Amidst the escalating ‘crumbling concrete’ crisis in Britain’s schools, suppliers of temporary classrooms have taken the lead in providing swift and efficient solutions to institutions affected by the reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) controversy. With unprecedented demand, Hyfire’s Taurus wireless fire devices are being utilised as part of a unified offering to swiftly erect and commission modular classrooms, ensuring minimal disruption to the academic year.
RAAC, a lightweight concrete alternative that was a regular component of UK public buildings from the 1950s to 1990s, has come under scrutiny for potential safety concerns. Recent revelations suggest that many RAAC structures are now beyond their lifespan and pose a risk of sudden collapse. This alarming news has resulted in urgent calls for immediate solutions, thrusting modular construction firms into the limelight. Hyfire’s Taurus wireless fire devices facilitate faster installation and commissioning of fire systems in these temporary structures, which also have the potential to be integrated with existing fire systems in other school buildings.
Oli Barker, Technical Manager at Hyfire installation partner SPG Fire and Security, remarked: “This is a growing and unexpected crisis, so modular building suppliers require an immediate and viable solution. We saw Hyfire as the obvious choice and, once a thorough bench test was carried out in a mock-up site environment, it was given the green light. These systems have so far been installed in a dozen schools, all reaping the benefits of Hyfire technology.”
The inherent flexibility and efficiency of Hyfire’s wireless tech have enabled SPG and to meet tight deadlines, significantly reducing on-site labour time and allowing the temporary buildings to be erected and commissioned in record time. Furthermore, the use of wireless solutions has enhanced the aesthetic appeal of the temporary structures, minimising the need for extensive cabling.
Hyfire offers the widest range of commercial standard wireless fire devices on the market, ranging from optical, multi-criteria and heat detectors to EN54-23 Approved VAD’s, all fully certified to EN54. All products offer the highest performance and quality in the industry, and are also fully compliant with BS5839 Part 1. Fire panels are wired via a loop to translators, from which wireless devices can be used on their own to build fully wireless systems of virtually any size, or mixed with Hyfire wired products to provide seamless hybrid solutions, offering total flexibility to specifiers and installers.
Robert Bruce, National Key Account Manager at Hyfire, highlighted the synergy between the urgent requirement for modular buildings and Hyfire’s offerings: “Our wireless solutions are tailor-made for situations like this. The urgent demand for safe and efficient temporary structures is seamlessly addressed by the adaptability and robustness of our Taurus devices, which are perfectly suited to modular building systems.”
Developed in Trieste, Italy, the global centre for wireless fire design, Taurus features Pathfinder Technology, which allows the devices to communicate over 1km, point to point in open air, and further where expansion hops are used. Antenna technology has been optimised to allow communication across different frequencies and environments, which means that Taurus can do the job with less equipment and less batteries, thus saving on costs.
Hyfire was launched in 2007, bringing to market some of the first commercial wireless detection and alarm devices fully certified to EN54. Since then, the Hyfire brand has become synonymous with quality, reliability and innovation in the commercial fire sector. Hyfire devices come with a five-year warranty, backed up by a dedicated partner programme to ensure the best survey, installation, commissioning, after sales service and exceptional technical support.
For more information: https://hyfirewireless.com/
