Colt Smoke Control - Pressurisation System to protect Power Station emergency stairway
Turlough Hill Power Station
Project Brief: To design and supply a pressurisation system for the escape stairway at the Electricity Supply Board station located in the remote countryside of County Wicklow
Colt Solution: Colt Mechanical pressurisation Shaft
Project Details:
Project Location:
Main Contractors:
Consulting Engineer:
Leaflet
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Used Colt Products:
Colt Pressurisation System
Turlough Hill is a pumped storage hydro electric station run by the ESB. Construction began in 1968 and ended six years later and involved the building of a huge cavern in the heart of the Wicklow Mountains, in which the generation plant and controls are housed.
A pumped storage system allows for the use of excess electricity capacity during non-peak hours to pump water from the lower to the upper lake at Turlough Hill and then to release water in the reverse direction to create electricity in times of maximum demand.
In 2009 the ESB carried out some modifications to extend the life span of the station. Colt worked with Powergen Safety Services to design a pressurisation system for the escape stairway at the station. The pressure differential system equipment consists of standby and operational fans, distribution ductwork, balancing dampers, a pressure relief ventilator and its associated control system. To ensure that the system operates in the event of an emergency an alternative power supply and standby equipment was also provided.
Colt Pressurisation System ducting
Turlough Hill Power Station Escape Stairs
A pressurisation system consists of three main components: Supply Air (where air is injected into the area that is to be protected), Pressure Relief (to avoid overpressure when doors are closed) and Air Release (air and smoke is released from the adjoining fire area). Combining these elements creates a positive pressure difference which prevents lobbies and staircases from filling up with smoke.
Pressurisation systems should meet the recommendations of Approved Document B and BS EN 12101-6 "Specification for Pressure Differential Systems" or BS 5588-4 - "Code of practice for smoke control using pressure differentials".
In commercial buildings pressurisation is normally carried through up to the final door to the accommodation, with air release provided from the accommodation. In apartment buildings it is usually impractical to carry pressurisation up to each apartment door due to the difficulty of providing air release from each apartment. Therefore stairs and lobbies are usually pressurised with air release from the corridor.
