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Building Protection and Alarms
News Release from: Honeywell Fire Safety | Subject: Protecting our heritage
Edited by the Buildingtalk Editorial
Team on 30 January 2008
Protecting our heritage
Nigel Pollard of Honeywell Fire Safety looks at the role of fire safety systems in listed buildings.
In developing an appropriate fire safety solution for a public amenity, the use to which the building is put is typically much more important than the age of the building As a result, if a primary concern is to protect the fabric of the building or its contents, the proposed solution is likely to be broadly similar, irrespective of whether it is a new build or an historic architectural jewel
This article was originally published on Buildingtalk on 16 Aug 2004 at 8.00am (UK)
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Similarly, if a leisure facility typically attracts especially large numbers of visitors within a restricted, enclosed space, the type of life safety solution and stringent evacuation procedures adopted are more likely to vary dependent on the layout of the building rather than its age.
A question of age.
Things start to change significantly, however, when it comes to detailed specification and installation.
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In most cases, installing a fire safety solution in a new build is much simpler and more straightforward.
Historically, fire safety was often regarded as an after-thought or a 'bolt on': today, by contrast, architects and consultants increasingly recognise the inherent importance of life safety provision within building design and so involve third party fire systems specialists early on in the development process.
In so doing it ensures the best possible solution, with wiring discreetly installed in the ceiling void or floor space as part of the initial design, rather than having to compromise or adapt the architect's original intentions by accommodating fire safety requirements too late in the process.
In the case of an existing building, by contrast, the infrastructure is already in place, making the replacement of, or addition to, an established fire safety solution more complex.
And, if the building has listed status as a result of its architectural importance, any redevelopment can be especially problematic.
Two recent examples illustrate the importance of marrying state-of-the-art fire protection within buildings having protected status:.
1] University College London.
University College London's (UCL's) Grade 1 Listed Wilkins Building has included full fire protection as part of a major phased refurbishment programme, currently underway.
The installation in the Wilkins Building - one of London's architectural 'jewels' designed by William Wilkins, who was also responsible for the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square - includes Four five-loop Morley-IAS ZX5e networked fire alarm control panels, seamlessly integrated with Apollo detection devices.
The Morley-IAS addressable solution replaces a previous radio-based system and, says senior estimator, Tel Fisk, of Fire Systems Distributor, Fisk Fire Group, "provides the level of flexibility, robustness and security essential in a major Listed building which includes a large refectory, UCL's administrative centre and main Library".
Until the late 1990s, UCL - also known as "London's Global University" - worked with a number of different fire systems, protocols and service providers across its broad 180-strong estate in Central London and the Home Counties, ranging from halls of residence to museums housing priceless historical artifacts.
UCL then took the decision to rationalise its fire protection system, recognising the benefits of standardising safety provision with a single specialist provider, both in terms of operational efficiencies and to ensure a consistently high level of protection.
Under the agreement, a long-term programme is underway in which Fisk is replacing all existing fire safety equipment with Morley-IAS panels and Apollo devices.
Implementation of the new fire safety system in the Wilkins Building started in spring 2006 and was completed in March 2007.
Listed status has placed considerable constraints on implementation work, all of which has had to be undertaken overnight: further, the nature of the building's use as a centre for major University functions - often at short notice - has also required the timetable to be revised.
2] De La Warr Pavilion.
Commissioned by the 9th Earl De La Warr in 1935, the famous De La Warr Pavilion was the UK's first building designed in the Modernist style.
The steel and concrete structure was originally designed to provide accessible culture and leisure for the people of Bexhill-on-Sea in Sussex and the surrounding area.
Seventy years later and with Grade One listed status, it has recently been the subject of a major GBP8 million restoration and redevelopment programme.
Following a competitive tender process, the refurbishment incorporated full fire protection utilising a Notifier by Honeywell ID2000 system and installed by Engineered Systems Distributor, Sovereign Alarms.
The Pavilion re-opened in October 2005 with the support of Arts Council and Heritage Lottery funding and today incorporates a 1,000 seat theatre, restaurant and bar and one of the largest contemporary art galleries in the South East.
To meet this broader usage, it was recognised as essential to provide an addressable, L2-graded fire protection system that met all the current building requirements including BS5839 certification.
The ID 2000 is a typical example of Notifier's suitability for leisure facilities and public arenas such as De La Warr, providing a highly cost-effective, fully addressable, intelligent fire protection system, which is easy to install, programme and operate.
Sally Ann Lycett of De La Warr Pavilion confirmed, "Notifier has provided a high level of protection for visitors, our staff and the magnificent building itself".
"It combines robustness and reliability with the flexibility required to meet our wide ranging needs".
After the success of the initial implementation, work is underway to provide extra workshops at the De La Warr Pavilion and Sovereign Alarms will provide additional smoke detectors and devices for the new facilities, which are planned to open later in 2006.
A commercial response.
Having worked with Notifier for 15 years, Sovereign Alarms believes that the product portfolio combined with business experience are the strengths of the company's fire safety solutions, which are equally suited to brand new builds, existing sites and listed buildings alike.
Strong functionality, cost-effectiveness and market-leading reliability are key to meeting today's toughest commercial and safety demands, whether protecting a modern office block or historic theatre.
There is no doubt that developing life safety systems for historic buildings presents special challenges.
Yet as such widely diverse buildings as De La Warr and UCL ably demonstrate, the latest technologies sympathetically installed can provide the highest levels of protection for both people and property - without detracting from the inherent visual impact of the landmark building itself.
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