Project Overview

Leeds General Infirmary and St James’s University Hospital are integral parts of the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, one of the largest teaching hospitals in Europe. Leeds General Infirmary is renowned for its regional Major Trauma Centre as well as many general acute services and Leeds Children’s Hospital, while St James’s University Hospital, also known as ‘Jimmy’s’, is one of the UK’s major high-volume cancer centres. Both hospitals are pivotal in providing healthcare across West Yorkshire and beyond, necessitating robust and reliable fire safety systems to ensure the safety of patients, staff, and visitors.

Customer Needs

Since 2010, Chubb has been entrusted with the critical task of providing fire alarm servicing and maintenance to these two key healthcare facilities. This long-term partnership underscores Chubb’s commitment to delivering continuous safety and compliance in environments where the highest standards are non-negotiable.

Solution and Benefits

Chubb’s approach to maintaining and servicing the fire safety systems at Leeds General Infirmary and St James’s University Hospital is comprehensive and proactive. The strategy includes the deployment of two resident engineers who are permanently stationed onsite, complemented by subcontracted specialists for remedial works. These teams adhere to a stringent quarterly program of planned maintenance, ensuring all components of the fire safety system are operational and up to date.

The maintenance coverage includes numerous critical components:

  • Fire Alarm Panels: Essential for the central control and monitoring of fire alarms across the hospitals.
  • Smoke and Heat Detectors: These devices are crucial for early detection of fires, thereby facilitating timely evacuation and response.
  • Manual Call Points: Allow hospital staff and visitors to manually initiate a fire alarm.
  • Power Supplies for Automatic Doors: These systems ensure that fire doors close automatically in the event of a fire, helping to contain the spread of smoke and flames.

At Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, the focus includes extensive systems in the Clarendon Wing and Jubilee Wing, which contain 14 and 9 fire panels respectively, and approximately 3,000 devices each. The real-time monitoring is enhanced by a sophisticated graphic system that provides instant data visualisation and fault detection.

Upgrading Devices

In January 2024, Chubb commenced a significant upgrade project in the Clarendon Wing. After a thorough assessment, it was determined that the existing smoke detectors and other fire safety devices had reached the end of their useful life, having been in service for over a decade. The upgrade involved replacing all outdated smoke detectors, heat detectors, and call points throughout the wing. This project was carried out by four dedicated engineers over a three-month period, replacing approximately 3,000 devices to meet current safety standards. The upgrade was completed successfully in March 2024.

Chubb also addressed unique challenges, such as working in sensitive areas like isolation rooms, theatres, and the Teenage Cancer Trust rooms. These areas require additional precautions, such as double airlocking procedures, to ensure that the integrity of sterile environments is maintained during equipment replacement. Chubb’s engineers coordinated closely with hospital staff to schedule these upgrades during times that would minimise disruption to patient care.

Peter Aldridge, Associate Director – Estates, Fire & Security at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust said: “Chubb’s dedication to maintaining the highest standards of fire safety at these hospitals has been exceptional. Their comprehensive approach to servicing and maintenance, along with their proactive upgrades and attention to detail, ensures that we are able to provide a safe environment for our patients, staff, and visitors.”