Case Study | Finchcocks, Goudhurst
Finchcocks Project Details
- Finchcocks in Goudhurst
- Built in 1725
- Sprinkler system
- Historic Building
- 3 Phase instalation
Finchcocks in Goudhurst was built in 1725 and has had a colourful past under various guardians. Most recently, over the last 100 years it has been a ballet school, museum and music school, offering piano courses.
The current Finchcocks owner, whilst not having an obligation to install a sprinkler system, wanted to protect the fabric of his historic building in the event of a fire.
RAD Fire Sprinklers was asked to fit a sprinkler system at the mansion, starting on the top floor and working down. A sprinkler rather than a mist system was fitted, as the ceilings were above the height that mist systems are capable of working too.
The project was started in July 2019 and has been worked on in three phases, the final being completed in June 2021 – with a total of 116 sprinklers fitted across the property.
Our experience of working in historic buildings allowed us to anticipate some of the potential problems that an old building would present.
Access is the main one but we overcame it, being sympathetic to the building by lifting and replacing floors to avoid cutting into walls or ceilings.
We worked around 18th century beams, panelling and ceiling rosettes to install the system so that it blended in as much as possible.
It’s a longer process but necessary for us to have left the mansion exactly as we had found it.
Finchcocks now has an owner with peace of mind that should the worst happen, his beautiful home and music school will have a higher level of fire protection.
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