image credit A&F Sprinklers
- Incident; Fire involving aluminium extrusion machinery
- When; 26 October 2022
- Time of incident: 14:00
- Where, Derbyshire
- Use of premises; Industrial
- Fixed installation; Automatic fire suppression system (AFSS)
A&F Sprinklers have reported the above-mentioned incident resulting in the activation of the premises sprinkler system
Background
- Aluminium extrusion is widely used in construction, automobile and aircraft sector, industrial machinery, and consumer goods. Since the extrusion process is a thermal process there are many sources of ignition.
The incident
- It is reported that a fire occurred within the warehouse facility above the aluminium extrusion machinery activating 1x Sprinkler head which contained, controlled, and extinguished the fire.
- Allowing the installation to be safely isolated following the fire by the site engineer manager.
Business Continuity Management (BCM)
- In-house protocols were in place allowing the system to be reinstated following the incident with the replacement of the sprinkler head (Tyco TY5131) system recharged within 4 hours of the incident.
- Every business is at risk of disruption from a variety of threats, as well as fire, these threats can include flood, loss of power or even loss of staff. 80% of businesses (without a business continuity plan) that are exposed by a major incident either never re-open or close within 18 months. Almost 1in 5 businesses suffer disruption every year
- The importance of BCM as a holistic approach that provides a framework for building organizational resilience protecting valuable assets from fire or can significantly mitigate the effects that a fire has upon assets to achieve business continuity clearly demonstrated following this incident.
- Careful consideration by management to understand the importance/role of fixed fire installations installed in their premises, the outcome of which will allow potential threats to be identified and addressed.
Links