Wormald supplies fire protection solution at Nepean Hospital

Wormald has installed a comprehensive fire protection solution at the new surgical wing of Nepean Hospital in Penrith, New South Wales.

The 520-bed teaching hospital opened the new wing, known as the East Block, in 2012. It features six operating theatres, an Ambulatory Procedures Centre and two 30-bed surgical wards. The fire protection solution provided by Wormald includes a comprehensive fire detection system incorporating an audible warning system and fire fan controls.

Wormald installed a Vigilant MX4428 fire alarm system, which is networked with the main panel and floor plan Colour Graphics system in the hospital’s North Block. The system provides a highly sensitive and rapid response to fire together with a low false alarm rate to ensure minimal disruption to hospital operations.

Wormald also supplied and installed approximately 1500 detectors, manual call points and door holders throughout the hospital’s East Block, chapel and intensive care unit (ICU). A smoke control system, incorporating a dedicated fire fan control panel, was installed to manage the fans which form a part of the building’s heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system. The fire fan control panel is interfaced with the MX4428 fire alarm system and operates automatically in ‘fire mode’ in the event of a general fire alarm and provides manual control of the smoke control system to emergency services.

A modern evacuation system was also installed in the form of a Vigilant QE90 Emergency Warning and Intercommunication System (EWIS). The EWIS features a flexible alarm and voice warning system, with speakers mounted throughout the building.  A dedicated emergency telephone network is provided to ensure the hospital’s fire wardens and emergency services personnel can control rapid evacuation.

Wormald Project Manager Therese Rankin said, “The fire protection and evacuation systems installed at Nepean’s new surgical wing offer a high level of protection for hospital staff and patients. Their flexible nature means the systems can be easily reconfigured if new buildings are added or existing buildings change function.”