Fire, Security and Safety

SE Controls has become the first company to be approved under the new SDI 19 certification scheme, which has been developed by the Smoke Control Association (SCA) in partnership with IFC Certification and has been introduced to help raise standards across the industry.

Developed to ensure a suitable level of competency is maintained in all aspects of smoke control systems, the scheme also covers a contractor’s ability to provide appropriate levels of service and maintenance following installation and commissioning, in line with a building’s type, size and use.

Comar Architectural Aluminium Systems, part of TPG - The Parkside Group Limited, announce the launch of Comar 7P.i CDE, a Commercial Swing Door with Electronic Locking, that now holds a Secured By Design Licence.  The Comar 7P.i CDE is an electronic lock option for the thermally broken commercial swing door range, which offers access control integration for both single and double leaf door sets. Secured by Design Homes 2016 requires that occupants, of a residential building with 10 or more distinct dwellings, must be able to remotely control the main entrance door from their apartment to allow access to known visitors. 

The Comar 7P.i CDE is ideal for multi-dwelling apartment applications, where the electronic lock suites in with most access control panels and includes panic exit hardware options.  The solution can also be used in all manner of public buildings where occupant safety is required, such as Health, Education and other Public Buildings.

One of East Scotland’s largest independent housing associations, Fife Housing, has teamed up with access control and door entry experts, Videx, to equip 84 flats in and around the Fife area with bespoke access control systems, that have been tailor made to meet the entry requirements of residents.

Working with installer Caledonia Fire and Security, Videx has supplied audio intercom systems to 14 blocks of flats, which each carry key features that make them an ideal access control solution for housing association tenants and their various entry needs. The panels are also fitted with Videx’s standalone offline proximity system, MiAccess, which is perfect as part of a multiple entrance system without the need to cable between devices.

Patlock is a fitted French door lock and visual deterrent that has been designed and developed in the UK to stop would-be intruders.

Figures from UK Crime Stats show that there is a break-in every 15 minutes in the UK, with the weakest point of entry in most homes at the rear of the property, via patio or French doors.

Patlock assists homeowners in securing their property against burglars and the method of forced entry known as lock snapping. This involves breaking the cylinder of a UPVC door, which enables the trespasser to manipulate the lock to open it. When compromised, the cylinder renders all of the other locking points useless.

FläktGroup is a leading manufacturer and supplier of air technology based products and solutions for the commercial and industrial sectors in the UK. With a strong heritage, the company has manufactured HVAC products in the UK and Scandinavia for over 100 years.

With one of the most comprehensive ranges of products available on the market, FläktGroup is able to offer a whole host of solutions for any given project.

Part of their extensive ventilation offering is the eCO PREMIUM, a revolutionary energy recovery unit that incorporates the latest air movement technology and intuitive controllability.

Glidevale has introduced a re-engineered version of its gas protection membrane, the Protect GDB10 Plus. Achieved by increasing the robustness of the material, the membrane’s puncture resistance has been boosted by more than 30%, ensuring less risk of tearing and ripping on site. Providing a continuous, impermeable protective barrier against ground gases including methane, radon, carbon dioxide and hydrocarbons, the membrane is suitable for Amber 1 and 2 applications as defined by NHBC. The product is compliant with BS 8485:2015 and has also been independently assessed and certified by BM TRADA.

As residential fire safety, particularly in multi-storey buildings and tower blocks have been the centre of attention since last June, the groundswell of opinion is clearly behind the installation of fire sprinkler systems as part of a multi-million pound programme of fire protection upgrades.

While discussions continue regarding how the work is being funded, it appears that local authorities and housing associations are likely to make a significant contribution to the cost, so it’s inevitable that ‘value’ and ‘cost effectiveness’ will form part of the tendering procedures that are already taking place.