SafetyNet Security Group is delighted to announce that having recently become an ‘Approved Supplier’ of security to AMEY, we have now been awarded the contract to supply a ‘Complete’ security solution to the forthcoming ‘Brum’ Tunnels project.SafetyNet Security Group will be supplying a complete static guarding and electronic/ access control system to this project.
This project will be ‘manned’ by a security team of approximately 35 Security Officers. All of our security team live local to the project. Many have been drawn from our existing pool of ‘Relief’ Officers and approximately 15-20 new ‘short-term’ Security Officer positions have been created.
Once this project has been completed, many of the new Security Officers will whenever possible be found additional positions within our growing company. The A38 tunnels through Birmingham are over 40-years-old and had never had a full restoration. Last year, essential refurbishment work started in order to bring them up to modern European standards.
This year, the upgrade to the tunnels will be completed. During this second phase, works will include renewing the ventilation system, installing new security and communications systems, replacing electrical systems and refurbishing pumping stations and plant rooms.
This work will bring the tunnels right up-to-date with some of the most modern technology available, meaning they can be better managed to keep traffic flowing through Birmingham.
This technology will include cameras that can detect vehicles causing obstructions, variable message signage (VMS) that can warn motorists of incidents inside the tunnel, response systems to control emergency exit doors to ensure people escape into safe areas and not live traffic lanes and PA and radio rebroadcast systems for emergency announcements.
To upgrade the ventilation system, AMEY will remove existing fans and replace them with 25modern jet fans. These will be connected to the Air Quality Monitoring system that was installed last year as well as the emergency fire response systems which can be activated to remove smoke from the tunnel in the event of a fire.
As well as the fans, AMEY will be installing and connecting:
As well as the fans, AMEY will be installing and connecting:
- 27 PA speakers,
- 21 CCTV cameras
- 32 vehicle detection cameras
- 48 emergency phones
- 4 digital variable message signs
- Over 160 emergency way-finder signs
- 7 controlled evacuation doors
- Over 40 miles of electrical cabling needed to run the new systems
In order to carry out these essential works, AMEY will once again need to close the A38 tunnels during the summer, with a series of overnight closures before and after.
