Fire Queen was contacted by Treetops Nursing Home as their existing obsolete Fire Alarm System was not working. A Replacement Fire Alarm System was needed, and a temporary solution was required to maintain fire protection whilst the failed Fire Panel was replaced.

The fire safety protection of a Fire Alarm system is essential, especially at a nursing home with vulnerable residents. The existing conventional Fire System went down leaving the care home with no detection throughout. We immediately installed 30 stand-alone detectors throughout the site.  The stand-alone detection were battery powered detectors, these were installed as an immediate temporary measure to make sure they at least had some detection installed throughout key areas and escape routes. Then the Fire Queen team got to work on finding an improvised solution for replacing the existing obsolete system straight away.

Fire Queens Operations Manager explained the challenge. ” As the existing Fire Alarm System was not working we needed to provide a quick improvised solution for the obsolete system. We needed to make sure that our customers were not without a functional Fire System for too long, so some creative thinking was required!

Due to supply issues and lead times we were left with very few options…… Parts for the obsolete system have to be built to order and take several weeks to produce. We could install a different panel but couldn’t really install all the required equipment for this system next to the new Fire Panel, as this would look very unsightly.”

The Fire Queen team came up with the idea of mounting the required equipment on boards which were then mounted in the ceiling space on cable trays. With the creative thinking of the Fire Queens expert team, the solution was designed, put together in-house, and then installed on site.

The Fire Panel and required equipment is now installed and is fully functional without compromising the decoration.

The replacement Fire Alarm System installed at Treetops Nursing Home shows how the Fire Queen team’s expertise and creative thinking provided a quick improvised solution for an obsolete system.

 

Fire Alarm System replacing failed unit

 

Fire Alarm Installation to replace fire alarm System that was not working

 

 

 

 

Fire Safety Advice and Guidance

Are you confident over competence?

Despite all the good work being undertaken through the Grenfell Inquiry, the Hackitt Review and other initiatives, it is the FPA’s view that much more needs to be achieved around competency. There is currently no consistent definition of what competency looks like outside of the industry for fire risk assessors, building managers, installers or maintainers of active or passive fire protection systems. This needs to change. 

As outlined in our first paper in this Know Your Building series, a comprehensive fire strategy and sound business continuity plan are needed in order for organisations to have a truly resilient approach to fire safety. However, another essential element is to ensure that those entrusted with managing fire safety, assessing fire risk and maintaining or installing equipment are competent to perform their roles. This concept of competency lies at the heart of any successful building fire protection strategy. It is a key link in the chain – without it, the chain is broken and safety may potentially be fatally compromised.

In this new mini paper we cover:

  • Key areas currently lacking in Building Regulations
  • Applying competency in practice
  • Third party certification
  • The role of the fire risk assessment

By sharing this mini paper, we hope to help you understand a little more about competency when it comes to fire safety and the actions you can take as a building owner or manager to ensure competency.

 

Wireless Fire Alarm System Fitted to The Coppice Retirement Home. Following a Fire Risk Assessment we were asked to carry out a survey at the Coppice for Select Retirement Service. Next steps highlighted system needed enhancing with Wireless Fire Alarm System upgrades

We noticed that the existing Fire System installed was not sufficient for the proposed procedure for the premises (Stay put). Also, the System was not satisfactory, where detection was not installed in some areas ….. and 1 Zone covered the full premises all over 4 floors and a loft space. This was a big issue because if there was a Fire it could be anywhere within the building’s communal areas meaning valuable time could be wasted locating the Fire. Due to the size and layout of the building and weighing up the aesthetics and labour involved, we proposed to install an EMS Addressable Wireless System. The actual installation of the full system was completed in only 2 days, with very little mess or disruption to the residents. They also have Framed Zonal Drawing installed as per BS5839-1-2017 to aid the Addressable System which now has separate Zones for each floor and Loft.

We also installed Wireless monitoring Equipment so that the premises could achieve the stay put procedure as requested. This would alert the Alarm receiving centre who depending on what time of day it was would either contact the keyholders or call on the Fire Service to attend.

The residents now have an extremely reliable EMS wireless system in place and peace of mind knowing they are safe 24/7 and 365 days a year. Combined with the routine maintenance from Fire Queen this System will keep them safe for many years to come.

It was also delightful to get such excellent feedback from the House Manager on how the upgraded system is working.

Many thanks to M Goodall and Brian Preston at Fire Queen for their excellent service today.

As it was our first test with you I was keen to see how it all went, great guys and a great job done.

Many thanks Janine Carr

Select Retirement Service

 

Wireless Fire Alarm Systems - Innovative, Effective and Efficient

 

 

 

 

With easy installation, effective fire detection coverage, and brilliant flexibility, whether you need a new fire alarm system installing or an existing fire alarm system enhancing/ extending, Wireless Fire Alarm systems are a fantastic option for your fire alarm system. Protecting people and property efficiently and cost effectively.

What are Wireless Fire Alarm Systems?

As the name states a wireless fire alarm system has no wires. The innovative system transmits a radio signal from the call points and smoke/or heat detectors to the fire alarm’s control panel. As a user of a wireless fire alarm system, the system will work and look exactly the same as a hard wired system, if you spot a fire you break the call point glass or the system detects smoke/ heat, the detector sends the alarm signal, the system detects the alarm condition, raises the alarm, and also indicates the location of the fire via zone text. Plus an individual device text description.
So the fire safety procedures are all the same, the system just sends the signal via radio frequency rather than a hard wired signal activation.

Why Choose a Wireless Fire Alarm System?

Wireless Fire Alarm Systems are ideal for fire alarm systems for many situations.

  • Wireless means quick installation
  • No wires mean minimum disruption
  • No wires allow installation for areas of structural sensitivity, Heritage Sites, Listed Buildings or where minimum disturbance is required, Care Homes, Clinics, hospitals etc.
  • Flexibility to extend existing Fire Alarm system – see Case Study
  • Wireless Fire Systems are ideal for protecting buildings during construction as they can be adapted as the construction develops
  • Great to use where access is difficult but still need Fire Protection
  • Wireless Fire system can work without mains power
  • As efficient and reliable as hard wired Fire alarm systems but can be fitted with minimum disruption
  • The layout or addition of devices can be updated if the building is extended or the use of rooms and need for fire detection, smoke/ heat changes, so extremely flexible

What is the advantage of Wireless Fire System?

Wireless fire detection and fire alarm systems have proven to be an important, flexible solution for business owners, commercial premises, care homes, architects, residential developments, property developers and much much more…..

Wireless Systems take minimum labour to install, with a 30-50 device system taking 2 men only 1-2 days to install. Similar installations of wired systems would take 2-4 weeks to install, therefore a Wireless Fire System is ideal where time and disruption are limiting factors

Wireless fire alarm systems are fast becoming the ideal solution for Fire Alarm system installation due to the easy installation, the enormous flexibility and endless combinations of wireless devices, they are also a fantastic method of expanding and enhancing existing hard wired fire alarm systems.
Minimal Disruption, Rapid Installation

Wireless Fire Alarm Systems are ideal for fire alarm systems requiring a quick installation. These fire alarms require no cables installing between the panel and devices. This also means that the decoration within the building does not need to be affected during the installation process.

What types of Wireless Fire Alarm Systems are Available?

At Fire Queen we use a range of systems depending on the specific needs of the premises/ building. Following a Fire Risk assessment, we were asked to carry out a survey at the Coppice for Select Retirement Services. The outcome was to install an EMS Addressable Wireless System, you can read the Case Study here

EMS SmartCell is a fantastic Flexible system with some excellent features.

is the UK’s number one developer and manufacturer of wireless and hybrid fire detection products.

SmartCell has been designed as a complete wireless fire detection system to protect people and property. The system incorporates separate information zones which allow input devices to be configured in multiple configurations, providing maximum flexibility to the user and designer. In the event of an alarm, the system detects the alarm condition, raises the alarm, and also indicates the location of the fire via zone text and indication along with an individual device text description. The system also supports remote connectivity for alarm routing and remote services. The system can:

  • Activate other building systems
  • Raise alarms locally via sounders
  • Raise alarms remotely via integrated or external communication modules
  • Call the fire and rescue service
  • Raise information alert events from wireless input devices

EMS SmartCell Wireless Fire Alarm System

The Wireless Control Panel is the main component part of the wireless fire protection system. Various devices can connect to the system, these include:
Manual Call Points
Sounders, with or without Beacons
Dual Smoke and Heat Detectors with or without Combined Sounders and Beacons Dual Input/Output Devices

SmartCell systems can support up to 64 wireless devices with a maximum of 32 wireless fire detection devices.
Also 230 VAC and 24 VDC powered wireless control panels are also available.
Communication between Devices and the Control Panel is bidirectional and operates in the European harmonised 868 MHz frequency band.
The Control Panel allows full Cause and Effect programming with two on-board relay outputs available. A communications module may also be fitted allowing remote configuration, plus text and email notifications. Alternatively, information can be passed directly to an Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC). Additional equipment may be required.
All SmartCell wireless devices, including sounders are battery powered and do not need to be included in the loop loading calculations.

Information devices can also be added to the system. When triggered, information devices generate information alerts at the SmartCell Control Panel.
Upon an information alert event, details will be displayed on the Control Panel’s OLED display and the Control Panel’s buzzer will sound. The SmartCell control panel can also trigger SmartCell wireless information sounders and/or notify the user via text or email notification.
Typical applications include the monitoring of doors (opening/closing), a loss of power to your fridge, flood detection and an alarm condition on your intruder system.

With significant time saving against conventional and addressable fire system installations, no cables, no mess and no inconvenience to everyday business, SmartCell is perfect for all small to medium sized businesses.

If you’re looking to install a new Fire Alarm System or need to enhance or extend your current Fire Alarm System contact Fire Queen now

 

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