Advanced - Experts & Thought Leaders

The University of West London (UWL) is benefitting from enhanced fire safety visibility and streamlined system management thanks to the integration of AdvancedLive across multiple campuses. Over the past three years, the University has undertaken a significant investment programme to upgrade its fire protection infrastructure. This included systematically replacing legacy MxPro 4 and Kentec systems with next-generation MxPro 5 panels, ensuring consistency across six campuses in West London and Oxford. Faster incident response Most recently, Ruskin College, now part of the University of West London, underwent a seamless upgrade across its historic Oxford estate, which includes five main buildings such as the Rookery, first constructed in 1913. Despite the complexity of integrating newer extensions like the Callaghan Library, the project was completed without disruption, thanks to the adaptability and flexibility of the MxPro 5 platform. With more than 27 Advanced panels installed across education, office, and residential buildings, the University has now connected three of its main campuses to AdvancedLive, with plans to extend the platform further. Using map-based views, facilities teams and security staff gain a real-time overview of their fire system estate, enabling faster incident response and more efficient day-to-day management. Remote access capability For a large and dispersed organisation like UWL, the ability to locate alarms or faults quickly across complex buildings has been transformational. AdvancedLive’s intuitive dashboard and remote access capability allow fire isolations, enablements and weekly testing to be managed digitally, eliminating unnecessary site visits and reducing both costs and carbon footprint. The system configuration reflects the unique requirements of each campus: St Mary’s Road Campus operates 13 panels, with Apollo REACH wireless devices deployed within library pods and coincidence detection programmed across third-party systems. Ruskin College Campus features six panels, each building configured with bespoke cause-and-effect strategies, all reporting to central security points. Paragon House integrates four panels with phased evacuation and delays across its 12-storey tower block. Unified management interface Additional campuses, including Cavendish & Century and Drama Studio London, benefit from tailored programming for linked buildings and theatre operations respectively. In every case, AdvancedLive provides a unified management interface for system status, alarms, faults, and disablements. Jason Bennett, Division Manager at Alarm Communication Limited, who led the installation, said: “From both an admin and engineering perspective, AdvancedLive has been extremely positive. The live system view and detailed log make daily management much simpler, while remote access means the facilities team can react quickly and efficiently to any issue. The installation was straightforward, and Advanced’s support throughout the process was excellent.” Sustainable fire system management Salvy Vittozzi, Sales Manager for UK South East at Advanced, added: “The University of West London is a great example of how AdvancedLive can transform fire system oversight across a complex estate. By combining the proven reliability of the MxPro 5 panels with the real-time visibility of AdvancedLive, the University now benefits from a solution that’s not only robust today but also scalable for the future. It’s fantastic to see how this investment is already saving time, reducing unnecessary travel, and strengthening fire safety management.” Looking ahead, UWL plans to expand AdvancedLive connectivity to the remainder of its estate, ensuring consistent oversight and centralised control across all sites. For universities and multi-site organisations, the combination of MxPro 5 and AdvancedLive provides a powerful foundation for safe, efficient and sustainable fire system management.

Advanced has expanded its Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programme with the launch of a new course focused on smoke control systems and their role in protecting life and property. Titled Smoke Control Systems: Principles, Pitfalls and Protection, the free CPD has been developed to provide consultants, specifiers, fire engineers, installers, facilities managers and other fire safety professionals with a practical understanding of smoke control strategies, system types and compliance requirements. Smoke control systems The module explores the principles of smoke movement and the importance of smoke control in supporting safe evacuation, firefighting access and property protection. Attendees will gain insight into natural and mechanical smoke ventilation systems, smoke exhaust and pressurisation methods, as well as the key components used within smoke control systems. The CPD also examines the standards and regulations that govern smoke control design and maintenance, including Approved Document B, BS EN 12101, BS 7346-8, BS 9991 and BS 9999. Alongside this, the course highlights common design, installation and maintenance pitfalls, helping attendees better understand best practice approaches and long-term compliance responsibilities. Modern fire safety strategies Delivered online by Shaun Scott, Applications Engineer at Advanced, the CPD forms part of the company’s ongoing commitment to supporting industry education and improving fire safety knowledge across the sector. Shaun said: “Smoke control systems play a critical role in modern fire safety strategies, particularly in complex and high-rise buildings where maintaining clear escape routes is essential. This CPD has been designed to provide practical, real-world guidance on the principles behind smoke control systems, the challenges involved in their design and maintenance, and the standards that govern them.” Delivering improved compliance “By helping industry professionals strengthen their understanding of smoke control, we can support them in designing better systems and delivering improved compliance, ultimately creating safer buildings.” All Advanced CPDs are certified by the CPD Certification Service, with attendees receiving a certificate of attendance upon successful completion. The new smoke control CPD joins Advanced’s growing portfolio of educational modules, including Introduction to Fire Detection & Alarm Systems, Managing False Fire Alarms: Tools & Techniques, and A Guide to Meeting BS 8629.

John Street, Newham, a high‑rise residential development comprising Blocks A and C, has been equipped with a comprehensive life safety solution from Advanced, incorporating SmokeGo smoke control and EvacGo evacuation alert systems to support a stay‑put fire strategy and enhance resident safety. The project, delivered as part of a wider life safety installation by Simple Life Safety Systems Limited, required a robust and compliant approach to smoke control and evacuation alert across two buildings with different heights and risk profiles. Block A is a 14‑storey, high‑rise residential block, while Block C is a smaller, four‑storey building. Each block was equipped with one SmokeGo panel and one EvacGo panel, providing dedicated control tailored to the specific needs of each structure. High‑rise residential block SmokeGo was specified to deliver active smoke control via the fire system, supporting the management of smoke in common escape routes and critical areas. Designed to comply with EN 54 Parts 2 and 4, as well as BS 7346‑8 and ISO 21927‑9, SmokeGo enables automatic and manual control of smoke control fans and dampers from a single, intuitive interface. Its simple matrix‑based configuration allowed the project team to clearly define smoke compartments and cause‑and‑effect relationships, helping ensure smoke is contained and extracted effectively in the event of a fire. EvacGo was installed as a fully independent BS 8629-compliant evacuation alert system, giving the fire and rescue service a reliable and secure means of alerting residents if evacuation beyond the affected flat is required. Each EvacGo panel is housed within a robust, tamper‑proof enclosure and is designed exclusively for use by the fire and rescue service, helping prevent misuse while ensuring clear, decisive control during an incident. Complex residential project John Newton, Director Life Safety at Simple Group, commented: “John Street was a complex residential project that required careful coordination between smoke control and evacuation alert systems. Using SmokeGo and EvacGo allowed us to deliver a fully compliant solution that aligns with the fire strategy while giving the fire and rescue service the tools they need to manage incidents safely and effectively.” The SmokeGo smoke control system and EvacGo evacuation alert system operate as separate dedicated life safety systems, ensuring smoke movement can be actively controlled while evacuation decisions remain firmly in the hands of the fire and rescue service. This layered approach supports resident safety without undermining the stay‑put strategy that underpins the building’s fire design. Implementing smoke control Shaun Scott, Applications Engineer at Advanced, added: “Projects like John Street highlight the importance of implementing smoke control and evacuation alert systems correctly. SmokeGo makes complex smoke control logic far simpler to configure and manage, while EvacGo provides a clear, compliant evacuation alert solution. Together, they deliver confidence for installers, building managers, and emergency responders alike.” With one SmokeGo panel and one EvacGo panel installed in each block, the John Street development now benefits from a coordinated life safety solution that addresses both smoke management and evacuation alerting in line with current best practice and regulatory guidance. The project demonstrates how Advanced’s specialist systems can be combined to meet the evolving safety requirements of modern residential buildings, delivering compliant, practical solutions that prioritise both resident safety and operational simplicity.