The insurance perspective
Fire protection in compact storage system ensures business interruptions
Due to increasing automation in warehouses, ever denser storage and the risk of business interruption, insurance companies are currently looking more closely at the various fire protection solutions available on the market and their effectiveness in the event of a fire.
In warehouse logistics, there are many fire risks for warehouses, goods and operating equipment. In order to protect oneself not only against damage to people and the environment (the basis here being the fire protection concept on which the building permit is based), warehouse operators take out appropriate insurance policies to compensate for the loss of material assets or further consequential costs in the event of fire due to business interruptions or contractual penalties for unfulfilled delivery orders. In the event of an emergency, this can determine the existence of the company.
New risk assessment for automated compact storage systems
In addition to their compact design, the main characteristic of automated compact storage systems is their dense storage. This allows a fire to spread quickly and unhindered. Depending on the stored goods, the concentration of values is correspondingly high. In these storage systems in particular, insurance companies assess not only the material value but also the risk of delivery failures or even complete business interruptions, especially in the context of the fire protection solution used.
From an insurance perspective, the following factors are relevant for risk assessment and the risk to be insured:
- Warehouse size
- Warehouse density
- Concentration of values due to stored goods and values
- Risk potential for supply interruptions
- Risk potential for complete operational failures
Is it at all possible to extinguish a fire in a compact storage systems quickly and effectively so that the fire can be prevented from spreading rapidly, thus preventing greater damage to the stored goods?
– Christopher Siebert, Head of Risk Engineering - Fire Protection at Gothaer Allgemeine Versicherung AG
The current view of the insurance companies
FM Global
FM Global Insurance, which operates worldwide, has published data sheets on the subject of active fire prevention using oxygen reduction and is currently testing the effectiveness of oxygen reduction systems using its own fire tests and is developing a procedure for certifying these systems for active fire prevention.
Gothaer Allgemeine Versicherung AG
Gothaer Allgemeine Versicherung AG recommends dealing with fire protection at an early stage. The insurance company is currently examining the effectiveness of fire prevention systems in comparison with other methods, especially for compact container storage facilities.
Tested solutions from WAGNER
At WAGNER, we understand fire protection as a holistic solution. From our point of view, the development of an appropriate solution for your compact storage systems must always be adapted to your individual requirements. For this purpose, the fire risks in your warehouse are analyzed and evaluated. Based on this analysis and taking into account your specific protection goals, we design the fire protection solution that is right for you.
We offer tested and certified products and systems for active fire prevention in combination with early fire detection by aspirating smoke detectors. Here we can prove the success and effectiveness of our solutions in compact storage systems with worldwide reference projects. For each project, fire tests are carried out to define the necessary oxygen concentration for the build-up of the protective atmosphere.