Understanding the common causes of warehouse fires can help all building managers to do the best possible work for fire safety – preventing them before they have the opportunity to start. Here are the top causes of fire damage in warehouses as per NFPA Fire Analysis & Research Report:

• Nearly one-fifth (18%) of warehouse fires were intentionally set. These fires accounted for 32% of the direct property damage in warehouse properties
• Electrical distribution or lighting equipment was the cause of 18% of warehouse fires and 17% of direct property damage
• Arcing is the most common heat source (13% of fires) in warehouse fires

Warehouses present special challenges for fire protection because their contents and layouts are conducive to fire spread and present obstacles to traditional fire detection and suppression efforts. The warehouse racking can create a number of challenges that require very specific fire detection to overcome. Some of the common flammable materials stored in the racks include:

1. Materials such as wooden pallets and dust are combustible and can ignite easily, allowing a fire to spread quickly
2. The cardboard and plastic packaging goods are wrapped in burns very well
3. Also, poorly maintained machinery, including forklifts or conveyor belts near the racks, can overheat or create sparks

This makes providing a reliable detection system difficult and requires a specialist detection system such as Technica Fiber Tech’s Fire Rakshak to quickly and efficiently provide a fire warning and turn on the fire fighting mechanism if required.

How is Fire Rakshak better than Conventional Heat detection technologies?

Fire Rakshak is a great option for warehouse heat detection applications, in comparison to traditional sensors like spot-type smoke, flame detectors, and beam detectors. Such sensors generally get clogged by dust and dirt or blocked by objects which can result in false alarms or a lack of detection when it’s needed most.

Unlike spot detection, Fire Rakshak delivers consistent protection along the length of the cable no matter its size or configuration. The detection of overheating in the early stages of a developing fire is essential. Fire Rakshak’s fiber optic cable provides effective heat detection within the storage racking itself from floor level to the top of the racks which is not practical with the majority of traditional fire detection systems such as point heat type detectors.

How does Fire Rakshak help prevent fire breakout?

Because warehouse racking systems can be large and span large distances within a facility, detecting fires can be a challenge and render traditional heat detection processes ineffective as we have learned earlier.

Fire Rakshak systems involve installing a fiber optic cable along with the shelving of warehouse racking, electrical panels, and other assets that need to be protected, which may include ceiling and floor void spaces, switch rooms, etc. The cable is divided in software into multiple heat detection zones, where each zone can have its own unique characteristic alarm thresholds assigned to it, so the system is extremely flexible in this regard. Fire Rakshak system can detect heat at any point along its length and report an accurate location of a fire to the dashboard and can also provide a pre-alarm for potential fires to be investigated before the alarm is raised. After the Fire Rakshak system recognizes fire and it can automatically actuate the relevant, preprogrammed protective measures (alarm signals, ventilation control, and fire suppression). The cable is divided in software into multiple fire detection zones, where each zone can have its own unique characteristic alarm thresholds assigned to it, so the system is extremely flexible in this regard.

So, Fire Rakshak is the most effective way to make sure warehouse managers can detect and suppress a fire before it causes fatal damage to the facility.

Wrapping Up!

As per NFPA Fire Analysis & Research Report, 1,200 warehouse fires occur annually in the US and cost businesses around $160 million in property damage on average.

Don’t let your business become a statistic. Installing Technica Fiber Tech’s Fire Rakshak at your warehouse facility can significantly minimize your fire and property damage risks, while effectively protecting your valuable assets. If you need a reliable heat detection system installed at your commercial property, Technica Fiber Tech have you covered. We have been protecting people and property from fire damage and our experience shows in our excellent work! We are known for our superb customer service, our expertise, and our reliability.