Modern intralogistics benefits from space-saving storage. Therefore, compact container storage systems are being used in more and more facilities. However, this compactness also brings risks in terms of fire protection. Wagner recommends a preventative approach during the planning phase and simulating fire scenarios.
If, for example, a fire is triggered by defects in the electronics, the high packing density poses a particular hazard. It makes targeted firefighting, for example with conventional water-based extinguishing agents, more difficult. In the event of an incident, the extent of the damage can be significant, especially due to the high concentration of valuable assets, and can lead to a complete shutdown of operations.
Dirk Band, Head of Sales at Wagner in Langenhagen, emphasizes the importance of preventative fire protection measures. "A holistic approach to fire protection is essential to achieving individual protection goals," he says. Various factors play a role here, such as storage density, container and packaging material, and potential fire hazards, for example, stored or used lithium-ion batteries.
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“I recommend involving all relevant parties early in the fire protection planning process for automated compact container storage systems, including fire protection planners, experts, and insurers, in order to identify risks and define individual protection goals,” Band explains. The company has been supporting businesses for years in preventing fire-related losses and supply disruptions in automated warehouses.
To this end, the company conducts extensive fire tests in Langenhagen near Hanover as part of its customer projects. The specific application, spatial conditions, and materials used are all taken into account. This allows for a precise risk assessment and the development of customized protective measures.
Wagner, for its part, has relied for years on the introduction of nitrogen into the protected area, which reduces the oxygen concentration to a predefined level. The nitrogen distributes itself evenly, even in compact storage situations, thus ensuring a protective atmosphere. The required nitrogen is sustainably extracted directly on-site from the ambient air. The system for this can be installed in a space-saving manner.
OxyReduct installation. Fig.: Wagner Group
Even in oxygen-reduced environments, especially with a high degree of automation, cable or smoldering fires can still occur. To locate these small fires as early as possible and initiate countermeasures, active aspirating smoke detectors are available that detect fires up to two thousand times earlier than conventional point detectors, thus facilitating the resumption of processes in the warehouse after a smoldering cable fire. A Titanus series protects against unnecessary operational interruptions thanks to its high level of false alarm protection.
A comprehensive hazard management system and the integration of various safety systems into a manufacturer-independent, central user interface make the display of all indicator systems transparent. Band: "The combination of fire detection and active fire prevention offers the highest possible protection against fire and consequential damage, even in retrofitted warehouses."
At LogiMAT: Hall 7, Stand C15
