The University of Southampton has significantly upgraded its fire safety measures for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals across its multi-campus research estate with an innovative paging system.
Central to this new development is the integration of Advanced's MxPro 5 fire panels with the ESPA Pager Interface, a collaboration orchestrated by Premier Fire Security and Scope Communications to enhance alert precision and accessibility.
Enhanced Fire Safety Technology
With more than 200 Advanced panels installed, including networks of 30–40 nodes and an expanding number of extinguishing panels, the University of Southampton needed a method to deliver specific fire alerts without relying solely on audio signals.
The ESPA 4.4.4-compliant Pager Interface bridges the gap between the fire detection system and Scope's PageTek Pro Mk2 transmitter and EPOCBLUM pagers, ensuring targeted notification delivery.
Customizable Alert System
Users have the capability to program their pagers to manage alerts from particular locations
Each building or group of buildings is programmed to trigger a unique pager alert, minimizing confusion and optimizing response times.
Users have the capability to program their pagers to manage alerts from particular locations, secured with password protection. For night-time safety, additional devices like pillow pads and nightstands ensure alerts are perceptible even during sleep.
A Flexible Fire Safety Infrastructure
Chris Chance, Contract Manager at Premier Fire Security for the University of Southampton, stated, “We’ve worked closely with Scope and Advanced to create a system that’s not only reliable but incredibly flexible. The ability to configure pagers for any location means we can reduce hardware stock and improve coverage across the entire campus. It’s a huge step forward in inclusive safety.”
Operational Benefits and Future Expansion
This group can also initiate fire messages, increasing operational efficiency and control
The system includes a dedicated paging group for operational staff such as engineers, janitors, and security personnel, who receive detailed diagnostic and fault messages from the Advanced network. This group can also initiate fire messages, increasing operational efficiency and control.
Rob Baker, Head of Technical Support at Scope Communications, noted, “This project demonstrates how powerful the ESPA interface can be when paired with our paging technology. The system ensures that alerts are both accurate and accessible, and we’re proud to support Premier Fire Security in expanding this solution across the university.”
Broadening the System’s Reach
The system’s design is expected to extend to all student accommodations, allowing pagers to adapt for use throughout the campus. This strategy not only enhances safety but also streamlines inventory management and reduces costs.
Salvy Vittozzi, Regional Sales Manager for the South East at Advanced, emphasized, “This installation is a great example of how our ESPA Pager Interface can be used to deliver tailored fire alerts in complex environments. It’s rewarding to see our technology helping to make campuses safer and more inclusive for all users.”
Advanced Fire Systems Overview
The collaboration merges Advanced’s proven fire panel technology with Scope’s cutting-edge paging solutions, providing the University of Southampton with a comprehensive, adaptable fire safety framework. Known for its innovation in intelligent fire systems, Advanced products are implemented globally, ranging from single-site installations to extensive multi-site networks, and include full fire detection systems, fire panels, and emergency lighting solutions.
As part of the broader Halma PLC family, Advanced is committed to fostering a safer, cleaner, and healthier future through life-saving technologies.
The University of Southampton, a multi-campus estate with a research institution, has recently enhanced its fire safety provision for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals through a pioneering paging system installation.
Advanced’s MxPro 5 fire panels, integrated with the ESPA Pager Interface, form the core of the new solution delivered by Premier Fire Security and Scope Communications, providing targeted alerts and improved accessibility across the university.
Traditional audio alarms
With over 200 Advanced panels deployed across the site, including two networks of 30–40 nodes and a growing number of extinguishing panels, the university required a solution that could deliver precise, location-specific fire alerts to individuals without relying on traditional audio alarms.
The ESPA 4.4.4-compliant Pager Interface from Advanced provided the ideal bridge between the fire detection system and Scope’s PageTek Pro Mk2 transmitter and EPOCBLUM pagers.
The system is configured so that each building or group of buildings triggers a distinct pager address. This ensures that only relevant alerts reach the end user, reducing confusion and improving response times. Users can manually program their pagers to activate or deactivate specific locations, with password protection for added security. For nighttime safety, Scope’s pillow pad and nightstand accessories ensure that alerts are received even while users are asleep.
Dedicated paging group
Chris Chance, University of Southampton Contract Manager at Premier Fire Security, explained: “We’ve worked closely with Scope and Advanced to create a system that’s not only reliable but incredibly flexible. The ability to configure pagers for any location means we can reduce hardware stock and improve coverage across the entire campus. It’s a huge step forward in inclusive safety.”
The installation also includes a dedicated paging group for engineers, janitors, security, and fire marshals, who receive diagnostic and fault messages from the Advanced network. This group can also trigger fire messages for specific locations, enhancing operational control and coordination.
Enhancing operational control
Rob Baker, Head of Technical Support at Scope Communications, added: “This project demonstrates how powerful the ESPA interface can be when paired with our paging technology. The system ensures that alerts are both accurate and accessible, and we’re proud to support Premier Fire Security in expanding this solution across the university.”
The long-term vision is to roll out the paging system to all student halls, allowing pagers to be reconfigured for use anywhere on campus. This approach not only improves safety but streamlines inventory and reduces costs.
Delivering tailored fire alerts
Salvy Vittozzi, Regional Sales Manager for the South East at Advanced, commented: “This installation is a great example of how our ESPA Pager Interface can be used to deliver tailored fire alerts in complex environments. It’s rewarding to see our technology helping to make campuses safer and more inclusive for all users.”
By combining Advanced’s robust fire panel technology with Scope’s innovative paging solutions, the University of Southampton now benefits from a highly adaptable, inclusive fire safety system, one that’s already being expanded to meet the evolving needs of its diverse community.
Intelligent fire systems
As a pioneer in the development and manufacture of intelligent fire systems, Advanced products are specified in locations around the world, from single-panel installations to large, multi-site networks. The Advanced portfolio includes complete fire detection systems, multiprotocol fire panels, extinguishing control, false alarm management and reduction systems as well as emergency lighting.
Advanced is owned by FTSE 100 company Halma PLC – a global group of life-saving technology companies with a clear purpose to grow a safer, cleaner, healthier future for everyone, every day.
