Fire Alarm System Replacement at Sir Edmund Hillary LEAD Academy, Worksop
A complete fire alarm replacement and lockdown system integration delivered in a single school half-term week, with the building fully operational and ready for pupils on their return.
A Failing System, Building Works Underway and a Fixed Deadline to Be Ready for Pupils
The fire alarm system at Sir Edmund Hillary LEAD Academy in Worksop had been generating persistent, intermittent faults that were becoming increasingly difficult to manage. With the school also planning building works, the decision was made to replace the system entirely rather than continue applying short-term fixes to aging equipment.
The deadline was non-negotiable. The full replacement had to be designed, installed, commissioned and signed off within the May half-term break, with a working, compliant system in place before pupils and staff returned. Any overrun would mean a school building without a functioning fire alarm.
The project ran from 21 May 2025 with a one-week window to complete all works. During that week, Neuro Systems also had to relocate the main fire alarm panel to accommodate the building alterations in progress, and coordinate the installation around the builders already on site. All phases were completed on time.
A Full Replacement, Panel Relocation and Integrated Lockdown System in Five Days
Neuro Systems designed and installed a complete new fire detection and alarm system across the school, built on the Honeywell Gent Addressable platform. The system covers the full single-storey building across eight alarm zones, with 140 devices and 26 manual call points providing comprehensive detection coverage throughout classrooms, corridors, the assembly hall and all ancillary spaces.
The main fire alarm panel was relocated as part of the works to align with the building alterations, requiring careful planning around the existing infrastructure and the active construction team on site.
In addition to the fire alarm, Neuro Systems designed and installed a lockdown system integrated directly with the fire alarm panel. Key-operated units positioned throughout the school activate a distinct alert tone on the fire alarm sounder network — separate from the evacuation signal — giving staff a clear, site-wide lockdown notification without requiring a separate system or infrastructure. This gives the academy a school security capability that is practical, reliable and already maintained as part of the existing fire alarm contract.
The completed system is fully compliant with BS5839 Pt1 and was commissioned and tested before the school reopened. The new platform also gives the academy significant capacity for future expansion, meaning any building works or additional areas added to the site can be incorporated into the existing system without a further replacement.
Compliant, Reliable and Ready Before the Bell
The persistent intermittent faults that had been affecting the school's day-to-day operations were fully resolved. The academy now has a reliable, addressable system that behaves correctly and is straightforward to manage.
The full replacement, panel relocation and lockdown system integration were completed within the one-week half-term window, with the school ready to reopen on schedule.
The integrated lockdown system gives staff a practical, clearly differentiated alert capability using the existing sounder network, with no separate infrastructure to maintain.
The system has been designed with future works in mind and has the capacity to accommodate additional zones and devices as the school develops. Neuro Systems continues to provide ongoing maintenance and rapid response support under an active contract.
Following the fire alarm project, Neuro Systems returned during the October 2025 half-term to replace the school's intruder alarm system after a system failure, completing that works within the two-week break. The academy now benefits from both fire and security systems maintained by a single trusted contractor.
Neuro Systems provides a fast, reliable service and are always on hand if any issues arise. Engineers are polite and are technically equipped to deal with any issues.
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