The London Eye, or the Millennium Wheel, is Europe’s tallest cantilevered observation wheel and the most popular paid tourist attraction in the United Kingdom with over 3.75 million visitors annually. This iconic landmark is dependent on its essential power & standby infrastructure for continued operation, almost every day of the year.
HFC based gaseous suppression systems were originally installed in various critical plant areas. Global Fire & Security Systems were appointed to propose an effective solution to overcome the challenges with room integrity of the protected switch rooms inherent with such constructions on a moving structure, and engaged FirePro UK for a suitable solution for the client’s consideration.
Besides this, and more importantly, the entire world is now focused on solving global warming and extreme climate change. Part of the solution is the elimination of HFC gasses.
Following the submission of strong evidence for the FirePro product, also delivery of CPD accredited learning to the professional team, Global Fire & Security were appointed to the project. All of the gaseous suppression systems were removed for safe disposal, and replaced with FirePro. These were engineered for both total room flood as well as in-cabinet application.
Some of the enclosures contained large louvered openings. To ensure specified agent hold times would be met, the manufacturers leakage calculation tool was used and resulted in the replacement systems being engineered to deliver additional timed release of FirePro fire suppression agent. This forms part of the independent product certification provided by KIWA, NL, a major European test and research laboratory.
The work took only a few weeks and was done without interruption to the general public, who continued to enjoy one of the nation’s favourite tourist attractions.
Following a full evaluation, key factors behind the professional team’s decision to select FirePro included:
• Currently Firepro’s product is the only condensed aerosol suppression system that is LPCB certificated.
• As of September 2021 systems may now be installed and certificated in accordance with the LPCB scheme ref 1204.
• The product is supported in the UK by a large network of independent 3rd party accredited fire systems specialists, thus alleviating the risk to the end user of being locked in for after sales servicing.
• The speed of installation could be guaranteed to meet the programme, with readily available materials and full technical support from FirePro UK.
• Reference installations with fully satisfied users, were readily available for the team’s inspection.
• The client is assured by an independently certified (KIWA & UL) 15 year product life cycle, and wholly sustainable, environmentally sound solution.
• Sacrificial footprint and 10-year hydrostatic
“We advised the client that with the imminent 10 year overhaul of the gaseous suppression systems and concerns with room integrity, the application was ideally suited for FirePro’s engineered solution. FirePro UK demonstrated the way to overcome the problem which required some minor modifications to the existing systems, that proved cost effective. We could also demonstrate cost savings to the client moving forward which was excellent.” - Stuart Beeley, Director
