Following concerns that the existing smoke damper system was failing and risked non-compliance, Compass Complete Solutions Limited was asked to advise on immediate improvements. Senior management attended the site to survey the installed equipment and assess practical options to stabilise the system and reduce risk.

PROBLEMS FACED

The existing system could not be reliably upgraded to meet current requirements. After consultation with multiple manufacturers, a semi-automated solution was agreed upon, allowing manual floor-by-floor damper control from the control room. While not ideal, the arrangement provided interim compliance and operational control.

END RESULT

The interim solution gave the hospital time to plan a full replacement project. In October–November 2020, we successfully tendered for a complete system upgrade, including a new control installation, phased changeover of over 900 smoke dampers, and integration of emergency lighting and nurse call systems to ensure full compliance and operational safety.