Community / Mercury to be removed from Sumburgh Head lighthouse
THE HISTORIC Sumburgh Head Lighthouse is set to undergo what is being described as a major refurbishment.
As well as an electrical upgrade, redecoration and refurbishment of the lighthouse tower and the engine/welfare block, the Northern Lighthouse Board will be removing mercury from the station.
The current First Order Fresnel Lens at Sumburgh Head is rotated on a float and mercury bath.
With health hazards relating to mercury vapour, this system is to be replaced by a mechanical, motor driven bearing ring which means the light will still rotate.
Planning permission is being sought for the work on the A-listed building.
Craig Field, project lead with the Northern Lighthouse Board, said: “We started a programme to remove mercury from our stations over four years ago due to the health hazard from mercury vapour. Mercury was mainly used where there was a revolving lens to aid frictionless motion.
“At sites where the mercury has been removed, we have replaced the rotating lamps like the one at Sumburgh Head with a static LED optic.
“However, we recognise the significance of the First Order Fresnel Lens currently in place at Sumburgh Head Lighthouse and the attraction it holds to visitors.
“We are therefore proposing to keep the original lens in place but remove any hazards to visiting public and our own maintenance technicians.”
The station was fully automated in 1991 and the former keepers’ cottages and outbuildings are owned by the Shetland Amenity Trust.
The trust renovated and restored the buildings at a cost of £5.4million to create a visitor attraction which opened in 2014.
The lighthouse tower and engine/welfare block are still owned by the Northern Lighthouse Board.
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