Nottingham Airfield: Fuel Installation System
Electrical installation and control system delivery for airfield refuelling infrastructure.
PART ONE
Electrical Compliance
Meson Electrical Services were appointed to deliver the electrical installation and control elements for a new fuel facility at Nottingham Airfield.
The project involved providing a safe, compliant and easy to operate electrical system to support airfield refuelling operations, ensuring all equipment was correctly powered, protected and integrated with the necessary safety systems.
The result was a fully operational fuel installation, combining robust electrical infrastructure with practical operator controls, ready for day to day use on site.
The Scope
Airfield fuel installations require a balance between strict safety compliance and simple, reliable operation for site personnel.
Key elements included:
Delivering a compliant hazardous area installation in line with DSEAR requirements
Ensuring all equipment was correctly earthed, bonded and protected
Coordinating multiple elements including tanks, dispensers and associated equipment
Commissioning the system in a way that ensured site personnel fully understood its operation and safety features
The system needed to be straightforward to operate, while ensuring all safety-critical elements functioned exactly as intended.
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PART TWO
Delivering Quality
The project included the supply, build and installation of a GRP-mounted electrical control arrangement, complete with main switchgear, distribution, protection and emergency stop systems.
Meson delivered the full electrical installation across the fuel area, including sub-main power supply, containment systems and cabling to dispensers and associated equipment. A TT earthing system was installed, including earth rods, earth bar and full bonding to tanks and equipment.
Emergency stop systems, a fireman’s switch arrangement and local test facilities were installed to ensure safe isolation and ongoing compliance. The works concluded with full testing, commissioning and certification, including hazardous area inspection documentation.
The Solution
Meson began the project by building the GRP control enclosure off-site at our workshop. This allowed the main switchgear, distribution equipment and safety controls to be fully assembled and checked before arriving on site, reducing installation time and improving overall quality.
Once on site, the GRP enclosure was positioned and connected to a new sub-main supply from the existing distribution board within the building. This formed the central point for power distribution across the fuel installation.
From there, the installation was built out across the site alongside the mechanical works being carried out by Octane Holding Group, who were responsible for the tanks, dispensers and fuel equipment setup. As the installation progressed, containment routes were installed where required, and cabling was run to each element of the system, ensuring everything was connected and coordinated correctly.
The works were carried out within an active airfield environment, with helicopter movements and training operations continuing nearby. This required careful coordination and a controlled approach to installation to ensure all works were completed safely without impacting ongoing site activities.
A key focus throughout the works was the implementation of clear and reliable safety systems. Emergency stop stations and a fireman’s switch arrangement were installed to allow rapid isolation of the system if required, with local reset functionality to safely bring the system back online.
Earthing and bonding were also critical elements of the installation. A full TT earthing system was installed, with earth rods, earth bar and bonding connections to all tanks and equipment to ensure safe dissipation of fault currents and static build-up.
The final stage of the project was commissioning. Meson worked on site alongside the project team and the airfield fire chief, ensuring the system was fully tested and, importantly, that those responsible for operating it understood how it functioned.
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PART THREE
Safe & Reliable Solution
The completed installation provides Nottingham Airfield with a safe, compliant and easy-to-operate fuel system.
Key benefits include:
A fully compliant electrical installation aligned with hazardous area requirements
Reliable power distribution to fuel dispensers and associated equipment
Clearly implemented emergency stop and isolation systems
A complete earthing and bonding solution for safe operation
A system that has been commissioned and handed over with operator understanding in mind
By combining off-site build, structured installation and collaborative commissioning, Meson delivered a solution that not only meets technical requirements, but works effectively in a live airfield environment.
TIM HUGHES - CONTRACTS MANAGER
Working alongside a live airfield, within a controlled working area and around safety-critical systems, it’s about getting the basics right. Build it properly, install it safely and make sure the people using it understand it.”