Wireless fire alarm system installed at Thornton College
Thornton College, an all-girls school in Buckinghamshire, has upgraded its fire alarm system with Hyfire’s wireless technology.
The installation involved four control panels connected to more than 740 Taurus wireless fire safety devices, replacing the previous wired system.
Oakpark Alarms Security Services Ltd carried out the installation.
Stuart Fuller, Fire Division Manager at Oakpark Alarms, said: “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.”
Challenges of installing wireless fire safety in historic buildings
The school’s age and construction created challenges for the installation.
Some buildings on the site date back centuries, with thick walls that made it difficult to establish a wireless signal.
Chris McGregor, Regional Sales Manager for the East of the UK and Ireland, said: “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.”
Features of the Hyfire Taurus system
Hyfire’s Taurus system allows wireless fire safety devices to function independently while being connected via a loop to translators.
The devices meet EN54 standards and BS 5839 Part 1 compliance, ensuring they align with industry regulations.
McGregor explained: “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.
“The partner was very impressed with the equipment.”
Taurus allows up to 15 expanders to connect to a translator, improving the range and reliability of the wireless system.
The flexibility of the system means that fully wireless or hybrid solutions can be implemented depending on the building’s requirements.
Hyfire’s role in fire safety technology
Hyfire, part of the Orama group, specialises in wireless fire detection technology.
Established in 2007, the company offers a range of wireless fire safety devices, including detectors and alarm systems.
Hyfire products come with a five-year warranty and support through a partner programme.
The company provides survey installation, commissioning, after-sales service, and technical assistance to installers.
Wireless fire alarm system installed at Thornton College: Summary
Thornton College in Buckinghamshire has installed Hyfire’s wireless fire alarm system, replacing its previous wired system.
The upgrade included four panels and over 740 Taurus wireless fire devices.
Oakpark Alarms Security Services Ltd carried out the installation, selecting wireless technology due to the challenges posed by the historic nature of the buildings.
The thickness of the walls and the age of the buildings created difficulties in establishing a wireless signal, which was resolved using a radio survey and additional Taurus Expanders.
Hyfire’s system allows devices to operate independently or be integrated with wired products, ensuring compliance with EN54 and BS 5839 Part 1 standards.
Hyfire is part of the Orama group and has been supplying wireless fire detection solutions since 2007.
The company offers a partner programme, technical support, and a five-year warranty on its products.