Cornerstone Fire Systems Ltd - Experts & Thought Leaders

When major fire and security specialists - Cornerstone were appointed to deliver the life safety systems for the refurbishment of 77 Grosvenor Street, they faced a unique challenge. Located in the heart of London’s Mayfair district, the prestigious building features classical architecture and over 50,000 square feet of premium open-plan office space spread across six floors. The goal was to upgrade the fire protection without compromising the building’s refined aesthetics. The client, a major property management company, required a solution that was robust, reliable and unobtrusive. Working closely with the design and construction teams, Cornerstone turned to Hochiki Europe, a long-standing partner known for dependable systems that blend seamlessly into high-end environments. Latitude fire detection and alarm control system At the core of the installation is the Latitude fire detection and alarm control system. Chosen for its powerful cause and effect programming, flexible networking and modular scalability, Latitude was well suited to the demands of a multi-level heritage building. Its ability to support complex configurations made it ideal for a site where multiple zones, floors and room functions needed to be managed with precision. To deliver complete protection across the site, Cornerstone selected a combination of Hochiki's Enhanced System Protocol (ESP) addressable devices and the FIRElink aspirating detection system. The FIRElink system is adaptable to a broad range of environments and applications. ESP detectors From small, to very large areas, the system is particularly useful in protecting computer rooms or data centers, but can be designed to fit almost any environment. ESP detectors offer high performance with a minimal visual footprint, ideal for preserving the character of the restored interiors. In areas requiring an even more discreet solution, such as decorative ceilings or high airflow zones, FIRElink was installed using capillary sampling pipes hidden within the building’s structure. One of the key advantages of the Latitude platform is its ability to interface with wider building management systems (BMS). At Grosvenor Street, this opens the door to centralized monitoring and control of fire safety in conjunction with other building systems. Open integration Latitude’s open integration options mean it can share status updates and alarm events in real time with the BMS, enabling facilities teams to coordinate responses quickly and efficiently. For a high-spec office environment, this not only improves safety outcomes, but also supports smoother day-to-day operation and building performance. Patrick Anthony, Project Manager at Cornerstone, explained the decision: “We have a trusted relationship with the Hochiki team. Their systems and devices are reliable, help reduce false alarms and are designed to aesthetically fade into the background, exactly what this project needed and delivers complete peace of mind for the management team.” The site at Grosvenor Street is now protected by a fully integrated, future proof life safety system that meets modern building safety standards while maintaining the building’s elegance. 

A network of fire panels from Advanced has been installed at the prestigious Riverside Studios in Hammersmith, London. Home to a string of hit television shows, including Celebrity Juice, Never Mind the Buzzcocks and Top of the Pops, the Riverside Studios lays claim to being the most modern TV studio in the United Kingdom. MxPro 5 fire alarm control panels Two MxPro 5 fire alarm control panels, four repeater panels and a bespoke damper control panel have been installed, as part of a five-year refurbishment project, which saw the venue close its doors for refitting and refurbishment from 2014 to 2019. The building, that was first converted into film studio facilities in the 1930s, now offers flexible performance and work spaces that include a state-of-the-art TV studio, a cinema and screening room, event and rehearsal spaces, bars and restaurants, as well as a gallery and display of Riverside’s archive that spans its remarkable history, all protected by the Advanced panels. Advanced fire safety system Cornerstone Fire Systems Ltd. was responsible for the design, installation and commissioning of the fire system Hertfordshire-based Cornerstone Fire Systems Ltd. was responsible for the design, installation and commissioning of the fire system. They integrated the Advanced MxPro 5 fire panels covering five stories of the building with the AdSpecials customized damper control panel covering the basement areas. Advanced’s bespoke MxPro 5 fire panels have been designed to monitor the status of around 250 dampers, visible to the end user via a graphical touchscreen interface. Superior networking capabilities Neil Thurgood, Project Manager at Cornerstone Fire Systems Ltd, said “Ensuring a high standard of protection throughout the Riverside Studios was our main focus, and we spent a lot of time considering how best to integrate the damper control system with the fire system.” Neil adds, “Advanced is our preferred open protocol fire alarm control panel supplier and was specified for this project thanks to the superior networking capabilities of the MxPro 5 panels and the company’s ability to fulfill the criteria set out by the damper contractor.” False alarm management and reduction measures Having effective false alarm management and reduction measures in place for the building was also a critical requirement given its use as a studio. Verification and investigation delays have, therefore, been programmed and the cause and effect has been designed in conjunction with the damper control contractor, so that the damper control panel applies power to the dampers while monitoring their open/closed state via the graphics display. Ken Bullock, Regional Sales Manager at Advanced, said “As a busy hub for performing arts, television and media, we’re thrilled to have been able to support Cornerstone with the equipment required to fulfill the specification for this project.” Our AdSpecials department is skilled at working closely with customers to meet very specific briefs" Ken adds, “Our AdSpecials department is skilled at working closely with customers to meet very specific briefs. This was another example of their experience and eye for detail ensuring that a highly effective solution could be created to meet the studio’s unique fire protection challenges.” Multiprotocol fire panels and fire detection systems expert Advanced, owned by FTSE 100 company, Halma PLC, protects a wide range of prestigious and high-profile sites across the globe, from London’s Shard to Abu Dhabi International Airport and Las Vegas’ Golden Nugget Casino. Halma is a global group of life-saving technology companies with a clear purpose to grow a safer, cleaner, healthier future for everyone, every day. Advanced’s reputation for performance, quality and ease of use see its products specified in locations around the world, from single-panel installations to large, multi-site networks. Advanced’s products include complete fire detection systems, multiprotocol fire panels, extinguishing control, fire paging and false alarm management systems.