| U.K.A.E.A. Harwell – Site Emergency System
This was the first radio based siren warning system supplied to a high integrity Nuclear Licensed site. The project went ahead in 1997, when PACS was engaged by Southern Electric Contracting to replace an existing DC cable based Klaxon system.
As Southern Electric had used PACS 3500 previously for monitoring Oil Filled cables they were keen to use the technology to achieve a reasonable installation cost for a 2Km wide site.
The approach was to use 12 clusters of Klaxon sirens all capable of being activated simultaneously from one of three locations. The PACSNET system carried out several functions:
1) Sending a broadcast signal to switch on the siren clusters at the same instant
2) Using timer functions to control the siren pattern
3) Provide on going diagnostics of Siren Current levels, radio and battery status
Another major benefit on this type of site was the ease of modification when buildings were demolished or new ones built.
The Harwell Model was replicated 2 years later at Winfrith and Dounreay is in the planning stage of a similar system.
This project also saw the beginning of a fruitful working partnership with Klaxon Signals www.klaxonsignals.com with many smaller requirements for additional warning siren coverage to meet COMAH commitments. |
