The most dangerous fire alarm may be the one nobody believes. With 78% of alarms proving to be false, this erosion of urgency poses a key question for the fire safety industry: how can technology improve fire detection accuracy, restore confidence and ensure people act immediately when an alarm sounds?
This is the challenge Hong Kong start-up GABES (Generation Alpha Building Emergency System) set out to solve with its next-generation fire alarm solution that can identify genuine fires, issue early warnings and guide people to the safest escape routes.
Recognising its technological and social impact, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council’s (HKTDC) named the firm one of the winners of Start-Up Express 2026, a programme that helps start-ups build capability and connections, explore markets, secure funding and raise brand awareness.
Taking fire safety to new heights
False alarms, often set off by steam and cooking fumes, stem from limitations in conventional fire detection and evacuation systems, according to Co-Founder and CEO Deacon Wong. Most traditional fire sprinklers only activate at 68°C, resulting in slow response times, while early warning smoke detectors remain prone to false alarms.
GABES’s self-developed AlphaSense AIoT fire detector, on the other hand, can accurately identify the source of a fire. Utilising LoRaWAN – a long-range, low-energy type of data network – the battery-operated device is resistant to interference and connects wirelessly to a dashboard app, making installation fast and straightforward.
Another challenge during a fire is that occupants often do not know where the fire is, creating the nightmarish possibility of running towards the fire. To address this, the firm developed AlphaLights, a dynamic exit sign system that uses flashing green arrows and red crosses to guide occupants along the safest escape route.
Combined with the company’s fire detector, the two products form the AlphaNexus system, which has already been deployed in real-world scenarios. In November 2024, the company conducted the world’s first fire drill using a dynamic evacuation system at Pui Ying Secondary School. Over 300 teachers and pupils were successfully evacuated using AlphaNexus, providing practical validation of the system’s effectiveness and reliability.
Another local client is the Sky100 Observation Deck atop the International Commerce Centre. During its current renovation, the attraction installed AlphaNexus across the entire floor to ensure fire safety and mitigate fire risks. GABES has also signed cooperation agreements with several local property and facility management firms to expand its market presence.
Beyond compliance
Like many great breakthroughs, the science came before the product. Passionate about building safety, Mr Wong first had the idea of reinventing fire safety systems while studying at City University of Hong Kong, where he teamed up with classmate Wilson Wong to establish GABES. Since then, the company has won awards, hackathons and media coverage, and in 2024 entered the Cyberport Incubation Programme. The company has also secured 8 patents for its core technology.
While firmly based in Hong Kong, the company is targeting markets further afield. “Hong Kong boasts several advantages – a prime location, a robust free trade environment, and a quick patent registration system. We hope to contribute to Hong Kong first, before rolling out our technology to neighbouring markets,” said Mr Wong.
He noted that Hong Kong’s diverse built environment makes it an ideal demonstration base. The company is already in discussions with potential clients in the Chinese Mainland, Japan and Singapore, including local government departments.
To support its expansion plans, the company is actively showcasing at major trade events, including HKTDC’s InnoEX and Entrepreneur Day, while seeking to raise US$1 million. Potential clients and partners include property and facility management companies, IoT integrators and fire safety contractors.
Looking ahead, Mr Wong hopes to change the perception that fire safety is merely a matter of compliance.
“Our goal has never been simply to invent a technology to meet minimum standards,” he emphasised. “We aim to go further by safeguarding lives and property as a leading innovator in fire and building safety.”