technology was on hand with its new 1900 test tunnel for optical detectors and smoke alarms in high volume production. According to the company, the 1900 is the only commercially available test tunnel that includes an additional smoke sensor to ensure stability at a constant aerosol concentration. Not only that, but I was shown a video of the calibration of what is believed to be the world’s most compact optical smoke detector, and you can watch it here.