Bahrain can boast its first “blaze-proof” building thanks to new technology designed to suffocate fire.

Arcapita’s headquarters, located at Bahrain Bay, has become the first property in the country to feature the pioneering system. It was outlined yesterday during a workshop at the Crowne Plaza led by German company Wagner, which installed the new fire-prevention technology.

“This has been created using the simple logic that every fire needs three main components to start,” explained Wagner managing director Barry Bell.

“Every fire needs oxygen, heat and material to start and if we remove one of those, there will be no fire.”

The new technology reduces oxygen levels inside the building to 14.5 per cent, which he said was more than enough to work in.

“This means a fire cannot happen, since every fire needs at least 15 per cent oxygen,” added Bell. He described the technique as “nitrogenising” the entire area inside the building, but said it was safe.

“While it is completely safe for humans, it will never result in a fire happening,” said Bell.

The new system has been installed in co-operation with the Bahrain Services and Maintenance Company (Basma), which deals with office equipment, fire alarms and security, cleaning and janitorial services, building maintenance services, travel and tourism among others.

“This system uses oxyreduct technology, which is at the forefront of advanced scientific methodology for fire protection,” added Basma managing director Ebrahim Dawood Nonoo.

“Once again, Bahrain has been able to lead the region in bringing advanced new technology.”

“As a result of this new technology, it is now absolutely possible to eradicate the risk of fire within data centres and other places.”

Others who spoke at the event included information technology company 2024 SIGHT chief executive officer Anton Holfland and Wagner Middle East general manager Thomas Schaedlich.-TradeArabia News Service