In September 2012 LANtech Communications were awarded a sizable contract by Interserve Engineering to design, supply and install a complete network cabling solution for The NHS Trusts new £27million medium security mental health facility at Langdon Hospital in Dawlish.

The Dewnans Centre can accommodate up to 60 people over its four wards and incorporates the very latest technology and engineering to deliver a safe and secure environment, but one that is also extremely therapeutic.

Although the Dewnans Centre is a secure facility for people under constant supervision, the focus of its design is on unobtrusive security. It is designed very much as a village with the Therapies Centre placed at the heart of the facility.

As well as treatment rooms, the Therapies Centre includes heavy and light workshops, computing and library facilities, a music room and a café. Office and administration space has been deliberately housed separately, in the only part of the building with a second storey.

LANtech Communications provided a complete Nexans Essential CAT5E UTP LSZH data cabling solution for the entire project. The data cabling incorporated over 650 Essential-5 outlets for use as desktop data outlets, CCTV Cameras, WIFI and telephone outlets, with fibre optic and multicore telephone cabling providing the backbone cabling.

The ground floor of the two storey Admin/Therapies Block housed the main server room with sub-comms rooms being located in loft areas of Wards 1&2 and Wards 3&4. LANtech have provided a Nexans 25year Link Warranty for the installation.

Probably the greatest challenges with this project was the sheer size and timescales involved. We had to work to numerous on-going deadlines which required careful co-ordinating with all the other onsite trades involved with the project. Every effort was made to ensure the cabling was implemented with the utmost care and diligence.

As a result of the success with this network cabling installation, LANtech have since been commissioned by Interserve to supply and install new Nexans Essential CAT5E networks in the refurbished Connelly House and Owen House at Langdon Hospital.