Situation

The transfer of the British Library to its magnificent new home in St. Pancras, London was not a smooth one. Back in 1978 Shirley Williams announced that the first stage of a three-stage project would be finished by the late 1980s. In fact, completion of the whole building was planned for the end of 1996. And so, delays and cost overruns were then subject to an enquiry by the House of Commons public accounts committee, following a report by the National Audit Office.

Although it wasn’t all bad news: the delays have provided the opportunity to revisit the effectiveness of the building’s systems. An example of this is the upgrading of the automatic sprinkler installation in Phase1A (that part of the building fronting onto the Euston Road).

The design of the original ‘double-knock’ pre-action sprinkler system was one of the more high-profile problems to beset the Library. Because of fears in the 1970s about the accidental discharge of water onto the valuable books it had been designed to remain dry and would only fill with water after the second ‘knock’ (ie, after the second of two alarms had actuated).

It was later realised that there was inadequate provision for draining the system. This led to fears that the galvanised steel pipework was prone to condensation, which in the long term could cause corrosion.

Even though the Library was not yet open to the public, or indeed full of books, the project was regarded as retrofit because the work was carried out after the Library had been furnished and fitted out with its comprehensive book-storage racking system.

Solution

In a little under six months Project Fire Engineers replaced 5000 dry pendent droppers with fast response sprinkler heads in accordance with Technical Bulletin 20 of the Loss Prevention Council’s sprinkler rules. The classification was upgraded from Ordinary Hazard to High Hazard, with the view that the Library is actually a giant ‘warehouse’ of books.

Once the system became wet it was decided that each sprinkler head in the four massive basement areas, which contain high mobile-racking units, should be protected by a specially designed guard.

PFE also fitted 50 Zonechecks® into the system. All the sprinkler heads in escape routes throughout the basement have been replaced with fast response sprinkler heads.

In addition to this Project Fire Engineers carried out several other improvements including a link-up of the dry riser/falling mains within the building and physical protection of sprinkler pipework located in the smoke vents.

Probably most significant of all, PFE converted the ‘town’s main’ systems, which were applicable only for the Ordinary Hazard risk, by installing powerful and efficient pumpsets suitably sized for the new classification based on full hydraulic calculations.

During the work at least 75% of the building was protected by the sprinkler systems for all but six weeks.

Result

In 1994, following consultation with various parties, including the LPCB, the decision was taken to redesign the sprinkler system. A major retrofit project commenced.

“Project Fire Engineers were commissioned to undertake this project and has managed to complete the work within budget and on time.”

Also considering the contents of the building great care had to be exercised at all times and, according to Geoff Light of Laing Management, the management contractor said:

“No harm has come to the Library’s beautiful crafted interior during the works.”

Despite the problems leading up to the opening of the building at St. Pancras, users and custodians of the British Library were happy in the knowledge that the nation’s literary heritage is well protected from fire.

* Contract Value 1 million
* Employing 100 site based personnel
* Performance engineering
* Innovative engineering
* Value engineering
* Fast track program
* Accolades from contractor/consultants/client

Gallery

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