Graeme Leonard, EMEA Fire Protection Division Manager at Victaulic, outlines how Victaulic is redefining cold storage fire protection through engineered dry sprinkler systems, faster installation methods, and resilient solutions for increasingly complex, high-hazard environments
Firstly, can you introduce yourself and say a little about your history in the fire safety industry and work at Victaulic?
My name is Graeme Leonard, and I am EMEA Fire Protection Division Manager at Victaulic. I’ve worked in the fire safety sector for around three decades, supporting consultants, contractors, and end users in developing resilient, code-compliant fire protection systems for high-hazard and mission-critical environments.
At Victaulic, my focus is on fire protection, particularly in challenging applications like cold storage, data centres, and commercial buildings. Through this work, I help ensure that buildings across EMEA are equipped with Victaulic’s globally trusted fire protection technology, which is known for fast and simple installation, inherent sustainability, and long-term reliability.
Europe’s cold storage capacity is expanding fast. What are the main fire protection vulnerabilities emerging as facilities become larger and more complex?
At Victaulic, we are seeing increasing demand not only for new cold storage facilities but for retrofits and expansions of current facilities. This means that the scale and layout of sites are changing. Developers are building higher, with more advanced insulation and increasingly powerful refrigeration systems which influence fire protection design.
These environments make sense based on requirements, but can create new vulnerabilities, including greater exposure to vibration, more difficult access for maintenance, and more complex roof structures that make penetration sealing harder to achieve. At the same time, the rapid construction schedules required to build new capacity leave little room for time-consuming installation techniques. Fire protection systems need to be engineered to cope with these environmental stresses while remaining quick and straightforward to install and maintain.
Many operators still underestimate the ignition risks created by extremely dry, sub-zero environments. How significant are the dangers such as static electricity and refrigerant leaks in causing fire incidents?
Sub-zero conditions create extremely dry air, which allows static electricity to build up easily on packaging, racking, and insulated panels. A single discharge can ignite combustible materials, making it a far more significant risk than many operators realise. Refrigerant leaks are thankfully rare but still a major concern, particularly when using ammonia-based systems. If flammable vapours meet a spark, the consequences can be severe. Coupled with high electrical loads and continuous operation of fans and lighting, the ignition potential in cold storage facilities is real and demands robust, reliable fire protection.
Traditional dry sprinkler installations have struggled with issues such as ice build-up and compromised seals. What failure points are most often found, and what are consequences for cold storage customers?
One of the most common issues is the deterioration of the seal where the sprinkler penetrates the chiller roof. Traditional threaded installations are prone to movement caused by refrigeration equipment or maintenance activity on the roof. Even small shifts can allow warm air to infiltrate the penetration, leading to condensation and ultimately ice formation around the sprinkler head. When this happens, systems may be taken offline for repairs, disrupting operations. In the worst case, the sprinkler’s ability to discharge water can be compromised during a fire. This is exactly the type of reliability challenge Victaulic sought to address through innovations like our Style AB6 bracket and accompanying flexible hose which protects the seal from vibration and prevents ice accumulation around the head.
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