GE Security Opens Fire Detection Lab & Research Center

Zalud’s Blog has visited the UL facility in the Chicago area and was impressed. Now we’ve heard that GE Security has a Fire Detection Research Center, a one-of-a-kind laboratory for the development and testing of advanced fire detection technologies, at its global headquarters in Bradenton, Fla.

The state-of-the-art facility will allow GE Security to continuously improve its existing portfolio of industry-leading fire and life safety products while more quickly delivering new products to help customers better serve and protect their end user customers and grow their businesses.

The GE Security Fire Detection Research Center will be critical to the research and development of residential and commercial fire, smoke, heat and gas detectors and sensors for global fire and life safety markets, including the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Russia, China and Australia. The lab is also fully equipped to perform regulatory tests for many of these regions.

“This unique fire detection lab and research center is a half-million dollar example of GE Security’s commitment to the fire and life safety space,” said Dean Seavers, president and CEO, GE Security. “We are committed to investing to continue to grow a global security and life safety company that delivers on the promise of helping our customers address constantly evolving security challenges, better serve their end users and grow their own businesses.”

“I appreciate local business investments such as this lab in our community,” said Congressman Vern Buchanan (FL-13). “This lab will create highly-skilled, good paying jobs and help diversify our economy. It is also an example of how international trade allows Florida employees to contribute to the safety of people around the globe.”  

“We designed and built this lab to help us continue to provide our customers with the real-world solutions they need to meet their evolving security needs,” said Jerry Rose, vice president, product management, GE Security. “Co-location of the lab with our engineering resources will help us deliver quicker times to market for our fire and life safety products.”

GE Security invested more than $500,000 in the new Fire Detection Research Center, which complies with all local, state, national and EPA requirements, is fully automated and meets requirements for most regulatory testing. 

The laboratory supports more efficient development of advanced technology fire detection products and technologies by co-locating test facilities with research and development activities. Prior to opening the Fire Detection Research Center in Bradenton, GE Security engineers used laboratories in Chicago or London to conduct such testing. Now, testing can be conducted where the products and technologies are being developed, saving time and money, and potentially accelerating times to market.

About GE’s Security Business

GE Security, Inc., a business of GE Enterprise Solutions (NYSE: GE), is a leading supplier of security and life safety technologies, with operations in more than 35 countries and $1.8 billion in annual sales. GE Security offers one of the industry's broadest product portfolios, including access control, explosives and narcotics detection, fire detection, intrusion, key management and video surveillance. GE Security's products are used to protect people and property across a wide range of industries, including aviation, banking and finance, education, government and military, healthcare, law enforcement, residential, retail, stadiums and event venues, and transportation.