Midland Fire’s work safeguarding Warwick Castle continues

Last year, Warwick Castle appointed OCS as its facilities management provider in a move away from previous in-house operations. Amid this transition, we successfully retained our long-standing planned maintenance contract for the site’s life safety systems, which was a great result for us here at Midland Fire.

 

For the past seven years, our fire safety team has worked hard to protect the castle, managing and maintaining its fire alarm systems and safety equipment. Our new partnership with OCS, who are now responsible for all Merlin Entertainments sites, ensures the continuity of life safety system support across the 64-acre property, and reinforces our position as a trusted local specialist.

During our time working at Warwick Castle, our team has carried out upgrades and ongoing improvements to life safety systems throughout the castle and its grounds. Most recently, we completed a project upgrading the fire alarm system in the Knight’s Village accommodation areas. The renewal of our Planned Preventative Maintenance contract means we will continue to support the running of these systems, and help keep the castle and its visitors safe for the foreseeable future.

 

Midland Fire is proud to have retained the full fire alarm maintenance contract for Warwick Castle, including its outbuildings and the Knight’s Village. We are now extremely familiar with the site and the complex systems in place, so we’re confident that we’re the best choice to continue protecting this important historic landmark.

Thomas Sleath, Business Development Manager @ Midland Fire Security Services

 

Warwick Castle

Originally built by William the Conqueror in 1068 and nestled in the heart of the West Midlands, Warwick Castle has played an important role in English history for nearly 1,000 years. Today, it is one of the UK’s most popular tourist attractions, welcoming visitors for historical tours, live events, educational experiences and even exciting overnight stays.

The site is now operated by Merlin Entertainments and combines heritage buildings with modern visitor facilities. Alongside the castle itself, you can find restaurants, shops and accommodation areas within its extensive grounds, all of which are protected by fire safety systems managed by Midland Fire.

 

Planned preventative maintenance services at Warwick Castle

The systems in place

The fire alarm systems at Warwick Castle are complex and bespoke to each area. The systems in place throughout the castle were designed with careful consideration for the age and character of the buildings, while the outdoor areas required a more robust solution due to exposure to weather and wildlife.

Examples of the systems and technology in place are as follows:

• Gent Vigilon fire alarm systems
  The castle itself is covered by a fully networked Gent Vigilon system. The 18th-century conservatory tea house and warehouse buildings were also recently upgraded to Gent Vigilon Compact fire alarm systems with S-Quad loop devices.
• Wagner air sampling detectors
  Using High Power Light Source (HPLS) technology, these advanced detectors work by continuously analysing air samples in the castle, providing the earliest possible detection of smoke with minimal false alarms.
• Linear heat detection cabling
  Linear heat detection cabling is installed throughout the extensive woodland setting of the Knight’s Village. The cable is heat sensitive and is designed to detect dangerous rises in temperature and trigger an alarm, providing reliable fire detection in areas like this where traditional smoke or heat detectors are unsuitable.

 

The Planned Preventative Maintenance contract

To make sure that all the life safety systems are working correctly and are in good condition, our team provides planned maintenance checks at regular intervals throughout the year. We also offer an emergency callout service, so if there are any problems at the castle, we can put things right as soon as possible.

Our fire alarm maintenance services are carried out by an experienced fire alarm engineer and include:

• A full visual and sound check of all components.
• Testing the main control panel.
• Battery inspection and replacement if needed.
• A check of all system wiring.
• Live testing of alarms, detectors and call points.
• Inspection of both manual and automatic systems.
• Cleaning detectors to help prevent false alarms.
• Maintenance records and certificates for compliance.

 

The importance of planned preventative maintenance

Over time, the components that make up your fire detection and warning system can deteriorate due to heat, build-up of dust, or other conditions at your business site. Problems aren’t always immediately obvious, so it’s important to keep on top of testing and maintenance, which will help uncover faults early on, or even prevent them completely.

Ignoring your maintenance obligations can lead to fines and insurance disputes, and it risks the safety of your business, staff and visitors. Not to mention that it’s a legal obligation for a business to keep its fire alarm systems well-maintained. Weekly in-house testing and monthly visual checks are advised, and a six-monthly professional inspection is mandatory. It’s best to choose a BAFE-accredited contractor to carry out your servicing, which is where we come in.

 

Looking for fire alarm system maintenance and servicing in the Midlands?

We offer fire safety and security system installation and planned preventative maintenance plans across the Midlands and throughout the UK. We provide safe, efficient and fully compliant solutions for the education sector, the NHS, offices, warehouses, factories and historic buildings, so get in touch, whatever type of site you manage.

Every project is tailored to your business requirements, ensuring long-term performance and full regulatory compliance.

At Midland Fire WE PROTECT. For more information and a free consultation, contact Midland Fire Security Services Ltd.