IFSEC Global: What are your USPs as a brand?
Aston Bowles: Advanced’s panels lead the multiprotocol market in offering performance, quality and ease-of-use and are specified in prestigious and challenging locations across the world, from single-panel installations to large multi-site networks.
We offer the fastest, most versatile, reliable and easily configured networking across our entire panel range, enabling installers to program a huge range of cause-and-effect rules per network.
We’re particularly proud to manufacture all our products in the UK, where our systems carry a wide range of approvals including the major international EN and UL standards, and a wide range of regional and local codes. Most recently our MxPro 5 and Axis EN fire alarm control panels were certified as FM-approved to the EN 54 standard.
“AlarmCalm delivers a complete solution to false alarm management that will suit almost any building or site strategy”
Our approach to tackling the key industry issues through the development of powerful, easy to use solutions is a real advantage. For example with false alarms costing the UK economy around £1bn per year, solutions such as Advanced’s AlarmCalm deliver a complete solution to false alarm management that will suit almost any building or site strategy and promises to radically reduce false alarms.
Last but not least, our customer service is second-to-none with our technical support team being highly commended for their high levels of service and commitment to resolving customer issues. Our whole approach is centred on the customer, helping them to do more and realise the capabilities of our products.
IG: Any new products/services being showcased at FIREX?
AB: This year at FIREX 2019 the emphasis is on our cloud-connected products and solutions that we believe will revolutionise compliance services and the management of Advanced fire systems. Fire engineers stand to benefit significantly from time and cost efficiencies – delivering a huge range of features including pre-emptive maintenance and remote configuration allowing for quick identification and resolution of issues.
Ahead of their official launches, demonstrations of our first cloud-connected fire panel, the Go1, and our complete solution for remote management and servicing of the fire system, DynamixLive, will take place in our integrated Product Discovery Lab at the Fire Solutions sector.
“Our technical experts will demonstrate the Go1 panel and DynamixLive solution as part of FIREX’s Show Me How initiative”
Our first cloud compliance product is Lux Intelligent, Advanced’s emergency light testing system that is already making emergency light testing and BS 5266 compliance more cost effective and easier on large and small sites. Lux Intelligent comes with optional cloud-monitoring allowing for the remote monitoring of test systems from your phone, tablet or computer.
All test data is stored safely and securely in the Lux Intelligent cloud for as long as it is needed, with all test reports accessible at any time and automatically shared with relevant contractors or maintenance partners, making the management of maintenance and engineering simple.
IG: What kind of people do you hope and expect to visit your stand – in terms of profession or sector/verticals?
AB: Our unbeatable MxPro panel range is configurable to manage everything from a single loop, single panel format to large systems with complicated cause and effect easily, making them highly flexible.
Therefore, our fire systems are suitable for almost any verticals including many of the most challenging and diverse buildings across the world, from transport and infrastructure to industrial, historic and high-rise. Anyone wishing to specify or install the best panel on the market should visit us.
“We’re the first fire alarm control panel manufacturer in the UK to attain FM approval to EN 54”
For architects, contractors and design professionals specifying FM-approved products to gain proven fire performance, Advanced’s Axis EN and MxPro 5 fire alarm control panels are FM-approved to the EN 54 standard, making us the first fire alarm control panel manufacturer in the UK to attain the approval.
We look forward to welcoming delegates from a number of backgrounds onto the Advanced stand, including: fire installers and engineers, building consultants, Specifiers as well and Health & Safety and Risk Managers.”
IG: Any other plans or things worth mentioning about FIREX?
AB: As a new attraction integrated into our stand at FIREX 2019, our Product Discovery Lab will offer delegates at the exhibition a ‘sneak-peak’ at some of Advanced’s latest innovations. This is where demonstrations for the Go1 panel and DynamixLive solution will take place and where we hope to gain valuable feedback on these innovations to take forward into the product development process.
For delegates interested in Go1 and DynamixLive demonstrations, 30-minute appointments will need to be booked in advance via: [email protected]. Our technical experts are involved in the Show Me How initiative being introduced at this year’s FIREX and will be available on our stand to answer your questions. We’ll also be inviting visitors to get involved in our beta testing programme, for more information on this please speak to a member of the events team at the exhibition.”
IG: What are the most interesting or important issues in fire safety right now – either within your field or the wider sector?
AB: We are now seeing a trend towards more digitally-driven products. In a backdrop of ever-changing fire and emergency lighting standards it’s important that all stakeholders who are responsible for these systems have the tools and the ability to ensure their compliance. As commercial fire detection systems evolve, I believe we’ll continue to see a move towards cloud communications and data analytics – systems that are smarter than we’ve ever seen before.
In terms of skills, now more than ever Advanced recognises the value of building a talent pipeline due to the growing national skills shortage in the industry. As fire professionals continue to get older we realise the need to invest in the skills and the training of emerging talent.
Through our cloud connected product line we plan on making products easier to install and maintain than ever before, helping fire professionals to achieve more with the skills they have.”
To book an appointment with a member of Advanced’s Sales or Tech-Support team at FIREX 2019, complete our two-minute survey.
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