High-risk areas require advanced fire safety from Kentec

As reported by Kentec, Sharrcem, the sole cement plant in Kosovo, has upgraded its fire safety to better protect against the risk of fire in high-risk areas.

Sharrcem has an annual production capacity exceeding 600,000 tons, playing a vital role in Kosovo’s economy and local community.

Given the flammable materials and high operating temperatures at the site, robust fire safety measures were needed to prevent any potential fire hazards from causing major damage or disrupting operations.

Sharrcem required a solution that could not only meet international and local fire safety regulations but also integrate seamlessly with the existing security systems.

Ensuring minimal downtime was essential for maintaining production goals, and the fire safety system had to reflect this need for reliability.

Fire safety system implementation

The fire safety system installed across the plant includes 12 SIGMA ZXT units, manufactured by Kentec, a provider of fire safety control systems.

These units have been placed in key high-risk areas, such as electrical warehouses and storage zones.

The SIGMA ZXT units are designed to enable rapid response to fire outbreaks by delivering targeted extinguishing.

By allowing the system to extinguish fires only in specific zones, it helps reduce the risk of damage and keeps costs lower.

The system can be configured to release the extinguishant on an alarm triggered from one or more zones, offering flexibility in fire response and minimizing risk in areas with highly combustible materials.

Security features and integration

The SIGMA ZXT units come equipped with four configurable user passwords that provide restricted access, allowing only authorised personnel to access and modify the system.

This ensures that access to the fire safety system is controlled, and any changes made are tracked.

In addition, secure event logging records up to 1,000 events, which can be used for post-event investigations.

This feature offers valuable insights for safety assessments and enhances the overall security at the plant.

Integration with wider safety systems

One of the standout features of the new system is its seamless integration with the broader security infrastructure at Sharrcem.

According to Kentec, Professional Alarm, a security systems installer, played a key role in implementing the fire safety solution.

Eloi Del Valle, Business Development Manager at Kentec Electronics Ltd, commented on the installation: “The Sharrcem plant is a pillar of Kosovo, and we are honoured to have been the chosen provider of the extinguishant system there.

“Kentec prides itself on its leading, innovative fire safety solutions, and this is what stood out to the Sharrcem team and installer from the start.”

Kosovo cement plant upgrades fire safety: Summary

Sharrcem, the only cement plant in Kosovo, has implemented a new fire safety system across its high-risk areas, such as electrical warehouses and storage zones.

The system includes 12 SIGMA ZXT units, which are designed to provide targeted fire extinguishing, thereby reducing potential damage and cost.

This solution integrates seamlessly with the plant’s existing security and safety protocols and ensures compliance with local and international regulations.

Secure event logging and controlled access features enhance operational safety, with up to 1,000 events logged for post-event analysis.