The importance of fire safety in an era of stockpiling

As 2022 draws to a close, delays and supply shortages are present across the manufacturing industry. This has led to industry-wide stockpiling in factories across the UK. Factories must ensure their fire safety protection is optimised to safeguard ever-increasing stock levels.

There are plenty of challenges for UK manufacturers to contend with at the moment. From a lack of investment in infrastructure to rising costs and labour shortages. These issues have led to a rise in average stock levels, in an attempt to cater for future volatility. These issues are found throughout supply chains, causing factories to scramble for increased inventory space, whether by restructuring or expanding existing properties.

However, safety precautions and best practices must not be neglected during this period. With increased stock levels, the damage that incidents can have, both financially and from a health & safety perspective, poses an additional risk. It is paramount that the integrity of fire-safe walls is assessed, with maintenance works or upgrades necessary to ensure stockpiling is done safely and efficiently.

Trustworthy Protection

Research from insurance provider Zurich has revealed that UK fire crews attend an average of 336 warehouse fires every year, just short of one a day. Of those, 14% destroyed the entire building.

Firewalls represent a cost-effective solution to risk management. Designed to the highest specifications and able to withstand a blaze for up to four hours, their thick, fire-resistant panels can successfully contain danger to their source, nullifying the spread. This isolation prevents situations from progressing and buys important time until fire services can arrive on the scene.

It isn’t just about protecting stock either. When considering the safety of staff and factory operatives, firewalls offer crucial protection of evacuation routes as they give you a degree of dictation as to where the blaze can and cannot spread to. In the case of a fire, regardless of its size, it means factory personnel can escape unharmed without the risk of becoming trapped by a rapidly spreading blaze.

New age risks

In factories that undertake high-heat processes where the risk of fire outbreaks is elevated, firewalls are particularly well suited. Whilst we know these are traditionally high-risk environments, modern risks, such as automation, cannot be overlooked. With 81.2% of companies seeking to further invest in automation since 2020, the fire hazards that robotics can create must be catered for.

This new wave of technology means that automation fires are a new and emerging risk area. With little actuarial data to rely on, care and precaution are the most effective combatant. Being able to contain a blaze if an automation fire breaks out can help avoid costly disasters.

A front-foot approach

It’s important to ensure existing fire-safe walls are up to the task and working in conjunction with their environment. In older buildings, highly flammable polystyrene panels create accentuated fire risks.

As advancements in fire-safe walls roll out, ageing properties mustn’t be left behind, so replacement and maintenance is key. Combined with the degradation over time, where an aged gasket or compromised door seal can highly affect the efficiency of cold stores. In these situations, the technology must work a lot harder to reach the optimised temperature, which poses an increased risk of a fire breakout. This is especially true if degradation is extreme enough to require equipment performing beyond its capabilities to achieve optimum temperatures. In this regard, the safeguarding properties of firewalls are just as important in stock protection as the cold stores themselves.

There should also be great consideration of the relationship between cold storage facilities and fire-compliant materials. With global warming causing weather extremities throughout the year, the integrity of facilities is tested even further. When the UK faced an unprecedented heat wave in the Summer, 41 properties, including homes and warehouses, were destroyed in London in one day. The effects of global warming are clear. Businesses must take this into consideration and shield themselves from extreme weather.

Live integration

The positive is that the integration and installation of firewalls can be straightforward. With factory managers already feeling a strain, pausing operations whilst work is carried out may not seem a plausible solution. However, experienced construction specialists can adapt their processes to accommodate a factory’s operations. Teams can seamlessly embed themselves within the live factory, to complete the task with minimal disruption.

Industry stockpiling will likely continue into 2023, with supply chain volatility continuing to be an issue. Therefore, the need to safeguard stock and factory personnel with sufficient fire-safety precautions remains a priority. As the industry continues to adopt automation to tackle labour shortages, fire risks will arrive in new shapes and sizes in factories. The presence of firewalls offers some relief to manufacturers during these challenging times.

Want to better understand how firewalls can help your facility? Take a look at our services page or get in touch today at enquiries@ambreybakerconstruction.co.uk.