Rethinking Fire Safety in the Cold Chain: Why Hypoxic Prevention Beats Suppression

Published in: Cold Link Africa (Nov/Dec 2025)

Topic: Isolcell N₂ ORS® - oxygen-reduction (hypoxic) fire prevention for cold stores

Traditional fire systems wait for flames and then suppress them, often with water or foam that can damage high-value product. Our feature in Cold Link Africa explores a different approach for cold rooms: hypoxic fire prevention with Isolcell N₂ ORS®, which maintains oxygen at a controlled, lower level so ignition can’t sustain itself in the first place.

“It’s not fire suppression. It’s fire prevention—continuous, precise, and designed for cold-storage realities.”

Because cold rooms are sealed, insulated environments, they’re well-suited to stable low-oxygen setpoints engineered for safety and product integrity. The system’s backbone is precise oxygen monitoring linked to closed-loop control: if O₂ trends up (door events, leakage), on-demand nitrogen from PSA generators restores the setpoint quickly. Operators gain 24/7 visibility, alarms, and auditable logs, without the collateral damage associated with traditional suppression events.

For owners and insurers, the benefits are practical: reduced ignition risk, fewer interruptions, and avoided water damage. Operating costs are competitive when you factor in continuity, product protection, and the absence of post-incident clean-ups. It’s a proactive safety layer built for the realities of cold storage.

Read the editorial to see how hypoxic prevention is reshaping standards in the sector and why insurers are taking notice: “Rethinking fire safety in the cold chain” (Cold Link Africa, Nov/Dec 2025).Link: https://joom.ag/vF2d/p18

Cold Link Africa (Nov/Dec 2025)