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FIRE SERVICE AND GENERAL FIRE SAFETY TOPICS => Technical Advice => Topic started by: Ashley Wood on November 26, 2006, 08:46:50 PM

Title: Standby Power generators in basement carparks
Post by: Ashley Wood on November 26, 2006, 08:46:50 PM: I have a project I am working on where the client is having a standby generator set (in an enclosure) installed into a basement car park under a multi storey office development in Manchester. I feel that the generator should have a fire extinguishing system installed due to what it is and where it is. My question is this, is there any legislation that says one should be fitted? Is it in the 'Manchester Act'?

Any help, as ever, much appreciated.

Best regards

Ashley Wood
Title: Standby Power generators in basement carparks
Post by: Ark Angel on November 27, 2006, 08:37:52 AM: Hi Ashley,

I have dealt with jobs in the past that have a similar set up to the one you describe. All the jobs I have dealt with have had a fuel cut off and generator shut down which trigger on a fire activation in the generator room/fuel store or a manual shutdown from an emergency cut off located in the generator room or fuel store.

The projects I've dealth with though are all in London so not sure what the Manchester act says.

Hope this helps.
Title: Standby Power generators in basement carparks
Post by: Martin Burford on November 27, 2006, 11:46:14 AM: Ashley

what's the stand-by genny used for ?
Conqueror
Title: Standby Power generators in basement carparks
Post by: Ashley Wood on November 27, 2006, 04:18:42 PM: To run an IT centre.
Title: Standby Power generators in basement carparks
Post by: kurnal on November 27, 2006, 06:57:06 PM: Personally I would take a view on whether the generator represents a similar or much greater risk than the rest of the compartment in which it sits, and also any building design weaknesses such as cable ducts running to the heart of the building.
My gut feeling is that the generator should not pose any greater threat than a car in the car park so I would not see any need for a fixed installation (unless the car park already has sprinklers)
I would provide a fuel shut off operated by a local detector or fusible link in the generator room and a 1 hour door - most codes would say the generator room is a high risk but I would do it to protect my genny from your 10 year old punto parked next to it.

Dont forget to think about ventilation- exhaust and inlet air and where it is sourced.

I dont think theres anything in the manchester act on this but you had better check- it is available for download- I found it once on google
Title: Standby Power generators in basement carparks
Post by: Ashley Wood on November 27, 2006, 07:53:01 PM: Thanks Kurnal for your input, most helpfull.

Best regards

Ashley
Title: Standby Power generators in basement carparks
Post by: Martin Burford on November 27, 2006, 10:21:23 PM: Ashley

Can't add a great deal more than kurnel...however I would prefer a fusible link protection than a detector that may be subject to FA's.......bearing in mind the genny room will undoubtidly need ventilation.....and fA's are not ideal where potential failures in IT are concerned.
Conqueror
Title: Standby Power generators in basement carparks
Post by: Thebeardedyorkshireman on November 28, 2006, 11:47:25 AM: Ashley
I agree with Kurnal & conqueror but would add the following:
Watch for the diesel storage method. I came accross a fleet of these with twin tanks, one main and one day tank. The day tank often sits next to the engine and is directly piped into the diesel injector pump. The fuse link valve was between the main tank and the day tank. Thus a fractured fuel pipe could continue to spray onto a hot engine even when the link had fused. Also the IT boys wanted the thing to keep running whilst an incident was investigted, despite our howls of protest.Ended up with infra red flame detection and water mist on a very long extended discarge period.
Can't use gas because it stops the engine!!! and we had no containment due to vents.

Missed out most of the detail for brevity.

Dave

Missed out most of the detail for brevity
Title: Standby Power generators in basement carparks
Post by: Ashley Wood on November 28, 2006, 03:00:50 PM: Thanks Guys,

All useful stuff, keep it coming.

Ashley
Title: Standby Power generators in basement carparks
Post by: Peter Wilkinson on January 05, 2007, 09:16:19 AM: Remember that the Greater Manchester Act 1981 was amended as part of the Fire Safety Order. Does that change the requirements?