The Mission: Successfully upgrade the hospital's ATS system to provide reliable power in the event of a mains failure.
When you’re running a hospital, your backup power needs to be spot on. No delays, no second guesses, just a system that kicks in the second it’s needed. Over at a CBRE hospital in Bournemouth, the client spotted that the old ATS (Automatic Transfer Switch) setup was looking a bit past its best. If the mains went down, there was no guarantee the switch to generator power would be smooth. That’s where we came in – to get it sorted and make sure the power stays rock-solid when it matters most.
The Solution
The issue was clear: an ageing Socomec ATS switch was putting the hospital’s backup system at risk. If mains power failed, the switch might not respond properly – a major concern for a site that can’t afford even a flicker of downtime. CBRE needed a partner they could trust to rip out the old gear, fit a more reliable solution, and get everything running just how the hospital needed it. No drama, no disruption.
Planning & Safe Set-Up
We kicked things off by working closely with CBRE’s on-site engineer, getting permits in place and making sure everything was safe to proceed. Isolation and lockout procedures were carried out properly – the MCCB was locked off, the mains supply and fuse switch isolated, and the site made secure for our upgrade work.
“This upgrade was a huge step forward for the hospital's power resilience, improving performance and reliability in one go.”
ATS System Upgrade
With the site prepped, we stripped out the old Socomec ATS switch and its related components, replacing it with a brand-new 800A ABB ATS switch paired with an OMD changeover controller. This upgrade was a huge step forward for the hospital’s power resilience, improving performance and reliability in one go.
Programming, Testing & Tailoring
Once fitted, the new system was programmed and the parameters thoroughly checked to ensure everything integrated seamlessly. After reconnecting the mains and generator supply, we ran a full suite of simulated mains failures to see how the system held up – and it passed with flying colours.
We didn’t stop there, either. To finish things off, we tweaked the timers and settings so the system worked exactly how CBRE needed it to. That personal touch is what we’re all about – making sure everything’s spot on, not just ‘working’.
Conclusion
This project is a perfect example of what Canning does best: reliable power upgrades, delivered with care, precision, and a personal approach.
By replacing outdated equipment with high-performance components and customising the setup to suit the hospital’s needs, we’ve helped ensure their critical power infrastructure is solid, safe, and built for the long haul. Another job done, and another client powered up with confidence.
