Summary of Innovation
WAGNER developed its OxyReduct® System to be an Active Fire Prevention System. Unlike conventional fire suppression systems, i.e., sprinklers, OxyReduct® does not extinguish fires, but rather prevents fires from starting. Proactive vs reactive Fire Prevention System.
The triangle of fire includes heat, fuel and oxygen. With one aspect of the triangle removed, fire cannot start.
The ambient environment is approximately 21% oxygen, 78% nitrogen and 1% miscellaneous.
The OxyReduct® System is designed to introduce natural, non-toxic nitrogen, from the environment, into the Warehouse, protected area, wherein the oxygen level is reduced to the specific ignition threshold of the stored products and materials (Fire Testing of products and stored materials to establish ignition threshold, similar to that of defining the hazard classification for a sprinkler calc). The nitrogen is produced from the ambient air, with the oxygen separated and exhausted back to the environment.
The protected area, with the reduced oxygen, eliminates the risk of a fire. Further, there is no damage in the protected area to stored product and equipment, since there is no risk of fire, there is no risk of water, smoke, soot or residue from extinguishing agents. The investment in facilities and assets remain well protected.
OxyReduct® has proven quite successful in ASRS installations. The introduced nitrogen is dispersed throughout the entirety of the protected area, ensuring all product and equipment have full Fire Preventive Protection.
WAGNER understands not all installations are the same, which then present different fire safety issues. Therefore, each system is customized, based upon the environment, i.e., cold storage, hazmat, data center, etc., to ensure the proper full prevention plan is designed and implemented.
WAGNER has the experience to work with local authorities, including fire, insurance, etc., ensuring all code requirements are met.
We also know that storage capacity is becoming more compact and dense. The racking is designed to utilize as much of the open space as possible. With sprinklers installed, less capacity is available for the racking. WAGNER OxyReduct®, is able to free up to 10-15% of storage space, on average.
Often overlooked, is business continuity following a fire. Does the owner know, recognize how long a facility will be rendered inoperable following a fire, weeks, months, years? What are the costs to clean up the facility, replace the product, equipment, loss of business, reputation? When a fire cannot start, this is removed from the equation.
The WAGNER OxyReduct® System, operated with electricity from renewable sources, is a sustainable, environmentally friendly solution.
OxyReduct® is the first active Fire Prevention System certified by VdS, Europe’s leading independent body for fire safety. Of critical importance to warehouse developers, owners and operators, this certification is further testament to the system’s quality and reliability.
FM Global released a Property Loss Prevention Data Sheet, 4-13, dated October 2021.
Low Oxygen System Solution is currently under review for approval.
Innovation Statement
The WAGNER OxyReduct® is a proactive Fire Prevention System, removing the potential of a fire. The investments of the owner are well protected, ensuring no damage from fire, fire extinguishing agents, loss of product, equipment and most importantly, business continuity. All of this is achieved with the WAGNER nitrogen generators, separating the nitrogen and oxygen in the ambient environment, and introducing the nitrogen into the protected area, reducing the oxygen level, which eliminates the risk of fire. The WAGNER OxyReduct® System, if operated with electricity from renewable sources, is a sustainable, environmentally friendly solution.
Applicability
The WAGNER OxyReduct®, is a proven Fire Prevention Solution, mitigating the possibility of a fire, eliminating damage to product and equipment from fire, smoke, water and/or extinguishing agents and ensures business continuity. The following are the more common installations.
• ASRS operated warehouses
• Low/High Bay Warehouses
• Ambient, Cold and Freezer Storage
• Data Centers, etc.
| Posted Date | 1/17/24 |
| Contact | Kai Beckhaus |
| Contact Email | kai.beckhaus[at]wagner-us.com |
| Category | Best New Innovation in Sustainability |