FireX has supplied Marioff HI-FOG® water mist systems to a number of hospitals in the Netherlands. One of these is the Catharina hospital in Eindhoven. FireX project manager Ivo Kleijn “The Catharina hospital has been extensively refurbished in recent years. Several new building sections have been added, where we have installed water mist systems. FireX was responsible for the design, engineering, commissioning and maintenance of the installations.
The Marioff HI-FOG® does not only quickly and effectively suppress fires, it can also be applied in buildings which are being extended. The system can easily be expanded along with the building. The Catharina hospital project is a good example of that.
High patient safety standards
According to Ivo, hospitals opt for water mist systems because of their high patient safety standards. “A fire triggers a range of protocols, including evacuation. In that case it is helpful if personnel and patients, possibly accompanied by essential equipment, can quickly reach safety without being affected by fire fighting water along the escape routes. Water mist is a mist of microdroplets. That uses much less water for fire suppression. At the same time, the high pressure technology controls the fire effectively.” The effectiveness is partly due to the speed: a water mist system quickly brings the fire under control. That reduces the fire, smoke and water damage so the hospital can quickly return to normal operations.
Multiple hospitals
At the Catharina hospital the water mist system covers all areas, from patient rooms and corridors through to the linen rooms. Other hospitals such as the Reinier de Graaf Gasthuis, Máxima Medisch Centrum and Leids Universitair Medisch Centrum (LUMC), are also fitted with Marioff HI-FOG® water mist systems supplied by FireX. “When working in or near hospitals we are always aware of the environment we are operating in. So we ensure that our team follows the guidelines of the hospital or the general contractor.” In this way, FireX ensures that the installation works are always completed effectively and safely – like a well-oiled machine.