LONDON AIRPORTS UPGRADE FIRE SAFETY SYSTEMS
USING FIRE ENGINEERED DUCTWORK

A series of 25 projects have been completed by specialist fire engineering contractors Senior Hargreaves. The replacement of existing kitchen extracts, were completed with minimal disruption. New concessions have also been fitted with the advanced fire safety systems.

Dedicated cook-range kitchen extracts are provided from each concession, in place of the old common extract system. Hargreaves' solution was their HFD/KE100 kitchen extract ductwork, a fire-tested, pre-engineered system that gives up to 240 minutes stability and integrity and up to 60 minutes insulation, according to BS476 Part 24 test methods.

"Logistics were a critical concern," explained Graham Woods who project managed the refit. "Heathrow Airport has 64 million passengers per year. Catering for their needs are a battery of hot food and drink concessions. Upgrading the exhaust systems was a priority, as was saving trading time." All the HFD/KE ducts were factory built for installation in a single operation.

Inbuilt hatches and smooth inner surfaces, to BS 5588 Part 9, allow regular cleaning to avoid flammable grease build up. BAA audit the duct systems to ensure that concessionaires duct cleaning regimes keep grease films to less than 180 microns.

Work proceeded rapidly, with Senior Hargreaves providing ducts on a scheduled basis. Special bifurcated fire resistant fans, compatible with the BS467 Part 24 ductwork, were supplied by Victoria Fans of Moseley.

Uploaded: June 20, 2001

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