Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust

Eurotech Fire Systems & Alphatrack Systems recognised for Active Fire Project of the Year

Eurotech Fire Systems and Alphatrack Systems were jointly recognised for Active Fire Project of the Year following the successful upgrade of the fire detection and alarm infrastructure at NRS Berkeley, a complex nuclear decommissioning site. The project combined Eurotech’s Sygno-fi wireless platform with Alphatrack’s delivery expertise to improve safety, stability and operational efficiency across a 27-hectare estate.

A sensitive site that required a different approach

NRS Berkeley includes active radioactive waste stores, ageing buildings, temporary portakabins and restricted-access areas. The legacy EMS system produced repeated false alarms, disrupted high-risk work and fragmented visibility across 15 separate panels. Any upgrade had to minimise disruption, maintain continuous cover and meet stringent standards.

Strategy: test, collaborate, and minimise disruption

• Feasibility first: RF scan and a live, two-hour onsite feasibility test. A crossover phase kept the legacy system running to maintain uninterrupted cover.
• Surveying in depth: a two-week, manufacturer-led survey mapped buildings, access routes and future site changes to shape the design.
• User-centric design: stakeholder workshops aligned detection, cause-and-effect and evacuation with live operations.
• Wireless deployment: Sygno-fi enabled rapid installation with minimal intrusion into hazardous zones.
• Network integration: four Advanced panels and 682 Sygno-fi devices unified via a Drax graphical interface for single-point visibility and control.
• Environmental adaptation: IP-rated enclosures and gasketed installs where required; existing aerial stands re-used to avoid fabric disruption.

Compliance and standards

The system meets or exceeds BS 5839-1:2017, BS 7273-4, BS 7671, EN 54 and the Radio Equipment Directive. Intelligent cause-and-effect aligns with nuclear-site protocols and ensures reliability with minimal electromagnetic interference.

From known issues to a reliable programme

• Legacy system pre-dated key standards and couldn’t scale with new zones and portakabins.
• Frequent false alarms eroded trust during hazardous waste handling.
• Maintenance required visiting 15 separate panels; visibility was fragmented.

The new solution delivers true zone-based activation, wireless scalability as the site evolves, centralised control and a clear graphical interface for rapid response.

Key challenges and solutions

• Restricted areas: bespoke push-fit fixings where drilling was prohibited.
• Environmental exposure: device-level gasket protection for external portakabins; IP-rated housings where needed.
• Long-distance coverage: survey-driven topology and expander placement ensured reliable wireless performance.
• Stakeholder confidence: structured training, communication and demonstrations rebuilt trust.

How the system operates during an incident

1. Detection: Sygno-fi wireless detectors identify heat or smoke in the affected zone.
2. Targeted response: only the relevant zone alarms, reducing unnecessary disruption.
3. Real-time visibility: the Drax interface pinpoints device and location for the control room.
4. Escalation: events and faults are visible centrally to shorten response times.
5. Maintenance mode: remote testing via Sygno-fi tooling reduces site movement and downtime.

Outcomes and benefits

• Significant reduction in false alarms and site-wide evacuations.
• Detector sensitivity tailored per area for reliability without nuisance activations.
• First time the whole estate is visible from a single control room.
• Faster maintenance; less time walking between panels.
• Scalable wireless architecture for future phases of decommissioning.