Hochiki and Cornerstone Group deliver vital life safety system for Royal Free Hospital

Cornerstone Group Fire and Security Systems was commissioned by a major London-based M&E contractor to scope, design and install the life safety system in this new facility, which is now one of the largest patient-focused immunology centres in Europe.

The hospital is itself part of The Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, which also runs services at Barnet Hospital and Chase Farm Hospital in addition to several other sites.

The Royal Free Hospital was established back in 1828 by William Marsden, then a newly qualified surgeon, after he found a penniless young woman who was in desperate need of medical care. None of the local hospitals would take her, and the woman sadly died two days later. Shocked by these events, Marsden set up The Royal Free Hospital on the basis that this medical establishment would take in anyone who needed treatment. It was the first hospital in London to do so and the only hospital in the capital to remain open during the 19^th Century cholera epidemics.

Today, The Royal Free Hospital continues to lead improvements in healthcare and realises some of the best clinical outcomes in the country.

With demand for its facilities growing, a new building was proposed and, in June last year, the brand new £60 million Pears Building was opened. A groundbreaking collaboration between The Royal Free Charity, UCL and The Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, this new building brings together the theory and implementation of research as well as allowing members of the public easy access to the latest discoveries in immunology.

Systems installed

The equipment installed at the site is the Hochiki HFP range of devices, the constituent elements of which use the globally proven open protocol ESP technology.

Famed for its quality and ease of installation reduction, the ESP range is adaptable to a broad range of environments and applications. From small through to very large areas, models in the range can be used to fit almost any environment. Given that the range benefits from false alarm reduction technology, it’s particularly suited to this sensitive and complex hospital and research environment.

Neil Eves, head of systems sales at Hochiki Europe, observed: “There was a very extensive ‘cause and effect’ requirement for this project and significant witness testing required on a subsequent basis. However, it’s testament to the skilful installation by Cornerstone and the quality of the product that there have been no unwarranted false alarms on the project to date.”

Cornerstone’s project and engineering manager Neil Thurgood explained: “A state-of-the-art building like this one requires the very best in fire detection technology to protect the patients, staff and assets. Cornerstone has worked with Hochiki Europe for several years now so we knew their devices would be the best for this project. The system installed at The Royal Free Hospital’s Pear Building is run off four panels and eight loops. We’ve installed Hochiki sounders, as well as heat and smoke detectors and Call Points. There have been no issues at all to date.”

Cornerstone Group Fire and Security Systems has also commented that the cost for this project was competitive. Thurgood went on to comment: “When you are dealing with buildings such as this, which are operating to strict NHS budgets, it’s essential to work with manufacturers who understand that scenario. Our Hochiki representative understood the brief and is among the most professional and helpful whom I’ve ever worked with. We also own the service contract for this building, so it’s good to know that the Hochiki devices installed on site are easy to maintain.”

*Further information is available online at www.hochikieurope.com