Dorset County Hospital has completed a significant upgrade of its fire safety systems to cover a complex range of buildings and requirements across its site.
2,700 Apollo Discovery devices have been installed as part of the upgrade. Alongside their associated devices, the EN54-23 approved addressable analogue detectors are designed to provide reliable fire detection to reduce false alarms. An Advanced MxPro 5 fire panel, integrated with the Apollo devices, has also been installed as part of the upgrade.
The Hospital comprises 18 wards, 375 beds and over 3,300 staff. It was recognised that the site required a significant upgrade to its limited fire system to enhance safety and reduce the time spent on fire system testing.
The installers overcame the challenges of keeping the site operational as well as navigating the COVID-pandemic safety measures during the project.
Roy Pinder, Fire Safety Advisor for the Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said: “The installation of the new fire system was particularly challenging during the pandemic, which consequently caused some delays.
“This has been a major project for the trust and could not have been delivered without the support of the staff and the estates team. Our new fire system provides greater versatility and flexibility.”
Mike Sutton, Regional Sales Manager – South at Apollo, commented: “Our team worked closely with the Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust to specify a fire system that both fulfils the current needs of the site, and offers the capability to be expanded or upgraded in the future.
“Approximately 2,700 Discovery Multi-Sensor devices were installed throughout the hospital, coupled with an Advanced MxPro 5 fire panel, offering variable sensitivity settings to ensure optimal protection for patients, staff and visitors.
“The Trust’s priority was to significantly enhance fire safety provision across all its buildings, while reducing the levels of input required from its staff and external fire engineers. This was achieved by streamlining the testing regime and decreasing the need for repairs and maintenance.
“Transitioning from a ‘make do and mend’ approach to the installation of a completely new fire system has had a tangible effect on the day-to-day business of the hospital, significantly reducing the ongoing costs of testing and maintenance.”
The Apollo Discovery range includes Multi-Sensor detectors, optical smoke detectors, heat detectors, and Multi-Sensor detectors with integrated carbon monoxide (CO) sensing.
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