Antonine Shopping Centre – Fire Alarm Life Cycle Upgrade
The Challenge
Savills FM required a BAFE SP203-1 accredited contractor to modernise the ageing fire alarm system at Antonine Shopping Centre. The existing Closed Protocol ADT MXII panel was outdated, no longer fully serviceable, and unable to meet current regulatory expectations.
About the Project
The project involved a full life-cycle replacement of the fire alarm system across the busy retail centre, covering 471 fire devices. VWS worked collaboratively with Savills FM, Building Control, shop units, and a Fire Strategy Consultant to ensure continuity of fire cover, a compliant system design, and phased implementation.Key project activities included:
• Detailed intrusive surveys to determine cable integrity and uncover undocumented system data.
• Pre-building and pre-programming new FireClass equipment to minimise downtime.
• Daily coordination with centre management, tenants, and Building Control.
• Flexible working patterns to align with shopping centre operations.
• Commissioning and testing at every stage to maintain system integrity.
The Solution
The upgrade was delivered in two structured phases to ensure continuity, compliance, and minimal disruption.Phase 1 – Large-Scale Device Replacement:
VWS replaced all existing devices on a like-for-like basis using open protocol FireClass technology, avoiding changes to system design until a strategy was agreed. A loop-by-loop changeover was undertaken, allowing the system to remain live during works. Each loop was commissioned and tested immediately to minimise snagging and ensure system integrity.Phase 2 – Fire Strategy & Cause-and-Effect Development:
A Fire Strategy Consultant was engaged to develop an updated fire strategy, define the correct fire alarm category, and approve new cause-and-effect logic. VWS implemented the resulting design, collaborating with other contractors to ensure lifts, smoke control, and interlinked systems responded appropriately during a fire event.The project concluded with a modern graphical user interface, updated drawings, full BS 5839-1:2017 compliance, and enhanced documentation to support long-term maintainability.
