Hospitals and other in-patient facilities pose unique challenges to fire protection design because you serve a population who rely on you at the most vulnerable time in their life. Obviously, most patients are unable to evacuate themselves, they rely on the staff. Exit time is critical, so instructions must be clear and uncomplicated for your personnel to remember. Staff are not only responsible for themselves, they may also be pushing beds or wheelchairs, pulling IV equipment or monitors. This takes extra effort and time.
We must design a system that both delivers accurate event information and maximizes evac time - with the least amount of trauma to patients and staff alike.
Most hospitals evacuate by zones, which makes the system design even more crucial to safe evacuation. No matter the size of the hospital, safety is paramount. The invention of voice evacuation gives us the ability to network fire alarm systems, and this, in turn, makes it easier for your staff to evacuate patients without harm.
And then there's the "bottom line," of course. Yes, you want to provide excellent care, but your hospital cannot afford major interruptions either. That means lost revenue, and lost service to the community. Because ETD has extensive industry experience, we provide installation-ready, easy-to-understand fire alarm drawings to your construction crew so they can get you back up to full capacity as quickly as possible.
To ensure the safest environment possible for their patients and staff, most hospitals revamp their systems every few years after the initial construction. At the same time, we understand how important it is that you continue to provide care - the community depends on you.
To accommodate a retrofitting project, ETD designs the fire alarm system in phases to ensure that construction is not slowed down, and you can continue to do what you do best - remain as close to full service mode as is feasible during the project. Rest assured: We know JACO codes, and always research your local jurisdiction to meet and exceed all compliance expectations.