When 1st Lychett Minster Scout Hut commissioned a fire risk assessment, the findings were clear — the ageing fire alarm system no longer met current standards and the building required a full upgrade. The Scout Hut, based in Poole, Dorset, serves as an active community hub, hosting Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, and community groups throughout the week. Protecting everyone who uses the building — especially young people — was the absolute priority.
EAC Fire and Security were appointed to design and install a brand new, fully compliant fire alarm system from scratch, replacing the outdated panel and bringing the entire premises up to the highest standard of protection.
The building presented several practical challenges that required careful planning and system design:
The Scout Hut is a single-storey building with a large accessible loft space, an external outside store, multiple internal rooms including a main hall, kitchen, meeting room, WCs, and storage areas. Routing fire alarm cabling through a heavily trussed loft space — already occupied by HVAC ducting and insulation — required skilled installation to ensure a clean, compliant result without compromising the building’s structure or existing services.
The system also needed to cover every part of the building, including areas that present distinct detection challenges: the kitchen (requiring heat detection rather than smoke), the loft (requiring its own zone), and external structures.
Our Solution — Grade A, Category L1 Fire Alarm System
Following a thorough site survey and review of the fire risk assessment, EAC Fire and Security designed and installed a Grade A, Category L1 fire alarm system — the highest category of coverage, providing automatic fire detection throughout every part of the building.
System Overview
A C-TEC conventional fire alarm control panel was installed as the heart of the system, with fresh Yuasa 12V backup batteries fitted and labelled on the date of installation. The system is divided into four clearly defined zones, displayed on a professionally produced fire alarm zone diagram mounted at the panel:
- Zone 1 — Ground Floor: Kitchen, Meeting Room, WCs & Store
- Zone 2 — Ground Floor: Main Hall & Stores
- Zone 3 — Ground Floor: Outside Store
- Zone 4: Loft Area
Detection Devices
Apollo smoke detectors were installed throughout all habitable areas of the building, including the main hall, meeting room, and storage rooms. Each detector is clearly zone-labelled for ease of identification during an alarm event.
Heat detectors were specified for the kitchen — where cooking fumes could otherwise cause unwanted alarms — and throughout the loft space, where temperature-based detection is the correct and compliant choice.
Manual Call Points
Apollo break-glass manual call points were installed at every exit point, including the main entrance lobby and the external outside store, ensuring that anyone in the building can raise the alarm immediately if they discover a fire before the automatic detection activates.
Sounder Beacons
Sounder beacons were installed within the WC areas and at additional locations throughout the building, ensuring the alarm is clearly audible and visible to all occupants regardless of where they are in the building — including those who may be hard of hearing.
Loft Cable Installation
Red fire alarm cable was carefully routed throughout the loft space, clipped and secured neatly to the roof rafters in accordance with BS 5839-1. The installation was carried out with care to avoid disrupting the existing HVAC ducting and insulation, keeping the loft space tidy and accessible.
Signage & Documentation
Full fire action notices and an assembly point diagram were installed at key locations throughout the building. A professionally produced fire alarm zone diagram is displayed at the control panel, clearly identifying every zone for the benefit of users and the attending fire service. The user access code is displayed at the panel for authorised personnel.
Compliance & Standards
This installation was designed and installed in full accordance with:
- BS 5839-1:2017 — Fire detection and fire alarm systems for buildings
- Grade A system with mains-powered panel and battery backup
- Category L1 — Full life protection coverage throughout the entire building
- All cabling, devices and panel meet current UK Conformity Assessed (UKCA) marking requirements
The system was fully commissioned and tested on completion, with a walk test carried out across all zones to confirm correct detection and alarm operation.
Why Choose EAC Fire and Security for Your Fire Alarm Installation?
EAC Fire and Security are a trusted fire and security company based in Dorset, covering Poole, Bournemouth, Christchurch, Wimborne, Wareham, Ferndown, Blandford Forum, Dorchester, and surrounding areas across Dorset and Hampshire.
With over 13+ years of experience in the design, installation, commissioning, and maintenance of fire alarm systems, we work with community groups, schools, businesses, landlords, and public sector organisations to ensure their buildings are protected to the correct standard.
Whether you have received a fire risk assessment recommendation, are upgrading an outdated system, or need a new installation from scratch, our team will survey your premises, design the right system for your needs, and install it to the highest professional standard.
We are proud to work with organisations like the Scout Association, knowing that the safety of young people and the communities they serve depends on reliable, properly installed fire protection.
Ready to Upgrade Your Fire Alarm System?
If your building has received a fire risk assessment recommendation, or if your existing fire alarm system is outdated, not fully covering the building, or simply needs a service — get in touch with EAC Fire and Security today.
We provide free, no-obligation surveys and quotes across Poole, Bournemouth, Christchurch, Wimborne, Wareham, Ferndown, Blandford Forum, Dorchester, and the wider Dorset and Hampshire area.
Call us: 07527 265914 Email: info@eacfireandsecurity.co.uk
Don’t wait for an incident — let EAC Fire and Security make sure your building is properly protected.
