Are’s oxygen reduction system will prevent fires at Serlachius Museum Gösta’s art storage facility
The Gösta Serlachius Fine Arts Foundation selected Are to supply the system, as the company offered the best possible protection against fire at the premises.
“This is a very demanding site as normal sprinkler systems are out of the question because this is a place where national cultural heritage is being safeguarded for future generations. We searched for alternative solutions with the help of the fire authorities and selected Are’s equipment based on their offer. We believe OxyReduct is the ideal solution for ensuring fire safety at the art storage facilities,” says Juha Roponen, Director, Finance and Administration at the Gösta Serlachius Fine Arts Foundation.
The Serlachius Museum Gösta extension art storage facility measuring 1,010 m3 will be used to store highly valuable works of art. The OxyReduct equipment, which uses innovative technology, reduces the level of oxygen in the air. The level of oxygen is so low that it is impossible for fire to break out, but it is possible to work in the premises. The solution provides an excellent method of ensuring fire safety at the storage facility and is a cost-efficient alternative to sprinkler or gas extinguishing systems.
The level of oxygen in the air at the art storage facility will be reduced from the normal 20.9 per cent to 14.2 per cent, which corresponds to conditions at an altitude of 3,250 metres. Employees can work in these conditions without breaks for a maximum of four hours during one shift.
“The OxyReduct fire prevention system provides continuous protection against fire and prevents the damage caused by even rapidly-extinguished fires. Normal extinguishing systems first have to detect the fire and then extinguish it once it has already broken out, so combustion gas and other risks have already had the chance to develop,” says Timo Savolainen, Business Area Manager at Are.
Are is the only Finnish company that supplies the OxyReduct fire prevention systems. Are planned and installed a similar system, which protects three rooms, at Woikoski Oy’s Voikoski plant in 2010. Are Group is also responsible for the electrical contract in the Serlachius Museum Gösta extension.
For additional information, please contact:
Timo Savolainen, Business Area Manager, Are Group, tel. +358 (0)40 300 5751;timo.savolainen@are.fi
Juha Roponen, Director, Finance and Administration, Gösta Serlachius Fine Arts Foundation, +358 (0)50 355 5796;juha.roponen@serlachius.fi
