Background: No chance for fire

Effective fire protection requires customized solutions, because every fire risk is different. Technical fire protection must be optimally adapted to this: In the choice of extinguishing agents as well as in the dimensioning of the systems - structural conditions must also be taken into account. Solutions are required that offer maximum safety, are effective and prevent secondary damage in the event of a fire, but also take economic aspects into account.

Calanbau Brandschutzanlagen offers various sprinkler systems. Suspended and upright screen sprinklers are used most frequently: the latter when the pipelines are visible, while the suspended version is always used when the pipelines are concealed.

Efficient sprinkler and foam extinguishing systems

The standard sprinklers, which according to Calanbau are "particularly suitable for flammable ceilings", can be installed suspended or upright. The spray plate is designed in such a way that both the area below and above the sprinkler are sprayed.

Effective fire protection in high-bay warehouses

According to DIN VDE 08332, "high-bay racking systems are rack storage systems in which the storage height (floor space to top edge of stored goods) exceeds 7.5 meters". As Calanbau reports, "there is always a particular risk in high-bay warehouses": a fire develops from the bottom upwards - a so-called chimney effect occurs. Hot combustion gases can heat up and ignite the material on the higher shelving levels that is not yet burning. After just a few minutes, a full fire develops up to the hall ceiling, which is difficult to extinguish.

"That's why the sprinklers are installed directly in the shelves for immediate internal attack." The sprinkler installed there can extinguish the fire with pinpoint accuracy in the event of a fire; the fire is suppressed immediately and cannot spread to other sectors. The sprinklers are arranged according to the stored goods and the risk. As a rule, pendant, quick-acting sprinklers are installed, which trigger at 68 degrees Celsius. The glass of the temperature sensor of this type of sprinkler is three millimetres thick and bursts faster than that of a ceiling sprinkler with a glass thickness of five millimetres.

Other fire protection technologies include stationary foam extinguishing systems that mix a foam concentrate into the water flow of a sprinkler or water spray extinguishing system, for example. The low, medium or high expansion foam mixture created by the air admixture hits the spray plate of the sprinkler or the extinguishing nozzle and is distributed over the entire area. At the same time, the water flow in the pipe network triggers local alarm devices and sends a message to a permanently manned location, usually the fire department.

In high-bay warehouses, sprinklers are installed directly in the racks and arranged according to the stored goods and risk. Photo: Calanbau fire protection systems

According to Calanbau, foam extinguishing systems are a "complex, highly effective system technology with rapid extinguishing success and high reliability for the protection of property".

Fire prevention system for large deep-freeze high-bay warehouse

KLM relies on a comprehensive fire protection concept from Wagner, Langenhagen, for the fire protection of Germany's largest fully automated deep-freeze high-bay warehouse. KLM Kühl und Lagerhaus Münsterland GmbH, based in Rheine, supplies consumer markets with frozen food and ice cream. In addition to storage, picking and packing, the services also include distribution and the handling of imports and exports of frozen goods.

KLM has now expanded its storage capacity with a new deep-freeze high-bay warehouse. With an area of 8,535 square meters and a height of 38 meters, the facility has a volume of around 380,000 cubic meters and space for 68,400 pallets, with a total capacity of 90,000 storage locations.

Higher fire risk in deep-freeze high-bay warehouses

A comprehensive fire protection solution was required to ensure smooth operation and optimal processes. Possible cable fires, overheating of conveyor motors or technical effects on refrigeration systems naturally increase the risk of fire in a deep-freeze high-bay warehouse: Due to the dry atmosphere and packaging materials such as paper, cardboard and film, the fire load is particularly high.

The risk of fire is increased in deep-freeze high-bay warehouses. KLM's new facility is protected by a customized fire protection solution. Photo: Wagner

The narrow and high spaces between the shelves greatly facilitate the vertical spread and spread of a fire to other pallet spaces. A fast and reliable fire protection solution is therefore essential, especially in food logistics. This is because contamination of the stored goods by smoke and soot or extinguishing water containing antifreeze would cause the entire contents of the warehouse to be lost.

The active fire prevention system

Wagner's "OxyReduct" uses a controlled nitrogen supply to reduce the oxygen content in the deep-freeze high-bay warehouse to 16.2 percent by volume - normal breathing air contains 20.9 percent by volume. This oxygen-reduced protective atmosphere has an extremely fire-retardant effect and effectively protects the warehouse and the stored goods from the effects of a fire.

The reduction of the oxygen concentration to 16.2% by volume required in the protection concept was determined in cooperation with the independent testing institute VdS Schadenverhütung GmbH by means of fire tests in Wagner's test rooms. The fire protection solution was thus optimally adapted to the conditions at KLM and can develop its maximum protective effect with the least possible effort.

Intelligent industrial fire detectors for increased safety

The Minimax logistics team of experts supports users with customized fire protection solutions. In hazardous goods warehouses, for example, the fire protection technology used depends on the goods stored. Oxero inert gas extinguishing systems with nitrogen or Aragon are particularly suitable for a wide range of hazardous materials, as they extinguish quickly and without leaving any residue.

Water-permeable shelves for racking

Hofe Regalsysteme offers shelves with perforations for warehouses with built-in sprinkler systems. Managing Director Michael Sieper from Julius vom Hofe explains: "Fire protection is particularly efficient in shelving with perforated shelves. The extinguishing water can reach all levels and have a targeted effect. The shelves are available with a water permeability of around 37 percent, but also over 50 percent". "The shelves also have a high load-bearing capacity. The hole arrangement and the hole diameter can be determined individually. The specifications of insurance companies and authorities are taken into account during the construction of the warehouse," he continues. Automatic sprinkler systems already offer a high level of protection to minimize damage to the floor space and goods in the warehouse and to prevent the flames from spreading. In some cases, sprinkler systems are already installed in the racking, depending on requirements.

The often extreme environmental conditions pose challenges for detector technology. The intelligent UniVario industrial fire detectors from Minimax with their robust housing and mounting technology are designed for this. The flame detectors in the FMX5000 IR and FMX5000 UV versions detect open flames. The UniVario "3GD" and "Ex" variants have been developed for fire detection in potentially explosive areas, especially for hazardous material storage facilities. The "Helios AMX 5000" aspirating smoke detectors detect even the smallest smouldering fires and provide early warning.

Excellent fire protection solutions

There is still a lot of catching up to do when it comes to fire protection in warehouses and logistics centers", states the Bundesverband Technischer Brandschutz e.V. (bvfa), "but there are also many companies that have done everything right and focus on the best possible safety". For example, Alnatura was awarded the "Sprinkler Pronehmen has protected the world's largest wooden high-bay warehouse with a sprinkler system in accordance with VdS CEA 4001 at its distribution center in Lorsch in 2015. And at WILD, known for the soft drink Capri-Sun, the channel storage system at the production site in Eppelheim was equipped with an automatic sprinkler system with 22,500 sprinklers installed in accordance with VdS quality criteria.

And the FMZ 5000 fire detection and extinguishing control panels are used for virtually instantaneous fire detection and for controlling and monitoring water and gas extinguishing systems.

Reinhard Irrgang

Contact:

Federal Association for Technical Fire Protection e.V.

Calanbau Brandschutzanlagen GmbHwww.calanbau.de

Fire Protect Solutionswww.fire-protection-solutions.com

Julius vom Hofe GmbH & Co. KGwww.hofe.de

Minimax GmbH & Co KGwww.minimax.de

Wagner Group GmbHwww.wagner.de