Connecting remote staff accommodation to the hospital 1.5 kilometres away, providing seamless communication between locations
Bournemouth Hospital is part of University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust, providing healthcare services across the region. Within its wider estate, Bournemouth Hospital has staff accommodation located approximately 1.5 kilometres from the main hospital building. The project required the remote building’s fire alarm system to be connected back to the main site, allowing alarm and fault information to be monitored centrally.
Call Systems Technology (CST) provided an encrypted RF monitoring solution using its AlarmCall™ Pro+ system. As a physical connection between the buildings was impractical, wireless technology provided a reliable alternative. Before installation, CST conducted an on-site RF survey and range test to confirm the suitability and reliability of the proposed link.
The Challenge
The key challenge was establishing powerful, reliable RF communication between two buildings separated by 1.5 kilometres. For a life-safety application, the system also needed to reliably transmit both fire alarm activations and fault conditions to the main hospital site, ensuring the Estates team could respond promptly to any changes in the remote system.
CST was contacted to provide a wireless solution capable of delivering the RF power and range required to establish a dependable connection between the two locations.
Designing the Solution
To establish the long-range RF connection, CST selected AlarmCall™ Pro+, their powerful transceivers with high-gain external antennas. The system supports encrypted RF monitoring, with CST licensed to transmit at up to 4 watts, providing the RF power required for extended wireless range.
Before installation, CST carried out an on-site RF survey and range test to assess the proposed connection. Testing confirmed a strong and reliable signal, allowing the installation to proceed.
The Solution
CST installed AlarmCall™ Pro+ transceivers to create a dedicated, encrypted RF link between the fire alarm panel at the staff accommodation and the hospital’s Estates department.
The AlarmCall™ Pro+ system is BS 5839-1 compliant, providing a suitable solution for extending fire alarm monitoring between separate buildings.
The solution provides:
- Encrypted RF monitoring - secure transmission of fire alarm and fault information.
- Fire alarm transmission - alarm activations at the accommodation building are communicated to the hospital.
- Fault monitoring - fault conditions are also transmitted, allowing potential issues to be identified.
The Result
The completed installation provides Bournemouth Hospital with a dependable way to monitor fire alarm and fault conditions from its remote staff accommodation.
The encrypted RF link provides the Estates team with direct notification of important changes in the remote fire alarm system, ensuring critical information can be communicated quickly and reliably.
The project demonstrates how long-range wireless radio technology can provide a practical solution for extending fire alarm monitoring across healthcare estates, particularly where a reliable connection is required between separate buildings or locations.