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White CCTV camera mounted under the eaves of a building
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Fire and security for public buildings and community spaces

Civic offices, libraries and community centres bring staff, visitors and room hirers through the same building. We install and maintain fire alarms, CCTV and access control, with attention to shared entrances, evening use and the fabric of older properties.

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Planning work in a building people share

Opening hours are only part of the picture. A booked room, a quiet advice session or an older part of the building can affect how an installation is planned.

  • Public services and room bookings

    Tell us when counters are staffed and rooms are booked. We’ll discuss access for the work, including any tasks that need an empty area or an interruption to the existing system.

  • Working with an older building

    An alarm upgrade needs to account for the building’s fabric. At Guardian House in Bradford, we installed a wireless fire alarm as the listed property was adapted for office and community use.

  • A different use for the same room

    Converting offices into meeting or community rooms can change alarm coverage and escape arrangements. Bring the proposed layout and current fire risk assessment so we can discuss the work needed.

Systems for public areas, staff rooms and shared spaces

Start with the part of the building that needs attention. We can discuss a single system or several services together, including upgrades to equipment already in place.

Fire alarms

We install and maintain fire alarms for public buildings, including upgrades during refurbishment. Detection and warning need to reflect the rooms in use, the layout and the people who may need help to respond.

  • Warning throughout the occupied areas

    Offices, halls and rooms behind closed doors need consideration when planning how people receive a warning.

  • Wireless options for older properties

    Where cable routes are difficult, we can assess whether a wireless or hybrid alarm suits the building.

  • Recurring faults and unwanted alarms

    Tell us where and when problems occur. Recent service reports help us investigate the existing system.

Explore fire alarms
Green running-man fire exit sign hanging below exposed services in a modern commercial ceiling

Access control

Door access control helps separate public routes from staff offices and stores. We install card, fob and door entry systems, with access permissions that reflect who uses each area and when.

  • Call through to reception

    An intercom lets a member of staff speak to a visitor before opening a controlled entrance.

  • Access for evening room users

    A hirer may need the hall entrance while offices stay locked; suitable systems can limit access by door and time.

  • Managing cards and fobs

    We’ll show your administrator how to change permissions and cancel cards when staff or regular hirers leave.

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CCTV

CCTV for public buildings starts with a clear purpose: an entrance, a service counter or a car park may each need a different view. We install and maintain cameras and recording systems around the areas you need to review.

  • Detail where it matters

    The camera position and lighting affect whether a recording shows the detail you need after an incident.

  • Privacy in shared spaces

    Involve the person responsible for data protection when deciding what cameras record and who can see the footage.

  • Finding the right recording

    We’ll discuss how authorised staff will search for and export footage, including incidents outside opening hours.

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Fire risk assessments

Fire risk assessments are arranged through Centurion, with a written report and prioritised actions. They give your team a clearer starting point when rooms change use or existing fire precautions need reviewing.

  • Describe the whole building

    Include shared corridors, hired rooms and any areas managed by another organisation in the assessment brief.

  • Turn findings into planned work

    Use the report’s priorities to plan improvements alongside your other maintenance and refurbishment work.

  • Help with the work identified

    We can discuss fire door and emergency lighting work where the assessment identifies a need.

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Induction loops

Hearing loops for public buildings can support conversations at reception and speech in meeting rooms. Design, installation and maintenance are arranged through Centurion with a group specialist, based on the space and its use.

  • Conversations at the counter

    Explain where staff and visitors sit or stand, and whether a screen separates them.

  • Speech in meeting rooms

    The specialist can assess the room, microphones and neighbouring spaces when planning loop coverage.

  • Keep the loop useful

    Staff need to know how to use and check the system; planned maintenance helps identify faults.

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Put the building’s day-to-day use in the brief

A floor plan helps, but your team can explain what it leaves out: the entrance used by evening groups, an office that handles private appointments or the room that cannot be interrupted during opening hours.

Our accreditations
  • Public entrances and staff-only rooms
  • Opening hours and regular room bookings
  • Existing equipment and recent service reports
  • Refurbishment plans and the current fire risk assessment

Have a specification already?

Send it with your enquiry, including the records you need at handover and any access or procurement conditions. We can then discuss the proposed work against that brief.

Clock tower and stone facade of Leeds Town Hall

A wireless fire alarm at Guardian House

Projects like yours come first, then work on similar sites in related sectors.

Guardian House

A wireless fire alarm for a Grade II listed building. It is built to BS 5839-1:2017 and needed no invasive cabling.

Fire alarms Bradford

View project
“Centurion Fire & Security supported us to deliver total fire protection with a solution that perfectly suits the building’s needs…”
Assim Hussain, CEO, Inspired Neighbourhoods

Questions about your building

Can work take place while the building is open?

It depends on the job and the areas we need to reach. Some tasks may fit around opening hours; others need an empty room, access equipment or a system interruption. Tell us about appointments and bookings as well as public opening times, so we can discuss a workable plan before the work starts.

Can you maintain our existing fire and security systems?

Often, yes. We need to identify the equipment, check its condition and confirm that we can support it. Send the system make and recent service reports, including any unresolved faults. If you manage several buildings, list the equipment and work needed at each one; they may need different maintenance plans.

Can access control work with evening room hire?

Yes, suitable systems can restrict a user to particular doors and times. We’ll check your doors and existing equipment, including how people leave in an emergency. Decide who will issue and cancel permissions for hirers.

What else should we consider when refurbishing a public building?

The fire risk assessment and proposed use should guide the work. Fire doors, emergency lighting and disabled refuge communication may need attention alongside the alarm. Hearing support is a separate consideration at counters and in meeting rooms. Tell us what the refurbishment changes so we can discuss the relevant services without assuming every room needs the same equipment.