PROJECT: Transformers for Retail Stores | UK
ESTER TYPE: MIDEL 7131 synthetic ester
PURPOSE: Fire safety
[ OVERVIEW ]
Sainsbury’s supermarkets are an organisation with a very long history of retail in the UK. The company was founded in 1869 by John James Sainsbury and his wife Ann Sainsbury in London. Today Sainsbury’s is one of the largest retailers in the UK and operates over 1000
stores, employing over 150,000 people, throughout the country.
The company is making robust steps towards its Sustainability targets, and states “With the impact of climate change being felt around the world, and increasing awareness of biodiversity loss and environmental degradation, we are committed to playing our part in helping improve the food system so that it works better for the planet. Our customers expect us to be taking action and finding ways to help them reduce their environmental impact too. We are proud to be the Principal Supermarket Partner of COP26, the United Nations Climate Change Conference.”
[ SITUATION ]
Sainsbury’s take the safety of their colleagues and customers very seriously and as such have decided to use MIDEL as a fire safe solution whenever a transformer is located in store, or on a roof top.
[ RESULT ]
The Electrical Technical Manager for Sainsbury’s was contacted by M&I Materials and had the following to say about MIDEL 7131. “We have specified MIDEL 7131 for all transformers installed at Sainsbury’s stores where the transformers are located internally for several years, more recently we have been installing transformer on the roof of stores and the specifications were amended to included for MIDEL 7131 for all roof mounted transformers. The reason for specifying MIDEL 7131 is to minimise the risk of fire should a fault develop within the transformer.”
Sainsbury’s are not alone in specifying MIDEL 7131 for roof top transformers; another example is a set of transformers installed on the roof of the Trafford Centre in Manchester.
Originally the specifiers were considering using cast resin transformers but changed their minds for several reasons including the fact that the systems would be too tall. In preference they chose two 2MVA MIDEL filled transformers which provide power to the John Lewis store and have now been in service for many years.
“We have specified MIDEL 7131 for all transformers installed at Sainsbury’s stores where the transformers are located internally for several years, more recently we have been installing transformers on the roof of stores and the specifications were amended to included the need for MIDEL 7131 for all roof mounted transformers. The reason for specifying MIDEL 7131 is to minimise the risk of fire should a fault develop within the transformer.”– Electrical Technical Manager, Sainsbury’s
The use of MIDEL ester fluids in these sectors supports the following UN Sustainable Development Goals:
