Fire Protection for Healthcare Facilities: Fire safety, designed to care for every space.
Healthcare facilities never stop. Hospitals, clinics, laboratories, and nursing homes operate around the clock, supporting patients who depend on continuous care. In these environments, fire protection must do more than meet regulatory requirements. It must protect lives, protect sensitive equipment, and ensure uninterrupted operations.
In hospitals, a fire can affect much more than the building itself. Evacuating patients can be challenging, particularly in intensive care units, or in operating theatres. At the same time, advanced medical equipment and strict hygiene requirements demand specialized protection strategies. Fire protection solutions must therefore provide rapid detection, effective suppression, and minimal disruption.
Viking delivers integrated fire protection solutions designed to address these unique challenges. With a complete portfolio ranging from detection to fire suppression systems, including water, water mist, foam, gas suppression systems and detection & control technologies, Viking helps healthcare facilities protect people, property, and medical equipment. From general patient areas to sensitive spaces such as MRI suites and laboratories, Viking provides the right solution for every application.
Healthcare buildings are often complex environments, bringing together patient wards, public areas, technical spaces, laboratories, and emergency infrastructure under one roof. Each area presents unique risks and requires a tailored fire protection approach. Viking’s extensive product portfolio enables customized solutions that support infection-control protocols, address oxygen-rich environments, and simplify maintenance in facilities that cannot afford extended interruptions.
The children’s hospital project
One example of Viking’s healthcare expertise is the New Children’s Hospital in Dublin, one of the largest healthcare construction projects in Europe.
Given the hospital’s scale and complexity, a comprehensive fire protection strategy was required, incorporating both sprinkler and foam suppression systems across multiple areas of the facility. Large quantities of equipment had to be delivered while maintaining the highest manufacturing standards.
Different parts of the hospital required different protection strategies. Standard sprinkler systems with braided flexible hoses were installed in patient wards, clinical areas, public spaces, and hot block areas, providing rapid fire response while helping to minimize water discharge. Basement parking areas were protected with dry sprinkler systems, offering long-term reliability and enhanced resistance to corrosion. In laboratories, operating theatres, and other sensitive environments, preaction sprinkler systems provided an additional level of protection against accidental water discharge. Generator rooms were protected using foam suppression systems designed for rapid fire control in higher-risk areas.
The children’s hospital project demonstrates how tailored fire protection solutions can help healthcare facilities maintain safety, operational continuity, and regulatory compliance. For Viking, it is another example of delivering protection where it matters most: protecting people and supporting critical services when every second counts.
“Viking EMEA was one of our key partners in delivering the sprinkler system installation for the New Children’s Hospital. When it came to the scale and complexity of the project, we knew we could rely on Viking to come up with the goods, of high quality and in quantity. The project had unique challenges: if a component had flaws, they would be revealed, but Viking has stood the test of time. Viking continued to provide support throughout the process right through to completion.“ Project Partner, New children’s Hospital
