Located within the Automall complex in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, the nine-floor administrative building is intended to serve as the main headquarters for the Jeddah Governorate Development Authority. The wider development already hosts a range of leading automotive brands, with the addition of the administrative building designed to further enhance the value of the investment. Designed to accommodate a wide range of administrative and operational functions, the building required a robust and fully integrated fire safety solution capable of meeting stringent local regulatory requirements. 

The installation, being delivered by SHC – Subul Al-Himaya Contracting Co., has been designed to provide complete coverage across all areas of the Automall North Tower building, including offices, circulation spaces, electrical and communication rooms, mechanical services areas, and escape routes. Given the building’s scale and operational importance, the fire alarm system has been developed to deliver high levels of reliability while supporting complex system interfacing and control functions. 

At the heart of the installation are four Axis AX four-loop fire alarm control panels, networked to create a resilient system spanning more than 3,300 addressable devices. These include over a thousand smoke detectors alongside heat detectors, manual call points and a wide range of addressable modules and notification devices, ensuring rapid and accurate fire detection throughout the building. 

The flexibility of the Axis AX platform has enabled the system to be configured to meet the specific demands of the project, with extensive cause-and-effect programming supporting a range of critical life safety functions. These include HVAC shutdown, stair pressurisation, smoke management and mechanical ventilation control, as well as integration with the building management system (BMS) for centralised monitoring and control. 

“SHC – Subul Al-Himaya Contracting Co. has strong confidence in Advanced’s Axis AX platform, particularly for large and complex buildings that require reliable networking, detailed cause-and-effect programming, and integration with mechanical systems, smoke control, and BMS interfaces,” said Eng. Elsharif Abdelrahman, Executive Director at SHC – Subul Al-Himaya Contracting Co. 

“For the Automall North Tower, our engineering team is delivering a fully integrated fire alarm solution tailored to the requirements of a major government administrative building. We have also previously installed the same Advanced Axis AX system at the Jeddah 7575 building on Madinah Road in Jeddah, a multi-level building consisting of six floors, a mezzanine, ground floor, and two basement parking levels. That system fully covers the building and is currently operating successfully, which further reinforces our confidence in Advanced’s technology and our ability to deliver high-performance life safety systems.” 

The system has been designed with long-term performance in mind, incorporating intelligent detection algorithms, environmental compensation and device sensitivity management to help minimise false alarms while maintaining fast response times. 

Advanced’s Axis AX system was selected for its scalability, networking capabilities and suitability for large-scale government and commercial applications, providing the flexibility needed to adapt as the building’s operational requirements evolve over time. 

Shadi Elhag, Business Development Manager for Advanced in the Middle East, commented: “Projects like the North Tower at Automall highlight the importance of combining performance, flexibility and reliability in a single platform. Axis AX allows us to support complex, multi-system environments while ensuring compliance with local regulations and delivering the resilience required for key government facilities.” 

Upon completion and final handover, the installation will provide comprehensive fire protection for one of Jeddah’s most prominent new developments, reinforcing Advanced’s position as a trusted provider of life safety solutions across the Middle East.