Advanced - Experts & Thought Leaders

Advanced has launched Smart Walk Test, a new feature within AdvancedLive, the smart management platform available on MxPro 5 Gen-2 fire panels. Designed to support the testing and record-keeping requirements highlighted in the latest revision of BS 5839-1:2025, Smart Walk Test simplifies routine fire system testing and helps organisations demonstrate that testing has taken place. Although facilities teams and maintenance contractors are both responsible for testing fire systems, their requirements are very different. Smart Walk Test has therefore been designed around two distinct testing modes: weekly testing for facilities teams and annual testing and maintenance activities for maintenance contractors. Smart management platform For facilities teams, Smart Walk Test provides a simple, guided process that allows routine weekly tests to be completed quickly and confidently. Step-by-step prompts guide users through the testing of call points, sounders and outputs, while real-time pass/fail confirmation provides instant assurance that devices have responded correctly. Every activity is automatically logged within AdvancedLive, creating a secure digital record that makes testing information easier to capture, store and review. The system can also track which call points have been tested and prompt users to rotate call point checks in line with best-practice guidance. Meanwhile, dashboard visibility gives facilities teams greater oversight of testing activity across one or multiple sites. Smoke control interfaces For maintenance contractors, Smart Walk Test supports a more efficient, connected approach to annual testing and maintenance activities. Engineers can remotely place zones into test mode, verify device activations in real time and track progress as testing is completed across the building. Testing activity can be recorded automatically as it happens, helping to create a clear, timestamped audit trail and detailed service record. By allowing engineers to verify activations and monitor progress while moving through a building, Smart Walk Test can help testing be completed more quickly and efficiently while reducing administration. The platform also supports the testing of outputs and ancillary functions, including sounders, beacons, door releases and smoke control interfaces, during the same visit. Stronger evidence trail A central focus of Smart Walk Test is creating a stronger evidence trail. The latest revision of BS 5839-1 places continued emphasis on maintaining appropriate records of system inspection, testing and maintenance. Smart Walk Test supports this by providing automatically generated logs, timestamped testing histories and detailed activity records. Testing information can be stored securely, reviewed when required and used to support audits, inspections and compliance reviews, helping organisations demonstrate that testing has taken place. Michael Dunbar, Digital Product Manager at Advanced, said: "Routine fire system testing remains essential, but it can be time-consuming, administration-heavy and difficult to evidence consistently. Smart Walk Test has been designed to make testing simpler for both facilities teams and maintenance contractors while providing a stronger digital record of testing activity. Whether you're completing a routine weekly test or carrying out an annual service visit, Smart Walk Test helps make testing easier to carry out, easier to evidence and easier to manage." Smart Walk Test is available now through AdvancedLive for MxPro 5 Gen-2 fire panels running firmware version 60.04 or later and forms part of Advanced's ongoing commitment to making fire system management smarter, simpler and more connected.

Advanced has launched a new Continuing Professional Development (CPD) seminar exploring how connected technology, cloud-based monitoring and intelligent data are transforming the management of fire detection systems. The new CPD, ‘The Evolution of Smart Fire System Management’, has been developed to help building owners, facilities managers, responsible persons and fire safety professionals understand how digital technologies can improve the way fire systems are monitored, maintained and managed. Fire safety responsibilities The one-hour seminar examines how smart fire system management can provide greater visibility of system status, support faster decision-making and enable users to respond more quickly to events without needing to be physically present at the fire panel. As buildings become more connected and fire safety responsibilities continue to evolve, the CPD explores the growing importance of data-led approaches to fire system management. Topics covered include cloud-based monitoring, real-time notifications, remote access, digital record-keeping and the role these technologies can play in supporting the golden thread of building safety information and helping organisations maintain accessible, up-to-date fire safety data. Fire system management Attendees will gain an understanding of what smart fire system management is, how it differs from traditional fire system monitoring and how connected platforms can be used to manage standalone fire panels, networked fire systems and multi-site portfolios through a single interface. The seminar also explores the benefits this can bring to responsible persons, premises managers, first responders and maintenance providers. The seminar also examines the practical benefits of connected fire system management, including improved safety, reduced administration, faster response times, lower operational costs and sustainability advantages. In addition, it addresses key considerations around cybersecurity, user access controls, audit trails, secure data storage and ISO 27001 compliance. Wider smart building ecosystems Looking to the future, the CPD explores emerging developments including predictive analytics, artificial intelligence and integration with wider smart building ecosystems, helping attendees understand how the next generation of fire system management is likely to evolve. The free CPD is delivered online by members of the Advanced team and is certified by The CPD Certification Service. Participants who successfully complete the course receive a certificate of attendance. The seminar is suitable for fire engineers, consultants, system designers, contractors, installers, facilities and building managers, duty holders, responsible persons and anyone seeking to better understand the role of connected technology in modern fire safety management. Advanced now offers a growing portfolio of CPD-certified training modules covering a range of fire safety topics, including fire detection and alarm systems, false alarm management, smoke control systems and BS 8629 evacuation alert systems.

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.