Working out of hours to avoid disrupting staff and visitors is something of a speciality for fire detection and life safety specialist CDS.
And its ability to operate in a seamless, hassle-free way with in-depth knowledge of how client companies work is one of the reasons so many local authorities and public sector organisations choose CDS to undertake complex installations and maintenance programmes.
Leicester City Council is one such organisation, which chose CDS to undertake a major installation project at its magnificent Victorian town hall just before Christmas.
The council’s previous fire alarm system had become obsolete and needed to be removed and completed replaced.
But the important role the town hall plays in the community meant it couldn’t be closed. As well as needing to remain open for members of the public to sort out various civic issues, it also houses the coroner’s court where external noise would have disturbed sensitive proceedings.
CDS sales manager Paul Flude explained: “The building had to remain up and running during the day, so we agreed that we would carry out the work, for the same price, out of hours. It was quite an involved process, which we managed to complete in just six weeks – ahead of schedule.”
The town hall fire safety programme is one of a number of Leicester City Council projects CDS has undertaken over the past few years. It operated a similar out of hours schedule for a school to which engineers moved in at around 4pm every day, staying until the evening. And it has just completed work at Glebelands Primary School, ready for the start of the autumn term.
In fact, schools and councils are enthusiastic fans of the CDS approach.
“Word gets around among local authorities that we’re good at what we do. They trust us and like our approach. They have one point of contact and they know we’re very knowledgeable. I have an engineering background and so can talk factually and technically.
“And then there are some areas which sound obvious, but which make a difference – like we clean up after ourselves every day so when the staff or public go in in the morning they can just pick up where they left off. This is particularly welcome in the case of Leicester town hall as it’s the Lord Mayor’s residence. And Lord Mayors aren’t known for their love of mess!”
