Sofitel London Heathrow
- Location:London, UK
- Market:Commercial
- Products Used:5,500 Discovery devices
- Panel:21 Advanced Electronics control panels
- Installer:Leader Systems
- Download as PDF:Sofitel London Heathrow.pdf
Sofitel London Heathrow is one of the largest conference hotels
in the UK, owned and operated by Arora International Hotels. The
hotel has been conceived as an oasis of luxury for discerning
international business and leisure travellers passing through
Terminal 5 at London's Heathrow airport.
Heathrow's only luxury hotel comprises three below-ground levels
housing car parking and extensive conference facilities, including
a lecture theatre with widescreen cinema and 45 meeting rooms. The
hotel boasts five atria with various public areas such as a tea
salon and a Zen garden; the main reception; and the "Avenue
Sofitel", the central boulevard of the hotel where retail outlets
can be found.
Above the ground floor are six four-storey blocks comprising 605
bedrooms and suites. Among the many unique features of the hotel is
a link bridge that enables guests to walk directly from hotel to
airport terminal in under five minutes.
At any one time, the hotel could be host to several thousand
guests, with its conference and meeting facilities alone capable of
accommodating more than 3,000 delegates at any one time. In
addition to residents and non-residents, the hotel employs several
hundred staff. A comprehensive automatic fire detection system that
would provide reliable and accurate information in the event of an
incident was therefore essential to ensure the safety of guests and
employees alike.
In addition to the main point fire detection, a fire assessment
identified the need for an aspirating system in the two metre void
above the lecture theatre, which houses the sound and audio
equipment. The lecture theatre's high ceiling means that
maintenance could be an issue, while the five atria presented
another challenge as they are wide open spaces. Beam detection, in
places on different levels, was specified for these areas.
Phased evacuation sequences were also closely evaluated at an
early stage, in conjunction with local fire officers and the
district surveyor. Requirements included stopping the hotel's 20
lifts safely, shutting off escalators, isolating the link bridge to
the airport and activating air conditioning, smoke dampers and door
closers as appropriate.
The hotel's fire detection system incorporates 5,500 Apollo
Discovery devices and is controlled by a network of 21 Advanced
Electronics control panels
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