A car park is a designated area where vehicles can be temporarily stored, typically near shopping centres, offices, or public spaces. These can be outdoor lots or enclosed structures like multi-storey or underground facilities. Enclosed car parks, however, carry certain risks due to poor ventilation – vehicles emit gases such as carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen oxides (NOx), which can accumulate in these spaces.
Prolonged exposure to CO, a colourless and odourless gas, can lead to headaches, dizziness, or even poisoning. Nitrogen oxides and other pollutants can worsen respiratory issues, particularly for those with conditions like asthma. Additionally, flammable gases may increase fire or explosion risks. Therefore, enclosed car parks require effective ventilation and regular monitoring to ensure the air quality remains safe for users.
Challenges
There are a number of unique challenges to overcome when designing a suitable gas detection solution for car parks:
- Varied gas concentrations
- Emissions from vehicles can fluctuate depending on traffic density, weather and vehicle type, making it hard to measure gas concentrations accurately.
- Poor ventilation
- Enclosed or underground car parks often have inadequate airflow, leading to gas accumulation in certain areas that may go undetected by poorly placed sensors.
- Sensor reliability
- Gas detection sensors can degrade over time, becoming less accurate or even failing, which may lead to underestimating the concentration of harmful gases.
- Multiple gas types
- Car parks often contain a mix of pollutants (e.g. carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides), and detecting all gases with a single sensor can be difficult, requiring multiple devices.
- Environmental factors
- Humidity, temperature and dust can interfere with the performance of gas detection sensors, affecting their accuracy in car parks.
Oggioni PARK-4
Oggioni Park 4 is an advanced gas detection system designed specifically for monitoring air quality in enclosed or semi-enclosed spaces like car parks. It is available with multi-sensor technology that can detect a range of gases, such as carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOx) and other pollutants emitted by vehicles. The system offers real-time monitoring, ensuring that harmful gas concentrations are quickly identified and addressed to maintain safe air quality levels.
Designed with reliability in mind, the Oggioni Park 4 integrates modern features like automatic calibration and robust sensor durability. It also provides ventilation control, activating fans or alarms when gas levels exceed safe limits. This makes the Oggioni Park 4 ideal for car park management, helping to ensure compliance with safety regulations and minimise the risks associated with poor air quality in these environments.
There are a variety of detectors available in the Oggioni Park 4 range, including Nitrogen Oxide detectors, gasoline vapour detectors and Carbon Monoxide detectors. Also included in the range is the Twin Park series that includes detectors capable of detecting two different types of gas. All the detectors in the Park 4 range are controlled and managed by the PARK-4 Car Park Controller which includes a 7” touchscreen display and system status LED indication to show alarm, fault, maintenance, calibration and normal conditions.
Approvals
The Oggioni PARK-4 Car Park Gas Detection system is compliant with the stringent European standard BS EN 50545-1:2011+A1:2016 for gas detection equipment in car parks and tunnels. This certification guarantees product quality, safety, and environmental protection. Additionally, the Oggioni PARK-4 range carries the CE mark, signifying compliance with essential health, safety, and environmental protection requirements, including Construction Products Regulation (CPR), Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC), and Low Voltage Directive (LVD).
Design Considerations
Controller Placement
The PARK-4 Car Park Controller can be installed in a safe and secure area where it can be easily accessed for maintenance.
Detector Placement
Oggioni Park 4 gas detectors must always be mounted standing with the sensor heads downwards and the cable entrance upwards. They should be installed away from air inlets, air conditioning systems, areas with high airflow and areas where the air is stagnant.
Typical Wiring Diagram
Oggioni PARK-4 detectors can be installed in a daisy-chain using Oggioni PARK-4 Junction Boxes to wire each detector into the loop.
Why Choose Eurofyre?
- Complete System Supplier
- Eurofyre manufactures and supplies all aspects of fire detection and associated safety products and can provide expert advice and consultation.
- Demonstration and Training
- We offer demonstrations and expert training on a range of systems, including the Oggioni Park 4, in our very own sophisticated training facility.
- After-Sales Support
- Eurofyre offers both on-site and telephone support to assist you in ensuring that your system is fully functional and operating at maximum efficiency. Our after-sales care and support are second-to-none.
For more information about Oggioni Park 4, or to discuss any of the other products that Eurofyre have to offer, please feel free to get in touch either by phone on +44 (0) 1329 835 024, by email to [email protected] or via the online enquiry form situated on our contact page.
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