An Integrated Fire Protection Concept is Key to Protecting Your Business
Common causes of fire include technical defects, short circuits or flammable materials. Therefore, every company should have an integrated fire protection system to avoid fires and prevent damage. Safety measures, such as fire detection systems and solutions and regular maintenance, are obligatory for companies to minimize potential downtime and prevent injuries. Fires can have a tremendous effect on businesses. Apart from immense pecuniary impacts, fire damage can have a negative impact on delivery capacity. Poor fire prevention measures can even lead to the temporary incapacity of the company. Therefore, integrated safety solutions with fire protection should be considered.
Preventive course of action with an integrated concept
An integrated fire protection concept should take into account three basic elements: Constructional fire protection preventing the expansion of the fire; organizational fire protection including staff preventative measures; and technology enabling the earliest possible fire detection and extinguishing.
Part of this concept includes professional consultation and planning before implementation. Safety measures must be in compliance with all official regulations. These measures should be installed by experienced providers that can also provide maintenance services. Fire alarm installations that are connected to stationary extinguishing systems are crucial. The ideal fire alarm system consists of detection devices that react on temperature, smoke or by a fire alarm control panel. Once the detector is triggered, an alarm is set off by the control center that alerts the responsible fire brigade. The units can determine where the fire was detected and take quick action. Employees can also be trained to fight smaller fire sources in a simple manner, which is why additional placement of mobile fire extinguishers or wall hydrants should round out this integrated concept.
Safety, flexibility and environmental sustainability
Depending on the application, gaseous extinguishing systems with water are used in stationary preventative fire protection systems. Systems that work with the extinguishing gas NovecTM 1230 have proven themselves to be particularly environmentally sustainable and fast working. These systems offer an ideal extinguishing agent distribution and a high level of flexibility and are often used in the IT segment since it protects sensitive technology in the best possible way. Systems using Novec™ 1230 provide a short flooding time of a maximum of ten seconds with high permeability, dissolving within a few days in comparison to extinguishing agents that remain in the atmosphere for decades. This extinguishing agent is highly recommended, with an Ozone Depletion Potential value of 0 and a Global Warming Potential of 1.
High-pressure water mist systems are an equally reliable water-based alternative. These systems use a pure water mist, activating the moment the fire is detected and preventing it from spreading. The system can be used in sensitive technology areas, data centers or archives without causing greater damage. Both systems are effective, whether installing Marioff HI-FOG® water mist system or systems utilizing the agent NovecTM 1230.
Adequate measures for every situation
An integrated fire protection concept should be adjusted to meet a customer’s individual needs. Employee safety is always a main focus. Fire trainings help employees learn how to react in case of fire and how to handle and operate a fire extinguisher. Also, the environmental sustainability of integrated fire protection systems is very important. Fire protection should meet these requirements with environmentally sustainable extinguishing agents. Ensuring the quick restart of business processes must also be a part of an integrated fire protection concept. The shorter the downtime of production or business processes, the lower the economic detriment.
Regular maintenance ensures long-term functionality
Maintenance agreements help to ensure the quality and performance of a fire protection system. Maintenance agreements should be in place for the entire fire protection system, including fire extinguishers, and ideally provided from a single source. In this case, the danger of negligence is avoided and all systems and contingency plans operate smoothly in case of emergency. A future-orientated fire protection concept is therefore ensured.