NHS evacuation exercise at Frimley Park highlights the value of realistic smoke simulation – powered by a 26-year-old Colt 4 Turbo
A major evacuation training exercise recently took place in the new Frimley Park Hospital extension, putting emergency procedures through a full scale, life like test ahead of the building opening to patients. The exercise involved hundreds of NHS staff, volunteers and local emergency services, using a simulated fire scenario to rehearse decision making, coordination and safe evacuation under realistic conditions.
For Concept, the accompanying video clip is particularly special as the smoke effect was generated using a Colt 4 that’s 26 years old, and still in service today. It’s a timely reminder that when reliability matters most, robust engineering and proper support can deliver decades of dependable performance.
Why realistic smoke matters in hospital training
Evacuation drills are about far more than moving people from A to B. In a complex healthcare environment, realistic simulation helps teams test:
- Visibility and wayfinding when conditions deteriorate
- Communication and command structure under pressure
- Decision making at critical interfaces (corridors, stairwells, compartment lines)
- Coordination with fire and rescue teams in real operational flow
- Confidence and competence before a building goes live with patients
Training like this reduces uncertainty, exposes pinch points early, and helps ensure procedures work in the real world, not just on paper.
Why the Colt 4 Turbo is suited to evacuation and emergency-response drills
The Colt 4 Turbo has long been a trusted tool for creating a convincing, repeatable smoke effect in training environments. For exercises like this, key features and benefits include:
- Fast, impactful visual effect that quickly creates realistic conditions for teams to respond to
- Controllable output so instructors can scale the scenario and manage escalation in a structured way
- Consistency and repeatability allowing multiple runs with comparable conditions for learning and improvement
- Proven reliability – demonstrated here by a unit still operating strongly after 26 years
- Serviceability and longevity meaning equipment remains a dependable asset for training programmes over the long term
Used correctly by trained teams, simulated smoke adds realism that improves engagement and helps staff practise the actions that matter when visibility, time and stress are all working against you.
A proud moment for Concept
Seeing a Colt 4 Turbo contribute to a high-profile, real-world training exercise like this is exactly why we build equipment to last and why we continue supporting systems long after they leave our factory. The aim is simple – help organisations run safer, more effective drills that translate into better outcomes when it counts.
If you’d like to discuss smoke simulation for training (healthcare, emergency services, aviation, industrial sites, or venues), our team can advise on the right equipment and setup for your environment.
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