The HELP Appeal has funded a £56,340 upgrade to the Deck Integrated Fire Fighting System (DIFFS) on the rooftop helipad at King’s College Hospital.

The charity originally covered the cost of DIFFS while also donating £2.75 million towards the helipad’s construction ten years ago. Since then, the helipad has received over 3,320 landings, helping critically ill patients reach specialist hospital care more quickly.

The funding enabled the hospital to replace its fluorinated firefighting foam with a fluorine-free product, following changes to environmental legislation.

How does DIFFS work?

DIFFS is an automated fire-suppression system designed for rooftop helipads. Nozzles built into the deck spray water and foam, suppressing a fire within 15 seconds.

This rapid response protects the helipad, hospital and everyone on the deck, while reducing the risk of a hospital evacuation. It also allows air ambulance crews to continue treating and transferring critically ill patients without unnecessary delay.

DIFFS can also save a hospital approximately £250,000 annually by removing the need for a dedicated helipad firefighting team. These savings can be redirected to other lifesaving services.