C-TEC’s fire and lockdown systems protecting community special school
Posted by: electime 16th September 2026
A powerful network of C-TEC’s ZFP CAST fire alarm and lockdown alert systems is protecting a school in Wigan.
Situated in a residential area of Ashton-in-Makerfield, Willow Grove Primary is a community school dedicated to supporting children with special needs. When the school needed to upgrade its fire and security systems, it turned to GHE, one of the UK’s leading fire specialists.
The challenge was to find a fully integrated fire and lockdown solution that could be tailored to the school’s specific security requirements, particularly in light of Martyn’s Law which requires premises with a capacity of 200 or more to have lockdown plans in place by April 2027. To meet these needs, C-TEC’s ZFP CAST fire alarm and lockdown alert system was specified.
Featuring a choice of customised voice messages for authorised personnel to select from depending on the situation, the system is designed to direct teachers and pupils to act in a preplanned way to help ensure a fully coordinated response in the event of a terror attack.
Graham Hurst, GHE’s CEO said: “Martyn’s Law meant it was vital that we chose a life-safety system that could fulfil the exact lockdown requirements of the school. C-TEC’s fire alarm and lockdown alert system is versatile, powerful and allows the user to select different voice messages dependent on the situation.”
C-TEC is a leading UK manufacturer of world-class conventional and addressable fire detection and alarm system solutions for commercial and residential buildings. Established in 1981 and currently trading in over 80 countries, the company’s own CAST protocol-powered system solutions are designed to facilitate fast installation, servicing, maintenance and operation.
