Case Study
St Peters Hospital
St Peter’s Hospital is an NHS district general hospital in Chertsey, Surrey. It has a wide range of acute care services, including an Accident & Emergency department.
The hospital’s existing Siemens AlgoRex fire detection and alarm system had reached the end of its life and needed replacing. At the time it had 14 fire alarm panels ‒ seven of which were Siemens AlgoRex ‒ in different areas of the site. Some were linked via a network, some were “stand alone” and others were connected to a graphics package.
Senseco was chosen to deliver the project because of our understanding of the site and the critical nature of the work required.
In addition, we have a proven track record of delivering successful AlgoRex migrations, installing new Cerberus PRO systems and working in hospital environments.
The Challenge
The project would be carried out in a busy, working hospital, which meant minimising disruption was key. Plus, the funding was only to be released in phases, so it was crucial to put a strategy in place to migrate the systems in stages.
Another challenge was to ensure the systems would not only be suitable for the hospital as it is today, but also in the future.
And it was important to communicate with the Trust in advance which areas we’d be working on, focusing on departments of the highest priority. Therefore, careful planning would form the backbone of the project.
The Solution
We replaced a number of the AlgoRex systems with Siemens Cerberus PRO fire alarm systems.
The Cerberus PRO provides fast, reliable fire detection, alarm signalling and control, combining smart technology with a number of safety features. And because the system is ‘open protocol’, the hospital has a choice of service providers to maintain and modify the system during its life.
For each system replaced/migrated we initially pre-programmed the new panel with the existing software programme before bringing it to site.
We then changed the control panel, which ran all existing field devices (detectors, call points etc.), and once the panel was changed we were able to change the field devices one loop at a time.
The benefit of this approach is that all the wiring could be retained, and the systems could be changed in controlled steps with minimal risk or downtime to the site.
The Result
The client was delighted with the new systems, and we’re now working closely on longer term plans, with the aim of eventually linking all the systems via a network.
We’ve started migrating a number of the panels, and have also installed new Cerberus PRO panels in the new cancer care and intensive care units.
The project has provided St Peter’s Hospital with all the benefits of a modern system, while re-using the existing infrastructure.
The work was carried out in phases, so when we changed one system, the removed devices could be used as spares. This provided extended support for the existing systems until funds were made available.
Plus, our maintenance contract supports both the old systems and the new.
Our Product Partners
We are proud to be distributors for many leading product manufacturers across all areas of our business. We service and maintain equipment from most manufacturers, including closed protocol systems. In addition, we can install the majority of products and systems on the market, to suit existing installations and meet your individual needs. Here’s an example of some of the manufacturers / products we work with.
Talk To Us
We use market-leading products that take advantage of the latest technology and give you a choice of ongoing support. As every business is different, we will work with you to provide a system or service contract that is tailored to you.
Plus, our work is backed up by a range of accreditations, approvals and certification, proving our competence and showing we’re the best company for the job.
Get in touch today to find out how we can help you with your fire and security needs.
Contact UsTelephone: 0845 644 2888
or email: sales@sensecosystems.com
