News: Reflex apprentice gets to work at college

Reflex Systems, the Rotherham-based integrated fire and security systems specialist, is investing in its future talent with an apprenticeship scheme.

The growing Hellaby firm provides a full project management service from consultancy and design services through to supplying products from providers of security and building management.

Apprentices work with a full spectrum of advanced security and safety technology, combining field experience with structured learning, including college and manufacturers' courses, in order to build solid proficiencies and high levels of competence.

Having already decided on a career in electrical and electronic engineering, Chloe Miller joined the Reflex Apprenticeship Scheme during the summer of 2015. She has spent the past two months further developing her skills and knowledge whilst working with the Installation and Commissioning teams on the new £21m Sixth Form and Construction College in the Centre of Barnsley.

Working under the guidance of the Fire Projects team and lead engineer, Chloe was given the opportunity to contribute effectively towards the successful completion and testing of site-wide fire safety systems, designed and engineered by Reflex across the two college sites. She has received glowing praise from engineering colleagues for the standard of her work on this new-build education project.

Chloe Miller, apprentice at Reflex Systems, said: "It's been brilliant putting all the theory I've been learning into practice. I've really enjoyed working on such an interesting project and knowing that my work will be a vital part of the college's staff and students' safety when it opens."

Reflex, whose previous projects include work at the 2012 Olympic Park, Leeds Arena and various hotels, is also looking to take on more graduates as part of its continued investment in new industry talent.

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News: Reflex protects Magna Carta at Lincoln Castle

Reflex Systems, the Rotherham-based integrated fire and security systems specialist, has been drafted in to provide the fire safety system that will guard Lincoln Castle and its precious consignment – one of only four surviving, original 1215 Magna Carta.

The Hellaby firm secured the contract as part of a £22m restoration of Lincoln Castle, the Lincolnshire County Council site – which includes the 947 year old castle, perimeter wall and Victorian prison, as well as the new David P J Ross Magna Carta Vault – the only location worldwide where the Magna Carta and its sister document, the Charter of the Forest (1217), can be viewed together.

Described as "the most valuable export of Great Britain to the rest of the world," the Magna Carta was signed 800 years ago and is an example of an absolute monarch surrendering some of his powers, the beginning of a process that led eventually to our current system of government. It has gathered momentum and assumed a greater authority in respect of the central key clauses concerning liberty and justice.

Reflex was commissioned to supply a new, integrated fire safety system but as John Pye, managing director at Reflex Systems, explained: "Due to the complex nature of the buildings in an architecturally sensitive environment, there were a number of restrictions and requirements set out by English Heritage in a challenging brief."

Utilising the very best in equipment that blended with the background, Reflex reduced the amount of cabling required onsite, and minimised the disruption to the fabric of the historical buildings by installing hybrid wireless fire detection products. Combining a wired translator unit with battery operated detectors, the hybrid system helped to overcome some of the architectural challenges of the buildings as the individual components did not need to be wired together.

Pye added: "As well as hiding wiring and our equipment during the installation, we also had to make sure the rest of the system was sensitive to the environment. In this case, that included spray painting the heat and smoke detectors in the Magna Carta Vault and prison so that they would disappear against the walls."

Mary Powell, programme manager at Lincoln Castle Revealed, added: "The restoration marks a huge investment for Lincoln Castle, and ensuring that we had the very best in fire protection was a key consideration to securing its future."

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News: Reflex Systems checks in with hotel contract

Reflex Systems, the Rotherham-based integrated fire and security systems specialist, has recently completed a major project to upgrade the fire detection systems for one of the UK's leading hotel groups, QMH UK Ltd.


The contract was carried out over a four week period, which involved upgrading the fire detection systems on 18 hotels, including 12 Holiday Inns, three Best Western hotels and three Crowne Plazas, stretching from Plymouth to Glasgow.

Reflex Systems utilised the latest generation Analogue addressable fire detection systems, which the company installed across the hotel group's accommodation, leisure and conference facilities. The benefit of the new system is that it provides additional peace of mind for the hotel owners and occupiers, it also future-proofs the existing systems infrastructure so that the latest technologies & product ranges can be utilised and that they are fully compliant with the latest legislation which is backed up and maintained throughout the year by Reflex Systems.

Paul Buttery, fire and security business manager of Reflex Systems, said: "This latest upgrade shows a great commitment to the continued enhancement of their fire safety systems by QMH UK.  It was a fairly complex operation to upgrade all their systems and vital that we could co-ordinate the integration of the new with the existing system infrastructure with the minimum amount of disruption to normal operations. This was carried out quickly and efficiently by our experienced team."

In a further boost for Reflex, the Hellaby-based firm has been appointed as a Systems Integrator (SI) partner by Genetec Inc, one of the world leaders in video surveillance management (VMS) and security solutions.

It means that Reflex Systems will now be offering Genetec's sophisticated technology as part of the security systems it designs, installs and supports for its clients.

John Pye, managing director of Reflex Systems, said: "It is fantastic news that we have been appointed as an SI Partner for Genetec. This means our customers will have access to the latest, most up to date IP video surveillance software that provides the best possible solution."

The growing firm, which provides a full project management service from consultancy and design services through to supplying products from the very best providers of security and building management, recently welcomed Luke Highton as the latest apprentice to join its engineering team.

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News: Reflex provide safe and secure start to life

Rotherham-based Reflex Systems has provided another level of baby monitoring at Wexham Park Hospital in Slough by installing an innovative new wireless infant tagging and fully integrated door access security system.

The Hellaby firm designed a sophisticated wireless system which is extremely easy for nursing staff to use. The technology allows nurses to fit both mother and baby with matching RFID (radio frequency identification) tags simply and effectively, which provides 24 hour monitoring. This includes reporting any unauthorized exit through protected doorways, tag removal or loss of signal, via alarm.

The fully integrated system means that any alarms triggered by the infant tags will result in a sequenced door lockdown and live sounding of alarms locally, at the nurses' stations, as well as at the central security desk.

Reflex Systems went one step further by integrating site-wide CCTV monitoring with the alarm system, which enables nursing staff to have real-time surveillance of the whole area.

Kay Loudon-Bruce, head of security at Heatherwood and Wexham Park Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: "It was really important to us that the baby tagging system we chose was simply to use, as well as being extremely secure. As nursing staff need to be able to spend their time nursing, we didn't want them to require lots of technical knowledge in order to be able to operate the system.  Reflex Systems has delivered a technologically sound, robust infant tagging solution that means we can trust in the system to do its job in providing the best possible protection for mothers and their babies."

John Pye, managing director of Reflex Systems, added: "We designed this system using the very latest, fully integrated technology to ensure we can provide complete peace of mind to hospital staff and their maternity patients. It was also important that the system controlled access in a practical way that allows operational freedom for staff, reasonable access to families and compliance to other building management needs too. Because of our extensive experience in working in the healthcare sector, we were able to work flexibly and sensitively to meet the needs of the hospital and its patients."

Reflex has also engineered and installed fully integrated life safety and security systems at a prestigious new retail and office development in London's West End.

The unified solution included complex fire detection and voice evacuation systems, care communications, door access control, sliding glass pedestrian lanes, CCTV and intruder detection operating throughout the 20,000 sq ft of retail space and 113,0000 sq ft of office space.

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News: Two golds for Reflex Systems

Rotherham-based Reflex Systems has been awarded two Gold accreditations as a testament to its high quality standards.

The leading independent security specialist based in Hellaby has been awarded accreditations from NACOSS (National Approvals Council for Security Systems) and BAFE (British Approvals for Fire and Equipment).

Reflex supplies products and technologies including CCTV systems, access control, monitoring and fire detection. Recent projects include providing systems for the new £11m passenger terminal development at Leeds Bradford Airport and a fully integrated security and safety system for the £65m Leeds Arena.

NACOSS is an independent not-for-profit supervisory body that is responsible for ensuring its member companies are fully compliant with security industry standards and codes of practice. BAFE is an independent third party registration body for the fire protection industry which delivers the same assurances to customers through rigorous assessment relating to the fire industry, both are increasingly conditions that are stipulated by insurers and specifiers alike.

As preparation for achieving NACOSS and BAFE Gold, Reflex Systems’ internal quality team carried out a full review of its policies, processes and procedures relating to fire and security over an eight month period to ensure it met the requirements of these important industry standards.

John Pye, managing director of Reflex Systems, said: "NACOSS and BAFE Gold provide added reassurance and confidence to customers that they are choosing a company that is committed to consistently delivering the very highest standards.

"The accreditations reinforce the standards and procedures we have always worked to and gives a clear indication to customers that they are minimising their risks in terms of fire and security if they contract with us."

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News: Reflex secures Leeds Arena contract

Rotherham-based Reflex Systems is to supply an advanced fully integrated security and safety system for the new £60m Leeds Arena.

The Hellaby firm was successful in bidding for the contract due to its expertise in designing and engineering complex and innovative security and safety systems. Not only is the company supplying and installing the hardware, network components and software, Reflex will also be providing an ongoing service and support contract which includes 24/7 response in line with the needs of the 13,500 capacity venue.

The integrated systems that Reflex Systems has designed and is installing is based on a fully networked solution, which operates in both event and non-event modes. The arena will benefit from state-of-the-art control, with site-wide high definition camera images transmitted in real time to both the central and event control rooms, providing operators with instant crowd management, intruder access alerts, central door control as well as fire detection status monitoring.

The cutting edge products include the latest generation IP Network HD CCTV cameras, electronic door access and fire detection system control technology, all of which integrate to advanced specialist management software.

John Pye, managing director of Reflex Systems, said: "We are proud to be working with what will be one of the most prestigious entertainment venues in Europe. Having consulted closely with the customer we have designed a fully integrated software controlled security and safety system that takes advantage of the very latest technology.

"Our experience in designing and engineering specialist systems for large venues with high visitor numbers across a large site means we were able to come up with a solution that met all Leeds Arena's requirements. The systems and controls that we are supplying will enhance the customer experience, which means they can enjoy an event to the full whilst being safe in the knowledge that there is the very best security system in place to protect them."

Tony Watson, director of Sales and Marketing at Leeds Arena, said: "We have worked hard to secure two things when procuring systems for the arena. Firstly, that they contribute to a world class arena experience. Secondly, that we support the regional economy. Reflex more than tick both of these boxes – cutting edge technology, great service and their organization supporting local jobs."

The contract is the latest in a number of new business wins for Reflex Systems. This includes recently providing fire detection, voice evacuation, CCTV and electronic access control systems to a prestigious retail and office development on Baker Street in central London. Also integrated security for a new gas storage facility in Northern Germany and infant security tagging with CCTV and access control at Wexham Hospital in Slough.

The company has seen significant growth in its business in the past 12 months, which it attributes to its focus on delivering the highest quality customer service and its expertise in providing the latest technology to meet customer's safety and security.

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News: Reflex secure airport contract

Rotherham-based Reflex Systems has successfully installed safety and security at the new £11m passenger terminal redevelopment at Leeds Bradford International Airport (LBIA).

The leading independent security specialist based in Hellaby has worked with LBIA since 2005 and the bulk of the latest project was taken up with upgrades. CCTV has been upgraded for the entire site in passenger and airside areas, while the access control was overhauled.

The new solution includes the installation of the very latest access control systems, providing a high level of traceability as well as sophisticated management information and auditing tools. Enhancements were also made to CCTV in car parks and other external areas.

Tim Beynon, Head of Airport Development and Planning at Leeds Bradford Airport said: "Reflex understands our environments and the demands upon us. As a border control authority we have to work to strict government guidelines and if systems fail for any reason, our airport closes and the knock-on effects can be significant both commercially and from a public perception perspective.

"Partnering with a company like Reflex is critical to the smooth day-to-day running of the airport. And we have been pleased with how the relationship has developed into a genuine partnership over the years."

Steve Ward, operations director at Reflex, added: "As with all airports, there was a clear need for best in class safety and security systems, in respect of strategic border controls. Additionally, enhanced general security and safe provisions for the millions of passengers who pass through LBA every year would bring the airport up-to-date with the latest technologies and make it one of the best equipped transport hubs in the country.

"Reflex contributes regularly to the planning and maintenance regime at the airport, so our contract represents much more of a partnering relationship than a traditional supplier-client relationship. We feed our sector expertise into the management system at LBIA and for their part they keep us abreast of the latest national and global changes that require action in terms of systems and planning."

LBIA is one of the UK's fastest growing airports. The redeveloped terminal was officially opened in December and includes a new larger departure lounge, a range of new food and beverage units, a major walk-through Tax and Duty Free store and additional retail brands.

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