New technologies, including one from Discovery Insure, that South Africans can use to protect themselves
Discovery Insure announced recently that it launched the Discovery 911 smoke detector, a product which it called a first-to-market fire detection and emergency response solution.
It joined other companies in South Africa in offering advanced fire detection products for businesses and households.
Companies like Fidelity ADT, Fire Ops SA and Brigit Fire all offer the South African market digital fire detection capabilities, which include smoke detection and warning systems.
“When it comes to fighting a fire, time is a critical factor,” said Precious Nduli, Chief Commercial Officer at Discovery Insure.
“Yet the moments that matter most are often when people cannot act. They may be away, asleep, injured, overwhelmed, or simply unsure of who to call as panic sets in.”
Nduli explained that Discovery Insure’s new product automatically detected fires in the home and alerted the company’s 24/7 emergency response centre.
The centre then coordinates a rapid-fire response to the affected address. The company said the new detectors are available nationwide, not just to Discovery Insure clients.
Discovery said that the automated protection offered by the new detectors makes them a market-first solution where response services are alerted by the devices themselves.
It worked independently of Wi-Fi and mobile networks using the Sigfox 0G network, allowing it to remain connected even during power and network outages.
The Fire Protection Association of South Africa said that residential structures represent the country’s greatest fire risk.
The association recorded 4,997 fires at formal residences in 2024 alone, resulting in R5.1 billion in damage.
Dwellings were also linked to 403 of the 481 total fire-related deaths in the country that year, with formal dwelling fires resulting in 132 fatalities.
De Wet Engelbrecht, the CEO of Fire Ops SA, a privately owned fire brigade in Johannesburg, said his company responded to 3–4 structural fires in South Africa each day.
“Time is of the essence on three critical fronts: detecting the fire, notifying emergency services, and getting the response team to the scene.”
“For the average home and resident, the upfront process can take up to 12 minutes in the best-case scenario.”
Fire Ops SA is a member of Discovery Insure’s Fire Force, a network of emergency service providers and first responders that are alerted by the company’s new smoke detection devices.
Automatic fire detection and emergency response in South Africa
The Discovery 911 smoke detector joined other notable fire and smoke detection technologies offered by companies in South Africa.
Fidelity ADT offered businesses and consumers smart detection systems that link to the company’s own national monitoring control rooms for rapid dispatch.
Among its integrated fire solutions are fire detection devices, fire suppression systems, sprinkler systems, and even systems that detect and suppress leakage of hazardous gases.
Meanwhile, Fire Ops SA said it could dispatch emergency vehicles within 60 seconds of a fire being detected (90 seconds at night), a service it offers subscribers.
This service is integrated into the Discovery device thanks to its partnership with the insurance provider. Fire Ops SA also provides members access to a first-response member app.
Its fire brigade is a specialist in Advanced Firefighting Technology (AFT), a pioneering portable, low-pressure water-mist system.
“The technology creates high-quality water mist at low pressure while ensuring maximum lancing distances for safe firefighting,” the brigade said on its website.
“The technology is adaptable to portable, mobile & fixed firefighting apparatus.”
Brigit Fire, a member of the Hudaco Group, is a South African firm that provides a “one-stop total fire protection” system, including fire detection, suppression and fire containment services.
The Brigit Fire system uses niche computer technology designed to precisely measure gaseous, water mist, and sprinkler systems, the company said.
Its range of products includes smart gas suppression systems, fire containment protection, sprinkler systems and mist systems that activate upon fire detection.
One advanced system that the company provided was its addressable smoke detector, which it called “Apollo Protocol.”
This system employed advanced electronics, along with a photoelectric smoke-sensing chamber, for early fire detection while helping prevent unwarranted alarms.
More images of Discovery’s Fire Force
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