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Industry-leading MxPro 5 fire panels from global systems leader, Advanced, have been installed at Wexham Park Hospital as part of a major upgrade to the hospital’s fire system.

Wexham Park Hospital is a large acute NHS hospital situated near Slough in Berkshire. The 588-bed hospital is one of three managed by Frimley Health NHS Foundation trust, one of the top performing NHS trusts in the UK. As well as the main hospital building, the site has a large post graduate building, ambulance station, staff accommodation and a new £49million, state-of-the-art, four-storey Emergency Assessment Centre.

Responsible for the design, supply, installation, testing and commissioning of the system was Advanced’s partner, Static Systems Group, who install Advanced under their brand name Evo2. Static Systems completed the site-wide upgrade with 20 networked, MxPro 5 panels, 18 MxPro 5 repeater panels and 2000 Apollo field devices throughout a number of hospital buildings and departments including Intensive Care, Sterile Services, Radiology and its new 9,300 sq-metre Emergency Assessment Centre.

Alex Southall, Proposals Manager at Static Systems, said: “We pride ourselves on our skills and expertise in working in challenging, live healthcare settings – it’s where we excel. We specified Advanced on this project thanks to the MxPro’s second-to-none networking capabilities, flexible multiprotocol platform and user-friendly interface. This enabled Static Systems to deliver a seamless installation with minimal disruption to the everyday workings of the clinical teams.”

MxPro 5 is the fire industry’s leading multiprotocol fire system solution and was recently certified by FM Approvals to the EN 54 standard. It offers customers a choice of two panel ranges, four detector protocols and a completely open installer network, backed up by free training and support. MxPro panels can be used in single loop, single panel format or easily configured into high speed, multi-loop panels in 200 node networks covering huge areas. MxPro’s legendary ease of installation and configuration and wide peripheral range make it customisable to almost any application.

Phil Calvey, Sales Manager for the South West, said: “We are proud to be specified in countless hospitals and care facilities across the World. As one of the latest NHS hospitals to be protected by Advanced panels it was a pleasure to be able to meet Static Systems’ needs on the fire system upgrade at Wexham Park Hospital.”

Advanced, owned by FTSE 100 PLC, Halma, has an impressive pedigree for protecting hospitals throughout the UK and Republic of Ireland including; the world-renowned Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital, London, the World’s largest blood processing centre in Bristol and St James’ Hospital, the largest university teaching hospital in Dublin.

Advanced is a world leader in the development and manufacture of intelligent fire systems. The legendary performance, quality and ease-of-use of its products sees Advanced specified in locations all over the world, from single panel installations to large multi-site networks. Advanced’s products include complete fire detection systems, multi-protocol fire panels, extinguishing control, fire paging and false alarm management systems.

More details can be found on the website at www.advancedco.com

Jedburgh Abbey, a 12th century Augustinian abbey located on the Scottish Borders, has selected the industry-leading MxPro 5 panel, from Advanced, to protect a rich heritage of treasures on display in its visitor centre.

Founded by David I, King of the Scots, nearly 1000 years ago and famed for its unusual architecture, Jedburgh Abbey is one of the four great abbeys established in the Scottish Borders. The Abbey’s museum houses some of the famous works of art associated with the early history of the site and some of the artefacts discovered during excavations.

Advanced were specified by the team at SAFE Services who were appointed to design, install and commission the replacement of an ageing fire system within the Abbey visitor centre, gift shop, staff rooms and offices, utilising existing cable runs and containments to avoid exposed wiring.

Graeme Millar, Fire Systems Technical and Sales Engineer at SAFE Services, said: “We have worked with Advanced for many years and as our first choice for addressable fire panels we have installed them in a wide variety of locations. The MxPro 5 was ideally suited for this project due to its high reliability and open protocol which meant that we could more easily replace the old system at a lower cost to the customer.”

MxPro is the fire industry’s leading multiprotocol fire system solution. It offers customers a choice of two panel ranges, four detector protocols and a completely open installer network, backed up by free training and support. MxPro panels can be used in single loop, single panel format or easily configured into high speed, multi-loop panels in 200 node networks covering huge areas. MxPro’s legendary ease of installation and configuration and wide peripheral range make it customisable to almost any application.

Neil Parkin, Regional Sales Manager at Advanced, said: “Advanced fire systems are renowned for their quality and ease-of-use, which makes them ideal for projects such as this. Our products are specified in large buildings and networks but also smaller sites, such as the visitor centre, which showcases an important part of the Abbey’s heritage. As a site of such historic significance it is even more important to offer the reassurance of a high-quality system and our MxPro panels offer all the key attributes required for this type of installation.”

Advanced has an impressive pedigree in historic and heritage site protection. Notable installations across the globe include World Heritage Sites; Durham Cathedral, Scotland’s most sacred site, Iona Abbey and Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia as well as other landmark buildings such as the Royal Albert Hall and London’s Natural History Museum.

To help users, installers and specifiers Advanced has created a brochure outlining some of the solutions available for the unique challenges they face. To request a copy of the brochure, please contact: marketing@advancedco.com

For further information please visit www.advancedco.com

Axis EN and MxPro 5 fire panels from global systems leader, Advanced, have been certified by FM Approvals to the EN 54 standard, becoming the first UK-manufactured fire alarm control panels to attain this accreditation

The FM APPROVED diamond is one of the most prestigious certification marks in the world. It is issued by FM Approvals, a member of the FM Global Group, for products that adhere to the highest property conservation standards in quality, technical integrity and performance. It is a mark of quality and performance that is relevant for any engineer, specifier or building owner wishing to install fire systems that meet the highest property conservation standards.

Advanced’s products lead the market in performance, quality and ease-of-use and the company has been at the forefront of standards leadership for decades across many of the 80 countries it operates in. As well as holding FM Approval for EN54 Parts 2 & 4, the Axis EN and MxPro 5 fire panels were among the first to obtain EN54 Part 13 from VdS. The FM Approval of Advanced’s fire panels also included an inspection of Advanced’s manufacturing sites as it moves into its state-of-the-art HQ in Newcastle in the North East of England. The MxPro 5 and Axis EN labels and branding are being updated with the FM certification in early 2019.

John Newton, Head of Products at Advanced, said: “Receiving FM Approval for our Axis EN and MxPro 5 fire panels is a proud moment for everyone at Advanced and is significant for all of our customers and partners. It further differentiates Advanced as a business that has achieved high standards in fire systems quality, technical integrity and performance globally. That difference is significant, and it means that companies across the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Africa now have access to our industry-leading range of MxPro 5 and Axis EN products.”

The MxPro 5 multi-protocol panel and Axis EN systems panel are certified to EN54 Parts 2, 4 & 13 and come in one-to-eight-loop variants as standard, with further custom build options available. Both product ranges are easily configured into high speed, 200-panel networks, covering huge areas with tens of thousands of field devices. They include high performance features such as Advanced’s complete false alarm reduction software, AlarmCalm, and TouchControl, Advanced’s control and touchscreen repeaters that feature Active Maps and zone plans. Advanced are specified from the smallest to the largest buildings globally including in some of the most prestigious developments such as; The Shard in London, Abu Dhabi’s International Airport and Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia.

FM Approvals is an international leader in third-party testing and certification services for property loss prevention products and services for use in commercial and industrial facilities to verify they meet rigorous loss prevention standards of quality, technical integrity and performance. FM Approvals employs a worldwide certification process that is backed by scientific research and testing, and over a century of experience. The FM APPROVED mark is recognized and respected worldwide.

Advanced’s Axis EN and MxPro 5 fire panels are now listed in FM Approvals’ on-line Approval Guide which houses real-time information about tens of thousands of products and services certified by FM Approvals.

Advanced is a world leader in the development and manufacture of intelligent fire systems. The legendary performance, quality and ease of use of its products sees Advanced specified in locations all over the world, from single panel installations to large, multi-site networks. Advanced’s products include complete fire detection systems, multi-protocol fire panels, extinguishing control, fire paging and false alarm management systems.

For further information please visit uk.advancedco.com

One of London’s most prestigious hotels, The Berkeley in Knightsbridge, London, is now protected by a Lux Intelligent emergency lighting test system and MxPro fire panels from Advanced.

With a history dating back to the 1800s, the current 214-bedroom Berkeley Hotel was built in 1972, incorporating elements of the original building, and it has recently been subject to a major refurbishment covering all bedrooms, suites, terraces, the lobby, the restaurant, the iconic Blue Bar and the main entrance.

Lewis Bowden, spokesperson for Surrey-based Alarm Commuication Ltd, the company that specified and installed the system, explained: “Hotels require state of the art emergency lighting systems to safeguard their staff and residents in an emergency situation, helping to facilitate an orderly evacuation and also to guide firefighters coming into the building. As a long-time Advanced partner, we believed that Lux Intelligent, alongside Advanced MxPro fire panels, was the right choice for The Berkeley, offering the stand-out capabilities, features and reliability required of a system of this type.

More than 200 Advanced luminaires have been installed in the historic hotel, on Wilton Place, which is part of the same stable as Claridge’s. They are monitored and controlled by a Lux Intelligent panel, connected to the building’s fire system. Most of the luminaires are from the Advanced LED-Lite range, which can be recessed into ceilings, offering an aesthically pleasing solution in the public areas of the prestigious building.

Ken Bullock, regional sales manager for Advanced, said: “Our Lux Intelligent system offers many benefits including real peace of mind, the ability to work with almost any light, and cost and admin savings. Alsongside the MxPro multiprotocol fire panels, we’re proud to be providing market-leading protection to the staff and residents at the Berkeley.”

Lux Intelligent, ensures all emergency lighting is functioning and compliant to BS5266-1. The system can be retrofitted onto existing wiring and luminaires, keeping installation costs to a minimum. It is one of the most flexible systems available with panels supporting 1-4 loops, 249 devices per loop and up to 200 panels in a network. Lux Intelligent is also compatible with most third party lights and luminaires, including LEDs, giving installers and end users unprecedented purchasing freedom.

Lux Intelligent systems can be remotely managed and monitored using web and iOS apps via the Lux Intelligent Cloud. Users can add any site in their portfolio to the cloud service and get live system data from site, right down to device level. Fault, test and maintenance reports can be generated from a whole site right down to individual devices. These can be shared with colleagues or maintenance partners in a click.

The MxPro is the industry’s unbeatable multiprotocol fire panel. Built on almost two-decades of market leadership it offers greater freedom to specifiers, end users and installers and includes two panel ranges, the flagship EN54-2, 4 & 13 approved MxPro 5, and the benchmark MxPro 4. Both come in 1-8 loop formats, are compatible with Apollo, Argus, Hochiki and Nittan protocols and can be networked into 200-panel strong systems.

Advanced is a world leader in the development and manufacture of intelligent fire systems. Its legendary performance, quality and ease-of-use sees its products used in prestigious and challenging locations all over the world, from single panel installations to large multi-site networks. Advanced products include complete fire detection systems, multi-protocol fire panels, emergency light testing, extinguishing control and fire paging systems.

More details on Lux Intelligent can be found on the website www.luxintelligent.com.

Global fire systems leader, Advanced, has launched a new guide to fire protection for historic and heritage sites.

Historic and heritage sites present unique challenges to end users, specifiers and installers. The new brochure is designed to help key stakeholders understand some of the solutions available for the challenges they face. It addresses many common problems in ensuring adequate active fire protection, tackling the challenges of minimising aesthetic impact, quick, safe evacuation and eliminating unwanted alarms, among many more.

Advanced has a global reputation for excellence in the sector and its system, across EN and UL approvals are protecting some of the most famous, valuable and most visited sites anywhere including: Hagia Sophia, Istanbul; Durham Cathedral; The Magna Carta at Lincoln Castle; Iona Abbey; the Natural History Museum and Trinity Episcopal Church, Rhode Island.

Aston Bowles, Head of Marketing at Advanced, said “Advanced systems are protecting some of the most famous and valuable heritage and cultural assets worldwide. Historic structures present unique challenges for the fire system industry, but innovation is delivering significant choice and performance gains for end users, specifiers and responsible people in the sector. The new brochure aims to offer insight into the sector and the solutions that can be used.”

Advanced is a world leader in the development and manufacture of intelligent fire systems. The legendary performance, quality and ease of use of its products sees Advanced specified in locations all over the world, from single panel installations to large, multi-site networks. Advanced’s products include complete fire detection systems, multi-protocol fire panels, extinguishing control, fire paging and false alarm management systems.

To request a copy of the Historic Sites Brochure please contact: marketing@advancedco.com.

A key driver in the successful delivery of the UK’s £42.6 billion HS2 project, the new National College for High Speed Rail, is now protected by industry-leading fire panels from Advanced.

Located in Doncaster, a town historically known for its prominent role in rail engineering and maintenance, the college occupies 76,000 sq ft of teaching and workshop space, with specialist training installations, including 150 metres of external track and catenary. It will train thousands of engineers to meet HS2’s future needs, as well as those of the wider rail sector. With 2,000 apprenticeship opportunities set to be created by HS2, and 25,000 people employed during construction, there has been, and continues to be high demand for appropriately skilled workers.

The Advanced MxPro panels were specified by the team at GBE Fire and Security, who were appointed by main contractor Briggs and Forrester to specify, install and commission the fire system at the site.

GBE’s Business Development Manager, Andy Westgarth, commented “We’re thrilled to have been involved in this project. The college will create many opportunities for young people and make a major contribution to the Northern Powerhouse. With sensitive installations, including electrical catenary, a high-quality fire system is essential and, as a longstanding Advanced partner, we feel that MxPro panels are the ideal solution.”

MxPro is the fire industry’s leading multiprotocol fire system solution. It offers customers a choice of two panel ranges, four detector protocols and a completely open installer network, backed up by free training and support. MxPro panels can be used in single loop, single panel format or easily configured into high speed, multi-loop panels in 200 node networks covering huge areas. MxPro’s legendary ease of installation and configuration and wide peripheral range make it customisable to almost any application.

Neil Parkin, Advanced Sales Manager for the North, commented “This is the latest in a series of high-profile rail sector installations for Advanced panels. We have worked with GBE on many projects and it’s great to be working with them on such a positive project. MxPro ticks all the boxes for the National College for High Speed Rail, combining proven reliability with innovation and ease-of-use.”

Advanced are members of the Rail Industry Fire Association (RIFA) and have panels installed in a number of other rail-related buildings, including the Tottenham Court Road Crossrail station, almost 100 London Underground stations, the Hitachi Rail Europe factory in Newton Aycliffe and the Tyne & Wear Metro.

MxPro is Advanced’s flagship range of multiprotocol panels, offers customers a choice of two panel ranges, four detector protocols and a completely open installer network that enjoys free training and support.

Advanced is a world leader in the development and manufacture of intelligent fire systems. The legendary performance, quality and ease-of-use of its products sees Advanced specified in locations all over the world, from single panel installations to large multi-site networks. Advanced’s products include complete fire detection systems, multi-protocol fire panels, extinguishing control, fire paging and false alarm management systems.

More details can be found on the website at www.advancedco.com.

Meyer Bergman’s £260 million shopping and leisure complex, The Broadway, in Bradford, UK, is being protected by industry-leading fire panels from Advanced.

The Broadway is the latest UK retail venture for Meyer Bergman, which also owns The Bentall Centre in Kingston upon Thames and London’s iconic Burlington Arcade. It is home to over 570,000 sq. ft. of retail and leisure units, plus 1,300 parking spaces. Advanced protects numerous retail destinations around the world, including Westfield Stratford City, in East London, and Harvey Nichols’ Birmingham store.

At the heart of The Broadway’s active fire protection system, which covers all areas of the shopping centre, is a network of 10 Advanced MxPro 5 intelligent multiprotocol panels. This is augmented with a TouchControl touchscreen repeater panel, a special evacuation zone control package, a BMS interface, and a bespoke PC-based graphical user interface. The network was designed, configured and commissioned by Carlton Fire Systems Ltd, a long-time Advanced partner, with the installation of equipment and cables being undertaken by Pitts Wilson Electrical.

Carl Purkiss, spokesperson for Carlton Fire, said “Advanced panels are well known for their performance, quality and ease of use. They are manufactured to a very high standard and their reliability is unrivalled. We needed a system that fulfilled all of the client’s requirements and the Advanced panels fitted the specifications, especially the new TouchControl panel.”

TouchControl is a fully functional remote terminal and repeater, with a 10-inch HD touchscreen, that delivers new and innovative solutions including Active Maps and zone plans, which are easily added to the system from almost any drawing or image, even Google Maps. As well as graphical control and indication, the unique TouchControl interface offers fire panel, network control and reporting right down to individual device level, allowing users to immediately identify the location of a fire alert. Devices in fire, fault, disablement and test status can be controlled using dynamic colour-coded status buttons. TouchControl panels can also run presentations or slideshows when not in active mode.

Ian Ward, General Manager of The Broadway, commented: “The Broadway represents a major investment by Meyer Bergman in the city of Bradford. We’re proud to develop the finest retail and leisure facilities for our tenants and customers, and this includes fire protection. The complex was the first in the UK to open without a fire marshal as the system was completed ahead of schedule, and we have complete confidence in the capabilities of the Advanced panels.”

MxPro is the fire industry’s leading multiprotocol fire solution, offering customers a choice of two panel ranges, four detector protocols and a completely open installer network that enjoys free training and support. With EN54 parts 2, 4 and 13 approvals, MxPro 5 panels can be used in single loop, single panel format or easily configured into high speed, 200 panel networks covering huge areas.

Advanced’s legendary ease of installation and configuration and wide peripheral range make it customisable to almost any application and it is found in challenging and prestigious sites around the world including western Europe’s tallest building, The Shard.

Neil Parkin, sales manager for Advanced, said: “We are delighted that Advanced products have been specified for such a high-profile installation. Meyer Bergman is one of the world’s largest development companies and it’s great to add them to our global client portfolio. MxPro panels are the ideal choice for this type of installation, combining proven reliability with innovation and ease of use.”

Advanced is a world leader in the development and manufacture of intelligent fire systems. The legendary performance, quality and ease of use of its products sees Advanced specified in locations all over the world, from single panel installations to large multi-site networks. Advanced’s products include complete fire detection systems, multi-protocol fire panels, extinguishing control, fire paging and false alarm management systems.

More details can be found on the website at www.advancedco.com or call Advanced on 01670 707 111.

The Chocolate Quarter, one of the UK’s most stylish retirement complexes, is now protected by industry-leading fire panels from Advanced.

Originally the home of Fry’s chocolate, the iconic collection of 1920s buildings has been sympathetically developed by KWL Architects and Andrew Wilson Developments for Bristol-based charity, the St Monica Trust. The result is an impressive complex of high-spec apartments, elegant living spaces and a range of leisure facilities. As well as protecting the multi-tenant retirement apartments and care home, the Advanced system also covers a doctors’ surgery, offices, spa, retail space and car park.

MFS designed, installed and commissioned the Advanced system, which comprises a network of 19 MxPro 5 single-loop, four-loop and repeater panels with Hochiki smoke and heat detectors, multi-sensors and heat detection cable.

The installation of MxPro 5 means that the fire system is also linked to the site’s DECT using an ESPA interface, which allows live fire system status information to be passed to staff pagers.

Speaking about the installation, Rick Coles, Managing Director at MFS, said “The project required complicated cause and effect because of the buildings’ wide variety of uses. The sheltered accommodation and extra care areas needed a completely different approach to the communal areas, shops and restaurants. The complex also has a spa and hydro pool, so we faced an entirely different set of challenges in those areas.

“We chose Advanced panels because of their reliability and the high level of flexibility and ease they offer when programming cause and effect. Although useful for any project, this versatility really comes into its own on large multi-use sites with many different demands. We also had to link the fire system with the site’s DECT, which is very straightforward to do using Advanced equipment and an ESPA interface.”

Phil Calvey, Advanced Sales Manager for the South West, commented “Advanced’s MxPro 5 panels are particularly suited for use in residential and care home settings. The Chocolate Quarter is a demanding site with a wide range of uses. Many of its residents are elderly and false alarms can cause considerable confusion and distress, so the installation had to offer the highest levels of protection and peace of mind.”

The MxPro 5 is the leading multiprotocol fire panel range available and offers high-performance fire detection and alarm control across multi-panel networks and multiple sites. MxPro 5 panels are EN54 parts 2, 4 and 13 approved. They can be used in single loop, single panel format or easily configured into high-speed, 200-panel networks covering huge areas.

MxPro offers customers a choice of two panel ranges, four detector protocols and a completely open installer network, backed up by free training and support. Advanced’s ease of installation and configuration make MxPro customisable to almost any application.

Advanced is a world leader in the development and manufacture of intelligent fire systems. The legendary performance, quality and ease of use of its products sees Advanced specified in locations all over the world, from single-panel installations to large, multi-site networks. Advanced’s products include complete fire detection systems, multi-protocol fire panels, extinguishing control, fire paging and false alarm management systems.

More details can be found on the website at www.advancedco.com.

LSO St Luke’s, home of the world-renowned London Symphony Orchestra’s community and education programme, LSO Discovery, is now protected by industry-leading fire panels from Advanced.

LSO St Luke’s is an 18th-century Grade I-listed Hawksmoor church in the London Borough of Islington. The church, which has an unusual obelisk spire, opened in 1773 and was deconsecrated in 1959 due to subsidence. It lay derelict for almost 40 years before being brought back to life in 2003 as the new rehearsal space and education centre for the London Symphony Orchestra.

The upgrade of the fire system was undertaken by the team at Sussex-based Crays Fire, who selected the latest Advanced MxPro 5 panel due to its versatility, reliability and upgradeability, as well as the first-class customer support offered by Advanced.

Paul Woodhams, spokesperson for Crays Fire, commented: “We were responsible for the original installation at LSO St Luke’s during its renovation and, when it came to replacing the panel, we were confident that the MxPro 5 panel would deliver the specific cause and effect programming required for this system, with the flexibility to add further key switches and inputs to the control panel in the future.”

MxPro is the fire industry’s leading multiprotocol fire solution, offering customers a choice of two panel ranges, four detector protocols and a completely open installer network that enjoys free training and support. MxPro panels can be used in single loop, single panel format or easily configured into multi-loop, high speed, 200 panel networks covering huge areas and thousands of field devices.

Anne Basley, spokesperson for LSO St Luke’s, said: “The safety of our staff, those who perform at LSO St Luke’s and the visitors to the venue was paramount when selecting a fire system and, thanks to the recommendation of Crays Fire, Advanced ticked all the boxes. The church itself is a listed building and it requires the very best protection so we can continue to maintain it and guard against threats such as fire.”

MxPro 5 is Advanced’s highest performance analogue panel. It is EN54 2, 4 & 13 approved and is backward compatible with MxPro 4, offering long-term peace of mind for MxPro customers.

Amanda Hope, Advanced’s UK Business Development Manager, commented: “The installation at LSO St Luke’s show that Advanced panels are not only suitable for larger buildings. We have worked closely with Crays Fire for a number of years and MxPro is now their first choice of panel for all new installations and upgrade projects, as well as being the ideal choice for a historic building like this one.

Advanced is a world leader in the development and manufacture of intelligent fire systems. The legendary performance, quality and ease-of-use of its products sees Advanced specified in locations all over the world, from single panel installations to large multi-site networks. Advanced’s products include complete fire detection systems, multi-protocol fire panels, extinguishing control, fire paging and false alarm management systems.

More details can be found on the website at www.advancedco.com.

Global fire systems leader Advanced has appointed Etienne Ricoux as its new Head of Sales.

Previously Advanced’s Regional Sales Manager for Europe, Etienne will now oversee sales across all of Advanced’s territories outside North America.

Commenting on the appointment, Advanced’s Managing Director Ray Hope said: “I’m delighted to announce Etienne’s appointment. We interviewed some very strong candidates both internally and externally, but Etienne’s experience and success in export across different fire sectors, as well as other high value industries, was one of the deciding factors.”

Etienne added: “I’m delighted and very proud to become Head of Sales. Advanced is a great company with a superb team that is driving growth across international markets. Our strategy is well defined and I look forward to developing existing and new regional partnerships.”

For more information please visit uk.advancedco.com.