Historic Hebridean Abbey selects Advanced

Providing a fire system for the most sacred site in Scotland was always going to be a challenge, especially considering the remoteness of its historic location, but for the custodians of Iona Abbey global fire systems manufacturer Advanced was the only choice.

Located on the Scottish island of Iona, south west of the Isle of Mull, the Abbey is at the heart of a globally important religious centre, founded in 564AD by St Columba who brought early Christianity from Ireland to Great Britain.

The Abbey presents a unique challenge for fire system installers as their finished work needs to be very discrete, but also highly effective and reliable due to the extreme remoteness of the ancient building.

Advanced’s benchmark MxPro 4 fire panel range was selected after careful consultation between the management team at Iona Abbey and Adam Fire Engineers and Consultants, the company which specified and installed the system. They were chosen for their world-beating quality and reliability, as well as their ability to be upgraded and expanded in the future.

Graeme Bruce, spokesperson for Adam Fire Engineers, said: “The historic buildings of Iona Abbey presented a unique challenge and we felt that MxPro 4 was the optimum solution. Not only did the system allow us to cover the whole complex with a single panel, Advanced’s systems are extremely robust with excellent technical support, which is a particular advantage given the island location.

“When you’re dealing with locations like this there is no margin for error. You can’t pop back to the store for a replacement part if something doesn’t work. When the system is up and running there is no margin for breakdown or error as maintenance costs are high and in a location like Iona it is protecting life and abuilding of global importance. Everything needs to be the best and that’s why we do not hesitate to use and Advanced’s MxPro and Apollo detectors.”

MxPro offers customers a choice of two panel ranges, four detector protocols and a completely open installer network that enjoys free training and support. MxPro panels can be used in single loop, single panel format or easily configured into high speed, 200 panel networks covering huge areas. Advanced’s legendary ease of installation and configuration and wide peripheral range make it customisable to almost any application.

Originally founded by monks from Ireland, Iona Abbey became a Benedictine monastery in 1203 before falling into disrepair after the Reformation of 1560. The centuries-old Abbey buildings were extensively restored between 1900 and 1960, and the site is now the third most popular in the care of Historic Scotland. The unique setting and the ancient fabric of the buildings mean that any modern installation, such as a fire system, must be done sympathetically, causing as little visual impact as possible.

Neil Parkin, sales manager for Advanced, said: “Adam Fire Engineers have delivered an outstanding solution based on our MxPro technology that will meet the needs of Iona Abbey for many years to come. MxPro will allow the installation to expand in future which is a big advantage when we’re dealing with buildings of this type.”

Jane Martin, monument manager for Iona Abbey, commented: “We’re two ferry rides from the mainland and we suffer regular power cuts in winter, but we’re a very busy visitor attraction, so our fire systems need to be highly reliable while remaining totally unobtrusive. Advanced panels were recommended as they are designed and manufactured right here in the UK to meet the highest quality standards, so they will last for many years and won’t let us down.

“We had originally specified a system from another manufacturer, but when the installer outlined the Advanced system and told us they could re-use the existing wiring, it was the obvious choice. We’re very pleased with both the capabilities of the panels and their low impact on the fabric of the building.”

MxPro 4 is fully compliant with EN54 Parts 2 and 4, and backed up with Advanced’s renowned customer care and technical support. Advanced’s highest performance multiprotocol panel the MxPro 5, which is also EN54 Part 13 approved, is backward compatible with the MxPro 4 network offering long term security, scalability and flexibility.

Advanced is a world leader in the development and manufacture of intelligent fire systems. Its legendary performance, quality and ease-of-use sees its products used in prestigious and challenging locations all over the world, from single panel installations to large multi-site networks. Advanced’s products include complete fire detection systems, multi-protocol fire panels, extinguishing control and fire paging systems. More details can be found on the website at www.advancedco.com.