Fire extinguishing system – tests to begin soon!

Work on the installation of a modern mist fire extinguishing system at the Museum of Papermaking is in progress. When commissioned, it will be a revolutionary change when it comes to fire protection of this valuable monument, the paper mill.

By its principle, mist fire extinguishing systems trigger all mist nozzles at the same time in the endangered zone. They generate tiny water drops that feature huge ability of energy absorption. The advantages of mist systems include low water consumption and reduction of any property damage to the minimum, when compared to the effects of sprinklers or putting out fire with water hoses.

In the external part of the museum building, there is an installation with mist sprinklers on the paper mill building, works are being performed on the drying room building. Mist sprinklers were installed on the top of the roof in the latter – which was one of the largest challenges. In total, almost 400 out of 500 external mist sprinklers have already been installed. Works at the installation of the internal water mist system are coming to an end, ca. 600 mist heads are already in their destination site. 700 is their target number inside the building.

The works connected with the foundation of the reserve water container have just been completed. The underground container with volume of 20 m3 was placed under the green areas, next to the museum building. During the fire, water collected in the container is drawn with a pump and pumped into the extinguishing system equipped with mist sprinklers. In order to increase the fire extinguishing efficiency, a foam producing agent is fed along with water to the system. Point sensors located in the entire facility are responsible for detection of a potential fire and triggering the system. An the moment of danger detection and start of automatic extinguishing actions, an alarm system is transferred to the fire station unit.

Until the end of March, the installation of the “heart” of the fire extinguishing system – a pump generating appropriate pressure – should be completed. It is possible that in the first week of April, we will be able to conduct first tests.

As you may remember from our previous issue, the fire extinguishing system is a part of the project called: Upgrade and adaptation of the historic drying facility for cultural purposes as well as fire protection of the Museum of Papermaking complex in Duszniki-Zdrój, along with the maintenance and digitisation of Museum collections. The money was granted from Norwegian and EEA funds with part of it coming from Polish sources.