iQ Student Accommodation is one of the UK's leading providers of purpose-built student housing, with a portfolio of modern, secure, and centrally located residences across major university cities.
iQ Magenta House, located in the heart of London, is a key site within their portfolio. Comprising three blocks of flats over five storeys, it serves as a residence for hundreds of students and must adhere to stringent safety and fire protection standards.
The existing fire alarm system at Magenta House was closed protocol and had reached the end of its operational life. Furthermore, some areas of the building were missing detection, meaning it didn’t meet BS 5839-1 Category L1 coverage requirements.
This presented a need for an upgraded, open protocol solution that would enhance system functionality, ensure full compliance, and be more efficient to maintain.
Fixfire® was engaged to deliver a complete fire alarm system upgrade at iQ Magenta House. The scope of works involved a phased replacement of the existing closed protocol system with a modern, open protocol, addressable equivalent, ensuring the system always remained operational overnight during the works, and the design and installation of additional devices to comply with BS 5839-1 Category L1 coverage requirements.
The project included:
- Installation of 4 ADV/Plus range Open-Protocol fire alarm control panels
- Installation and commissioning of approximately 500 fire detection and alarm devices
- Integration with multiple third-party systems including lifts, access control and BMS system
The solution was tailored to meet the specific layout and operational needs of the student accommodation site, ensuring minimal disruption during works and delivering a reliable system that enhances fire safety across the entire premises.
