FDS helps former British Newspaper Library make headlines again

Award-winning smoke ventilation contractor, Fire Design Solutions (FDS), has been appointed to work on a new residential development on the former British Newspaper Library site in North London.

Fairview New Homes is building its Edition development of 395 apartments on the site in Colindale in the London Borough of Barnet.

Edition will comprise a selection of one, two and three bedroom apartments.

Brought onto the project by the Enfield-based developer, FDS has been appointed to design, supply, install and commission natural and mechanical smoke ventilation systems for the development.

FDS will also install its corridor environmental systems which will be used to mitigate excess heat build-up in the building’s common areas during day-to-day use, increasing residents’ comfort.

Working with the project’s designers, FDS carried out CFD modelling to justify the smoke ventilation system. The technique demonstrates the system’s effectiveness through the creation of a virtual model, which shows how fire and heat will move through the building.

Speaking on the project, Stephen Brown, Area Construction Manager for Fairview, said: “Having worked with FDS previously, we are confident the team will provide the most appropriate smoke ventilation solution to ensure the development meets all of the relevant building regulation requirements, as well as providing residents with a high performance system in the event of fire.”

Nick Waterfield, Managing Director at FDS, said “This is an exciting project to be working on, particularly as it’s on the former British Newspaper Library plot.

“For residential properties such as this, controlling temperatures in common areas is a major priority for the comfort of residents, and by including our corridor environmental system, occupants can rest assured this will be achieved.”

Construction started on site in spring 2015, with work expected to be complete by early 2018.