RAISING THE ALARM AT NEW SCOTLAND YARD BUILDING

An advanced wireless alarm system from Bull Products is playing a key part in the multi-million pound redevelopment of the Curtis Green Building, the new home for Scotland Yard on the Victoria Embankment, London.

The 1937 building designed by architect William Curtis Green is a neo-classical design and the move to this building is part of the Met’s drive to reduce operating costs.  In the refurbishment, architects AHMM have designed an extension to the rear of the building, a glazed entrance pavilion, roof top pavilion and an ‘iconic blue line beacon’ to the open plan offices at the top of the building.  The famous rotating sign is also moving to the new building and re-named Scotland Yard.

Main contractors Royal BAM Group have been working on the project for nearly two years and the completion date is Autumn 2016.  The refurbishment involved some demolition and soft strip of the interior and in the early stages of the project, the alarms fitted were smaller sounder units.  It wasn’t long before a more sophisticated and reliable alarm system was required to ensure the health and safety of the construction workforce.

The Cygnus wireless alarm system from Bull Products was selected for the job, and a total of 30 fire alarms and first aid alerts are installed across all the floors, each wirelessly linked to two main Cygnus control units, one in the extension building and one in the security section of the site office.  Andy Lee, Site Manager for BAM is very impressed with the performance of the alarm system, “This Cygnus system has been immensely valuable to us, covering such a large area of the building.  The system’s dual functionality for both fire and first aid has been an important element in its choice.”  He continued, “Crucially, these alarms can be heard over the sound of demolition work and so as the project developed the Cygnus wireless system became a necessity.”

Bull Products’ Cygnus wireless alarm system can link as many as 480 alarm and detector units in different zones on a construction site, and individual units can be fire alarm call points, first aid alerts, combined call point and smoke detectors or heat detectors.

Intended purely for use on construction sites, the CE marked Cygnus system has been specifically designed for use in dense concrete and steel structured buildings and areas where there are many other radio frequencies in operation, and so particular attention has been given to achieving an impressive connection range.  Where there are multiple sites within range of each other, the Cygnus system has been designed to operate on different site addresses in order to keep each system separate and free from interference.

A major feature of the Cygnus system is the optional control panel which provides a very sophisticated capability with an event log function which records any events such as an alarm activation, low battery warning, and signal faults, all of which can be viewed if necessary in the history folder held on the panel.  The system also has the ability to test all units and has an evacuate function which will act as a call point to the rest of the alarm units.

Each unit in the system can provide the panel with information at regular intervals.  This explicit information confirms the unit is still present and what the battery status of each device is.  Known as the ‘heart beat’ this message is monitored by the control panel where fitted and if the ‘heart beat’ is not heard for several intervals, the control panel logs a full status for that unit.

A PIR option is now available on any of the modules which can detect an intruder and alert off-site personnel for added safety protection.

Bull Products offers a full one-year guarantee on all Cygnus devices and provides high levels of technical, on-site and after-sales service support in addition to its standard maintenance contracts.

Further information on the Cygnus wireless alarm system is available from Bull Products on 0844 669 1111, by emailing info@bullproducts.co.uk or by visiting the company’s website at www.bullproducts.co.uk

NEW PIR OPTION FOR CYGNUS WIRELESS ALARM SYSTEM

A programme of constant innovation at Bull Products sees the launch of a new PIR option to its successful range of Cygnus wireless alarm systems. The Cygnus system, which is now firmly established as one of the most advanced wireless alarm systems for use on construction sites, now benefits from additional functionality. Any of the Cygnus system modules such as fire alarm call points, smoke detectors, heat detectors, and first aid call points can be specified with the PIR option so that whenever an intruder is detected by the PIR sensors, an alert is sent to personnel off-site, thus increasing the safety protection offered by Cygnus. The PIR functionality works best with the Cygnus GSM control panel which sends users an SMS text alert notification should an intrusion occur.  The PIR sensors on the individual units are activated by using the menu settings on the control panel, and if an intruder is to pass the sensor in its activated mode, this will cause the local alarm to sound. The CE marked Cygnus wireless alarm system has raised the bar in the industry for performance and reliability and has impressive capability linking together 480 units in 15 zones around construction sites, each zone having a capacity of 32 units. When any fire alarm call point or detector raises an alarm, it activates all other devices around the entire construction site, these devices normally situated in prominent places such as main escape routes and fire exits.  In a similar way, when a first aid alert is raised, each first aid device will beep intermittently every 8 seconds, and a message is sent to the control panel to alert the first aider and can also trigger a paging system or can send a text if required. The Cygnus system is designed for use in dense concrete and steel structured buildings and in areas where there are many other radio frequencies in operation, and so particular attention has been given to achieving an impressive connection range.  It operates on a Category 1 radio frequency and open air tests prove the Cygnus system range can exceed 1.5km. The control panel for the Cygnus system provides very sophisticated capability with an event log function which records any events such as an alarm activation, low battery warning, and signal faults all of which can be viewed if necessary in the history folder held on the panel.  The system also has the ability to test all units and has an evacuate function which will act as a call point to the rest of the alarm units. All call points in the Cygnus system are IP rated for water protection and all detector units have internal sounders for alerting.  There is also an option of a GSM datalink for remote access and text notifications of alarms to users. Bull Products offers a full one year guarantee on all Cygnus devices and provides high levels of technical, on-site and after-sales service support in addition to its standard maintenance contract. Further information on the Cygnus wireless alarm system is available from Bull Products on 0844 669 1111, by emailing info@bullproducts.co.uk or by visiting the company’s website at www.bullproducts.co.uk

CLARITY ON CE MARKING FOR CYGNUS WIRELESS ALARM SYSTEMS FOR CONSTRUCTION

The Cygnus wireless fire and first aid alarm system which was launched by Bull Products only last year, was designed and developed with a number of major construction companies as a temporary system for use on construction sites.  Despite its temporary use, the Cygnus system has an impressive capability for linking together 480 units in 15 zones around a construction site, each zone having a capacity for 32 units.  The system can of course be used time and again on many different construction sites.

Although the Cygnus wireless fire alarm system is CE marked under the RTTE and RoHS Directives, and meets the requirements under the batteries and accumulators and WEEE Directives – the product is not required to be CE marked under the Construction Products Regulations 305/2011.  These latter regulations apply to construction products which are produced and placed on the market for incorporation in a permanent manner in construction works.

Clarifying the distinction further, Mike Foster of the CE Marking Association said, “During the construction of a ‘construction works’, items such as false works, scaffolding, site security and safety systems are temporary, these items are not ‘construction products’ as defined under the Construction Products Regulations 305/2011.”

Bull Products’ Cygnus wireless system has enjoyed enormous success since it was launched a year ago.  Brad Markham, Director at Bull Products commented, “Construction firms and M&E contractors looking to ensure workforce safety appreciate the simplicity of the Cygnus wireless system which is easily installed and can be delivered pre-configured to the customer’s request.” He added, “We have a highly skilled nationwide service team to support customers with systems from design and installation to maintenance and service.”

The Cygnus system comprises a choice of units which are battery operated and include fire alarm call points, smoke detectors, heat detectors or first aid call points.  There is also an optional control panel which provides very sophisticated capability with an event log function which records any events such as an alarm activation, low battery warning, and signal faults, all of which can be viewed if necessary in the history folder held on the panel.

The system operates on a category 1 radio frequency and open air tests have proved the Cygnus system range can exceed 1.5km.

The Cygnus system is extremely comprehensive.  All call points are IP65 rated for water protection and all detector units have an internal sounder for alerting.  There is also an option of a GSM data link for remote access and text notifications of alarms to users.

Bull Products offers a one-year guarantee on all Cygnus devices and provides high levels of technical, on-site and after-sales service support in addition to its standard maintenance contract.

Further information on the new Cygnus wireless emergency alarm system is available from Bull Products on 0844 669 1111, by emailing info@bullproducts.co.uk or by visiting the company’s website at www.bullproducts.co.uk