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Hybrid Fire Alarm Solution for Wokingham Town Hall

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Case Study: Fire Alarm System Upgrade at Wokingham Town Hall

Last Updated: September 2026

Image of Wokingham Town Hall

The Challenge

Client: Wokingham Town Hall
Location: Wokingham, Berkshire

The beautiful Wokingham Town Hall is a Grade II listed building with mixed-use occupancy, including public function rooms used for weddings and events, council offices and units occupied by restaurants and retail businesses.

As a Grade II listed building, the Town Hall presents unique and complex challenges when undertaking fire safety improvements. Many of the walls, ceilings and architectural features are protected, while some of the building is of a timber construction, creating a higher fire load and increasing the importance of effective fire detection.

The existing fire alarm system had been added to over many years, making system integration, maintenance and ongoing management increasingly challenging. In addition, various additions and modifications had resulted in a mixture of different fire alarm systems and cable types being installed throughout the building. Fire detection coverage across the premises was inconsistent and required upgrading to meet the needs of the building and its occupants.

The project was awarded to Surrey Fire & Safety, which designed and installed the upgraded fire alarm system.

Image of the outside of Wokingham Town Hall

The Solution: Fire Alarm System Installation and Upgrade

To overcome the challenges presented by the building, Surrey Fire & Safety designed a hybrid fire alarm solution combining:

  • Advanced addressable fire alarm technology
  • EMS FireCell wireless fire alarm devices
  • Wireless communication infrastructure
  • Disabled refuge communications

The hybrid approach enabled the building to be upgraded to a modern Category L2 standard while minimising disruption to historic areas and reducing the need for intrusive cabling.

Image of the inside of Wokingham Town Hall

The Outcome

The backbone of the fire alarm installation is an advanced addressable fire alarm system. Unlike conventional fire alarm systems, addressable systems assign a unique address to every detector, manual call point and interface device, enabling the fire alarm control panel to identify the exact location of any activated device quickly and accurately.

Image of the main alarm panel installed at Wokingham Town Hall

Image of the alarm control panel, providing system monitoring and helping to identify the location of alarm activations throughout the building
In addition, the wireless fire alarm technology, using an EMS FireCell wireless technology helped increase fire alarm coverage without introducing extensive cabling.  This approach enabled the building fabric and decorative interiors to be preserved, with minimal visual impact and reduced disruption during installation.
Image of EMS Wireless Wall Mounted Box
Image of an the EMS FireCell wireless fire alarm control panel
As part of the wider life-safety strategy, Surrey Fire & Safety also installed a wireless disabled refuge communication system at Wokingham Town Hall. This refuge system provides a dedicated means of communication for occupants requiring assistance during an evacuation, where people who cannot easily use stairs can wait in a protected refuge area but still be able to communicate with emergency responders.
This is a disabled refuge communication system master station.

Image of a touchscreen refuge panel behind a lockable glass door

Grade II Listed Building Fire Safety

Fire safety is particularly important in Grade II listed buildings, where the need to protect occupants must be carefully balanced with preserving the property’s historic and architectural features. Many listed buildings contain timber construction, concealed voids and heritage elements that can increase fire risk and make fire protection upgrades more complex. Effective fire detection and alarm systems play a vital role in providing early warning, supporting safe evacuation and minimising damage.

Need a Fire Alarm System for a Grade II Listed Building?

Delivering fire safety improvements within listed and historically significant buildings requires careful planning, specialist knowledge and an understanding of conservation requirements.

As a BAFE-accredited fire protection company, Surrey Fire & Safety designs, installs and maintains compliant fire alarm systems that provide effective protection while minimising the impact on the building’s fabric and appearance.

Contact our team today to discuss your fire alarm project and discover how we can provide a bespoke fire detection solution for your building.

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