Retirement village - Stoke Gifford, Bristol, Gloucestershire
Account manager - Andy Barker
System installed - Fire detection and alarm system, CCTV, warden call, access control, video door entry, converged IP infrastructure
Details - Building-wide communications, security and life safety systems, along with our ‘Smart Building Converged Infrastructure’.
Stoke Gifford retirement village is a partnership between South Gloucestershire Council, Bristol City Council, the Homes and Communities Agency and The ExtraCare Charitable Trust.
The £53m retirement village is a unique housing scheme providing purpose-built facilities for the over 55s, helping residents to continue living in their own homes for longer. The 12 hectare (29 acre) site consists of 261 apartments - 92 one-bedroom apartments and 169 two-bedroom apartments.
A new-build retirement village, TIS was appointed to design, install and maintain building-wide communications, security and life safety systems, along with our ‘Smart Building Converged Infrastructure’.
Our Head of Design led the entire project from initial concept discussions through to complete system design, ensuring legislative compliance and adherence to British standards.
Listening carefully to the requirements of ExtraCare, together with our suppliers and manufacturers we reduced overall expected costs through the design process and optimisation of equipment proposed, and through sourcing equipment which had multiple functions and cross integrations. For example, heat, smoke and CO2 detection combined with sounders, instead of traditional battery operated smoke detection solutions.
Our highly skilled engineering teams are cross-trained in multiple systems, allowing for full flexibility in our approach to the phased installation plan. Careful planning and scheduling ensured the contracted works were completed on time and on budget.
During the installation project we worked closely with suppliers to seek bespoke project pricing, using economies of scale pricing where possible.
Developing detailed programmes of works our project manager ensured that the installation works were rolled out with a controlled start, and the approach mirrored the deadlines of the principal contractor on site. Working closely with the principal contractor, we ensured that the client’s requirements, including pre-determined completion dates, were met.
Implementing our Quality Management System ensured that the standards required for the duration of the contract were high. We ensured that the quality of the parts met our rigorous testing, and that the parts were fully compliant with the legislative requirements for their individual discipline.
We continue to work closely with the ExtraCare Charitable Trust in full partnership, offering an all-inclusive service and maintenance contracts which ensure their systems are kept at optimum performance at all times. Carefully scheduled pre-planned preventive maintenance is offered to all sites included in the contract, and we ensure that we work in harmony with the Trust and their residents alike, allowing for community events, increased visiting during the winter holiday season etc. Due to the nature of Retirement villages, at times we have to respond quickly to a change in schedule, for example when a member of the community passes away, operating in a fully flexible manner we will rearrange our maintenance visits and show discretion, tact and empathy with the community, and the Trust, our flexibility to their needs is greatly appreciated by all.
We designed, installed and integrated; Fibre TV Distribution, Fire Alarm, IP Door Entry, IP Access Control, IP Telephony System, Hybrid (IP/Analogue) Emergency Call System, Fibre Data Network Infrastructure, UPS Power Backup, Mobile Phone Repeater System, Digital Signage, IP CCTV, Wi-Fi, BT Openreach Distribution and Bespoke Alarm Reporting Software, all integrated with an Android handset deployment and custom apps.
Our bespoke, designed, converged infrastructure provides simple and efficient operation for the staff, future-proofed for the building owners. This flexibility and ease of use allows the building operator the ability to individually customise each resident’s package; from multi-media & broadband provision to emergency call and healthcare monitoring, thus allowing increased revenue opportunities for the operator, and increased desirability amongst the residents.
Our innovative, integrated and flexible solution improved the efficiency of the entire team, reducing labour and operational costs. Diagnostics through remote monitoring and system administration have been enabled and within the Stoke Gifford retirement village, the fire detection and alarms, warden and nurse call, access control and video door entry now sit on a single infrastructure and talk to each other.
