Safety protection – then vs. now: Fire at Kings Cross
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Safety protection – then vs. now: Fire at Kings Cross
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In the second article in this short series, Ramtech’s Content Marketing Manager Jon Bennett looks at how safety protection has evolved over time. This time he focuses on the King’s Cross fire in London, which took place in the late 1980s. Would or could this event still happen now?
It’s a Wednesday evening in winter in the UK capital – 18th November 1987 to be precise. Commuters are making their way home across London, and as usual it’s a busy evening at King’s Cross St Pancras tube station – one of the major hubs of the London Underground. In fact, it has platforms for the Metropolitan, Circle, Hammersmith & City, Northern line City branch, Piccadilly, and Victoria lines, making it one of the most used on the underground network. Despite all the changes in the capital since the end of World War Two, some of the tube network was operating with largely outdated features. At King’s Cross St Pancras tube station, this included wooden escalators, dating back to approximately the 1940s. This seemingly normal piece of equipment, used probably by millions of people over its lifetime, was to cause one of the capital’s biggest disasters in recent history.
In the second article in this short series, Ramtech’s Content Marketing Manager Jon Bennett looks at how safety protection has evolved over time. This time he focuses on the King’s Cross fire in London, which took place in the late 1980s. Would or could this event still happen now?
A simple match
In 1984, smoking was banned on all London Underground trains. After a fire at Oxford Circus a year later, the ban was extended to all underground stations too. However, it was common at the time that smokers would light their cigarettes on the way out of the station, discarding the matches on the ticket hall floor and the stairs. At around 19:30, a discarded, still burning match fell down the side of a moving escalator. A combination of grease and rubbish from day-to-day movement (tickets, hair, rat fur etc.) under the escalator on its running tracks allowed this tiny fire from the match to spread rapidly. The fire brigade was called just 6 minutes after commuters first alerted the British Transport Police to the fire.
Initial fire extinguisher use failed to do anything as the fire was burning under the escalator, as it was impossible to reach it. Water fog equipment was available, but no one on site had been trained in its operation. By 19:42, the whole escalator was on fire. This resulted in superheated gas rising to the top of the escalator shaft, where it became trapped by the ceiling. The gas hit around twenty layers of old paint, which began absorbing the heat. Three minutes later a flashover (ignition of combustible materials) and a stream of flame shot up to the ticket hall, filling it with black smoke and high temperatures. Unfortunately, this killed or seriously injured many who hadn’t by this stage evacuated out of the ticket hall. Those below the escalator level managed to escape on trains to safety. Over 150 fire fighters attended the scene and the fire was declared out in the early hours of the 19th of November. In total, thirty-one people lost their lives, nineteen had serious injuries and around eighty others were injured.
Would it happen now?
Many things changed following the disaster and the public inquiry that followed. Interestingly, aside from the factors mentioned previously in this article, the angle (30°) of the escalators was discovered to be important too. The flashover investigation resulted in the discovery of the ‘trench effect’ which was totally unknown before the fire. This had directly caused the flashover. Whilst this could still take place on subways around the world, many changes occurred on the London Underground network as a result of the devastating fire.
One of the first things to happen was the removal of wood from stations, including from escalators and panelling. The last wooden escalator was removed in 2014. Smoking was completely outlawed everywhere on the London Underground network just a few days after the fire. Heat detectors and sprinklers were fitted under escalators. Training of staff was improved and a radio system was introduced for quicker communication.
Ten years after the fire, a large amount of safety improvement had been introduced including CCTV, advanced fire detection systems and the removal of any hazardous materials. The fire even led to better equipment for fire fighters in the UK – yellow plastic trousers that melted in the intense heat and rubber gloves that resulted in poor hand movement were replaced with more effective clothing.
Whilst the risk of fire will never totally disappear, there’s no doubt that the changes made and subsequent developments in technology have drastically reduced the chances of anything similar happening again, certainly on the London Underground.
American Wood Council
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American Wood Council
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The American Wood Council (AWC) is an independent organization providing information about wood products to builders. Working in association with the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA), the International Code Council (ICC), and other knowledgeable stakeholders, the AWC has created a set of guidelines to help reduce life and property loss from fire in buildings under construction based upon preexisting codes and standards. Today, let’s examine why these guidelines are necessary and why the most efficient way to adhere to them and keep your construction site safe is by implementing the award-winning WES3 Wireless Evacuation and Emergency System from Ramtech Electronics. Most firefighters will tell you that one of the first things that must be understood about a building fire is the type of construction that makes up the structure in question. There are five types to consider. Type I, Fire Resistive, is composed of concrete, concrete mixes, and coated steel. Type II, Non-Combustible, is usually made of masonry, tile, and metal. Type III, Ordinary, is a combination of materials. Type IV, Heavy Timber, is not used much anymore. Type V is Wood Framed. Type I is the sturdiest and most fire resistant. Each subsequent type is a little less so, with Type V being the most vulnerable to fire. The vulnerabilities largely lie with the use of wood and wooden materials.
The most common type of construction today is Type V. Whether commercial or residential, the standard set-up often includes a lightweight wood frame covered by brick or block façade to give it the appearance of heavy-duty concrete, masonry, or steel. Single- and multi-unit homes, restaurants, shopping malls, and many other buildings are erected cheaply and quickly using this method, so it’s not going away anytime soon. But there are many sources of heat, flames, and sparks such as brazing, cutting, grinding, soldering, thawing, and welding taking place on a construction site. Coupled with multiple sources of fuel like debris and flammable liquids in large quantities, this makes a building site rife with opportunities for a full-scale blaze if adherence to important guidelines is not carefully considered. For a building composed of concrete or steel the risk of a fire spreading is minimal, but wood tends to be the perfect fuel.
You may be asking, but isn’t wood used in construction required to be fire treated? The answer is yes, but it isn’t a perfect solution. Fire retardant treatments (FRTs) do limit the spread of flames on wood’s surface, but they are unable to limit how quickly wood breaks down when exposed to fire and heat. FRTs don’t raise the fire resistance rating of the material. Treated wood doesn’t meet the standard for noncombustible materials, in other words, but its low flame spread is the loophole that allows it to continue to be used where noncombustible materials would otherwise be required.
While it may be difficult for a fire to start, once it begins time is your worst enemy. Early detection is the key to getting the fire department onsite in time to eliminate the fire and save your most valuable resources. A few air horns and fire extinguishers may not be enough to mitigate a fire before it gets out of control. Having an emergency alert and evacuation system in place can save lives.
In its comprehensive fire safety manual, which specifically addresses the unique challenges of fire prevention during building construction, the AWC acknowledges that traditional detection and alarm systems may not meet the ever-changing and increasing safety needs of a construction site. In these cases, manual devices are recommended; however, they must be “distinctive and clearly audible above background noises in all areas.” Case studies have shown that on large sites where multiple floors are nearing completion, workers on the higher levels are unable to hear an air horn used on lower floors, or are unable to distinguish it from other typical construction noises.
WES3 units placed at strategic points as the building rises are the best way to ensure that everyone on-site is aware of an emergency alert. Being wireless allows the system to function independently of cables or hardwiring. The sensors are tough, rugged, and dust-resistant to eliminate loss of productivity due to false alarms. At the first sign of unexpected smoke or heat, the units will alert the appropriate personnel via a clearly audible siren and strobe lights, and a text message for those off-site. “All staff and inducted visitors are trained/instructed so that they can recognize the fire/emergency alarm and understand what action to take,” the AWC manual states. WES3 streamlines this process. Not only are the units simple to install and use, but training and support are additional benefits provided with this system.
Arson attacks must be tackled with proactive fire safety technology
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Arson attacks must be tackled with proactive fire safety technology
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Cases of arson are still commonplace in the construction industry and widely believed to be the number one cause of on-site fires. An ongoing problem requires a proactive defence mechanism, as John Tyrer, Sales Director at wireless solutions firm Ramtech North America, explains. Irreplaceable heritage buildings lost, costs that go through the roof and progress that cannot be recovered – the effects of arson are vast and uniquely upsetting. But these are concerns considered second to the significant potential outcomes of life-changing injuries or even death. It is no secret that arson continues to be a problem for the construction industry, with cases regularly appearing in the news. According to the NFPA, fires that were intentionally set caused one in 10 (11%) fires, but one-third (32%) of direct property damage per year in 2013 through 2017.
Early detection
One of the main reasons why arson is difficult to deal with is because it is impossible to predict and can be either a one-off event or a recurring problem. That being said, an early alert can be the difference between life and death, as well as a small, manageable fire and an out-of-control blaze. Having an adequate solution in place to detect and respond to outbreaks is essential for all contractors to be responsible on their projects. Without a sound, adequate and compliant system in place, there is the potential for disastrous consequences to a project’s timeline, budget, equipment, supplies, and, most importantly, life.
Connected sites
Fortunately, wireless technology is making detection simpler, more efficient and less of a headache for site managers.
Although a construction site full of primitive tools and raw materials may seem like an unlikely place to find the latest cloud-based innovations, advances in technology is helping to bring 24/7 safety to sites – protecting them against fire hazards such as arson.
Innovative technology set ups, integrating new technology with other, sometimes older, third-party units now offer detailed insights from smoke and heat sensors, which can then be immediately fed through to emergency services, on-site workers and anyone with the connected applications available on mobile devices.
Wireless alert systems
Wireless fire alarm systems have advanced greatly over the past few decades and contribute to stopping blazes – whether accidental or deliberate – in their tracks. Take our WES3 wireless fire, evacuation, and emergency alarm system as an example; it works simultaneously with our cloud-based REACT platform to deliver real-time alerts 24/7 to a mobile device app and the phonelines of local fire services, preventing a fire from becoming out of control – even out of hours and from a distance.
Furthermore, customizable systems that create bespoke solutions to suit a site’s needs offer accurate, specific, personalized notifications and alerts – making it possible to achieve the goal of comprehensive protection from both internal and external threats on construction sites of all sizes, no matter how unique the needs and no matter the operational status of the project. Firms that are embracing and adopting connected technologies are already reaping the rewards – being provided with peace of mind that sites have an additional level of health and safety protection, putting construction workers’ minds at ease and their lives in safe hands.
Our customers have no problem managing fire risks with our systems in place and it is a small price to pay for vital alerts. The proactive approach is the way forward and technology is paving the way for a safer future for people and property.
The flexible emergency alert system
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The flexible emergency alert system
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We’ve discussed in our news section previously about the benefits of the WES temporary wireless fire alarm system – but why does it have a reputation for being so simple to have on site? Well, let us begin with pre-installation. We can help you set up your system in terms of design, using your floorplans. This can help you conform to regulations such as BS5839.
Then comes the installation once the WES system has arrived on site. Other systems need to be installed by an engineer, costing both money and time. The WES system however – be it WES+ or the latest generation of wireless fire alarm, WES3 – is designed to be easily self-installed, and specialist installation is not required. However, should you need assistance, we can send a specialist to site to help you set up the system (geographic restrictions may apply) and show you ‘the ropes’ of operation. With a range of ‘How To’ videos and technical literature available via the VIP area of our website, plus support from our customer services team, there are many ways we can support you.
The flexibility of WES is one of the key reasons why site managers choose WES – as the whole system is wireless, including the control unit, each unit can be moved around easily if required by simply removing the securing screws. Units can be taken out of the system, or additional ones put in, at any point. With a 3-year battery life under normal conditions, our units are quite often used on several projects, adding extra value – and of course, we can change the batteries if required too. You can even hire the WES system for 3 months or more rather than purchasing outright if desired, depending on your location.
Couple to this off-site communication via our REACT platform and optional linking to existing 3rd party systems via the WES interface and you have the ultimate in a flexible, durable, wireless emergency alert system.
A WISE choice for your holiday park
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A WISE choice for your holiday park
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Back in 1990 when Ramtech was formed, the holiday park sector was our primary market and it is still massively key for us today, over 30 years on. We have installed our Ramtech alarms on countless holiday park sites across the UK from small, individual parks to those owned by big players such as Bourne Leisure and Park Dean Resorts, but what does our latest system – WISE – offer parks, and how does it work?
WISE is essentially a site monitoring system and when combined with other systems, including Ramtech’s WES emergency and REACT notification solutions, it can create a real ‘connected park’ that can keep a holiday park safer than ever before, whilst giving crucial insight that can really help streamline a park operation and also generate revenue. The majority of the WISE system is powered by long life batteries and connected using Ramtech’s radio technology which means it can be installed in even remote areas on a holiday park, such as secluded cabins.
Installation of the system is simple to – our engineers will ensure your system is efficiently and correctly installed as well as demonstrating all its features to you. Once installation is complete, WiSE is paid for using a simple annual subscription. This includes your connection, security monitoring, system health tracking and any maintenance that you may require so there are no surprise bills. The annual subscription ensures your system has the connection it needs to operate effectively.
In the event of a problem with your system one of our WiSE engineers can speak to you over the phone and, if it cannot be resolved remotely, we can arrange for an engineer to visit your business at no extra cost to you. The system’s activity is monitored by the team at our main office to ensure that if it goes offline for any reason, we’re the first to know.
We always personalise a solution to suit your park – so to find out more, call 0115 957 8282 and speak to our dedicated Leisure team.
The Park of the future: What will Holiday Parks look like in 2024?
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The Park of the future: What will Holiday Parks look like in 2024?
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Holiday parks throughout the UK are benefiting from the continued popularity of staycations. They offer peace, tranquillity, and memorable experiences to millions of visitors each year. From mini breaks to extended celebrations, parks are establishing themselves at the heart of the British holiday. With international uncertainty and Brexit, UK holidaymakers are seeking a break they can rely on with all the comforts of home, without the travel. Far from the out-dated “hi-de-hi” perception of the past, our holiday parks are creating a 21st Century offer ready for the most discerning holidaymakers who are seeking to get the best value from their holiday budget.
We are living in the age of smart things. It’s predicted that by 2025 41.6 billion Internet of Things devices will be generating 79.4 zettabytes of data. That’s wearable technology, tablets, smartphones, PCs and TVs. Our modern homes are brimming with technology from keyless entry systems to Wi-Fi controlled doorbells, ovens, thermostats and even plugs making life more comfortable than ever. Creating a home from home holiday experience for guests used to such control and comfort provides an additional challenge to park owners. While many holidaymakers are looking for a break away from it all, others view their technology as an essential part of the holiday experience, whether it’s Instagramming the accommodation or sharing snaps about their spa trip. At Ramtech Electronics, we work with leading holiday parks across the UK and have been fortunate to see some of the most advanced accommodation available on the market. So, what could your holiday park of 2024 look like?
Currently, internet connectivity is expected but for the park guest of 2024 it will be a requirement as their wearable devices will have replaced mobile devices as the norm. The constant consumption of data will have increased exponentially by then and for parks powering these data consumers and managing the demand will become a constraining factor. Once their booking is made, for most guests the holiday begins at check-in. With hotels already offering state-of-the-art check-in features and room access from a mobile phone, the parks of the future need to ensure that check-in is as seamless as possible for customers to get their holiday off to a flying start. The varying size of the accommodation, length of stays and diversity in the landscape means that changeover days are far more hectic for parks than hotels. Guests can fail to recognise this and ensuring weary travellers receive the keys to their accommodation as quickly as possible is a high-energy undertaking.
Technology is already able to help manage this through advanced check-in systems that provide customers with a code to speed up the process on arrivals day. This gives the park everything they need and provides the customer with the details of their exact accommodation on site and enables the reception team to focus on welcoming them to the resort without a manual check-in. In the future guests will expect to be able to check-in digitally and head straight to their accommodation. This improves the experience for the customer as there’s no lengthy paperwork on arrival and allows them to focus on enjoying their holiday. Using smart technology in the park, such as Ramtech’s WiSE monitoring, allows park managers to map the cleaned accommodation in real-time to swiftly release it to the next customers promptly, smoothing the handover process and enabling managers to deploy staff where they are needed most.
When guests arrive at their accommodation it will be smart powered by an array of connected wireless, battery operated devices monitoring all elements of the property. From tracking energy, identifying maintenance issues, understanding occupation and self-reporting security they will be primed to ensure as smooth a stay as possible for guests and seamless management for the park.
By using these devices, parks will be able to harness data to pre-empt their guest’s needs and even offer automated customisation for individuals, tailoring their holiday experience even further. Smartphones are already a powerful tool to help parks predict customer demand on any given day by utilising customised apps to let them to book spa treatments, make restaurant reservations and sign up to activities in real-time, enabling staff to focus on delivering great service. Apps can be downloaded in advance so that the customer can book and plan their entire holiday before check-in has even started. By tracking the data provided by these bookings, parks can follow up with the customer offering tailored deals and opportunities. This is the first step in the data revolution.
By using the technology available, guests will undoubtedly benefit from an improved holiday experience but what can a future-ready, smart connected park offer owners and managers?
Automated billing: Efficient tracking of periodic site fees, insurance or utility bills. Smart Metering: Easy access and analysis of electricity, gas and water meters as well as billing from a central location. Cashless payment: Secure, innovative ways to pay without cash using wristband and fob technology to simplify park cashflow. Mobile communication and automation: Checking in, ordering food, arranging events, managing details all via a remote digital device. Occupancy data: manage arrival days, reduce cleaning costs, track maintenance visits, monitor security patrols and manage third part contractor management. Low Power Radio Networks: Remove the reliance and security threads of open / cellular networks with a reliable, managed network. It’s clear that data tracking can offer a real difference to park managers and staff to manage their business more effectively through insight driven operations. By automating and simplifying tasks, parks can enhance their engagement with guests, staff and visitors which is the experience that customers remember long after they go home. So, to start on your journey to becoming a park of the future simply look at how incorporating relevant technology to your park can bring about a positive change to how you work and create revenue streams.
By using the technology available, guests will undoubtedly benefit from an improved holiday experience but what can a future-ready, smart connected park offer owners and managers?
It’s clear that data tracking can offer a real difference to park managers and staff to manage their business more effectively through insight driven operations. By automating and simplifying tasks, parks can enhance their engagement with guests, staff and visitors which is the experience that customers remember long after they go home. So, to start on your journey to becoming a park of the future simply look at how incorporating relevant technology to your park can bring about a positive change to how you work and create revenue streams.
Sounding the Alarm
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Sounding the Alarm
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The difference between simple compliance and adopting a benchmark approach to safety can make all the difference when it comes to fire on construction sites, an ever present danger. The very fact that they have flammable materials and the presence of hot-working methods makes them vulnerable to these kinds of events. Another factor to consider is that, according to Zurich, construction sites are often targets of vandalism and other criminal activities, including arson which accounts for 40% of all fires on constructions sites at a cost of £400 million per year. The Home Office has measured this and estimates that construction firms in England and Wales are affected by 104,000 fires each year.
These worrying statistics have resulted in the introduction of more strict legislation, with
the CPR (Construction Products Regulation), introduced on 1st July 2013, giving clear guidance on the performance of all construction products. Fire detection and alarm systems must be specifically engineered – and independently tested and approved – to comply with EN54-25 and therefore with the new CPR.
The need for robust, EN54-25 -compliant, automated fire alarm systems has become more pressing recently as a result of two factors. Firstly, the trend towards low carbon, off-site timber frame structures, and secondly, the desire for taller buildings, which has created a number of safety concerns with evacuating personnel quickly.
Our WES3 wireless emergency systems comprise fire points and heat detection units or dust resistant smoke detectors, linked to a monitoring base station or CONNECT unit. In the event of a fire, the system triggers a loud siren and a strobe light, alerting personnel to evacuate. At the same time, the base station allows the fire officer to instantly identify which fire point or detection unit has been activated, allowing emergency services to be deployed more effectively to the exact source. The base station can also provide SMS text alerts in the event of an alarm being activated allowing personnel to keep tight control on fire safety when they are off site, providing 24 hour protection.
Once the project is complete, the system can be moved to the next project and reconfigured via an app. EN54-25 and CPR compliant wireless fire alarm systems, such as our WES3 systems, set the benchmark when it comes to protecting personnel and assets on construction sites. At the same time they are easy to fit and operate, have no cables and therefore zero installation costs and, with some systems, a battery life of over three years.
Ouch! Can medical emergencies be less painful to deal with on-site?
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Ouch! Can medical emergencies be less painful to deal with on-site?
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In a report published by the Health and Safety Executive in the UK in late 2020, there were 61,000 non-fatal injuries to workers on construction sites. The main causes of these were slips, trips or falls (on the same level) and falls from a height. Of course, there are many other causes – from flying objects to carrying heavy items.
This proves that despite all the modern safety practices, injuries and medical emergencies such as heart attacks are inevitably still a significant issue on construction projects. With 2.8% of construction workers on average in the UK alone getting injured whilst on site, dealing with medical emergencies is of the upmost importance – and it can be difficult to alert to an emergency of this type quickly.
There is a cost impact too. 27% of the 61,000 injuries reported resulted in 7+ days of absence. Injuries cost the construction industry an estimated £659m in 2018/19 according to the HSE. So surely alerting to these situations early, if they cannot be prevented altogether, is of critical importance. That is where advanced wireless systems come in – including Ramtech’s WES3 alert system and REACT cloud-based notification solution.
WES3 Call Points include a medical alert button. When the medical alert button is pressed for 2 seconds, an alert goes straight to the control centre of the system to notify, in real-time, that a medical emergency has taken place. In addition, the system details the exact location of the call point from which it was raised, in accordance with the site’s fire plan, so the location can be found easily. The medical alert does not disrupt the whole site either as it doesn’t set off a site wide alarm – a useful feature, especially on larger sites.
Ramtech’s REACT solution also offers an app-based Medical Alert, which uses GPS to pinpoint the location from where the alert has been raised – this is particularly useful for very large sites where working outdoors is required. REACT can also link into the WES3 system to enable medical notifications off site that have been raised via the medical alert button on a WES3 Call Point. Whilst injuries will sadly never be completely preventable on construction sites, it is good to know that technology is there to help deal with these unfortunate situations as rapidly as possible.
Announcing our new product logos
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Announcing our new product logos
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Big news! Today we're announcing the new Ramtech product family with the launch of new logos and branding for our range of industry-leading wireless solutions.
You’ll see our logos anywhere that you come across our products in public like our website, social sites and brochures, and very soon you’ll also see it on all of our products as well. Over our years in the business, we’ve gone from strength to strength and have expanded exponentially since our inception to serve in over 30 countries while introducing solutions such as WES, WISE and REACT – solutions that exist solely to empower our customers to save lives, protect their assets and gain valuable insight into their businesses.
In 2019, we launched the new Ramtech branding and visual identity as part of the ongoing evolution of our brand. Since then, we have transformed Ramtech into a driving force in delivering industry leading wireless communication solutions, and our products have become increasingly closer together and joined up. Over the past few months, we had to look at how we wanted our products, old and new, to be represented. Our products had different logos, icons and colours, and with some of them dating back over 10 years, we felt it was the right time for a change.
Our design goals were to unify and simplify our product logos, while identifying each product as part of Ramtech. Our in-house marketing team got to work to find a new look that achieved those goals and projected a modern and professional image. Today we’re unveiling new looks for the Ramtech product family with common wordmark and icon (Ramcon), and a new synergy within our corporate brand. We certainly feel that we’ve hit the design goals, and hope you think so too!
“We’re really excited to present our solutions as a unified product family to our customers today. Our product logos share commonality with each other and also with the Ramtech brand which makes them easier to identify and shows that they are part of the Ramtech family.”
Brand Guidelines
A new Brand Standards & Usage Guide is being developed to provide the foundation for consistent application of the Ramtech brands across all media including web, collateral, and promotions. Consistently expressing the Ramtech visual identity builds a strong brand awareness, allowing Ramtech to maintain our position as the market leader. If you have used the Ramtech sub-brand logo’s in any of your marketing materials, please assist us in updating them. Over the next few months, you’ll see all the other visuals around new logos aligning around this new direction: on the website, in advertising, and in some places on the product. We hope you like the new look!
Brand Guidelines
A new Brand Standards & Usage Guide is being developed to provide the foundation for consistent application of the Ramtech brands across all media including web, collateral, and promotions. Consistently expressing the Ramtech visual identity builds a strong brand awareness, allowing Ramtech to maintain our position as the market leader. If you have used the Ramtech sub-brand logo’s in any of your marketing materials, please assist us in updating them. Over the next few months, you’ll see all the other visuals around new logos aligning around this new direction: on the website, in advertising, and in some places on the product. We hope you like the new look!
Improve fire safety on your construction site
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Improve fire safety on your construction site
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Construction sites have many and varied hazards, with fire safety presenting the greatest threat to life and loss of physical assets. In this article we look at how developments in wireless fire alarm technology are helping tackle this issue. Traditionally, fire detection systems used on construction sites have been of the wired variety, which meant they had to be installed by electricians or specialist contractors. This can be a time consuming and costly process and, understandably, because of that some companies have been reluctant to install them.
Often these organisations prefer to rely on a manual emergency evacuation procedure, which could simply mean a nominated person sounding an alarm after a fire or smoke has been detected. There is a major weakness with this kind of approach as it relies on someone visually seeing the fire or smoke and then sounding the alarm. Of course, if it is in a part of the site where no one is working, the fire can be completely out of control well before the emergency services arrive. Worse still, if it occurs out of hours, a fire can rage undetected for hours with the end result being a building that is completely destroyed and the loss of assets running into many hundreds of thousands of pounds, or more.
As a result of these incidents, Nottingham-based Ramtech has enhanced fire safety on construction sites by developing an innovative, latest-generation update to its wireless fire alarm system. The company has been at the forefront of wireless technology for over the last 30 years and has incorporated a number of new and unique features into its latest development. As the only wireless fire alarm system with a three-year battery life specifically designed for construction sites, the WES range is unique in being specifically engineered – and independently tested and approved – to comply with EN54-25 and therefore with the new Construction Products Regulation (CPR).
These kinds of systems are relatively inexpensive, significantly easier to install (avoiding the need for specialist trades during set up) and, because they are wireless, allow for easy repositioning of the fire points and heat detection units as the site progresses. Also, because they can provide 24 hours pro-active fire detection, they can provide automatic cover even when your site isn’t populated by sending SMS text alerts.
A typical wireless fire alarm system comprises fire points and heat detection units or dustproof smoke detectors linked to a monitoring base station. In the event of a fire, the system triggers a loud siren and a strobe light, alerting personnel to evacuate the site. At the same time, the base station allows the fire officer to instantly identify which unit has been activated, allowing fire and rescue teams to be deployed more effectively to the exact source of the incident. That means fire officers no longer have to rely on someone seeing the fire before the alarm is raised!