Dr. Oetker relies on solutions from WAGNER

Which applications or areas do you protect with WAGNER systems?  

Dr. Oetker: We produce frozen pizzas and similar products at three German sites and several international locations within our company group. We operate deep-freeze high-bay warehouses at all of these production sites. The temperature in these mostly fully automated facilities ranges between -23 °C and -25 °C. We have been protecting many of our deep-freeze warehouses with OxyReduct^® systems from WAGNER for over 10 years. 

Which specific fire risks exist in your storage units? What protection goals are you pursuing with the fire protection solution you have implemented? 

Dr. Oetker: The high-bay warehouses store pre-packaged frozen pizzas and similar products. The fire load is clearly evident from the product itself, but also essentially from the packaging materials used and from the size of the high-bay warehouses with many ten thousand pallet spaces. Various types of film, cardboard, and wooden pallets are used as packaging materials. 
The oxygen reduction systems installed in the warehouses are designed to prevent fire damage and thus maintain the operational readiness of the respective plant. At the same time, easy system handling, the prevention of unwanted water leaks, and comparatively uncomplicated installation are important to us.  

What were the crucial reasons for choosing oxygen reduction for fire prevention?  

Dr. Oetker: From our company's point of view, an oxygen reduction system such as those manufactured by WAGNER is the simplest and most efficient solution for fire prevention. An extinguishing system such as a sprinkler system is not an option for us. Installing these systems in a deep-freeze warehouse would involve a great deal of effort. Furthermore, with a sprinkler system, there is a risk that even the smallest fires extinguished by the sprinkler system could result in total loss of the stored goods. A sprinkler system always requires an incipient fire, which is accompanied by soot and heat buildup. Even in small doses, both are particularly harmful to the stored frozen goods. Therefore, our goal is to prevent incipient fires from developing in the first place. OxyReduct^® systems are ideal for this purpose. 

How did your insurer react to the decision to install an oxygen reduction system? Were there any special requirements or feedback? 

Dr. Oetker: We were able to dispel the initial skepticism on the part of the insurers over time. Our goal with regard to insurers is to continually convince them that the approach we have taken to fire prevention is the most reasonable and effective one for our company. As a result, the insurers working for our company now support the strategy of protecting deep-freeze high-bay warehouses through oxygen reduction systems. 
In order to convince our existing and potential new insurers of our excellent fire protection, we organized a fire protection day for insurers in the summer of 2025 in collaboration with WAGNER. We would like to take this opportunity to once again thank WAGNER for making this possible. 
During this fire protection day, WAGNER conducted tests using the products we typically store to demonstrate how effectively oxygen reduction systems work in deep-freeze rooms. In addition, the insurers had ample opportunity to ask questions about the technology itself and the operation of the system. For example, the question arose as to what would happen if the outer shell were to break. It should be noted here that the nitrogen used for oxygen reduction remains very stable in the building envelope and does not immediately evaporate if the envelope is broken. The system operator has several days to seal the break in the building envelope. 
The event helped to further improve insurers' confidence in the technology and made it easier for us to renew our fire insurance contract. 

Have the systems changed working life in the protected areas?  

Dr. Oetker: No, working life in the areas protected by the systems has not changed. To be fair, however, it must be said that the protected areas are not usually accessed by personnel anyways. These areas are only accessed for maintenance and repair work on the high-bay warehouse. 
However, as we operate the system with an oxygen content of no less than 17%, service personnel and maintenance personnel do not need to take any additional protective measures, such as wearing breathing apparatus, when entering the protected high-bay warehouse facilities. 

Were there any concerns about oxygen reduction beforehand? 

Dr. Oetker: From the outset, there were no concerns about oxygen reduction in the protected areas, either among the workforce or other stakeholders. 

How has cooperation been with WAGNER – both in the project stage and during ongoing operations? What do you particularly appreciate? 

Dr. Oetker: The project stages from initial planning to acceptance/commissioning of the OxyReduct^® systems are going well. In terms of service, we have a competent partner at our side in Mr. Roth. We are very satisfied with the support we receive here. 

What measurable benefits have you achieved by using WAGNER systems? 

Dr. Oetker: In absolute terms, the advantages of the OxyReduct^® system cannot be expressed without a comparative calculation with other extinguishing systems. Of course, we also made such calculations as part of our investment decisions, but explaining them would go beyond the scope of this interview. 
In addition, we have found that WAGNER oxygen reduction systems offer our company significantly higher operational safety. This applies to the operation itself, but also to any accompanying circumstances, such as the unintentional release of extinguishing media, as can occur with sprinkler systems. The operation and handling of the systems are also very simple and can be easily integrated into the daily routine at our locations. 
With regard to our insurances, it can be said that they now support the concept of oxygen reduction systems. This applies to existing properties as well as new buildings. In our experience, it is particularly important in new buildings to involve insurers in the fire protection concept at an early stage and to give them room for optimization approaches. 
We hope that the fire protection day at WAGNER will enable us to take advantage of alternative insurance markets in the medium to long term, if necessary.