Delivering fire-system upgrades within a constrained occupied setting
Occupied Multi-Block Smoke-Control Upgrade
Birmingham
- Building
- Three occupied residential blocks with a shared basement and car park
- Client
- Asset manager
- GIR Group role
- Principal Contractor for fire and smoke-control upgrades
- Scope
- Smoke control, fire detection and alarm, basement and car-park systems, and occupied-site logistics
- Status
- Ongoing
Background
Three occupied residential blocks in Birmingham, together with their shared basement and car-parking areas, required coordinated upgrades to their fire detection, alarm and smoke-control systems.
GIR Group was appointed as Principal Contractor to manage the specialist works while maintaining occupation, access and continuity arrangements throughout the programme.
The Challenge
The development was situated within a constrained urban setting surrounded by active residential and community uses. Controlled parking, restricted access and limited space for deliveries and material storage added a significant logistical layer to the technical programme.
Critical systems needed to be isolated, replaced and recommissioned without leaving protection arrangements unmanaged. Deliveries, noise, working hours, resident access and specialist-contractor activities therefore had to be carefully sequenced across all three blocks and the shared areas.
What We Did
GIR Group developed a phased delivery and logistics strategy for the occupied development.
- Planned the works block by block, coordinating access, deliveries, working areas and resident interfaces.
- Managed upgrades to the smoke-control and ventilation systems serving the communal areas and escape routes.
- Coordinated renewal of the fire detection, alarm and monitoring arrangements.
- Managed associated basement and car-park ventilation, detection and control-system upgrades.
- Controlled system isolations, temporary protection, testing and commissioning before final handover and management training.
The Outcome
The defined fire detection, alarm, smoke-control and associated system upgrades were completed across the three residential blocks, shared basement and car park.
The systems were tested, commissioned and handed over with the relevant certification, operating information and training for the building management team.
Residents remained in occupation throughout, with the works delivered through a coordinated programme that maintained controlled access and managed the constraints of the surrounding neighbourhood.
