An intelligent Advanced Go panel has been installed in The Steading, the home of sculptor and furniture maker, Tim Stead MBE.

The Steading is an A-Listed building, located in Blainslie near Lauder in the Scottish Borders, and was both the creative centre and home to the Stead family across several decades. It was purchased by the Tim Stead Trust in 2021 and a programme of restoration work has included the addition of an Advanced Go new-generation, single-loop fire alarm control panel to protect this historic home.

The Steading is considered Tim’s masterpiece with an interior that was transformed over many years. The interior is completely clad in sculpted wood: floors, walls, ceilings, stairs, cupboards, beds, a grandfather clock, sink, conservatory, hanging sculptures, desks and so on – all made by Stead himself. This exceptional building now aims to become a hub for practical expertise in everything to do with wood and the environment, hosting a variety of day and residential courses in the unique environment of The Steading.

Fire and security service providers, Safe Services, installed the Advanced Go fire alarm panel in The Steading and were involved from the design stage though to installation and commissioning. The Advanced Go panel is integrated with EMS Firecell radio equipment for a complete cable-free fire system – which was an essential requirement to preserve and protect the unique interior of the building.

Graeme Millar, Fire Systems Technical and Sales Engineer at Safe Services said: “The Steading is a truly amazing property and we are delighted to have been able to install a system that helps protect this listed building from fire, without interfering with Tim Stead’s beautiful interior. Advanced is our fire protection manufacturer of choice and we rate them very highly, we don’t use anything else.”

Neil Parkin, Advanced Sales Manager for the North, said: “Our Go fire panel provides sophisticated Advanced configuration but with a single loop making it ideal for small projects like The Steading that still want robust fire protection to offer real peace of mind. Go was developed so that customers can still benefit from the performance, reliability, and flexibility they’ve come to expect from our premium MxPro 5 range, but in a cost-effective, single-loop format for simpler sites where networking’s not needed. Go is brimming with ease-of-use features alongside the latest microprocessor technology to ensure the panel operates at lightning speed so engineers can confidently fit, check and get going to their next job, knowing people and property are safely protected from fire.”

Go is the ideal solution for a wide range of single-panel sites – from restaurants, bars and guesthouses to small offices, shops, salons and surgeries. On straightforward jobs, Go’s fuss-free installation and configuration save time and money. However, the new panel also makes light work of more complex sites requiring sophisticated cause and effect programming options as well as false alarm management and reduction solutions.

Go has been developed with the needs of installers, engineers, and end users firmly in mind. A host of features make Go a breeze to set up. An easy-fit chassis with unique door design enables fast fitting, while familiar controls and menus mean there’s no lengthy learning curve. Intuitive new configuration software makes programming quicker and easier than ever, and a powerful design checker proves the system will work even before visiting site. In addition, enhanced diagnostics mean fewer faults, faster fixes, and better long-term performance.

Cost-efficiencies for customers have also been central to Go’s development, delivering maximum functionality on a small-site budget. The panel has 15 zonal LEDs as standard for clearer visual indication and BS 5839 compliance without the need to buy a separate LED zone card. Compatibility with three leading detector protocols provides wired and wireless options, as well as greater freedom over design and maintenance provider costs. Further cost savings as well as greater flexibility for site-specific installations are available thanks to a choice of two performance options with different maximum numbers of configurable addresses.