PROJECT
TITANIC DISTILLERS, BELFAST
FIRE ENGINEERING SERVICES
B B7 provided fire engineering services for the Thompson Dry Dock renovation from the project from its inception through to its completion. They were responsible for producing a fire strategy which not only demonstrated compliance with the NI building regulations but which was also aligned with the client’s aspirations for the building. Several aspects of the design required the adoption of performance-based techniques, due to it varying from the prescriptive recommendations provided in the guidance. These variations were essential to enable the distillery to operate as intended, and BB7 presented several robust fire-engineered solutions to Building Control and the local Fire Authority which were successfully agreed upon. Given the building’s listed nature and the incorporation of distillery equipment, the project presented several challenges. The
most notable was developing a strategy whereby members of the public are afforded a robust standard of fire safety when moving through the distillery compartment; this required careful
consideration of suitable means of
escape and passive fire protection provisions.
explore bespoke solutions to complex problems. “It will be a mainstay in the BB7 portfolio, and I am sure it will be an extremely popular tourist attraction for years to come,” he concluded.
“There were also restrictions concerning changes to the building’s fabric which meant that new openings for exits could not be created,” explained Senior Fire Engineer Kyle Adams. “We worked closely with the project’s architect to develop internal layouts which limit travel distances and enable exits to be readily available in a fire event.” Kyle commented that the project required the team to think outside the box and
T: +44 (0)28 9454 8940 E: info@bbseven.com www.bbseven.com
FLOOD RISK ASSESSMENT AND DRAINAGE DESIGN
K evin McShane Ltd. was
According to the assessment, the lower pump chamber could flood under extreme circumstances, so the team at Kevin McShane proposed flood resilience measures, emergency evacuation plans, raising electrical equipment and control switchboards and implementing a robust Operations, Maintenance and Access plan. They also supplied Flood Warning and Safe Means of Evacuation planning. “We even had to assess the potential flood risk associated with the possible Flood Risk Displacement of HMS Caroline, the ship docked next to the distillery,” Brian added. Even with all these issues to factor in, the Chartered Engineer said it is fantastic to be associated with such a fantastic project as Titanic Distillers, “We thoroughly enjoyed providing the technical civil engineering input to see the project through the concept, detailed design, planning and construction stages.”
commissioned to undertake a drainage and flood risk assessment
for the Thompson Pump House. The drainage assessment provided an account of the site’s existing and proposed surface water run-offs and drainage connections for the development. The risk of flooding from existing infrastructure or groundwater was also investigated. “The assessment was a real challenge given that the whole distillery site is within a coastal floodplain and includes the historic 8.5m-deep pumping chamber,” commented Brian Pope, Chartered Engineer at Kevin McShane. “We had to obtain consent from DFI Rivers, DFI Roads, NI Water, BCC Planning and Building Control, and were delighted that DFI Rivers Agency accepted all our arguments and mitigations in addressing the issues of flood risk at the site.”
Chartered Engineer Brian Pope.
T: +44 (0)28 9560 9798 E: info@kevinmcshane.co.uk www.kevinmcshane.co.uk
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