The scheme is part of the masterplan to redevelop the area around Coventry railway station and has been nominated in the regeneration project of the year category in the West Midlands Property Awards.
So far, Tecserv UK has been involved in ‘One Friargate’, a 15 storey office building which is now the offices of Coventry City Council.
Having previously worked on other projects with Derry Building Services, Tecserv was chosen because of our previous track record and our ability to supply a fully compliant fire protection system that conformed to EN54 part 2 specification. As this was to be a public building, our in-depth understanding of the needs of disabled persons in a multi story building also assisted during the planning stages.
The project also presented the following challenges:
The need to install visual alarm devices (VADs) throughout the building. This presented quite a challenge for a building of this size as the number of VADs required has the potential to be a huge drain on the power supply and cause a complete a power outage, which would be totally unacceptable. As well as sounding an audible alarm VADs will also emit a visual signal so that hearing impaired visitors will be suitably warned of a fire risk.
It is a requirement of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) that all multi-storey building have places of refuge where wheelchair users can shelter in the event of an emergency.
The access control system had to be capable of integration with the systems used within other buildings managed by the building owners such that administration and monitoring of all systems will be possible from a single site.
As a Council building access had to be fairly open to allow users to access the appropriate Council departments.
Fire and security systems
The fire alarm system featured a Gent Vigilon network comprising two control panels sited on the ground floor. One was mounted adjacent to the fire rescue services access point and the other panel was installed in the main security room with a repeater on the reception desk. VADs, manual call points and multi-sensing smoke detectors were installed throughout the building and, as each floor has a small kitchenette area, heat sensing rather than smoke sensing detectors will be installed around these areas. Our selection of Gent devices overcame the VADs issue as they work off a different voltage.
Disabled Refuges
Two protected staircases and a disabled refuge were incorporated into the landing of each floor. Flush mount type B intercom panels were installed in these areas to enable the disabled person to have two-way communication with the security room and emergency services.
Access Control
A sixty door IP based access control system was installed operated by a proximity reader which involved the issue of keycards to authorised users. As a Council building, open access is allowed for the public entrance, but the access system controlled access via the staff entrance, all lift lobbies and to the offices on each floor to prevent visitors straying into areas they are unauthorised to access.
CCTV
The project included the installation of 54 Hik Vision CCTV camera to key external and internal locations to monitor safety and security. These include external public areas, lift lobbies on all floors and the basement car park. This system can be managed and operated from the security room and images viewed in the internal IP network to ensure there is an recorded images of all visitors and risk areas can be closely monitored.
Intruder Alarm
A high quality intruder alarm system was installed, the details of which have to remain confidential so as to not reveal security information.
Seven Coventry firms and more than 320 local people – including 28 apprentices – were employed on the site. Designed by architects Allies and Morrison, One Friargate was built by Bowmer & Kirkland.
Tecserv UK worked harmoniously alongside other contractors to ensure its works to install high quality fire and security systems to ensure the programme of works was able to complete as scheduled.
Please note Tecserv UK only operate within the United Kingdom – any work outside of this region cannot be considered.
