FIRE SAFETY & SECURITY
Extra Safety for Extra Care
Extra safety has been
incorporated into an
extra care housing
development for over 55s
courtesy of GEZE UK.
» » A NATURAL SMOKE VENTILATION
system which combines automated smoke
and heat extraction has been installed into
Lawson House – a new independent living
facility in Aylesford, Kent.
A total of 16 GEZE RWA 110 NT
window actuators were installed in
pairs throughout the corridors of the
three-storey building which is managed
by Rapport Housing & Care. These
incorporate an electric spindle drive
which is coupled with a mechanical
locking mechanism.
Eight K600 retractable arm drives were
installed for the activation of automated
smoke shaft doors. The shafts support the
ventilation of protected areas in buildings
used for multiple occupation. Should fire
break out, the smoke vents would activate
to efficiently expel accumulating heat and
smoke.
All the actuators have been connected
to 14 THZ emergency power supplies
which link into smoke detection devices
around the development.
Lawson House, which was designed
by the Essex office of the Tooley & Foster
partnership, was developed for affordable
rent with 20 of the 74, one-and-two-
bedroom apartments made available for
military veterans.
Willis Architectural was commissioned
to install the ventilation and safety system
and identified the GEZE RWA 110 NT
solution as being ideal for Lawson House’s
requirements.
Extra care, which is often referred to as
assisted living, enables over 55s to remain
in their own homes for as long as possible
within the community, whilst providing
them with a degree of support, tailored to
their individual needs.
A safe and secure environment is
assisted with staff on-site 24 hours a day,
seven days a week, should an emergency
arise. The apartments each have a kitchen,
70
dining room, living room and en-suite
accessible wet rooms. They are fitted
with a call bell system and have provision
for a phone line, terrestrial and satellite
television.
Communal facilities include landscaped
gardens, a restaurant with sun room
and terrace, lounge and seating areas
including quiet areas, an activity room
and a hair salon and therapy room.
Said Andy Howland, sales and marketing
director for GEZE UK: “It is heartwarming
to see good quality social housing
being developed for older people in our
communities that incorporate great facilities
with good practice in respect of safety.
“We would like to welcome the
residents of Lawson House to their new
homes and hope that they will delight in
the amenities and services on offer and
enjoy the community which will create a
sense of extended family.”
Jil Stanley, Housing Officer at Lawson
House added: “We are delighted that
Lawson House has been so successful
since opening its doors in September.
The scheme is now full with a waiting list
in place and for those that live here, it
has proven to be an incredibly positive
move, even life changing for some. We are
looking forward to echoing this in our new
similar developments.”
For more information about GEZE UK’s
comprehensive range of automatic and
manual door closers call 01543 443000
or visit www.geze.co.uk
SEP/OCT 2019
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