The new system will include fire control panels, like the one pictured here

Chubb Fire and Security is to design and install a new fire alarm system for Little Barford power station in Cambridgeshire, which supplies over half a million people with electricity.

The site, operated by RWE npower, have been experiencing a lack of parts for their current system, and settled on Chubb as the company best suited to the needs of such a hazardous environment.

The power station is a combined cycle gas turbine plant, and required open protocol, non-proprietary equipment to protect both the sites’ machinery and various stores of highly flammable chemicals stored on site.

Chubb have specified a network of fire control planels, and multi-spectrum detectors. The detectors, which replace the existing infrared flame sensors, use advanced signal processing algorithms and have the highest level of false alarm immunity, according to the manufacturers.

Matt Tuck, assistant control and instrumentation engineer, said, “Power stations are unique environments with stringent fire safety requirements, and that means working with a supplier that we can trust.”

“Chubb agreed to install new technology whilst retaining the existing wiring of the previous system to help minimise the cost and disruption of installation. We now look forward to having a modern fire detection and alarm system that can be supported throughout the extended life of the station to 2025.”