Fire protection solutions manufacturer Advanced has supplied new intelligent fire panels for student accommodation in Kent as part of a £3.5 million project to upgrade fire safety systems at Cloud Student Homes’ Canterbury Student Village.
The installation replaces existing panels across several occupied buildings, requiring the previous system to remain active throughout the work to maintain constant protection for residents.
Upgrading fire protection across student accommodation
Cloud Student Homes provides accommodation close to Canterbury Christ Church University, the University of Kent, UCA, and Canterbury College.
As part of a wider safety improvement programme, existing fire alarm systems in Kentish House, Behn Hall, and Tallis Court were replaced with Advanced’s MxPro 5 analogue addressable panels.
Fire engineering consultants Endeavour Group appointed fire safety specialists CSS to deliver the design, installation, and handover.
Five networked four-loop panels were installed and connected to the alarm receiving centre for fire and rescue monitoring.
All devices are Hochiki, with input and output units linked to the existing automatic opening vents.
The new networked system integrates with access control, lift, and ventilation systems.
Paul Almond, MD at DataCentre UK, comments, “Advanced was specified since it supports an open protocol and offers a powerful solution for the student accommodation.
“We also find it an easy system for customers to navigate and use. The panels are proven in the field with CSS and Endeavour Group using them for a number of years.
“Advanced MxPro 5 panels are about the best on the market along with the tech support received by Advanced on installations.”
System design and integration
The panels were selected to meet category L1 requirements across student suites, bedrooms, high-risk areas, and plant rooms.
Endeavour Group reviewed the system design and technical specification to ensure it met client needs before approval.
CSS highlights several installation features, including a built-in multimeter for measuring voltages and currents during commissioning, and a choice of four- and eight-loop panel formats.
The MxPro 5 range also supports multiple detector protocols and up to 254 devices per loop, depending on protocol, with large-scale network capacity where required.
Panels support wired, wireless, and hybrid devices to suit different installation environments.
Neil Parkin, Sales Manager at Advanced, says, “Our MxPro 5 panels are designed to make life as easy as possible, delivering robust protection that offers real peace of mind, all backed up by our highly rated technical support.”
Cloud Student Homes operates around 3,500 student rooms across 21 UK sites and plans to introduce Advanced fire panels across all properties as part of its future upgrades.
For more from Advanced, click here.
