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When one of the most architecturally significant stately homes in the Uk is saved for the nation with GB pound 45 million in grant and loans and the intervention of Prince Charles, you want to make sure it is well protected from fire.
Designing a fire safety solution in older buildings is an issue fraught with difficulties. When that building is recognised as a classic of the 18th Century, containing priceless antiques, furniture and paintings, and due to be opened by HRH Prince Charles after years of renovation, those difficulties are put into even sharper focus.
Such was the challenge facing Chubb Fire when it was asked by the stewards of Dumfries House in Ayrshire to come up with a system that would protect not only the infrastructure of the house and its contents, but also protect a new generation of visitors expected through its doors. Mike Schafer, chief executive of the Great Steward of Scotland’s Dumfries House Trust that is tasked with preserving the house for future generations, takes up the story. “Major work needed to be done to make the house suitable for visitors after more than two centuries in private hands,” he explains. “Naturally, fire prevention was a major consideration in our plans, not only to protect the house and its contents, but also to protect visitors from risk,” he adds.
To give some idea of the task, Dumfries House was designed some 300 years ago by renowned 18th century architect brothers John, Robert and James Adam. It is widely acknowledged as one of the most architecturally significant stately homes in the UK. More than this, it has a unique collection of Chippendale furniture, and its rooms and their contents that have remained virtually unchanged throughout its history. The ceilings in particular are among the finest of their kind, displaying finely modelled flowers and foliage that extend to friezes, chimneys, doorways and picture frames.
Last inhabited in 1993, the house was saved from sale and certain break-up at the end of 2007 after a dramatic last minute intervention by a consortium of charities and heritage bodies, led by Prince Charles. With GB pound 25m contributed by the Scottish Government and heritage organisations and trusts, and GB pound 20 million borrowed and provided by Prince Charles personally, the Dumfries House, its collection of furniture and its 2,000-acre estate were saved for the nation only hours before expiry of the deadline for sale at auction!
There was a huge collective sigh of relief when the house was saved. Alex Salmond, the first minister for Scotland, who dubbed it the “save of the century”, commented: “The house and its exquisite furniture collection are internationally acclaimed – a world class product of the Scottish Enlightenment. I want them to become a showcase for a newly confident Scotland; and a catalyst for increased tourism and imaginative regeneration in the southwest of Scotland.” Helping in the task of turning the property from a private house into a visitor attraction was Chubb Fire.
Remove or reduce
Under Scottish fire safety legislation, the Trust was obliged to carry out a fire risk assessment to remove or reduce the risk of fire, and appointed Chubb Fire to conduct the survey on its behalf. The Steward selected the company on competitive tender, which sought good customer service at a realistic price. There was also a trust built up between the two parties: “I had worked with Brian Kemp, a Chubb Fire senior sales engineer, on previous projects, and knew him to be professional and reliable,” adds Mr Schafer.
The critical factor was to design a system that would not interfere with the fabric of the building. To this end Chubb specified and installed a wireless radio analogue detection system, placing detectors (127 smoke detectors and four heat detectors) discreetly around the house linked to two control panels. The control panels perform a number of critical functions: these include monitoring of all detection devices, controlling sounders and signalling (there are no fewer than 25 sounder beacons, 12 sounders and 12 manual call points), and providing power and battery backup.
“As a listed building, it was imperative that the ceilings and walls were not altered, thus eliminating the use of a conventional wired detection and alarm system,” explains Mr Schafer. “With a tight timeframe for completion, installing a wireless system also eliminated the need for added disruption in placing the wires, ensuring that the installation ran smoothly and on time.”
Time was indeed a critical factor. Work on the project began in the opening months of 2008 and had to be completed in time for the official opening by the Prince of Wales in the summer. This did not mean that corners could be cut, however, and every care had to be taken with the installation. The wireless system would present the first line of defence, providing the earliest indication of a fire being detected.
But as well as providing systems to detect a fire, Chubb also supplied a variety of different portable extinguisher types to contain a fire should an incident occur. These consist of 26 6-litre water extinguishers, four 2kg CO2 extinguishers, and three 6kg powder extinguishers, alongside 31 chrome stands and a fire blanket. The company is also responsible for the onward maintenance of the systems and extinguishers.
Additionally, to assist in safely escaping the house in the event of an emergency, Chubb Fire provided fire signage to the house. A fire marshalling training course was also provided, to aid in giving designated fire marshals a clear understanding of their responsibilities, duties and role, and covering theoretical and practical implications which will enable them to undertake an efficient and orderly evacuation of the building in an emergency situation.
“I am thrilled that this 18th Century treasure has been preserved for the 21st Century and beyond,” said Prince Charles on the re-opening of Dumfries House. “This unique house and its exceptional collection of furniture represents a very special part of Scotland’s heritage and the United Kingdom’s and I am grateful to all the organisations that have helped to make it possible to keep the collection together in one place.”
When one of the most architecturally significant stately homes in the Uk is saved for the nation with £45 million in grant and loans and the intervention of Prince Charles, you want to make sure it is well protected from fire.
Designing a fire safety solution in older buildings is an issue fraught with difficulties. When that building is recognised as a classic of the 18th Century, containing priceless antiques, furniture and paintings, and due to be opened by HRH Prince Charles after years of renovation, those difficulties are put into even sharper focus.
Such was the challenge facing Chubb Fire when it was asked by the stewards of Dumfries House in Ayrshire to come up with a system that would protect not only the infrastructure of the house and its contents, but also protect a new generation of visitors expected through its doors. Mike Schafer, chief executive of the Great Steward of Scotland’s Dumfries House Trust that is tasked with preserving the house for future generations, takes up the story. "Major work needed to be done to make the house suitable for visitors after more than two centuries in private hands," he explains. "Naturally, fire prevention was a major consideration in our plans, not only to protect the house and its contents, but also to protect visitors from risk," he adds.
To give some idea of the task, Dumfries House was designed some 300 years ago by renowned 18th century architect brothers John, Robert and James Adam. It is widely acknowledged as one of the most architecturally significant stately homes in the UK. More than this, it has a unique collection of Chippendale furniture, and its rooms and their contents that have remained virtually unchanged throughout its history. The ceilings in particular are among the finest of their kind, displaying finely modelled flowers and foliage that extend to friezes, chimneys, doorways and picture frames.
Last inhabited in 1993, the house was saved from sale and certain break-up at the end of 2007 after a dramatic last minute intervention by a consortium of charities and heritage bodies, led by Prince Charles. With £25m contributed by the Scottish Government and heritage organisations and trusts, and £20 million borrowed and provided by Prince Charles personally, the Dumfries House, its collection of furniture and its 2,000-acre estate were saved for the nation only hours before expiry of the deadline for sale at auction!
There was a huge collective sigh of relief when the house was saved. Alex Salmond, the first minister for Scotland, who dubbed it the "save of the century", commented: "The house and its exquisite furniture collection are internationally acclaimed – a world class product of the Scottish Enlightenment. I want them to become a showcase for a newly confident Scotland; and a catalyst for increased tourism and imaginative regeneration in the southwest of Scotland." Helping in the task of turning the property from a private house into a visitor attraction was Chubb Fire.
Remove or reduce
Under Scottish fire safety legislation, the Trust was obliged to carry out a fire risk assessment to remove or reduce the risk of fire, and appointed Chubb Fire to conduct the survey on its behalf. The Steward selected the company on competitive tender, which sought good customer service at a realistic price. There was also a trust built up between the two parties: "I had worked with Brian Kemp, a Chubb Fire senior sales engineer, on previous projects, and knew him to be professional and reliable," adds Mr Schafer.
The critical factor was to design a system that would not interfere with the fabric of the building. To this end Chubb specified and installed a wireless radio analogue detection system, placing detectors (127 smoke detectors and four heat detectors) discreetly around the house linked to two control panels. The control panels perform a number of critical functions: these include monitoring of all detection devices, controlling sounders and signalling (there are no fewer than 25 sounder beacons, 12 sounders and 12 manual call points), and providing power and battery backup.
"As a listed building, it was imperative that the ceilings and walls were not altered, thus eliminating the use of a conventional wired detection and alarm system," explains Mr Schafer. "With a tight timeframe for completion, installing a wireless system also eliminated the need for added disruption in placing the wires, ensuring that the installation ran smoothly and on time."
Time was indeed a critical factor. Work on the project began in the opening months of 2008 and had to be completed in time for the official opening by the Prince of Wales in the summer. This did not mean that corners could be cut, however, and every care had to be taken with the installation. The wireless system would present the first line of defence, providing the earliest indication of a fire being detected.
But as well as providing systems to detect a fire, Chubb also supplied a variety of different portable extinguisher types to contain a fire should an incident occur. These consist of 26 6-litre water extinguishers, four 2kg CO2 extinguishers, and three 6kg powder extinguishers, alongside 31 chrome stands and a fire blanket. The company is also responsible for the onward maintenance of the systems and extinguishers.
Additionally, to assist in safely escaping the house in the event of an emergency, Chubb Fire provided fire signage to the house. A fire marshalling training course was also provided, to aid in giving designated fire marshals a clear understanding of their responsibilities, duties and role, and covering theoretical and practical implications which will enable them to undertake an efficient and orderly evacuation of the building in an emergency situation.
"I am thrilled that this 18th Century treasure has been preserved for the 21st Century and beyond," said Prince Charles on the re-opening of Dumfries House. "This unique house and its exceptional collection of furniture represents a very special part of Scotland’s heritage and the United Kingdom’s and I am grateful to all the organisations that have helped to make it possible to keep the collection together in one place."