Historic Morritt Hotel protected thanks to Hyfire’s wireless systems

First opened in the 17th Century, The Morritt Hotel served as an important coaching inn on the London-Carlisle route. Through time, the hallowed location of The Morritt Hotel has been privy to many intellectuals, most notably illustrious British novelist Charles Dickens, who is believed to have stayed at The Morritt Hotel back in 1839 to research Nicholas Nickelby (Dickens’ third novel).

In the late 18th and 19th Centuries, famous painters including Turner and Cotman visited the area to paint many of the beauty spots in and around the River Greta. In 1946, and to commemorate this link between the arts and The Morritt Hotel, John Gilroy (famed for his Guinness advertising images) painted a unique mural of Dickensian characters in the aptly[named ‘Dickens Bar’.

Today, The Morritt Hotel is a family-run operation celebrated for its distinctive charm, award-winning dining and the unique Garage Spa. The establishment offers a blend of traditional warmth and contemporary luxury, all of which is nestled amid the scenic splendour of Teesdale.

Moving into the 21st Century

The requirements for enhancing the safety of this historic establishment isn’t solely focused on protecting those frequenting The Morritt Hotel in 2024, but is also about preserving the memories of those who inhabited it in days gone by.

Being such an old and historic building, it was important to upgrade the fire alarm system to properly ensure the safety of the structure, guests and staff. As such, Expert Fire Solutions has carefully installed upwards of 100 Hyfire devices, duly ensuring minimal disruption to the hotel’s operations.

Nathan Cowie, fire and security manager at Expert Fire Solutions, commented: “It was clear from the outset that a wireless fire system was the logical solution for this historic building. Our collaboration with Hyfire was pivotal in being able to specify and install a system that respects The Morritt Hotel’s heritage and complex infrastructure. As a business, Hyfire does so much more than simply supplying the devices. On this project, the company provided us with guidance on suitable devices, positioning and system set-up.”

At The Morritt Hotel, the established and popular Taurus systems works in conjunction with Hyfire’s NetworkOptimiser communications technology. Intelligent signal processing and 60 communications channels mean that, whatever the size of the building to be protected or the overlap of wireless infrastructure within it, there will not be any ‘channel collision’. Taurus, then, can ‘do the job’ with less equipment and less batteries, in turn saving on costs.

Robert Bruce, national key account manager at Hyfire, observed: “The Morritt Hotel is a jewel in the crown of County Durham’s heritage, and we're very proud that our Taurus wireless fire devices now play a role in its ongoing success story. This project showcases how advanced fire technology can be tailored to balance the necessarily stringent requirements of modern fire regulations with the often contradictory demands of historical conservation.”

Enhanced safety

Hyfire’s Taurus wireless detection and alarm devices are fully certified to EN 54. Fire panels are wired via a loop to translators, from which wireless devices can be used on their own to build fully wireless systems of virtually any size or otherwise mixed with Hyfire wired products to provide seamless hybrid solutions, in turn offering total flexibility to specifiers and installers.

These features rendered Taurus the ideal fire solution to ensure the safety of guests and staff at The Morritt Hotel.

A spokesperson for The Morritt Hotel concluded: “Integrating Hyfire’s Taurus wireless fire devices was a great decision. They blend seamlessly with the hotel’s historical character, while also enhancing the safety of our guests and members of staff. The system’s discreet and efficient installation by engineers at Expert Fire Solutions allowed us to continue our operations smoothly, with the old system remaining in service until the new one was commissioned. Thankfully, the impact on the fabric of the hotel was minimal.”

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