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UCT protected

Passive and active fire protection, security and specialised service and maintenance are core offerings of FireSpec, a protective systems company servicing South Africa nationally from its base in Cape Town.

FireSpec’s flagship maintenance project is a long-term service contract with the University of Cape Town (UCT) at all three upper, middle and lower Rondebosch campuses. UCT’s campuses have evolved over many decades and its security systems are consequently a cross- mix of differing generation technologies. Over recent years, the need for more sophisticated security systems has arisen and the servicing of this diverse array is in the hands of the FireSpec team with technicians located at all three campuses.

A mix of different systems installed by the university was upgraded as needed to meet the safety requirements of the new South African building codes. An example is the main computer centre located in the upper campus. Entry to the centre is electronically controlled, fire alarm and evacuation systems are in place and the nerve centre is monitored by a sophisticated fire and smoke detector service that automatically triggers the FM200 fire suppression system.

At the main library, access is controlled by a set of turnstiles and electronically facilitated by card-readers. Passive fire control features at certain libraries include emergency fire roller-doors that are automatically activated.

On each campus, CCTV cameras monitor sensitive access points and information is streamed into control centres, along with fire control data that is monitored and coordinated by the Maestro system.

Leo Slootmans, CEO of FireSpec comments: “UCT is an example of the comprehensive one-stop service available from FireSpec. The presence of dedicated and highly qualified technicians is a great reassurance to our clients, available on call 24/7”.

The company has entered the passive fire protective systems market and has forged an impressive line-up. These include fire-stopping systems such as:

Supply and fix service for fire stopping, penetration and compartmentalisation of fire hazard areas.

FireSpec FIREBOARD CS for partition and ceiling board offering a two-hour rating.

Intumescent coating – supplied and applied to coat structural steel, providing one or two hour fire rating.

Upgrading of fire doors (30 minutes) and supply and fix of fire doors (up to 120 minutes) in compliance with new government legislation is essential. FireSpec has a facility to roll out this specialised work.

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