Case Studies

Thermals at waste recycling site

by Mark Rowe

Thermometric, temperature-measuring thermal bullet cameras are in use for fire safety purposes at Recycling Lives, a scrap metal and waste recycling company, as installed by ADJ Fire and Security.

Recycling Lives’ recycling and waste management commercial operation supports charity programmes for offender rehabilitation, residential support and food redistribution. It’s earned four Queens Awards. ADJ provide technology-based solutions to minimise risk at Recycling Lives’ sites.

Andy Moore, managing director of Chorley-based ADJ, says: “The whole company’s called Recycling Lives, because that’s what it does. It gives people a second chance, people who have come out of prison or who are homeless, and they help them back into society. It’s providing help to people who really need it, by giving them jobs and if necessary re-homing them if they need somewhere to stay until they get their own place. They’re a special company, definitely. ADJ is extremely proud to be associated with a company like Recycling Lives.”

Recycling Lives has sites across the UK was founded, and is run, by second generation recyclers. Their charity and social enterprise teams provide residential accommodation for the homeless, help to reduce reoffending and redistribute food, directly supported by recycling, recruitment, compliance and waste management businesses. At the Recycling Lives site in Preston, on Longridge Road, ADJ was asked to help devise a solution for staff to detect fires on-site during and out of office hours. Moore says: “These fires can happen within waste piles on site, and can end up burning inside without any notification. They can seriously flare up when the pile is disturbed. There are batteries stored on site from depolluted cars and these can also be a serious fire hazard if ignited.”

ADJ is a Gold VASP partner, with the manufacturer Hikvision. ADJ recommended the use of Hikvision’s Thermometric thermal bullet cameras, specifically the DS-2TD2136T-15 model. These specialist cameras are designed to detect even minor changes in temperature using thermal imaging. The camera’s image processing includes Adaptive Automatic Gain Control, Digital Detail Enhancement, 3D Dynamic Noise Reduction, and a Noise Equivalent Temperature Difference of less than 40mk. Its behaviour analysis algorithm enables automatic smart detection including Line Crossing, Intrusion, and Region Entrance and Exit, and it also provides a temperature exception alarm function and fire detection algorithm. Temperature measurement range is minus 20 degrees C to 550 degrees C, with accuracy of plus or minus 2 degrees C.

The thermal imaging module provides 384 x 288 resolution, a high sensitivity sensor, and supports contrast adjustment and shutter adjustment in various modes. There are 15 palettes of adjustable colour available, and because this is a thermal imaging camera rather than a conventional CCTV device, there’s no need for further lighting. Some 19 thermometric cameras were installed initially at the Preston site, and more set to be added.

Moore says: “Cameras are located in the high-risk areas where fires could break out such as the plant rooms and stockpiles, shredder, and de-pollution areas. When the cameras detect an increase in temperature that signifies a potential fire risk, they automatically raise an alarm and alert the client to the issue. That allows them to take action much more quickly than relying on traditional video or other forms of fire detection – they can react immediately even to the risk of fire breaking out.”

Recycling Lives compliance manager Dave Gallagher says: “The prevention of fire, and early detection of any fire that may break out, is of critical importance to protecting our people, infrastructure and the local environment. Whilst our risk controls have proved effective year after year, the opportunity to invest in new technology that enhances our ability to react fast in the event of an emerging fire hazard was one that was not to be missed.”

Results have been tangible, Moore adds. “Recycling Lives recently had a visit from the Environmental Agency as part of a routine inspection,” he says. “The EA were impressed with the standard of risk management and controls on the site, including the recent investment in fire detection technology. As a result, the EA Director of Regulated Industry was invited to site to view the systems in place.”

Recycling Lives has engaged ADJ to fit similar systems, over time, at all their other UK sites. Dave Gallagher says: “We’ve been impressed with how ADJ Fire & Security Ltd and Hikvision have worked collaboratively with us to identify how the technology can best be employed to reduce risk and look forward to the enhanced protection the system provides. ADJ Fire and Security Ltd are adaptable, commercially aware and completely comprehend the commercial realities of the scrap metal industry. They are reputable, reliable and respected by local authorities and institutions and moreover, they are a pleasure to work with.”

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