Nobel’s Stat-X System installed at Oxford Clinical Trials Service Unit
The Clinical Trials Service Unit at University of Oxford primarily studies the causes and treatment of chronic diseases, such as heart attack, stroke, and cancer. To do that, they employ large-scale randomised and observational evidence to identify causes and successful treatment regimes. For instance, in breast cancer, collaboration across the world involving anyone who has ever organised a randomised trial compares different treatments for early occurrences of the disease.
Critically important data relating to the work of the Clinical Trials Service Unit is held in the Unit’s Comms Room which of course has to be fully guarded against all eventualities. In the case of fire protection a number of potential systems were evaluated before the decision was made to install a Stat-X system from Nobel Fire Systems.
While it would have been difficult but certainly possible to seal the room and install a gas system such as FM200, Nobel recommended Stat-X on the grounds of cost effectiveness, speed of installation and also for the fact that in a working building, the installation process is far less intrusive.
Nobel’s condensed aerosol suppressant Stat-X systems are sized for volume protection and extremely compact, the potassium based aerosol units are up to ten times more effective than gaseous agent alternatives.
As the Clinical Trial Service Unit found, another huge benefit of the Stat-X system lies in the fact that pressure vessels, pipework and nozzles are not required. Instead, the units are simply placed directly on or in the risk areas being protected. The units are environmentally friendly with zero ozone depletion and zero global warming potential.
With a proven shelf life of 10 years and very little maintenance required, the Stat-X system has proven cost effectiveness and reliability in a variety of applications across the data and related industries.
If the worse happens and fire does break out, the system can be operated manually and automatically. There is minimal clean up requirements as the fire suppression medium is an extremely fine potassium particulate that reacts chemically with the fire to extinguish the flames. The particulate remains in suspension for up to an hour giving ample time for materials within the room to cool and so prevents the fire from potentially re-igniting.
Ben Parker, Commercial Director at Nobel Fire Systems commented;
“Nobel has over 30 years of reliable, proven technology to develop fire suppression systems aimed specifically at business critical environments such as this Comms Room at the University of Oxford. The whole team are delighted to have had the opportunity of working on this vitally important project.”