Mandy Bowden, Fire Manager Comelit-PAC talks the post-Grenfell fire safety landscape, and her vision for future-proofed protection

Can you share some highlights of your journey with Comelit-PAC so far?

Since I joined Comelit-PAC almost five years ago, we’ve witnessed huge changes.  Not least with the acquisition, which we’re celebrating its second anniversary, bringing two industry stalwarts together to create integrated solutions for a wider audience.

Evolving into the Fire Manager role at Comelit-PAC, I’ve witnessed our team’s growth not just in numbers but also in product development and technical expertise.

We’ve created a culture of knowledge sharing, training, research and development that has elevated our team’s skill set and reflected outward.

This collaborative spirit has not only enabled us to navigate the rapidly evolving landscape of fire safety but also to stay ahead of industry trends, ensuring that Comelit-PAC becomes a trusted leader in the fire safety sector.

In your experience, what have been the most significant changes in the fire and safety sector, and how have you navigated them?

The fire safety sector has undergone dramatic transformations in recent years, driven by the legislative changes brought in following the Grenfell Tower tragedy. 2023 has been a year of action.   

The most recent phase came in October, with the introduction of Section 156 of the Building Safety Act 2022 (BSA)) as phase three. 

It includes new responsibilities for collaboration with Responsible Persons and increased requirements for recording and sharing fire safety information.

Comelit-PAC recognises the pivotal role we play in supporting compliance and ensuring the safety of individuals, communities, and properties.

We’ve not only adapted our LogiFire portfolio product offerings but also intensified our commitment to rigorous testing and quality assurance.  

Most recently, we have presented the opportunity for cloud-based remote monitoring and highlighted the important differentiation of compliance versus approval with the need to understand the requirements for both to ensure a safer environment.

How has your role evolved over the years at Comelit-PAC

My role as Fire Manager has undergone a significant transformation. Initially focused on traditional fire safety products, protocols and procedures, it now includes a wider and more strategic range of responsibilities.

With the need for more regulated compliance and the advent of smart technology, IOT and data-driven insights, Comelit-PAC works with our customers in partnership. 

This way, we can offer guidance and support hands-on training opportunities, with the technical team presenting a range of courses from initial introductory to installation through to commissioning and fault finding.

We aim to ensure our customers feel the tagline of Comelit-PAC, being “with you always,” at every step of the fire safety process.

Can you share a memorable project or challenge you’ve faced in your role, and how you addressed it?

Fire safety is an essential requirement in every building to show compliance, regardless of its type or purpose. 

In this respect, we have worked on some fantastic projects, from residential, leisure and commercial to honey farms. 

The most recent and memorable, was Accrington Stanley. 

A football ground we all grew up knowing the advert for milk!

It was great to be involved in its community trust’s new £2m state-of-the-art sports hub.

LogiFire as an addressable system was installed and integrated within the building management to ensure remote monitoring.

As Fire Manager what is your vision for the company in the next 5 years?

The fire sector will continue to evolve as we ensure something like Grenfell can never happen again.  It’s going to take continued learning, regulatory change and strict enforcement of compliance. 

For Comelit-PAC we have a duty of care and responsibility to support installers and their customers looking to stay ahead. 

We will continue to offer and expand our training courses, utilising our expert facilities in Luton and Manchester.

We’re also very conscious of the growing trends towards integration, where security and fire safety systems operate from one building management resource. 

And one that can be managed remotely, at any time from anywhere. 

Our latest FIRE2VIP interface has been developed to meet this demand to coordinate fire safety and video door entry.

This level of flexibility and accessibility aligns perfectly with our vision for the future.

One where Comelit-PAC continues to stay at the forefront of transformative industry trends, ensuring our clients have the smartest management tools and user-friendly fire safety solutions to protect their properties and assets.

This article was originally published in the November 2023 issue of International Fire & Safety Journal. To read your FREE digital copy, click here.