Prévention des incendies et sécurité dans les entrepôts frigorifiques

Abstract

Between 1966 and 1977 there were fifty reported store fires in the Federal Republic of Germany and excluding two cases of arson, the main causes were due to faulty electrical equipment, the use of inflammable constructional material and inadequate caution during repair and maintenance work, viz. welding operations. In one reported case a fire was started by a store worker who was attempting to defrost the evaporator with a welding torch. Effective fire prevention therefore involves careful design in the construction of the store, the use of fireproof materials, failure-proof electrical gear, efficient and adequate fire-warning and fire-fighting equipment and the proper training of personnel in matters of fire prevention and dealing with an outbreak of fire. The paper deals successively with the choice of building materials and insulation, the size of cold rooms and their layout (fire-breaks have proved to be very efficient in limiting the propagation of a fire), the main causes of fires, fire protection during the construction period and while the store is in operation, fire-fighting equipment (this is a particularly important factor because alarm systems and fire extinguishing apparatus must be able to effectively function in the low temperature environment of a cold room which can be at -30°C) and, finally, fire escapes, safety exit passages and suitably located fire-points.