Erdington Fire Station
Delivered as Principal Contractor for West Midlands Fire Service within a live operational fire station.
Fire alarm system upgrade at an operational fire station in Erdington, Birmingham, delivered as Principal Contractor for West Midlands Fire Service.
- Client
- West Midlands Fire Service
- Role
- Principal Contractor
- Sector
- Emergency Services / Public Sector
- Location
- Erdington, Birmingham
- Scope
- Fire Alarm Design · Installation · Testing · Commissioning
RS Electrical was appointed by West Midlands Fire Service to deliver the upgrade of the existing fire alarm system at Erdington Fire Station in Birmingham.
Built in 1939, the station remains an operational emergency-service facility. The project therefore required us to modernise a critical life-safety system while working around the day-to-day operation of the station and taking account of the constraints presented by the existing building.
Acting as Principal Contractor, RS Electrical managed the project from design through to installation, testing and commissioning, with our site management team overseeing day-to-day delivery, health and safety, quality control and coordination with station personnel.
- Replacement of the existing fire alarm system with a new, fully addressable system designed to BS 5839-1:2017
- New fire alarm cabling, automatic detection, manual call points, control equipment and alarm devices
- Coverage throughout the station's operational areas, offices and ancillary spaces
Maintaining operational fire coverage
The age and construction of the building presented several practical installation challenges, including restricted voids and solid wall construction. Our team developed suitable containment and cable-routing solutions to integrate the new installation with the existing building while keeping the finished installation as discreet as practicable.
A key consideration throughout the project was maintaining the operational requirements of the fire station while replacing an essential life-safety system.
The works were carefully phased and coordinated with West Midlands Fire Service to avoid unnecessary disruption to crews, vehicle movements and the day-to-day operation of the station.
Isolation and reinstatement procedures were incorporated into the programme so that the transition from the existing system to the new installation could be controlled safely while maintaining appropriate fire alarm coverage.
Delivery & outcome
The project was delivered within the five-week programme, with the new addressable fire alarm system installed, tested and commissioned.
Working as Principal Contractor gave RS Electrical responsibility not only for the technical installation, but also for coordinating the wider delivery of the project within a live emergency-service environment.
Erdington is one example of our wider relationship with West Midlands Fire Service, where RS Electrical continues to provide electrical maintenance, reactive works and project support across its estate.
