Aluminium Offshore - Aluminium Safety Helidecks, Helideck Support Frames and Offshore Structures

Aluminium Offshore is a pioneer in the design and production of aluminium alloy structures. As one of the largest, specialist design-and-build companies in the region, we offer a complete design, supply and assemble package to customers who are looking to upgrade traditional steel and concrete designs to a lighter and more corrosion resistant metal. We offer a range of products including: enhanced safety helidecks, standard helidecks, offshore structures, helideck support frames and Deck Integrated Fire Fighting System (DIFFS).

ENHANCED SAFETY HELIDECKS

The most critical moments of helicopter operation are during landing and takeoff. An accident at either of these stages can result in hundreds of gallons of jet-fuel spilling. A crash and burn scenario is always a frightening possibility - the intense fire will quickly spread making passenger rescue extremely hazardous.

The Astech enhanced safety helideck was developed to reduce these risks and make passenger safety a top priority. This deck incorporates a patented, passive fire-retarding system which works by allowing burning fuel to pass through densely packed layers of Explosafe expanded aluminium mesh. A full-perimeter drainage system ensures that liquids are channeled, sub-surface, from heli-decking to drain. Burning fuel is starved of oxygen and rapid heat dissipation occurs in the mesh. The fire is retarded immediately and up to 97% of spilt fuel is recovered unburned.

The Astech enhanced safety helideck has been rigorously tested with actual fire tests in the presence of Det Norske Veritas, Lloyds Register, United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority, various helicopter operators and manufacturers, public safety groups and user bodies. The UK Civil Aviation Authority recommends using this type of helideck for unmanned platforms and for areas where additional helideck safety may be desired.

The deck is currently installed on numerous offshore vessels, FPSOs and drilling platforms, hospitals and other locations. It can be fitted to a new-build structure or retrofitted to existing locations. The Astech enhanced safety helideck is a fully modular design: the deck is pre-fabricated and shipped to you in containers. The deck is then installed under our supervision.

STANDARD HELIDECKS

The standard helideck is an an all-aluminium helideck with all the features of the Enhanced Safety helideck but without its passive fire suppression system. The decks are fully pre-fabricated and shipped in containers to you for local assembly under our supervision. Standard helidecks offer:

• Modular design
• Easier handling
• Light weight
• Faster installation
• Fire resistant
• Stay dry, non-slip surface

An aluminium helideck is a good investment. Not only will its residual value appreciate over time, it can be reused several times, as it will usually outlast the structure it is initially placed on. The purchase of an aluminium deck is also low in comparison to steel.

OFFSHORE STRUCTURES

We have an extensive track record in designing, producing and installing large structures in aluminium alloy. In many cases, these structures are unique and 'world-firsts', requiring extensive applied research in material technology, joint configurations, fatigue design and fastening methods.

The usual drivers for encouraging a switch from steel to aluminium are:

• Lower maintenance cost - corrosion is reduced to insignificant levels and no painting is required
• Lower weight - aluminium's exceptional strength-to-weight ratio means weight savings of 50% to 70% over equivalent steel structures
• Lower cost - long-term cost reduction through maintenance cost savings; customers also achieve initial cost savings at installation owing to lower lift costs, easier fabrication and faster installation
• Longer life span - the durability of the alloy means that it usually outlasts the structure it is placed on and can be reused on new platforms
• Recycling - aluminium has high residual value and is genuinely and economically recyclable

HELIDECK SUPPORT FRAMES

Carrying forward the advantages of using an aluminium helideck, an aluminium support frame becomes a logical next step.

We design and build these frames and support structures and then pre-fabricate and trial fit them at our factory. They are then packed in containers and shipped to you in knocked down form. Re-assembly requires fasteners only and is an extremely quick process. A typical support frame for a 22m deck will require 1 week for assembly.

Aluminium alloy support frames offer great advantages:

• 60% weight savings over steel equivalent
• Completely maintenance free
• One week assembly (against several months for steel)
• No welding, painting or blasting required
• Light weight reduces lift requirements
• Cost effective against steel
• Re-usable and recyclable

DECK INTEGRATED FIRE FIGHTING SYSTEM (DIFFS)

We provide full helideck fire fighting and safety equipment in accordance with Civil Aviation and related codes, including foam monitors, complementary media and rescue equipment. We have also pioneered and developed a new automatically operated DIFFS unit (Deck Integrated Fire Fighting System) which is in accordance with the latest civil aviation codes.

The DIFFS system is designed to provide a safer and more efficient alternative to the current Fixed Monitor Systems (FMS) installed on helidecks. UK Civil Aviation Authority CAP 437 allows a Deck Integrated Fire Fighting System (DIFFS) to be installed as an alternative to a Fixed Monitor System (FMS). This DIFFS unit can spray either foam (in the case of helidecks on manned installations), or water (when used in conjunction with a passive, Enhanced Safety helideck for unmanned installations and where a power supply source exists).

DIFFS offers substantial advantages over the traditional foam monitor units:

• Safer: rescue crew can work concurrently with spray activation
• Frees up rescue and fire fighting crew to help with helicopter evacuation
• Automatic: less chance of human error
• Nozzles spray uniformly: the fire is extinguished in less than 15 seconds
• Fire fighting platforms can be eliminated or reduced
• More efficient fire suppression
• Multiple nozzles are less affected by blockages