FOCUS Manufacturing risks
parts of the site’s automation elements. Some very complex design challenges emerged from the nature of the automation and its integration within the building envelope. For example, it was essential to ensure that water from the sprinkler heads would not be impeded by the equipment itself or by its supporting structure if a fire were to develop. From the outset, a strong collaborative
relationship was forged by Alpine with the OSR shuttle material handling system provider, Knapp. Daily coordination and weekly planning meetings made sure that any potential clashes were designed out very early in the process, and this resulted in the project being delivered on time and to budget. Liaising closely with the client’s team, the
automation provider and the insurer, the design team used its practical insight and experience to engineer workable solutions to every design challenge, whilst keeping the costs for the client to a minimum. Close management of the installation
Design and installation
The bespoke solution for Plot 3 was designed to a high level of detail by Alpine to make sure that all pipework would avoid the moving
According to the ‘General principles of prevention’ outlined in The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015) under ‘Managing health and safety in construction’, dutyholders including architects are instructed to avoid risk ‘where possible’. Sprinkler systems are a highly effective form
of fire protection which detect, act and initiate an alarm in response to a fire event. The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) and the National Fire Sprinkler Network (NFSN) worked together to investigate this in a joint report – undertaken by Optimal Economics – called Efficiency and Effectiveness of Sprinkler Systems in the United Kingdom: An Analysis from Fire Service Data. This report stated: ‘The findings indicate, that
where installed, sprinkler systems operate on 94% of occasions … Furthermore, it is evident that when they do operate, they extinguish or contain the fire on 99% of occasions … There was not a single report of a death in a non- domestic building where sprinklers were
process was required for this complex system in order to reduce the risk of damage to the automation equipment. The result was a tailored system successfully delivered. Finally, to ensure continuous protection during maintenance, two independent sets of water supplies linked by a common ring main were also used to make sure that any impairment for maintenance reasons would not impact on the operation of the sprinkler system in the event of a fire occurring
recorded as being present and sprinklers could be expected to work.’ For many years, sprinkler systems have
demonstrated their value in protecting people and property in industrial and commercial applications. The importance of fire suppression sprinklers in the new industrial world has never been more relevant. A mechanical fire suppression system (or sprinkler) is often a requirement of insurers and building control in order to mitigate the increasing risk that automation and high density storage brings. The most commonly used systems consist of a
water supply and pipework distribution system with strategically positioned sprinkler heads. Fire sprinkler systems are extensively used worldwide, with more than 40m sprinkler heads fitted each year. A sprinkler system can be linked to a fire alarm remaining on standby 24/7, and whilst the reduction of risk is the most compelling factor, insurance premiums can often be dramatically reduced and the loss to production minimised, even after activation.
38 DECEMBER 2019/JANUARY 2020
www.frmjournal.com
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