ADJ Fire and Security Ltd - a case study
At the Recycling Lives site in Preston, on Longridge Road, ADJ Fire & Security Ltd was asked to help devise a solution for staff to detect fires on-site during and out of office hours. Andy Moore, managing director of security and fire experts ADJ 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-2TD2637T-10/P 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 25 thermometric cameras were installed at the Preston site, and they have now also added the new Thermal Temperature Measuring PTZ Camera designed by Hikvision to this site too more recently.
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 and out of hours, the alerts go through to a CCTV Monitoring Station, who are NSI Gold Approved. 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 Facilities Manager Molly Waring 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 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, back in 2020, 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 some of their other UK sites. Molly Waring 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.”
ADJ have installed the same technology cameras at other companies across the country and include Sackers Scrap Metal & Waste Recycling, who had been asked to have a Thermal CCTV System installed by the EA due to the site having a fire. ADJ attended site to carry out a full survey of the high risk areas, designed the system, and then put this forward to Sackers, who then had this approved by the EA and their insurance company, which then followed up with the installation of the approved system.
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.