Zurich unveils TechXchange: raising the bar in fire protection training

Zurich Resilience Solutions has opened a new state-of-the art fire protection training facility in Enschede, Netherlands, in collaboration with Johnson Controls International, a global leader in fire suppression solutions. The TechXchange Fire Suppression Center, which provides an immersive learning experience, welcomed its first participants earlier this month.

Experiencing fire protection in action

Fire is the second most frequent cause of property damage, surpassed only by flooding. Every year, fire results in billions in insured losses worldwide. Fixed fire protection and suppression is the most effective way to safeguard a business from the potentially severe financial, operational, reputational, and legal consequences that a fire can bring.

Comprehensive preparation, inspection testing and maintenance of fire protection systems are essential for effective response. Zurich’s experts at the TechXchange Fire Suppression Center offer customized courses for customers across a diverse range of industries. Participants benefit from advanced, hands-on training environments, including:

• Full sprinkler system demonstrations from water tank to discharge
• A special hazards room featuring industrial fire risk scenarios
• Commercial kitchen equipment with extinguishing systems
• Demonstrations of water mist and gas extinguishing technologies

Helping customers build resilience

Zurich Resilience Solutions also leverages the facility to continually develop the expertise of its own risk engineers. The Group’s more than 160 fire safety specialists participate in intensive, two-week training courses, designed and delivered by Zurich's in-house experts.

“There are countless reasons a fire can break out in a factory, high-rise office building or warehouse,” said Dirk De Nil, Global Head of Zurich Resilience Solutions. “Our mission is to help our customers prevent damage from happening. We carry out more than 60,000 inspections at customer sites each year. With this new center, we ensure our teams have the right skills to provide effective risk management advice and deliver actionable insights for our customers.”

This new facility reflects Zurich's ongoing dedication to helping customers anticipate, prevent and manage fire risk with greater confidence.

Further details about the training facility and course content can be found in our magazine, and on the landing page.