Our Mining Profile
Fire Safety & Protection Engineering for the Built Environment
COAL
Woollatt & Clarke have been involved in assessing the fire risks at a number of prominent coal mines within South Africa.
Due to the confined space of an underground coal mine, the fire risk is especially hazardous. As such, there are numerous essential measures to be put in place, such as ensuring there is adequate ventilation and installation of gas detection and fire sprinkler systems, among other services.
The services provided to these mines by Woollatt & Clarke to date included performing extensive site-based inspections, followed by office-based gap analysis, planning and budgeting. The next phase will be to assist with the design and implementation of the remedial plan on all of these facilities in the years to come.
COPPER
Woollatt & Clarke assessed the fire risk at a large copper and cobalt mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
We produced a comprehensive report on our findings, taking into account the highly acidic and corrosive nature of the environment in the mine, which impacts on the safety measures to be implemented. Working with our client, we compiled a strategic plan to mitigate their risk. We then put two engineers on site for six months to measure and design some of the fire protection systems required. This ensured that, not only was the client receiving the most effective solution, but our close monitoring provided us with the opportunity to fine-tune the systems.
PRECIOUS GEMS
Woollatt & Clarke have been involved in assessing the fire risks at several prominent precious gemstone mines within Southern Africa, in partnership with a leading international risk management business. The mines are in South Africa, Botswana and Namibia.
Our assessment involved performing site-based inspections at each mine, followed by office-based gap analysis, planning and budgeting onto a web-based survey tool. The second phase will include the design and implementation of the required fire safety solutions at all of these facilities.
IRON ORE
Woollatt & Clarke have been involved in assessing the fire risks at a number of prominent iron ore mines within South Africa.
As fires and explosions pose a constant threat in this industry, the scope of work for these projects included performing extensive site-based inspections, followed by office-based gap analysis, planning and budgeting. The next phase will involve the design and implementation of the remedial plan for these facilities.
PLATINUM
Woollatt & Clarke have been involved in assessing the fire risks at a number of prominent platinum mines within South Africa.
The dangers of mining are well-known, due to the combustible, explosive and toxic qualities of the environment. As such, Woollatt & Clarke was contracted to perform extensive site-based inspections above and below ground at these mines, in order to determine the fire risk. This exercise was followed by office-based gap analysis, planning and budgeting. We are now involved in the second phase, which comprises the design and implementation of the remedial plan on all of these facilities. This phase is scheduled to continue until the end of 2023.
SHIPS
Woollatt & Clarke have been involved in assessing the fire risks on numerous mining vessels off the coast of Southern Africa.
When a fire breaks out on board a vessel at sea there is no fire service readily available to assist with extinguishing it, so it is up to the ship’s crew to perform this duty. As such, a comprehensive fire engineered solution is critical for mining vessels, both for fire prevention and management.
Woollatt & Clarke have performed extensive site-based inspections, followed by office-based gap analysis, planning and budgeting for these vessels, in order to assist with putting the right fire safety measures in place.
HEAVY MINING VEHICLES
Woollatt & Clarke have been involved in assessing the fire risks on a wide range of heavy mining equipment and vehicles around Southern Africa.
Mining requires various types of heavy equipment and vehicles to meet the specific needs of both underground and surface mining operations. As with all machinery, there is a fire risk that must be planned for and mitigated.
Woollatt & Clarke have been required to perform extensive site-based inspections, followed by office-based gap analysis, planning and budgeting for the various mines that own this equipment and machinery.
- Building fire safety design
- Design documentation of fire protection contracts
- Budgeting and cost control
- Sprinkler System Design
- Evacuation Plans
- Conceptual and feasibility studies
- Fire risk assessment surveys
- Rational Fire Design
- Smoke Detection Systems Design
OUR PROJECT PROFILES
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COMMERCIAL
RCL Head Office in Westville, Ncondo Office Building, Ridge 7 Office building and the old Robertson's Head Office in the Umhlanga Ridge. OLA Offices in Westville
MINING
Coal, Copper, Precious Gems, Iron Ore, Platinum, Ships, and Heavy Mining Vehicles
WAREHOUSING
Truda Snacks, South 32, ABI, Growthpoint and Woodlands Dairy
HOSPITALITY
Edward Hotel Durban, Hilton Hotel Durban, Raffles Resort at Praslin, Seychelles; Long Beach Hotel, Mauritius; Shahdag Ski Resort Hotels, Azerbaijan
HEALTHCARE
Hibiscus Hospital Port Shepstone, Scottburgh Hospital, Life Westville Hospital, Life Mount Edgecombe Hospital and Victoria Mediclinic Tongaat
INDUSTRIAL
ABinBEV - SAB, South32, Illovo, SRSA, Woodlands Dairy, Fairfields Dairy and BMW
Our Approach
Woollatt & Clarke is strongly equipped to undertake the design, documentation, management and handover of the fire and risk engineering you require: We have a proven track record in managing and delivering our work to program and budget, using various procurement methods. We come from a multi-disciplinary background, where integrated solutions are always a key issue in quality projects.
We pride ourselves on the “hands on” nature of our engineering consultancy, which ensures a full and informed involvement with all of the projects we undertake and a strong commitment to the project delivery team, in the following ways:
- Drawing upon our estensive industrial and commercial experience to provide sound engineering solutions
- Employ creative design, planning and later thought processes
- Undertake our commissions in a proactive fashion, encouraging a spirit of teamwork where everyone contributes to the end result
- Striving to produce flexible, adaptable and efficient solutions
- Using our proven ability to complement sound commercial views with innovative designs and the management skills necessary to communicate our ideas to all members of the team