FOCUS
First choice As wireless fire detection and alarm technologies
continue to improve, they are now the default option for heritage buildings, claims Paul Parkes
O
VER THE past two decades, wireless fire devices have become a highly specifi ed solution for heritage buildings,
overcoming at a stroke most of the challenges and pitfalls that these complex projects can present to fi re system specifi ers and installers. While heritage and historic buildings vary
greatly in terms of their age, size, purpose and construction, there are factors they all have in common, and these are the things that tend to cause sleepless nights for the people who design modern fire systems. With thick walls, multiple levels, complex layouts, hidden voids and other complications, such buildings were never designed to accommodate modern infrastructure such as wiring, and installing new cabling that does not interfere with the fabric of the building is frequently diffi cult or impossible.
Forward planning
From the complexity and structural impact of running wiring loops to the challenges presented by the building itself, heritage properties can be a minefield for fire installers. Plans may not be
28 APRIL 2020
www.frmjournal.com
as detailed or meticulous as those for more modern buildings; the quality and condition of construction is often unknown; and there may not be awareness of the existence of hazardous materials such as asbestos. This means that it is very hard to plan for
unexpected eventualities, which can lead to increased costs for construction, ‘making good’ or labour, and even more additional outlay if all or part of the building needs to be closed while work is taking place. Wireless technology avoids the need to fit long, complex wiring loops, and the potential problem of delays and cost overruns caused by the building itself. One of our recent projects saw a design and
install at a school take four days from start to sign off. Contrast that with an identical sister school, where installation of a traditional wired system took eight months, with additional costs, disturbance and a fi re watch required throughout.
Survey certainties
All heritage building projects should start with a detailed fi re risk assessment, and BS 5839-1:
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