“ If you can ' t start a fire,” says Brink,“ you’ ll never need to put one out.” RACA www. refrigerationandaircon. co. za 13
BUSINESS ANALYSIS
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All images supplied by Gas At Site
1 / 2 – The backbone of the Isolcell N2ORS system is its sophisticated oxygen monitoring technology.
“ In many warehouses, the fire doesn’ t destroy the contents – the water does. You stop the fire, but lose the stock,” Brink notes.
Hypoxic Fire Prevention Systems such as the Isolcell N2ORS eliminate the fire risk entirely by reducing oxygen levels low enough that combustion can’ t occur, but still safe for human occupation for several hours at a time. This is achieved by generating nitrogen on site, injecting it into the protected space, and maintaining constant levels via real-time monitoring.
“ In South Africa, these systems are introduced by Gas At Site under full adherence to local safety and environmental regulations. The N2ORS system is engineered to comply with EN 16750:2017 and ISO 20338:2019, the global benchmarks for oxygen reduction fire prevention systems.”
It’ s ideal for any facility where the contents are too valuable or sensitive to risk, including:
• Freezer complexes and automated warehouses
• Distribution centres
• Server and data centres
• Pharmaceutical and chemical storage complexes
THE INSURANCE PERSPECTIVE The heart of the hypoxic system lies in its intelligent control. A network of oxygen sensors – each with triple redundancy – monitors conditions in real time. Should oxygen levels begin to rise, the system instantly compensates by injecting additional nitrogen to restore the safe threshold.
“ It’ s 24 / 7 protection. And because nitrogen is naturally abundant – 78 % of the air we breathe – the Isolcell N2ORS is safe, non-toxic and leaves no residue.”
Wherever airflow, integrity and environmental stability are critical, hypoxic systems integrate seamlessly. The injected nitrogen simply displaces excess oxygen, without adding moisture, chemicals or pressure.
Perhaps one of the strongest endorsements of the technology comes from the insurance sector. As storage designs become more complex – think high-density racking, compact shelving and automated racking systems – the limitations of traditional sprinkler coverage become glaring.
RACA Journal I January 2026
“ Insurers are getting stricter. In many facilities, especially those with shadowed or inaccessible areas, sprinkler coverage is deemed insufficient. Fires can start in corners no nozzle can reach.”
Because hypoxic systems eliminate ignition altogether, permeating every nook and cranny with fire-inert air, they present a more comprehensive and insurable solution. Insurance providers in Europe and South Africa now actively support and approve Hypoxic Fire Prevention systems as an alternative to suppression.
“ This includes approval from Zurich Insurance Group, FM Global and Allianz for certified installations under EN 16750. Locally, Old Mutual Insurance has also recognised N2ORS in specific warehousing contexts.”
The technology is also well-suited to automated environments, where human presence is minimal and storage density is high. With fewer doors and openings, these facilities retain their modified atmosphere more efficiently, reducing energy use and maintaining fire protection with minimal operating cost.
“ Fully automated warehouses are still emerging in South Africa, but hypoxic protection remains viable and effective for partially automated facilities. Even in hybrid setups with human access, the Isolcell N2ORS offers a highly energy-efficient and passive fire prevention solution.
“ Furthermore, in automated warehouses you often have one conveyor aperture in or out. That’ s perfect. The atmosphere is easy to maintain, and you spend less on nitrogen generation.”
SUSTAINABLE, SCALABLE AND RETROFIT- FRIENDLY While ideal for new builds, the system can be retrofitted into existing facilities. It does require some hardware: nitrogen generators, distribution nozzles and sensor networks— but the installation is straightforward and minimally invasive.
Operational costs are modest. After initial commissioning, the nitrogen system only activates intermittently to maintain oxygen levels, using energy comparable to a medium-sized HVAC unit. And unlike water-based systems, there’ s no need for expensive tank storage or pressure regulation infrastructure.
“ In high-value storage environments, even one fire-related incident can justify the system’ s installation many times over – especially when it helps avoid business disruption or total product loss.”
“ If you can ' t start a fire,” says Brink,“ you’ ll never need to put one out.” RACA www. refrigerationandaircon. co. za 13