Fire safety is undergoing a period of significant transformation. New building technologies, evolving energy systems, increasingly complex industrial processes, changing regulatory frameworks and heightened expectations around resilience have fundamentally changed the way fire risks are identified, assessed and managed. Fire protection is no longer viewed solely as a compliance obligation. It has become an essential component of engineering design, operational continuity, asset protection, business resilience and public safety.
The 12th Annual Fire Systems Design & Engineering Conference demonstrated the importance of bringing together specialists from across the fire safety value chain. The programme successfully combined engineering expertise, operational experience, regulatory insight and commercial perspectives, reinforcing the conference’s position as one of South Africa’s leading technical platforms for the fire protection industry. Discussions extended beyond traditional fire engineering topics to address battery energy storage systems, industrial fire risks, smoke management, fire testing, passive protection, emergency response, regulatory compliance and the increasing relationship between fire safety, insurance and business continuity.
The 2027 conference builds on this strong foundation while responding directly to industry feedback and emerging market needs. It recognises that today’s fire safety professionals operate within an increasingly multidisciplinary environment where engineers, authorities, contractors, insurers, manufacturers, testing laboratories, emergency responders and facility owners must work together to deliver safe, resilient and compliant built environments.
The conference theme, “Fire Safety for a Changing World: Engineering Resilience Through Innovation, Standards and Practice,” reflects this evolving landscape. It acknowledges that technological innovation alone cannot improve fire safety. Progress also depends on competent engineering practice, consistent application of standards, practical implementation, multidisciplinary collaboration and continuous professional development.
The programme will combine advanced technical presentations with practical engineering sessions, regulatory updates, case studies and discussions on emerging risks. Particular attention will be given to battery energy storage systems, smoke management, fire detection, sprinkler systems, industrial fire protection, fire testing, façade fire safety, rational fire engineering, disaster management and the growing influence of insurance requirements on fire safety design and maintenance.
By bringing together leading practitioners, regulators, researchers, insurers, authorities having jurisdiction and industry specialists, the conference will provide a platform for meaningful technical exchange while supporting stronger collaboration across the fire safety profession.
The conference is designed for professionals involved in the planning, design, regulation, implementation, operation and management of fire safety systems, including:
Delegates attending the conference will have the opportunity to:
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Examine how technological innovation is reshaping fire engineering practice and fire protection system design.

Shirley Salvoldi
Independent Consultant | NOA Group Trading

Katherine Persson
Managing Director: Assets | SOLA Group (Pty) Ltd

Matthew Cruise
Energy Expert & Business Developer | IMPOWER EPC

Head of Fire Engineering | Stellenbosch University

Corporate Specialist | Eskom

CEO | FSIB Fire Systems

Director | Juexin Fire Engineering

Director | CENTA Atlas Fire Security

Director | LEAD Engineering

Business Development Manager | FirePro

CEO/Founder | FIRENSYS (PTY) Ltd

Meridian Risk Advisory | Director

Director | CB Fire (Pty) Ltd

Fire Engineer | Electrotron

Global Business Manager | Nimbus

Solution director | Hubei Jiandun Fire Technology Co. Ltd

Head of Smoke Control Projects |Sodeca

Sales Engineer | Victaulic

Director | CREDELEX

Director| CREDELEX
0730 Registration and networking
0815 Opening remarks from the chairperson
0830 Simon Zhang | Solution director | Hubei Jiandun Fire Technology Co. Ltd
Topic: Regulation-Driven BESS Fire Safety: Case Studies, Challenges, and Technology Evolution
0900 Prof Richard Walls | Head of Fire Engineering | Stellenbosch University
Topic: What does a “competent” fire engineer need to know?
0930 Peter Martin | Global Business Manager | Nimbus
Topic: Driving Digital Transformation
1000 Networking tea break
1030 Keith Northgate | CEO | FSIB Fire Systems
Topic: The position of third-party independent inspections of fire systems
1100 Riaan Furstenburg | Director | Juexin Fire Engineering
Topic: Performance-Based Fire Designs and the challenges the Design Engineer faces
1130 Stephen Junior Fourie | Director | LEAD Engineering
Topic: Wildfire Spread Modelling in the Western Cape, South Africa
1200 Renay Sewpersad |Meridian Risk Advisory | Director
Topic: Battery Energy Storage Systems: Lessons from International Research and Emerging Standards
1230 Riaz Ebrahim| Sales Engineer |Victaulic
Topic: TBA
1300 Networking Lunch
1400 Estelle Van Rooyen |Director | CREDELEX
Topic: Wide of Regulation: Practicable, Risk-Based Fire Mitigation
1430 TBC
1500 TBC
1530 Panel Discussion
Panel:
1630 Closing Remarks from Chairperson
1615 Networking Tea Break: End of Conference
0700 Registration and networking
0815 Opening remarks from the chairperson
0830 Mike Labuschagne| Business Development Manager | FirePro
Topic: FirePro condensed aerosol suppression technology.
0900 Marlize André | Corporate Specialist | Eskom
Topic: Before the Flame – Fire Practitioners’ impact on Fire Prevention
0930 Hans Davel | Director | CENTA Atlas Fire Security
Topic: Low Pressure Water Mist – Overview, Benefits, Approvals and Applications
1000 Networking tea break
1030 Dr Niel Jordaan | CEO/Founder | FIRENSYS (PTY) Ltd
Topic: TBA
1100 Clyde Becker | Director | CB Fire (Pty) Ltd
Topic: Code-Compliant Yesterday, Unsafe Today: The Case for Mandatory Fire Risk Assessments in South Africa
1130 Jaco Van Jaarsveld | Fire Engineer | Electrotron
Topic: Integrated Fire Solutions for High-Risk Environments
1200 Santos Bendicho Alonso| Head of Smoke Control Projects |Sodeca
Topic: TBA
1230 Pieter Muller |Director| CREDELEX
Topic: Perception vs. Actual Risk: Challenging Times for Insurers
1300 Networking Lunch
1400 TBC
1430 TBC
1500 Panel Session
Panel
1600 Closing Remarks from Chairperson
1615 Networking Tea Break: End of Conference
Cost per person
NB: Price is in South African Rand. Price displayed excludes VAT.