Sandwell Council and its waste partner Serco have opened a new Waste Transfer Station in the West Bromwich area of the Midlands to help provide improved waste and recycling services to approximately 300,000 local residents.
The newly constructed Transfer Station consists of three separate buildings, including the main waste recycling warehouse, office areas, a substation and a gatehouse. Selecting the most robust fire detection and alarm system that would provide the highest protection for the buildings was a crucial and high priority element of the project.
Installing fire detection and alarm system
Sutton Coldfield based fire and security specialists, Pentagon Fire & Security worked closely with Sandwell Council and Serco and designed, installed and commissioned the most suitable FDA system.
Mark Skett, Director of Pentagon Fire & Security, explained “The challenge was providing protection for a building that would contain so many combustible materials. The main building has too much contamination for a traditional point system. The waste itself produces large amount of dust as there are HGV vehicles driving in and out giving off a continual stream of diesel fumes”.
Gent fully addressable Vigilon system
A solution by fire industry experts Gent by Honeywell was selected to cover all three buildings
A solution by fire industry experts Gent by Honeywell was selected to cover all three buildings, and then linked together on a network. The system installed was a Gent fully addressable Vigilon system consisting of a four loop panel and a Vigilon Compact panel with a combination of devices including smoke and heat detectors, sounders and call points.
One of Gent’s innovative systems from its Air Sampling Detection (ASD) range was selected for the warehouse because of its ability to identify the possibility of a fire in its very early stages.
Early fire detection and enhanced fire protection
Mark Skett continued “When selecting a suitable fire detection and alarm system for the waste management facility it was vital to choose a solution that is flexible, and one that will provide the required level of protection and early detection to protect the warehouse and its contents.”
The Waste Transfer Station, with its large concrete exterior and corrugated roof, is the main facility for the region’s recycling and waste. The open plan design houses the waste area as well as providing access for the recycling vehicles to drive in, drop off the waste and exit at the other side of the building. The ASD pipe system was fitted under the ceiling of the structure.
Air Sampling Detection systems
All of Gent’s ASD systems provide coverage to comply with the varying levels of sensitivity set out in EN54 part 20. Whether it is very high sensitivity for Class A requirements, enhanced sensitivity for Class B, or normal Class C sensitivity for standard detection, the products meet all of the coverage levels so customers can make a choice based on the precise application.
Mark Skett concluded “The Gent aspirating system that we chose was the ideal solution. In a specialist installation like this, only air sampling can solve the fire detection requirement and with the Gent range you have the choice of being able to select the right ASD system to match the specific application.”
