Written by Wood Campus
Environmental | Industry | News
Net-zero ambition for Timber Square in London
As reported by Ramtech, Timber Square is an ambitious project by Landsec aimed at achieving net-zero in London.
The site, which spans over 370,000 sq ft, is safeguarded by Ramtech’s WES3 wireless fire alarm system, installed by Wingate.
The development is conveniently located near London Bridge and Waterloo stations and features state-of-the-art facilities that promote energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions.
The project aims to retain 85% of the existing structure and utilise cross-laminated timber, significantly reducing CO2 emissions.
Timber Square will also incorporate air source heat pumps as the primary heat source to lower its carbon footprint.
Fire safety concerns with timber construction
Timber Square presents unique challenges and risks, particularly concerning fire safety due to its timber construction.
Timber, while sustainable and eco-friendly, is also combustible.
During construction, the risk is heightened because of exposed timber and other combustible materials on-site.
Key fire safety risks include rapid fire spread, compromised structural integrity in the event of a fire, and increased vulnerability during construction before fire protection measures are fully in place.
Installation of WES3 and REACT systems
Wingate installed over 400 WES3 devices on-site to address these fire safety risks.
The WES3 system, a fully customisable temporary wireless system, provides a simple and secure method for communicating fire and medical emergencies in complex environments.
The REACT Emergency Notification System enhances this by offering 24-hour coverage through a cloud-based platform that sends real-time alerts via a mobile app.
Steve Hemmington, Contracts Manager from Wingate, said: “Installing the WES3 system was incredibly straightforward thanks to its completely wireless design.
It’s easy to install and reposition the units as the site grows.
The added benefit of the REACT system is that it notifies us of any maintenance issues with the WES3 system, ensuring we can address them promptly and keep the site secure.”
Commitment to sustainability and safety
Timber Square aims to set a new benchmark for environmental responsibility in construction while ensuring safety through innovative fire detection and emergency communication systems.
Ramtech’s Sales Manager, Adam Jurka, stated: “Timber Square is a landmark project in sustainability, and we’re proud to support it with our WES3 and REACT systems.
“These technologies provide reliable and rapid fire detection and emergency communication, ensuring that the site remains safe as it progresses towards its ambitious environmental goals.”
READ MORE: Orginal Article: IFSJ
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