The whole world relies on continual output from diverse industries for the supply of goods and materials, including frozen foods, medicines, car parts and cardboard packaging. Industrial sites are hazardous environments, with numerous risks of fires and explosions which could damage premises or expensive machinery. Resulting forced downtime, and repair or replacement of ruined assets, generates high unplanned costs.
Bosch provides compatible solutions and smart systems with constant monitoring and safety coverage to protect workers and ensure business continuity. They detect multiple hazards and alert safety managers promptly, while reliably cutting false alarms and other avoidable emergencies. Remote maintenance services offer an easy, convenient solution which saves valuable time for systems integrators and safety managers.
Challenges
- Protection of people in admin areas: Rooms for administrative work or research are often located close to the heart of industrial businesses – production lines and storage facilities which house potential sources of ignition and combustion. This makes office staff, resources and equipment vulnerable if a fire breaks out or if an explosion occurs, especially as computers, paper and fabric-covered furniture would all exacerbate the spread of fire.
- Confined spaces: To avoid the hazards of wires and cables dangling from ceilings or across work areas, they are often packed above false ceiling tiles or below false floors. This, however, limits the kind of fire safety solutions that can be fitted and maintained in these areas. Point detectors cannot be used as adequate clearing spaces are needed around them so they function effectively. Yet these tight spaces can easily ignite due to electrical sources and trapped dust.
- Explosion hazardous zones: Some industries require the use of combustible substances, or certain processes combine different materials and conditions which together carry a high risk of explosion. Not all fire monitoring equipment can be relied upon in these zones as, for instance, the first of several explosions may damage sensors and alarm functionality. Total damage could occur with no alarm having been triggered. Robust, Ex-Zone-compatible equipment is vital.
- Harmful emissions: Some production and storage areas pose special challenges for site safety. The release of some gases, including methane and carbon monoxide, pose risks to human health. If they ignite or are present when a fire takes hold, their toxic fumes would be dispersed rapidly. Combustible chemical dusts also have the potential to start a fire and emit harmful vapors.
Solutions
AVENAR fire panels and the AVENAR 4000 detector series are ideal for maintaining safety in the Admin areas. They offer rapid detection of smoke and fire so alerts are raised promptly and reliably with minimal false alarms. Bosch fire systems are forward and backward compatible which makes installation, maintenance and updates quick and easy.
Two types of detectors work well in confined spaces without any clearing space requirements. The first are aspirating smoke detectors which, thanks to two integrated isolators, even maintain LSN loop functions in case of wire interruptions or short circuits. The second are linear heat detectors. These are configured with an IP 65 rated enclosure, making them fully functional even in tough environmental conditions.
Bosch explosion-proof smoke, heat and flame detectors, plus call points, continue to work effectively in these challenging conditions, thus providing a reliable safety solution.
Specialized detectors like carbon monoxide monitors can be integrated in the customizable fire protection products by Bosch. All-in-one fire, smoke and gas detection solutions ensure safety in all potentially hazardous scenarios.
Success Stories
Umicore: Umicore is a global circular materials technology company. Their premises in Americana, a metropolitan area of São Paulo in Brazil. Despite making a valuable contribution to a circular economy by repurposing resources for a more sustainable supply chain, the actual materials handled on such sites are highly flammable and risk the emission of toxic vapors in the event of a fire. The sheer size of the Umicore site in Americana, plus the distance between buildings, makes the installation of a consistently reliable fire protection system a huge challenge.
Read how Bosch Fire Systems tackled the challenge
Industria Cartonera Palmar: Industria Cartonera Palmar (IncarPalm) is one of the main manufacturers of corrugated cardboard packaging based in Machala, the capital of the banana trade in Ecuador. Their robust material forms the basis for protective boxes, used to safely store and distribute delicate produce. This, of course, includes bananas, but also other fruits, seafood, and flowers. The company therefore plays a key role in the supply chain for these goods. Any disruption to their efficient reliability would pose a huge business risk. This is where Bosch Fire Systems comes into play.
Read about Bosch’s role in IncarPalm
Overcoming challenges in your industry
Every industry, its activities and locations pose unique challenges for safety managers. For many industrial premises, installing AVIOTEC video-based detection can provide around-the-clock intelligent monitoring for fire and smoke. However, Bosch provides a wide range of specialized detectors which work together to keep every inch of your premises safe from fire, explosions and toxic emissions. The right combination of solutions, and rapid detection and alerts, prevents unnecessary interruptions to business, protects personnel from injury and impacts to health, and guards material assets from damage and devastation.