City of London, Commercial Workspace
Integrated life safety systems for a flagship City of London office development.
City of London Commercial Workspace (Aldersgate / Barbican area)
Alphatrack Systems deliver integrated fire detection, public address & voice alarm, and emergency voice communication systems across shell & core and tenant fit-out phases for a major commercial office development.
The Client
A global technology company sought to establish a significant presence in the City of London, requiring a comprehensive fire safety infrastructure that would meet the most stringent life safety standards while supporting flexible workspace design across multiple floors.
The Property
The development comprises a multi-storey commercial office building in a prestigious City location, with high-end finishes to the work spaces, private meeting pods, collaboration spaces and communal facilities, with high-specification supporting infrastructure. The building's shell & core infrastructure was designed to accommodate the diverse user requirements while maintaining consistent safety standards throughout.
The Challenge
The central challenge was to deliver a fully specified fire and life safety system for the shell and core, whilst building in the capacity to extend into tenant areas during fit-out — without further structural disruption or additional backbone infrastructure.
- Phased Delivery: Coordinating the base build installation with subsequent tenant fit-out requirements, ensuring seamless system integration across project phases, whilst maintaining operational systems throughout the shell and core areas.
- L1 Fire Detection System: Providing comprehensive fire detection coverage throughout, to the requirements of BS5839-1 category L1.
- Systems Integration: Integrating the Fire Detection System with a distributed Public Address & Voice Alarm (PAVA) system, delivering pre-set alert and evacuation messaging in accordance with the phased vertical evacuation procedure.
- Acoustic Design & Performance: Managing the challenges of delivering clearly audible and intelligible alert and alarm messages within a large and acoustically challenged environment.
- Interface Coordination: Managing integration between fire systems and third-party building services, including HVAC, access control, lifts and all other supporting life safety and building management systems.
- Emergency Voice Communication System: Designing and installing an EVCS system suitable for the building needs, with the appropriate aesthetic finishes and scalability to manage high-volume outstations, fire phones and WC alarms.
The Solution
Alphatrack Systems delivered an integrated Fire Detection System, Public Address & Voice Alarm system, and Emergency Voice Communication System — all compliant with the relevant parts of BS 5839 — using Siemens Cerberus PRO and Baldwin Boxall technology
Fire Detection System
The Siemens Cerberus Pro analogue addressable system forms the fire detection backbone, with multiple networked control and indication panels (CIE) managing detection devices, manual call points, visual alarm devices (VADs), and interface modules throughout the building
The system comprised multiple networked panels, and addressable detection and alarm devices across a distributed loop topology, to support the landlord and tenant areas simultaneously, with embedded scalability and resilience.
Due to the nature of the building, its infrastructure and usage, 11 Nr Siemens single-pipe aspirating systems were installed to provide continual monitoring and early detection to IDF and MDF rooms, protecting business critical equipment.
All loop cabling was installed to BS 5839-1:2017 standards using FP200 Enhanced fire-rated cable (PH120 specification), ensuring circuit integrity under fire conditions.
Public Address & Voice Alarm (PAVA)
The Baldwin Boxall Vigil system provides the building's primary means of audible fire alert and alarm messaging. Free-speech microphones, operated via a touch-screen station, enable the Fire & Rescue Service or authorised personnel to manage dynamic evacuations and make general announcements as required
Emergency Voice Communication System
The Emergency Voice Communication System uses Baldwin Boxall's Omnicare platform, selected for its ability to handle large networked configurations with a combination of outstations, fire phones, and WC alarm systems
The Outcome
The completed installation delivers comprehensive life safety coverage across the entire building, meeting Category L1 requirements while providing operational flexibility for future tenant modifications.
The phased delivery approach enabled progressive occupation, with each tenant floor fully commissioned and certified before handover. System capacity was maintained throughout both phases, ensuring margin for future additions without infrastructure upgrades.
Alphatrack's technical expertise ensured the tenant fit-out integrated seamlessly with the existing shell & core infrastructure, delivering a unified, fully-compliant life safety system supported by comprehensive documentation and training.
Get in touch
We specialise in the design, installation, and maintenance of fire detection and life safety systems for commercial developments. To discuss your project requirements:
connect@alphatracksystems.co.uk or +44 (0)1279 630 565
