Kashmir’s premier tertiary care hospital, Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), today commissioned a state-of-the-art intelligent fire detection and alarm system at its Central Store and Pharmacy Block, marking a major step towards enhancing institutional fire safety.
Officials said the newly installed addressable fire alarm system represents the latest in fire detection technology. Equipped with smart modules, the system can precisely identify the exact location of a fire outbreak, enabling rapid response and minimizing damage. It is designed to seamlessly integrate with firefighting mechanisms and elevator controls for coordinated safety operations.
To minimize the risk of false alarms, the system is programmed to distinguish between different types of smoke and features Rate of Rise (ROR) heat detectors, which detect abnormal temperature spikes while avoiding erroneous heat triggers.
Speaking at the commissioning, Director SKIMS, Ashraf Ganie, emphasized the critical importance of fire safety in healthcare institutions.
“Fire safety in hospitals is non-negotiable. Infrastructure must be supported with regular training and strict protocols to safeguard lives and critical assets,” he said.
Director SKIMS issued strict instructions to the Mechanical and Civil Engineering departments to expedite the fire safety upgrade project. He also directed the Nodal Officer Fire Safety to prepare and circulate Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) on fire safety and emergency response among all SKIMS staff.
A mock drill was conducted in collaboration with the Fire & Emergency Services Department, involving staff from SKIMS’ Fire & Security Wing, Central Store, and Pharmacy departments.
The drill aimed to provide hands-on training and familiarize personnel with the response mechanisms of the newly installed system, a spokesperson of the SKIMS said.
