For our customer site, a multi-storey residential block in Marylebone, London – RES were required to produce a set of fire alarm zone plans on completion of a fire detection and alarm system installation as-well as communal area fire evacuation and procedure plans, fire escape plans and fire equipment plans.

Comprised of over 50 flats over five floors, some basic plan drawings were provided by the customer as a starting point.

Producing a fire alarm zone plan is very much a team effort.

Our installation team would define the zone information based on the final install.

RES then mark up the blank drawings with the zone information which is then drawn up digitally using CAD software.

Colour coded zones are clearly defined and labelled in the drawing, making it as clear as possible to understand.

The Zone chart is then printed and delivered to site.

A set of fire evacuation plans were produced for each floor to provide residents with evacuation procedures in the event of a fire or an emergency.

The fire equipment plans detail the location of the installed fire detection and alarm system assets, as-well as firefighting equipment.

Our customer has an accurate diagrammatic representation in the form of a fire alarm zone plan, showing at the building entrances, the main circulation areas and the division into Zones.

The fire evacuation plans provide residents with critical information in the event of a fire or an emergency.

Our customer needed a new Fire Detection and Alarm System for a large residential property containing over 80 apartments across eight stories in central London.

Three separate blocks that made up the premises would need to be networked together as-well as a link to commercial premises at the front of the property.

RES Fire proposed that a wireless fire detection and alarm system be installed.

Wireless EMS FireCell devices were connected to three HAES Elan fire control panels, one panel for each block.

Fifty new radio loop modules connect wirelessly to all of the fire safety devices in the building.

Behind the scenes, RES installed new cable trays and trunking to carry new cabling in the basement.

The common areas such as the lobby, corridors and stairwells now have new wireless manual call points, as well as wireless multi-sensors and sounders.

Each flat has wireless heat detectors and wireless multi-sensors with sounders fitted.

Over 400 new devices have been installed throughout Melton Court.

One-to-one training was provided to the porter staff and an “alarm guide” handout and help videos were provided to the residents to ensure that they were informed of basic function of the new fire detection and alarm system.

The new fire detection and alarm system was linked to of the commercial premises in front of Melton Court, so that in the event of a fire in a unit, adequate notice is given to the residents.

.

Melton Court now has a fully compliant Fire Detection and Alarm system which will give the residents peace of mind and confidence that in the event of a fire, they are alerted to the danger.

RES were asked to install a new fire detection and alarm system for a number of residential apartment blocks in the South of UK.

Our customer, a property management company, had undertaken a detailed Fire Risk Assessment outlining the requirements and specifications needed.

As outlined in the Fire Risk Assessment, RES planned and installed a Category L5 fire detection and alarm system using hybrid technology – with both wired and wireless devices.

RES was also able to link the new fire alarm system to existing Automatic Opening Vent (AOV) devices.

With hundreds of flats, split across five blocks, care and attention was needed to liaise closely and directly with each and every resident, via our dedicated ‘Resident Liaison Officer’.

A HAES Elan Panel 5400 was installed in each of the five blocks and linked to the specified EMS FireCell wireless devices such as smoke and heat detectors via EMS Fusion Radio Loop modules.

Care and attention was taken to ensure any necessary cabling was set within neat, tidy and compliant trunking throughout each block.

RES was able to complete the works within a 7 week period, both on-time and on-budget.

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, ensuring peace of mind for the residents.

RES also provided the necessary fire alarm zone charts and operation and maintenance manuals containing all certificates, drawings, product, service and user information.

Handover and a demonstration was carried out on a Saturday morning, providing an opportunity to meet the residents and answer any questions they had.

Our client, SBA Property Management approached RES Fire to quote for the replacement of six flat front doors at a property in Surrey.

The original doors, some with glazed panels above the doors were considered in the premises FRA not to offer sufficient fire resistance to support the premises ‘stay put’ fire safety policy, hence the recommendation by the assessor to replace the doors and glazing with compliant fire resistant installations.

RES Fire attended the property to take precise measurements of each doorset (door and frame) and glazed panels above to provide a quotation for the
project including the options that were available to leaseholders regarding the style and finish of doors as well as the glazed panels.

Once leaseholder options were confirmed and the quotation approved, RES set about ordering the doorsets complete with panels and scheduled in the installation based on the manufacturers confirmed delivery date.

Each doorset was supplied by the manufacturer as a complete doorset (door and frame) including all door furniture (ironmongery) such as locks, fire rated hinges and door closers.

During the installation RES Fire were audited on-site by BM TRADA as part of the Q-Mark schemes’ regular ongoing assessment requirements.

The audit covered both the doorset installation and the surrounding fire stopping work around the newly installed doors.

A rigid process and documentary evidence for fire doorset installation has to be adhered to in order to comply with the schemes high standards.

These include completion of “Records of Installation Activities”, labelling and plugging of the doors, taking photographic evidence as-well as providing product technical datasheets for the specific doorsets installed. Nothing can be missed.

When installing a new doorset it is essential that not only is the frame correctly fitted to the surrounding walls but also all gaps and holes are suitably fire stopped to the required fire resistance as per the manufacturers installation instructions.

Our certification to both the Q-Mark fire door installation and fire stopping schemes means our technicians follow strict installation procedures, ensuring a projects high level of workmanship.

Both the BM TRADA installation and fire stopping audits were passed without any reported issues.

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.