Fire Cleaning in Rochester, Kent

The Brief

Viridor Recycling are a large UK based provider of commercial waste management services including recycling particularly with several polymer based materials.

In May 2020 – unfortunately the Viridor Polymer Recycling Plant at Rochester caught fire causing significant damage to the roof, ground floor areas and multiple high-level plant areas were also severely damaged; requiring a comprehensive fire damage cleanup service.

Causation

The level of fire damage would require significant removal of sections of the roof and plant, and it was thought the fire damage was caused by a lithium battery being caught in one of the conveyor belt systems – as an idea of the size of the warehouse; (Over 45 metres square approximately)  the site contains over 200 running sections of conveyors when the plant is fully operational.

The Ideal Response – Fire Damage Restoration

Ideal Response attended site – and as part of their Technical Summary Report offered an initial test clean – of which the team were able to demonstrate the levels of fire decontamination achievable, and the Viridor Engineering Manager and Project Manager through this test clean could visualise the standards that would be able to be achieved.

Significant improvements could be seen from the fire/smoke damaged warehouse test clean and this also gave the guide in terms of timeline as to how long the duration of the fire clean program would run for. This was quite critical to the Viridor Management team as the site was deemed CDM and there were a large scale number of works to be achieved within a short time-frame such as scaffolding, roof section removal, welding, removal and re-install of plant and conveyor sections, fire alarm and lighting replacement as a guide.

Upon receipt of order to proceed – the Ideal Response team were mobilised and on site within a three-day working period and began the start of a planned six-week fire cleaning programme. A few challenges were overcome in terms of power and water, as an example the Ideal Response team placed two four tap manifolds so that we were not short on water pressure to run the machines. The other challenges surrounded both waste and water removal – however these were both overcome as the team from Ideal Response, Novatec Engineering Ltd and Viridor Waste Recycling worked together in order to move the programme along.

The Results – After Fire Cleaning Services

High levels of fire decontamination were achieved throughout the site – and the site was also cleared of waste which had been in place for some time. In terms of timescales – the programme was delivered in a little over five weeks delighting the client as electrical works could be run quicker into site and shorten the overall deadline of re-opening the plant. Chloride tests were also taken on site to ensure no chlorides remained after the clean.

Client testimonial on sign off via Mr Veekram Mohabeer (Engineering Manager for Viridor)

“Very Satisfied with the service and works achieved on site. A pleasure to work with Scott and Adam and team from Ideal Response. Both were very professional and acted promptly to resolve any urgent matters”.