The world-famous brutalist architecture Sirius housing complex on Sydney’s ‘The Rocks’, has recently been transformed into 79 luxury apartments. The Pertronic F220 was identified as the fire system to be installed to protect the iconic luxury upgrade to the refurbished Sirius building.

The apartments, very close to the Harbour Bridge, were originally built to rehouse working class tenants displaced after redevelopment of the historic Rocks suburb during the 1960s and 70s. Its style had the objective of an ethical design based on social concerns, as well as a truthful expression of materials, function and structure; notably concrete and steel.

There was a considerable controversy over whether the structure would be retained, but in late 2019 the NSW government announced Sirius would be refurbished rather than demolished. Its sale for A$150m enabled the construction of social housing for more than 600 people.

In the subsequent serious upgrade, 28 one-bedroom, 24 two-bedroom split level, 14 two-bedroom single level, eight three-bedroom split level, and five four-bedroom split level apartments have been retained.

The refurbishment’s fire detection component is based on the Pertronic flagship F220 fire panel.

The F220 connects to 260 intelligent addressable photoelectric smoke detectors positioned throughout the building on a loop system. Each of these can report the precise location and zone of any fire incident to the fire control panel.

There are also 20 strategically positioned rate-of-rise heat detectors which send an alarm signal if the temperature increases rapidly.

Other fire detection and protection system components such as manual call points and low profile speakers are also part of the whole.

Pertronic New South Wales regional manager Matt Young says partnering with the building developers through the fire alarm installers has been a rewarding exercise.

“Many, if not most, Sydneysiders were delighted to see such an iconic building retain its rightful place on what is a prime piece of real estate,” he says.

“The building itself has been refurbished to exacting standards, and the choice of Pertronic’s advanced fire panel to protect this significant piece of architecture is a reflection of those standards.

“Any fire detection project requires a large measure of integration between cooperating parties any building systems. To be part of this Sirius venture, which is very much part of the Sydney skyline, clearly demonstrates that working together means increased fire safety for all concerned – especially in this case the apartment’s lucky residents.”