Kentec delivers fire protection for world-famous cable car operation

*Image: Schilthornbahn/Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Originally built back in the 1960s, the multi-stage aerial cableway system is located in the Bernese Oberland region of Switzerland. The system was reaching the end of its technical lifespan.

The SCHILTHORNBAHN 20XX redevelopment project has increased capacity from 400 to 800 passengers per hour and reduced the travel time from Stechelberg, on the valley floor, to the peak at Schilthorn by circa minutes.

In addition, the first leg of the journey – from Stechelberg to Mürren – has been replaced by a new direct line featuring a gradient of 159.4%, making it the steepest aerial cable car in the world.

On that note, Paul van Trigt (CEO at Aero-X) said: “It’s so steep that the cable car has to exit through the roof of the station.”

Control cabinets

Fire safety specialist Aero-X was asked to provide the dual-track Funifor cable car system and electrical control cabinets at all four stations with suitable fire protection systems. The gondolas, which have solar panels and battery storage, are protected thanks to Aero-X extinguishant units.

The station cabinets element of the project features an integrated system of detection and suppression, run by a total of 14 Kentec XT panels which are connected to the management system and supervised from the Control Room.

The cabinets are ‘doubled up’ at each station in order to provide continuity of service in the event of system failure.

“The reason we’ve used Kentec panels,” continued van Trigt, “is that we needed to fulfil the requirements for certain standards, in particular EN 12094, EN 15276-1 and EN 15276-2. The XT panel is very much a ‘plug and play’-style solution. Connected properly, it simply works. There’s no complicated programming to be carried out.”

Smoke and heat sensors

Most of the cabinets have smoke sensors, while others have heat sensors instead. “Some of the cabinets have a relatively high voltage inside,” explained van Trigt. “High voltage may cause electromagnetic fields that can have a detrimental effect on smoke detection.”

Each cabinet features fire-resistant cable connections, a sounder beacon and both automatic and manual aerosol extinguishant release capabilities.

The two or three extinguishant units per cabinet are connected to the Sigma XT panel via Aero-X’s sequential activator. “This allows us to supervise the whole line and make sure all units are triggered in the event of a fire,” affirmed van Trigt, adding that this happens on a two-second delay.

“Two units are triggered, then we wait two seconds and the next two are triggered, etc,” explained van Trigt. “The main purpose of the sequential activator is to ensure units are able to activate in large numbers when necessary. Otherwise, you’re limited by the current the panel is able supply.”

Importantly, this approach provides a higher level of fire-focused security in line with regulatory requirements.

Logistical challenge

According to van Trigt, the biggest challenge on the project was more logistical than technical in nature. “Taking the materials up the mountain to each respective station and installing everything during the construction phase was difficult.”

The opening of the new and improved cable car line means that James Bond fans, cable car enthusiasts and tourists alike can now travel the jaw-dropping route in the knowledge that the combined expertise of Aero-X and Kentec is keeping them safe from fire.

*Further information is available online at www.kentec.co.uk