Leading Edinburgh Festival Fringe operator, C venues, has chosen to have an EMS FireCell system installed to protect their new, pop-up, multiplex venue at this year’s Festival.
C venues has taken over central India Buildings; a Victorian, multi-storey office block in Edinburgh that has been vacant for some time. The new venue, known as C nova, is a replacement for C SoCo venue which was created in the gap site left by Edinburgh’s 2002 Cowgate Fire.
The new C nova venue has been transformed into the hub of activity for the largest arts Festival in the world, with performance spaces, bars and restaurants attracting large crowds.
Atlantas Security & Electrical Ltd carried out the installation of the wireless FireCell system, providing temporary fire protection to the grade A listed building for the duration of the Festival.
Ian Watson from Atlantas commented, “the FireCell system was easy to install and technical assistance from technical support staff was excellent. Due to the nature of the client’s specific theatrical requirements, the custom programming was quickly achieved by EMS technical, showing the adaptability of the system. The customer was happy with the end product and it was a joy to install”.
The application of a wireless fire system is ideal for a listed building, where disruption to the building from wires and cables is not an option. An EN54 part 25 solution was required for this installation in order to meet the objectives set by the local authority, given the temporary nature of the building’s intended use.
The wire-free FireCell system installed for C venues is portable, so that they can remove it at the end of the event and take it to their next Festival venue, whether that be in the UK or further afield.
Production Manager for C venues, Richard Williamson, said, “The FireCell system has been very easy to customise for the unique needs of a multi-space Festival venue. These needs include the managed isolation of performance spaces using smoke effects and a two-stage warning system with silent flashing beacons in the first stage to alert staff in the event of an activation. The system is flexible, expandable and ideal for our needs”.
Artistic Director of C venues, Hartley Kemp, explained the importance of being able to use such a building as a home for the Festival: “We like to find buildings that are crying out to be used for arts purposes and bring them to vibrant new life. There is a joy in being able to create a home for the exciting work we programme at the Festival”.
