The F6100 Safe Air Monitor is the ideal instrument for those requiring continuous monitoring of their breathing-air supply. As the F6000, the F6100 incorporates electronic cells for measuring carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and oxygen. Moisture levels within the breathing air are measured by a dewpoint sensor. It also includes digital airline pressure and ambient temperature readings. 

 

Oil measurements are completed using the Draeger Impactor, which is inserted into a test port on the instrument. The F6100 provides a prompt to the user whenever an oil Impactor test is required and the interval between tests can again be defined by the user. Each test, is stored within the F6100’s memory and can be retrieved on screen and transferred via a removable SD card. Each instrument is provided with PC compatible software which provides an easy way to retain and print test results.  

 

The F6100 also includes volt free contacts which can be connected to a BMS system or a remote alarm to alert users when air quality fails to meet the required standard. The unit is designed to monitor low-pressure airline breathing systems but can be used with the F3002 high-pressure regulator assembly to monitor HP systems. this text to edit it. 

At the rear of the unit there are 2 CEJN breathing-air outlet couplings, the pressure being delivered to the user from these outlets can be adjusted via the regulator inside the unit. 

 

Operation 

 

The compressed-air supply is connected to the input connection on the side of the Safe-Air Trolley, air is then passed through a 1 micron pre-filter (SAT450HD only) and a 0.01 micron combined oil mist coalescing and carbon filter further reducing oil carryover to less than 0.003ppm. The air is then delivered to a pneumatically controlled pressure swing dryer incorporating a desiccant media capable of both drying the air to a pressure dewpoint of -40°C and significantly reducing the levels of carbon dioxide. Purge air from this system is exhausted from the cabinet via silencers at the rear of the unit. The dried air is now passed through a hopcalite catalyst filter which oxidises excess levels of carbon monoxide back to safe levels of carbon dioxide. 

 

The system provides a safe reliable source of breathing quality air in excess of all international breathing standards with the additional confidence of protection against surplus levels of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. 

With 4 additional ventilation shafts at the Totley end of the tunnel Factair’s engineers soon realised this was going to be a challenging project to ensure the entire work site was adequately ventilated. Factair’s engineers calculated that at any one time there was up to 12 Megawatts of diesel engines powering the equipment operating within the tunnel. When you consider the dust and fumes being generated from the work undertaken, not to mention the frequently moving plant equipment within a confined space, you can appreciate these are places where you certainly need to keep your wits about you. 

 

Unusually prevailing conditions in the area meant air tended to be drawn in from both ends of the tunnel and ventilated out through “The Cathedral” ventilation shaft. As the length of the renewal work on one of the roads extended beyond “The Cathedral” Factair had to ensure air did not become stalled within the tunnel when its forced ventilation counterbalanced the incoming natural ventilation. 

 

Normally Factair would temporarily install ventilation systems adjacent to the portal which would blow from one end of the tunnel all the way through to the other. The system would have sufficient power to keep the whole column of air within the tunnel moving at a minimum of 80 metres per minute, thereby ensuring the air within the tunnel was continually being replaced and limiting the build up of dust and fumes. This arrangement has a number of advantages over fans deployed locally within a tunnel. Firstly it avoids the possibility of the fumes and dust only being shifted along the tunnel but not out of it. Secondly it ensures there are no additional obstructions within the tunnel, keeping the workspace clear for the movement of plant and personnel. 

 

For Totley Tunnel Factair had to provide a system which could be varied to suit the changing natural conditions, this resulted in 18 of its 1.2 metre diameter electric fans being installed in the Cess adjacent to the Grindleford portal, delivering a maximum total airflow of 1.5 million cubic metres per hour! In addition a self contained 1.8 metre diameter engine driven fan was located in “The Cathedral” which produced an additional 180,000 cubic metres per hour. During the blockade the electric driven fans were run in varying numbers, to maintain a safe working environment, whilst also ensuring air speeds did not become too high and cause a significant wind chill in the cold winter conditions. The diesel driven fan was used to assist the induction of air into “The Cathedral” past the 4 previous ventilation shafts. As the work progressed through the tunnel and beyond “The Cathedral” the airflow was managed to ensure that the natural airflow from the Totley end continued to ventilate those working in this area. 

 

During the blockade Factair’s engineers remained on site to ensure the equipment operated continuously and to regularly test air quality, wherever there was a worksite within the tunnel. The pollutants tested included carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, airborne dust particles, volatile organic compounds, acetylene, hydrogen sulphide as well as the oxygen level; also the key members of staff such as machine operators, machine controllers and COSSs were individually issued gas detectors which monitored the main pollutants. This element of the service is vital and is designed so that at no point do those within the tunnel ever have to leave the worksite unnecessarily unless pollution levels have risen above those stipulated in EH40. The readings during the blockade are then compiled into a formal report which provides a useful health and safety record. 

 

For the dustiest applications such as controlling auto-ballasters or for staff with existing respiratory problems such as asthma, Factair also provided battery powered air fed helmets. These self contained units deliver filtered breathing-air to the face of the user and feature an integral hard hat, hearing protection and eye protection to EN397. 

 

With this comprehensive ventilation system Factair was able to ensured ameyCOLAS was able to complete the renewal work within the tunnel without any disruption due to problems with the atmospheric conditions. Should you have a tunnel renewal project, where you suspect fumes and pollution could be a problem, then Factair is on hand to recommend a solution and provide a no obligation site survey and quotation. To contact the company call 01473 746400. 

The renewal project was planned as a 5-day (120-hour) blockade during which Factair deployed 12 of its modular fans as a system delivering a total airflow of 324 m3/s. The immense power of these fans meant they could be deployed adjacent to the portal, at one end of the tunnel, leaving both roads free for traffic with no additional equipment being required in the already busy tunnel. This was no mean feat considering Factair kept the entire column of air, which has a volume of 120,000m3 and weighs almost 143 tonnes, moving between 1.5 and 3.5 metres per second for the entire blockade! 

 

The ventilation system was supported by Factair’s engineers who performed regular atmospheric monitoring within the tunnel to check levels were within the workplace exposure limits stipulated by EH40. 

 

For those working in particularly dusty situations, such as controlling whacker plates or auto ballasters, Factair supplied battery powered air fed respirators, which provided the users with head, ear, eye and breathing protection in one integral unit. Datalogging personal gas detectors were also supplied to key workers such as COSSs and machine drivers. 

 

These measures helped ensure that First Engineering was able to proceed with the renewal work in a safe atmospheric environment, free from obstructions or interruptions. 

 

At the end of the blockade Factair presented Ian Kilpatrick from First Engineering with a detailed report on the atmospheric conditions within the tunnel. This provided a useful record confirming the effective strategy and supporting the duty of care that has been delivered by First Engineering to both its employees and subcontractors during a successful renewal project! Case Study PDF 

To help in managing this problem Factair has developed the most extensive range of temporary ventilation and monitoring equipment on the market. Factair has been supplying tunnel ventilation and air quality monitoring services to the rail industry for over 13 years. In that time it has developed a comprehensive fleet of ventilation fans, which can be deployed in a variety of configurations, this is supported by a sophisticated range of instruments to monitor the air quality in the tunnel and respiratory protective equipment for individuals working in the dustiest applications. 

 

Factair works closely with its clients, beginning with a site survey, progressing through to developing a risk assessment and method statement. Factair utilises sophisticated flow management software to establish the required airflow within the tunnel, allowing for obstructions such as locomotives and the air loss from ventilation shafts. This ensures that the ventilation scheme will be able to cater for the work being undertaken within the tunnel and the pollution from the vehicles operating within it. This is a vital part of the service and is designed so that at no point do those within the tunnel have to leave the worksite because pollution levels have risen above those stipulated in EH40. 

 

Factair recently ventilated and monitored the atmospheric conditions within Abottscliffe and Shakespeare tunnels for Balfour Beatty Rail Infrastructure Services Ltd. Balfour had a contract to renew the ballast stone and track within both tunnels. The tunnels were ventilated using the modular fan system which ensured there was no equipment on track to obstruct the movement of plant, locomotives or personnel. This was especially useful for the Shakespeare Tunnel project where each road has an individual tunnel portal but there are large cross-passages situated inside joining each tunnel. As a result access for plant equipment was at a premium and Factair designed a stacked system of fans which moves air high in the tunnel as well as at ground level successfully ventilated the tunnels whilst allowing for the airflow losses through the cross-passages. 

 

When it comes to ventilating a railway tunnel there still is no substitute for horsepower and Factair has the most powerful temporary ventilation fans on the market. Factair’s latest modular series fans each produce over 97,000 cubic metres an hour with a typical contract being supplied with in excess of half a million cubic metres an hour of air! 

 

Wherever possible Factair deploys its fans adjacent to the tunnel portal in a number and formation sufficient to keep the whole column of air within the tunnel moving at a minimum of 80 metres per minute. This arrangement has a number of advantages over fans deployed locally within a tunnel. Firstly it avoids the possibility of the fumes and dust only being shifted along the tunnel but not out of it. Secondly it ensures there are no additional obstructions within the tunnel, keeping the workspace clear for the movement of plant and personnel. 

 

During the possession Factair’s engineers remain on site to ensure the equipment is operating continuously and regularly test air quality wherever there is a worksite within the tunnel. The pollutants tested as standard are carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, airborne dust particles, volatile organic compounds, acetylene, hydrogen sulphide as well as the oxygen level. 

 

During the site survey the best location for deployment of the fans is identified and wherever possible this will be in accordance with the prevailing wind conditions. Factair’s fans, however, can be reversed in air flow direction without any re-deployment, should prevailing wind conditions change, which is always a possibility in the British Isles! 

 

Also during the possession key members of staff such as Machine Operators, Machine Controllers and COSSs are individually issued gas detectors which monitor the main pollutants and also continuously datalog the readings. These results are compiled together with readings taken by Factair’s engineers and supplied to the client as an environmental report at the end of the contact. This provides a useful health and safety record for the client. 

 

For the dustiest applications such as controlling auto-ballasters or for staff with existing respiratory problems such as asthma, Factair also provides battery powered air fed hoods. These self contained units deliver filtered breathing-air to the face of the user and feature an integral hard hat, hearing protection and eye protection. 

 

Should you have a tunnel renewal project, where you suspect fumes and pollution could be a problem, then Factair is on hand to recommend a solution and provide a no obligation site survey and quotation. To contact them call 01473 746400. Case Study PDF 

The detection parameters of the convention are met or exceeded during the test by using Draeger detector tubes. These establish levels of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, water vapour, oil, nitrous fumes, sulphur dioxide and hydrogen sulphide, present in the sample. An in-built electronic sensor with digital read out measures oxygen content together with digitally displayed system pressures and temperatures. 

 

The instrument is completely portable, operating from standard AA batteries, which provide a prolonged operating life. The unit is supplied with a ‘laptop’ style carrying case which protects the unit during transport and has individual pockets for storing chemical reagent tubes, inlet adaptors, tube tip cutter and documentation. 

 

The F3004 will test systems between 1.5 bar and 10 bar and can be provided with an optional regulator and connecting hose to accept pressures up to 20 bar. Case Study PDF 

Factair worked with them and developed a containerised breathing-air system that could supply up to 8 people simultaneously. To meet this requirement the container incorporates 2 rotary screw compressors in a duty/standby arrangement. The air supply from the compressors is passed through a filtration and drying system, which purifies the air to breathing standards. The air is then supplied via a pipework system to each aircraft hanger. 

 

As the container is essentially a piece of life support equipment it was critical to incorporate a back-up system that, in the event of a power failure or machinery breakdown, continued to provide breathing-air to those working inside the fuel tanks. The unit contains a reserve of breathing-air stored in cylinders at high pressure. A separate compressor ensures that the reserve air supply is maintained and alarms in the container and hangers detect any faults and warn users to leave the hazardous area. It was also vital that the compressor air intakes are protected against possible contaminants such as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and LELs. A gas detection system is fitted in the intake, which is interlinked with the high-pressure reserve and alarm systems. 

 

RAF Kinloss is a remote site and it was therefore important that the status of the system could be monitored remotely either by BAe Systems or Factair. A link was installed which allows the control system within the container to be interrogated via a modem connection. This allows routine servicing to be better scheduled, diagnostics to be undertaken, therefore optimising service visits. 

 

Now the containerised system is installed BAe Systems have a state of the art unit that not only provides a highly reliable source of filtered breathing-air but also incorporates the latest in safety back-up and remote diagnostic features. Case Study PDF