The Tunnel Ventilation System
Why are we having a new ventilation system?
There are several converging factors which have made it necessary to review our range design, construction and management. The factors that influence the need to improve the tunnel ventilation include:
- The current range certificate applies to the range construction – less attention is given to current Health and Safety Requirements
- Our duty of care extends to anyone who accesses the range (Occupiers’ Liability Act and Health and Safety requirements)
- We have an increasing number of children using the range (and this is perfectly reasonable within our remit as a Community Amateur Sports Club), and they are more susceptible to the effects of lead in the air
- Our duty of care as an occupier, requires us to undertake risk assessments to establish hazards and take reasonable precautions to minimise the risks. Hazards include the amount of lead in the air, as well as how the range is maintained
- There is ample guidance from our national governing body - the NRA - on the design, construction and maintenance of indoor ranges. The NRA are also our insurers and we therefore would be advised to follow NRA guidance.
- We need to demonstrate that we have processes in place to maintain the range as a safe place
- Our Home Office Approval is due in a short period of time and we need to demonstrate that the tunnel is adequately and safely maintained – which includes the ventilation
- The NRA range design and construction consultant has looked at our proposals and is supportive
- The FEO who is responsible for the tunnel range is aware of the ventilation project and is supportive
- Our landlord (WCC) is aware of the ventilation project and has raised no objection; neither is there any indication that this will affect the rent review due next year
- The tunnel lease has over ten years still to run and this would therefore be a sound investment
- It is reasonable and within our budget to improve the range ventilation
- The funding for the system is coming from IVSC reserves which have mounted up over many years. The current estimate for the project is around £11,500.
What happens once the ventilation system is in place?
Once the ventilation system is installed, we will receive another visit from the NRA range design consultant who, if satisfied, will approve/sign off the project. He will also write out a new Range Certificate which the Chair of the Combined Clubs Committee will then sign. In effect, we are signing our own range safety certificate, so we need to get this right. This will replace all previous Range Certificates.
What about Black Powder now?
The new ventilation system is designed to extract virtually all fumes created when guns are fired. Once installed, it will be balanced and tested to establish how we use the system to clear smoke and pollutants created when black powder is fired. Once the testing and balancing has been carried out, a set of guidelines will be available for those who request to use black powder. This will come under the latest Range Orders which are also available to members.
Who is involved in this?
The IVSC Committee put forward the proposal to the Combined Clubs Committee (CCC) for the Chesil Tunnel Range
The Combined Clubs Committee approved the installation of a ventilation system
The recent response to a letter from your club Chairman indicated that a large majority of IVSC members agreed with the expenditure of club funds for this purpose. (IVSC is the largest club using the range)
The ventilation system was designed by one of our members in conjunction with several other members, as well as by the design people at Home and Industrial Ltd (the contractors). Design is here for information.
The preparatory work prior to installation has been carried out by many IVSC volunteer members who have put a huge amount of time and energy into making this work.
Substantial support has also come from the Winchester HomeGuard club who use the tunnel range.
This page dated 31st August 2009. Secretary, Itchen Valley Shooting Club.