The Langley Academy, near Slough in Berkshire, has been fitted with a fire solution by Siemens.

Langley's atrium

The school, which was refurbished last year and specialises in sports and science, had most of its areas fitted out with 290 fire detectors from Siemens Sinteso.

The detectors use neural technology, which is designed to determine whether or not a fire is present by looking at multiple criteria, including temperature and rate of change of temperature, as well as the forward and back scatter properties of any smoke or vapour.

A spokesman for Siemens Fire Safety said: “This is of major importance in an academic building where false alarms are hugely disruptive, and it is particularly relevant to a science-based education establishment, such as The Langley Academy, where students working in the laboratories are very likely to produce steam and other vapours that less sophisticated detectors could easily mistake for a fire.”

Aspirating detectors were used in the Academy’s theatre, where there is a high ceiling area above the stage, while point detectors were deployed in the atrium of the three-storey building. Sounders in the building are linked to a digital timer, which with a differnet sound installed, can also be used to call the end of class periods for students.

The system also has special communications devices for the disabled, which are based in the building’s refuge points. The devices,  identified by labels which are also written in Braille, are designed to provide a direct link to the Academy’s main reception front entrance when activated. In addition, induction loop systems are provided for the hard of hearing, and visible fire alarms in the form of flashing beacons are fitted in the toilet areas.

The fire detectors are all loop powered, and linked to two Siemens FC20 fire control panels, which are interconnected to provide the capacity required by the system. The control panels are also designed to communicate with the Academy’s building management system to report faults.