How SYTIS Prevent Accidents - Substation Fire Near Heathrow Airport

On May 20th, a fire broke out at a substation in Hayes, London, disrupting operations at Heathrow Airport and cutting power to tens of thousands of homes. According to AP News, the blaze was caused by a transformer with 250,000 volts running through it, which sparked a fire and a large explosion due to 25,000 litres of cooling oil. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of electrical infrastructure failure.

Could this have been prevented?

The Problem: Thermal Stress and Electrical Failures

Over time, critical components like transformers, switchgear, and cables can develop thermal anomalies—hotspots that are invisible to the naked eye but are often early indicators of a potential failure. Without a proactive monitoring strategy, these issues can escalate, leading to catastrophic events like the fire in Hayes. Traditional calendar-based maintenance and manual inspections leave dangerous blind spots between check-ups, allowing these hidden problems to grow unchecked.

The Solution: How SYTIS and Alpha Geo Make a Difference

At Alpha Geo, we believe the future of reliability lies in proactive, AI-driven thermal monitoring and condition-based maintenance. This is where our SYTIS thermal monitoring solutions provide a crucial advantage. Unlike outdated inspection methods, SYTIS cameras offer continuous, real-time thermal surveillance to detect subtle temperature changes before they become critical.

Our SYTIS systems are designed to safeguard mission-critical electrical assets by providing a 24/7 condition-based monitoring solution. By integrating our solutions, industries can:

• Detect anomalies remotely and in real-time, with AI-powered analytics and automated alerting via app, SMS, or email.
• Prevent costly downtime and failures by enabling proactive fault detection and smarter maintenance planning.
• Enhance safety and operational resilience, going beyond passive monitoring to help prevent fires, outages, and other risks.
• Reduce reliance on manual inspections, freeing up valuable personnel and providing continuous oversight.

SYTIS isn't just a product line; it's a smarter approach to safety, compliance, and asset protection. With global infrastructure aging and energy demand increasing, predictive maintenance is no longer optional—it's essential. The Hayes fire is a powerful example of how modern, continuous thermal monitoring is needed to prevent disasters.

Is your infrastructure protected? We offer a range of SYTIS solutions, including fixed cameras, PTZ cameras, and complete systems, to fit any site or asset class. To learn more about how SYTIS can help you prevent failures before they happen, visit SYTIS thermal monitoring now or contact us for a consultation.