Thornton College, an exclusive all girls school located in Buckinghamshire, underwent a rapid and effective upgrade to Hyfire’s wireless fire alarm system. The installation consisted of 4 panels running on a pre-existing wired network, which communicated with more than 740 Taurus wireless devices, strategically placed throughout the College.
The school previously operated on a wired system. However, as it was reaching the end of its life cycle, they opted for a wireless system.
Stuart Fuller, Fire Division Manager at Oakpark Alarms Security Services Ltd, explained that: “it was a wireless system due to the complexity of the building. It’s a grade one listed building that goes back to the 1500s, so it’s very difficult to install as we had to keep the existing system working while we installed the new one. It would have been too complicated for us to run brand new cabling all the way around the school and within the time frames that we had to get the system up and working”.
Hyfire provides an extensive selection of industry-standard wireless fire devices, encompassing optical, multi-criteria, and heat detectors, as well as EN54-23 Approved VADs, all bearing full EN54 certification. Hyfire products are renowned for their superior performance and quality, meeting the highest industry standards and fully compliant with BS5839 Part 1 regulations. Fire panels are connected via a loop to translators, allowing wireless devices to operate independently, enabling the creation of fully wireless systems of any scale. Alternatively, they can be seamlessly integrated with Hyfire wired products, offering installers and specifiers unparalleled flexibility in designing hybrid solutions.
Upgrading the historic Thornton College
Chris McGregor, Regional Sales Manager for the East of the UK and Ireland, explained how “it was a very challenging environment because the walls were really thick. The difficult part was, obviously, trying to get a signal to some of the remote buildings. Some parts of the school were centuries old and built very differently to today’s buildings. The remote buildings had very thick walls and it was hard to get the signal inside. However, with the help of a radio survey we managed to find the best places to locate the Taurus Expanders”.
Despite the installer’s initial unfamiliarity with the Taurus system, their extensive experience with fire systems allowed them to quickly understand how to leverage Taurus features, aided by its intuitive software interface. This adept combination of expertise facilitated a smooth and efficient installation process.
“The installation went reasonably well. Due to the intricate layout of the building, a thorough survey revealed the necessity for additional expander devices, to enhance signal strength in certain areas – comments Chris McGregor – the partner was very impressed with the equipment”. Taurus offers the capability to connect up to 15 expanders to a translator, effectively reinforcing signals where required.
Established in 2007, Hyfire is an integral component of Orama, a group of market leading wireless businesses united by a strong commitment to keeping people and their environment safe using the power of wireless technology and digital systems, creating value and opportunities for our customers and society.
Hyfire has emerged as a beacon of excellence in the industry by pioneering the introduction of some of the first commercial wireless detection and alarm devices that are fully certified to EN54 standards. This milestone has positioned Hyfire at the forefront of technological advancement in fire safety. Setting a benchmark for assurance, Hyfire’s devices come with a comprehensive five-year warranty. To further enhance customer satisfaction, the company has implemented a dedicated partner programme, ensuring optimal support for survey installation, commissioning, after-sales service, and unparalleled technical assistance.
