An Aberdeenshire firm has designed new technology for testing offshore fire sprinkler systems that should prevent glitches caused by existing methods.
Paradigm Flow Services (PFS), part of Netherlands-based investment firm Paradigm Group, has invested £180,000 in the research and development stage of its dryflow technology, which was carried out by academics, software designers and engineers in Aberdeen and Rotterdam over the past 18 months.
Conventional tests use large volumes of seawater, often leading to blockages and corrosion inside nozzles and pipework.
A lot of time also has to be spent covering and protecting electrical equipment ahead of tests on platforms, PFS said.
The firm, which specialises in keeping subsea pipes unblocked, is now ready to eliminate those problems with its Dry-Flo system, which uses dehumidified air instead of water to test nozzles, with remote sensors picking up the air wave signatures throughout so-called deluge systems.
The company is to demonstrate Dry-Flo for clients at its new £4.25million headquarters in Drumoak, Aberdeenshire, this week.
PFS managing director Rob Bain, said: “Operators are looking for a way to minimise exposure to the problems with current testing methods.
“With a 20% rise in hydrocarbon releases from April 2013 to March 2014 and a 50% initial test failure rate in UK deluge systems, the importance of effective fire safety systems cannot be underestimated.
“Now is the right time to introduce these new testing measures which will transform how the industry benchmarks deluge performance for the first time in 50 years.”
PFS in August said its pre-tax profits increased from £330,000 in 2012 to £1.5million in 2013.
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