THE REAL COST OF AN INDUSTRIAL FIRE

The cost to a company of fire damage can be immense and far reaching. Initially, of course, there is the cost of repairing or replacing damaged buildings and machinery – which may be covered by appropriate insurance or leasing contracts. What is harder to insure against is the impact on productivity of having vital equipment out of action. This can lead to an inability to deliver on existing contracts, or to win new business. In turn, this can lead to a loss of reputation with valued customers who may be forced to turn elsewhere, undermining long term relationships. For some companies, even a small disruption to a steady cashflow and healthy order book can be disastrous, especially if the sector they operate in involves fairly small profit margins.

Clearly, it's important to invest in fire prevention, rather than depending solely on insurance if the worst happens. And many insurance companies agree, wanting to see evidence of preventative measures as a condition of insuring at all.

So it makes good business sense to install industrial fire suppression systems in all machinery or vehicles which are considered business critical, both to satisfy your insurers, and to protect the business.

But what are the key features you should consider for when choosing a fire suppression system? Here is a look at some of the most important factors to bear in mind.

FIVE KEY FACTORS

1. SPEED

Time is of the essence when a fire breaks out. The ideal fire detection system will tackle the fire at source and prevent it from spreading and causing more damage. This comes down to the method of detection. The system must have reliable and accurate detectors included which will pinpoint a fire as soon as it starts. This means not just establishing that a fire has started, but exactly where it is. Smoke detectors, for instance, depend on smoke from the fire travelling to the detector, usually some distance away. This gives the fire extra time to take hold and, even when the detector goes off, does not indicate exactly where the fire is. As a result, more time needs to be spent in locating the fire, and only then can it be extinguished. Sprinkler systems (even if they are appropriate for heavy industrial equipment, and in most cases they are not) are indiscriminate, potentially causing damage to other machinery or products which were otherwise unaffected by the fire.

2. SIMPLICITY

How technologically complicated is the system you are considering? If it relies on an electrical power supply, either mains or battery, there is a danger that it could go wrong if a fire breaks out during (or as a result of) a power outage. Some systems use a separate, independent power supply or backup battery – but this will add considerably to the costs, and involve ongoing additional energy costs even if there is no fire. An electronically based system will also require a range of electronic elements, perhaps involving software and a control panel – all of which will require regular maintenance and testing to ensure that everything is working correctly. Ideally, your chosen industrial fire suppression system will avoid this level of complexity and scope for error by eliminating the need for an electrical power supply of any kind, and any software or electronics, instead using straightforward mechanically based detection and suppression methods.

How technologically complicated is the system you are considering? If it relies on an electrical power supply, either mains or battery, there is a danger that it could go wrong if a fire breaks out during (or as a result of) a power outage. Some systems use a separate, independent power supply or backup battery – but this will add considerably to the costs, and involve ongoing additional energy costs even if there is no fire. An electronically based system will also require a range of electronic elements, perhaps involving software and a control panel – all of which will require regular maintenance and testing to ensure that everything is working correctly. Ideally, your chosen industrial fire suppression system will avoid this level of complexity and scope for error by eliminating the need for an electrical power supply of any kind, and any software or electronics, instead using straightforward mechanically based detection and suppression methods.

3. COST-EFFECTIVENESS

What will be the initial cost of installing the system, relative to the value of the machinery? Will it involve major disruption to the workplace to fit it? Can it be retro-fitted to your machinery or will you need to replace existing items, adding to cost?

As well as the energy costs mentioned above, are there a variety of expensive components which will be expensive to replace?

An ideal system would involve no ongoing energy costs and require very little maintenance, if any, in order to keep down business overheads. And the overall cost of installation should be just a fraction of the value of the machinery it is protecting.

4. PROVEN TRACK RECORD

Can the suppliers of your system demonstrate a successful track record of fires detected and extinguished, along with verifiable customer testimonials? As well as your own peace of mind, your insurers will also want reassurance that your system is effective and built to industrial quality standards.

5. ADAPTABILITY

Can the system be easily adapted and configured to your particular equipment and machinery? And can it be set up to integrate with your existing fire alarm or building management system?

Look for industrial fire suppression systems which allow you to choose from a wide range of extinguishants (e.g. gas, liquid, foam etc) suitable for different types of machinery. It is also essential that the manufacturer is able and willing to help you design a customised solution for your specific needs, ensuring maximum protection for your plant.

INDUSTRIAL FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEMS FROM FIRETRACE

Our systems are based on simple mechanical and pneumatic components, requiring no power supply to detect and extinguish fires. Our patented fire detection tubing can be easily installed in any type of heavy machinery or equipment and charged with a variety of different extinguishants depending on the specific application. The tubing is specially designed to burst at the exact location of a fire, immediately releasing extinguishant and suppressing the fire, virtually instantly. With no power supply required and very few moving parts involved, the system has almost zero running and maintenance costs and is cost-effective to fit. All our systems are CE marked and manufactured to ISO quality standards in the UK. In business for over 20 years, we have a good number of documented case histories and customer testimonials – and we have also earned recognition by most major insurers.