One of the largest dance studios in Europe is being protected by
Apollo fire detectors. The City Limits Venue in Sheffield is home
to Strictly Come Dancing TV stars Darren Bennett and Lilia Kopylova
and boasts some of the best dance facilities around. It also
doubles as a conference venue.
Its new fire detection system, based on Apollo intelligent
technology and incorporating a range of detectors and ancilliary
products from the XP95 range, was supplied by Rexel Senate
Sheffield, commissioned by Control Equipment (panel manufacturer)
and installed by SHS Ltd (electrical contractor), who also maintain
the system.
Fire system requirements
The three-storey building housing City Limits has an interesting
history in its own right: originally built as an engineering works,
it was later used as an air raid shelter in World War II.
Refurbished to the highest standards, the current dance studio has
fully air conditioned facilities including an academy studio for
teaching groups, a ballroom for large events which doubles as a
corporate entertainment venue, and two private tuition rooms. There
are also changing rooms, licensed bars and a lounge area where
dancers can relax and a retail store which stocks all the latest in
dance wear and shoes.
The fire detection system is arranged over two loops, with
Apollo fire detectors installed over all three floors.
Incorporating more than 100 XP95 detectors and ancillary products,
the system was designed primarily around heat and optical smoke
point detectors.
The upper landing at City Limits is a particularly large, open
space, and here an Apollo intelligent beam detector was used for
optimum fire protection. As well as sounders, sounder beacons were
incorporated to ensure compliance with the Disability
Discrimination Act (DDA), which was introduced in October 2004 and
requires the inclusion of visual alarms as well as audible alarms
to take into account those who may be hearing-impaired.
Darren Whitefoot, Sales Engineer at Control Equipment, comments:
"The Apollo fire detection system, which was designed by Tony
Strutt of Rexel Senate, is perfect for this venue and its varied
uses. It offers a great deal of flexibility to meet the kind of
complex, modern fire detection requirements that we have at City
Limits, such as changing rooms with showers, kitchens for use in
corporate entertaining, bars and larger, multi-use spaces such as
the ballroom all of which could present diverse sources of false
alarms if the correct fire detection system were not in place.
"We were very aware of Apollo's reputation for innovation and
excellence in the fire detection industry, which was also a key
factor in our decision."
In the event of an alarm being raised, the fire system initiates
an immediate evacuation sequence throughout the building.