Midland Fire x Altitude Safety: Let’s raise a glass to a successful safety partnership at local brewery
In December of last year, our expert team at Midland Fire joined gas detection system providers Altitude Safety Ltd for a project at a large local brewery. Altitude had been tasked with the supply of a fixed gas detection system and we stepped in to support with the installation.
After working in partnership with Altitude on previous jobs at Aston University, we were delighted when they approached us for assistance with this project. Helping protect our local community is at the heart of what we do, so working within an industry that’s fundamentally important to the town in which we’re based was a perfect fit for us. Burton-on-Trent is known as the “brewing capital of Britain,” and brewing is key to its historical identity and a big driver of employment and the local economy as a whole.
“The opportunity to support a local brewery by carrying out key service work was a really important job for us, and working as a team with other local contractors made it an even more rewarding experience.”
– Pete Walker, Fire Safety Manager @ Midland Fire Security Services
Altitude Safety Ltd
Altitude Safety Ltd is a specialist provider of safety equipment, working mainly in industrial and commercial settings. When it comes to gas detection, they design, supply and service both fixed and portable gas detection systems, helping their clients manage hazardous gases in the workplace. They offer expert advice on how companies can best protect their staff and property, all while complying with safety legislation.
Our team has worked in partnership with Altitude on several occasions now. On all the projects we do with them, they supply the equipment, which we wire and install, before their team then returns to commission the system. Our capabilities complement each other, and it’s always a pleasure working together.
“As always, the team at Midland Fire were a breeze to work with. The brewery was a high pressure environment and there were a lot of contractors involved, but their engineers worked flexibly and efficiently, getting the job done well within the deadline.”
– Lee Sargent, Technical Manager @ Altitude Safety
Gas detection system supply & install project for local brewery
The project
Our client, a major local brewery, was having a new cold room built on the site of former cold rooms, and they needed a fixed carbon dioxide and oxygen depletion detection system to cover the internal areas of the new building.
This equipment is particularly important for a brewery, as part of the brewing process creates excess CO2, and if a build up occurs, it creates a toxic environment for people entering. If the gas levels aren’t managed correctly, things can get dangerous for staff as high levels of CO2 cause disorientation, loss of consciousness, or even suffocation in extreme cases.
The cold room needed a gas detection system which could detect excess CO2 and oxygen depletion to keep their workers safe.
The process
The process that we carried out at the brewery went as follows:
- Altitude visited the site and conducted a full assessment.
- They then went on to design a system bespoke to the building and the activity carried out there.
- Altitude supplied the equipment, delivering it to the site.
- Using Altitude’s site drawings, Midland Fire engineers wired and installed the system. This step took us about three weeks in total.
- Altitude’s team returned to deliver site commissioning and provide staff training.
The challenges
Throughout the project, our team worked on a live construction site under multiple contractors which required us to be flexible in our way of working. We were faced with limited access and changing schedules, and as the brewery remained operational throughout, any disruption had to be kept to a minimum.
Luckily, our engineers are experienced at working under conditions such as this, and through careful scheduling and an adaptive approach, we completed the work on time and to a high standard.
A word on Teledyne Gas Detection Systems
Want to know more about the tech involved? For this project, we installed equipment from Teledyne Gas & Flame Detection, a global leader in hazardous gas detection systems. They bring together industry-leading products with proven reputations for quality and reliability to help make industrial workplaces safer around the world.
The system at the brewery is made up of the following components:
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CTX 300 & OLCT 100 XP Gas Detectors
These detectors offer continuous and reliable monitoring for carbon dioxide (CTX 300) and oxygen (OLCT 100 XP) in fixed locations throughout the new cold room. They use high accuracy sensors, and will raise the alarm if CO2 levels are high or oxygen is depleted.
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MX 43 Gas Detection Controller
This is the control panel which centrally manages all the gas detectors we fitted. Receiving readings from the detectors, it measures and controls gases in the entire cold room area and it’s used to programme the system and record data.
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Traffic Light Indicators
The system also uses a traffic light system to display the gas detection status, in which indicators are situated outside of the cold room to let workers know if the area is safe or not before entry.
The result of these components is a system that effectively detects toxic gases within the cold room and alerts staff if the atmosphere is unsafe to work in. This keeps the brewery in line with UK safety regulations, and, most importantly, helps make sure their staff are safe and fully protected.
Looking for gas detection system installation in Burton and the Midlands?
We work with specialist contractors to provide gas detection system solutions in the Midlands and throughout the UK. We also provide a range of fire safety, security and electrical contracting services for businesses big and small across every sector.
At Midland Fire, we’ll work with you to plan and deliver the optimum life safety solution for your premises, including ongoing maintenance, support and fire safety training. At Midland Fire WE PROTECT.
For more information and a free consultation contact Midland Fire Security Services Ltd.
