FARO Introduces FireZone 10.6 to Simplify Work Flows and Create Compelling Fire-Investigation Reports

LAKE MARY, Fla., April 6, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- FARO Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: FARO) announces the latest release of its Public Safety fire investigation software tool, FireZone Version 10.6.  FARO's FireZone is used to create diagrams from both manual measurements and 3D point clouds of fire scenes, such as those captured with a FARO Public Safety Laser Scanner.  This powerful software and hardware combination enables fire investigators to accurately measure and document a fire scene and significantly reduce the time they are exposed to hazardous investigation environments.

Studies have suggested that firefighters and fire investigators are up to 200% more likely to contract certain types of cancer due to exposure to harmful dusts, toxic gases, and vapors as part of their job.¹ Today's fire scenes are more likely than ever to have the presence of materials that are immediately dangerous to life and health due, in part, to the burning of chemically manufactured materials, including PVC, plastics, foams and polymers.²

"FARO's fire investigation tools can help reduce the time that fire and arson investigators are exposed to toxic environments in the performance of their jobs," stated Dr. Simon Raab, FARO's President and CEO.  "With the FARO Public Safety Laser Scanner, an investigator can collect evidence at a fire scene in a fraction of the time compared to traditional collection methods.  FARO's FireZone software is the ideal tool to take accurate measurements, perform analysis, create 3D models of the scene, and prepare courtroom documentation using the laser scanner data – all from the safety of the investigator's office."

The newest version of FireZone introduces several new features that specifically help fire investigators prepare the diagrams and 3D representations discussed in the latest National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 921 Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations, including:

• Compatibility with the FARO Public Safety software Point Cloud Module allowing the user to open point cloud data captured with a 3D laser scanner and create 3D diagrams and representations, including a symbol damage tool to show the extent of fire damage to furniture, cabinets, appliances, and any other pre-drawn symbols in 3D
• New textures and patterns used to show levels of charring, smoke damage and flame vectors
• New 2D / 3D fire investigation tools and documentation features such as placards and bubble labels that show the location of evidence, photographs taken, witnesses, sample locations, fire origin markers, utility shut-offs and additional symbology in accordance with the NFPA 170 standard
• New Wall Elevation Builder tools to quickly create 2D "exploded room" diagrams

FireZone has drawing and editing features to accurately diagram fire scenes in both 2D and 3D. Thousands of pre-drawn symbols can be added to any diagram to show such items as furniture, doors and windows, landscape features and evidence.  The new fire investigation tools complement this existing feature set and provide fire investigators with more ways to diagram, analyze and professionally present their findings.

Fire investigators can also create compelling courtroom exhibits with FARO's FireZone software, including 3D diagrams and walk-throughs of the scene. When a point cloud of a fire scene is captured with a FARO Public Safety Laser Scanner, the investigator can create realistic presentations that will digitally take the jury to the scene.  The point cloud can even be used in the courtroom to digitally show measurements, evidence locations and witness points of view.

Dr. Raab added, "For over 20 years, FireZone software has been used by thousands of firefighters to draw pre-fire plans and fire scene diagrams.  The newest release of FireZone software is FARO's latest improvement to our Public Safety suite of software offerings, and demonstrates FARO's continuing commitment to improving our software products for the needs of our Public Safety customers."

Other products in FARO's Public Safety software suite include CrimeZone and CrashZone that are intended for law enforcement professionals and forensic investigators. FARO has also added significant enhancements to CrimeZone and CrashZone during the past year. These offerings, in conjunction with FARO's Public Safety Laser Scanners, allow FARO to provide a complete field-to-finish solution for fire, crash and crime investigations.

More information about FARO's Public Safety software products is available at www.faro.com and www.publicsafety.faro.com.

Reference Literature

¹Firefighter Cancer Support Network (August 2013). Taking Action Against Cancer in the Fire Service. Version 2. URL: http:// firefightercancersupport.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Taking-Action-against-Cancer-in-the-Fire-Service.pdf

²Bolstad-Johnson, Dawn. Firefighting: A Toxic Profession. The Synergist, pages 24 – 27, October 2013.

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that are subject to risks and uncertainties, such as statements about demand for and customer acceptance of FARO's products, and FARO's product development and product launches. Statements that are not historical facts or that describe the Company's plans, objectives, projections, expectations, assumptions, strategies, or goals are forward-looking statements. In addition, words such as "is," "will," "promise," "can," "deliver" and similar expressions or discussions of FARO's plans or other intentions identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to various known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results, performances, or achievements to differ materially from future results, performances, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Consequently, undue reliance should not be placed on these forward-looking statements.

Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to:

• development by others of new or improved products, processes or technologies that make the Company's products less competitive or obsolete;
• the Company's inability to maintain its technological advantage by developing new products and enhancing its existing products;
• declines or other adverse changes, or lack of improvement, in industries that the Company serves or the domestic and international economies in the regions of the world where the Company operates and other general economic, business, and financial conditions; and
• other risks detailed in Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.

Forward-looking statements in this release represent the Company's judgment as of the date of this release. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, unless otherwise required by law.

About FARO 

FARO is the world's most trusted source for 3D measurement technology. The Company develops and markets computer-aided measurement and imaging devices and software. Technology from FARO permits high-precision 3D measurement, imaging and comparison of parts and complex structures within production and quality assurance processes. The devices are used for inspecting components and assemblies, rapid prototyping, documenting large volume spaces or structures in 3D, surveying and construction, as well as for investigation and reconstruction of accident sites or crime scenes.

The Company's global headquarters is located in Lake Mary, FL; its European regional headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany; and its Asia Pacific regional headquarters in Singapore. FARO has other offices in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Italy, Poland, Turkey, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Portugal, India, China, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, South Korea, and Japan.

More information is available at http://www.faro.com.

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SOURCE FARO Technologies, Inc.

Robert Seidel, Vice President, Finance and Investor Relations, Bob.Seidel@faro.com, 1-407-333-9911