FP McCann Prestressed Vertical Cantilever Walls Form Fire Protection Barrier at Kings Lynn Substation

Project: Fire Protection Wall, Kings Lynn B Substation

Client: Morrison Energy Services (On Behalf of National Grid)

Civil Engineering Contractor: Mezini Brothers Ltd

Products Supplied: FP McCann 4-hour rating Prestresses Precast Concrete Vertical Cantilever Panels

FP McCann has supplied two 4-hour rated precast vertical panel firewalls to provide a fire protection barrier to an electricity transformer at the National Grid Kings Lynn B substation. Working on behalf of Morrison Energy Services, the prestressed cantilever walls have been installed by Milton Keynes based civil engineer Mezini Brothers Ltd.

Morrison Energy Services work with national energy networks and publicly owned organisations to repair, renew, refurbish and maintain the country’s gas, electricity and green energy infrastructure.

To protect the high voltage transformer, Mezini Brothers has installed the vertical cantilever walls providing effective firewall heights of 6.275 metres and 3.80 metres. The overall height of each of the larger panels supplied is 7.325 metres with a foundation embedment depth of 1.05 metres and 4.50 metres for the smaller wall with an embedment depth of 0.70 metres. The foundation base for the walls has been pre-formed on site. Each individual tongue and groove prestressed precast concrete panel is 240mm thick to provide the specified 4-hour fire rating.

FP McCann’s prestressed vertical cantilever panel system provides the user with a more cost-effective and time efficient walling solution when compared to a traditional in-situ wet-cast build. The prestressed high tensile steel wire tendons within the precast concrete unit allows for greater strength in a longer and more slender panel, with prestressing significantly reducing the incidence of tensile cracking in the panels. Foundations for each wall can be individually designed to suit the site’s loading or fire protection requirements.

Commenting on the installation of the vertical cantilever fire protection walls, Andy Taplin of Mezini Brothers says, “Installation of the precast vertical walls was a quick and simple process. It is a tried and tested design, giving the client the confidence that their asset has long-term protection with this robust and durable fire protection system in place.”

FP McCann prestressed precast concrete vertical cantilever firewalls are designed to contain fire from 30 minutes up to 4 hours, depending on the thickness of the panels specified. Rapid installation is possible due to the tongue and groove joints. Fire protection walls can be manufactured to the client’s own design or to FP McCann’s design specification.