From liquid-sealing building compartments to a sprinkler system that could easily fill an Olympic-size swimming pool in under three minutes; for the construction of the new SGS waste processing centre in Gembloux, the team of edibosud faced a challenge that required meticulous compliance with the safety regulations. Project Manager Cyril Sollas stood at the frontline of this fascinating project.
When technique and technology go hand in hand
SGS offers support to companies and organisations worldwide in testing, auditing and certifying their processes. In order for these companies to run as sustainably and high-quality as possible, they support them in the most diverse of ways. The focus on the SGS site in Gembloux lies specifically on collecting and sorting hazardous and non-hazardous waste.
It is apparent that a project of this magnitude requires a perfectly detailed construction plan. More specifically, our constructive challengers were in charge of building:
- Concrete façades (prefab walls) and roof construction in coated steel
- 7 storage compartments with capacities from 9.5 m³ to 26 m³, accessible via a central corridor
- A 55 m²-processing area
- Offices totalling 29 m²
- A technical room and pump room of 26 m²
- A high-tech sprinkler system in the form of foam canons
Besides the total coordination of the construction works above, we were also in charge of the electricity and HVAC works, up to the final fitting-out works. In summary, a total project that was loaded with technical and technological tours de force in order to assure the (fire) safety in and around the buildings.
Challenges in light of ATEX
Project Manager Cyril Sollas and his team had to combat several vigorous challenges during this project; the all-important factor being the ATEX Directive. The construction works were completely focused on these European directives for the prevention of explosion hazard.
“Naturally, there is no room for error in a company that stores flammable and chemical products on a daily basis. Almost everything we did needed to be completely aligned with the ATEX standards, and the challenges that go with that.”
Compatible construction materials
“No one storage compartment is the same. For instance, the products stored in one compartment can be (chemically) composed completely differently than the product in the adjacent compartment. As a result, all building materials needed to be 100% compatible with the products stored there, in order to prevent leakage due to fire, for example. The floors, walls and gutters of these storage tanks are evidently completely watertight as well. The gutters even contain an automatic leak detection system that alerts the head office in case of a leak.”
Extreme safety measures
“In order to nip any potential fire in the bud, the storage areas containing flammable products have been furnished with fire-resisting (REI 120) walls. Natural ventilation should prevent the spread of hazardous fumes and a watertight barrier is to contain the extinguishing water.”
“The processing area is completely ATEX-proof as well. It can be closed off hermetically and has been equipped with a ventilation group of 3,000 m³/h and an automatic extinguishing system with inert gas. In short, there is a continuous synergy between construction and technique to safeguard the employees’ and local residents’ safety.”
Six huge foam cannons
“No traditional sprinkler system would suffice in an environment with suchlike products. Three underground tanks, each with a 20,000-litre capacity serve six generators that combined are able to spray 2,916 m³ of foam in under three minutes into the storage compartments. That is more than the contents of an Olympic swimming pool!”
Typical edibo?
“Our biggest trump card in this project was our outstanding relationship with the client”, Project Manager Cyril emphasises. “We were always at the ready to meet their requirements. For instance, the client requested to visually compartmentalise the floors in the storage units and to install a pedestrian safety zone – which wasn’t included in the original quote. The end result was remarkable thanks to the in-situ concrete gutters and an epoxy mortar coating that can resist the heaviest of chemicals.”
“Furthermore, we were able to showcase our flexibility and responsiveness when needed. For example, the medium-voltage cabinet we ordered arrived on site several months later than scheduled due to a delayed delivery term. We managed to deal with this quickly by linking the new construction to the electricity installation of the surrounding SGS buildings, and in this way never compromising the client’s scheduled activity launch.”
“This approach will hopefully serve SGS in the future because the building structure is already prepared to accommodate a potential expansion with additional compartments.”
Looking for industrial professionalism to the smallest details?
Are you an architect or a building commissioner and are you assured about how we successfully completed this assignment? These types of assignments – with a high degree of complexity – are all the way at the top of edibo’s wish list.
Do you have the perfect challenge for us? We happily invite you to come sit at our table so you can tell us your construction story. Contact us and take a look at some of our realisations from across a wide variety of industries.