In the era of Industry 4.0, where automation and digitisation are transforming storage and logistic processes, a crucial aspect often gets overlooked – fire and security. The recent fire at the Evri warehouse in Bristol highlights this, demonstrating that despite the growing adoption of sophisticated technology, fire outbreaks remain a significant risk. Graham White, Managing Director at Your Choice Fire & Security (YCFS), sheds light on why fire systems often remain an afterthought, even though they are paramount to operational efficiency and staff safety.
One of the primary reasons for this is down to an archaic approach to fire safety – with a tendency to fit only standard fire alarm systems. With industrial premises in the UK being particularly vulnerable to fire outbreaks, with a staggering 1,774 incidents reported between 2022 and 2023 this is very much a misguided view.
Fortunately, this perception is starting to shift, particularly within the warehouse and packaging sector, as more stringent insurance requirements are drastically impacting how many business owners are approaching fire safety. In previous years, a lower category fire alarm was requested but now only the top-tier protection level is accepted by insurers of warehouses and the goods within. Recently, we have seen this for ourselves, as a new YCFS customer came to us after being informed by insurers that its current fire alarm system was substandard, despite it being fully operational with no faults. The customer is a storage provider and had upgraded and expanded its site in recent years. The enormous cost of having to replace the warehouse goods, equipment and building if a fire took hold was now deemed too high of a risk by the coverage provider, which led to us installing a more comprehensive system.
Changes in policy for insurers is common in fire safety, and keeping up with developments is easier for some. Those utilising the latest wireless fire technology find that extensions to the system are more cost effective, due to the ease of programming new devices into the circuit. Businesses that choose hard wired systems of yesteryear would likely face the task of rewiring with additional work needed to power devices from across the facility to remain compliant, which becomes a drain on resources.
Undoubtedly, the evolution of technology offers unprecedented opportunities to enhance fire and security measures for industrial facilities. From remote fire monitoring to smart asset tagging for predictive maintenance, innovative solutions can identify risks proactively allowing site supervisors to respond swiftly to emergencies. But still, the misconception remains that upgrading fire and security technology is costly and unnecessary.
Incidents such as the Evri warehouse fire remind us that unforeseen disasters do happen, and beyond the immediate threat to human life, warehouse and logistic sites face immense financial losses, operational disruptions and reputational damage in the aftermath of a fire outbreak.
It is without doubt that recent events have shown the critical importance of integrating comprehensive safety measures into the digital transformation of technology used within warehouse facilities. By embracing a proactive approach, site owners can navigate the complexities of Industry 4.0 with confidence, knowing that their assets and workforce are protected against potential threats now and in the future.
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