Each of the 12 buildings has its own local control panel, there is also a single point master unit for site-wide control, allowing fire officers/building management to communicate with any refuge area. Due to the nature and size of the project, Baldwin Boxall produced bespoke software to enable the multiple control panels to be networked. One of the key benefits of CommuniCare Advance is that it is linked to the building's fire panel and, therefore, remains 'dormant' whilst not required - avoiding misuse by a building's occupiers - in this case some 20,000 students!
Designed as a two-way communication system for use in an emergency to aid evacuation of the physically impaired, CommuniCare Advance is feature-rich. Braille script, raised and luminescent text with an in-built induction loop on each remote unit, the system is wired on a loop as opposed to 'star wired', a considerable saving in wiring costs. The intelligence of the system ensures that if the circuit were to be broken at any point in the loop, the system will still operate without the loss of communication (i.e. it is self-healing).
Commenting on the installation, Colin Smith, regional sles manager for Trinity's Thames office, said: "CommuniCare Advance is a revolutionary product that was the ideal solution for London South Bank University. The bespoke system comprising 14 control panels and over 200 refuge points was installed in three months and clearly demonstrates Baldwin Boxall's and Trinity's strong commitment to getting a project in on time and doing it right."
(Lee Baldock)
