Forest Croft

The Development

Built in 1937 and comprising of 63 apartments, Forest Croft is a 1930s Art Deco–style mansion block, situated at the top of Taymount Rise in Forest Hill, London.

The Proposal

The directors & residents of Forest Croft were looking for a full fibre solution to mitigate the slow broadband speeds at the site (exacerbated as a consequence of working from home, during the the covid pandemic).

They had approached a number of internet service providers (ISPs), but had concerns over the breaching of fire stopping that had only recently been completed - with these uncertainties impeding progress.

Hannah Mummery, Chair of Forest Croft & Forest Croft Management Ltd explained:

“We have recently completed extensive electrical rewiring and fire safety works so it is the ideal time to complete fibre installation before we embark on the internal decoration work that is very necessary after such a lot of internal infrastructure work.

One of the key issues is ensuring that any new wiring is neat and does not breach fire stopping where it enters the flats (we are still in the final stages of trying to undo all sorts of bad wiring installations). 

One of our long-term aims is that by getting fibre infrastructure preinstalled into all the flats we can prevent any future bad wiring disasters in the communal areas.

We also acknowledge that Openreach and Virgin will also want to upgrade their copper wiring in the building ahead of the 2030 copper retirement so if we could upgrade our communications infrastructure in one go that would be much better”

The Forest Croft directors had seen works that 4Fibre had undertaken in the blocks next door (Taymount Grange & Vantage Heights). Impressed by the quality of the work, and the common-sense future proof solution that was being deployed, they were confident to progress.

The directors presented the solution to the board and managing agents, also highlighting the implementation details -  notably, the job would only need to be completed once, and that SCCIA would fire stop and certificate the work afterwards.

A 4Fibre access agreement was then agreed with the freeholder, the project was surveyed and a planning pack provided.

Once agreed, SCCI implemented its 4Fibre solution - providing access for up to four ISPs, each with their own dedicated fibre cable installed through only one penetration of each wall / floor / flat.

A key part of the 4Fibre remit was a neat and tidy, low visual impact installation that would be signed off in accordance with the fire stop compliance of the building. The works involved cabling through the ceilings with the termination of a point of entry box outside each apartment.

4Fibre's system provides a low carbon footprint solution, allowing fully independent access for up to 4 full fibre broadband ISPs, to all 63 apartments.

The Delivery

With the aesthetics of the development in mind, and in accordance with a brief of an aesthetically acceptable low visibility solution - SCCIA opted to implement an internal installation with cables installed via the ceilings.

After identifying suitable locations for the two main distribution cabinets, SCCIA ran multi-fibre cables to every apartment & house.

Cables were terminated and spliced to the POE just outside the apartments, ready for the ISPs to connect through to the consumer premise equipment (CPE) in each property, when the resident takes service.

Conclusion

The system provides fully independent access for up to four full fibre broadband ISPs – connected 'all the way' to 63 dwellings. Any ISP wishing to service the property, can do so easily, without running any cables

All distribution cabling from the DPs is linked back to a single 'meet me' box where up to four ISPs can service all dwellings.

On completion of the installation, all firestopping has been completed and certified, with the certificate and photos provided in the O&M.