Neil Thurgood

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.