Advanced scores on fire safety system upgrade at Stamford Bridge

Stamford Bridge has been the proud home of Chelsea Football Club since 1905. With a capacity of 40,343, it stands as one of England’s most historic football venues. From its humble beginnings as an athletics ground in 1877, Stamford Bridge has evolved into a modern, all-seater stadium. Its rich history, coupled with its status as a Premier League venue, renders it something of a cornerstone of British football culture.

The project involved replacing 14 existing fire alarm panels with a network of 17 Advanced MxPro 5s and three repeater panels, while ensuring uninterrupted functionality throughout the transition.

The systematic decommissioning of the old system and installation of the new MxPro 5 network throughout the stadium, plus the integration of two new PC-Net graphics systems, demanded careful planning and efficiency.

Despite the complexity of the task, the work was successfully completed in just six days, in turn meeting the client’s stringent requirements for continuous protection and performance.

Expertise and dedication

Simon Fiddy, project manager at TP Fire & Security Ltd, stated: “The successful upgrade at Stamford Bridge is testament to our team’s expertise and dedication and the ease of use of Advanced’s products. Despite the challenges posed by the scale and complexity of the installation, the exacting schedule and the need for continuous system operation, we delivered a seamless transition to the new Advanced system. Chelsea FC’s satisfaction with the completed project underscores our commitment to excellence in fire safety solutions.”

Robert Ives, fire safety officer for Chelsea Football Club, added: “Ensuring the safety of Stamford Bridge and its occupants is our top priority. The successful upgrade of our fire safety system plays a significant part in attaining that goal. I’m relieved to have implemented a reliable and adaptable solution, ensuring continuous protection for Chelsea Football Club and its loyal supporters. I extend my thanks to all parties involved, whose expertise and dedication made this project a resounding success.”

Salvy Vittozzi, regional sales manager for the South East at Advanced, informed Fire Safety Matters: “We're proud to have contributed to the enhancement of fire safety measures at Stamford Bridge. Advanced equipment offers the reliability and flexibility demanded by large venues like this one. The project highlights the effectiveness of our solutions in safeguarding iconic landmarks and ensuring the protection of occupants and assets.”

System details

The fire alarm system upgrade at Stamford Bridge combines cutting-edge technology and expert installation, resulting in enhanced safety and peace of mind for Chelsea FC and its supporters.

MxPro 5 is a multiprotocol fire panel certified by FM Approvals to EN 54 Parts 2 and 4. It offers customers a choice of four detector protocols and a completely open installer network, backed up by free training and support.

MxPro 5 can be used in single-loop, single-panel format or easily configured into high-speed networks of up to 200 panels covering huge areas. Ease of installation and configuration, as well as its wide range of peripheral options, render MxPro 5 customisable for almost any application.

The MxPro 5’s false alarm management capabilities are available as standard. AlarmCalm delivers “unprecedented” control of verification and investigation delays. By dividing sites up into virtual false alarm ‘building areas’ independent of fire zones, much more precise control of false alarm management and reduction strategies can be achieved that fits the needs of each part of a given building. An optional AlarmCalm button allows trained occupants to verify if they believe a local fire signal is a false alarm, which is a highly effective way of eliminating unwanted alarms.

The MxPro 5 BMS/graphics interface allows BMS systems and graphical control PCs to be easily integrated with the MxPro 5 series of fire control panels and remote terminals using a simple RS232 connection.

Multiple interfaces can be connected to the network, in turn catering for sites requiring control from a number of graphical PCs.

*Further information is available online at www.advancedco.com