UK
TIS and Global Air Services Provider: A partnership to enhance fire safety and compliance across UK airports
Account manager - Nick Hollins
System installed - Fire alarm system
Details - TIS partnered with a global air services provider to tackle critical fire safety and compliance challenges across major UK airports - including Heathrow, Gatwick, and Birmingham. Facing frequent false alarms, non-compliant installations, and maintenance issues, the Company turned to TIS for a reliable, strategic solution. Leveraging our industry-leading accreditations and deep technical expertise, we delivered fully compliant fire alarm upgrades designed to BS5839-1:2017 L1 standards using Honeywell Gent systems. Our single-provider model reduced complexity, improved compliance visibility, and enabled operational efficiencies without the need for increased staffing. The partnership, built on trust and previous experience, is now expanding towards a national multi-system maintenance contract. TIS is proud to be the Company’s preferred safety and security partner, helping protect people, infrastructure, and mission-critical operations across the UK.
The challenge
When a global leader in air services and ground handling discovered it was facing potential life safety and security risks across multiple UK sites, it needed a trusted partner who could quickly analyse the threats, provide professional, strategic advice, and deliver reliable, compliant, and future-proof solutions.
TIS stepped in with a proven track record of success, expertise, and commitment to building true partnerships that deliver the right outcome. Our rapid response identified the Company was facing multiple challenges at Birmingham, Gatwick and Heathrow, resulting from frequent false alarms and inadequate, non-compliant, third-party installations and ongoing maintenance. Maintaining the status quo would expose the Company to significant safety and operational risks.
With the highest industry accreditations, including BAFE for NSI Gold in fire systems, ISO 9001, 14001, 45001, and Cyber Essentials Plus, we provided the Company with a reliable path to restoring safety, compliance, and operational efficiency.
What we delivered
Our ability to streamline operations, reduce costs, and enhance compliance captured the Company’s attention. Our approach offered a comprehensive, single-provider model that promised to simplify fire and security management across the Company’s entire UK portfolio. By consolidating services under one roof, the Company could reduce its administrative burden, improve consistency, and ensure adherence to rigorous standards.
The partnership was built on a strong foundation of trust and reliability, established through previous first-hand experience, alongside our well-known and respected industry reputation. Impressed by our consistent quality of service, integrity, and commitment to delivering tailored solutions, the Company’s senior decision-makers recognised TIS as the ideal partner to resolve its widespread issues, resulting in multiple, high-value, fire system upgrade projects at Heathrow, Birmingham and Gatwick. These new fire alarm systems, designed to BS5839-1:2017 Category L1 standard, provide comprehensive protection throughout the sites. The systems utilise Honeywell’s Gent Vigilon fire alarm control panels and S-Quad devices, delivering completely compliant site coverage and ensuring swift detection of fire events.
TIS stood out as the ideal partner for the Company due to our proven ability to deliver exactly what was required by an organisation where compliance is valued incredibly highly at the C-suite level. The Company’s leadership understood the critical importance of working with a partner that could not only ensure full legal compliance but also proactively support operational efficiency and risk management.
● Comprehensive compliance: Through proactive information sharing, structured maintenance plans, and real-time monitoring, we provided the Company with clear visibility over all compliance activities.
● Ease of management: With a single point of contact for all systems, the Company could simplify operations, allowing existing staff to focus on higher-value tasks without needing to expand headcount. This streamlined approach delivered significant operational efficiencies and ensured resources were allocated where they were most needed.
● MOD-compliant standards: With decades of experience working with the Ministry of Defence, adherence to stringent security standards for airside operations ensured the Company’s facilities are protected to the highest possible levels and our multi-skilled engineers required little to no supervision, freeing up the Company’s team.
● Future-proof solutions: Scalable systems designed to adapt as the Company’s requirements grow and evolve.
Recognising the value of our expertise and innovative approach, the Company is now progressing towards a broader national service and maintenance contract across all systems. This includes CCTV, access control, intruder alarms, fire systems, suppression, and emergency lighting, spanning sites at Manchester, East Midlands, Belfast, Birmingham, Gatwick, London City and Heathrow.
"These significant upgrades to our airport facilities at Heathrow, Gatwick and Birmingham are an important step in our ongoing quest to deliver the best services possible to customers. We continue to invest in our infrastructure, equipment and highly skilled team, and this new partnership with TIS, built on trust and a truly collaborative, consultative approach, is a significant step forward for the safety and security of our operations. The speed at which TIS was able to diagnose and remedy our challenges was impressive, quickly achieving compliance and protecting our people, premises and business-critical customer delivery."
UK Facilities Manager
The outcome
The results speak for themselves. We designed and installed state-of-the-art fire alarm systems to BS5839-1:2017 Category L1 standards across the Company’s major sites. This has provided the Company with consistent, reliable protection, streamlined monitoring, and significantly reduced compliance risks.
TIS is now firmly established as the Company’s preferred safety and security partner, with discussions underway for a comprehensive national service and maintenance contract covering all of its UK facilities. This relationship-led approach, built on trust, transparency, and proven excellence, continues to unlock new opportunities for both organisations.
