PROJECT Fire Products is ablaze with determination to green-up the world's fire protection industries.

And – with water such a 'cheap' commodity in the UK – the rest of the world is likely to catch on to its green thinking much faster than Britain.

The company was making at least half of its then £2.5 million annual sales abroad when it reached the finals of last year's International Trade Award at The Sentinel's Business Awards.

Since then it has been preparing to make the most of the post-recession era.

Eco-friendly 'sustainable' systems are a major element of its armoury – aimed at a market which, traditionally, hasn't seen the need for such thinking.

But in areas such as the Middle East and Asia, where water is a valuable resource, architects, system designers and building managers are sitting up and taking notice of the Hixon firm.

"One of our latest products, a development of our Bellcheck system, could save more drinking quality water for a sprinkler-protected building than just about anything else you could invent," said director Stuart Cain.

Because of insurers' requirements and building regulations, UK building managers have to drain their sprinkler systems (temporarily putting them out of action) in a weekly test.

Stuart Cain continues: "An average 500 litres of mains drinking-quality water gets wasted down the drain with every single one of those tests – and because of an Act of Parliament that water is provided free by water companies.

"If our system was widely adopted across Britain it could eliminate traditional water shortages and hosepipe bans, and reduce the need for new reservoirs in certain areas.

"But in the Middle East, for example, water production and purification is far costlier than here, and they take potential savings very seriously."

The system has just gained approval from the German authorities and insurers and is set for consideration by their British equivalents.

Several unique Project Fire developments are centred on increasing safety and minimising water consumption in high-rise buildings.

"We have come up with better fire protection strategies to make high-rise buildings safer during construction and occupation.

"That means the system goes up at the same speed as the site's tower crane, which is a big improvement in working safety and costs."

The company was founded more than 30 years ago by chairman Bernard Cain, who is currently in the Middle East as an active envoy for his firm and its products.

Recent months have seen Project Fire restructure its group, open a new company in Dubai and join forces with several Middle Eastern strategic businesses.