The Roundhill tunnels were opened in 1993, they link Roundhill and Palmer’s Hill in Kent on the A20. The tunnels took three years to build, they are 380 metres long and were bored into a chalk hill.
After several years of completing routine inspections on the installed fans, it was time to upgrade the fans that are in the tunnels. This replacement was to increase the fire resilience of the life safety system.
The purpose of the fans is to move smoke in the event of a fire. So, in the rare occurrence of smoke in the tunnel people can exit safely. These fans are lifesaving and an important aspect of the tunnel’s safety features.
Gibbons was awarded the replacement contract to supply and design a lifting system to remove and replace the existing fans with new ones, along with our site engineering teams to complete the work.
We created a bespoke removal system for the project, which needed a way to safely replace each of the fans in the two tunnels. It was also vital the job could be completed during tight downtime windows to minimise the tunnel being shut for an extended time period.
Our customer benefited by Gibbons ability to manufacture soft start ABB panels, which we built in our Essex workshop. We fitted every fan with a quick electrical connection, so there was no need to wire each individual fan. The new system works using a plug and socket assembly which allows individual fans to be isolated and disconnected quickly for maintenance and service.
The project was carried out over two weekends, on 24-hour rolling shifts. We worked in partnership with our client who provided the fixing points for the fans, this sort of working relationship is advantageous to any major project.
Gibbons is an engineering company that offers a full turn-key package of site works under a whole range of accreditations, including being an ABB value provider. Benefiting our customers with over 50 years’ experience. For more information on our bespoke turn-key projects, contact Andrew Knight on 01621 868 138 or email info@gibbonsgroup.co.uk.
