LPCB spotlight on… Edward Gaynor

Following on from his attendance at Intersec 2022, we caught up with Edward Gaynor, Regional Manager for the Middle East. Find out what led Edward to the Middle East, and two of the most common challenges in the Middle Eastern market.

1. Please explain your role at BRE.

I am the regional Manager for LPCB in the Middle East. I support the brand and help develop our business by ensuring our certification mark is accepted and recognised wherever our customers want to sell their products in the region.

2. What does your typical workday look like?

My days are often very different, but generally I am speaking to, or visiting, manufacturers to discuss their plans for testing and certification. LPCB’s scope of work is very wide, and this means I could be speaking to a Passive manufacturer in the morning, and visiting a Suppression factory in the afternoon. I also speak with the different authorities about our certification, and talk with clients about entering the Middle Eastern market.

3. What led you to move to the Middle East?

I always wanted to work abroad and after finishing my degree in fire safety engineering an opportunity to work for a manufacturer of passive fire protection arose in Dubai. I jumped at the chance and made the move without knowing anyone. 11 years later it’s now my home.

4. Why did you join BRE?

I knew BRE well and had even carried out testing in Watford as a customer. I therefore understood the organisation’s history, and how respected it was in the industry. As a customer I would meet LPCB’s previous international director Mr. Graham Orme whenever he would visit Dubai, he stressed the importance of having a permanent LPCB presence in the Middle East and asked if I would be interested. When the opportunity came up to represent the organisation in the region and help grow its presence, I thought it was an exciting prospect.

5. What do you enjoy most about working at BRE?

The exposure to so many different people and facets of the industry, manufacturers, specifiers, installers, legislators. You get to see every side of the construction industry.

“New, and some existing, manufacturers are often unaware of the difference and think a test report is equivalent to a product certification. That market education is a big part of what I do.”

 

6. You speak to a lot of customers every day. What is the biggest misconception about BRE you come across?

The most common thing I find myself talking about is Testing vs Certification. New, and some existing, manufacturers are often unaware of the difference and think a test report is equivalent to a product certification. Market education is a big part of what I do.

7. What is the most common challenge your clients come across? How do you help them solve it?

There are two common challenges our clients face:

Operating in the Middle East can be challenging and it’s not always clear what needs to be done before you can enter the market. I help communicate what our clients need to do to operate in the region as best as I can as it tends to change quite often.

The other challenge our clients face can be the expectations around how long a project will take. Products and designs have a certain life cycle and manufacturers are keen to start selling their products as quickly as possible, so we have a duty to carry out our testing and certification in a timely manner. But often these two timelines are not as close as our clients would like. Communicating the project scope and expected timeframe early is important to manage expectations.

8. How has the industry changed since you started? Do you anticipate any major changes in the near future? If yes, which ones?

Every year, the importance of third-party certification has become more and more accepted in the industry . As a result, testing, inspection and certification companies have grown in size and capabilities. As the industry becomes more digitally integrated, I think online, and “live” certifications will be more widely integrated into the BIM design process and the validity of those certificates will be linked to the building’s management, allowing building owners to check their project’s life safety design is fit for purpose at a glance.

9. What’s the best advice you can give to someone who has just started their career in the industry?

Talk to everyone, and understand your customer’s needs.

10. Sum up working at BRE in three words.

Engaging, insightful and fulfilling.

If you have a question for Ed, please contact him directly.

LPCB product certification process

What is product certification?

Certification (or approval) is independent third party confirmation that a product or system meets and continues to meet the appropriate standard. BRE Global offers independent third party certification to existing British, European, International and its own Loss Prevention Standards (LPSs) or Schedules of Requirements

Find out more about the certification process

Be first to know the latest LPCB news and get exclusive insight from our industry experts each month

Sign up

Latest news and case studies from LPCB

Refreshed RedBookLive website now live

Refreshed RedBookLive website now live

We are pleased to announce the launch of our refreshed RedBookLive website, which is faster, easier to navigate, and more ...
LPCB debuts Live Testing Lab at The Security Event 2024

LPCB debuts Live Testing Lab at The Security Event 2024

The internationally renowned Loss Prevention Certification Board (LPCB) is set to unveil its groundbreaking Live Testing Lab at The Security ...
Exciting changes coming soon to RedBookLive website

Exciting changes coming soon to RedBookLive website

The LPCB Red Book, the listing of all LPCB certified products and services, continues to be a key reference for ...
BRE Global signs MoU with Dubai-based fire testing laboratory Thomas Bell-Wright International Consultants

BRE Global signs MoU with Dubai-based fire testing laboratory Thomas Bell-Wright International Consultants

BRE Global and Thomas Bell-Wright International Consultants are pleased to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between ...
hands typing on a laptop keyboard

LPCB Certification and Kingspan

Following BRE’s decision last year to end its commercial relationship with Kingspan, BRE now confirms that all existing Kingspan products ...
​​​​The role of third-party certification in installing gas extinguishing & condensed aerosol systems

​​​​The role of third-party certification in installing gas extinguishing & condensed aerosol systems

The purpose of LPS 1204 is to set appropriate technical and quality standards to assure interested parties that gas extinguishing ...
Loading...

Latest videos from LPCB

LPCB - Barkers Fencing Testimonial

LPCB – Barkers Fencing Testimonial

We recently had the opportunity to catch up with Adam Savage, Marketing and Sales Director at Barkers Fencing ...
LPCB - Cova Security Gates

LPCB – Cova Security Gates

We were delighted to speak with Jonathan Trott, Managing Director at Cova Security Gates, at International Security Expo 2022 ...
LPCB - Keynetics Testimonial

LPCB – Keynetics Testimonial

We had the opportunity to speak with Helen Deakin, Operations and Compliance Director at Keynetics at International Security Expo 2022 ...
LPCB - BT Redcare Testimonial

LPCB – BT Redcare Testimonial

We spoke with Nick Whiting, Head of BT Redcare, to discuss how certification has supported his organisation. Listen to Nick ...