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| Siemens is a manufacturer for building security, life safety and building automation systems |
Siemens, occupying a leading position as a manufacturer and a service provider for building security, life safety and building automation systems, realises that power plants all carry various operational, security and fire risks. The one thing they have in common is the need to manage these risks and Siemens believes that safeguarding facilities with integrated, high-performance systems can help reduce operating costs and supply-disruption, by mitigating damage and restoring supply quickly and efficiently.
Long-term continuity relies on protecting existing infrastructure. And the diversity of threat to that infrastructure calls for an integrated risk-management strategy, based on industry standards and best practice. This can be achieved by developing a risk quantification strategy to ensure a thorough analysis of the site utilising historical data. Engineers can then collaborate with risk analysts to transform risk quantification calculations and to employ the appropriate electrical installation, fire safety, and security and building automation systems into an effective approach.
Intrusion detection systems in power plants need to be adaptable, to cope with large numbers of staff, visitors and contractors |
For instance, by identifying and preventing the most common causes of fire and by lessening the impact of circuit faults, plants can minimise repair downtime and costs and prevent any major incident. Cable systems should be designed to eradicate the possibility of fire - and should be regularly cleaned and inspected. Indeed, good housekeeping all around the site can help minimise the risk of combustion. But good housekeeping and vigilance need electronic support. The latest intelligent solutions in fire, smoke and heat detection can be tailored to suit specific environments. Customised solutions ensure rapid detection to trigger the appropriate response - as well as improving recovery times and operational efficiency, reducing downtime and thus reducing costs. Foam deluge extinguishing systems are particularly suited to power plants, with gaseous systems employed to extinguish electrical fires.
Intrusion detection systems in power plants need to be adaptable, to cope with large numbers of staff, visitors and contractors, as well as numerous buildings which are often far apart. Critical functionality includes: the flexibility to be able to set the alarm locally while allowing for central monitoring, simple identification of the origin of an alarm and reliable verification. The surveillance of perimeters is critical too. External motion detectors utilised with video surveillance, offer proven effectiveness even in harsh, fast-changing environments. They trigger an alarm as soon as intruders set foot on restricted property, allowing for real-time verification and response before access to critical areas has been gained. Intelligent verification processes also ensure detection accuracy and unparalleled false alarm immunity.
Access control systems enable entry and exit of restricted areas to be controlled at all times. Plants running multiple satellite buildings benefit from central management of rights, allowing staff to access any building with a single card. Video surveillance can be set to record on alarms and image data can be accessed and managed remotely over the network. Latest biometric technologies (fingerprint, 3D face recognition systems, iris scanning etc.) can be integrated to provide an even higher security level for special areas.
Latest biometric technologies can be integrated to provide an even higher security level for special areas |
Sites as large and complex as power plants usually require a large number of cameras, other alarming/sensor devices and a large number of guards. Integrated intelligent video solutions, based on a combination of risk-appropriate protective measures, can assist with accuracy, reliability and short response-times. Video sensory analysis (technology able to aggregate and filter data to an extent that a single operator can manage all available information without fatigue), allows personnel to focus on critical situations and, by providing the critical information in real-time, supports their decision-making. Because - given the level of threat today - making appropriate decisions when an alarm has been triggered is not always easy.
And providing a safety/security solution that integrates systems into one administrative entity is not just about merging equipment and technology. Command and Control solutions utilise functional analysis and detailed design, translating management's operational concept into an integrated, technical reality. They detect incidents, trigger alarms and provide real-time information flow. They comprise intricately combined technologies that gather the incident-related information for effective Command and Control decision-making.
As plant buildings become increasingly complex and differ in many ways (use, size, operating hours or changing occupancy requirements and environmental conditions), building automation systems are able to integrate common open-protocol devices into a single, robust control system. They regulate airflow, monitor energy-use and integrate with security, lighting, and other systems and make them easy to operate, offering remote access via IP web technology.
In summary, all power plants are very different in their safety, security and even their building management requirements. With the world focusing on energy-supply and the means of meeting rising demand, Siemens Building Technologies recognises that appreciating these differences is crucial in securing an integrated solution which truly safeguards energy provision from generation to distribution.
For more information visit Siemens Building Technologies - Utilities.
