Victoria Apartments occupies a striking 19th-century cotton mill originally built in 1852. The site has since been transformed into luxury flats, combining modern living with preserved industrial character. As part of the redevelopment, a robust fire alarm system was required to provide coverage throughout the multi-residential building while accommodating the unique structure of the former mill.

1st Look Fire & Security were responsible for the installation, commissioning, and programming of the system. The team selected a next-generation MxPro 5 fire panel from Advanced, configured with four loops to meet the specific requirements of the site and support a flexible, complex system suitable for a building of this size and age.

The system is configured using Hochiki protocol devices, in line with the company’s standard approach when using Advanced technology. The configuration also supports a tailored cause-and-effect strategy, developed by 1st Look’s trained commissioning engineers. A dedicated site configuration has been created to support future maintenance, updates or expansion if required.

Following completion, feedback from the client highlighted the helpfulness, speed, and professionalism of the team on site, noting their clear communication and proactive approach throughout the project.

Damian Symonds, Director at 1st Look Fire & Security, said: “Advanced is our go-to for projects that demand a dependable, adaptable system. The MxPro 5 was a great fit for Victoria Apartments, offering the performance and flexibility we needed, with intuitive setup for our engineers. We also delivered a session for the local fire service, who were very impressed with the system’s capabilities.”

Neil Parkin, Sales Manager at Advanced, added: “The Victoria Apartments project is a great example of how next-generation MxPro 5 panels can deliver modern fire protection in historic settings. With its enhanced configuration features and high loop capacity, it’s an ideal choice for conversions and residential redevelopments of this kind.”

The next-generation MxPro 5 panels offer increased performance, with a more powerful processor, quicker programming, and wider protocol compatibility. Designed to streamline installation and future-proof system design, the panel gives installers and end users a powerful, flexible fire safety solution.