Burnley Industrial Fire Alarm Upgrade
Replacement of an ageing conventional fire alarm system at a Burnley industrial premises. New addressable system installed using a C-Tec panel and Apollo XP95 devices, with sprinkler interface and zone plan completed on commissioning.
Project Summary
This project involved the full removal and replacement of an existing conventional fire alarm system at an industrial premises in Burnley. The older system had reached the point where repair costs were beginning to outweigh the case for keeping it, and the client wanted to move to a modern addressable system that would give better fault diagnosis, reduce false alarm risk, and provide a platform for long-term maintenance.
We carried out a full site survey prior to works commencing, confirming the scope of replacement and the most suitable equipment for the building type and layout. Once the scope was agreed, we removed the existing conventional system in full and installed the new addressable system.
Project Specification
The Site and the Challenge
The site was a working industrial unit with an existing conventional fire alarm system that had been in place for a number of years. The conventional system had limitations that were becoming increasingly apparent: individual device identification was not possible, which made fault tracing slow and difficult. Any alert from a zone required manual inspection of the entire zone to locate the source.
The client also had a wet sprinkler system on site. The new fire alarm system needed to integrate correctly with the sprinkler system, including a key switch isolation facility to allow the sprinkler circuits to be isolated during weekly fire alarm testing — preventing unnecessary activation of the sprinkler system during routine call point tests.
The installation needed to be completed without a prolonged period where the site was without fire detection, so careful planning and sequencing of the removal and installation work was required.
What Was Replaced and Installed
The entire existing conventional system was removed, including the control panel, conventional detector bases, call points, sounders, and all associated wiring. The removal was carried out carefully to avoid damage to the building structure and to leave the installation routes clean for the new cabling.
The new addressable system was installed using a C-Tec addressable control panel. Apollo XP95 detectors and ancillary devices were used throughout — a well-established combination for industrial and commercial applications that offers reliable performance and straightforward long-term maintenance.
Each device on the new system is individually addressable, which means the panel can identify the exact detector or call point that has activated or developed a fault — a significant improvement over the old zone-based conventional system.
Equipment Used
- C-Tec addressable fire alarm control panel
- Apollo XP95 optical smoke detectors
- Apollo XP95 heat detectors
- Apollo XP95 manual call points
- Addressable sounders and sounder bases
- Sprinkler key switch isolation module
- Zone plan panel display
The C-Tec and Apollo XP95 combination is a proven choice for commercial and industrial environments — reliable, well-supported, and straightforward to maintain long-term.
Sprinkler Key Switch Isolation
The sprinkler interface required careful attention. The new system was programmed to allow the sprinkler output circuits to be isolated via a key switch during weekly fire alarm testing. This is an important practical detail on sites with wet sprinkler systems — without isolation, a weekly call point test that triggers the fire alarm panel could also trigger the sprinkler system.
The key switch arrangement allows the responsible person on site to isolate the sprinkler output before conducting the weekly test, then re-enable it immediately afterwards. This is a standard approach, but it requires correct wiring, programming, and documentation to be set up properly — which was completed as part of the commissioning process.
Zone Plan and Commissioning
On completion of the installation, the system was fully commissioned in accordance with BS 5839-1. All devices were tested individually to confirm correct operation. The panel was programmed with all device addresses and zone descriptions.
A zone plan was produced and mounted at the control panel. The zone plan shows the layout of the building with the fire alarm zone boundaries clearly marked — giving any engineer or responsible person attending the panel a clear reference for which area of the building each zone covers.
Full commissioning documentation was provided to the client on completion, including device schedules, test records, and a copy of the zone plan.
Result and Benefits
- Modern addressable system replacing unreliable conventional installation
- Individual device identification — faults and alarms located precisely, not just by zone
- Correct sprinkler interface with key switch isolation for safe weekly testing
- Zone plan produced and displayed at panel for easy reference
- Full commissioning documentation provided
- System ready for ongoing annual maintenance and servicing
Have a Similar Project in Mind?
Whether you're looking to upgrade an ageing system, install a new addressable fire alarm, or commission an existing installation — get in touch to discuss your requirements.