ADT Fire & Security has upgraded the fire detection system at Chapel Allerton Hospital from an analogue to digital addressable system.
The new solution provides addressable smoke and heat multi sensors, manual call points, various addressable interface modules, along with a PC-based Emergency Management System and digital repeater panels installed throughout the site.
The design is applicable to the risk from both a fire detection and false alarm management approach and includes both audible and visual alarms to comply with the requirements of BS5839 Part 1.
This all ensures that the hospital in Leeds, West Yorkshire, benefits from a reliable and efficient system with increased safety for patients and staff.
Chapel Allerton Hospital is part of the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, one of the country’s largest hospital trusts. It is situated in the north of the West Yorkshire city and is known for its dedicated orthopaedic centre, specialist dermatology ward and department of clinical genetics.
ADT Fire & Security had installed the original fire detection system, which had then been partially upgraded, but as a result of technical progression the analogue technology had become increasingly obsolete. Chapel Allerton Hospital awarded the contract to ADT given its site knowledge and experience, and because the Tyco Zettler addressable fire alarm offered the best-value solution, providing a faster and more-advanced fire alarm technology critical for a hospital with rooms of varying size and complexity.
Andy Wiggins, building services designer for Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “ADT upgraded the fire detection system throughout the whole hospital site. They were responsive to any requests we had and were upfront about the programming of the works, which had to be completed in phases because the hospital couldn’t be shut down, and this was done very efficiently. There was some difficulty getting access into the operating theatres and some of the roof voids, however ADT made sure everything was safe and carefully planned without any disruption to patients and staff and this was handled sensitively and very well.”
The new ADT control panels are part of the latest digital-based Tyco Zettler Technology system family that offers greater functionality and advanced capacity in the number of field devices available on each loop, up from 100 to 250, which makes for a more-efficient and cost-effective technology.
The fire alarm scheme replaced all the control equipment and all addressable devices, including the provision of triple technology detectors as part of a phased development. Each device can now detect smoke, heat and carbon monoxide gas. The upgrade provides a level of reassurance needed in a hospital where patient’s safety is paramount and is fully operational seven days a week.
The field detectors typically have a minimum service life of 20 years before needing to be changed. This provides Chapel Allerton Hospital with an exceptional level of performance - twice the industry average. With the ability to have the same field detectors in place for 20 years, it means the hospital will benefit from an excellent cost of ownership footprint.
Ian Hodgson, regional managing director for ADT for Leeds, said: “The client understood the challenges we had, given that the upgrade of the fire alarm system had to be carried out in a fully-operational hospital. At no point could we have any area without an alarm and not once was a room left unprotected, which is a credit to ADT’s project management team.”
- Companies:
- ADT Fire and Security Plc
- Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
- Chapel Allerton Hospital
