What would Geneva be without its famous "Jet d'Eau," the fountain in the middle of Lake Geneva that reaches 140 meters into the air? Operation of this impressive landmark of Geneva is made possible by Services Industriels de Genève (SIG), the local water company. Founded in 1895, SIG today employs approximately 1,700 people and serves more than 250,000 customers in and around Geneva. In addition to its core business-supply of water, gas, electricity, and district heating-SIG is also active in waste reclamation, in wastewater treatment and as a supplier of telecommunications services.
The new headquarters of SIG was constructed in 1995 in Le Lignon in the municipality of Vernier, canton of Geneva. Originally situated in the center of Geneva, SIG's gas processing plant was relocated to Vernier in 1914-then a largely undeveloped area-in the wake of a serious town gas explosion in which 13 people lost their lives. SIG's headquarters, on the other hand, remained in the city until 1995.
Today, SIG has a developed site in Le Lignon which encompasses 100,000 square meters. In addition to the impressive administration building, the headquarters also comprises numerous workshops, depots and garages as well as the infrastructure for gas generation, storage and distribution.
4,000 fire detectors, 1 management station
To provide comprehensive protection for the headquarters site against fire and other hazards, SIG uses fire safety and security technology from Siemens. In the buildings, a total of almost 4,000 AlgoRex fire detectors are installed as well as more than 300 manual call points at strategically important locations; these call points are connected to 10 AlgoRex fire control panels. In addition, there are more than 20 floor repeater panels (terminals). Two sectors of the main building dedicated to IT equipment are protected by an automatic nitrogen extinguishing system. SIG is also equipped with a control station to detect gas leaks.
A CC440 intrusion detection system is used to prevent break-ins and acts of sabotage. The entire site is under video surveillance.
All fire safety and security installations and measures are monitored around the clock in three shifts, using an LMS 6 central management station. It allows precise localization of any alarm-a significant advantage on a site with an area of 100,000 square meters. In addition, the management station integrates remote surveillance of the many external sites of SIG, including the historical building at Pont de la Machine in Geneva, the hydroelectric power plant in Vessy and the modern wastewater treatment facility in Bois de Bay.
State-of-the-art building technology
| Siemens provides remote surveillance of the many external sites of SIG |
As an energy producer, SIG focuses on energy efficiency-and with its own buildings, it is able to play a pioneering role in this regard. In the past two years, the Siemens Building Technologies Division helped SIG upgrade its heating, cooling, ventilation and lighting system and install a new building automation system. More than 10,000 data points are connected to 78 automation stations, which, in turn, are monitored and controlled from a Desigo Insight management station. As site manager Jean-Pierre Pfister explains, the new systems allow SIG to "precisely measure the energy consumption in the headquarters and to optimally control the installation. We aim to meet the Minergie standard by 2013, CO2 neutrality by 2017 and total energy neutrality by 2020." To achieve these goals, SIG plans to increase the production of renewable energy on-site-and in the process become a model for the entire region.
For more information, please visit www.siemens.com/bt/utilities.