Automated Penstocks for Fire Water Containment & Spill Isolation Solution
As part of a major environmental protection initiative at a high-profile airport, AWMA delivered a specialised fire water containment and spill isolation system designed to protect surrounding drainage infrastructure during emergency incidents.
The project involved the design, manufacture and supply of eight custom-engineered AWMA TLF Penstocks, providing reliable isolation capability across the site's drainage network.
The containment system forms a critical component of the facility's emergency response strategy. During fire events, large volumes of fire suppression water can become contaminated with fuels, chemicals and other pollutants. Without effective isolation infrastructure, this runoff can enter stormwater systems and impact the environment. The containment solution was developed to ensure contaminated water could be safely retained onsite while providing operators with rapid and dependable control of critical drainage assets.
AWMA supplied eight pit-mounted TLF top-sealing, non-rising penstocks manufactured from stainless steel for long-term durability in submerged environments. Several penstocks were configured for automatic operation following activation of the facility's fire detection system, while the remaining units were designed to provide manual spill containment capability when required. Together, these assets deliver a comprehensive containment solution, enabling the site to respond effectively to both emergency events and operational incidents.
While the project's operational requirements were clearly defined, the installation environment presented a number of engineering challenges. Existing drainage pits varied significantly in size and configuration, requiring customised penstock designs to suit individual locations. AWMA's engineering team worked closely with stakeholders to develop practical solutions that minimised civil modifications while maintaining safe operation and long-term maintainability.
In one location, extremely limited vertical clearance prevented the use of a conventional actuator mounting arrangement. AWMA developed a customised in-pit headstock configuration that enabled the actuator system to operate effectively within the available space while maintaining accessibility and operational reliability.
Another installation required multiple penstocks to be mounted within a confined structure where frame geometries intersected. Through detailed engineering and customised mounting arrangements, AWMA successfully accommodated the required infrastructure without compromising performance or functionality.
Each penstock was purpose-designed to suit the site's existing infrastructure and operational requirements. AWMA's TLF Penstock range is specifically developed for flow isolation in fully submerged applications and is widely used throughout Australia and New Zealand across water, wastewater and environmental protection projects.
For this installation, all penstocks were manufactured from Grade 316 stainless steel, including frames, gates and non-rising spindles, providing exceptional corrosion resistance and long-term reliability.
Given the critical nature of the application, automation and monitoring formed an essential part of the solution. AWMA delivered a customised control and communications system that provides operators with continuous visibility and control of the containment assets.
Submersible electric actuators were selected for each penstock to ensure reliable operation in challenging pit environments. Remote operator interfaces were installed away from the penstocks to improve accessibility while maintaining operational flexibility and site safety.
All penstocks can be monitored and controlled remotely through a secure communications network. The system incorporates redundant cellular communications and battery backup functionality to maintain operational capability during power outages and network interruptions, ensuring the infrastructure remains available when needed most.
Operators are provided with real-time asset status, gate position indication, alarm monitoring and fault reporting. Secure remote connectivity and user access controls further enhance system security and reliability. Comprehensive factory acceptance testing was completed prior to delivery to verify actuator integration, communications performance and overall system functionality.
By combining custom-engineered stainless steel penstocks with advanced automation and remote communications, AWMA delivered a robust and reliable fire water containment and spill isolation solution. The project highlights AWMA's ability to develop tailoreded water control infrastructure for complex industrial environments, drawing on decades of experience in the design and manufacture of critical containment and isolation assets.
The result is a highly reliable system that addresses challenging site constraints while providing long-term performance, reduced maintenance requirements and confidence in critical environmental protection infrastructure.
