With functional testing of fire systems a legal requirement, Detectortesters’ solutions are used in some amazing buildings and high profiles sites. They don’t often get to hear the detail of these but when they do they’re usually very special – as demonstrated when they joined Premier Fire & Security for a recent site visit.
As long term users of Solo and Testifire, Detectortesters met up with Chris Chance from Premier Fire Security, based in Romsey, Hampshire, to experience their products in action and learn more about the challenges faced when testing on site.
HMS Victory Testing Site
The site in question this time being HMS Victory – the flagship of Lord Nelson during the Battle of Trafalgar, one of British history’s most significant events. HMS Victory is in a dry dock at the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard alongside the Mary Rose, and is the Flagship of the First Sea Lord as well as a museum ship.
The 220 ft. vessel is protected by a wireless EMS Firecell system consisting of 4 wirelessly networked Fire Alarm panels a total of 360 wireless devices including nearly 250 smoke detectors, in addition to this there is a separate sprinkler system installed throughout the ship.
Testifire and SmokeSabre
Typically the EMS system has been maintained using a combination of Testifire and SmokeSabre, with a hand-held aerosol offering easier access to some of the tighter, darker spaces on board. The site visit gave the opportunity to try something new, and the Solo 365 was introduced to Chris and subsequently used to test some of the detectors on-board.
Detectortesters thank Premier Fire Security and HMS Victory for the opportunity
With HMS Victory open to the public from 10:00 am most days, the time to carry out testing and maintenance of the fire system is limited, this means an early start and a focus on delivering fast and reliable testing. The tight, dark nature of some of the spaces on board also calls for test equipment which is easy to transport and position into place.
Auto-LED On Solo 365
Trialling Solo 365 in this setting delivered positive feedback, with the auto-LED on Solo 365 illuminating the ship’s hull supporting quicker and easier testing and, as with Testifire, the in-built clearing mode ensuring rapid clearing of the detectors under test and elimination of the risk of re-alarms.
The light, slim-line design also made for easy carrying and allowed for improved access to detectors in some of the tighter locations. Detectortesters thank Premier Fire Security and HMS Victory for the opportunity to experience testing on board this fantastic vessel. They believe it’s great to experience their products in use and see first-hand the important role they play in helping protect such prestigious sites.