Feature


This type of oversight is not uncommon, particularly as many smaller facilities will choose to contract out an HVAC system installation to a third party, with the assumption that the complete solution will be provided by the third party.


The additional consideration of the need for a broader gas safety system may be recognised by the facilities manager at the time or may be identified later during a routine risk assessment. The resolution need not be overly complicated, and often a well-designed gas safety detection system, tailored to the site’s specific needs following a survey, will be effective in monitoring for any leaks across the site, providing a complete solution.


Once installed, the system can be fully tested by the equipment provider and set up to trigger alarms for both gas concentrations above defined exposure limits, and also explosive potential, ensuring that timely action can be taken, whether an emergency evacuation, automated ventilation, or a shutdown.


As long as regular service and maintenance schedules are up to date (again, something that any good gas safety partner will be able to advise on), such a solution can be left to operate in the background.


As this example demonstrates, particularly for smaller industrial settings, a well-chosen gas detection system, supported by expert advice from a knowledgeable provider, is often more than enough for lower-complexity environments.


Chester Truck Maintenance Depot Example: A large garage in Chester which provides maintenance services for articulated lorries and trucks, needed a gas safety system to ensure the protection of its staff – predominantly mechanics – working on vehicles at the site.


Gas safety risks at the garage broadly fell into two key categories: the presence of gases such as methane and hydrogen which migrate upwards due to their lighter-than-air nature, and secondly, the presence of hydrocarbons: highly combustible and denser than air, therefore typically gathering in the service pits underneath the vehicles being maintained.


Following a detailed site survey, eight gas detection devices were situated at appropriate points throughout the facility, enabling monitoring of both groups of gases.


A simple user interface was positioned within the garage to enable easy, intuitive access to summary information, and the detection devices were also linked to key aspects of other systems at the site – not least the HVAC system – to ensure appropriate actions were automatically triggered should gas level thresholds be surpassed. These actions included increasing ventilation


through an automatic interface with the HVAC


system, as well as automatically opening roller-doors to increase fresh air within the facility. Additionally, at certain levels, the fire alarm would be activated to evacuate the site until gases returned to safe levels.


Even though gas safety detection systems installed in smaller settings may not require additional engineering or modifications to adequately address safety considerations, ensuring the gas safety partner with which you are considering working has strong engineering, installation and service and maintenance capabilities will help support you through the process and look after your system longer-term. Similarly, ensuring that the company has experience in your industry is an important consideration, and a firm that has worked – or currently works – with some bigger names in your sector is likely to suggest that they will be capable of handling the full range of gas safety issues in your business.


Another key consideration is the total cost of ownership of a gas detection and monitoring system. As with many areas of facilities management, quality can vary considerably and it’s important to ask a provider questions such as how long consumable parts (for instance sensors or batteries) should last. There can be significant differences in the lifespan of such parts, and the frequency with which they may need to be replaced can make the difference between good and poor value in the long term.


Gas safety is an issue that is attracting growing focus, not least with the increased use of new and more environmentally


sustainable


practices and materials. Obtaining good advice from trusted partners who are specialists in their field, is an effective way for facilities management professionals to efficiently address gas safety concerns, from the small and simple to the sophisticated and complex,


ensuring


peace of mind for all concerned.


fmuk 13


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