Fire detection panels have been installed at a new eight-form entry secondary school and sixth form academy, designed as part of a £100m development in Broxbourne, Hertfordshire.
Designed by architects Bond Bryan and built by Chase Homes, Broxbourne School offers multiple educational buildings, including a new indoor sports hall, 3G football pitch, a multi-use games area for sports such as netball and tennis, besides The Broxbourne Music Centre.
Winner of the School Building Awards, presented by the Education Business Awards, the new campus, completed five months ahead of schedule, will cater to the 1,500 students aged 11 to 18. The headteacher, Paula Humphreys, says: “This impressive new school with its extensive facilities and resources replaces our existing school buildings, some of which were over 50 years old. Maintenance and upkeep were uneconomical and the buildings did not meet modern standards or student requirements.
“We’re all so excited to be in our new buildings which enhance not only the learning experience of our students but also provide a fantastic resource for local groups and the wider community in and around Broxbourne. Of course, within this, a significant part of the delivery was ensuring the buildings were fire safe, and compliant to latest standards, as a duty of care to all who use our truly impressive new school.”
Fire safety equipment needed to measure up to the scale of the development. Here, Matrix Fire & Security, working alongside Greenside Integrated Services and main contractor, Mid Group Ltd, used Comelit fire safety products.
Knowing Comelit as a trusted supplier, Matrix Fire & Security installed the Atena two-panel network system, which operates on up to four loops per panel to service up to 250 devices per loop. Together with the detectors and sounders, Atena matched the size and scope of the new campus.
Says Ben Lewis, of Matrix: “Having been a Comelit installer for a number of years, we knew instantly that Atena would accommodate the requirements of the school and blend seamlessly with the fabulous teaching and learning environment that has been created. Being so user-friendly, we could install Atena quickly and work with Responsible Persons on site to ensure competent use, all with the backing of Comelit’s dedicated sales and technical support.”
With its networked two-staged alarm procedure, with Class Change and a Lock Down facility, the Atena product also encompasses panic alarms and fire brigade notifications programming. It can manage potential nuisance alarms, to minimise disruption to learning, while safely evacuating students and staff in the event of a genuine fire, the product firm adds. Visit https://www.comelitgroup.com/.
