Midland Fire Security Services designs, installs and maintains fire alarm and life safety systems throughout the UK. They cover all industrial, commercial and public sectors.
The Challenge
Midland Fire Security Services got in touch with Altitude Safety to design and install a comprehensive turnkey gas detection system for four rooms at Aston University in Birmingham. The setup needed to cover 29 detector heads and 17 alarm beacons, making sure every area met safety standards and had proper coverage.
The project presented unique challenges, particularly because it was part of a larger building refurbishment, meaning the area was being stripped to bare walls, with new walls and infrastructure going in. That meant a preliminary site visit was not possible, so our team had to rely solely on architectural drawings and specifications to design the system accurately.
On top of that, the gas detection system had to connect with the University’s Building Management System (BMS) using Modbus. It also needed to be properly zoned so that if there was an issue in one room, only that zone’s alarms would go off, not the whole system.
To make things even more challenging, the team had just one week to put the design together and submit it. Our client only received the final project documents at the last minute, so we had to move quickly. After a series of consultations to refine the proposal and meet the specific safety and functionality requirements, we got the green light to go ahead.
Our Approach
Coordinating this project demanded close collaboration with multiple contractors on-site, requiring thorough planning to align each phase of installation with the broader renovation schedule. Cabling went in first, but because of the phased renovation, the actual installation of the equipment had to wait a few weeks until the space was ready.
Throughout the project, we stayed in close contact with the principal contractor, the BMS company, the mechanical and electrical (M&E) teams, the staff at Aston University, and, of course, Midland Fire Security. Every time the building layout was updated, the team had to adapt the system design to ensure continued compliance and effectiveness. Once the system was fully installed, we carried out full commissioning checks, verifying the functionality of each detector, beacon, and alarm. At this time, we also checked that the system was properly linked to the BMS and that the zoning worked exactly as planned, so if a gas alert happens, only the alarms in that specific zone will trigger.
The Result
This all resulted in Midland Fire Security Services having a reliable gas detection system tailored to the University’s needs perfectly. It gives real-time alerts if there’s a drop in oxygen or if hazardous gases are detected, helping keep students and staff safe. When an alarm goes off, the facilities and security teams are instantly notified by email with details of the exact location and which sensor triggered it. That means quicker responses and better safety all around.
This project is a great example of our commitment to delivering customised, high-quality safety solutions, even under time-sensitive and challenging conditions..