A UK manufacturer of secondary diesel engine starting solutions used in critical applications such as off-shore on-rig emergency power generators, winches, fire pumps and lifeboats, is launching a new maintenance service for applications located in extreme locations, to resolve what it sees as a serious safety loophole. 

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IPU Group designs and makes a range of air, spring, hydraulic and nitrogen starting solutions capable of turning over and starting diesel engines up to 320 litre in the harshest of conditions including wet, sub-zero, artic and extreme heat.  A significant number of these engines are located in high risk environments such as oil and gas platforms, where a means of secondary non-electrical starting is mandatory in the event of a fire or explosion. However, informal research by IPU has discovered that these emergency starting solutions are not getting regularly serviced, which the business believes could be putting personnel at risk.
  IPU considers that a reduction in maintenance crews on platforms, a lack of awareness of the critical safety-related function of the starting systems and a shortage of spares for equipment, which in some cases is over 30 years old, is leading to the inadequate servicing of secondary power sources. A lot of back-up generators in the offshore industry are located in exposed areas and at the mercy of the elements, suffering erosion due to the effects of water, sea salt and extreme temperatures, but according to IPU full servicing of emergency starting systems is being overlooked. To resolve this potentially serious problem, IPU has had a number of engineering staff trained for off-shore servicing. This includes passing the Basic Offshore Safety Induction and Emergency Training for helicopter travel to offshore installations. The engineers are also qualified to service and maintain other manufacturers' kit as well as IPU solutions, in accordance with the main specifications of the equipment. All work is certified to meet existing safety standards.
  Divisional director of starting systems at IPU, David Caddick, believes that in his experience the black-start capability on some platforms has been compromised due to a regime of sporadic safety checks, and that operators must do more than the weekly test to comply with safety guidelines. Mr Caddick said: "Part of the problem appears to be that maintenance crews are unaware of whose area of responsibility it is. We have voiced our concerns to the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) and are keen to work with them to ensure the very highest standards of offshore safety. "Even in the harshest conditions operators must organise regular servicing support for their stand-by equipment. However, this is not always happening either due to operational pressures, lack of relevant skills or as a result of staff shortages.
  "We can help reduce the risk of failure of emergency power on oil and gas platforms by providing regular servicing to back-up starter motors. Our highly trained and motivated engineers are on stand-by 24/7 to go to the most hazardous environments anywhere in the world." West Midlands-based IPU is offering a world-wide sales and service back-up for diesel engine emergency starting covering virtually all off-shore locations from the North Sea, and Antarctica to Asia.
  Reliable secondary starting applications that are deployed to meet ATEX regulations for explosive atmospheres are vital for productivity, performance and the safety of offshore rigs - IPU can give operators who cannot afford to lose power peace of mind by delivering cost effective starting system testing, installation and commissioning onsite, as well as regular servicing, carried out by highly qualified and committed staff.
  Industrial Power Units Ltd. Churchbridge, Oldbury B69 2AS. Telephone: +44 (0) 121 511 0400 Fax: +44 (0) 121 511 0401 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Website: www.ipu.co.uk