Cold Link Africa October 2023 | Page 20

FEATURE

INCORPORATING COLD CHAIN dampers , fire doors , and fire walls and floors . Dampers are used to prevent the spread of fire and smoke throughout the building through its ductwork . Fire doors help to compartmentalise a building . Firestopping helps to separate the building into compartments . Photoluminescent egress path markers help light the way to safety .

“ Most warehouses are a disaster waiting to happen . Of the nine fire risk assessments I have recently done , all had glaring system failures . In one insurance case for fire that I have been consulting on , a risk assessment was done one week before the fire – which found no risk – yet the building burned down within a single minute ,” says Roodt . Components of such a system include :

• Fire-resistance rated walls

• Firewalls

• Fire-resistant glass

• Fire-resistance rated floors

• Occupancy separations

• Division separations

• Tenancy separations

• Closures ( fire dampers )

• Fire stops

• Cable coating

• Spray fire proofing

• Fireproofing cladding

• Enclosures

Active Fire Protection ( AFP ) is a group of systems that require some amount of action or motion in order to work efficiently in the event of a fire . “ Actions may be manually operated like a fire extinguisher , or automatic like a sprinkler , but either way they require some amount of action . AFP includes fire and smoke alarm systems , sprinkler systems , and fire extinguishers as well as firefighters . Fire and smoke alarm systems are used to detect whether there is fire and smoke in a building . Sprinkler systems are used to help slow the growth of the fire . Fire extinguishers and firefighters are used to help put out the fire altogether . Its component parts include :

• Manual suppression

• Automatic fire suppression

• Fire detection system

• Hypoxic air fire prevention

“ An AFP system takes action in helping to put out the fire but may not always function the way they are designed to work . Sprinklers could fail due to the lack of maintenance , water supply problems like frozen pipes , or even inadequate water pressure . On the other hand , PFP uses systems that help control and prevent the spread of fire and smoke . It does not , however , take any type of action such as putting out the fire . Therefore , both AFP and PFP are meant to work together during a fire , not one in place of the other . Both active and passive fire protection systems can control fires . Together they help protect lives and business continuity ,” he adds .

POTENTIAL MISTAKES IN INSTALLATION

“ It ’ s always a good idea to start with a concept design with schematic and P & IDs to do a QA on the system and go through the design taking into consideration safety , maintenance complexities and buildability during the construction period . I have seen many engineers who skip this process ending

Image by Topntp26 on Freepik

The preservation of life and prevention of injury due to fire are the most critical considerations .

up with major items not included . A peerreview process by making use of the review services from another experienced engineer at concept stage already improves the design and minimises mistakes ,” says Roodt .

“ Operational and maintenance documentation and drawings are vital for the maintenance team to ensure fire systems are always ready . A majority of devastating fires are typically due to the failure of proper maintenance of the fire systems , and this is often the responsibility not of the fire engineer but the management of the company . Insurers have been becoming stricter in recent years in checking such maintenance , as well as insisting they install adequate sprinkler protection - due to the number of claims they pay out . On the downside , insurers tend to appoint professionals for their fire risk assessments who only look at SANS10400 compliance , which is simply inadequate for more complex cold room facilities for which a lot of newer research has been done due to their unique fire protection requirements . CLA

Fire dampers are needed wherever the air moves through a firewall , partitioning the building into different fire sections .

BUSINESS AND TRAINING

Bolt and Engineering celebrates 40th year of trading

Written by Michael Blow

As the Bolt and Engineering Distributors ( B . E . D .) Group commemorates its 40th year of trading in November 2023 , Managing Director Jan Viljoen makes his mark within this highly respected business .

Since joining the company in 1988 , Viljoen has played an integral part in the company ’ s history to date , leveraging his vast industry experience , versatility and commitment to B . E . D .’ s ethos of ‘ It ’ s our business to know your business ’ and ‘ the perfect fit fast ’.

The B . E . D . Group supplies a comprehensive range of locally produced and imported fasteners , as well as quality tools , welding and cutting equipment and consumables , bearings , personal and protective equipment ( PPE ), industrial paints and thinners , oils and lubricants , and lifting products to the South African industry and across southern and central Africa .

“ I learnt early on in my career never to rely on only one key customer or indeed market segment – so we have diversified , expanding our offering over the past 40 years from mining into the agricultural sector ( and many others ) to ensure that we are able to cater to more than one core industry in the region ’ s wider economy .”

Viljoen says that in line with this , B . E . D . has introduced several innovations to service the broader mining industry and related industries , of which they are very proud as service has always been a key driver of their success .

In addition , working closely with cofounder and B . E . D . Group CEO Mike Giltrow , Viljoen has also helped drive innovation regarding product offerings too – such as bearings , personal protective equipment ( PPE ), paints and thinners , with an unwavering dedication to service as a key differentiator from competitors , with great success .

Today , the company has grown into a network that includes nine branches countrywide , as well as an Exports Division and two cutting and welding centres in Gauteng and the Western Cape .

Viljoen explains : “ After concluding successful negotiations , my family business was acquired by B . E . D . – becoming the company ’ s first acquisition in 1988 , and later

Image by Bolt

Left to right - R : Mike Giltrow , CEO and Jan Viljoen Managing Director at Bolt and Engineering .

renamed as the Klerksdorp branch of Bolt and Engineering Distributors .

Group Co-Founder and CEO Mike Giltrow comments : “ This milestone 1988 acquisition fortunately allowed us to retain Jan ’ s services as the Operations Manager , and

he brought with him a wealth of acquired knowledge of the region and its potential opportunities . Thanks to his contacts and experience , the Group was able to establish operations and a solid footprint in this key mining region .” CLA

20 www . coldlinkafrica . co . za COLD LINK AFRICA • October 2023