EAC Fire & Security recently completed a fire alarm and emergency lighting installation at a car garage and MOT station in Swanage, Dorset.
Following a recent fire risk assessment, the customer required additional fire alarm devices and emergency lighting to be installed in specific areas of the premises. The aim was to improve detection, warning coverage and emergency escape lighting across the shop, office, store room, workshop and escape routes.
Our engineers installed a Grade A Category L5 fire alarm system, with detection and manual call points positioned around the areas identified during the assessment. Emergency lighting was also installed across escape routes, final exits, workshop openings and cross-corridor areas where additional cover was required.
The Project
The site is a working car garage and MOT station, with a mixture of customer-facing retail areas, offices, storage rooms and workshop spaces.
Following the fire risk assessment, specific areas were highlighted where additional fire safety equipment was needed. This included both the fire alarm system and emergency lighting provision.
Our work included:
Alarm detection in the shop area
- Alarm detection in the office
- Alarm detection in the store room
- Manual call points at each exit
- Sounder beacons in the workshop
- Emergency lighting to escape routes without adequate cover
- Twin spot emergency lights for large openings and external escape routes
- Bulkhead and box emergency lights above final exits
- Emergency lighting above cross-corridor doors
- A test key switch for emergency lighting checks
- Updated fire alarm zoning information
This gave the customer a more complete and practical fire safety system across the premises.
Grade A Category L5 Fire Alarm System
The fire alarm system was installed as a Grade A Category L5 system.
A Category L5 fire alarm system is designed around a specific fire safety objective, often following recommendations from a fire risk assessment. In this case, the system was installed to provide targeted coverage in the areas highlighted across the garage, shop and workshop.
Detection was installed in the shop, office and store room, helping to provide early warning in key areas of the building.
Manual call points were installed at exits, allowing staff or visitors to raise the alarm quickly if a fire is discovered.
Sounder beacons were also installed in the workshop, where machinery, noise and larger open spaces can make visual and audible warning particularly important.
Fire Alarm Zoning
The fire alarm system was also supported with a clear fire alarm zone diagram for the site.
The zoning was arranged across:
Zone 1: Ground floor
Zone 2: Workshop
This helps staff, engineers and attending responders quickly understand which part of the building has activated during an alarm condition.
Clear zone information is an important part of a well-organised fire alarm installation, especially in commercial premises with multiple rooms, work areas and escape routes.
Emergency Lighting Installation
Emergency lighting was installed in areas where the existing escape route lighting did not provide sufficient cover.
This included emergency lights in internal escape routes, above final exits, at cross-corridor doors, and around workshop exits.
Twin spot emergency lights were fitted in larger openings, including workshop areas and external escape routes, to provide strong directional lighting during an emergency or power failure.
Bulkhead and box lights were also installed above final exit doors and key route points, helping occupants locate exits and move safely through the building.
Test Key Switch Installed
A test key switch was installed as part of the emergency lighting works.
This allows the emergency lighting system to be safely tested as part of ongoing maintenance and routine checks, helping the customer keep the system in good working order.
The Result
The car garage now has improved fire alarm detection, manual alarm activation points, sounder beacon coverage and emergency lighting across the areas identified during the fire risk assessment.
The completed installation provides:
- Grade A Category L5 fire alarm protection
- Detection in the shop, office and store room
- Manual call points at each exit
- Sounder beacons in the workshop
- Emergency lighting across escape routes
- Twin spots for large openings and external escape routes
- Bulkhead and box lights above final exits and corridor doors
- A test key switch for emergency lighting checks
- A clear fire alarm zone diagram
The installation has improved fire safety provision across the premises while giving the customer a system that is practical, clearly zoned and suitable for the day-to-day use of a busy garage and MOT station.
Fire Alarm and Emergency Lighting Installers in Swanage
EAC Fire & Security installs, upgrades, services and maintains fire alarm systems and emergency lighting for commercial premises across Swanage, Dorset, Bournemouth, Poole, Christchurch, Wareham, Wimborne and the surrounding areas.
We work with garages, workshops, shops, offices, industrial units, HMOs, landlords and commercial property owners to provide reliable fire safety systems tailored to each site.
Whether you need a new fire alarm system, emergency lighting upgrade, fire alarm maintenance, call point installation, sounder beacon installation or remedial works following a fire risk assessment, our team can help.
Contact EAC Fire & Security today to discuss your fire alarm services or emergency lighting requirements.
