Wireless Fire Detection for Construction
The launch of a revolutionary wireless based fire solution for construction projects; EMS TemPoint now sees an effective method for complying with the HSE's Construction Design & Management (CDM) regulations 2007, HSG168 and duty of care responsibilities.
TemPoint allows contractors to provide instant fire protection and detection throughout the entire lifecycle of a project. Thanks to a wire-free approach, the system is flexible, so it can be expanded as a site grows. It also eliminates the problems associated with traditional wired fire systems that require a 240volt energy supply.
A wire-free solution to CDM compliance, TemPoint means that the contractor need not waste precious time in the initial stages of a construction programme making a site safe. Instead this is a wire-free radio system that is ready to be installed and can be up and running in no time. Additional boards and detectors can be added as the site grows too, so minimising the cost of manual patrols. The system is also entirely portable, so once permanent fire protection has been installed onsite, the contractor can take TemPoint on to the next project.
TemPoint consists of a totally portable fully addressable panel with two-way communication. Contractors can choose from a sound or strobe alarm option and there is also the option of a hardwired callpoint. With up to five years’ battery life and delivered with a five-year warranty from EMS, TemPoint is a reliable way of protecting a site, operatives, visitors and valuable material assets from the risk of fire.
The CDM regulations demand that contractors ensure new sites are protected from the risk of fire from their very inception. The contractor’s responsibility for the safety of the site, its operatives, visitors and the local area starts as soon as work onsite begins. In addition to designing-in long-term fire protection for the life of the new scheme, the contractor must ensure fire protection throughout the construction phase of the project too. HSG168 provides guidance on how best to achieve this.
Last year the Department for Communities and Local Government released figures relating to the number of fire incidents in buildings under construction for the first time. The report entitled ‘Fire Statistics Monitor, April 2009 to March 2010 (England only)’ indicates there were 450 fires on construction sites in this 12-month period. The cost of monitoring for the risk of such fires, not only in materials but also in time on the contractor’s part, soon adds up. TemPoint provides a cost effective solution, which can be used time and again.
By their very nature construction sites are constantly changing. There is a need for contractors to continuously revisit fire risk assessments and ensure that legal obligations are fulfilled. As timber frame construction grows in popularity, the need to ensure excellent fire protection is vital. TemPoint can help support a rigorous fire detection and protection protocol onsite and for the lifetime of a construction project.
