The fire station that cannot catch fire
The server room of Essex County Fire & Rescue Service’s (ECFRS) command and control centre is protected against fire by Wagner’s OxyReduct fire-prevention system. This multi-million development is an extension to the existing fire-service headquarters at Kelvedon Park, Witham, and provides a new 999 call centre, together with training and administration facilities for over 200 staff.
OxyReduct creates an environment where fires cannot start by continuously reducing the concentration of oxygen in a closed room by adding nitrogen to the air. The nitrogen concentration is increased to a level in which combustibles do not catch fire and an open fire cannot develop. However, the protected area remains accessible for staff at any time.
The server room was designed to be airtight to ensure efficient nitrogen and reduce running costs. The 152 m2 facility has an N50 value of 1.2. The oxygen concentration is maintain at 15%. Wagner’s Titanus air-sampling smoke-detection system has been installed to provide a secondary back-up.
John White, ICT communications manager for ECFRS, says, ‘As a front-line fire-and-rescue services, we were determined to deploy the most technically advanced workplace fire-protection system available. When we were first introduced to OxyReduct, it was clearly a perfect fit.’
