Braiswick Primary School
Wireless
A Colchester school now has a single, integrated fire system across the main school building and a demountable classroom thanks to Apollo’s REACH Wireless system.
Before wireless fire technology, adapting the fire system at Braiswick Primary School in Colchester to include a demountable structure 30 metres from the main school building would have been a logistical challenge, involving trench work or overhead catenary. With REACH Wireless devices from Apollo, the installation was completed in a few hours, and the remote classroom was easily integrated with the existing Apollo XP95 wired system.
The Challenge
Essex Fire Protection was commissioned to connect the buildings with minimal cost and disruption, with the brief of:
- Use wireless devices to remove the need for cabling.
- Complete the installation and commissioning during the half-term.
- Minimise the physical impact on the school buildings and facilities.
The Solution
With 30 metres separating the buildings, across the challenging environment of the school playground, wireless devices were the obvious choice. The bespoke survey kit that accompanies the REACH Wireless range made it simple to design and specify an extension system that is fully compatible with the wired system already installed in the main building. The Essex Fire Protection team installed and commissioned the REACH system with great ease, in only a few hours compared to the 1-week timeframe.
REACH Wireless is designed to solve challenging installation scenarios for structures with restricted or complex access and installation conditions – such as sites with multiple buildings – where wired installation downtime is not desirable. With a battery life of up to five years, enhanced RF communications capability, compact casings and a full range of wireless devices, REACH can work as part of a hybrid network, comprising both wired and wireless components.
Schools are always tricky sites to work in, given the typical variety of building types and the tight timescales imposed by holidays, and this was no different. A few years back, this would have been a major project, but with Apollo’s wireless devices it was a doddle. We were able to design and programme the REACH devices offsite, ensuring that the system was fit for purpose, and the actual installation itself was only a couple of days.