Stronger Regulation Promises Strong Growth in Indian Fire Safety Market: Hochiki Europe Q&A

“We’re hoping to expand our reach to advise companies in the oil and gas and petrochemical markets, as well as continuing support in our usual commercial and industrial sectors,” says Rohit Harjani, country manager for Hochiki Europe in India.

Read on for an insightful Q&A between IFSEC Global India and Harjani, who also outlines the importance of changing the mindset of Indian businesses regarding the importance of high quality fire-safety equipment.

IG: How do you evaluate the growth prospects of fire safety equipment in India?                                       

RH: The fire safety equipment market in India is growing rapidly due to continuous development in the industrial and commercial sector. This growth has led to a significant improvement in country’s infrastructure and the need to strengthen current health and safety laws.

Since the Government made fire and safety regulations mandatory in areas such as manufacturing plants and construction sites, the outlook of the fire safety equipment market has significantly strengthened. However, around 35% of the market is still unorganised. Small and Medium sized enterprises are still purchasing cheap and non-compliant equipment that can potentially harm a business’s assets and staff.

IG: Tell us about your expansion and investments plans in India this year?

RH: The strengthening of mandatory legislation from the Indian Government means that more businesses must comply with regulations.

Our experience in the Indian market, which spans over 35 years, allows us to understand the current pressures companies are facing. Alongside this, our range of products can support businesses to comply with legislation in a cost-effective and low maintenance manner.

We’re hoping to expand our reach to advise companies in the oil and gas and petrochemical markets, as well as continuing support in our usual commercial and industrial sectors.

IG: What policies or legislation have led Hochiki Europe to focus on the Indian market?

RH: We have had a presence in India for over 35 years, but due to the rise in legislation, such as the No Objection Certificate (NOC) regulation, and the government’s consideration of the new Fire Act, we feel that our sector expertise is well placed in the current market.

We will continue the same way of working with customers through our distribution partners, but now our customers in India are also able to reach us directly, which is a very exciting step.

IG: How are you planning to deliver a quality product in a reasonable price range?

RH: India is a very price-sensitive nation but the issue around fire safety is due to the lack of education in businesses.

Customers do not realise that by purchasing fire and safety equipment they can help protect their businesses in the future. We believe that by raising awareness around the pressing need for fire safety equipment in the workplace, and delivering complete solutions that are innovative, energy efficient and require low maintenance can help us to address these needs.

With this in mind, we supply our products with a view to support their needs in the long term. We don’t compromise on the quality of our products, as they serve to protect a company’s assets and employees.

IG: What are the most attractive verticals/sectors in India?

RH: We see a lot of potential in the commercial building sector. There is increasing investment from the government in commercial projects, which in turn creates a demand for fire safety solutions.

Drive from key sectors such as public infrastructure, hotels and retail malls is poised to grow at a phenomenal pace, and so we’re expecting an increase in new developments in 2016-2019. 

IG: What are the dominant technology trends in this market? How important is the integration of fire and security solutions in future?

RH: Currently, there has been an upwards shift in the demand for innovative technology in the fire safety equipment market. Businesses are under pressure to replace obsolete equipment and upgrade their systems with stronger technology.

With the pressure from rising legislation and the government’s plans to align the Indian fire safety regulations with international standards, the integration of fire and security systems is paramount to keeping a business safe and compliant.