Fire & Security Services

Fire Alarm System
Fire Extinguishers
Emergency Lighting
Intruder Alarms
CCTV Systems
Access Control

Fire Alarm System

Fire alarms are required to be installed in most buildings in the UK under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. This means that, if you own a business, chances are you will already have or be looking for the right system for your needs.

Fire Alarm System

Aside from the legal requirements, fitting your premises with an appropriate fire alarm system is the best way for you to protect your property and goods from fire, and also the most reliable way to inform employees and customers of an emergency.

There are three basic types of fire alarms

Conventional fire alarms. These are the most common type of fire alarm system, as they are cost effective and most suitable for smaller buildings. With these alarms, the building is split into several detection ‘zones’, which are linked to a central control panel. If the alarm is triggered, the control panel will show where the problem is, making it easy to identify and resolve.
Addressable fire alarm systems. Similar to the conventional systems, these alarms boast extra detectors to pinpoint not only the zone in which the problem is, but also the actual location of the fire within the zone. This is the best system for larger or more complex buildings, as it cuts down the time needed to investigate faults or fires.
Wireless fire alarm systems. These are the latest and most advanced forms of fire detection technology. Battery powered and easy to install, they offer the best up-to-date and cost effective way to protect vacant properties and remote sites.

Fire Extinguishers

Fire extinguishers are your first line of defence in the event of a fire, and are a legal requirement for any business premises.

There are 5 main types of fire extinguishers, each designed to extinguish a different type of fire. In order to comply with current fire safety regulations your business must have the right types of fire extinguishers for your premises.

Fire Extinguishers

Classes Of Fire

Class A – fires involving solid materials such as wood and fabric
Class B – fires involving flammable liquids (oil, petrol etc)
Class C – fires involving gases
Class D – fires involving metals
Class E – technically class ‘E’ doesn’t exist but is used for ease of understanding here – these are electrical fires
Class F – fires involving cooking oil

Types Of Fire Extinguishers

Water – these are suitable for Class A fires. They are the most commonly used form of fire extinguisher in business premises.
Foam – used for Class A and B fires, these extinguishers are also commonly used, and are more effective than water extinguishers.
Dry Powder – this type of fire extinguisher can be used on most fires, but works best on liquid fires
Wet Chemical – this is a specialist type of extinguisher for Class F fires.
CO2 – these offer the best and safest option for electrical fires, and can also extinguish Class B fires. However, this type of extinguisher does not kill heat, so there is a high risk of reignition.

Since January 1997, in accordance with BS EN 3, all fire extinguishers have been coloured red, with colour-coded labels indicating the contents.

The colours are coded as follows:

Water – Red
Foam – Cream
Dry Powder – Blue
Carbon Dioxide (CO2) – Black

All of the extinguishers supplied by Gardant comply with the British Standards BS 5309-3:2017 and BS5306-8:2012.

Emergency Lighting

Any business operating out of premises has a duty of care to its employees when they are on site. One of the ways that businesses can seek to keep employees safe is by installing emergency lighting, providing automatic lighting in key areas when mains power fails.

Emergency Lighting

Emergency light installation is useful in case of fire or power outage, used to light escape routes, as well as illuminating signs and other safety equipment.

Emergency lighting falls into five categories:

Emergency escape lighting. This type of lighting illuminates the exits, making it easier for people to find in an emergency.
Escape route lighting. These lights allow for quick and safe evacuation in case of fire.
High risk task area lighting. These lights are installed to keep hazardous areas or processes lit under any circumstance, in the eventuality of mains power failure.
Open area lighting. Keeping busy, open areas lit can help to avert panic in an emergency.
Standby lighting. This allows for normal work to continue in case of mains power failure.

British Standards 5266-1:2016 offers some guidance for how emergency lights should be situated.

Under this code of practice, emergency lighting must be located:

Along escape routes, including at each change in direction
Adjacent to every step/trip hazard
Near to any first aid points
At the top of each stairwell
To identify each final exit point

Under the guidance, it is also noted that the local Fire Authority must approve emergency lighting, and emergency lighting equipment must regularly be tested.

Gardant is able to secure this approval on your behalf, as well as providing regular emergency light testing to suit your schedule.

Intruder Alarms

Prevention is the most practical and achievable way to tackle crime, which is why so many business security systems are centred around an intruder alarm.

A highly visible deterrent against trespassers, theft and vandalism, our intruder alarm systems can be tailored to your specific needs, and the requirements of your business premises.

Intruder Alarms

There are two main types of intruder alarms:

Wired intruder alarms are the most common type of alarm system for businesses, as they offer a slight advantage with regards to reliability. Wired systems consist of a main control panel, connected by wires to motion sensors, panic buttons or ‘break glass’ sensors. These systems take a little longer to install than wireless alarms, as the wires are concealed within the walls and floors of your premises.
Wireless systems work in much the same way as wired units, except the sensors are connected to the control panel via radio frequencies. Wireless systems are incredibly quick and easy to install. However, they are less reliable, and can be prone to interference.

These systems are best for:

Heritage sites
Busy buildings that cannot take the time out to install wiring
Pop-up shops and temporary installations
Those requiring intruder alarm systems urgently

CCTV Systems

CCTV is one of the principal methods businesses use to detect and deter crime in the UK.

A CCTV camera system offers a highly-visible deterrent to criminals, who are statistically less likely to target a building with visible CCTV cameras. It also works as an investigative tool when a crime does occur, and provides proof in criminal cases.

CCTV Systems

A CCTV security system can deter both internal and external criminal activities, but can also be used to:

Monitor and enforce health and safety practices
Govern activity across multiple departments, or on multiple sites
Secure cash registers and self-service checkout areas
Offer insight in to customer and employee activity, for data analysis

Gardant offers comprehensive CCTV systems, tailored to the needs and budgets of each individual client. We can set up an entire system from scratch, integrate our CCTV into an existing security system, and maintain CCTV systems to the highest standards.

Access Control

Access control systems are important for any business, used as a means to control who can enter the premises at any time of the day or night, without requiring a member of staff to monitor your doors and entrances, or be situated at reception.

Access Control

There are two types of access control:

This refers to employees, contractors and visitors physically accessing buildings, rooms or event/construction sites.
This refers to computer networks, individual system files and so on.

It is likely that your building will require access control systems for both types of access, to ensure that both your physical premises and company data is protected.

Gardant is able to work with you to design and install a physical door access control system on your premises. This will control who is able to access doors, gates and barriers via your choice of several installations including:

Video entry systems
Telephone entry systems
Computer controlled systems (those controlled by cards, codes or key fobs)

Our access control service helps you to bring your security processes up to date. Whilst physical keys and reception services offer a basic level of security, an electronic access control system gives you more freedom and control over your premises and the people who have access to it.

Using an access control system you will be able to manage:

Who has access: You may wish to grant certain employees access to the entire building, whilst other members of staff can only access the areas in which they work. Visitor cards could offer visitors access to the public areas of the building, ensuring that it is not easy for people to wander in from the street.

When people can gain access: You may wish to offer different access times for those at different levels of responsibility, ensuring that only those that need access after hours are able to gain entry to the building.

Which parts of the building people can access

If you want to limit the abilities of employees, contractors and clients to enter sensitive or hazardous parts of the building then an access control system can do this – only allowing technicians into labs, or management into cash offices, for example.

Not only do these systems help to improve health and safety, they can also help you to narrow down who was in which part of the building if there is an accident or incident, allowing you to investigate more easily.