Our client had a fire as a result of vandalism at their premises in Birmingham. The site separates waste oil for reuse by industry. Polluted fire water runoff from the site entered the surface water drainage during the fire fighting process and was reported by the environment agency as a pollution event.
The immediate impact after the fire showed no significant impact to the site oil storage or containment. However the subsequent investigation made by the Environment Agency, HSE and sites own insurance company highlighted inadequate controls in place to prevent a future pollution event. The regulator requested that the company take immediate action and upgrade the old secondary bunds. The site was quoted a cost of over £300,000 to replace the existing bunds which had not been a cause of the pollution event at the time.
Penstock Solutions were asked by the client to help deliver an affordable solution using our knowledge of best practice guidance CIRIA736. The first task was to understand the site Source-Pathway-Receptor risk and produce a spill model of a fire run off event to latest guidance. We looked at a worst case model, total loss of materials, bund collapse and a 1:10 years storm event over 24hrs (CIRIA 736 4.3.3). Once we understood the worst case scenario we found affordable solutions to control the total area of the site. The tertiary design included fitting one Toggleblok™ valve to the effluent drain to stop all drainage run off. The existing penstock valve was not suitable for pollution control as it leaked and had been fitted in the wrong position to control all runoff from escaping the site. We then raised the table tops and walls at the lowest points of the site to keep all flow contained. During the modelling one vehicle entry point was deemed beyond control and we simply closed off the entrance to deliver a full solution. Once a design scope is available we presented the animation and report to the parties involved, the total bill for control was less than forty thousand pounds.
The business could have kept to the more traditional response of working on the bunds however this would not have prevented a repeat of the original accident. Our team looked at the whole problem and solved containment with design of the tertiary model.
If spill containment and CIRIA736 compliance is currently a consideration for you please do not hesitate to call 01299 823158 or email us, we will be very happy to discuss our solutions with you.
Testimonials
"I was introduced to Sandfield about six years ago when the company I worked for asked me to look at the installation of some new penstock valves and servicing of our pollution control valves across the group sites. After talking to Sandfield and meeting their engineers we gave Sandfield our UK service contract.
We then went on to install Toggleblok valves as we were impressed by how it all worked with a minimum amount of civil work required in most instances.
I have recommended Sandfield Penstock Solutions' Toggleblok to many companies over the last few years. They have a very professional and effective approach to water and waste control systems."
"County Drains have been working with Sandfield for many years.
We have found their knowledge of the Environmental Regulations a benefit to our customers and the products to prevent pollution are second to none."
"Sandfield supply our Company with superior quality equipment and their engineering knowledge has been invaluable during the development of our products. More importantly Sandfield support us by adapting to the many challenging requests we give them and the tight delivery schedules we ask of them."
"Working with Sandfield allowed us to use existing site topography and drainage systems to maximise emergency containment on site, creating meaningful quick response scenario’s which are easily communicated to, and understood by regulatory bodies, emergency services and on site staff. We now satisfy our legal duties set out in our operational permit and under COMAH regulations.
During site operation we have confidence that we are able to cope with emergency situations around the clock. Sandfield Penstock Solutions have installed systems, which are not overly complicated and allow for rapid troubleshooting when faults are found during routine testing and planning for alternative arrangements when issues occur."
"Great product, great installation, what more can I say?"
"We have used Sandfield for well over 30 years. We supply food and pharmaceutical process equipment and as such we must adhere to strict standards for our machinery components.
Sandfield can always be relied upon for a fast, courteous and professional service, the quality of the finished goods are generally very high.
We would have no hesitation in recommending anyone to use Sandfield Engineering."
"Sandfield also have a design facility to cover all aspects of standard and non standard clamping arrangements.
I have always found Sandfield clamps to be robust and cost effective.
Their delivery and technical support is excellent and I have no reservations in recommending them to any manufacturer."
"I was introduced to Sandfield about six years ago when the company I worked for asked me to look at the installation of some new penstock valves and servicing of our pollution control valves across the group sites. After talking to Sandfield and meeting their engineers we gave Sandfield our UK service contract.
We then went on to install Toggleblok valves as we were impressed by how it all worked with a minimum amount of civil work required in most instances.
I have recommended Sandfield Penstock Solutions' Toggleblok to many companies over the last few years. They have a very professional and effective approach to water and waste control systems."
"County Drains have been working with Sandfield for many years.
We have found their knowledge of the Environmental Regulations a benefit to our customers and the products to prevent pollution are second to none."
"Sandfield supply our Company with superior quality equipment and their engineering knowledge has been invaluable during the development of our products. More importantly Sandfield support us by adapting to the many challenging requests we give them and the tight delivery schedules we ask of them."
"Working with Sandfield allowed us to use existing site topography and drainage systems to maximise emergency containment on site, creating meaningful quick response scenario’s which are easily communicated to, and understood by regulatory bodies, emergency services and on site staff. We now satisfy our legal duties set out in our operational permit and under COMAH regulations.
During site operation we have confidence that we are able to cope with emergency situations around the clock. Sandfield Penstock Solutions have installed systems, which are not overly complicated and allow for rapid troubleshooting when faults are found during routine testing and planning for alternative arrangements when issues occur."
"Great product, great installation, what more can I say?"
"We have used Sandfield for well over 30 years. We supply food and pharmaceutical process equipment and as such we must adhere to strict standards for our machinery components.
Sandfield can always be relied upon for a fast, courteous and professional service, the quality of the finished goods are generally very high.
We would have no hesitation in recommending anyone to use Sandfield Engineering."
"Sandfield also have a design facility to cover all aspects of standard and non standard clamping arrangements.
I have always found Sandfield clamps to be robust and cost effective.
Their delivery and technical support is excellent and I have no reservations in recommending them to any manufacturer."
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