Future-Proofing Retirement Housing
with Minimal Disruption
As the January 2027 analogue switch-off approaches, housing providers across the UK are under increasing pressure to upgrade ageing telecare systems quickly and cost-effectively, without disrupting the people who rely on them every day.
When Universal Fire & Security was appointed to replace an ageing analogue system in a retirement housing scheme, they needed a solution that could be installed quickly, integrate seamlessly with a new Intratone door entry system, and deliver a better experience for residents.
Working in partnership with Intratone, Chiptech delivered a fully digital, personalised solution that could be installed in just three days, avoiding weeks of disruptive rewiring, while giving residents greater flexibility, reliability, and peace of mind.
About Universal Fire & Security
Universal Fire & Security are a leading equipment and technology supplier with over two decades of experience in acquisition, maintenance, and TECS installations for commercial and residential premises.
After expanding from their primary base in the South West, Universal now serve customers across the UK, installing solutions to meet every fire, security, and TECS requirements their clients may have.
As a leading fire and security company, they understand the vital importance of having compliant, flexible, and ultimately, safe technology solutions in housing to meet modern needs and requirements, particularly ahead of the analogue switch-off in January 2027
“There are still thousands of systems that need upgrading. If everyone relies on traditional hardwired replacements, the industry is going to run out of time. Chiptech provides a solution that gets those upgrades completed quickly, with far less disruption.”
The Challenge
One of Universal Fire & Security’s customers, a residential retirement block in Plymouth, had recently become Right-to-Manage.
The housing scheme’s existing telecare system had been in place for almost 30 years. It had become unreliable, suffered regular failures and was increasingly costly to maintain. Add that to the looming analogue switch-off date in January 2027, and an upgraded, digital solution had to be found as soon as possible.
At the same time, the building was receiving a new door entry system from Intratone, a solution Chiptech are proud to partner with, and Universal wanted a telecare solution that would work seamlessly alongside it to create one joined-up digital offering.
Our Approach
Introduced to Chiptech through Intratone, Universal quickly recognised the benefits of the partnership between the two solutions.
Instead of replacing the old hardwired system with another wired solution, which would have required extensive rewiring and significant disruption to residents, Chiptech’s wireless technology offered a faster, more flexible alternative.
“One of the main reasons we chose Chiptech was the ease of installation and the lack of disruption it causes,” says Mark Gibson, Managing Director of Universal Fire & Security. “What would have been a six-week rewire was completed in just three days.”
Rapid Deployment
The project was supported by Chiptech’s technical team throughout the installation process, ensuring everything was configured correctly before deployment.
“We did the programming together with Shaun from Chiptech. He held our hands throughout it, making sure everything went to the right apartment. It made the whole process really straightforward,” says Mark.
Because every unit arrived ready for installation, engineers could focus on fitting and demonstrating the equipment rather than spending valuable time configuring devices on-site. The flexibility and speed of the install even gave engineers the time to chat to the residents about the new technology over a cup of tea or two!
SmartCare Cloud
For Universal’s engineering team, Chiptech’s SmartCare Cloud portal has transformed ongoing support.
Able to offer in-depth information on Chiptech fleets in a user-friendly portal, as well as deploy remote updates and patches, SmartCare Cloud makes easy work of ongoing maintenance and asset tracking of devices.
“The portal means we can see what’s happening with a customer’s system straight away. We can respond immediately instead of driving to site just to investigate, which saves time for us and gives customers quicker answers,” says Mark.
The Impact
The biggest beneficiaries were the residents themselves.
Unlike the previous hardwired system, Chiptech’s digital alarm units could be installed wherever they were most convenient, not simply where the existing wiring happened to be.
“The old unit was stuck in the hallway, which was harder to use for people with disabilities or mobility issues,” says Mark. “Now we’ve put many of them in the lounge, or where residents actually spend most of their time.”
The upgrade also introduced wearable pendants, giving residents much greater freedom around their homes.
“With the old system, you had to fall in exactly the right place to reach the pull cord,” says Mark. “Now residents can wear their pendant or keep it close by, giving them much more flexibility and reassurance.”
“The feedback has been excellent,” adds Mark. “For us, the best part is when a client comes back and says ‘thank you’ because it’s genuinely made a difference to the people living there. They are over the moon, with the system, with the installation engineers, and with the after sales service.”
Ready to get ahead of the analogue switch-off deadline? Want a reliable team behind you, supporting you every step of the way?
Get in touch with Chiptech, we’re here to help.
