“The fire alarm network at the Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham consists of 77 panels which use a bespoke RS-485 network card array, designed from the ground up for large complex fire alarm networks. After 19 years’ service spares for this network card were becoming unavailable and also the fire alarm network was suffering frequent breakdowns due to a combination of cables perishing with age, mechanical damage to cables and also increased electrical and electronic noise. INS Technologies were approached to replace the obsolete network card with a modern data network solution, the DNA card. The DNA Cards were installed over a four-week period and have resulted in a more stable and resilient fire alarm network, and the network is currently performing well. The DNA Cards have also filtered out the external influences allowing for a more efficient data flow. They have also identified issues with existing copper cables that require replacing and this will form part of an ongoing refurbishment programme.”