TuffPlug Gets Tough On Firewater
TuffPlug™Gets Tough On Firewater
Kent-based company Darcy Spillcare Manufacture appears to be on to a winner with an innovative new product called TuffPlug™, powered by Draintector™. Already installed on many sites throughout the UK, the system has been thoroughly testedand is offering customers considerable advantages in the containment of firewater and pollution control over more traditional systems such as penstock valves.
The system offers a complete solution to all spill prevention and protection requirements by containing firewater and other hazardous liquids on-site, thus preventing environmental liability, fines and prosecutions and reducing spill clean-up costs.
The TuffPlug™is a flow blocker that is installed in a site’s final outflow drain; it has a multi-use capacity and individual TuffPlugs™ have been activated and deactivated well over 600 times, so when a site has been declared safe the TuffPlug™ simply retracts and is ready for use again. This means the system is proactive as well as reactive and can be operated as a preventative measure during high-risk operations such as chemical deliveries or site maintenance. The TuffPlug™is certainly aptly named - during tests at Darcy’s manufacturing base in Birkenheadit proved strong enough to raise and hold the weight of a car!
The Draintector™ is the TuffPlug™ operating system and is housed in a GRP lockable cabinet with IP54 waterproof rating. This is powered by a 12v DC battery with a charging system that can be connected to either solar or mains power.
The system can be operated through a multitude of methods, depending on requirements: this can be at the push of a button - either on the Draintector™ control panel itself or hardwired to another location - via a TV-style remote control, or through GSM text message from a mobile phone. Completely automated activation is also available - this uses probes fitted into the drain to monitor the make-up of the outflow; if high levels of pollutants are detected this automatically triggers the system.
As soon as the system is activated the TuffPlug™ quickly expands to block a length of drain, ensuring that small obstacles such as stones or sticks are covered and the barrier remains watertight. On sites with multiple final outflow drains, several TuffPlugs™ can be fitted and linked to ensure they all work at the same time when activated.
Another attraction of TuffPlug™, powered by Draintector™, is that it requires no civil work to install and can be fitted within a day by Darcy’s dedicated installation team. Annual servicing is also part of the package to ensure the system is always in full working order.
The TuffPlug™ is made from heavy gauge PU rubber, which has excellent lateral and longitudinal strength as well as being highly chemical resistant. The plugs are manufactured at the Birkenhead facility by Darcy’s Trident team, which has been specialising in PU, PVC and PUA for over 15 years, producing containment booms, flotation bags and temporary storage equipment for spillages in the harshest environments - from the open sea to industrial docks and chemical plants.
“We are constantly listening to what our clients want and need and are very much responding to demand with this product,” explains Darcy Managing Director Richard Proctor. “With ever more stringent regulations in place with regard to containing firewater and spillages, our customers wanted a flexible solution that ensures sites can be made safe quickly and effectively in the event of an emergency and one that is multi-use to provide a preventative option. The beauty of the Tuffplug/Draintector combination is that it offers a completely bespoke solution – no matter how big or small your site, or how many outlets you have, we can fit something that is ideal for your particular situation. We even offer a free surveyto assess what type of system will work best.
“Peace of mind is a wonderful thing and our customers want a system that they know will cope with any emergency; this is exactly what TuffPlug™, powered by Draintector™, provides and the feedback we are receiving from existing clients is extremely positive.”
For further information on the TuffPlug™, powered by Draintector™, please contact Darcy directly:
Tel: 0800 0370 899
Email: web@darcy.co.uk