SPP protects Europe’s tallest building

Phil Black - PII Editor 01/02/2014

170 3 minutes read

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SPP Pumps, leading manufacturer of centrifugal pumps and systems, knows more than most about the importance of considering fire safety and protection in large construction projects. With more than 130 years’ experience in providing critical performance pump solutions into demanding environments, SPP is an expert in overcoming the challenges faced by its customers.

Alex Playfair, Business Unit Manager, Fire and Safety Divisions at SPP explains how the company went about providing fire protection solutions for Europe’s tallest building, The Shard, which recently opened its doors to the public.

“There is no doubt about the fact The Shard is one of the most spectacular skyscrapers in the world. Standing at 309.6 metres tall on London Bridge’s skyline it is quite possibly the most recognised building in Europe” said Alex. “The Shard was conceived by Sellar Property to focus the attention of the world on London Bridge Quarter – and there is no doubt it has achieved that vision. A multi-use building combining high quality offices, world class restaurants, a five star hotel and residential apartments, the building most certainly stands out.”

As well as being a feat of modern architecture however, The Shard has a huge responsibility to play in keeping its inhabitants safe. And that is where SPP Pumps comes in to the picture.

Alex continues: “This was a prestigious project win for SPP. The unusual design of the building demanded the highest performing fire safety pump sets as well as the most efficient water supplied for the whole building, and this provided a unique challenge.”

While many pump manufacturers can offer equipment designed to the various locally applicable fire rules and registrations, SPP is one of the select few who have had its sprinkler and wet rise pumps subjected to the stringent performance and reliability tests of specialist fire approved laboratories worldwide.

Alex goes on: “We were aware that European Sprinkler regulations don’t allow the use of pressure reducing valves due to their unreliability, so zones had to be created to limit pressure on the sprinkler heads in lieu of the valves.

“This concept had never been applied to a building over 300m before, and so we had to work with Arup (the consultant) to create a solution that produced a quality, reliable water source, at the same as satisfying the strict regulations.”

For the sprinkler pumps, SPP supplied two off CD12K 10 stage pumps with seven take off outlets to supply seven sprinkler zones in the building. The pumps were driven by 200 KW motors, and each zone has its own jockey pump to maintain pressure.

Pumps for the hydrants then provided a totally different challenge. Three pump stations were installed at various levels in the building. At base level SPP supplied 2 BU06 split case pumps with 315kW motors to produce 4500 L/M at 24 Bar. The mid and high level pump houses were equipped with CD10K 4 stage pumps with 132kW motors producing 3000 L/M at 24bar.

The Shard was designed by Renzo Piano, the Italian Pritzker Prize-winning architect who was best known previously for his collaboration on the design of the Pompidou Centre in Paris.

Alex said; “I’m a great admirer of Renzo Piano. To design an irregular shaped pyramidal building clad entirely in glass is no mean feat. To then manage to house 72 floors of office space, a 200 bed hotel, three floors of restaurants, ten luxury apartments and a viewing gallery at 245 meters – that is just something else.”

Construction of The Shard demanded nothing less than perfection at all stages – beginning on 16 March 2009, the first steel work went into The Shard’s piles on 27 April that year. An impressive total of five cranes were used during build, four of them ‘jumping’ upwards with the tower as it rose. The building was inaugurated on 5th July 1012, and opened its doors earlier this year.

Alex concludes: “this addition to the London skyline is an endorsement of the skills and expertise embedded in to UK engineering who, as a team, breathed life in to the architects vision and made the construction possible.

“At SPP, we are committed to providing the best pumping solutions to our customers, where and when it really matters. When lives are at stake you can’t take any chances. I believe The Shard is testament to this ethos in action. “
As the first company to achieve fire pump approval and listing by the internationally recognised Loss Prevention Certification Board, SPP has more pumps approved by the LPCB than any other manufacturer. Manufactured in the UK, SPP’s Pumps meet the requirements of all major international standards, particularly NFPA 20. Approved for use in many markets, including Europe, the Middle East and Africa, SPP provides world class protection technology.

For more information on SPP go to www.spppumps.com