Advanced delivers on significant fire safety project in Birmingham

One Victoria Square fronts on to one of the city’s most high-profile and iconic squares and is the gateway to the Central Business District. The location features multiple levels containing mainly office space, with a retail unit on the ground floor. The adjoining One Swallow Street also features multiple levels, while playing host to residential apartments.

Advanced’s high-performance, fault-tolerant MxPro 5 analogue addressable panels have been chosen to provide industry-leading protection to all levels at One Victoria Square and the linked building at One Swallow Street.

In addition, One Swallow Street is benefiting from BS 8629-compliant EvacGo evacuation alert systems installed to help keep residents safe.

Differing requirements

Fire safety specialist Gem Fire Solutions was involved in the project from the design stage all the way through to commissioning. The company installed eight networked MxPro 5 fire panels along with an Advanced graphics system and Apollo devices across both buildings.

In One Swallow Street, three EvacGo evacuation alert systems have been installed and commissioned along with Hyfire sounders.

Jamie Dyer, managing director at Gem Fire Solutions, explained: “Being a mixed-used development, it was important to find a solution that would meet the requirements of both the commercial and residential buildings.”

Dyer added: “Advanced’s ability to provide a full package of fire panels, graphics and evacuation alert systems made the choice simple. The MxPro 5 panels were the ideal solution providing a powerful platform, comprehensive ‘cause and effect’ options, a fast network and user-friendly controls. The BS 8629-compliant EvacGo evacuation alert system affords peace of mind that Swallow Street residents can be evacuated safely in an emergency.”

Robust protection

Shaun Scott, emergency evacuation systems application engineer at Advanced, commented: “We offer our customers an extensive range of fire protection solutions to meet the demands of a wide variety of commercial and high-rise residential settings. Our MxPro 5 panels are designed to make life as easy as possible, delivering robust protection that offers real peace of mind, all backed up by our highly-rated technical support.”

Further, Scott noted: “Following on from the Grenfell Tower Inquiry and increased awareness around the importance of effective fire evacuation, we’ve witnessed an increasing number of building owners installing EvacGo systems. While the Building Regulations make evacuation alert systems mandatory in new residential buildings over 18 metres in height, building owners of smaller buildings, or those being retrofitted, are also keen to meet Best Practice standards and keep their residents safe.”