SPIE implements one of the largest lightweight foam fire extinguishing systems in Europe

- SPIE has installed one of the largest light foam fire extinguishing systems in Europe for its customer Parys in Lublin.
- The system has been installed in a warehouse with an area of 6,300 square metres and a height of 11 metres.
- In the event of a fire, the entire hall will be filled with foam in just three minutes.

Lublin, November 25, 2019 – Parys, a manufacturer and distributor of automotive care products, has commissioned SPIE, the independent European leader in multi-technical services in the areas of energy and communications, to create a hot foam fire extinguishing system in its warehouse with a capacity of almost 70,000 cubic metres. The project was successfully completed in April. This is currently the largest light foam extinguishing system in Poland and is also one of the largest and most modern in Europe.

Extinguish fires in just three minutes

SPIE is very familiar with various extinguishing techniques. Since Parys has many flammable substances stored in its customer's warehouse, the multi-technical service provider opted for a permanently installed lightweight foam extinguishing system using hot foam. The sensors in the system detect a fire in a fraction of a second and activate the system. "This means a developing fire can be combated at lightning speed. In just three minutes after the fire is detected, the entire room fills up with foam and cuts off the oxygen supply to the fire - whether it has originated on the floor or on the shelves," explains Michał Turek, Head of Sales, Fire & Systems division of SPIE in Poland. "In most cases, it's not even necessary to call out the fire brigade."

The speed of the system enables an extremely powerful pumping system with three diesel-engine driven pumps that discharge more than 40,000 litres of extinguishing substance per minute. In comparison: until now, a normal-sized system could only eject about 7,000 litres per minute.

Foam production possible in extreme heat

Lightweight foam has been the standard extinguishing technology for fire brigades and in many branches of industry for years, including the mineral oil and chemical industries. The innovation of the technology used by SPIE is based on the use of a system which, in the event of a fire, can also produce lightweight foam from hot combustion gases at a temperature of over 800° Celsius. This can be particularly important in the case of liquid fires. The dynamic development of the resulting gases leads to an abruptly rapid rise in temperature and thus causes a lot of smoke, which in turn - mixed with hall air - is used for foam production. "We were able to implement this system thanks to many years of experience, both in Poland and in international markets, and thanks to the extensive expertise of our highly qualified employees", says Turek. "There has not yet been a system of this size in Poland. The average light foam extinguishing systems on the market are usually less than half the size.”