Experts in fire protection

More durable, safe and efficient

Fendium Polymer-Enhanced Steel Pipe feature a special polymer protecting it against corrosion both on the outside and the inside. They thus achieve a significantly longer lifespan than conventional pipes and increase the functional reliability of an extinguishing system. Fendium also offers many other advantages.

  • Low pipe friction allows the use of smaller pipes or smaller pumps in many cases
  • Less space is required due to smaller pipes or smaller pumps
  • Polymer and steel are unified minimizing the risk of flaking – unlike paint and powder coating
  • Quality from the world's largest pipe prefabrication plant in the fire protection industry
  • Available with different levels of polymer protection suited for different corrosive conditions

You have the choice

Fire suppression systems typically remain unused for many years, and fortunately in most cases, they are never needed at all. Nevertheless they must be ready for operation at any time. Corrosive conditions are often present in the piping of water-based suppression systems, which may not only cause perforation of the pipes, but also deposits that can reduce internal diameters. That`s why Fendium pipe is enriched with a special polymer that provides lasting protection against corrosion.

1
Conventional pipe
2
Polymer-Enhanced inside
3
Fendium pipe
4
Polymer-Enhanced outside
5
Surface corrosion
6
Pitting corrosion
  1. Conventional pipe
  2. Polymer-Enhanced inside
    2 Polymer-Enhanced inside
    Fendium pipe

    Fendium pipe is steel pipe with a special polymer protecting it against corrosion on both the outside and the inside. 

  3. Fendium pipe
  4. Polymer-Enhanced outside
    4 Polymer-Enhanced outside
    Fendium pipe

    Fendium pipe is steel pipe with a special polymer protecting it against corrosion on both the outside and the inside.

  5. Surface corrosion
    5 Surface corrosion

    Typical characteristics of surface corrosion

    • Rough surfaces
    • Encrustations
    • Deposits
  6. Pitting corrosion
    6 Pitting corrosion

    Typical characteristics of pitting corrosion

    • Perforation
    • Rust-through

Fendium stands for sustainable fire protection

Rough and constricted pipes, as well as clogged sprinklers or nozzles impair the system`s extinguishing effectiveness in the event of a fire, thus eventually putting people and assets at risk and jeopardizing the continued operation of the business. But even when the suppression system is just in its standby condition, corrosion may cause problems: Leakages may occur not only as a result of rust-through, but also due to roughened surfaces under gaskets of pipe couplings. This means costly water damage and business interruptions. The solution: Fendium polymer-coated pipes. We give our word for it with a 10 year guarantee.

Environmentally friendly manufacturing process

Innovative Fendium pipe is produced at MV Pipe Technologies, a Minimax affiliated company, in the world's largest pipe prefabrication plant in the fire protection industry. This factory is unique due to its size and the cutting-edge technologies and procedures employed.

After mechanical processing, the corrosion-protective polymer is formed on the outside as well as on the inside of each steel pipe in a patented procedure. After the polymer enhancement the pipe is black – however, by adding an outer powder coating, Fendium pipe can be delivered in other colors as well.

The entire production process is environmentally friendly. All liquids used for surface treatment are water-based and are continuously recycled. Heat and electricity are generated efficiently and sustainably in the internal co-generation unit. The extended lifespan of Fendium pipe also contributes to a reduced environmental footprint.

Durable quality - Polymer and steel are unified

The special Fendium polymer protection is produced in several process steps. After thorough cleaning and pretreatment, the steel pipe to be enhanced is dipped in a tank filled with Fendium polymer emulsion. Iron fluorides contained in the emulsion are continuously supplied to the pipe and provide a release of iron ions on the surface of the steel pipe. As soon as the positively charged iron ions collide with the polymer particles also contained in the emulsion, they adhere to them and partly neutralize their negative charge. The polymer particles are now able to combine with each other and are attracted to the positively polarized steel pipe surface.

In this way, the polymer protection is developed and the pipe’s roughness is smoothed out. Once the desired polymer protection is achieved, this process step is terminated by removing the pipe from the dip tank. To continue the process, gelling takes place in the pre-dryer. The pipe is warmed up causing the polymer particles to run into each other and the pipe to be smoothened further. Finally, the polymer is baked and cured in the hot-air oven. The result of the polymer enhancement is a gradual transition from the steel core to pure polymer.

Applications

Fendium pipe can be used for almost all types of water-based suppression systems. It is available with different levels of polymer protection suited to the respective corrosive conditions.

The Basic Series of Fendium pipe are intended exclusively for use in wet pipe sprinkler systems. The Plus Series provide even stronger polymer protection and are therefore also well-suited for areas with greater risk of corrosion, including

  • dry pipe and preaction sprinkler systems,

  • deluge systems

  • low-pressure water mist systems,

  • hydrant systems and dry risers, and

  • spark extinguishing systems.

High rack storage
High rack storage

Protection zone

High rack storage shelves are up to 50m high and are mostly designed for the intake of Europallets. Their capacity ranges from a few thousand to several hundred thousand pallet storage positions. On a very small surface area they offer space for extremely large quantities of goods and products. Between every two rows of storage shelves there is an alley in which rack feeders move up and down.

Risks

  • Rapid spreading of fire in a vertical direction due to stacked pallets
  • Chimney effect, i.e. flames and fire gases are drawn upward through the shafts

Fire Protection

Sprinkler systems have been proven to work well in high rack storage facilities. In the conventional version, sprinklers are installed both under the ceiling and in the shelves. However, the installation of shelf sprinklers is rendered unnecessary if ESFR (Early Suppression Fast Response) sprinklers, which are installed only in the ceiling, can be deployed. Fire detection systems for the early detection of fires are also used to supplement sprinkler systems in high rack storage facilities. In these cases, Minimax recommends the use of HELIOS AMX5000 aspirating smoke detectors with a vertical installation of the suction lines in the shelves and mounting the evaluation units in easily accessible locations. The advantage of such a solution over punctiform smoke detectors is, for example, that they can be serviced very easily without having to interrupt business operations.

Hotel rooms
Hotel rooms

Protection zone

Hotel rooms are retreat and relaxation rooms, mostly occupied at night by guests. During the day it is mainly staff that enter the rooms. There is often a very stringent demand for convenience and interior design in these rooms. For this reason, the rooms have already been fitted extensively with electrical devices, and this trend can be expected to continue in future.

Risks

  • Defective electrical devices, e.g. kettles, radio, or TV
  • Incompletely extinguished cigarette butts
  • Highly flammable materials

Fire Protection

Minifog EconAqua water mist extinguishing systems are a water and space-saving alternative to sprinkler systems in hotel rooms. In hotel rooms, they can be designed as extended coverage wall sprinklers, which means that a standard room can be safely protected against fire with a single sprinkler. When using undercover sprinklers, the extinguishing system fits particularly unobtrusively into the ceiling. 

Parking areas
Parking areas

Protection zone

Extensive parking facilities are especially convenient for customers and employees. Due to space limitations, parking is often provided in highly frequented, multi-story car parks.

Risks

  • Technical defects in parked vehicles
  • Careless smoking
  • Arson
  • Rapid spreading of fire and development of smoke

Fire Protection

Minfog EconAqua water mist extinguishing systems offer a water and space-saving fire extinguishing method for underground car parks. For higher ceilings, sprinkler systems are a reliable alternative. 

Production and assembly halls
Production and assembly halls

Protection zone

Production and assembly halls are typically extensive multi-story buildings that offer the necessary space for machinery and systems. Such halls are often not structurally subdivided, and the individual areas are interconnected by fully-automated conveyor systems.

Risks

  • Technical defects, such as short circuits at production facilities
  • Highly flammable materials
  • Rapid spreading of fire due to open spaces and interconnecting conveyor systems

Fire Protection

Sprinkler systems are often the ideal solution for production and assembly areas. Their basic concept of selective extinguishing satisfies the applicable requirements. In case of activation, the water is not dispersed throughout the entire production and assembly hall.

Storage rooms

Protection zone

Storage rooms serve to store various materials. Storage frequently includes everyday office supplies, hygiene products or cleaning agents. Other storerooms may serve to store hand tools, computer equipment or retail goods. For food, storage in integrated cold store cells or -rooms may be required

Risks

  • Short circuits in wiring cabinets or cable lines
  • Carelessly discarded cigarette butts
  • High fire load due to concentration of stored goods in a confined space

Fire Protection

Sprinkler systems are often the first choice for logistics areas. Depending on the deployment conditions, sprinklers may be installed both under the ceiling and in the shelves. If the cold store cells are integrated into a storage room, they can be integrated in an existing sprinkler system by using dry sprinklers. Due to its design, the narrow hydrant cabinet from Minimax Mobile Services saves valuable storage space and is therefore ideally suited for use in logistics areas. 

Approved by independent testing institutions

Fendium is approved by both VdS Schaden­verhütung and FM Global.

Even after long-term use, the sur­faces of Fendium pipe are sim­il­arly smooth as those of plastic pipe and widely free of de­pos­its that re­duce the in­side dia­met­ers. For this reason, both VdS Schaden­verhütung and FM Global have con­firmed the fa­vor­able Hazen-Wil­li­ams coef­fi­cient (C-value) of 140 with Fendium pipe for the pur­pose of hy­draulic cal­cu­la­tions. In contrast, the C-value of galvanized or internally untreated steel pipes is 120 or even only 100 for internally untreated steel pipes in dry pipe systems according to FM. The higher the C-value, the lower the pres­sure loss. This means that with Fendium, in many cases the sup­pres­sion sys­tem can be de­signed with smal­ler pipes or smal­ler pumps re­quir­ing less space. In ad­di­tion, smal­ler pipes weigh less mak­ing in­stall­a­tion easier. 

VdS - Confidence through Safety
FM Global

Downloads

Article "New Corrosion-Resistant Sprinkler Pipe" by FM Approvals
Brochures (279 kb)
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Corrosion-Protection with Fendium - Polymer-enhanced pipes in Holtmeyer sawmill
Brochures (392 kb)
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Fendium brochure
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Fendium leaflet
Brochures (570 kb)
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