Crowcon Detection Instruments Ltd - Experts & Thought Leaders

A mobile children’s heart hospital, built in El Salvador, was recently equipped with an Advanced wireless fire safety system, ensuring top protection for children undergoing heart surgery, their doctors, and staff. Run by Kinderherzen, the mission of the hospital is to ensure that children born with serious heart conditions receive the treatment they need to go on and enjoy healthy lives. Kinderherzen operates in Germany and mobilizes doctors to provide critical care for young patients in areas of the world with limited medical services. fire safety system Working alongside fellow Halma company - Crowcon, Advanced was approached to devise a reliable fire safety system that would be easy to install, uninstall, and reinstall as the mobile hospital moved between locations across Europe. For speed and ease of setup, Advanced’s innovative solution was to create a bespoke, wireless fire alarm system. At the center of the installation is an Axis EN single-loop panel paired with a translator and 19 devices including point detectors, sounder-beacon bases, and call points covering various rooms within the hospital. installation process The installation process was incredibly efficient due to the use of special mounting plates for the control panel The system was pre-programmed at Advanced’s headquarters in Newcastle upon Tyne (UK) and shipped to El Salvador, ready for immediate fitting to minimize on-site setup time. Despite logistical challenges, the installation process was incredibly efficient due to the use of special mounting plates for the control panel, translators, detectors, and sounders, which reduced setup time to less than half an hour. mobility, performance, and safety Speaking about the project, Paul Duffy, Technical Services Manager at Advanced, said, "We are extremely proud to support Kinderherzen in their mission to provide critical medical care to children in need." He adds, "Given the temporary nature of the hospital, the fire alarm system needed to be robust but highly versatile. The reliability and ease of use of Advanced equipment make it perfect for this unusual brief, ensuring the ideal combination of mobility, performance, and safety.” Axis EN wireless installation This Axis EN wireless installation ensures Kinderherzen staff can carry out their essential work with peace of mind that their team, facilities, and patients are protected by the highest standards of fire safety. Providing powerful networking capacity, the Axis EN system supports robust networks of up to 200 panels. Networks can also be combined to create very large fire systems making the Axis EN ideal for complex, large-scale installations. wired and wireless detector Axis EN is a complete fire system solution combining high-performance, addressable panels Whether networking high-risk sites with complicated cause and effect, remotely monitoring networked sites, or integrating with building management systems, intuitive software and panel navigation make setup straightforward. Axis EN is a complete fire system solution combining high-performance, addressable panels approved to EN54 Parts 2, 4, and 13 with a comprehensive wired and wireless detector range plus extensive peripheral options. Advanced portfolio As a pioneer in the development and manufacture of intelligent fire systems, Advanced products are specified in locations around the world, from single-panel installations to large, multi-site networks. The Advanced portfolio includes complete fire detection systems, multiprotocol fire panels, extinguishing control, false alarm management, and reduction systems as well as emergency lighting. Advanced is owned by FTSE 100 company Halma PLC – a global group of life-saving technology companies with a clear purpose to grow a safer, cleaner, healthier future for everyone, every day.

To support the oil and gas industry in the Middle East, Crowcon has developed a high-temperature hydrogen sulphide (H2S) sensor to work alongside its XgardIQ fixed point detector and transmitter. Ala Ayoub, Regional General Manager at Crowcon, explains, “The Middle East oil and gas industry contends with high levels of H2S in their gas production operation. More recently, oil production is experiencing increased risks from H2S gas, as they extract more, heavier oils. Employees working in these extreme conditions need reliable, effective equipment to help minimise risk.” Crowcon's sensor is capable of operating at 70°C, improving on electrochemical technology to produce a sensor to retain moisture levels Detection of H2S and protection of workers is a high-profile safety issue at well heads, and further down the pipeline (unless the gas or oil has been ‘sweetened’). Hydrogen sulphide is a highly toxic gas which is lethal at 1,000 parts per million (or 0.1%). Traditional H2S sensors do not survive well in the hot, dry environments, increasing the risk of an accident. Capable of operating at 70°C Crowcon has developed a sensor capable of operating at 70°C, improving on electrochemical technology to produce a sensor to retain moisture levels, so preventing evaporation of the electrolyte, even in the harsh Middle Eastern climate. Crowcon's new HT H2S sensor works with the XgardIQ. The optional remote sensor housing means the sensor can be installed for optimal leak detection, while the transmitter's display screen and push-button controls are located for easy and safe to access, up to 15m away. Reducing maintenance downtime Crowcon will be presenting its new H2S sensor and its other gas detection solutions at ADIPEC 2018 in Abu Dhabi The technology reduces expensive maintenance downtime. A combination of high-temperatures and low humidity can cause the electrolyte to dry out in the traditional sensor design, impairing performance so they must to be frequently replaced. This incurs excessive costs in replacement sensors and in the time and manpower. The new sensor avoids this occurrence. Crowcon will be presenting its new H2S sensor and its other gas detection solutions at ADIPEC 2018 in Abu Dhabi from 12th to 15th November. Crowcon will be on stand 8437 in the UK Pavilion. Conclusion: Crowcon provides a reliable H2S gas detection solution for operating temperatures up to 70°C. The sensors can help reduce valuable downtime as part of the XgardIQ fixed point detector and transmitter solution. This technology will appeal to health and safety professionals, instrumentation managers, engineers and support facilities managers operating within the oil and gas and petro-chemical industries.

Crowcon’s F-Gas detector provides an effective gas leak detection package Fluorinated (Freon) gases, which include hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), hydro-chlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) and sulphur hexafluoride (SF6), are a family of man-made chemicals containing fluorine. These ’F-gases’ are extremely powerful greenhouse gases that trap heat in the atmosphere, contributing to global warming – most are between 1,000 and 20,000 times more powerful than CO2 in terms of their impact on the atmosphere.   Not only are F-gases harmful to the environment, they are also extremely toxic and represent a significant health risk if inhaled. SF6 also poses an asphyxiation risk as, once inhaled, it may be too heavy to expel from the lungs.   In EU, the use and emission of F-gases comes under Regulation 842/2006, which mandates leakage control and regular checks. Leakage checks must be carried out by certified personnel for all plant with equipment containing 3kg or more of F-gases. Frequency of leak checks depends on the amount of refrigerant charged. In addition, detailed records must be kept in a log book – failure to comply may lead to severe penalties.   Common uses of F-gases include: Refrigeration and air conditioning systems Heat pumps Aerosols Fire-fighting equipment High voltage, gas-insulated switchgear   There are also many industrial applications including magnesium smelting, electronics manufacture and insulating foam manufacture.   Effective monitoring and detection of these gases is essential. Crowcon’s F-Gas infrared detector is a fixed-point detector specially calibrated to detect a wide range of F-gases. Rugged and easy to install, it can be connected to any control system which accepts analogue signals. Together with Crowcon’s Gasmaster control panel and Xgard toxic gas detector, the F-Gas detector provides an effective gas leak detection package.   In addition to protecting personnel from toxic gas risks, installing the F-Gas detector also offers the following benefits: Provides an early warning that the gas is leaking and thus maintains system efficiency and reduces potentially huge gas replacement costs Enables the supplier and user to comply with the mandatory F-gas regulations Helps to reduce the risk of leakage of powerful greenhouse gases into the environment  The detector operates from 24Vdc nominally and provides a 4-20mA signal (the output can also be set to 0-20mA, 0-2V, 0-5V or 0-10Vdc). It is compatible with most control systems or 4-20mA type controller. Housed in a rugged IP54 enclosure, the detector is suitable for use in non-hazardous areas such as plant rooms or switchgear rooms. With no moving parts, very little maintenance is required – just a bi-annual gas check (with re-calibration if necessary).   Special features of the F-Gas detector include: Superior IR sensor technology: provides fast, stable and dependable performance with low maintenance and long life. Unlike semi-conductor type sensors, the F-gas detector is not affected by other types of gas or changes in temperature or humidity LED indicators: tri-coloured LEDs indicate the operating status of the detector and, in combination with the function keys, facilitate simple adjustments such as zero and calibration Choice of signals: the analogue output signal can be set as 4-20mA, 0-20mA, 0-2V, 0-5V or 0-10Vdc for compatibility with virtually any control system IP54 rated enclosure: provides good protection from dust and water ingress in indoor environments