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With PVProtect, Minimax presents a brand new water-based fire suppression system at the VdS-FireSafety Cologne: The holistic protection concept for roof surfaces with photovoltaic systems is the first of its kind on the market that is VdS-approved.

Roofs containing flammable insulation materials pose significant risks. Even small fires on roof constructions can lead to severe business interruptions and loss of sales. PVProtect helps to significantly reduce or even entirely prevent such damages. The system offers protection against fire hazards on roof surfaces with an incline of up to 10° on which photovoltaic systems have been installed. Consequently, Minimax is the first fire protection company to offer a solution for such previously unprotected environments.

The first water-based fire suppression system of its kind – early detection combined with automatic fire fighting

The holistic protection concept combines early detection with automatic fire fighting. By preventing fires on the roof, PVProtect, thus, can also protect the entire building against consequential damages; in addition, it alerts people on site in good time.

Heat detectors are arranged in a targeted manner around the photovoltaic modules. In case of an unusual rise in temperature, the detectors pass on the information to the fire detection and extinguishing control panel, which simultaneously alerts the fire department. The close-meshed arrangement of sensors makes it possible to precisely locate the source of fire. Extinguishing nozzles are arranged in the vicinity of the photovoltaic modules to ensure water coverage over the entire area. In this way, PVProtect automatically fights incipient outbreaks of fire before they spread widely.

Efficient water consumption, easy to retrofit – VdS-approved

Special extinguishing nozzles ensure a risk-appropriate distribution of water even at low operating pressures. Localization of the source of fire in conjunction with a suitable extinguishing control system and effective area distribution allow for water requirements to be further reduced, while also reliably keeping fire hazards under control.

Because of the minimal water requirements and low operating pressures, PVProtect can usually be connected to the existing water supply of a sprinkler system. Integration into an existing fire protection system is, therefore, cost-effective and uncomplicated.

The effectiveness of PVProtect has been evaluated in fire tests and approved by VdS Schadenverhütung. The VdS approval applies to both the system and the individual components. PVProtect, thus, provides a basis for making the building insurable again.

First-time presentation at the VdS-FireSafety Cologne – presentation included

Minimax exhibits the new PVProtect fire suppression system for the first time at the VdS-FireSafety Cologne on December 6th–7th, 2023 at booth D-07 in hall 10.1.

As part of the VdS Fire Extinguishing Systems conference, responsible Minimax fire suppression system manager Thorsten Gieseke will hold a presentation on PVProtect at 2:45 PM on December 7th at the Koelnmesse Congress Center East. Information on how to register to attend the lecture can be found here.

For further information on PVProtect, please visit here.

Minimax France was awarded by the French Association of Firefighting Professions (FFMI) for the MXOne high-performance firefighting turbine.

The “Oscars de la Sécurité” are handed out annually by a panel of experts appointed by the FFMI to honor outstanding achievements in the field of fire protection. The prize is awarded in four categories: "Innovation", "Fire protection", "Fire protection management" and "Special locations". The Security Oscars have been the benchmark event for the fire protection sector in France for more than 20 years. This year, Minimax France competed in the "Innovation" category.

The awards were presented to the laureates on November 13, 2023 by Mrs. Dominique Faure, Minister Delegate for Local Authorities and Rural Areas, during a festive ceremony at the Palais du Luxembourg.

Pascal Bichet, Country Manager Minimax France, said about the award: “Minimax France is very proud to have received this award, especially since we were recognized by our industry colleagues.”

The award-winning Minimax high-performance firefighting turbine MXOne – Next generation firefighting

The Minimax MXOne en­ables in­nov­at­ive fire pro­tec­tion using highly ef­fi­cient water mist from a safe dis­tance. Thus, it rep­res­ents a new gen­er­a­tion of stationary fire­fight­ing sys­tems. It al­lows highly ef­fi­cient, pre­cise and tar­geted sup­pres­sion from a sig­ni­fic­ant and safe dis­tance. The tur­bine achieves a large dis­charge range thanks to the ad­justable jet pipe, even when using a foam agent.​

Dur­ing a fire, the water mist ab­sorbs a huge amount of en­ergy, cools par­tic­u­larly ef­fect­ively and reaches hid­den fire sources due to the three-di­men­sional mode of ac­tion. It binds smoke gas, pol­lut­ants and odors and can quickly de­velop its ef­fect over large areas without, like clas­sic mon­it­ors with their fo­cused jets, dis­pers­ing burn­ing ma­ter­ial and pos­sibly con­trib­ut­ing to the spread of fire.

Further information on the MXOne to be found here.

As part of the RWM DIGITAL SERIES, a digital format of the leading trade fair for recycling, materials and waste management, on 20 May Jan Weimann (Minimax) introduces Minimax's high-performance firefighting turbine MXOne. He will show video footage of extinguishing tests in our Fire Protection Research Center. During the lecture and afterwards you can ask questions via chat.

Certain remote, hard to reach or large areas in the industry, energy or infrastructure sector cannot be covered in an efficient or economical way by conventional fire protection systems. MXOne uniquely meets the demands posed by special fire risks in numerous industry and risk areas, both inside and outside buildings – incl.: Recycling operations, Wood-processing industry, Chemical plants/refineries, Airports/hangars, Substations/transformers.

20 May 2021 | 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. (BST) | 12 p.m. – 2 p.m. (MET)
Register now for free:
https://www.rwmexhibition.com/rwm-digital/rwm-digital-spotlight#/

Today, Minimax is launching the extinguishing turbine MXOne. This unique system has a 360° operating range and enables the highly precise application of water mist from a significant and safe distance. In the event of a fire, the water mist absorbs a huge amount of energy, cools particularly effectively and reaches hidden fire sources better than classic monitors. It binds flue gases, pollutants and odors, and is able to exert its efficiency quickly over large areas. The effectiveness of the turbine has been examined and confirmed in full-scale fire trials conducted by independent bodies, including DMT.

MXOne can be operated with potable water, seawater and with/without foaming agents. Spray patterns can range from a fine water mist to a full jet. The firefighting system reaches a flow rate of up to 4,000 liters per minute. MXOne can be aimed at a hot spot either fully automatically or manually via remote control. Thanks to a smart operating system, a single turbine can supply water alternately to two or more neighboring areas. Consequently, several fires can be fought in parallel, or nearby facilities threatened by fire can be specifically cooled in a targeted manner. The turbine can be easily integrated into existing plants and is suitable for use in areas with temperatures ranging from -15°C to +55°C.

A decisive innovation: throw distance
MXOne has the unique ability to fight a fire with water mist from a significant distance. The turbine is able to offset the susceptibility of small droplets to external factors such as crosswinds or headwinds using a smart control system and activating a supporting air stream. Furthermore, the system can be flexibly adapted to meet almost any challenge posed by different fire scenarios.

Efficient firefighting with water mist
When extinguishing a fire with water mist, the water is atomized under high pressure, meaning the smallest of water droplets and a larger reaction surface are formed that absorb heat. When water evaporates, its volume is increased many times over, thus displacing the oxygen at the source of the fire. The smothering effect fights the fire directly. The cooling aspect of the water mist protects people and property from the effects of heat. The volume of water consumed during the firefighting effort as well as the consequential damage caused by the water are extremely low.

Maximal flexibility in positioning and application
The control and direction of the extinguishing turbine can be done fully automatically, as follows: Information from at least two fire detectors (e.g. UniVario industrial fire detectors or infrared cameras) is assessed in the fire alarm and control panel and the location of the source of the fire is accurately determined before MXOne is activated. Alternatively, manual control of the turbine is always an option. Both stationary and mobile control variants can be implemented according to the operator's requirements.

More details

The Clunid FMZ6000 is a mod­u­lar fire de­tec­tion and ex­tin­guish­ing con­trol panel, pre­cisely tuned and as­sembled to the par­tic­u­lar cus­tomer re­quire­ments. Since product design was in­teg­rated into the de­vel­op­ment pro­cess from the very be­gin­ning. And fi­nally, the award-win­ning design makes it clear at first glance that a new gen­er­a­tion of con­trol pan­els has been cre­ated: High op­er­a­tional re­li­ab­il­ity, simple op­er­a­tion and un­lim­ited ap­plic­a­tion pos­sib­il­it­ies make the Clunid FMZ6000 an out­stand­ing product.

About the Red Dot Design Award
A 40-member jury awards designs of high design quality. In the category “Product Design” products are awarded since 1955.

The Clunid FMZ6000 is a modular fire detection and extinguishing control panel, precisely tuned and assembled to the particular customer requirements. Since product design was integrated into the development process from the very beginning. And finally, the award-winning design makes it clear at first glance that a new generation of control panels has been created: High operational reliability, simple operation and unlimited application possibilities make the Clunid FMZ6000 an outstanding product.

About the iF Design Award

For 67 years, the iF Design Award has been a globally recognized trademark for outstanding design, and it is one of the most important design awards in the world. Clunid FMZ6000 in the iF World Design Guide (here).

The systems engineering, developed and manufactured entirely in Germany, offers an extremely flexible technology and is ahead of its time. “Extensive experience gained from being the second largest fire protection company in the world went into the development,” stated André Lickefett, Managing Director for R&D at Minimax Viking. “At the forefront of this new technology is the fact that we, at Minimax, guarantee maximum security and user convenience for the entire scope of the applications – despite the complexity of the underlying technology.” The user-friendliness of the touch screen adds to the safety in operating the system.

Outstanding operational reliability

Each control panel is modular in design and thus equipped with precisely the technology required for the respective application. High computer performance and generously sized event and history memory enable the system to be scaled freely. With the Clunid FMZ6000, both the central signal processing unit as well as the processors on all modules and area control panels are run redundant of each other, meaning there are no downtimes or outages. Even when certain operating modules have to be replaced, the operation continues as a result of hot plugging. Automatic feasibility tests also stop errors from occurring during the configuration. The diagnosis functions, including suggestions for remedial action, enhance the reliability of the entire system in all operating modes. 

Easy to use

The full-color 7" touch screen makes operation easy and clear. Navigation is intuitive, operating status is visualized by means of the color of the display, and messages are displayed in full text. Additional functions can be visualized and operated conveniently via programmable operator panels. Lots of parameters can be input directly here in the control panel without the need to use other tools. Even the legally prescribed documentation has got simpler. The LogicManager configuration software automatically generates clear system documentation on an ongoing basis. Consequently, any changes made to the configuration as well as usage amendments are automatically carried out internally and amended. Performance checks for service activities, modernizing or maintenance measures are user-guided and are also documented securely and automatically in the control panel. Status information from plant operation supplements the documentation and is available at any time for trend evaluations. 

Unlimited uses

The high performance network technology of Clunid FMZ6000 makes it possible to operate even complex fire protection operating technology. Engineering has never been so flexible or economic. A broad range of detectors and actuators „is available for worldwide use All detector protocols are downward compatible for addressable devices in the loop. The modular concept offers a whole series of additional benefits for project planning and service. All modules have the same width and fit in any slot irrespective of the module type, meaning that the space in the control panel casing can be utilized flexibly and optimally. Addressing is done automatically at the same stage as a module is installed, so that the control panel is immediately operable. This substantially reduces the time needed for project planning and commissioning. International hardware and software requirements have also already been integrated and certified. And it goes without saying that it is downward compatible with the technology previously used by Minimax.

The Minimax brand stands for dependable and innovative fire protection in modern warehouses and logistics centers. The Minimax logistics expert team supports customers with fire protection solutions that are tailored precisely to the respective risks through the selection of suitable technologies and competent engineering. You can meet the Minimax team of experts at LogiMAT in Stuttgart from 19 to 21 February 2019 at Stand D05 in Hall 7.

The fact that fire protection solutions dependably and efficiently protect logistics buildings is not new.  But the fact that an innovative fire protection concept generates a return on investment is unique. Minimax will be showing at LogiMAT how this can be achieved with Oxeo EcoPrevent FC: Minimax and Fuji N₂telligence combine a fuel cell system with an Oxeo EcoPrevent fire prevention system and thus enable economical fire protection at the highest level. The fuel cell system generates electricity, air conditioning and heat and, as a by-product, oxygen-reduced air, which is used for the Oxeo EcoPrevent fire prevention system. A nitrogen generator is no longer necessary, the operating costs of e.g. refrigerated storage can be significantly reduced and at the same time the environment is protected.
Visitors to the Minimax stand will be able to literally grasp the subject: The interaction of the two systems will be explained using a 3D model of the fuel cell and an animation.

As a rule, high-bay warehouses are protected with classic sprinklers. InRackPack sprinklers provide dependable shelf protection and save valuable storage space. The use of particularly flat sleeves and Minimax Type 21 sprinklers reduces the distance between the upper edge of the sprinkler pipe and the sprinkler deflector. The sprinklers used with with flat spray characteristics also allow smaller distances between the sprinkler deflector and the stored goods and thus offer maximum space for the goods to be stored on the shelf.
The fire protection experts will be demonstrating at the trade fair how the installation situation and spray pattern of InRackPack sprinklers and classic sprinklers differ with the functional model of a high-bay warehouse.

Hazardous material warehouses pose the greatest risks of a rapid spread of fire and the devastating consequences of a fire for people and the environment. This makes the use of the right extinguishing system all the more important. Depending on the stored goods, however, the entire spectrum of fire extinguishing systems is used in these warehouses. Oxeo inert gas or carbon dioxide extinguishing systems are often the preferred solution, as fires are extinguished quickly and residue-free and possible reactions between fire material and extinguishing agent are excluded.  Foam extinguishing systems are a possible alternative.

You can find out which extinguishing system is the optimum solution for your hazardous material store at the Minimax stand.

The Elbphilharmonie is set to attract local concertgoers and members from the music industry as well as visitors from around the world. Thus, dependable fire protection for this new landmark is paramount. HOCHTIEF commissioned Minimax with the installation of sprinkler systems, hydrants and monitoring systems. We accepted the complex and demanding large-scale project and Alfred Neumann and his team from the Minimax Reinfeld office successfully implemented it. 4 sprinkler pumps, 2 storage vessels, 6 hydrant pumps, 3 surveillance control centers, 23 alarm valve stations, 120 Zonecheck detectors, 195 hydrant cabinets, 13,000 sprinklers, 16,200 meters of main and distribution pipes and 41,000 meters of string pipes ensure safety in the Elbphilharmonie.

The UniVario YMX5000 series offers new possibilities in spark detection in the wood-processing industry: for the first time there is a cyclic optics monitoring of all sensor units, as well for spark detectors. A new feature is that this detector series is suitable for extreme temperature ranges, and thanks to its modularity offers maximum flexibility in use.

The detection system of the UniVario YMX5000 series consists of a control unit with three connectors for remote sensor units. The electronics of the evaluation unit is self-monitoring, displays for example alarms or faults, and thus offers extra functional safety. The sensor units are connected to a control unit and allow dependable detection wherever there is an increased fire risk from sparks. The spark detection system is audited and approved by VdS.

New standards for additional safety: Self-monitoring in spark detection

Self-monitoring of optics has since become standard in flame detection. The UniVario YMX5000 system has succeeded for the first time in the world in transferring this standard to spark detection. At cyclic intervals the optics are monitored with regard to contamination or damage - a functionality that again significantly increases the operation safety of the system in the sometimes harsh areas of deployment in a wood-processing plant.

Extreme temperatures: From ice-cold to hot

The UniVario YMX5000 system is suitable for applications in extreme temperature ranges. The corresponding FUX sensor unit can even be used without fiber optic adapter at temperatures from -40°C to 105°C. The sensor units will be also available in an “Ex” version for use in explosion-hazard zones in Ex zones 1, 2, 20, 21 and 22.

Minimal downtimes: Easy, secure and long-lived system

Installing the sensor units is simple and safe thanks to the single-hole mounting with bayonet locking. The flush wall connection within transport- or suction channels minimizes the wear of the optics and guarantees a long lifetime. Possible air flushing does not affect the 120 degree viewing angle of the sensor system. Maintenance, for example for defective optics, is particularly easy thanks to a quick-change replaceable optics, so downtimes can be reduced to a minimum.

Minimax will be displaying the new UniVario YMX5000 detection system as a world first on the occasion of LIGNA 2017. In addition to this visitors to the Minimax trade stand at LIGNA can find out more about Minifog PressProtect, a solution for the protection of industrial presses, DryerProtect, the combined fire detection-, water mist- and spark extinguishing technology for driers, thermography systems and the Inveron hazard management system.

LIGNA 2017, Stand C24 in Hall 26