360-degree approach to fire protection delivered at Dubai office complex

Cignetix Systems was responsible for the installation, testing and commissioning of the Advanced Axis EN fire panels at the site. The company also integrated its graphic command centres for system monitoring and configured its AlarmCalm software for false alarm management and reduction.

The Axis EN system comprises five four-loop panels with integrated telephone systems, two dual-loop and four single loop panels as well as a repeater. It’s connected to over 1,000 detectors in each of the four office blocks, as well as to the site’s PC-based graphical mapping system, which is in turn connected to the Dubai Civil Defence for monitoring.

The system has been designed such that it’s easy for new tenants to add more panels and devices to the network, depending on their individual fire protection requirements.

Performance and functionality

Sunil Kumar Gopalkrishnan, managing director of Cignetix Systems, explained to Fire Safety Matters: “Cignetix has worked with Advanced’s solutions for many years now, and we were entirely confident that its fire system could deliver the levels of performance and functionality required to offer a high level of protection across this prestigious site.”

He continued: “We programmed a two-stage positive alarm sequence to support the site’s false alarm management strategy. We also integrated the fire system with a range of third party systems including access control lifts, air handling units and smoke control in order to make it easier for end users to monitor and control the system on a day-to-day basis.”

Gary Craig, sales director at Advanced, added: “Cignetix has taken a 360-degree approach to fire protection at the Dubai Hills Estate Business Park. The company has carefully considered not only fire detection and notification, but also false alarm management, graphical monitoring and system integration. The end result is a sophisticated system that will provide many years of robust and reliable fire protection for the site’s users and infrastructure.”

Sustainable practices

Completed in 2019, the development is home to the headquarters of Emaar Properties, a multinational real estate development company and Dubai’s largest property developer. The Dubai Hills Estate Business Park was among the first to comply with the Dubai Green Building Rating System, Al Sa’fat, which itself brings together a host of sustainable practices and solutions to reduce environmental impacts.

Axis EN panels are EN54 Parts 2, 4 and 13 approved and can be used in single-loop, single-panel format or are otherwise easily configured into high-speed, multi-loop networks of up to 200 nodes covering huge areas.

AlarmCalm software is supplied as standard and allows the false alarm management strategy for a site to be precisely refined to take account of occupants’ needs and area usage. An optional AlarmCalm button allows occupants or trained staff to confirm whether a signal in their area is due to a false alarm.

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