Over 18,000 visitors - representing a 12% increase on the 2017 event; and more than 140 exhibitors – 70 of which were new to the 2018 edition – came together from 29 countries at FIREX International to drive and reflect on the life safety landscape in the UK.
For three days at ExCeL London, fire safety professionals accessed over 10,000+ life safety solutions held to the highest standards.
FIREX International 2018
Amidst the present national agenda regarding fire safety in the built environment – with a particular emphasis on social housing – FIREX was the dedicated platform for engaging with leading experts, exploring proven technologies and receiving essential guidance.
Gerry Dunphy, Brand Director of FIREX International explained, “It is reflective of the times we’re in that a fully-fledged fire safety event is resonating so deeply with the market, and we’re pleased to see an increase in life safety professionals engaging with the event. The show’s growth is a testament to the industry’s demand for change. Both visitor and exhibitor sentiment reflected the criticality of FIREX, and the conversations held on the show floor speak volumes for the way in which FIREX is changing perceptions around life safety being a right, not a privilege.”
Sales Engineer at Specialist Wiring Accessories explained, “The first two days were probably the busiest days that I’ve ever known at any exhibition. It’s brought forward an extremely good quality of contacts and enquiries.”
5th International Tall Building Fire Safety Conference
The show also welcomed the 5th International Tall Building Fire Safety Conference, exclusive to FIREX, in addition to an in-depth seminar programme across the Expertise & Guidance Theatre, sponsored by BAFE, and the FPA Infozone.
A highlight of the seminar programme included Dr Chris Cocking’s talk “Human Behaviour During an Emergency”. This hugely popular seminar, presented at the FPA Infozone, provided insight into the rarity of mass panic, and indicated that there is very little evidence to suggest that people panic if they are made aware of the threat – which means that information should not be withheld. His analysis was paired with a tangible solution to provide vital information about what’s going on, what the threat is and what they need to do to escape it.
Fire doorsets and live smoke demonstrations
New to FIREX International 2018 were Show Me How demonstrations in the brand-new Sprinkler Zone. These addressed the fire safety concerns keeping visitors up at night by not only offering the latest solutions and technology but showing how to use them. There were also live smoke demonstrations by GERDA, showing the crucial role of fire doorsets in passive fire protection.
With a newly introduced fire challenge, the 20th anniversary of the Engineers of Tomorrow competition saw fire apprentices compete in live installation challenges.
The Inspirational Speaker Series also drew massive crowds as the show welcomed a fantastic line-up of world class speakers, including comedian and mental health expert Ruby Wax OBE, English rugby legend Sir Clive Woodward OBE and Nicky Moffat CBE, formerly the British Army’s highest-ranking female officer.
Jeremy Rees, Acting CEO, ExCeL London commented, “We were delighted to welcome FIREX to ExCeL London. Our teams are working closely with UBM to support their ambitions for growth and we are delighted that they had another successful event with us. This event, together with the wider P&M series, is playing a vital role in maintaining and creating safe and secure environments, something that resonates strongly with us. We look forward to welcoming visitors and exhibitors again next year, when they will be able to travel to ExCeL more quickly than ever before via the Elizabeth line.”
