1.0Market Snapshot
- +10.0%
- Growth in employees from 2020 (9,892) to 2024 (10,877) in the two BFS classes that contain fire-protection installers and alarm receiving centres (STATENT, NOGA 43.29.02 other building installation, which also includes lift installers, and 80.20 alarm-monitoring services).
- CHF 268.1m
- Fire damage to buildings in 2024 across the 19 cantons with public building insurers, from 8,109 claims; it has ranged between CHF 229.6m and 296.8m a year since 2005 (VKG, Schadenstatistik IRV).
- 14
- People killed in building fires in Switzerland in 2025, down from 33 in 2024 (VKG, Schadenstatistik IRV).
- 1,380
- Employees of alarm-monitoring services in 2024 (BFS STATENT, NOGA 80.20, 159 units), which receive fire and intrusion alarms around the clock.
2.0Industry Overview
Fire safety covers the systems and services that detect, contain and extinguish fires in buildings: fire detection and alarm systems, sprinklers and gas extinguishing systems, smoke extraction, extinguishers, fire-protection planning, inspection and 24-hour alarm monitoring. Demand is set by regulation. The cantons apply the fire-protection rules of the VKF, the Association of Cantonal Fire Insurers, and their total revision (BSV 2026) has been delayed: approval by the intercantonal body IOTH is now planned for March 2027. The cantonal building insurers record the outcome. In 2024, the 19 cantons with public building insurers counted 8,109 fire claims and CHF 268.1 million in fire damage, within the range of CHF 230–300 million a year since 2005; 33 people died in building fires in 2024 and 14 in 2025.
3.0Industry Health Check (SWOT)
- Demand set by mandatory fire-protection rules
- No separate official statistics for the trade
- Revised fire-protection rules (BSV 2026) bring planning and upgrade work
- Deregulation in the revised rules could reduce some requirements
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Fire Safety & Protection business valuation in Switzerland
- Statutory Multiple (EBITDA)
- 5.5 - 7.5×
- Deal Multiple (EBITDA)
- 6.5 - 9.5×
- Market Trend
- Rising
Indicative ranges based on market research. Actual multiples vary by company size, growth, and market conditions.
8.0Regional Clusters
Western Switzerland
413 units with 2,835 employees in 2024 in the classes for other building installation and alarm monitoring (BFS STATENT, NOGA 43.29.02 and 80.20), the most of any region; Chubb Sicli is registered in Plan-les-Ouates (GE).
Zurich
271 units with 1,851 employees; Certas and Siemens Schweiz are registered in Zurich.
Eastern Switzerland
270 units with 1,288 employees.
Northwestern Switzerland
243 units with 931 employees, the smallest on average (3.8 per unit).
Central Switzerland
239 units with 2,526 employees, the largest on average (10.6 per unit); Siemens Smart Infrastructure's headquarters and Oeschger Babberger are in the canton of Zug.
Bern and Solothurn
204 units with 983 employees; Securiton (Zollikofen) and Primus (Lyss) are based in the canton of Bern.
Ticino
84 units with 453 employees.
Sources
9.0Frequently Asked Questions
▶How much is a fire-safety company worth in Switzerland?
ValIndex's multiples table puts Swiss fire safety at 6.5–9.5× EBITDA in transactions and 5.5–7.5× EBITDA on statutory valuations, high for a building trade. Firms with large maintenance and inspection portfolios and certified technicians sit at the upper end; installers that depend on new-build projects sit lower.
▶What drives the value of a Swiss fire-protection company?
Buyers price: (1) the share of recurring maintenance and inspection revenue; (2) certifications and approvals; (3) the number and skills of technicians; (4) client mix and contract length; (5) dependence on a few general contractors; (6) succession and the owner's personal approvals.
▶How big is the Swiss fire-safety sector?
BFS does not count the trade separately. The two classes that contain fire-protection installers and alarm receiving centres had 1,737 units and 10,877 employees in 2024 (NOGA 43.29.02 and 80.20), but 43.29.02 also includes lift installers. The damage the sector prevents is measured: CHF 268.1 million in fire damage to buildings in 2024 across 19 cantons.
▶Who are the main fire-safety companies in Switzerland?
Siemens Schweiz (with Smart Infrastructure's headquarters in Zug), Securiton (Zollikofen, Swiss Securitas Group), Chubb Sicli (Plan-les-Ouates, APi Group), Certas (Zurich, alarm receiving centre), Primus (Lyss) and Oeschger Babberger (Steinhausen) are among the main players.
▶What are the key trends in Swiss fire safety?
Five trends: (1) the revision of the fire-protection rules delayed to 2027; (2) stable fire damage of about CHF 270 million a year; (3) Siemens adding water-mist suppression through Danfoss Fire Safety; (4) international owners for service networks, as with APi and Chubb; (5) consolidation in Switzerland, as with Securiton and Si-Electronic.
▶What are the main risks when buying a Swiss fire-protection company?
The main risks are: (1) loss of certifications or key technicians; (2) liability after a fire; (3) dependence on new-build volumes; (4) changes in requirements under the revised rules; (5) owner-dependent client relationships. Due diligence should check the maintenance portfolio, certifications, liability insurance and claims history.
▶What is the revision of the Swiss fire-protection rules (BSV 2026)?
The VKF's total revision of the Swiss fire-protection rules aims at risk-based rules. In February 2025 the project entered a consolidation phase, and approval by the intercantonal body IOTH is now planned for March 2027, later than the original 2026 target. Firms should expect planning and upgrade work once the new rules apply.
▶Where are Swiss fire-safety companies located?
Using BFS figures for 2024 in the classes for other building installation and alarm monitoring: Western Switzerland has the most units (413, with 2,835 employees), followed by Zurich (271; 1,851), Eastern Switzerland (270; 1,288), Northwestern Switzerland (243; 931), Central Switzerland (239; 2,526), Bern and Solothurn (204; 983) and Ticino (84; 453).