Five new towers at the University of Brighton’s Moulsecoomb Campus are now protected by a fault-tolerant network of MxPro 5 fire panels from global fire systems pioneer, Advanced.
The 13 networked MxPro 5 panels have been installed to protect the five student accommodation towers varying between eight and 18 storeys, which will provide more than 800 student bedrooms as well as ground-floor fitness facilities and amenities for the students’ union.
Automatic opening vents
Responsible for the fire system design, supply and commissioning were West Sussex-based Southern Fire Alarms (SFA) Ltd, who also installed the equipment alongside mechanical and electrical engineers, J&B Hopkins. The fire system is integrated with multiple third-party interfaces, including automatic opening vents (AOVs), sprinklers, and access control.
A master key switch has also been introduced, to allow for a full evacuation of all towers if required
Careful consideration was given to the complex cause and effect programming that needed to be applied across the site. Each building is configured with a six-minute investigation period, with sounders on the floor of origin initiated after single device activation. A single subsequent device activation will escalate into the full evacuation of the specific tower. A master key switch has also been introduced, to allow for a full evacuation of all towers if required.
Attaining adequate performance
David Fell, Sales Director at SFA Ltd, said: “The integrity of the network was a key concern for our client. Many solutions appear to allow extensive cause and effect. However, in larger, networked sites, such as the five student accommodation buildings at Moulsecoomb Campus, some systems can fall short of attaining adequate performance levels over longer distances.”
“Advanced’s solutions were SFA’s first choice for this large-scale installation. We rely on Advanced products to deliver powerful cause and effect that can be easily programmed and maintained, carrying all the required inputs and outputs for third-party systems. This, in turn, ensures the safety of the hundreds of students who will be living on-site.”
Fire system solution
Ease of installation and configuration, make MxPro 5 suitable for almost any application
MxPro 5 is the fire industry’s multiprotocol fire system solution, certified by FM Approvals to the EN 54 standard. It offers customers a choice of four detector protocols and a completely open installer network, backed up by free training and support. MxPro 5 panels can be used in single-loop, single-panel format, or easily configured into high-speed networks of up to 200 panels covering huge areas. Ease of installation and configuration, as well as a wide range of peripheral, make MxPro 5 suitable for almost any application.
Amanda Hope, UK Fire Business Development Manager at Advanced, said: “The sophisticated cause and effect programming that our MxPro 5 panels offer, brings a range of verification and investigation delay options into play that can significantly reduce false alarms. The project at Moulsecoomb Campus that SFA, our long standing and trusted installer partners, were involved in is yet another fantastic example of our solutions delivering great value, reliability and peace of mind.”
Fire protection solutions
Advanced, owned by FTSE 100 company Halma PLC, protects a wide range of prestigious and high-profile educational facilities across the globe – from Scotland’s University of Edinburgh and Serbia’s University of Belgrade to Myanmar’s British International School.
Advanced is a pioneer in the development and manufacture of fire protection solutions. Advanced’s reputation for performance, quality, and ease of use sees its products specified in locations around the world, from single-panel installations to large, multi-site networks. Advanced’s products include complete fire detection systems, multi-protocol fire panels, extinguishing control, fire paging, false alarm management, and reduction solutions as well as emergency lighting. Halma is a global group of life-saving technology companies with a clear purpose to grow a safer, cleaner, healthier future for everyone, every day.
