Fire safety has traditionally been centred around alarms, extinguishers and manual procedures. That siloed approach is rapidly disappearing, however. Advances in digitalisation, IoT connectivity and building automation mean fire protection equipment is increasingly part of a fully integrated safety ecosystem, where systems communicate, respond and adapt in real time to protect people and assets. For sector leaders attending the FM Forum, this shift represents not only a step-change in compliance and safety performance, but a major opportunity to improve operational resilience across their estates…
Fire Systems as the Trigger Point for Building-Wide Actions
Modern fire alarm systems can now automatically interface with critical building services through open protocols and smart controllers. When a detector is activated, the fire panel no longer simply sounds the alarm: it initiates a coordinated sequence of actions, such as:
- Releasing magnetic door locks via access control systems
- Shutting down HVAC to prevent smoke spread
- Triggering extraction fans and dampers
- Sending instant alerts to security teams and FM dashboards
- Activating digital wayfinding and evacuation signage
- Notifying monitoring centres for faster emergency response
For large, complex environments (hospitals, commercial offices, universities, logistics hubs) automation dramatically reduces the time between detection and an effective evacuation response.
Stronger Collaboration Between Fire Safety and Security Teams
As fire, security and building systems converge, cross-disciplinary collaboration becomes essential. Integrated systems allow security teams to:
- Monitor fire alerts through existing CCTV and security consoles
- Provide real-time situational awareness during evacuation
- Verify false alarms without delaying emergency response
- Support mustering and accountability using access control data
This convergence enhances both fire preparedness and overall building resilience.
Evacuation Intelligence for Smarter, Safer Outcomes
Dynamic evacuation technologies are emerging as a key trend in 2026. These systems use occupancy sensors, access control data and indoor positioning to:
- Identify the number and location of occupants
- Guide people to the safest exits via adaptable signage
- Prevent congestion in stairwells and corridors
- Provide emergency teams with live building intelligence
Such capabilities are especially valuable for settings with vulnerable occupants, such as care homes or healthcare facilities.
Building Management Systems (BMS): The Command Centre of Safety
Modern BMS platforms are becoming the central orchestrators of fire safety integration. By consolidating fire, HVAC, energy, security and lighting systems into one interface, FM teams gain real-time visibility and improved decision-making during emergencies.
Cloud-based BMS tools also enhance:
- Record-keeping for compliance
- Predictive maintenance for detectors and alarms
- Remote monitoring and diagnostics
- Audit trails for regulatory reporting
A Connected Future for Fire Safety
Integrated fire safety is becoming best practice. As buildings become smarter, FM leaders who embrace system convergence will achieve faster responses, better compliance, safer evacuations and more resilient estates.
As we move into 2026, fire safety is about coordination, communication and intelligent integration across the entire building ecosystem.
Are you searching for Fire Safety & Equipment solutions for your organisation? The FM Forum can help!
