Airports to Feature in Intersec Saudi Arabia Fire-Prevention Debate

King Fahd International Airport will send experts to outline fire prevention strategies for airport environments at Intersec Saudi Arabia, where global and local stakeholders will examine fire safety for infrastructure, operations and passengers.

The Fire Protection & Technology Summit, part of the Intersec Saudi Arabia event running from 29 September to 1 October in Riyadh, will host a dedicated forum on fire prevention in airports. Islam Al-Falahat, Lead Fire & Life Safety Engineer at House of Consulting Office, and Eng. Hussein Mohammed Rajab, Senior Manager – Fire Prevention at KFIA, are among the speakers set to address the unique risk profile of airports.

Central issues to be explored include how fire prevention systems can be integrated into airport design and operations, the challenges of ensuring compliance with evolving safety regulations, and the human factors involved in risk response. Experts will also address strategies for coordinating with civil defence authorities and emergency services, especially under high throughput of travellers and tight operational schedules.

Intersec Saudi Arabia has partnered with the National Fire Protection Association to offer sessions that examine standards and codes relevant to large-scale and high-risk developments. Themes such as “Protecting GIGA Developments and Large-Scale Events in the Kingdom” and “Navigating New Fire Safety Regulations and Compliance” will feature in the NFPA Day on 30 September.

KFIA’s participation reflects growing emphasis on preventive fire safety in aviation. As Senior Manager of Fire Prevention, Eng. Hussein Rajab is expected to address system design, maintenance protocols, and risk assessment specific to airside, terminals and ground operations, drawing on both regional lessons and international best practice. Islam Al-Falahat is slated to speak on engineering systems that harmonise with Saudi and international fire safety codes, including life safety systems, suppression tools, detection technologies and building material standards.

Regulatory authorities are increasingly insisting on fire safety measures being embedded from the master planning stage of airport expansions and new terminals. Interviewed stakeholders stress that retrofitting fire protection is costlier and less effective than integration during design phases. Proposals under discussion include advanced detection systems using AI and IoT, scalable suppression systems, enhanced evacuation routes, and greater training of airport firefighting and prevention personnel.