While refrigeration and HVAC systems dominate most conversations in the cold chain sector, fire detection and suppression remain equally critical – and uniquely challenging.
KwaZulu-Natal at Technoswitch. © Plumbing Africa
Technoswitch branch manager for KwaZulu-Natal, Werner Strydom, spoke with Cold Link Africa at the GCCA Africa cold chain conference 2025 regarding his company’s specialised role in protecting cold storage facilities against fire risks.
Unlike conventional warehouses, cold stores introduce unusual fire dynamics. “Packaging materials, particularly cardboard, are often the greatest fire risk. In older facilities, insulation once posed a significant hazard, but advances in panel technology have greatly reduced this concern. Still, sub-zero temperatures mean that fire behaves differently compared to normal commercial spaces,” explains Strydom.
The stratification effect – where heat rises and smoke accumulates at ceiling level in warm environments – doesn’t play out the same way under freezing conditions. This makes both detection and suppression systems more complex to design.
Traditional optical smoke detectors, widely used in offices and standard industrial buildings, are less effective in cold environments where condensation and freezing can impair performance. Instead, Strydom points to two solutions:
• Linear Heat Detection (LHD): ideal for in-rack or smaller volume areas, this system relies on two parallel cables containing heat-sensitive material. Once a critical temperature is reached, the cable activates a short circuit to trigger an alarm.
• Aspirating Smoke Detection (ASD): better suited to large cold rooms with high ceilings, ASD systems continuously draw air samples through a network of pipes. Sensitive enough to distinguish between dust and smoke particles, they provide an early-warning system before fires escalate.
“These systems are more reliable than traditional sensors in sub-zero environments. The key is correct design and installation to prevent condensation from freezing inside sampling pipes,” Strydom notes.
THE INSURANCE FACTOR
While South African national fire standards (such as SANS 10400 and SANS 10139) provide the regulatory baseline, insurers are increasingly driving the adoption of advanced detection systems.
“Insurers want tailored risk assessments. A well-designed fire detection system can sometimes even lower premiums. More importantly, it ensures compliance, reduces liability and protects high-value assets,” says Strydom.
For cold stores, where a single fire incident can result in catastrophic product loss – alongside costly downtime for HVAC and refrigeration systems – insurance-linked compliance is fast becoming a market standard.
As Africa’s cold chain expands to meet rising demand for food security and exports, the role of fire detection has grown too. “We’re seeing a marked increase in requests for design work and quotations from cold storage operators. But there are still misconceptions. Many clients don’t fully understand what technologies are best practice, which is why we spend time educating them on the benefits of tailored fire protection,” says Strydom.
Looking ahead, Strydom sees both incremental and disruptive innovations shaping fire protection in the cold chain. “Aspirating and linear heat detection will continue to dominate cold storage applications. But wireless technologies are emerging as the future backbone. Even if used only as communication infrastructure, wireless brings flexibility and efficiency that traditional cabling cannot.”
Strydom’s advice for cold storage operators is straightforward: start with a risk assessment. “Every facility is different. Understand your environment, identify your highest-risk areas and build a system around that. A tailored approach ensures not only compliance with standards and insurance, but – most critically – the protection of your people, your HVAC and refrigeration assets, and your product integrity.”
© Plumbing Africa