The two fire risks the NFPA says the world must face now
Iain Hoey
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NFPA explores global fire safety lessons and EV fire risks at Intersec Saudi Arabia
Intersec Saudi Arabia 2025 hosted two major sessions led by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), addressing global fire safety lessons and emerging risks associated with electric vehicles (EVs).
The discussions took place during the Fire Protection & Technology Summit at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center (RICEC), part of the three-day exhibition.
Jim Pauley, NFPA President and Chief Executive Officer, led a dedicated NFPA Day exploring how lessons from international fire incidents such as the 2017 Grenfell Tower tragedy continue to shape safety frameworks.
Mike Brunzell, NFPA Vice President of Global Business Development, presented research on EV fire dynamics and outlined the association’s work to advance standards and training around battery and infrastructure safety.
The sessions formed part of the event’s goal to connect international expertise with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which emphasises safety, sustainability and resilience across large-scale development projects.
NFPA Day addresses lessons from global fire events
NFPA Day, held during day two of the Fire Protection & Technology Summit, opened with a reflection by Jim Pauley on the continuing impact of the Grenfell Tower fire in London.
The session also examined the Ghost Ship warehouse fire in Oakland, California, and the Marco Polo high-rise fire in Honolulu, Hawaii, highlighting the importance of coordinated global fire safety frameworks.
Jim Pauley, NFPA President and Chief Executive Officer, said: “The ecosystem is a framework that defines the elements necessary to create and maintain an effective safety environment.
“The interconnected components mean that the failure of a single element can compromise the entire system, resulting in deaths, injuries, and property loss.”
He explained that the NFPA’s Fire and Life Safety Ecosystem provides a model for shared responsibility across key areas including government accountability, code development, safety investment and emergency preparedness.
Pauley links global safety progress to Saudi Vision 2030
Pauley said: “We live in an era of innovation, but innovation without safety is a risk we cannot afford.
“To do this work, and to do it well, we have to see what’s coming, and we have to remember what came before.”
He added: “Saudi Vision 2030 is a bold and ambitious plan to transform the Kingdom’s economy and to elevate its global stature.
“It envisions a diversified economy that’s driven by innovation and sustainability.
“Central to that vision is a world-class infrastructure that meets high safety standards.
“Leadership will ensure that all of the cogs of the ecosystem operate in a manner that protects people and property from current and emerging fire, electrical, and life safety risks.”
Pauley’s comments reflected NFPA’s support for Saudi Arabia’s efforts to align development goals with international safety frameworks.
NFPA Day was curated by NFPA and chaired by Zahi Daher, the association’s Country Manager in Saudi Arabia, and featured contributions from government and industry representatives.
Intersec Saudi Arabia brings global and regional stakeholders together
Riham Sedik, Exhibition Director at Messe Frankfurt Middle East, said: “At Intersec Saudi Arabia, we aim to provide a platform where global expertise meets local ambition.
“The sessions on day two at the Fire Protection and Technology Summit have outlined how the Kingdom and wider region can build a safer, stronger and more resilient built future.”
Throughout the event, exhibitors displayed fire protection innovations including containerised pump houses from Waterfall Pumps, drone and AI-based safety systems from Enterprise Aeronex, and fire suppression technologies from Rapidrop Global.
The event was organised by 1st Arabia and licensed by Messe Frankfurt, under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Minister of Interior, and in association with the General Directorate of Civil Defense.
Bilal Al Barmawi, CEO and Founder of 1st Arabia Trade Shows & Conferences, said: “Intersec Saudi Arabia is the only trade event in the Kingdom which enables attendees to make valuable connections, strike lucrative deals and stay at the forefront of the fire, safety and security industry.”
NFPA addresses EV growth and new fire risks in Riyadh
In a separate session, Mike Brunzell examined the relationship between EV adoption and evolving fire risks in high-density environments such as parking structures and mixed-use buildings.
Mike Brunzell, NFPA Vice President of Global Business Development, said: “One of the major concerns we face is the risk of thermal runaway in lithium-ion batteries.
“While the data shows us that EV fires occur less frequently than fires in gas or diesel-powered vehicles, the research also shows that when they do occur, they can present unique and difficult challenges including longer burn durations, high heat release, toxic gases, re-ignition risks and significant water demand for suppression.”
Citing International Energy Agency (IEA) data showing global EV sales exceeding 17 million in 2024, Brunzell outlined how the NFPA’s Fire Protection Research Foundation has been studying vehicle fire dynamics, suppression and ventilation to inform standards and best practice.
Fire codes evolve to meet emerging safety challenges
Brunzell emphasised that codes and standards must keep pace with technology advances.
He said: “It is through the development of our codes and standards, research initiatives and training programmes that NFPA is proactively working to provide the guidance and the resources needed by fire protection professionals, property owners and policymakers to ensure the integration of EV infrastructure safety strategies.”
During his presentation, Brunzell highlighted key NFPA standards including NFPA 88A (Standard for Parking Structures), which requires sprinkler protection, and NFPA 855 (Standard for the Installation of Stationary Energy Storage Systems).
He also referenced the NFPA 800 Battery Safety Code, currently in development, which aims to address safety challenges related to emerging battery technologies.
Intersec Saudi Arabia hosts over 400 exhibitors and 100 speakers
Riham Sedik said: “Intersec Saudi Arabia provides a critical platform for conversations like this.
“By connecting global expertise with regional ambition, the industry can ensure that as EV adoption grows, fire safety strategies can remain one step ahead.”
The 7th edition of Intersec Saudi Arabia featured more than 400 exhibitors and over 100 international speakers across two CPD-certified conference programmes – the Fire Protection & Technology Summit and the Future Security Summit.
Bilal Al Barmawi added: “By bringing together industry experts, regional leaders and innovative solutions across the show floor, Intersec Saudi Arabia helps to ensure that our communities are better prepared to meet both current and future safety challenges, which is particularly important as the Kingdom undertakes ambitious infrastructure development.”
Relevance for fire and safety professionals
The sessions led by Jim Pauley and Mike Brunzell at Intersec Saudi Arabia provided practical insights for professionals involved in fire engineering, system installation, regulation and emergency response.
Fire protection engineers and building code specialists can draw on NFPA’s Fire and Life Safety Ecosystem to inform compliance strategies within the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 development framework.
Fire service leaders and incident commanders may find the emphasis on collaboration between authorities and organisations relevant to operational planning and post-incident analysis.
For engineers, risk assessors and safety officers working in infrastructure or transport, the discussions on EV fire behaviour and NFPA standards such as NFPA 88A and NFPA 855 highlight the technical considerations for designing and managing safe charging and storage environments.