A £239,000 grant towards the development of a prototype fire detection system for the mining industry has been awarded to gas detection specialist Trolex. The grant from the Technology Strategy Board’s Smart Awards Programme will allow Trolex to utilize new design concepts and technology to create a system which will lead to a safer underground working environment and better protection of lives and equipment. A two-year development programme will lead to the launch of the new system in 2015. 

Fire in underground workings represents one of the most dangerous hazards to lives and livelihoods in the mining and tunnelling industries. The protection of personnel and plant relies on sensitive and accurate environmental monitoring, and the detection of fire at an early stage is crucial to safeguard against the potential loss of life and assets. Trolex will draw upon its vast experience in providing mining and tunnelling instrumentation to create a system that will meet these criteria. The new system will incorporate new and innovative technologies, materials and concepts developed by Trolex to identify a fire in its earliest stages, before it takes hold with potentially devastating consequences. The system will outstrip existing single characteristic detection systems, which often respond only when a fire is well established or burning in close proximity to the sensors. Comprising multiple sensors and detectors to monitor a wide area, the Trolex solution will use powerful processing systems to make an intelligent and accurate assessment.

The need for a fully integrated system solution to monitor the underground environment is highlighted by the recent fire at Daw Mill Colliery, which has led to the closure of the mine, the loss of hundreds of jobs and huge financial losses for UK energy. It is expected that Trolex’s development of a new safety solution primarily for tunnelling and mining applications but also adaptable for high risk, high value applications above ground, will significantly improve working conditions, protect lives, and safeguard the environment. Trolex is a world leader specialising in gas detection, monitoring and recovery systems, machine condition monitoring, and environmental control. The company’s systems and products are relied on the world over to detect gases, monitor other key environmental conditions and optimise machinery performance. Trolex holds a pre-eminent market position in the supply of underground mining and tunnelling safety solutions and is at the forefront of safety, efficiency and asset protection.