Ehancing Fire Safety Across Dartford's Sheltered Housing Sites

Ingleton Wood and Sureserve's commitment to enhancing safety and quality of life

Ingleton Wood, a leading multidisciplinary property and construction consultancy, played a pivotal role in a comprehensive fire alarm upgrade program across 12 sheltered housing sites in Dartford. This project, encompassing over 380 units, required meticulous planning and design to address the unique challenges presented by the diverse nature of the sites, which vary in size, number of storeys, and the range of communal facilities available to residents.

Partnership for Success

The project was initiated in late 2021, with the client tendering the works to several potential partners. Following a thorough review process, Sureserve was selected as the preferred contractor under a JCT Intermediate Contract with the contractor's design.

Project Highlights

The core objective of this upgrade was to significantly enhance resident safety. To achieve this, a range of advanced measures and system upgrades were implemented throughout the buildings:

Grade D2 Protection: All sheltered housing flats are now protected to Grade D2 standard, ensuring reliable operation with mains-powered detectors supported by an integral standby battery. This upgrade provides residents with enhanced safety and peace of mind.

Tunstall Careline Integration: The fire alarm system is seamlessly integrated with the Tunstall careline system, allowing residents to communicate with staff and central support as needed. Dartford Borough Council (DBC) maintains a stay-put policy for residential flats, ensuring safety protocols are clear and effective.

Comprehensive Smoke and Heat Detection: Smoke alarms now cover all rooms and adjoining areas along pre-identified fire escape routes, with heat alarms installed in kitchens. Additionally, each dwelling entrance lobby is equipped with a Grade A heat detector connected to the communal system, ensuring rapid response in case of a fire.

Enhanced Communal Area Safety: Communal areas are now safeguarded by a Grade A standard system, featuring separate detectors, sounders, and central control equipment with backup power. This system, conforming to British Standards BS EN 54, offers increased reliability and performance in fire safety measures.

L1 Category System Installation: The system installed in communal areas is a Category L1 system, designed for life protection. It provides automatic fire detection in all rooms, escape routes, and voids over 800mm in height, ensuring comprehensive coverage.

Integrated Systems and Additional Upgrades: The contractor was tasked with interfacing the Grade A fire alarm system with existing security access and mechanical plant systems, including lifts. This included new power connections and managing asbestos-related work necessary for fitting the systems.

Overcoming Challenges

The project was not without its challenges. Issues such as asbestos-containing Artex, metal ceilings, and the need for lift shaft testers required the team to expand the original scope of work. Additional upgrades were incorporated, including the installation of carbon monoxide detectors, new loft platforms for routine maintenance, surge protection devices, and heat detectors across 10 of the 12 sites.

As a result, the original contract sum of £852K increased by 26%, ensuring all challenges were met effectively. The project timeline was also extended, with the original completion date of January 2024 now projected for June/July 2024, depending on the site.

Collaborative Success

Ingleton Wood and Sureserve worked collaboratively to ensure a smooth handover, equipping the facilities management team with all necessary information for ongoing operations. The resident liaison was managed exceptionally well by the Sureserve team, earning high praise from the client for their professionalism and project management.

This project exemplifies Ingleton Wood’s commitment to enhancing safety and quality of life in sheltered housing through expert design and diligent project management.

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