RES were asked by a prominent local solicitors to install a replacement fire rated flat front door at a prestigious apartment complex on behalf of a client. The specification for the door was provided by the managing agents for the premises. The door needed to be 30 minute fire rated, be glazed and have all the required door furniture installed. Following a detailed quotation with exact dimensions and specification, we were given approval to proceed with the installation.

Our BM-Trada trained engineers set about removing the existing door and frame
carefully.

The replacement door comes as a complete certfified doorset, ready for installation. Our engineers carefully marked out the fixing positions, ensuring a compliant installation to the manufactuers specifation.

The flat now has a perfectly fitting, safe and compliant FD30S flat front door, expertly fitted by our technicians.

“We were extremely happy with the service provided by RES Fire. James Hill was our point of contact and was friendly, professional and efficient. Our options were explained clearly and we are very pleased with the results for our client.

We will continue to use RES in future.”
– A local solicitors firm

RES recently undertook an annual (3 hourly) emergency light service of a large logistics warehouse to BS 5266-1:2016. With over 200 emergency lights on site, covering over 120,000 square ft – ensuring each and every light was serviced was paramount. The site is used by our customer for contract logistics of hi-tech equipment for healthcare, industry and retail.

Using our service management software, Uptick, our BAFE accredited engineer was able to identify each and every light around the premises. The engineer set about disabling the power to the lighting around the premises in sections.  

When the time was right, a visual inspection was carried out on each and every emergency Light, from emergency exit lighting, to internal spot lights and downlights. 

Over 200 emergency lights were checked and any failures were identified whereby the light was no longer illuminated within the three hour time required. 

Using Uptick, remarks were identified against failed items, along with a photo of the device and the corrective action required – which is in most cases involves a replacement device. All the service data is immediately available to Uptick in the cloud. 

Once the emergency light duration test was completed, the power was restored to the lighting around the premises.  

A service report was generated in Uptick, and sent to the customer from Uptick. The report details all the passed and failed items in a clear, colour coded format. 

A defect quote can be created in Uptick to cover the failed items and sent to the customer for quick approval.  

Once approved, a task can be created for the remedial work, thus resulting in fully functional and compliant emergency lighting. 

RES Fire have BAFE accreditation to SP203-4 Maintenance (servicing) of Emergency Lighting Systems. 

The BAFE Emergency Lighting Systems scheme is evidence that RES Fire are competent to deliver maintenance services for customer emergency lighting systems. On going assessments by BSI (certification body) will ensure RES Fire engineers continue to comply to the BAFE SP203-4 scheme requirements.  

BAFE schemes for emergency lighting, fire detection and alarm systems and portable fire. equipment provides customers with complete peace of mind when it comes to their premises life safety systems. 

The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 (made under Article 24 of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005) made it a legal requirement from 23 January 2023 for all high-rise residential buildings* in England to install Wayfinding Signage in their buildings.

This includes clear markings identifying floor and individual flat numbers.

*As defined by The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 as a building at least 18 metres in height or at least seven storeys.

Responsible persons may wish to consider installing such signage in any other existing multi-occupied residential buildings and it is a legal requirement for all new multi-occupied residential buildings above 11 metres (including those existing buildings undergoing relevant material alterations), to have signage installed.

Existing duties under the Fire Safety Order will make sure that this signage is maintained throughout the life of the building.

As a supplier and installer of fire safety signage RES have been auditing two premises who knew they were going to fall under the new regulations and also by premises responsible persons who want to ensure that they are doing as much as possible regarding fire safety in their premises.

Following on from the audits, RES followed up with signage recommendations and a quotation to install the correct signage for the premises.

One such premises was a prestigious apartment block in Knightsbridge, London where both high-quality finish brass effect signs were installed in the reception and on the main stairwell with Jalite photoluminescent signage being installed on both secondary escape stairwells, lower ground floor as well as parking areas.

Photoluminescent signage is advisable as The Grenfell Tower Inquiry recommended that in all high-rise buildings “floor numbers be clearly marked on each landing within the stairways and in a prominent place in all lobbies in such a way as to be visible both in normal conditions and in low lighting or smoky conditions”. As in the event of a fire, photoluminescent signs will assist the Fire and Rescue Service in navigating their way round a building; even when visibility is low.

Alternatively, if an alternative type of signage is required to fit in with an existing fire safety signage system, RES can supply and install them for you and it is recommended that a ‘black out’ test is carried out on communal lighting to ensure all fire safety signage and equipment can clearly be seen under the installed emergency lighting system.

Our customer premises’ wayfinding signage now complies with the Fire Safety
Regulations, giving peace of mind to the Responsible Persons and residents alike.

For further details on fire safety signage audits and maintenance or to ensure your premise emergency lighting is fit for purpose please call RES on 0800 731 0727

For HM Government Wayfinding Regulations goto:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fire-safety-england-regulations-2022/fact-sheet-wayfinding-signage-regulation-8

Our long-standing customer, a property management company, asked RES to specify a new Fire Detection and Alarm System for the communal areas of a prestigious set of apartments overlooking Hyde Park in London, with the capability to interlink to the individual apartments’ fire detection and alarm systems.

This period property, comprising of seven flats split and set over six floors, had an existing wired system which did not provide adequate detection and could not be upgraded or extended.

Due to the nature of the property, with thick walls and ceilings and a high-quality finish with its’ period features, a Wireless System was determined as the perfect solution. RES proposed to install an EMS FireCell solution, using a Taktis Control panel and vision repeater panel.

The EMS FireCell solution is one of the most advanced fire detection systems available.

A Category L2 system was specified for this installation in accordance with BS 5839:-1:2017

The RES engineers initially set about removing the existing detection, and then moved on to installing the controls panels, radio cluster communicators, automatic detection and alarm devices. Over 100 devices were required to cover the various stairwells, corridors, and communal areas.

RES provided the necessary Fire Alarm Zone Chart and Operation and Maintenance Manual containing certificates, drawings, product, service and user information.

By using a Wireless system, RES were able to pre-program and unobtrusively install the new Fire Detection and Alarm System with speed and ease.

The project took just a few day’s and the resulting system provides a modern and reliable system that is fit for purpose.

Our customer, a property management company asked RES to provide a quotation for a replacement Fire Detection and Alarm System following a renovation of a residential property in Reading, Berkshire. The property contained five bedrooms over three stories.

RES specified a BS5839:1-2017 Category L2 Fire Detection and Alarm System, providing Automatic Fire Detection to be installed in the
required areas of the building using a Hochiki Ekho hybrid wireless system.

The Hochiki Ekho system is a new generation of Hybrid Wireless Fire Detection allowing for simple installation, self configuring mesh network technology with robust and secure device communication.

RES were able to install and commission the fire alarm system in a single day. Comprising over twenty devices including the Fire Alarm Control Panel, Detectors, Call Points and Emergency Lighting.

RES also provided the necessary Fire Alarm Zone Chart and Operation and Maintenance Manual containing certificates, drawings, product, service and user information.

RES was able to utilise a state of the art hybrid wireless system to efficiently deliver a robust Fire Detection and Alarm System.

Our client, a local property developer was in need of an affordable, reliable and suitable Fire Detection and Alarm System for a three-storey residential property in the town being converted into a house of multiple occupancy (HMO) – for the rental market. Due to the premises being a 3 storey HMO our client manager Johnny Adey provided a detailed quotation to BS 5839-1:2017.

An BS5839:1-2017 L2 category system was required to cover escape routes, rooms opening on to escape routes and high risk areas

An EMS FireCell wireless system was selected as the best possible solution for this property. The EMS FireCell fire detection platform is renowned for it’s ease of installation, commission and service.

RES installed a Syncro AS Control Panel connected to wireless optical smoke detectors, wireless A1R heat detectors, wireless combined sounder devices and wireless call points in the relevant points within the property, in accordance with BS 5839-1:2017.

The system was fitted within one working day, with minimal disruption to the premises due to the nature of the wireless devices being installed. The system was fully tested before it was signed off by one of our BAFE registered engineers, ensuring full compliance of the Fire Detection and Alarm System.

Our office team then produced an Operations and Maintenance manual and a clearly labelled Zone Chart for Installation by the fire alarm panel at the entrance of the property.

Our customer had acquired a victorian property which needed to be converted from a residential premises to an educational facility. RES were asked to propose the design of a suitable fire alarm solution. Being of listed status, the solution needed to be in harmony with the heritage of this building, with its thick walls, high ceilings and complex layout.

Our Technical Director Jon Toomey specified that a hybrid fire detection and alarm system be installed. This would comprise of a wired part of the system in the basement area, linked to a wireless part of the system throughout the remainder of the property where the heritage needed to be retained.

An Advanced Go fire alarm control panel was selected, which would be linked to the wired devices directly, and the wireless parts of the system via translator modules. A Hyfire Taurus wireless solution was chosen for it’s ease of design, installation and setup.

There are many benefits of using wireless fire alarm solution over a conventional wired solution such as scalability, cost effectiveness, ease of installation and eliminating the need for installing complex cable networks throughout a building.

The Hyfire solution offers powerful new TauREX software which is used to virtually setup and configure the fire alarm system using drag and drop functionality – reducing the time needed to commission the system on site and ensuring overall system performance and reliability.

The installation was supported by a Hyfire representative who was on site and able to provide backup assistance and guidance during the works.

Over one hundred devices were successfully installed to plan around the property including call points (with safety covers), smoke detectors, heat detectors and sounders, thus ensuring the safety of staff, students and parents whilst on the premises.

The entire system was fully tested and certificated by our BAFE registered engineers.

The project was delivered on time and on budget.

Following on from the annual service and maintenance of the emergency lighting at our customer premises by an RES engineer, we recommended a number of failed lights be replaced as soon as possible.

Our customer site, a local Care Home, contains over 40 accommodation rooms, split over three main floors with a lounge, dining area, staffing areas plus a cinema and hair salon. It provides a comfortable, safe and secure place for elderly residents. In addition to the Emergency Lighting, RES also service the Extinguishers, Fire Alarm and Detection System and Fire Suppression system.

Emergency lighting and guidance lighting are essential for the safety of building occupants where a sudden loss of light would prevent safe passage from the premises. RES provided the customer with a detailed quotation, specifying the exact quantity and cost of parts and a fixed price for the installation and the safe disposal of old units. On approval, our engineers were scheduled for two days to complete the works.

Our engineers systematically replaced the faulty emergency lights across the site such as LED Emergency Bulkhead lights, LED Exit Signs, and LED Eyelid emergency lights.

After the installation was completed, a function test was performed on each updated circuit and a certificate issued confirming that the Emergency Lighting was in working order.

With the escape routes now adequately illuminated, the residents and staff have the emergency lighting needed in the event of a fire alarm. With the escape routes now adequately illuminated, the residents and staff have the emergency lighting needed in the event of a fire alarm.

All works are fully documented and an engineer certificate is issued to the customer.

To comply with British Standards, fire door inspection and maintenance checks should be carried out six monthly by a ‘Competent Person’. Minor maintenance issues can then be dealt with during these regular checks and future costly repair, or replacement door works can be avoided.

When carrying out fire door inspections and maintenance we look at the following:

1 Hinges, check for correct hinges used, damaged or leaking
2 Intumescent hinge pads, check condition
3 Intumescent cold smoke and fire seals, condition and fitted correctly
4 Door closer function, condition and functioning correctly
5 Gaps around doors, 2 – 4mm acceptable tolerance
6 General inspection, overall condition
7 Minor maintenance/adjustment

The glazing in fire doors should also be checked to make sure it has compliant fire resistance markings appropriate for the grade of fire door in place.

As well as inspecting fire doors, our engineers are also often called upon to inspect fire stopping, particularly in services riser cupboards located in the communal areas of residential blocks of flats.

When carrying out an initial inspection, servicing and maintenance visit covering all fire safety systems and measures for 24 apartment blocks in London, the client made use aware of an issue with one block’s natural smoke shaft.

Apparently, the original dome fitted to the shaft blew off in a storm!

A replacement louvre vent (which is the correct vent to have in this case) had been sat in a storeroom for several months on site awaiting installation.

We contacted the manufacturers Xtralite to confirm the vents specification who were exceptionally helpful. Due to the time that had passed in supplying the vent and the potential damage and weathering to the shaft we agreed that it would be best for an installation team from Xtralite to be assisted by RES engineers.

The replacement louvre vent was successfully lifted into place by a local crane hire company and installation was carried out.

While the crane was on site, during our initial inspection, servicing and maintenance visit our engineers had reported damage to the block’s stairwells AOV dome so this was replaced at the same time as the smoke shafts louvre vent.

With the crane, Xtralite and RES engineers already on site, the damaged dome was very economical to replace.

We again came across this issue during our initial inspection, servicing, and maintenance visit. Straight away it was obvious looking at the buckled window that it should never have been installed.

The reason behind it was that the roof opening for a dome (which you expect to find at the top of a stairwell core) was just the other side of the stairwell cores wall so it must have been put in the wrong place from construction as the lobby to the apartments had an AOV the same as all 8 floors below.

We contacted Xtralites sales and design team who proposed a louvre window as being the best replacement option.

The installation was not without issue as on removing the original windows frame there were not the fixing supports that you would normally expect to find. Xtralite were able to manufacture made to measure brackets for the louvre windows installation.

This caused a short delay but in planning ahead with a local scaffolding company meant we were able to keep the scaffold in place for the duration of the works.

The louvre window was installed by Xtralites installation team assisted by RES engineers who then carried out the cabling works and commissioned the AOV window, fully testing the blocks AOV system.

• Design and installation
• Repair and/or upgrading of existing systems
• Regular checks
• Servicing and maintenance