Active fire prevention in the robotic storage system
Automated compact storage systems are highly efficient robot-assisted compact storage systems for small parts. The goods are stored in containers of the same type. Due to the compact design of these storage systems, storage takes up less space than other systems. They thus perfectly serve the needs arising for companies from e-commerce and click & collect, for example. With an active fire prevention system for permanent, reliable fire protection, the risk of fire spreading is minimized from the outset. The warehouse is holistically protected from damage caused by fire, smoke or unsuitable extinguishing agents and the ability to deliver is ensured 24/7.
Fire protection as a holistic solution
The active fire prevention system OxyReduct® prevents fires from spreading and thus protects against fire-related loss of goods and interruption of operations. An airtight enclosure ensures that the oxygen content in the area to be protected can permanently lowered and kept at this level in a controlled manner. This is achieved by introducing nitrogen, which is generated as required from the ambient air on site. A protective atmosphere is thus created in the defined protected area. The uncontrolled spread of fire within the automated compact storage system (= protected area) is prevented, disposal of fire residues or extinguishing agents is therefore not necessary. The storage areas and efficiency of the logistics system are not affected by the fire protection systems, as the technology used is installed in a space-saving manner outside the storage system in a plant room. Just as the storage system is expandable, OxyReduct® is also scalable.
Since the risk of short circuits and sweltering cables cannot be completely ruled out even in an oxygen-reduced atmosphere, highly sensitive TITANUS® air sampling smoke detectors are always part of the holistic fire protection solution. They detect the finest pyrolysis particles at the earliest possible stage and enable countermeasures to be taken in good time.
3D representation of a possible fire protection solution in the compact storage system
- Airtight enclosure ensures that the nitrogen cannot escape
- Robots transport the small load carriers
- Intake pipes direct the air samples to the intake air sampling smoke detector
- N2 inlet tube introduces the nitrogen into the protected area
- OXY.SENS® O2 sensors measure the oxygen concentration
- TITANUS® air sampling smoke detector for early fire detection
- N2 generator extracts the nitrogen for oxygen reduction from the ambient air
Interviews about fire protection in compact storage systems
Christopher Siebert, Head of Risk Engineering - Fire Protection at Gothaer Allgemeine Versicherung AG
As an insurance company, we step in when further risks need to be covered. For example, to insure the stored material assets against loss or damage, up to the coverage in case of a business interruption. And at this point, the consideration of a compact storage system becomes challenging, because in addition to the size, we are interested in other criteria.
Marius Benson, Sales Manager of ROCKETSOLUTION GmbH
As a result of our high storage density and compactness, our system is also subject to very high requirements in terms of "fire protection". On the customer side, the focus is not only on the initial investment costs for fire protection systems, but also on their ongoing costs for maintenance and upkeep.
Christian Doppler, Head of Safety and Technology of Competec Logistik AG
Every minute they stand still, the complicated ecosystem of interwoven trades falters - the delivery promise can no longer be kept in every case. The same requirement also applies to inerting, which provides effective fire prevention for such systems: Our compact storage systems are protected with active fire prevention through oxygen reduction.
Christian Reichert, Project Manager Implementation Jungheinrich PowerCube at Jungheinrich AG
There is no standard fire protection solution for compact storage system. Influencing factors such as local guidelines, insurer specifications, type of stored goods, structural conditions, existing expandable systems, etc. lead to individual fire protection solutions.Nevertheless, there is one process that has the character of a Swiss Army knife for fire protection - oxygen reduction or inerting.
Reference projects
Komsa AG, Hartmannsdorf (Germany)
Fire effects such as high temperatures and smoke as well as extinguishing water would contaminate and destroy our goods. This leads to the interruption of our operating processes and, as a consequence, to the loss of our ability to deliver - an absolute no-go for us. So we quickly came to the active fire prevention technology OxyReduct® from WAGNER.
(Gernot Graebner, Supply Chain Manager KOMSA AG)
Aqipa GmbH, Kundl (Austria)
The Austrian company aqipa decided to use active fire protection from WAGNER for its automated high-bay warehouse to safeguard its premium products. From the beginning, it was clear that a conventional sprinkler solution would not suffice. The "Gear Guru" warehouse with AutoStore® technology and goods for the consumer electronics sector has too compact a design to ensure that the water would even get through to the source of the fire. Not to mention the effects of high temperatures, smoke and extinguishing water on the goods. The decision to actively prevent fires was therefore the only logical consequence.
Competec Logistik AG, Willisau (Switzerland)
The requirements and conditions in building construction have been considerably expanded and specified in recent years. This results in a great deal of coordination and agreement effort for the specialist planners when constructing such a complex building. This can only be managed with competent partners.
(Roland Brack, Founder and owner of the Competec group of companies)
Elektro-Material AG, Zürich (Switzerland)
In 2020, WAGNER equipped the newly built automated compact container warehouse of Elektro-Material in Zurich (Switzerland) with intelligent fire protection. The 6,300 m³ protected area is protected by an OxyReduct® oxygen reduction system for active fire prevention in combination with TITANUS® aspirating smoke detectors. The SES guidelines were complied with.
Sonepar AG, Wallisellen (Switzerland)
In 2020, WAGNER equipped the automated compact storage system with a protected area of 9,700 m³ in Wallisellen (Switzerland) with a holistic fire protection solution consisting of active fire prevention OxyReduct® and early fire detection TITANUS® in accordance with SES guidelines.
Kessel AG, Lenting (Germany)
For KESSEL, WAGNER installs an oxygen reduction system in Lenting (Bavaria, Germany) for active fire prevention in the automated compact storage system. The OxyReduct® system permanently reduces the oxygen content within the closed storage area of the compact storage system.
"Fire sources in high-bay racks often lead to the complete destruction of the warehouse. That is why it was particularly important for us to exclude the development or spread of fire from the outset," says project manager Stephanie Fürsich, KESSEL AG, explaining the choice of WAGNER's innovative fire protection concept.
