Location: Mount Helena WA

Background

Possum Valley Animal Sanctuary (PVAS) is located in the Perth Hills, directly to the East of the Perth Metropolitan area. The sanctuary cares for over 300 native and farm animals in one of the most fire prone locations in Australia. Surrounded by Jarrah forests, the sanctuary is regularly under fire threat and the logistics of evacuating the animals during a fire is impossible. Being a registered charity and with limited financial resources, while being entirely volunteer managed, PVAS was able to secure a grant to provide the equipment necessary for 2 x independent bushfire sprinkler systems to protect the main residence and barn structures. The grant did not provide for the installation costs of the equipment.

A key component of the system was that it had to be started removetly, should the property not be manned when a fire occurs. Critical Fire was able to source and set up a specific type of fire pump which allowed manual start, SMS start or heat sensor activation.

Project

Through its long standing association with PVAS, Critical Fire provided all of the labour free of charge to design, install, test and commission the 2 x bushfire sprinkler systems. Works involved:

• Design of a bespoke system, strategically developed for ember attack on the property.
• Procurement of specialised water tanks and remote start Davey fire pumps
• Hydraulic engineering including calculation of flow rates, pressure requirements and spray patterns
• Extensive earth works including pad preparation for the water tanks and trenching for pipework systems.
• Pipework fabrication and assembly.
• Installation of specialised shielded cabling through conduit as well as specific heat sensors to allow automatic activation of the system, should the property by unmanned.
• Full testing and commissioning including remote and local activations.

Maintenance

On an ongoing basis (free of charge) Critical Fire is continuing to provide:

• Maintenance / Repairs / Installation of Portable Fire Equipment such as Fire Extinguishers, Fire Hose Reels to AS 1851
• Testing and repairs as required to the Bushfire Sprinkler Systems.

Outcomes

1. Delivery of a fully installed and bespoke bushfire sprinkler system protecting 2 structures. Project costs were managed to ensure there was no charge to PVAS.
2. Delivery of over 200 hours of labour free of charge.
3. Peace of mind that over 300 animals will be much safer should a bush fire occur