Wireless fire system installed to protect Mar Hall Hotel and Resort

Constructed in the 1830s, Mar Hall quickly became a place where the elite of Scotland would gather. According to the history of the hotel and resort (and as recorded on the official website): “Stories of grand balls, roaring fires and lively debates fill its history. There were whispered tales of secret romances, political intrigue and the comings and goings of Scotland’s great industrialists and aristocrats. As the River Clyde’s shipbuilding industry flourished, Mar Hall’s windows overlooked a river that carried the lifeblood of a changing world.”

Such an old building did not come without its own set of challenges when the time came to upgrade to a wireless fire alarm system.

Challenges of a listed building

Before Hyfire’s Taurus wireless system was installed, Mar Hall was operating on a wired fire alarm system for more than 25 years. The previous system not only needed to be upgraded, but also extended in order to incorporate the existing outbuildings.

Hyfire partner organisation JC Electrical & Security Solutions recommended opting for a wireless system as this could be installed alongside the previous system without shutting down operations and ensure fire safety continuity.

Mar Hall’s layout proved quite challenging for the installer to work around. In some areas ceilings were vaulted, while in other locations – specifically the lower staff levels – they were uneven. Moreover, some of the walls are made of very thick stone, in turn making it difficult to establish a wireless connection.

Despite the aforementioned hurdles, the installation proceeded smoothly. System installers were able to use Hyfire’s Survey Lite Kit to pick the most robust signal strengths throughout the building.

When it came to installing the devices on vaulted ceilings, the team brought in specialist scaffolding for ease of access and to fit the devices above the chandelier in the main foyer.

Reliability and performance

In total, the team at JC Electrical & Security Solutions installed upwards of 1,000 Taurus devices across the Mar Hall estate. The Taurus wireless fire system provides “exceptional reliability and performance” through its SafePath Mesh Expander technology. If any expander in the network fails, the system automatically reroutes the transmission via an alternative path, thereby maintaining uninterrupted communication.

Taurus’ black line of devices have been particularly useful. John Cooper, director at JC Electrical & Security Solutions, explained: “The black device range came into good use as Mar Hall has a cinema room. The black optical devices are particularly well suited to that environment.”

The installation was completed without any issues. Mar Hall now benefits from a state-of-the-art fire safety solution that brings the power of wireless technology to this historic Edwardian house.

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