The fire detection and alarm systems in the hospital and the associated residential aged care buildings located at the campus were at their end-of-life and the maintenance of the systems were no longer viable. As a result, a full fire detection upgrade was required.
Ensuring the safety of patients and their visitors during their stay and the safety of staff working at the hospital was of paramount importance to the client, Metro South Health Services. They identified that their current system was at end-of-life, and a new system needed to be implemented that met all legislative and regulatory requirements. The client also wanted to implement new technology that allowed them to operate the system remotely.
However, it was critical that the existing fire detection and alarm system remained alive while the new system was being installed.
DMA Engineers was engaged to assess the health of the current system, provide advice on the process of upgrading the system, and to produce a detailed design of the fire detection and alarm systems. By providing clear and concise instructions on all changes that needed to be made, the client was able to put greater focus on the health and happiness of staff and patients over the course of the project.
After reviewing the existing system, the hospitals existing and future requirements, and the legislative and regulatory requirements that needed to be met, we proposed that a networked analogue addressable system be installed for both fire detection and alarm systems throughout the hospital. The proposed system guarantees occupant life safety and asset protection of the hospital into the future while also allowing flexible monitoring of the system. The upgrade of the fire detection and alarm system at Redland Hospital also ensures any future changes to the hospital fire system would be made much easier using addressable devices.