Catherine Mill

Rely on Fire Check were appointed by Castles & Coasts Housing Association to provide specialist fire detection and fire alarm system design services for Catherine Mill, a retirement housing scheme for residents aged 55 and over, located in Whitehaven.

The development comprises 31 one- and two-bedroom apartments arranged over four floors, with communal facilities including a residents’ lounge, laundry areas, guest accommodation and landscaped garden spaces. As a social landlord scheme with telecare provision, non-resident management staff and communal living areas, particular consideration was given to resident vulnerability and the safe operation of shared spaces.

Rely on Fire Check undertook the design of the Fire Detection & Fire Alarm systems in accordance with the relevant British Standards and recognised best practice for supported and retirement living environments. The design strategy considered the building layout, circulation routes, communal facilities and resident profile to deliver a robust, reliable and easily maintainable system solution suitable for long-term occupation.

As part of the appointment, Rely on Fire Check produced a comprehensive suite of design documentation to support installation and future system management. This included detailed design drawings, schematic diagrams and a System Overview document clearly defining system strategy, device coverage and performance requirements. Formal design certification was also issued to provide assurance that the system design aligned with the applicable standards.

This appointment supported Castles & Coasts Housing Association in maintaining consistent life safety standards across their retirement housing portfolio, providing clearly defined and well-documented fire alarm system designs appropriate to the needs of older residents and communal living environments.

In addition to the design services, Rely on Fire Check also carried out on-site verification following completion of the fire alarm installation. This involved reviewing the installed system against the approved design documentation to confirm that device locations, system configuration and installation standards were in line with the design intent. Any observations were fed back to the installation contractor to support prompt resolution, providing assurance that the system was correctly implemented and suitable for ongoing occupation.