21st Century workplace The Hudson protected by latest generation electronic security solutions

With approximately 23,000 sq ft of office accommodation spread over five floors and located approximately one minute’s walk from Vauxhall Station, The Hudson is a decommissioned Government building which has been transformed into a 21^st Century workplace.

The systems installed by WLS at The Hudson include the following solutions:

*a full L2 fire alarm system incorporating Apollo fire detection sensors integrated with an Advanced MxPro5 control panel

*a Baldwin Boxall disabled refuge alarm

*a BPT intercom which allows visitors to communicate with reception personnel in order to gain entry to the building

*Dahua CCTV cameras which are helping to protect the building and its tenants from anti-social behaviour and theft

*a Paxton access control system which, in addition to restricting access to private areas, is also able to provide real-time reports for fire and security purposes as to who’s inside the building

*Texecom intruder detection installed to protect the building out of office hours 

*a Triax integrated reception system

Implementation of integrations

WLS has implemented various integrations to enable the client to achieve maximum benefit from the respective systems’ functionality. The fire alarm system, for example, has been integrated with the access control system. This allows all doors to be automatically unlocked in the event of a fire outbreak in order to ensure no-one becomes trapped inside the building.

To avoid nuisance alarms, the fire safety system has also been integrated with the DDA system such that the latter will only be activated when there’s a fire alarm event.

WLS has also integrated the fire alarm system with various building services such as the lifts, air conditioning, toilet vents and the mechanical control panels to help facilitate an extensive ‘cause and effect’-style strategy.

Two-way interaction between the access control and intercom systems provides for seamless use of the doors no matter which of the two systems is used to gain entry. Thanks to the integration of the access control and intruder alarm systems, unauthorised users are prevented from entering the building unless the intruder alarm is unset.

Competitive proposal

The contract to implement the turnkey electronic security project was awarded to WLS by M&E specialist Sapphire Mechanical UK Ltd. “Having previously worked with WLS on 14 other projects, we were pleased the company was able to submit a competitive proposal for The Hudson and that we were able to once again work in partnership to provide an integrated solution which meets the client’s demanding requirements,” explained Nick Power, commercial director at Sapphire Mechanical UK Ltd.

Power continued: “The rapport we’ve managed to establish with the WLS pre-sales and technical teams has helped to ensure that there has been good communication throughout every stage of the project and, as a result, it was completed on time and without any snags.”

In conclusion, Power observed: “A 21^st Century workplace should encompass electronic security solutions which are robust, reliable and easy to use, while at the same time collectively creating a totally safe and secure environment for visitors and those who work within. I’m pleased to report that, in this respect, WLS has exceeded the client’s expectations.”