Environment
World class fire solution for Rugby World Cup venue
Leading fire protection specialist Wormald has developed a comprehensive fire protection solution for Auckland’s refurbished Eden Park stadium.
Eden Park is scheduled to host a number of games for the 2011 Rugby World Cup and in preparation for the showdown the world-class stadium recently received an extensive face lift. As part of the project, Wormald was contracted by Fletcher Construction to design and install a sophisticated fire protection solution for the refurbished stadium.
The project was a complex one, as it involved diverse project specifications, a complex cause-and-effect matrix and a strict deadline.
During the 17 month contract at Eden Park, Wormald’s technicians installed fire extinguishers and fire sprinkler and hydrant systems which included a valve set and pumps. A complex analogue addressable alarm system was chosen to allow for a wide scope of control in the event of a fire. In addition, Ansul Piranha pre-engineered systems were installed in the commercial kitchens.
Eden Park has been in existence as a sports ground since 1900. With the recent $250m refurbishment, the stadium now boasts a new six-level 21,500-seat southern stand, temporary seating on the eastern and western stands, new corporate boxes, and media and player facilities. Capacity of the stadium has been increased from 45,000 to 60,000 people.
Fire protection should be part of initial design
Planning and designing a new building is a complex task and those involved are responsible for developing safe working and living environments for the future tenants of the building.
According to leading fire protection specialist Wormald, one element of the planning stage which needs careful consideration is the building's fire protection solution, which must be designed in accordance with the Building Act 2004 and the New Zealand Building Code.
Consulting a fire engineer or fire specialist in the early stages of design will ensure all necessary considerations are addressed and an effective and tailored fire protection solution is designed for a particular building.
However, according to Wormald, many contractors don't realise the importance of involving the fire specialist at the design stage.
"Being contacted after the initial design and plans are finalised makes it difficult to plan a customised fire protection solution," says Martin Robertson, fire sprinkler design manager with Wormald.
"Engaging with the fire specialist at an early stage can add real value in identifying what is required, both to suit the particular building and to meet regulations."
In new building design, fire safety considerations include, how particular building materials will respond to fire, how smoke and fire will spread in the event of a fire, the number of emergency exits required, the type of fire protection systems required, which building materials should be used in construction to slow fire growth, and the location of fire alarm control panels and sprinkler control valves.
Although investing in fire safety solutions can be expensive, it is a wise investment to help to minimise the risk of fire and to protect life and property. Wormald's Martin Robertson says that simply choosing the minimum fire protection equipment to meet regulations may not be enough.
"To be adequately prepared, you need to forward plan and consider the loss which could be caused if a fire was to occur. There are many building design advantages when installing fire protection systems including reduced egress requirements, increased fire compartment sizes, less fire walls and greater use of materials with high flame spread, such as timber paneling. Consulting your fire protection specialist will help achieve a customised fire protection solution."
As well as regulation, when deciding on the most suitable fire protection solutions, considerations include size and type of building, materials being handled on the premises and what the building will be used for, such as offices or materials storage.
This article was provided by Wormald, specialists in fire protection.
Wormald provides a range of specialist fire protection solutions, special hazards, foam suppression systems, water spray and mist systems, pre-action and deluge Systems. Wormald will review building plans in order to help identify the most suitable fire protection solution.
For further information about Wormald's wide range of products and services:
Call: 08004WORMALD
Visit: www.wormald.co.nz
Pike River – gas management failings
By Dave Feickert
It is self-evident that there was something seriously wrong with the gas management at the Pike River mine. In developed countries we know how to prevent methane gas explosions. The royal commission, which convened again for its third series of hearings on November 14, is looking at the causes of the first explosion as well as delving more into the external regulation of the mine.
We still do not know the exact cause of the first explosion but we do know it was a large one. This suggests that there was a lot of methane gas meeting an ignition source. According to the New Zealand press, using leaked evidence, the Japanese contractor helping the mine install the hydro mining process (wherein high pressure water jets are used to cut coal from the seam, with the coal exiting the mine mainly as a slurry on its way to the coal preparation plant) left the mine for safety reasons one month before the explosion.
Hydro mining is not widely used in coal mining, but there is one other mine in New Zealand which employs the technique: Solid Energy’s Spring Creek mine, near Pike River. Solid Energy’s engineers have built up some years of experience by now but it does not seem that there was any real sharing of this experience with Pike River’s engineers, none of whom were so experienced. This is one more example of the failure of self-regulation – the notion that companies in a particular sector will help one another regulate safety and health.
One of the critical features of hydro mining is that it is capable of taking out large panels of coal, thereby liberating large amounts of methane in the coal seam. This in turn must be dealt with by an effective gas management system, using ventilation fans to keep levels of the gas well below the explosive range of 5-15 per cent. Mines have various cut-off points for machinery and also for the withdrawal of the men, before it gets near 5 percent; for rapid gas release can suddenly put the men in jeopardy, especially if there is an ignition source.
Apart from the ventilation system being effective, properly maintained, regularly tested and with the installation of gas sensors at all the relevant locations, there needs to be an effective gas drainage system. In a conventional coal production system, using long wall faces or continuous miners, this can be achieved by drilling horizontally into the seam and draining the gas which occurs inseam. It is then vented from the mine. Certainly what any new company will have to do if it wants to re-open the mine, is to build an effective gas drainage system and a ventilation system which runs much more smoothly than the one which got into trouble.
The other technology, which had not been installed at Pike River, was the tube bundle system which analyses mine gases continuously. Although not in real time – there is a delay for analysis – it is an accurate technology for monitoring the gas environment and essential as a measuring tool for the effectiveness of the gas drainage taking place.
The real question remains why the Pike River company did not follow all this modern practice and instead allow the men to find themselves in such extreme risk.
Dave Feickert is an internationally renowned, mine safety expert, who works with mines overseas.
Making construction safer
By Claire Cohen
The Construction Safety Council (CSC), established last year, is a cross-industry collaboration aimed at making workplaces safer, reducing the amount of lost time through injury and reducing the number and severity of injuries.
The CSC developed from discussions between key industry organisations – Certified Builders Association (CBA), Registered Master Builders Federation (RMBF), New Zealand Contractors’ Federation (NZCF), Roading New Zealand (RNZ) and the Specialist Trade Contractors’ Federation (STCF).
The aim was to achieve a collaborative industry-wide approach to health and safety. A framework already under development for residential health and safety was taken as the basis for exploring options and a three-year strategic plan was agreed.
Individual workshops were held with residential, civil, commercial and specialist trades sectors with the objective of understanding the current position and future expectations of each with regard to health and safety. An important consideration was to determine the degree of alignment, if any, between sectors.
The organisations agreed there were sufficient safety issues of common interest to justify establishing a forum to facilitate improved safety culture across the construction sector, determine safety standards and service providers, set injury reduction targets and work with government agencies.
Agreement was reached on nine areas that would underpin an overarching system of health and safety: the visibility of risk, the awareness of consequences, fairness, comprehensiveness, up to date-ness, practicality, consistency, coverage, and affordability. Workshops identified existing gaps.
Eight representatives from the different sectors were appointed to the council with MBF chief executive, Warwick Quinn, elected as chair.
A strategic plan was agreed, which articulates nine areas of action, associated projects and key performance indicators.
Current members are Mr Quinn and Derek Baxter of CBA representing the residential sector; David Baker of RMB and Martin Fahy of Clearwater Construction representing commercial; Dave Jewell of NZCF and Cos Bruyn of RNZ representing civil; and Victoria Troake and Neville Simpson, both from STCF, for specialist trades.
The CSC is currently concentrating on four projects including analysis of health and safety data and recommendations for more joined-up information between the ACC, the Department of Labour and the sector. A partnership with the Department of Labour focuses on elimination of non-compliant behaviour through better sector communication and clearer roles and responsibilities.
A further project will establish principles and systems for the endorsement of individual training to meet defined standards. The project will be based upon a tiered accreditation framework that recognises health and safety training, allows for multi-site endorsement, and rewards compliant health and safety systems.
The ACC and the Department of Labour have been very supportive of the CSC – which comes under the umbrella of the Construction Industry Council (CIC), has official government recognition and is a partner with ACC and the Department of Labour on the Construction Sector Action Plan (2010-13). During 2011/12 the CSC will be supporting the Department of Labour project to reduce slips, trips and falls from height.
Claire Cohen is project director of the Construction Safety Council.
For further information on the Construction Safety Council contact:
Claire Cohen
Mob: 021 406 273
Email: safety [at] cscnz [dot] co [dot] nz