Bahrain-based Khayber Trading Company, which claims to set the standard in the design and installation of fire detection and extinguishing systems, stresses that international standards in its field should be more stringently applied in the region.

Managing director Manolis Karaolis points out that there are a lot of players in the field of fire detection and extinguishing systems but only a few of them have the knowledge and experience to design and install this life-saving equipment.

''The authorities should look into approving qualified people to work in this field and approve only those products that meet certain international standards. The UK-based Loss Prevention Council's (LPC) handbook can be used as a yardstick in the selection of these products,'' Karaolis says.

Electromechanical contractor KTC, which specialises in fire protection and security systems, provides a turnkey design, installation, testing and commissioning service in the mechanical and electrical (M&E) sector.

KTC installs equipment which is approved by the LPC and complies with British and European standards, he says. The range includes conventional, analogue addressable and high-sensitivity smoke detection (HSSD) systems, fixed gas extinguishing systems and sprinklers. It is the only company in Bahrain to have trained engineers, who have been certified by the LPC for undertaking the design and installation of fire sprinkler and detection systems, he points out.

''We claim to set the standards in Bahrain for fire detection and sprinkler design and installation. This is one of the reasons why major companies in Bahrain have selected us for their projects,'' he says.

These firms include Bahrain Telecommunications Company (Batelco), Aluminium Bahrain (Alba), Gulf Aluminium Rolling Mill Company (Garmco), Bahrain Petroleum Company (Bapco) as well as major hotels such as the Le Royal Meridien, Sheraton and the Gulf Hotel.

''Having been active in the field of fire prevention and fighting, it was a natural progression for us to move into safety and security and CCTV (closed circuit television) systems,'' he says.

Among the projects where KTC has installed these systems are Al Ahli Bank, Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Electricity and Water headquarters and Bahrain Airport Services (BAS) complex (which has been newly completed).

The company also supplies and installs electronic article surveillance (EAS) systems from the US' Checkpoint. A major advantage of the Checkpoint system is that it eliminates embarrassing false alarms, Karaolis points out.

''Its detection is simple and reliable. A 'live' target passing through the sensors' detection field interrupts a radio frequency signal, triggering an alarm that alerts of a possible shoplifting attempt,'' he explains. According to Karaolis, these systems have been installed in Bahrain at River Island, Liz Clairborne and JC Penney outlets at the Seef Mall and elsewhere in the Gulf at many of the outlets belonging to the Kuwait-based Shaya Trading, Mothercare International and BHS.

Khayber Trading Company has a full maintenance team which is on call round-the-clock to service its clients. ''We are proud of the level of service we can provide,'' he says.