In a busy educational environment, effective fire protection is essential. When Admiral Lord Nelson School required an upgrade to its existing fire system, it selected SFA Fire & Security as its specialist contractor. The solution incorporated Hochiki’s FIREbeam Xtra and ESP open protocol technology to provide a flexible, future-ready system.

Located in Portsmouth, Admiral Lord Nelson School supports students and staff across three floors and a wide range of specialist teaching spaces. With multiple buildings and diverse room functions, the school needed more than basic fire detection—it required a resilient, modern life safety system capable of evolving alongside its needs.

SFA Fire & Security was appointed to deliver the project from design through to installation, ensuring single-partner accountability, full compliance, and a streamlined process. Drawing on 26 years of industry experience and extensive knowledge of Hochiki products, SFA designed and installed a robust, high-quality system tailored to the school’s unique requirements.

One of the key challenges was the variation in specialist rooms, including the laboratory kiln room, atrium, and sports hall. Each environment demanded a bespoke approach to fire detection that prioritised safety without disrupting day-to-day functionality.

Working within a live school environment also created logistical challenges. Installation work had the potential to be disruptive, and the project needed to be completed in phases to meet strict deadlines. To minimise disruption, SFA scheduled most of the work during the summer holidays and the following half-term break. This approach allowed for rapid progress on site, supported by pre-staged device addressing, while ensuring students and staff were not affected.

The school’s large glass-fronted atrium presented another significant challenge. Its size and height made traditional point detection impractical. Hochiki’s FIREbeam Xtra was selected as the ideal solution, providing reliable long-range coverage and enhanced sensitivity. Designed for open spaces, FIREbeam Xtra effectively detects smoke over large areas while reducing the risk of false alarms.

Hochiki’s ESP open protocol formed the backbone of the system, offering flexibility and seamless integration across the site. The school required a solution that was easy to maintain and capable of spanning multiple teaching blocks. Combined with an Advanced addressable fire control panel, the system enables precise device monitoring, simplified maintenance, and accurate location identification in the event of an incident.

To address the varied risks across the site, SFA deployed a strategic mix of heat detectors and multi-sensors. Multi-sensors were installed in science classrooms, where gases and smoke from experiments could otherwise cause false alarms. These devices can intelligently differentiate between genuine fire conditions and transient signals. Heat detectors were used in food technology rooms and kitchens, where temperature changes provide a more reliable indicator of fire than smoke detection alone.

Working closely with school management, SFA also programmed bespoke EN54-approved alarm tones and patterns into the system’s sounders. Each alarm type—such as class change, lockdown, and fire—was assigned a distinct tone to ensure clear identification. This approach improves response times, reduces confusion, and enhances overall safety.

“We have worked with Hochiki products over many years in various projects and environments, and their reliability is top-class,” said Naomi Fell, Project Director at SFA.

“Despite tight deadlines, Hochiki’s ESP open protocol and versatile product range made the system easy to integrate and operate. It’s a solution the school can trust for years to come, and we’re proud to have helped future-proof its safety.”

By combining Hochiki’s advanced technology with SFA’s expertise, Admiral Lord Nelson School now benefits from a high-quality, adaptable life safety system that will continue to protect students and staff well into the future.