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Managing Editor, IFSEC Insider

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James Moore is the Managing Editor of IFSEC Insider, the leading online publication for security and fire news in the industry.James writes, commissions, edits and produces content for IFSEC Insider, including articles, breaking news stories and exclusive industry reports. He liaises and speaks with leading industry figures, vendors and associations to ensure security and fire professionals remain abreast of all the latest developments in the sector.
October 30, 2020

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Case study

Ealing Council implements connected IoT approach to fire safety

In a move designed to improve the quality of life and safety of its residents, Ealing Council has made significant investments in the delivery of its housing services across 17,000 of its West London properties. As part of these plans, the council has implemented a connected IoT fire safety solution to allow social housing providers to remotely monitor devices in real time for 24/7 compliance.

FireAngel’s Connected has been specified as the chosen solution, following a review and an initial trial period. The introduction of a connected IoT system is said to help monitor and manage housing stock and eliminate the requirement for gaining intrusive physical access to a property, whilst maintaining high standards of fire safety protection.

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Paul Cook, Interim Health and Safety Manager at Ealing Council, said: “IoT is an area that will continue to evolve and I was really impressed with the investment FireAngel had and continues to make with regard to its connected technology. By partnering with FireAngel we are confident we will not only provide our tenants with the highest standards in fire protection, but cost-effectively streamline our asset management in the process. We are proud to be one of the first social housing providers of our size in the UK making this significant shift to connected technologies.”

Monitoring of the council’s entire housing stock will be delivered via a “secure wireless network”, while FireAngel Predict technology highlights trends and high-risk patterns of behaviour to prompt early intervention.

For example, high risk or vulnerable individuals, such as those living alone and are hard of hearing or living with dementia, can be remotely overseen in real time as the Connected Gateway sends live updates to designated individuals regarding the status of the alarms installed throughout the property.

The installation of over 122,000 of FireAngel’s battery-powered Specification Range smoke, heat and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms is already underway, with the devices being fitted by Ealing Council’s team of installers each month.

Featuring Smart RF technology, the range of mains and battery-powered alarms supports the interlink of up to 50 devices together on a wireless network, simply by fitting a Smart RF module. As the alarms are on a private network, when one alarm sounds, they all sound. This also immediately notifies tenants of a potential fire or CO event, providing a faster response time that allows individuals to safely and quickly exit the property.

Every property in Ealing Council’s housing stock historically specified an LD3 Category mains-powered system from another supplier. The new partnership will see the level of protection throughout each property upgraded to an LD1 Category Specification, in accordance with BS 5839-6.

The suite of alarms will also be enhanced by a FireAngel Connected Gateway, which will be fitted outside of each property to provide Ealing Council with additional real time updates regarding the status and performance of each alarm.

Paul continued: “This is a significant project for Ealing Council, but one that is necessary to transform the way in which we effectively manage and monitor not only our entire housing stock, but the safety of every tenant living in each of our properties.”

James King, Director of Connected Homes for FireAngel, said: “There has been a real shift in behaviour and circumstance due to COVID-19 and social housing providers are under increasing pressure, specifically with regard to fire safety.

“From challenges gaining access to properties, to overcoming issues regarding the adequate measurement and management of property risk, there are a number of complications and costs associated with missed tenant appointments and the difficulty engineers experience when trying to gain access to properties to conduct necessary maintenance and repairs. This is resulting not only in a reduction of the level of protection potentially provided, but ultimately costly consequences, particularly with regard to the expense of repair following a fire.

“This is why connected technologies that support remote monitoring capabilities are so important, as they enable providers to continuously monitor each of the fire and CO safety devices across their stock via a central, secure cloud based system.

Download: Fire Strategy – A Director’s Briefing

Access new fire safety expertise by downloading the free Barbour Director's Briefing, and learn how to create a 'carefully devised plan of action' to make your fire strategy more comprehensive than ever. In this free Director’s Briefing, Barbour EHS provides key information relating to the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 in England and Wales, including what is required from the responsible person of a property.

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