The Makkah Clock Tower is one of the numerous projects that Pan Gulf Industrial Systems (PGIS), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the well-diversified Pan Gulf Holdings group and newly formed Pan Gulf Industrial Investments Company (PGIIC), has carried out in Saudi Arabia. It is the high-end industrial projects that account for the bulk of this ISO 9001:2008-certified company’s business, in-volving designing, engineering, supplying, installing, commissioning and servicing and maintaining the most complex fire protec-tion, fire and gas detection, control and instrumentation systems available today.

The 120-storey structure – Saudi Arabia’s tallest at 601 m – is described as both the tallest hotel and clock tower in the world. It has a 43 by 43 m clock lit with about two million LED (light emitting diode) lights on its face; and a 71-m-tall spire above the clock that is surmounted by a 23-m-high crescent. The top section of the tower extending from bottom of the clock is a lightweight structure con-taining sophisticated equipment, machinery and millions of LED lights.

“Providing an effective fire protection system with limited weight allowance was a great challenge,” says Jon Buckley, general manager of the Saudi-based PGI Systems.

After carefully considering all the factors, PGI Systems provided a high-pressure water mist system for this project. “In this system, water under high pressure (80 to 200 bar) is discharged through micro nozzles in the form of fine mist. It extinguishes fire by cool-ing, due to heat absorption, and inerting due to the expansion of water when it evaporates. The system requires only 10 per cent of the water generally required by a standard water spray or sprinkler system,” Buckley explains.

Armed with an extensive portfolio of agencies for many manufacturers of international repute, the company has served most of the leading organisations in Saudi Arabia including Saudi Aramco, Saudi Basic Industries Company (Sabic), Saudi Electricity Company (SEC), Marafiq, and Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC). It is an authorised representative and distributor for Kidde Fire Systems, FireTrace, Notifier Honeywell US, Vesda, Fire Lite, Cooper & Govan, Fogtec, Matre, Akron Brass, Reliable, Tyco, Soleberg, Ansul, Skum, Kennedy Valves, Amerex, and McWane Group – a list it continues to extend every year.

Commenting on the company activities, Buckley says: “PGI Systems works in accordance with the Saudi High Commission for In-dustrial Security (HCIS) and Civil Defence regulations to provide fire and gas detection and protection systems for industrial plants, commercial, government, healthcare, transport and Infrastructure sites and premises.”

“PGI Systems is approved by the HCIS and is listed on the commission’s website. Part of the Ministry of Interior, HCIS is responsi-ble for the development and implementation of safety, security and fire-protection strategies throughout Saudi Arabia,” he explains.

PGIS have heavily invested in the latest technology and equipment

“At PGI Systems, we pride ourselves in offering a total quality service and exceptional customer experience, utilising project teams to manage each project to ensure on-time delivery in accordance with the project specifications. Our interest is to build long-term, ongoing relationships with each of our clients,” Buckley emphasises.

PGI Systems is active in a number of sectors categorised as HCIS industrial and commercial buildings. The industrial segment of its business covers the oil and gas, power generation, petrochemical, exploration, mining, LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) storage, and marine construction sectors. In the commercial buildings segment, it caters to the requirements of the healthcare, government, aero-space, aviation, military, education, IT and data centres, banking and finance, passive, railway and transport sectors.

The company has successfully completed many projects in the industrial and hydrocarbons sectors providing complete fire and gas system solutions that comply with HCIS requirements, project specifications, NFPA guidelines and other applicable international standards.

These include halon phase-out for Saudi Aramco’s 72 IT facilities spread across the kingdom; provision of a fire and gas system for Ma’aden’s Aluminum complex at Ras Al Khair (plant-wide, rolling mill, cast house); and supply of fire and gas systems for many other critical facilities such as aircraft hangars in Jordan, Bahrain and a deck-integrated fire-fighting system (DIFFS) for Saudi off-shore helidecks.

Currently, PGI Systems is working on some major projects that require a whole range of sophisticated protection systems, such as:

• Jeddah South, 2,640 MW power plant: This project for SEC entails design, supply, installation and commissioning of a complete fire and gas protection system for the plant.

• Upgrade of Marafiq O&M (Operation and Maintenance) Jubail facilities, Phase One: This includes provision of a fire and gas central monitoring system; fire and gas detection system upgrade; fire pump, water storage and fire-fighting system upgrade; gas-based fire system upgrade; halon replacement; and provision of water and foam-based fire protection systems.

SERVICE & MAINTENANCE

“At Pan Gulf Industrial Systems, our network of fully qualified engineers can ensure your systems are in tip-top condition by de-livering expert service and maintenance solutions that follow the prescribed standards as outlined in International UL/FM NFPA and KSA HCIS and Civil Defense Authority,” insists Buckley.

He goes on: “The most advanced fire and gas detection systems need maintenance and regular monitoring to perform at optimal levels. When it comes to life and property, you just can’t take risks with safety.

“The correct service and maintenance of fire related life safety systems is important. PGIS Service & Maintenance Divi-sion and Operational Procedures ensure that your building or site is protected and maintained in line with and com-plies with National & Local Civil Defense and/or HCIS NFPA requirements.”