US life science company Sigma-Aldrich has re-opened its chemical distribution centre in Gillingham, Dorset, UK after a £1.4m refurbishment.
The re-fit includes the installation of a state-of-the-art fire suppression system, which Sigma-Aldrich says is the first of its kind to be used in a chemical warehouse in the UK.
The system uses a high expansion foam suppression method specifically designed for flammable liquid and chemical fires, which quickly eliminates two of the three elements that a fire requires to burn, namely the removal of heat by cooling and the removal of oxygen by smothering. The system, widely adopted in the US, is driven by a pump delivering 8,600 litres of water per minute at a pressure of 9.2 bar, ensuring that the area where a fire occurs will be filled to more than six metres within three minutes and the fire extinguished immediately, preventing it from spreading.
The use of foam and the small amount of material needed to put out fires results in minimal water run-off that can be held easily in on-site retention ponds. To ensure the safety of its employees, Sigma-Aldrich has installed a three level, sophisticated fire detection and employee evacuation system that controls the foam release.
The distribution centre was opened by North Dorset MP Robert Walter, who said: "I"m committed to keeping in close contact with North Dorset businesses during these difficult economic times to ensure that everything possible is being done to help them beat the recession.
"I am delighted to see investment in our region with the opening of this facility which will distribute research chemicals to world class r&d groups in universities and research-based companies."
Sigma-Aldrich UK employs approximately 850 people, 360 of whom are from the Dorset sites in Poole and Gillingham. In addition to the distribution centre in Gillingham, Sigma-Aldrich also manufactures therapeutic products used in anti-cancer treatments and flu vaccines.