As passenger safety becomes a top priority for India’s bus industry, advanced fire detection and suppression technologies are emerging as a critical element of modern vehicle design. Shimnit New Fire is at the forefront of this transformation with AIS-135 compliant fire protection systems, wireless fire detection technology, and digital fleet monitoring solutions that help improve safety and operational efficiency. In this interview with Bus Coach India, Arnav Shah, CEO and Director, Shimnit New Fire, discusses the company’s approach to integrated fire safety, collaboration with bus OEMs, and the growing role of connected technologies in protecting passengers and fleets.
Q: How does your AIS-135 compliant fire protection system improve passenger safety, especially for bus travelers?
Passenger safety is at the core of everything we do at Shimnit New Fire. Our AIS-135 compliant Fire Detection and Suppression Systems (FDSS) for engine compartments and Fire Alarm and Protection Systems (FAS/FPS) for passenger areas are designed to detect a fire at its earliest stage while alarming the driver/passengers and automatically suppress it before it escalates. In the engine compartment, the system can detect abnormal heat or fire conditions and discharge the foam based extinguishing agent automatically, often before the driver is even aware of the incident. For passenger compartments, our mist-based water system is designed to control the fire and provide a critical 3 minute evacuation window, allowing passengers to exit safely.
Q: How is Shimnit working with bus OEMs to integrate safety solutions at the manufacturing stage?
We work very closely with leading bus OEMs from the design stage itself. Rather than treating fire protection as an aftermarket accessory, we focus on integrating it into the vehicle architecture during manufacturing. Our engineering team collaborates with OEM design, validation, production, and quality teams to optimize system layouts, mounting arrangements, wiring harnesses, control interfaces, and serviceability requirements. We also support validation testing, homologation requirements, and production implementation.
Q: What services does Shimnit offer to commercial bus operators beyond safety systems?
Shimnit New Fire is currently the only company holding a certified wireless FDAS system under AIS-135. This technology was developed to reduce the extensive wiring and harness requirements traditionally associated with fire detection systems in buses. Through secure wireless communication between the control panel and detection devices, installation becomes simpler, vehicle integration becomes cleaner, and maintenance becomes easier for operators. In addition, our platform includes a digital dashboard that enables fleet operators to monitor the status of fire safety systems across their vehicles in real time. Operators can view system health, fault conditions, maintenance requirements, and alarm events from a centralized interface, helping them improve fleet safety and reduce downtime. As the bus industry moves towards connected and intelligent vehicles, we see digital monitoring, remote diagnostics, and data-driven maintenance becoming an integral part of transport safety, and we are actively investing in these capabilities.
Q: Are AI and data analytics being integrated into bus safety solutions by Shimnit?
We have already developed the backend infrastructure required to collect, analyze, and present operational data from our connected safety systems. Through our monitoring platform, data related to system status, fault conditions, alarm events, maintenance history, and fleet-wide performance can be captured and analyzed. From a technology perspective, this creates the foundation for AI and advanced analytics applications such as predictive maintenance, fault trend analysis, and risk assessment. However, the commercial vehicle industry remains highly cost-sensitive, and currently most operators are focused on meeting regulatory requirements such as AIS-135 compliance rather than investing in advanced analytics capabilities.
Q: What future innovations can we expect from Shimnit in the bus sector in the coming years?
The transition towards electric mobility is creating an entirely new set of fire safety challenges and opportunities for the bus industry. At Shimnit New Fire, a significant part of our R&D efforts is focused on EV battery fire protection technologies, advanced suppression agents, intelligent detection systems, and aerosol-based fire suppression solutions for applications where conventional systems may not be practical. We are also working closely with bus OEMs to develop next-generation control panels with CAN integration capabilities. These systems can interface with the vehicle’s Battery Management System (BMS), enabling real-time monitoring of battery health and safety-related parameters. By combining vehicle data with fire detection and suppression technologies, we aim to create a more proactive approach to battery safety. We believe the future of vehicle safety will be connected, predictive, and highly specialized, particularly in the electric mobility segment, and our objective is to remain at the forefront of that evolution through continuous innovation and collaboration with OEMs.
Q: How can technology help reduce accidents and operational risks in buses?
Technology can significantly reduce risk through early detection, automation, and predictive maintenance. Many incidents begin with small failures such as electrical faults, overheating components, fluid leaks, or poor maintenance practices. Advanced monitoring systems can identify these issues before they become serious safety hazards. Similarly, fire detection systems, telematics, driver assistance technologies, and vehicle health monitoring systems collectively create multiple layers of protection that improve both safety and reliability
Q: What investment areas are currently driving innovation within Shimnit?
First is EV battery fire protection. As electric buses become more common, there is a growing need for specialized detection and suppression technologies capable of addressing battery thermal events. We are investing significantly in developing solutions tailored for electric mobility applications. Second is aerosol fire suppression technology. Aerosol systems offer exciting possibilities for certain applications due to their compact size, ease of installation, and ability to protect enclosed spaces. We are actively evaluating and developing aerosol-based solutions for future transport applications. The third area is continuous R&D aimed at improving the overall system architecture to improve system reliability while also reducing cost for end users.
Ultimately, our objective is not only to improve fire protection performance but also to make safety systems easier to install, maintain, and operate throughout the vehicle lifecycle.
Q: How is Shimnit supporting India’s transition toward safer and smarter mobility globally and in India?
India is undergoing a major transformation in public transportation, driven by stricter safety regulations, fleet modernization, and the rapid adoption of electric mobility. At Shimnit New Fire, we are supporting this transition by developing indigenous AIS compliant fire safety technologies that meet international standards while addressing the unique operating conditions of Indian buses. Our focus is not only on making mobility safer within India but also on taking Indian-developed safety solutions to global markets. As part of this commitment, we are currently pursuing certification and approval processes in the UAE, which we see as an important gateway for supplying Fire Detection and Suppression Systems (FDAS/FDSS) to bus operators and OEMs across the Middle East region.
Q: What are the leading causes of bus fire incidents reported across the country in recent years, and how is Shimnit ready to take it as a challenge?
The leading causes of bus fires in India continue to be electrical short circuits, overheating of engine components, fuel or oil leakages, wiring failures, and inadequate maintenance practices. With the growth of electric mobility, battery-related thermal events are also becoming an area of increasing focus. At Shimnit New Fire, our approach has always been that compliance is only the starting point. While AIS-135 provides an important regulatory framework, the real measure of any fire protection system is whether it performs when an actual fire occurs. We are proud to say that our systems have successfully activated during three reported fire incidents in customer buses operating in the field. In each case, the system detected the fire, automatically discharged the extinguishing agent, and successfully controlled the incident before it could escalate into a major vehicle fire. These incidents included situations arising from electrical and engine compartment-related fire hazards. Every fire that is successfully detected and suppressed before it becomes a major incident reinforces our belief that safety systems should be judged not only by certification tests, but by their performance in real-world conditions.
Q: How does Shimnit compare with global fire safety technology providers?
Our commitment to global standards is reflected in our company’s IATF 16949 certification as an automotive component supplier. At the same time, our strength lies in combining international best practices with a deep understanding of Indian operating conditions, regulatory requirements, climate challenges, and customer expectations. Being a local manufacturer allows us to provide faster engineering support, quicker customization, responsive after-sales service, and a lower total cost of ownership for OEMs and operators. Rather than simply replicating global solutions, our focus is on developing world-class fire safety technologies that are engineered for local conditions, backed by strong technical support, and capable of competing with the best products available internationally.
Q: What are the biggest compliance challenges faced by bus manufacturers today?
One of the biggest challenges faced by bus manufacturers today is keeping pace with the continuous introduction, revision, and upgradation of AIS standards and other regulatory requirements. While these changes are aimed at improving safety and performance, OEMs often have limited time to redesign, validate, test, and implement the necessary modifications across their vehicle platforms. This becomes particularly challenging when changes impact multiple systems and require coordination between OEMs, suppliers, testing agencies, and certification bodies. Compliance is critical because any delay in meeting regulatory requirements can affect vehicle homologation and registration, ultimately impacting deliveries to end customers. Therefore, manufacturers must strike a balance between rapid implementation, cost, quality, and maintaining uninterrupted production schedules.
Q: How can bus operators reduce downtime through technology-driven compliance solutions?
Downtime is often caused by reactive maintenance rather than proactive maintenance. Technology-driven compliance solutions allow operators to monitor system health continuously, identify faults early, schedule preventive maintenance, and maintain digital records of inspections and service activities. When systems can self-diagnose and communicate issues before failures occur, operators can plan maintenance activities more efficiently and avoid unexpected vehicle outages.
Q: What opportunities do you see in smart fleet management solutions?
Fleet operators increasingly want visibility into vehicle safety, health, performance, and maintenance status from a central platform. Future fleet management systems will integrate telematics, safety systems, predictive maintenance, driver behaviour analytics, and compliance monitoring into a single ecosystem. This will improve vehicle availability, reduce operating costs, enhance safety, and support data-driven decision-making. There is enormous opportunity in fleet management solution’s leveraging AI technologies available today.
Q: What policy measures would further improve bus safety standards in India?
While regulations such as AIS-135 have significantly improved bus safety, compliance at the time of manufacture is only part of the solution. Greater emphasis should be placed on periodic fitness inspections to ensure that safety-critical systems such as fire detection and suppression systems remain fully functional throughout the vehicle’s life. Ultimately, the focus should not only be on installing safety systems but also on ensuring they work when they are needed most.
Q: Where do you see the Indian bus safety and compliance market over the next five years?
The Indian bus safety and compliance market is set for significant growth over the next five years. AIS-135 was initially introduced for school and staff buses, but we are already seeing its scope expand to electric buses and sleeper coach categories. This demonstrates the government’s and industry’s increasing focus on passenger safety. Buses remain the backbone of public transportation in India, carrying millions of passengers every day. As safety regulations continue to evolve, we expect more categories of buses and safety-critical systems to come under stricter compliance requirements. The direction is clear: safety is becoming a priority rather than an option. We see greater adoption of fire detection and suppression systems, connected safety technologies, and higher compliance standards across the industry. Ultimately, the market will move towards safer, smarter, and more reliable public transport for passengers across India.