23 Jun 2021

VOCA Fire Protection is a globally renowned specialist electrical, security and life safety company based in the North West and covering the United Kingdom.

Specializing in fire alarm installations, VOCA were recently commissioned to install a new wireless fire alarm system for a residential apartment building, located in central Manchester, in the United Kingdom.

VOCA and Eurotech partnership

Daniel Swift, the Director at VOCA Fire Protection said, “The Castlegate building has 84 apartments and is at significant risk of fire, due to the flammable cladding in place. With a costly 24/7 waking watch service in place, a category L5 system was installed to maintain fire safety and reduce costs until the cladding can be removed.

  • Location: Manchester
  • Installer: VOCA Fire Protection
  • Services: Supply of fire detection equipment
  • Products: Toccare Touchscreen Panel

Wireless fire alarm system installed

The new system was then interfaced with the existing fire alarm system for communal areas

A wireless fire alarm system was installed with heat detectors in rooms, with windows and sounders in each apartment. The new system was then interfaced with the existing fire alarm system for communal areas, along with additional sounders on the communal system as specified in the fire risk assessment.

This solution provided the apartment building with a complete, robust fire detection and alert system, in order to enable a simultaneous evacuation, should a fire incident occur.

Toccare intelligent touchscreen fire alarm panel

The Toccare intelligent touchscreen fire alarm panel was selected, due to its clean, minimalist look and ease of use. The Toccare range is designed with the end user in mind.

The adaptive appearance and customizable LED backlights enable the panel to integrate unobtrusively into any interior decor, and is particularly suited to high-end apartment buildings. The auto-addressable panel is also easy to install for engineers, requiring as little as four simple touches to set up.

Euro-fi wireless heat detectors and white sounders

Euro-fi wireless heat detectors and white sounders were integrated with the Toccare panel, while additional Hochiki Interfaces and sounders were used on the communal system. This allowed for a complete life safety solution to replace the existing waking watch provision. By removing the waking watch, the cost of the fire alarm system paid for itself, after just two months.

Daniel Swift concludes by stating, “With the help and support of Eurotech, VOCA were able to design, supply, install and commission the wireless fire alarm system in Castlegate, in the short period of time required. We’re a longstanding customer of Eurotech, because of the exceptional level of customer service they give. Vincent came to the site and helped with the radio survey, and after installation, the system works perfectly with signal readings well beyond the required level.

Complete fire safety solution

Vincent Agius, Business Development Director at Eurotech, said “We’re delighted VOCA chose our new Toccare panel as the basis for this installation and glad we could assist in ensuring his client received a complete fire safety solution fit for purpose. We look forward to assisting Daniel and his team at VOCA with future fire alarm system installations.