Glen Ord Distillery, Scotland

Project Overview

The Project

One of Scotland’s most famous whisky distilleries is undergoing an ambitious redevelopment project in order to meet increased demand from overseas. The steelwork for the new build elements of the work are being given fire protection using Nullifire’s revolutionary new one coat intumescent SC902 system.

A competitor’s epoxy based product had initially been specified for the contract on the Glen Ord Distillery near Inverness, where Robertson Construction is the main contractor, and Edinburgh based Blyth & Blyth, the project engineers. However, Avesta Scotland - the specialist sub-contractor appointed to apply the fire protection to the steelwork – put forward SC902 as an alternative system.

As a result, Avesta is applying close to 500 square metres of the hybrid, high build intumescent. Such is the speed of application for the system that sections of the steelwork can receive their full two hours’ fire protection within a period of hours; while other attributes have proved just as attractive for the project team.

Steve McClure, a Director of Avesta Scotland, comments: “The original specification for the work at the Glen Ord distillery was for an epoxy intumescent, but there are challenges in trying to apply that, so we put forward the new Nullifire product on the basis of the company’s track record and the performance parameters of the SC902; especially the corrosion resistance.

“Although we had used one drum of the product on a trial, we sent two of our applicators down to Nullifire’s premises in Coventry to be fully trained in the correct technique; and we have also had very good technical support from the Area Manager. So far we have made two, two day visits and are half way through the application.

“We are keen to make use of the SC902 product because of its corrosion resistance and application characteristics. It just seems to be a more robust product for the UK climate, where wet weather is so often an issue”