The upgrade from analogue to digital addressable systems enables the school to benefit from the very latest technology as part of the overall fire safety strategy. The replacement ‘MZX Technology’ systems allow for the prompt and reliable detection of fires as well as delivering a zero tolerance approach to false and unwanted alarms.

Oundle School is situated in the market town from which it takes its name. The school buildings, which date from the seventeenth to the twenty-first century, are dispersed throughout the town, which is, to a large extent, its campus.  The school provides both  co-educational boarding and day education - meaning that it is a complex site with classroom and sporting facilities, a theatre as well as living accommodation.

ADT originally installed the Minerva system into Oundle School in the early1990s. With such a large site, a robust and reliable fire detection system is necessary and the move to a digital addressable system will help ensure Oundle School is protected by highly advanced technology. Digital systems offer a superior robustness and reliability and can support a higher number of devices on one loop, giving increased flexibility for larger more complex sites.

Terry Alls brook, Fire &Security Advisor at Oundle School commented: 

“We have a long-standing relationship with ADT so when it was time to upgrade the system we were confident they would supply us with reliable and efficient fire detection and alarm systems. In addition, ADT trained our estate team to ensure we could maintain and repair the system ourselves. To ensure we are in control of our own system - ADT provided us with its Consys Express fire alarm programming tool.”

Consys Express allows the configuration of ADT’s digital based systems, including switching on evacuation alarm sounders, closing fire doors or automatically alerting the fire service via ADT Fire & Security’s alarm receiving centre in the event of a fire. The tool allows the building occupier to adapt the original fire system configuration whenever required.

Furthermore, ADT has installed over600 carbon monoxide detectors at Oundle School, which have significantly reduced the number of false alarms onsite and ensures early detection should a fire actually occur. For example, if a student burns some toast, the smoke generated will not result in an alarm, however should the toast catch alight- the alarm would sound. This avoids a situation where burnt food results in an unnecessary building evacuation. Terry added: “Our primary concern is that we have a robust and reliable fire detection system in place to safe guard the lives of our students and staff and one that helps to reduce an unnecessary false alarm. We are very happy with the systems and service from ADT Fire& Security and will continue to upgrade our analogue system to the latest digital technology.”