Dorset County Hospital, an NHS Foundation Trust hospital in the county town of Dorchester in South West England, has successfully completed a comprehensive fire systems upgrade.
Numerous challenges presented by the complex range of buildings on the site and delays caused by the Covid-19 pandemic were overcome with the installation of 2,700 Apollo self-monitoring Discovery fire detectors.
According to the manufacturer, its technology identifies and reports potential issues before they become critical.
Comprising 18 wards, 375 beds, and over 3,300 staff, the hospital needed to replace its outdated and limited fire system to enhance building safety and reduce the time spent on fire system testing and operation.
Installers faced the challenge of installing the new system while keeping the site operational 24/7, as well as navigating additional safety measures imposed by the pandemic.
Despite these obstacles, the installation proceeded with minimal disruption to the hospital's services.
Mike Sutton, Regional Sales Manager – South at Apollo, says, “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.”
Roy Pinder, Fire Safety Advisor for the Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, adds, "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.”
