AMA Research have published the 2nd Edition of the report ‘Active & Passive Fire Protection Market - UK 2009-2013’. This report focuses on the housing and construction market and contains original input and a detailed assessment of both active and passive fire protection products.

Key product areas covered include:

• Fire Alarms, Extinguishers, Smoke Alarms, Sprinklers etc.
• Fire Doors and Intumescent Seals
• Door Hardware - Closers, Locks, Handles, Hinges, Emergency exit hardware etc.
• Ceilings & Partitions
• Fire Resistant Cables
• Glass, Structural Steel etc.

Areas of particular interest:

• Recent growth rates and future prospects - both in the short term in 2009-10, and longer term prospects up to 2013.
• Fragmented supply structure reflecting product diversity.
• Manufacturers offer service and maintenance contracts to add value and increase competitiveness.
• Health and education spending helping to offset severe downturn in housebuilding in 2008-09
• Impact of legislation on market.

• ADT Fire & Security, AEI Cables, AGC Flat Glass Europe , Apollo Fire Detectors Armstrong World Industries, Assa Abloy, Avanti Systems, Cape PLC, CGI International, Chubb Plc, Cooper Industries, Dorma, Draka UK, Dufaylite, Fire Protection Ltd, GE Security, Gent, Halma plc, Hochiki Europe (UK), Honeywell Inc, Initial Electronic Security Group (IESG), IR Group, Kaba Door Systems Ltd, Kidde Fire Protection, LS Leaderflush + Shapland, Macron Safety Systems (UK) Ltd, Nittan (UK), Notifier Fire Systems, Nullifire, Nu-Swift International, Pilkington United Kingdom, Promat UK Limited, Protec Fire Detection Plc, Prysmian, Rockfon, Rockwool Ltd, Saint-Gobain Ecophon, SAS International, SCHOTT UK, Senior Hargreaves Ltd, Siemens Building Technologies, SPI Fire Engineering, Spraysafe Automatic Sprinklers, System Sensor Europe, Thermal Ceramics, Triangle Fire Protection, Tyco Fire & Integrated Solutions (UK) Ltd, USG (UK), UTC, Vetrotech Saint Gobain, Xtralis.

• THE MARKET
• Historical background - influencing factors, economic influences etc.
• Market size by value - overview of active and passive fire protection market, sector shares, development from 2004-2008, with forecasts up to 2013.
• Review of key factors influencing recent growth rates, future prospects, potential in domestic/non-domestic applications etc. Performance of housebuilding, public sector etc in 2008-10 period in particular.
• Future Prospects - short term in 2009-10 and longer term prospects up to 2013.
• FIRE PROTECTION / EXTINGUISHING SYSTEMS
• Market size by value 2004 - 08 - product analysis (alarms, extinguishers/sprinkler systems, smoke detectors), market size by value, growth prospects to 2013.
• Factors influencing market growth - non-domestic construction, regulations, slowing of growth of smoke detector market in domestic sector, market maturity, levels of imports.
• Household ownership levels - smoke detectors highly saturated in 2008. Fire alarms, extinguishers, blankets and sprinkler systems are relatively unchanged.
• Buying and specification process - range of equipment, key product developments, imports
• PASSIVE FIRE PRODUCTS
• Overall market for passive fire products - Fire Doors, Intumescent Seals, Door Hardware, Ceilings & Partitions, Cables, Structural Steel, Ductwork, Dampers etc. Review of overall market size 2006-13, recent growth and future prospects
• Fire Doors, Hardware, Intumescent Seals - market size, split between sectors in 2008. Timber and steel doors market size, trends and drivers - construction trends, switch to apartments etc.
• Review of Door Hardware sector - market size 2006-13, split between locks, handles, closers, emergency exit equipment, hinges in 2008. Key trends, growth of imports, price competition, sector applications - split between new build and RMI in housing and non-housing applications.
• Cables market - overview of market size 2006-13 for fire-protected cables, domestic / non-domestic split, trends, key influencing factors, review of key suppliers, distribution mix etc.
• Ceilings & Partitions - overview of market size 2006-13 for fire-protection products, trends, key influencing factors, key suppliers.
• Glass - fire resistant glass market size 2008, split between insulation and integrity glass, suppliers.
• Others - structural steel, ductwork and dampers - overall market size 2006-13, trends, key influencing factors, key suppliers.
• DISTRIBUTION AND SUPPLY - ACTIVE & PASSIVE FIRE
• Review of distribution structure for products - manufacturers, specialist distributors, electrical wholesalers etc.
• Review of major suppliers in all product sectors - leading companies, specialist suppliers, market positioning etc.
• Review of Imports and Exports.
• Future Prospects - key market drivers in medium -longer term.

The Fire Protection systems market is generally regarded as a relatively mature sector and is influenced by a number of factors, including the general health of the economy, levels of consumer confidence and spending, changing Building Regulations and Standards, and most significantly the underlying performance of the UK building and construction market.

Output values are now declining in the non-domestic construction market which includes all new work and RMI. The changing situation in 2008 has fed through into output and new order figures for 2009, with rapid decline in sectors such as offices, retail and industrial. The uncertainty surrounding the UK and global economies continues to have an effect on non-domestic construction into H2 2009 with levels of business confidence and investment remaining subdued, and no indication of a recovery in investment in new build work into the medium term.

The active fire protection market is comprised of alarms and extinguishers / sprinkler systems, with the market estimated at around £330m in 2008. In terms of passive fire protection, the market for fire doors had experienced steady growth up to 2007. However, the recent downturn in the construction of new houses and flats, together with a decline in many commercial and industrial sectors has had a negative impact on the industry and, as such, has reduced the market value to around £300m, while the fire door fittings market is worth approximately £200m.

The situation into H2 2009 continues to remain pessimistic for the office sector in particular with new projects postponed, further reductions in demand for new and refurbished office space, continuing downward pressures on average rental values and more evidence of commercial office developers facing increasing financial restraints. As a result, the market for suspended ceilings and partitions is likely to decline by 5-7% in 2009, with ‘fire performance’ products accounting for 15-20% of the sector - though definition is subject to some interpretation.

The growth in fire resisting ductwork and damper systems is again largely influenced by overall construction output. Market size for ductwork and damper systems is estimated at over £75m in 2008 but forecast to decline by up to 5% in 2009.

Decline in the housing market is likely to influence the active and passive fire protection sector with regard to fire doorset installations, fire alarms and sprinklers, mainly in multi storey apartments with safety and sustainability becoming increasingly important issues. In addition, further decline within the non-domestic construction sector - particularly in offices, retail and industrial will have a negative effect on the passive fire protection market and will see decline in fire resistant glass, partitions, and cable during 2009. Medium term prospects are more uncertain as rising Government debt levels are likely to result in some cutbacks in public sector capital spending programmes - particularly from 2011.

Continuing concerns over terrorism and public safety should provide further specification opportunities within the commercial sector, with many organisations likely to increase or upgrade their fire safety measures. In particular, transport, stadia or other buildings / locations where there are large crowds etc, are considered key areas, with the Olympics development programme offering good market opportunities.

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