Overview

IKEA BELFAST completed in 2008, The 29,000 sq metre store - the equivalent area of five and a half football fields !

IKEA DUBLIN completed in 2009, The 30,5,00 sq metre store - also contains an understore carpark holding over 1,500 cars.

IKEA

Belfast based Ashdale Engineering installed and commissioned the fire systems, which each consisted of two fully-networked MxPro 4 control panels and more than 1000 Apollo XP95 devices, including smoke sensors, manual call points and I/O units. Over 400 heat detectors were installed to protect the Dublin store’s underground car park. The systems are designed to L1 standards to ensure maximum safety for staff and shoppers in both the retail and warehouse areas of the store. Advanced’s PC-NeT Graphics software is used to provide overall monitoring and control for the fire systems.

The comprehensive cause and effect features of the MxPro 4 4-loop panels are used to provide a phased evacuation of the stores in the event of a fire or incident.Ashdale Engineering also installed a PA/VA system, which is fully integrated with the fire system. Both systems have over 100 loop interface units to control plant shutdown and lifts and to open doors in the event of a fire.

“Advanced’s MxPro 4 series panels were chosen for these projects because of their excellent programming features and field-proven reliability”, said Colin Simms, Ashdale’s Service Manager. “We have worked with Advanced many times before and know that the company provides excellent customer and technical support.”

The PC-NeT Graphics software runs on a standard PC connected to the fire network. It is a highly configurable system allowing the use of site maps, images and text to display a visual representation of the fire system to the end-user. Any device can be enabled or disabled and the option to turn on outputs can be configured simply by clicking an icon on the screen. Comprehensive event and alarm history logs can be viewed and reports easily generated for analysis and auditing.

Ashdale firing on all cylinders with Ikea deal

A north Belfast engineering firm is completing a £250,000 contract to install fire detection systems at Ikea's new Holywood Exchange store.

It is one of the biggest contracts Shore Road-based Ashdale Engineering has won in its 30 year history.

The company, which employs 35 and specialises in electrical products in the industrial and commercial markets, beat off competition from fire and security firms across the UK to secure the deal. The work will be carried out both at the store, due to open in December, and at its multi-storey car park.

Around 400 smoke detectors will be put in place before the firm leaves the site in mid October and Ikea staff move in.

One of the facilities of the public address system it is installing is an automated voice evacuation facility, used if a fire is detected.

Ashdale is also putting in a link which allows communication with disabled people during an emergency.

Technical director with Ashdale Peter Ford said he was delighted Ikea had chosen a local company to do the work.

"This has allowed us to secure jobs for skilled electricians and electrical technicians throughout the build program and beyond," he said.

"The sheer scale of the IKEA stores coupled with a fast build program presents challenges that can only be overcome by close team-work."

Mr Ford said the contract was unusual for the Northern Ireland marketplace, with big businesses usually appointing a main contractor, who would choose an electrical contractor who then would select specialist sub contractors.

He added: "In Ikea's case they prefer to work in a more collaborative manor and issue direct orders for the main elements of the building. This includes the fire detection systems package which has been awarded to Ashdale.

"This approach provides a much better direct communication path between the client and contractor and allows both parties to quickly advise of design changes on a fast build project such as this. We have found this method of working has greatly assisted us in our planning on the site and the transparency between contractor and client makes for a smoother installation and handover."