The European fire safety industry is at a turning point. Digitalization, remote connectivity and cybersecurity are converging to redefine how buildings are protected and maintained. Euralarm’s new white paper on fire safety in a connected world covers integrating detection, remote services and cybersecurity. This white paper outlines how fire detection systems are transforming into intelligent, connected infrastructures and what this means for service providers, building operators and policymakers.

Across the continent, false alarms remain a significant burden. Studies such as Euralarm’s 2022 False Alarm Study show that, in some countries, the false fire alarm ratio of FDAS (Fire Detection and Alarm Systems) is over 85%. Unnecessary activations disrupt business continuity, erode confidence in fire protection systems and potentially waste emergency resources. At the same time, climate change, energy efficiency targets and a shrinking pool of skilled labor are reshaping building operations and maintenance practices.

Digital transformation offers powerful answers. Through smart connectivity, cloud-based monitoring and data analytics, fire detection systems can now provide real-time insights, enabling remote diagnosis, predictive maintenance and data-driven decision-making. These capabilities reduce downtime, improve safety and support sustainability goals by cutting travel and optimizing resource use.

However, with connectivity comes a new responsibility: cybersecurity. As fire systems are more often connected via the internet, they must be protected from digital threats that could compromise safety or availability. Standards such as EN 50710:2021 (for remote services), CLC/TS 50136-10 (for remote access infrastructure), IEC 62443 (for industrial OT cybersecurity) and ISO/IEC 27001 (for IT information security management) provide the framework for building and operating secure systems that are   designed to protect information, assets and operations from unauthorized access, damage or disruption. Such secure systems that follow security by design and security by default principles ensure that fire protection remains reliable, even in the connected era.

By integrating fire detection, remote services and cybersecurity, European stakeholders can achieve safer, more resilient and more sustainable buildings. Interconnected digital fire safety is already emerging as the new operating model and is expected to become standard practice across many new and modernized buildings during the second half of this decade, as connectivity, remote services and cybersecurity requirements become embedded in building operations and European regulatory frameworks. Those who act now will lead the market transformation, delivering smarter protection and stronger trust in the systems that safeguard lives and assets.