Tall building fire safety

The need for compliant fire-resistant doorsets is crucial, and as Dr Lane has stated, the non-compliance of the flat entrance fire doors would have contributed to the failure to prevent the spread of fire DHF (Door & Hardware Federation) has welcomed a series of findings into the Grenfell Tower blaze by Chartered Fire Safety Engineer, Dr Barbara Lane. Dr Lane, who has presented her conclusions in a comprehensive report, gave evidence to Sir Martin Moore-Bick's public inquiry on 18th June, in which she listed a number of failed safety regulations that she believes contributed to the significant loss of life. 72 people died in Grenfell Tower in West London, on 14 June 2017. In particular, DHF has saluted her findings pertaining to the inadequacy of the tower’s fire doors, described by Dr Lane as “a crucial element of the stay-put strategy, as they represent an opportunity for weak spots to form in the fire-resistant partitions that separate a flat fire from occupants either on that floor where the fire has started, or occupants in the flat above the floor where the fire has started.” This is something DHF has been emphasising for many months.  Importance of compartmentation in fire safety “Compartmentation is vital and plays an important role in passive fire protection”, says DHF’s CEO, Bob Perry, “The need for compliant fire-resistant doorsets is crucial, and as Dr Lane has stated, the non-compliance of the flat entrance fire doors would have contributed to the failure to prevent the spread of fire and hot smoke from the flat to the lobby.” “Additionally,” continues Perry, “she highlights that faulty fire doors mean faulty compartmentation, and compartmentation is the primary basis of the stay-put strategy.” DHF has actively lobbied for many months for changes in regulations and included this in its report to the Industry Response Group Mandatory third-party certification for doorsets The simplest way of achieving compliancy is by making it mandatory for third-party certification of companies manufacturing, installing, repairing or inspecting fire-resisting doorsets and is something DHF will continue to strive for. Under UKAS, accredited third- party certification auditing and traceability procedures for fire doors, unauthorised substitution of compliant fire-tested door materials and components which may lead to failure under exposure to fire, are tightly controlled and generally prevented. DHF has actively lobbied for many months for changes in regulations and included this in its report to the Industry Response Group, with the Tamworth-based trade association working continuously to highlight the importance of compartmentation, issues surrounding poorly or ill-fitted door closers, as well as the need for compliant letter plates, locks and door hinges. Poor functioning of fire doors led to the disaster During her own visit to the site, Dr Lane observed that the installed doors contained different locks, hinges, letter plates and self-closers, which she believes significantly affected the performance of the door, by reducing its burn time. She concluded that the fire doors and their lack of performance, contributed significantly to the spread of smoke, and fire, to the lobbies, with this failure affecting the ability or willingness of occupants to escape independently through this space to the stairs. “The industry has got to do better to ensure that compliant, safe and regulated products are put on the market, and are installed and maintained or repaired by credible, trained people who adhere to the regulations,” says Bob. “For the past year, we have learned the heart-breaking details surrounding this disaster, and the preventative measures that could have been taken to save lives. This report adds further weight to our on-going campaign, so that a disaster like Grenfell never happens again.”

As the report states, the use of fire doors, correctly installed and with stringent fire door maintenance procedures is an integral part of fire safety DHF (Door & Hardware Federation) has welcomed recommendations made in Dame Judith Hackitt’s Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety’s final report published on 17 May.  “We wholeheartedly support the proposals set out in Dame Judith’s final report, particularly pertaining to the development of a clearer, more transparent and more effective specification and testing regime of construction products,” says DHF’s CEO, Bob Perry. “We are particularly pleased that specific duties are now to be assigned to clients, designers and contractors. The need for the information flow to be improved with requirements for a digital record, a fire and emergency file, and a Construction Control plan is encouraging. As too is the need for clearer accountabilities and obligations from both the residents and the newly appointed dutyholders.” Fire doors – integral part of fire safety The Tamworth-based trade association, which, through its membership of CPA and Build UK, were heavily involved in the industry group response finds it very encouraging that their input has been reflected in the recommendations of the report. “All points we were campaigning for in the industry call for evidence were listened to and we are happy to see these points in Dame Judith’s report.” he added.  “Poor building safety must become a thing of the past.” says Bob. “As the report states, and again, a point that we have been stressing for many months, the use of fire doors, correctly installed and with stringent fire door maintenance procedures is an integral part of fire safety.” DHF was co-opted to be members of a small Technical Fire Door Group set up by MHCLG to advise the Expert Panel on the concerns over flat entrance fire door test failures" Certification by a UKAS-accredited body Perry continues, “Interestingly, an equally important document for us is the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government’s (MHCLG) advice note 16 issued on 16th May. DHF was co-opted to be members of a small Technical Fire Door Group set up by MHCLG to advise the Expert Panel on the concerns over flat entrance fire door test failures that have emerged following the Grenfell Tower fire and have been reported in the media. “It’s particularly pleasing to see that the Expert Panel, in point 19 of the advice note, advises that third party certification by a UKAS-accredited body of manufacture, installation, maintenance and inspection of fire, smoke and security doors, will give greater assurance on the performance of doors. Ensuring that door hardware is not compromised “This is something DHF has lobbied tirelessly for, along with the importance of compartmentation and issues surrounding poorly or ill-fitted door closers. This is a step in the right direction and is further reinforced by the recommendation 7.2b in the Hackitt report which states the testing of products that are critical to the safety of High Risk Residential Buildings (HRRB) should be subject to independent third-party certification. DHF will continue to push for this to become mandatory.” “It is also critical,” he adds, “that the integrity of a fire door is not compromised when maintenance or repair has taken place, and that the hardware is not substituted for economic reasons, that’s why point 16 of the Advice Note is poignant to our industry. If every component has its test evidence included in the electronic file, and that there is greater transparency of that evidence, then it is a sure way to ensure that residents feel – and are – safe in their homes.”

Numerous exhibitors from Germany and abroad will be presenting their solutions at the trade fair VdS-FireSafety Cologne on 4th and 5th December 2018 will once again offer fire protection and security professionals a wide range of information, consisting of seven top-class conferences and symposiums, a large trade fair and thematic forums in the exhibition hall, which are open to all trade fair visitors. As traditionally every second year, the major industry get-together for preventive fire protection in 2018 will have an international focus. This means that numerous exhibitors from Germany and abroad will be presenting their solutions at the trade fair, and visitors are expected from all over Europe and beyond.        In addition, the popular VdS conference ‘Fire Extinguishing Systems’ (4/5 December 2018) will take place with an international perspective and simultaneous German-English translation. The programme of the conference ‘Fire Extinguishing Systems’ covers a wide range of current topics around the technology and regulation of Fire Extinguishing Systems (FES), as usual with a lot of practical relevance, exciting international application scenarios and the opportunity for discussion. This year's topics include amongst many others: Water Mist Extinguishing Systems This is about the new VdS-guidelines for this type of extinguishing system, also in comparison with EN-standards and NFPA-guidelines, as well as interesting applications. Foam Extinguishing Systems Amongst other things, current developments in foam extinguishing agents, future approval procedures and the new VdS-guidelines are described - also here in comparison with other regulations. Oxygen Reduction Systems Experience gained over many years with installed systems are presented from the perspective of an industrial insurer. Furthermore, the test methods and their implementation in the planning and installation guidelines of FM Global and VdS are compared. Fire at Grenfell Tower in London The official results of the investigation will be examined and the question will be discussed whether a sprinkler system could have prevented the accident or at least significantly contained the fire. Quality problems with Fire Extinguishing Systems components It will be demonstrated how the efficiency of existing sprinkler systems is sometimes impaired due to manufacturing defects in pipelines. As always, participants will have the opportunity to visit the major international trade fair, the Science and Exhibitor Forum and the Future Forum Fire Protection in the large exhibition hall during the breaks in the conference - both with a large number of specialist presentations on fire protection and safety and security topics.

Checkmate Fire offers insight to Hackitt Review recommendations Mark Williams, the CEO of passive fire protection specialist Checkmate Fire, gives his response to the recommendations of the Hackitt Review. The publication of the long-awaited Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety, commissioned by the Government following the Grenfell Tower fire, saw Dame Judith Hackitt propose far-reaching changes that aim to ‘fix the system’ not just problems with specific products. Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety As a leading supplier of passive fire protection solutions, actively working in the areas of high rise residential buildings (HRRBs), as well as throughout the NHS and care homes, we were keen to see what measures had been recommended; and in particular whether they would include a detailed and workable set of regulations for fire safety. According to Dame Hackitt, a fundamental issue to date has been an indifference and ignorance that has led to cost being prioritized over safety. In addition to calling for the introduction of a regulator, she stressed the need for cultural change to ensure fire safety measures are considered early in the design process for new builds. Fire safety in commercial and residential buildings Checkmate Fire CEO, Mark Williams, said: “Those tasked with responsibility for ensuring fire safety in commercial, public and large residential buildings, and compliance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and Building Regulations Part B, face major issues with fire stopping and fire doors specified and installed during the build process that are critical to the overall safety of the building.” “Problems often start during the fit-out stage, when specialist products are typically installed by skilled joiners and general contractors, who are not necessarily aware of the exact requirements for those fire protection measures. Trying to reduce costs by not using expert passive fire protection contractors often results in the right UKAS-accredited products being fitted but in a way that does not meet the requirements for effective compartmentation.” “This situation is rarely picked up before handover, in part because work can be self-certified by sub-contractors. With the main contractor then satisfied that the work has been completed by a competent person, Building Control Officers do not check every fire protection measure and fire door to assess whether they are fit for purpose. The end result is that new buildings are being signed off for occupation despite the presence of unnecessary - and usually unnoticed - fire safety flaws.” Key issues identified Key issues identified in the Review included: Ignorance - Regulations and guidance are not always read by those who need to, and when they do the guidance is misunderstood and misinterpreted. Indifference - The primary motivation is to do things as quickly and cheaply as possible rather than to deliver quality homes which are safe for people to live in. Some of those undertaking building work fail to priortize safety, using the ambiguity of regulations and guidance to game the system. Lack of clarity on roles and responsibilities - there is ambiguity over where responsibility lies, exacerbated by a level of fragmentation within the industry, and precluding robust ownership of accountability. Inadequate regulatory oversight and enforcement tools – the size or complexity of a project does not seem to inform the way in which it is overseen by the regulator. Where enforcement is necessary, it is often not pursued. Where it is pursued, the penalties are so small as to be an ineffective deterrent. Fire protection products Even at the interim report stage deep flaws were identified in the current system including a door marketed as a 30-minute fire door failing prior to 30 minutes when tested. This revealed significant concerns around quality assurance and the ability to trace other fire doors manufactured to that specification. As a result, Dame Hackitt made recommendations with regard specifically to products used throughout the lifecycle of a building that have a critical impact on its safety. These include: • A clearer, more transparent and more effective specification and testing regime of construction products must be developed. • Clearer and more effective product specification and testing - specifically that manufacturers must retest products that are critical to the safety of HRRBs at least every three years and be subject to independent third-party certification. • A simpler, more streamlined set of standards relating to testing of products used in HRRBs, and the health and safety of people in and around those buildings. • The construction products industry should work together to develop and agree a consistent labelling and traceability system.     • For HRRBs to have a dedicated duty holder responsible for safety of the whole building, both during the design and construction phase and the occupation phase, and for keeping up-to-date records. The Association for Specialist Fire Protection The Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP), of which Checkmate Fire is a member, broadly welcomed the findings; in particular the desire to place a greater emphasis on considering fire safety early in the design process and the suggestion to implement mandatory third-party certification. Mr. Williams backed the ASFP’s position and further emphasized the importance of proper installation and maintenance of passive fire protection measures, along with the benefits of comprehensive record keeping. He said: “Incomplete asset registers, particularly when it comes to detailing fire doors, are a major frustration for those involved in the inspection of passive fire protection systems. How can any planned inspection and maintenance regime manage the hundreds of fire doors on a site such as a large residential tower block without a comprehensive register? “Implementing a proper inspection and maintenance program is a big ongoing job and one that is difficult to simply add into the mix of competing priorities for the general on-site maintenance team. Safety schemes such as asbestos management, electrical compliance and legionella risk assessments usually involve the use of specialists; shouldn’t maintenance of passive fire protection systems merit the same level of importance and resource? “Getting your passive fire protection strategy right is paramount; it has been proven time and again to save lives and protect the integrity of multi-occupancy buildings. Moves that will help to persuade - and where necessary, mandate - constructors, property owners and managers to design, implement and maintain the right strategies for their buildings are both welcome and long overdue.”

ASSA ABLOY launches whitepaper, an efficient fire door safety guide ASSA ABLOY Security Doors, a UK division of ASSA ABLOY, the global supplier of door opening solutions, has launched a thought-provoking whitepaper focusing on the critical subject of fire door safety. Fire Door Safety The whitepaper covers key topics of fire door safety. These include the purpose and effectiveness of fire doors, fire door regulations, manufacturing and installation, and will be available to download from http://marketing.assaabloy.co.uk/fire-door-white-paper. The Grenfell Tower incident last year raised many questions surrounding how we can prevent the spread of fires in commercial and social housing buildings. Fire Doors Fire doors are one of the most important and effective elements of a building’s passive fire protection. ASSA ABLOY Security Doors wanted to discuss how mandatory inspection and maintenance of fire doors can only serve to protect a building and its occupants. The whitepaper discusses in detail how installing correctly specified fire doors can significantly reduce the spread of fire within a building. It then provides practical information which covers current fire door guidance, standards and accreditation. Fire Door Inspection It also calls for the UK government to adopt and enforce a mandatory fire door inspection and maintenance scheme. Brian Sofley, Managing Director at ASSA ABLOY Security Doors and author of the whitepaper, said: “Proper fire doors save lives, but only if they are correctly manufactured and installed. However, there is nothing in UK law or building regulations that states public buildings must maintain fire doors, even though they are a life-saving product.” “This whitepaper provides information and guidance about fire door safety, and I hope it will prove useful for those involved in the construction industry as well as those lobbying to change fire door regulations in the UK.”

The staff were honoured for contributions to the Fire Fighters' Charity, Youth Development and Cadet of the Year The dedication of staff at Norfolk Fire & Rescue Service has been recognised at an awards ceremony held at County Hall in Norwich. As well as commending staff who go the extra mile, Norfolk's chief fire officer David Ashworth paid tribute to the commitment of all his teams. The service’s unsung heroes were honoured for long service, good conduct and making a difference, as well as recognition for contributions to the Fire Fighters' Charity, Youth Development and Cadet of the Year. CFO Ashworth praised the work of his community safety team to reassure the Norfolk public following the Grenfell Tower blaze, thanked his service for their round the clock efforts during the recent bad weather and praised crews for their support in responding to medical emergencies. Acknowledgement for service support Guests included families and friends of NFRS staff, the Lord-Lieutenant of Norfolk Sir Richard Jewson, The High Sheriff of Norfolk Mr James Bagge, Norfolk County Council Chairman Councillor John Ward, Chairman of Norfolk County Council's Communities Committee Councillor Margaret Dewsbury, Vic Thomson, David Bills, Sarah Butikofer, Judy Oliver, Bev Spratt, Tom Fitzpatrick and Harry Humphrey, Deputy Lord Mayor Martin Schmierer and East of England Ambulance Service Trust Director Terry Hicks. Sir Richard Jewson said, “We are living in a time when our public finances are under great stress. I'm so inspired by how you develop services in changing times and we continue to look to you in an emergency with confidence.” CFO Ashworth said, “It’s a privilege to lead our service and I want to thank all NFRS staff for doing all they can to make our communities safe and providing an excellent emergency response.” “I must also thank Councillor Margaret Dewsbury, fellow committee members, the full council and Norfolk County Council's Managing Director Wendy Thomson for their ongoing support to the service.” All of NFRS staff contributes to making this happen effectively and safely Delivering successful outcomes “Financially, with the support from the Communities Committee, the service is in a good place, against a backdrop of significant challenges for other council departments as public finances continue to tighten.” “Operationally we have had a number of challenging incidents and periods of challenging weather. On each and every occasion our staff have risen to the challenge and delivered consistent successful outcomes.” “All of NFRS staff contributes to making this happen effectively and safely. I must also thank the employers of retained firefighters whom without their ongoing support would not allow NFRS to operate as effectively as it does.” Growing volunteer cadre “To deliver all NFRS functions we need to have staff available, equipped and trained. We have had a high number of retirements since this time last year. We have recruited into our wholetime watches and focused a lot of time and effort into our on-call recruitment and retention.” “The Grenfell tragedy triggered a significant workload for our community fire protection team. This was a shining example of excellent collaboration with Norfolk County Council departments and other agencies. More than 150 dwellings were visited, assessed and reassurance provided.” “Fantastic work was undertaken with emergency medical response where we demonstrated what we can do to support other emergency services and our wider communities. Our youth development work continues to develop and our volunteer cadre continue to grow.” Rising to future challenges “This is just a taste of what NFRS has delivered in the past 12 months. You should be incredibly proud of what you’ve all achieved and I am eternally grateful for all the effort you all put in.” “The next 12 months will be exciting and challenging and I look forward to working with you all as our service continues to build on the good work already underway and rises to the future challenges that come our way.” Among those honoured at the event were cadets Jack Travis, aged 15, for volunteering and fundraising Community service Councillor Margaret Dewsbury said the awards were inspiring and underlined the vital work of the service and its ongoing commitment to work with Norfolk County Council's departments to best serve the communities across the county. “The awards are all very well deserved and highlight just some of the hard work and dedication across our fire service in supporting communities and keeping the public safe,” she said. Among those honoured at the event were cadets Jack Travis, aged 15 from Wymondham, for his volunteering and fundraising work and Jess Auston, aged 17 from Diss, who carried out emergency first aid on an 18-month-old. Firefighting service in rural areas Anthony Pointer and Mark Sturman received awards for clocking up 40 years' service each. Retired David Brett was given three awards. The Downham Market crew were commended for maintaining fire cover for the town from a temporary base for nearly three years while a new fire station was built. Alan Jaye and Green Watch from Earlham Fire Station were commended for a water rescue at UEA broad last October. Glen Gates and the Outwell retained crew were commended for providing good cover in a rural area where recruitment of on-call firefighters had been difficult. Glen Gates turned the station's fortunes around and put his own time and effort into recruiting using social media and links to the local parish council to ensure the service could provide cover in the area. Charity for rescue and life-saving equipment Recently retired Mick Jolly was commended for clocking up 46 years of service in Watton. One of his biggest achievements was setting up a charity which went on to purchase Hydraulic Rescue Equipment for Watton as well as life-saving equipment for local charities. Martin Tease was recognised as Youth Development Leader of the Year. As well as inspiring young people and changing the aspirations and lives of many, part-time Martin, also a PHD student at UEA, put in nearly 800 voluntary hours last year to support the Prince's Trust TEAM programme. Councillor John Ward said, “I am very honoured to be present and humbled by some of the stories we have heard. We are rightly very proud of our fire and rescue service which is one of the best in the country.”

FireVu multi-detectors facilitate quick fire detection and remedy at Worcestershire warehouse Budget Waste Management operates a waste removal, disposal and recycling service. It processes the waste it collects at its large waste processing facility in Worcestershire. The company deals with a great variety of material, much of which is flammable. So the risk of fire is significant and the potential impact of a fire outbreak is extremely serious. FireVu multi-detectors rapidly identify fire outbreaks The fire started as a result of an aerosol can contained within the waste being punctured during processing which then ignited. The purple and green boxes that can be seen on the video show FireVu rapidly identifying the outbreak of fire. Crucially, FireVu spots the fire quickly because the multi-detector can identify both the thermal output and visual flame. The system is visual based, so it can detect fire much more quickly at source than systems which rely on an overall increase in ambient temperature, or physical contact with smoke or flame. Other systems will only detect if there is a substantial fire present, by which time a total loss is likely. Early detection means remedial action can be taken quickly, before the fire has taken hold. In this case, an operator is able to stamp out the flames. Without early detection the entire warehouse could have gone up in flames within minutes. Multi-detectors installed by Alert Systems FireVu partner, Alert Systems, installed 7 multi-detectors with an FV1 Annunciator within the warehouse to provide comprehensive coverage of the waste processing areas with associated control room alert functionality. Each FireVu solution is customised to meet the individual client need, and in this case study the detectors were placed in specifically identified strategic locations following consultation between the client and the FireVu team. The result is a very early warning fire detection system that gives Budget (and their insurers) peace of mind of knowing that if a fire breaks out, FireVu will alert them quickly. High tech analytics software analyses video images from the FireVu detector to identify the presence of smoke, flame and heat at source, thus providing fast, accurate, very early warning. Furthermore, FireVu segments the field of view, significantly helping stakeholders to identify the origin point of the fire, aiding efforts to extinguish the threat. The system also provides sensitive calibration features which minimise the risk of false alarms. Why does FireVu stand out in the industry? FireVu offers a unique combination of features not available from other products on the market, including: Can ‘see’ flame colour, brightness and intensity (Planck’s Law) and signal the visually verified alarm in seconds * Works outside and in large voluminous spaces Unaffected by airflow or stratification Thermal detection** with two thresholds to detect heat build-up The visual of the smoke, flame and heat detection provides situational awareness to the owner/operator via FireVu annunciator and Enterprise ObserVer viewing software Can integrate to the alarm panel and automate the shutdown of systems within recommended field of view, **Multi-Detector version Application Scenarios As a visual-based system, FireVu can be applied in many, diverse scenarios. It can be effectively applied both indoors and outdoors; on the outside of buildings or in large atriums/warehouses. Application areas include: High-Rise Buildings Waste Management Facilities Hotel lobby areas Retail outlets Schools Warehousing Industrial Production Line Facilities

Most of the systems installed at Cobalt Business Park use Hochiki Europe's Enhanced Systems Protocol (ESP) With around 40 individual buildings housing over 160,000m 2 of prime office space, Cobalt Business Park is the largest complex of its kind in the UK. Located just a short drive from central Newcastle, it has played a vital part in the regeneration of the region, which is now one of the nation’s most vibrant and forward thinking business hubs. Building work began over 12 years ago and being awarded Enterprise Zone status meant that tenants could enjoy free business rates and 100 per cent capital allowances for corporation tax until August 2006. This led to a plethora of blue chip multinational organisations choosing to locate there and by doing so they have brought over 9,500 jobs to the area. Cobalt Business Park offers access to a wide range of facilities and boasts a surgery, a nursery, restaurants, a swimming pool, a fitness suite and a 500 capacity delegate conference centre. In order to give those working on-site the highest levels of protection its owner, Highbridge Properties, has insisted that each of the buildings has a state-of-the-art fire detection system as part of an overall building services infrastructure. Based in Blyth, Northumberland, ARC365 is one of the north-east of England’s leading life safety installation specialists and it has enjoyed a long-term relationship with Cobalt Business Park. Chris Harris, director of ARC365, explains, “We were originally invited to tender for the fire detection installation in the first building. Our proposal centred on the installation of a Hochiki Europe fire detection system, which we have used almost exclusively over the last 17 years. We won the contract and since then we have been asked to carry out similar work for all but three buildings on the site.” "We will continue to specify products from Hochiki Europe, as we know that we can rely on them to ensure the highest levels of protection” Although the buildings that comprise Cobalt Business Park are all different shapes and sizes, and house many different types of organisations, ARC365 tries to keep the fire detection systems as consistent as it can and introduce as many common features as possible. Harris and his team are involved when the main construction works are underway, usually through Castle Building Services Ltd, who have been involved in the electrical and mechanical disciplines of many of the buildings throughout the business park. Harris says, “When the developer has a client for the building, a complete fire detection system is designed and installed, based on the layout the client requires.” If a building is unused, we usually just install a limited fire detection system in shell and core areas such as stairwells until it is occupied. Working as a team with Castle Building Services Ltd gives them the confidence that the Hochiki products we offer are of the highest quality and reliability. "This innovative chamber design minimises the differences in sensitivity experienced in flaming and smouldering fires" All of the systems installed at Cobalt Business Park are analogue addressable and most of them use Hochiki Europe’s Enhanced Systems Protocol (ESP). Stuart Davies, the company’s marketing manager, explains, “ESP is a resilient total communications solution for intelligent fire detection and fully integrated systems. It has a multi-purpose structure that provides the flexibility and expansion to accommodate simple addressable systems through to integrated building management and safety systems.” The buildings’ fire detection systems are also compliant to the BS 5839 category L1 standard, which means that automatic detectors are deployed throughout all areas including roof spaces and voids. This gives the earliest possible warning of fire and makes sure that there is sufficient time for escape. Unwanted and false alarms are a problem in any type of building but in offices, where there is a high density of people, they are particularly disruptive. Where possible, ARC365 installs Hochiki Europe’s ALG-EN optical smoke sensors, which feature the company’s High Performance Chamber Technology. Harris states, “‘This innovative chamber design minimises the differences in sensitivity experienced in flaming and smouldering fires. The result is a high performance optical chamber that is equally responsive to all smoke types and helps to reduce the possibility of unwanted alarms, as the algorithms in the devices can be adjusted to account for the different environments that they are used in.” A fast and efficient installation is important for ARC365, and the ability to fit detectors onto a standard base unit offers significant time and cost savings, without any compromise in quality. Harris adds, “Our experience with other manufacturers’ products has highlighted just how well designed and thought out Hochiki Europe’s are, what can take minutes only takes seconds.” To enhance continuity across the estate, each building has a stainless steel plate installed in the reception area to house ARC365’s control equipment for the fire detection, disabled refuge and accessible toilet alarm systems. This means that if one of the site’s security operatives has to enter one of the empty buildings, they can easily locate the control panel and know how to operate it. Cobalt Business Park is very much a work in progress and new buildings are being designed and constructed all of the time – the most recent being a four floor office block and a two storey retail/office block - both handled electrically and mechanically by Castle Building Services Ltd. ARC365’s Chris Harris, concludes, “It’s been fascinating to see how it has developed over the decade or so and we are thrilled to be a part of it. We will continue to specify products from Hochiki Europe, as we know that we can rely on them to ensure the highest levels of protection.”

The University Hospital of Wales had been in use for some 20 years and several aspects of its design did not meet current hospital and fire safety standards. Project: The University Hospital of Wales is one of the largest teaching hospitals in Europe. The main ward block houses 800 beds and is a high-rise building. In addition, there is a three-story medical block and a three-story dental block. The three buildings are interconnected by subways and tunnels. The hospital had been in use for some 20 years and several aspects of its design did not meet current hospital and fire safety standards. The hospital had also experienced severe disruption due to smoke spread from some relatively small fires. A radical re-evaluation of all aspects of the fire safety provision was required. This included assessing: Compartmentalisation and separation aspects. Automatic fire detection requirements. Automatic fire suppression strategies. Requirements for storage and removal of waste/rubbish. Procedures for evacuation in a fire emergency. Contribution: BRE Global's Fire and Risk Sciences Division (FRS) was commissioned by WHCSA to assess the total fire safety provision. The hospital of Wales will get an enhanced security and safety cover after the FRS report FRS liaised with the local fire service, the hospital board, the hospital fire officer and NHS Estates in order to carry out a comprehensive evaluation of the problem. FRS then produced a fire safety report detailing cost-effective recommendations, which were based on fire safety engineering principles rather than just opting for compliance with prescriptive codes and requirements. The fire safety assessment report was then used to form the basis of a subsequent £multi-million refurbishment and upgrading scheme. Benefits: FRS is the UK's leading centre for research-based consultancy and testing covering all aspects of fire safety and security. The division can draw upon extensive research into experimental emergency evacuations and occupant behaviour during fires, all of which was important to the successful conclusion of this project. Established in 1947, FRS's clients extend beyond the construction industry, and include those concerned with design, development and manufacture of materials, products, systems, industrial processes, transport and offshore. BRE is retained as an advisor to the NHS Fire Code Committee and the NAPG. 

  TOA Europe is celebrating a huge new audio network installation at OpernTurm TOA Europe is celebrating a huge new audio network installation comprising TOA VM-3000 Series PA/VA systems, SX-2000 audio management systems and loudspeakers, in Frankfurt, Germany. Due to open later this year, the OpernTurm (literally 'Opera Tower') is the latest addition to Frankfurt's celebrated skyline. Comprising a 170 m high-rise building and a 26 m low-rise perimeter development, OpernTurm derives its name from Frankfurt's historic opera house, the Alte Oper, which faces it across Opernplatz. Designed by Frankfurt-based architect Christoph Mäckler, OpernTurm is the latest development by Tishman Speyer Properties, whose last major investment in Frankfurt was the OperaTurm - the 257 m high 'giant pencil' that has stood at the entrance to Messe Frankfurt since 1991 and is known to tens of thousands of tradeshow-goers from all over the world. Though not as high as OperaTurm, which became Europe's tallest building when completed, OpernTurm has already become a landmark building for other reasons. It is one of the first new office buildings in Europe to be certified according to Gold rated LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) green construction standards, and has been designed to consume 23% less energy than the guideline stipulated by EnEV 2007 - Germany's latest set of energy-saving regulations. To help achieve these results, OpernTurm uses a sophisticated BMS (Building Management System) based on LONworks protocols, under which all IT and related technical hardware is equipped with a standard chip, allowing intercommunication between any two pieces of equipment at any point on the building's network. SPIE delivered a complete fire alarm, voice evacuation and paging backbone for the project. SPIE in turn partnered with Hellwig Tonanlagen, based in nearby Bensheim, to design and install the audio elements of the system, using TOA SX-2000 and VM-3000 audio management systems as hubs. SPIE delivered a complete fire alarm, voice evacuation and paging backbone for the project   "In total there are some 13 racks of TOA equipment, including a whopping 78 VM-3000 units and six SX-2000s acting as master controllers, and over 3,000 TOA loudspeakers," reveals Torsten Hellwig, managing director, Hellwig Tonanlagen. "The scale of the project is enormous - with 42 floors of offices in the main tower and a further seven in the low-rise section, plus a conference centre, a casino and other leisure facilities, not to mention a series of themed gardens which connect the buildings together. With their ability to distribute multiple channels of audio digitally, plus their inherent scalability and flexibility, TOA products are the obvious solution in a project such as OpernTurm." TOA Germany supported the project throughout with technical assistance and design consultancy. Wolfgang Pein, sales manager, Germany at TOA Europe, comments: "At TOA we pride ourselves on being able to support our customers throughout the process, from initial tendering through to system commissioning and beyond. You don't just buy boxes from us. This is increasingly important as the worlds of fire detection, PA/VA and security become more deeply integrated. "Designed with full network integration and compliance with EN 54 standards in mind, the SX-2000 and new VM-3000 are perfectly suited to installations like OpernTurm. We are delighted to have been chosen as a key supplier to such a technically sophisticated and prestigious new commercial building." While the scale and technical complexity of OpenTurm are themselves outstanding, the project also required great attention to detail, as Hellwig's Cirullies explains: "Culturally, this is a very important building for the city of Frankfurt. Its lobby areas allow direct access from Bockenheimer Landstrasse to the historic Rothschildpark for the first time since the 1960s, and park itself has been specially extended. The architect was very keen for this space to be as aesthetically 'clean' as possible, so we partnered with an acoustic consultancy, Barth Acoustics, to design custom enclosures that would keep the architect happy, while also integrating seamlessly with the TOA network to provide the required intelligibility." Work began on the construction of OperaTurm in late 2006 and the building opened in late 2009.