VSK electronics installs Hochiki products to protect
major European steelworks
Health and safety are of paramount importance to Arcelor Mittal, the world’s
largest steel producer. The company has successfully implemented a
continuous programme for safety, quality, environmental care and cost
consciousness.
Arcelor Gent (previously Sidmar) belongs to the flat carbon steel sector of the
company and has worked with VSK Electronics in Belgium to manage and
install both fire protection and security systems at its maritime and integrated
steel works located on the east bank of the Ghent-Terneuzen canal. This very
busy and productive site uses a highly automated production process,
incorporating top technology to produce high quality hot rolled, cold rolled and
coated products for automotive and industrial applications (from white goods
to construction elements).
With a crude steel capacity of five million tonnes, access for ships up to 65,000
tonnes and a large central warehouse, the site covers an area of 800 hectares.
Such an extensive site requires first class fire and security protection. The
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steel production environment creates a variety of atmospheres such as dust,
steam, smoke, fumes, etc. This can create problems such as false alarms,
which prove to be very frustrating not to mention, extremely costly.
VSK Electronics was chosen to manage and install both fire protection and
security systems due to their excellent reputation, long-standing experience
and highly technical competency. Choosing only the best fire detection
products, they specified Hochiki ESP analogue addressable devices because of
their high quality performance and reliability.
In total a combination of 3,000 ESP smoke, heat and multi-sensor analogue
addressable sensors have been installed, each positioned according to the
relevant environmental condition within the site. Five hundred addressable
call points were also sourced to ensure adequate notification of fire, should the
situation occur. In addition, CHQ input/output devices (modules) were used to
connect a wire linear heat detector to protect a one kilometre long band/belt
conveyor.
Hochiki’s ESP devices are renowned for minimising false/unwanted alarms.
The analogue addressable range uses a variety of techniques to significantly
minimise this problem. These methods include: each device is automatically
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re-calibrated every 24 hours so that alarm sensitivity is correctly set according
to the relevant environment and noise interference is virtually eliminated as
ESP protocol verifies data integrity continuously.
All of the Hochiki devices have been interfaced through 25 VSK FALCONnet
panels. These panels incorporate VSK win advanced multi-site management
software which shows real time alarms graphically. More than 400 maps
provide an ideal overview of the site and should fire break out, the internal fire
brigade can print a detailed map which immediately shows the affected zones
and the quickest way to access them. In addition, the central on-site
warehouse is protected by intrusion detection and access control, all interfaced
through the VSK FOXnet panel.
VSK Electronics offers state-of-the-art multi-application security systems for
access control, digital video recording, intruder and fire detection.
VSK provides integrated solutions from small to large projects in local and
multi-site network configurations: banks, telecom operators, industrial
companies, offices, etc.
FALCONnet : Fire detection panel
FOXnet : Access control and
Intrusion detection
Renowned for its specialist expertise, Hochiki has gained the reputation as one
of the world’s leading manufacturers of high quality commercial and industrial
fire detection solutions. Hochiki’s products can be found in numerous
prestigious locations including state parliaments, metro systems, airports,
banks, commercial centres, hospitals and hotels. All products are approved to
UK and International standards.
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VSK electronics is a leading manufacturer of multi-site and Integrated Security Systems for access control,
intruder detection, video recording and fire detection. The VSK product line has been especially
designed to meet the specific requirements of single and multi-site organizations:
- IP and network based products
- Secure communication over LAN and WAN infrastructures
- On-line management of up to 10.000 sites with the VSK supervision software
- Integration of all FOX line & FALCON line products.
VSK electronics nv
Industriezone
Venetiëlaan 39
8530 Harelbeke
Belgium
Tel. : +32 56 24 19 51
Fax.: +32 56 20 05 29
e-mail : info@vsk.be
www.vsk.be
Hochiki is an independent, multi-national, publicly listed company. Total sales turnover exceeds
£300 million per annum. The Group employs over 1,200 staff, operating five manufacturing
plants, 31 sales offices and 18 subsidiaries. Hochiki is an acknowledged market leader in the
manufacture of fire protection products.
www.hochikieurope.com
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