Sprinkler systems for industry
We carry out comprehensive investments in the design and installation of sprinkler systems for industrial plants. We have already worked with companies in the timber, food, energy and waste processing industries, etc., so we know how to implement the assembly so as not to cause production to stop. We operate in accordance with VdS, EN, NFPA and FM GLOBAL guidelines, which means you can be sure that we will meet any requirements your insurance company may have, for example.
We specialize in
Industrial facilities
- energetics
- wood industry
- food industry
- waste processing
- chemicals and petrochemicals
Fire safety guidelines and standards
- PN-EN
- VdS
- FM Global
- NFPA
Corrosive environment
- we select plant components to suit your operating environment
- experience in “difficult” industries,
- including C5M/C5-I corrosive environments
Cooperation with insurers
Let’s be clear: it is the audits of the insurance companies and the subsequent requirements placed on manufacturing companies before taking out a policy that most often trigger new investments in fire protection installations. After a number of fires in manufacturing plants in late 2022, you can expect insurers to pay even more attention to fire safety deficiencies. So the most important thing we can provide you with is a promise that whatever the requirements your insurer has outlined for you, we will meet them all.
The sprinkler systems will work well in protecting areas such as:
Production halls
Assembly halls
Equipment
Storage halls
Access to workplaces and escape routes
Staff rooms
Industry versus shopping mall – find the differences
Although the title resembles a familiar riddle, this time it will be easy – the differences between sprinkler installation used in industrial facilities versus various commercial spaces are many and they are visible to the naked eye. And it is precisely because there are so many of them that many companies specialising in the provision of fire protection systems do not deal with industrial topics at all. This is because the sprinkler systems on active production plants have to be installed in spaces filled with equipment, machinery, installations, which must first be adequately protected. The work itself is also carried out differently – sometimes at night or at weekends, and very often you simply have to wait for the production and maintenance managers to allow you into the area. Knowledge of safety and work permit rules is also necessary.
– KNOW ALL THE DIFFERENCES –
| COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS | INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS | |
|---|---|---|
| Risk of disruption to the facility during installation | Zero or minimal – the sprinkler systems are most often installed during the construction of a building, or outside normal operating hours. | Sizable or high – the work is most often carried out during normal facility operation. It is therefore important to have experience on this type of plant to minimise this risk. |
| Availability of the use of scaffolding, trolleys, hoists | Any – usually spacious, not yet filled spaces where scaffolding, trolleys and hoists can be used without difficulty | Significantly reduced – due to tightly built halls with difficult access to installation points |
| Risk of collision between the sprinkler system under construction and the hall infrastructure | Zero or minimal – again due to installation in undeveloped spaces | High – due to existing, often high, equipment and ancillary installations |
| Level of complication of the installation | Simple – the installation takes the form of a simple grid of pipework with a repeating sprinkler system mounted under the ceiling | Difficult – the multi-level installation of the equipment and the specific fire hazards generated by the individual equipment make for a compiled grid of piping and the density of sprinkler deployment varies. |
| Age of the building | Installation of sprinkler systems is carried out in new facilities | The work is most often carried out in long-standing structures, which requires consideration of, for example, structural strength |
| Health and safety regime | Work is carried out under a standard health and safety regime | Work under a high health and safety regime which requires a number of arrangements and approvals for the work |
Construction and operation of a sprinkler system
The sprinkler system belongs to the fixed extinguishing system. With sprinklers, we are able to protect production facilities without the need for expensive and complex fire detection systems. This is made possible by the use of thermosensitive elements that open the sprinkler. This solution can be used for production and assembly halls, production lines, warehouse halls, social and office areas. The sprinkler systems are characterised by automatic, spot opening only at the point where the fire occurs – when the temperature rises to a certain level, the thermosensitive ampoule breaks (in ampoule sprinklers), or the sprinkler closing element melts (in fusible sprinklers), thus releasing the water under pressure in the fire system pipework.
When the installation of a sprinkler system does not affect production, you can sleep soundly.
You run a manufacturing business. You have to produce, pack, and store… otherwise you won’t make money – we understand all this, which is why we install sprinkler systems in a way that minimises the impact on production. We specialise in this type of project, so we know how to deal with potential problems (we take them into account right from the design stage), and we are able to work with those in charge of production to agree on areas where we can carry out assembly work on a continuous basis. We only operate on designated days and times. We adapt to the planned downtime or hours or days with lower production loads. If the situation demands it, we work at night. We adapt the way we work each time to the specifics of the production in progress. All scenarios when modernising fire protection are possible.
HOW DOES IT LOOK IN PRACTICE?
Eliminating/minimising production downtime.
Coordinating closely the assembly with production planning and UR.
We determine what we will bring to the site, e.g. skips/scaffolding/high-rise workers.
We follow all of your site’s internal procedures.
If necessary, we also work nights or weekends.
We move and work only in the areas which were made available to us.
We protect your machinery and equipment before installation.
After completing installation, we clean up to let you resume production as soon as possible.
Work that is safe for the owner’s property
At every stage of our activities, the safety of the owner’s property, which is accumulated in halls, warehouses and other production spaces, is crucial to us. We are aware that any damage caused through our fault may have subsequent repercussions in the continuity of production. We are therefore doing everything to ensure that such situations do not occur.
BEFORE INSTALLATION
We define the scope of work with the owner.
Read the safety guidelines carefully.
We secure the workplace before starting work.
Covering machinery and equipment.
DURING AND AFTER INSTALLATION
We take extreme caution when moving on the premises.
We take care not to damage anything.
We clean the site thoroughly after installation.
We ensure rapid restoration of production.
- development of the concept and necessary designs
- selection and supply of key plant components
- development and implementation of a control system
- development of sprinkler system visualisation
- integration of the installation into existing security systems
- installation, commissioning and servicing of fire protection systems
In addition to sprinkler systems, we design and implement complete, integrated fire protection systems – see below for a full list. Importantly, depending on your needs, our activities can cover all or just a selection of the points listed. If necessary, we integrate the systems provided with existing solutions.
- Fire alarm system (SAP, SSP) – wired and wireless
- Fire detection system
- Ventilation and smoke extraction systems
- CCTV monitoring system
- Burglary and robbery alarm
- Voice alarm system
- Access control and time registration systems
- Emergency and Evacuation Lighting
- Fixed firefighting systems
The sprinkler systems are permanently installed, automatic fire extinguishing devices. They are designed to extinguish a fire where the extinguishing agent (water) is fed from fixed power sources permanently connected to the units.
The sprinkler systems are a common fire protection system in buildings. Among the available design standards in Poland, EN 12845 Fixed firefighting systems – Automatic sprinkler systems – Design, installation and maintenance provides guidance in this area. In addition to the aforementioned standard, we also use VdS, EN, NFPA, FM GLOBAL standards in our implementations or are based on the specific requirements of the owner.
Sprinkler systems are a self-contained fire extinguishing system that detects the moment a fire starts, sends information to the control system and automatically starts the water extinguishing process. The principle of selective extinguishing is applied here, i.e. only those sprinklers that are directly in the area of the fire focus are activated. After a firefighting operation, the sprinkler system can quickly become operational again.
Installed and prepared for triggering, the sprinkler is enclosed by a glass ampoule that is filled with coloured liquid. As the ambient temperature increases, the liquid contained in the ampoule increases in volume, which consequently causes the ampoule to burst and thus the sprinkler opens. The extinguishing water, which is under pressure in the system, reaches the deflector of the sprinkler, which distributes it evenly over the fire focus. The use of sprinkler technology, with just a few sprinklers, enables extinguishing a fire, thus keeping damage to a minimum. Once the fire has been extinguished, the open sprinkler must be replaced with a new one before the system is prepared for operation again.
The colours of the liquid in the ampoules indicate the activation temperature of the sprinkler:
- Orange 57°C
- Red 68°C
- Yellow 79°C
- Green 93°C
- Blue 141°C
- water reserve tank
- pumping station
- control and alarm stations
- a piping network with sprinklers installed uniformly throughout the area protected with sprinklers
- fire control panel monitoring the state of the installation
Unlike many other companies, we focus on carrying out difficult tasks mainly in the industrial sector (including in explosive atmospheres). Our strength is in the comprehensiveness of our fire systems, which include fire detection, signalling and suppression, emergency and evacuation lighting, smoke extraction and ventilation, video surveillance and access control management.
Key facilities and equipment for which we carry out sprinkler systems or complete fire protection systems.
- power plants and combined heat and power plants
- belt conveyors
- transformers
- refineries and fuel tanks
- paint shops
- waste treatment plants
- woodworking industry
- food industry
Sprinkler systems
SCOPE OF WORK – sprinkler systems
- concept and necessary designs development
- selection and delivery of key system elements
- control system design and implementation
- visualisation of the sprinkler system
- integration with the existing safety systems
- installation, commissioning and service of the fire-fighting system
SCOPE OF WORK – complete fire-extinguishing systems
Apart from sprinkler systems, we design and implement integrated fire-fighting system – their list may be found below. Depending on your needs, our work may cover all or only selected items listed below. In need, we integrate the supplied systems with the existing solutions.
- Fire alarm system (FAS) – wired and wireless
- Fire detection system
- Ventilation and smoke removal system
- CCTV monitoring
- Intruder alarm system (IAS)
- Voice alarm system (VAS)
- Access control as well as time and attendance control
- Emergency and escape route lighting
- Fixed suppression systems
SPRINKLER SYSTEMS – description
A sprinkler system is a fixed automatic extinguishing equipment. Such equipment is intended for extinguishing fire for which the extinguishing agent (water) is fed from fixed supply sources which are permanently connected to the equipment.
Sprinkler systems are generally applied as fire-fighting measures in buildings. Among the available designing standards in Poland, the guidelines in that regard are provided in the Polish Standard PN-EN 12845 “Fixed fire-fighting systems – Automatic sprinkler systems – Design, installation and maintenance”.
Sprinkler systems are automatic fire-extinguishing systems that detect the moment of fire origination and send the information to the control system, which is followed by the automatic commencement of the process of fire extinguishing with water. Selective extinguishing principles are applied here, which means that only those sprinklers are activated which are located in direct vicinity of the origin of fire. After the fire-fighting action, the sprinkler system may quickly reach its full operational capacity again.
SPRINKLER SYSTEMS – principle of operation
A sprinkler installed and prepared for operation is closed by a glass ampoule, which is filled with a colour liquid. Along with the increase of ambient temperature, the liquid in the ampoule extends its volume, which in consequences causes the ampoule to break and the sprinkler gets open. The extinguishing water present in the pressurised system is directed to the sprinkler deflector, which equally distributes water over the place of origin of fire. With the use of sprinkler technology, already several sprinklers are capable of extinguishing fire, which limits losses to the minimum. After the fire is extinguished, before the system is prepared for operation again, the open sprinkler must be replaced with a new one.
The colour of the liquid in the ampoule informs about the sprinkler activation temperature:
- Orange 57°C
- Red 68°C
- Yellow 79°C
- Green 93°C
- Blue 141°C
SPRINKLER SYSTEMS – basic elements
- spare water tank
- pumping station
- control and alarm stations
- a network of pipelines with equally spaced sprinklers over the whole area covered with sprinkler control
- fire alarm panel monitoring the system condition
SPRINKLER SYSTEMS – application
Unlike many other companies, we focus on accomplishing difficult tasks mainly in the industrial sector (also in the explosion hazard zones). Our strength is the comprehensive service which enables the creation of fire detection, alarm and extinguishing systems, emergency and escape route lighting, ventilation and smoke removal systems, CCTV, and access control.
The most important structures and equipment for which we provide sprinkler systems or complete fire-fighting systems include:
- power plants and cogeneration plants
- conveyor belts
- transformers
- refineries and fuel tanks
- paint shops
- waste disposal plants
- wood industry
- food industry
Fire protection systems – offer
