When the Extra Motorway Service Area (MSA) Group opened on the M25 at Cobham in September 2012, it marked the end of a project first discussed some 19 years earlier. Planning issues and some local objections to the size and scale of the proposed development meant that filling a 63-mile gap between service areas on this section of the motorway took longer than anticipated.
Now, for the 190,000 or so motorists that use the ring road every day, the new £75m Extra MSA provides an opportunity to refresh and relax. Roughly midway between Heathrow Airport and Gatwick Airport, it is home to McDonald’s, Starbucks, M&S Simply Food, WH Smith, KFC, Quicksilver and El Mexicana. It has a 75-bedroom Days Inn budget hotel, while Regus hosts a separate lounge and business centre.
Andrew Long, chief executive of Extra MSA Group, says: ‘We have worked hard to build a rapport with local groups who originally objected to the development. They feared it would be detrimental to their locality but now they have seen the results, many have complimented us on our work here.’
While those wishing to stretch their legs can take a walk around the lakeside terrace and landscaped grounds, most of the visitors need only fuel. Extra MSA Group developed a petrol station on the Cobham site. With 36 forecourt pumps and six dedicated high-speed heavy goods vehicle (HGV) pumps – totalling 141 nozzles – it can serve around 3,500 vehicles a day.
Worthing based Electrical Services & Projects Ltd (ESP) won the contract to supply the electrical services to the Cobham Extra MSA.
ESP’s director, Colin Garwood says: ‘We needed a fire detection system that could ensure complete safety for the those visiting and working at the service station, while minimising the possibility of unwanted alarms. Having previously worked with Southern Fire Alarms we brought them in to design, supply and commission a system that could fulfil these objectives, while we handled its installation.’
Southern Fire Alarms’s systems sales consultant, David Fell, says: ‘Based in Bognor Regis, over the last 35 years we have demonstrated the highest levels of technical competency, professional working practices and ethical conduct. We work across a diverse range of sectors and have an excellent reputation for our quality of service.’
After a site survey, a BS 5389 compliant category L1 addressable fire detection system was recommended. An L1 system is designed for the protection of life and deploys automatic detectors throughout all areas of the building – including roof spaces and voids – with the aim of providing the earliest warning.
Fell says: ‘We have worked with Hochiki Europe for many years and the quality of their products is second to none. Also, because of the way their systems are designed, we knew we could make significant time and cost savings on the project.’
The chosen system is based around Hochiki’s Enhanced Systems Protocol which is described by the makers as a total communications solution for intelligent fire detection and fully integrated systems.
A variety of devices were installed including ALG-EN optical smoke sensors that feature Hochiki Europe’s High Performance Chamber Technology, to combat the differences in sensitivity in flaming and smouldering fires. HCPE-E call points, YBN-BSB base sounder beacons, ACB-E multi-heat sensors and CHQ-MRC mains relay controllers were used.
Fell says: ‘Once the base is installed, fitting the devices is a fast and efficient process – usually taking about 30 seconds. This is considerably quicker than most other products on the market.’
The building contains a large void due to its barrel vault roof design and this had to be covered by the fire detection system. The devices that are sited in this space were pre-programed in advance so that ESP could complete a second fix before the suspended ceiling was put in place. This helped avoid some complex logistical issues and meant that the devices’ performance could not be affected by work being carried out nearby. As importantly, it also helped to reduce the number of site visits. During the construction the area was made highly secure – all vehicles had to be liveried and only approved personnel were allowed on site. Gaining access could often be time consuming, so being able to limit the amount of times this had to be done proved beneficial.
Since it opened Southern Fire Alarms has not been called back to the Extra MSA. Fell concludes: ‘This was a fantastic project to work on and we are delighted to have been able to carry it out using the industry’s leading life safety solutions.’
Contact Hochiki Europe on 01634 266566, email: [email protected] or visit www.hochikieurope.com.
