The Challenge

In addition to redecorating and restoring the building, new technological advancements play a pivotal role in the refurbishment, with state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment, lighting systems, and digital displays introduced throughout the complex.

The renovation project’s centerpiece is the installation of Europe’s largest digital ceiling, known as ‘The Printworks Skylight.’ This impressive feature comprises of multiple LED ribbon screens totaling 1000 m2. Given the grand scale of the electronic installation, it is imperative to ensure efficient and reliable fire detection and protection of the high-value audio-visual equipment.

Outside of the ceiling works, one impactful decision was removing a service bridge that housed mechanical and electrical services for the life safety systems. This would mean cable and mechanical pipework runs would have to be readjusted to suit the new building layout.

All system upgrades on a project with numerous constraints, such as time scale and negotiating around public access must be carried out quickly and efficiently. Therefore, project management is crucial for maintaining operational public buildings.

The Solution

Smoke Detection – The Printworks has been protected by a Protec fire alarm system since the late 2000s, meaning any additions are simple and straightforward. Additional smoke detection has now been added to suit the new building layout while also omitting and making good areas where detection was no longer be required or protected by other forms of fire and smoke detection.

Aspirating Detection – Where the new LED Ceiling has been introduced, it is protected using a series of aspirating detection units from our ProPoint PLUS and Cirrus HYBRID range. These detectors provide VEWD (Very Early Warning Detection) of smoke and fire. Introducing the aspirating units ensures fire and smoke detection is provided to the main concourse area, which stands over ten metres high. Typically, ceilings of this height are generally protected by beam detection.

As the ceilings are covered with vast LED screens, beam detection is nullified. This type of optical detection could be susceptible to false alarms created from the light emitted from the screens, leaving the only suitable solution for this application would be aspirating detection. Alongside reduced false alarms Aspirating detectors provide the additional benefit over beam detection of only having one remote service point for multiple detection zones.

The Aspirating units are located outside the public realm at a height easily accessible to engineers. This allows service and maintenance interval works to be undertaken without disrupting the public’s day-to-day activities.

Over the entire concourse area, one ProPoint PLUS and one Cirrus HYBRID aspirating fire and smoke detectors have been provided, offering four fire zones that ensure very early warning of smoke or fire.

Flame detection – The Printworks already had flame detection installed as specified by the building insurers before the renovation works took place. It was decided to replace these on a like-for-like basis and repurpose the flame detection to be part of the double knock system (activating two detection devices before an evacuation or suppression method is initiated). This double-knock method offers a highly reliable way of activating the water deluge system to protect the LED ceiling.

Water Deluge – Water deluge is the primary suppression method for the public atrium. The deluge pipework is charged with water via a Towns Main Sprinkler Valve up to the MJC (Multi Jet Control Units) which is located at high level, should the Flame Detection activate via the double knock the 6500 Fire Alarm Control Panel (FACP) will send a 24Volt signal to the MJC’s which in turn will then allow water flow to the Sprinkler Heads which are located below the LED screens.

The MJC’s also have the capability to allow water flow through the system and should the ambient temperature at the Sprinkler Bulb reach the specified temperature for a fire it will release the water to extinguish a fire.

A deluge system benefits from no water being held in the pipes and all the sprinkler valves being open. Should a fire occur, the system fills with water, and the sprinkler heads simultaneously release water across the whole area, as opposed to head-by-head activation found in more traditional sprinkler systems. A Deluge system in these applications ensures that a small fire will not have time to spread.

The Aftercare

Since the late 2000s, Printworks has had a fully comprehensive maintenance agreement in place with Protec. This level of cover has allowed for constant review of the building fire alarm system and highlighted system upgrades where and when needed.

Printworks continues with its active service agreement with us, which benefits from a 24-hour, 365-day-per-year reactive call-out service.