The Client
A Midlands-based manufacturing and office facility operating across production, cutting rooms, offices, and showroom space required a full upgrade of its life safety systems.
The premises included high-noise manufacturing areas, storage rooms, offices, toilets, and external escape routes incorporating a sliding security gate.
The client needed a compliant, modern fire alarm and emergency lighting system aligned with current British Standards and suitable for an operational industrial environment.
The Challenge
The project required careful design to address:
- Compliance with BS 5839-1:2025 for fire detection and alarm systems
- Compliance with BS 5266 for emergency lighting
- Achieving 65dB minimum sound levels in high-noise manufacturing and compressor areas
- Providing enhanced protection in higher-risk rooms such as the garage store
- Ensuring clear, illuminated escape routes both internally and externally
- Integrating the fire alarm system with the sliding gate for safe evacuation
- Overcoming poor 4G signal for reliable remote monitoring
The solution needed to deliver full compliance while minimising disruption to day-to-day operations.
The Solution
Blaby Electrical designed and installed a Grade A, Category L4 addressable fire alarm system in accordance with BS 5839-1:2025.
The system included:
- Addressable control panel located in the entrance lobby
- 24-hour battery standby backup
- Smoke and heat detectors positioned along escape routes
- Additional detection within the high-risk garage store
- Manual call points positioned to ensure effective coverage
- Integrated heat detectors with built-in sounders and strobes in high-noise areas
- Visual Alarm Devices (VADs) installed in all toilets
- Interface connection to automatically open the sliding gate upon alarm activation
Fire Alarm Monitoring
To ensure dependable signalling, a dual-path CSL DP4 LAN/Radio monitoring system was installed, using:
- Primary internet connection
- 4G backup path
- External high-gain aerial to improve signal strength
The system was configured to provide staged response protocols for unconfirmed fire, confirmed fire, and system faults.
Emergency Lighting Installation
A compliant emergency lighting system was installed throughout the main building in accordance with BS 5266.
Installation included:
- High-output bulkhead lights providing 1 Lux on escape routes and 0.5 Lux in open manufacturing areas
- Illuminated directional exit signage
- Emergency lighting within 1.5m of all exit signs
- External bulkhead lighting covering fire exits and the escape route to the sliding gate
- Emergency lighting in offices, corridors, showroom, disabled WC, entrance lobby, and garage store
This ensured safe evacuation routes remained visible during power failure conditions.
The Result
The client now benefits from a fully compliant and professionally commissioned life safety system designed specifically for their building layout and operational risks.
The installation delivers:
- Full compliance with current British Standards
- Reliable dual-path monitored fire alarm signalling
- Improved audibility and visibility in high-noise areas
- Clearly illuminated internal and external escape routes
- Integrated gate release to support safe evacuation procedures
All certification, CAD zone plans, commissioning documentation, and logbooks were provided on completion, along with a scheduled 6-month inspection.
Benefits
- Improved life safety protection for staff and visitors
- Compliance with BS 5839-1:2025 and BS 5266
- Enhanced protection in high-risk manufacturing areas
- Reliable monitored system with dual-path resilience
- Clear and compliant emergency escape routes
- Minimal disruption during installation
Blaby Electrical delivered a robust, future-proof fire alarm and emergency lighting solution tailored to an operational industrial environment.