Wrexham Industrial Conveyor Belt Sprinkler Activation

• Fire Rescue Service; North Wales Fire & Rescue (NWFRS)
• Where, Wrexham Industrial Estate
• When; 13 July 2022
• Incident type; Fire
• Time of Call; 08:43
• Occupancy: Industrial
• Building; Warehouse
• Location of fire; Conveyor belt
• Automatic Fire Suppression System; Sprinklers

NWFRS have reported the above-mentioned fire involving a commercial conveyor belt which transports recycled materials for granulation (manufacturing process)

Incident

• 2 x Rescue pump Ladders were mobilised to the incident
• The seat of the fire was located to involve the industrial rubber   conveyor belt
• Fire damage was confined to the conveyor bearings
• Ignition source, friction

 Sprinkler System

• The fire was contained/controlled preventing fire spread within the building due to the activation of the commercial sprinkler system,
• Six pendant nozzle heads actuated
• Water supply suction tank/pump
• Premises sprinkler coverage, 90%

Benefits of the Commercial Sprinkler System

• Internal fire spread within the building contained/controlled
• Rapidly reducing the rate of production of heat and smoke allowing the Officer in Charge crucial time allowing the operational tactical plan to be implemented
• Allowing firefighters in carrying out search and rescue operations by limiting fire development, which significantly reduces the risks to firefighters.

Firefighting media/equipment used

• 2 sets of breathing apparatus
• One hose reel
• A thermal imaging camera

 Business Continuity

• Business interruption was reduced to 2 days clearly demonstrating that a relatively minor incident didn’t result in a major fire.

 Benefits of installing sprinklers for property protection can: –

• Prevent major financial and equipment losses,
• Prevent a potential major fire, turning it into a minor incident
• Prevent a business from going out of business

Links

• British Automatic Fire Sprinkler Association, Sprinkler Saves Annual Review 2021/22
• British Automatic Fire Sprinkler Association, Incident Data Report 3 Sprinkler Impact
• NWFRS