All-new wireless fire safety regime safeguards Home Meadow residents

Home Meadow is comprised of 50 flats and operated by housing association LiveWest. Over the years, the building’s existing cabling infrastructure had become outdated, making it unfit for the demands of a modern fire detection and alarm system. A full rewiring was deemed impractical due to the significant disruption and labour this would entail.

As a result, the requirement for a wireless solution was evident. To meet the demand, Cygnus’ SmartNet-Pro was installed to ensure minimal disruption for residents, with its 100% wireless design providing a practical solution and its fully EN 54 certification ensuring compliance with stringent safety standards.

“This was our third time using Cygnus SmartNet and our largest installation using the solution to date,” stated Lee Wilkinson, managing director at Advanced Fire Protection SW. “We highly recommend SmartNet. It was a suitable choice for Home Meadow due to the fact that it’s 100% wireless and a stable and reliable solution with no requirement for cabling or boosters.”

Wilkinson added: “As an installer, it’s important to us that our customers are happy/ LiveWest have been so pleased with the outcome.”

Off-site programming

Due to the completion of off-site pre-configuration and programming tasks, the installation of no fewer than 212 devices was swift.

Oliver Colenso, property delivery team manager at LiveWest, commented: “We specified SmartNet as we wanted a solution that met the highest safety standards and caused minimal disruption. Minimising disruption to residents and workers was paramount. Working alongside Advanced Fire Protection SW, as well as our on-site warden, meant that the installation process was smooth and perfectly co-ordinated. We’re thoroughly impressed with the outcome. SmartNet has now become our preferred solution. Since this project, we have now installed Cygnus SmartNet at more than a dozen of our sites.”

To become a Cygnus SmartNet certified installer, installers must undertake training at the Cygnus Academy (the training hub based in Hereford), Cygnus’ headquarters or the Technology and Training Centre in Birmingham. The Cygnus Academy is dedicated to creating a dynamic and engaging environment where participants gain real-world experience, in the training room.

Lee Wilkinson explained: “All eight of our installers at Advanced Fire Protection SW are certified with the basic training programme. A couple of us have also completed the advanced training course. We found the Cygnus Academy informative and helpful for learning the system and software. The environment was relaxed and the tutors very knowledgeable. We highly recommend the training and we’re keen to send more of our installers to receive the advanced course training.”

Wireless mesh technology

SmartNet-Pro uses patented wireless mesh technology. It allows for 511 devices and up to 96 zones on one system, with the ability to network up to five panels, providing a combined solution of more than 2,500 devices.

The SmartNet network is built on a combination of radio devices operating on a self-forming, self-healing wireless mesh network with multi-path network redundancy using channel hopping technology.

Ultimately, SmartNet-Pro offers a reliable, robust and adaptable solution that’s up to 20 times faster to install than wired systems.

*Further information is available online at www.cygnus-systems.com