Months after fire, PGI to have Rs 2 crore advanced alarm system

Naina Mishra

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Chandigarh, January 30

Months after a fire damaged the C block of Nehru Hospital at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), the institute has announced a tender worth Rs 2.20 crore for the installation of an advanced addressable fire alarm system in the crucial areas of Nehru Hospital building.

Going hi-tech

• Fire-resistant cables, intelligent photo-thermal detector, evacua-tion alert device part of system
• Detector to continuously monitor levels using photoelectric and heat sensors; will trigger alarm if values surpass preset thresholds
• Integral part of system is addressable horns-cum-strobe, serving as evacuation alert

The comprehensive system will encompass fire-resistant cables, an intelligent photo-thermal detector and an evacuation alert device. The previous incident, fuelled by a battery bank housing 160 batteries, prompted the need for robust preventive measures. The flames had rapidly spread through the adjoining staircase area, causing a significant damage to manifold lines and electrical wiring.

The addressable intelligent photo-thermal detector, a combination of smoke and heat detection, will continuously monitor levels using photoelectric and heat sensors. An alarm will be triggered if values surpass preset thresholds. Additionally, the system will include a fire alarm isolator to prevent large sections from dropping out during a short circuit fault.

An integral part of the fire safety system is the addressable horns-cum-strobe, serving as evacuation alert. The strobes will act a secondary alert by flashing lights being noticeable from a distance. Horn strobes combine audible and visual alarms to alert the occupants to evacuate the premises. The horns-cum-strobe offer three distinct sound settings — ambulance, fire truck and police car — to enhance alert effectiveness.

To ensure circuit integrity during and after a fire, fire survival cables will be installed in sensitive environments in the building. These cables are designed to withstand high temperatures for a minimum of two hours without electrical breakdown.

The institute is also planning to install addressable monitor modules that will play a crucial role by allowing non-addressable devices, such as sprinkler flow switches or standard heat detectors, to be monitored and connected to the main fire alarm control panel. This added layer of security will ensure quick detection and response to all potential risks.