Summary Case Study:

Ink Production Process Plant
Sun Chemical - Orpington, Kent

Key Data:

• Sun Chemical are one of the largest producers of ink and paints in the World
• London / South East facility produces a large percentage of ink for use in theUK
• New fire protection installation retrofitted to FM Global Standards
• £1.5 million scheme to protect production halls, bulk storage cylinders and yard areas
• Foam protection to bulk storage and yard protected via foam monitors,sprinkler protection to production halls

The Scheme:

The scheme consisted of providing fire protection to three different area types, being; external bulk storage tanks, internal production halls and the external yard areas used to hold bulk materials in drums. The external tanks were provided with external exposure control systems, spraying AFFF foam inducted water onto the external tank skins via a deluge valve and distribution corsetry. Production halls were protected using a high density water roof level sprinkler system. The external yard covered with pre-programmed oscillating AFFF foam monitors, providing a carpet of low density foam over the area, and initiated via a flame detection system

Our Role:

Our role consisted of designing the fire protection systems throughout the project including; concept design, detailed design, coordination and full hydraulic calculations. Plus we acted as the Project Managers for the scheme, tendering the works packages, providing site attendance and supervision and acting as the Principle Contractor under the CDM Regulations.

Challenges and Collaboration:

Coordinating the design around the existing process plant services and ensuring the installation could be achieved safely whilst working around a live environment.