Underground firewater system for Netherlands' safest terminal

Recently, the Rozenburg-based company completed a splendid assignment for Cegelec Fire Solutions: the construction of a 5.7-kilometer-long fire-extinguishing water network for HES International's terminal under construction on the Hartelstrook in the port of Rotterdam.

After its planned completion in the third quarter of 2021, HES International, as one of the largest independent providers of storage and transshipment services in Europe, will have the most modern and safest terminal in the Netherlands. The 27-hectare site will house 54 generously sized tanks that will be able to store a total of no less than 1.3 million m3 of (bio)fuel. A huge capacity that requires taking adequate precautions, especially in the field of fire safety. With the construction of a 5.7-kilometer GRE underground fire-fighting water line and a 25-bar PE pipe for the foam system, QUALM made a significant contribution to this. The precast required for this was custom manufactured piece by piece in the company's own workshop. "The GRE network constructed by us within a time frame of 15 months supplies water to the fire hydrants and fire extinguishers on the one hand, and to the automatic extinguishing and cooling systems on the tanks on the other," says director Menno Mulders. "In addition, each tank is connected to a valve station and valve that can be operated separately for each tank. All this makes it possible to respond quickly and effectively in case of fire."