SYSTEM OVERVIEW

GAI-Tronics Corporation won the contract to design and install a Public Address and Alarm System at the BP Eastern Trough Area Project (ETAP). The Central Production Facility (CPF) comprises a bridge-linked two jacket structure enabling the Quarters and Utilities (QU) areas to be separated from the Production, Drilling and Riser (PDR) facilities. The Mungo Platform, normally unmanned, is several miles distant from the Marnock CPF.

Key customer requirements for this job included regulatory compliance with all relevant guidelines, including PFEER and ACOP. Further, the customer wanted both a general alarm system capable of raising an alarm throughout the installation and a public address system capable of being heard throughout the installation.

GAI-Tronics Corporation supplied a fully duplicated "Combined P.A. and Alarm System" together with extensive signal monitoring facilities designed to ensure that no single failure of any speaker, cable, amplifier or power supply would unduly inhibit paging and platform alarm broadcasts.

SYSTEM FUNCTIONALITY

Under system healthy conditions both sets of equipment are operational. Should a failure occur in equipment, cabling, or supply on either system, adequate coverage is maintained by the partner system alone.

Loudspeakers are placed such that speakers from either system, alone, provide reasonable audio coverage. Flashing beacons are installed to further ensure proper notification.

Operation access to the system is controlled via two main Access Control Units, providing zone and alarm selection, and displaying both system status and fault information. Other access units are configured for specific locations, including muster points and intrinsically-safe hazardous area panels.

SYSTEM DIAGRAM



This illustration shows the basic system layout for the BP ETAP Public Address and Alarm System. The fully redundant system is designated as System 'A' and System 'B'; both are fully functional at all times but, if one system fails or is disabled, the other will provide adequate coverage and notification throughout the facility.