Essex Solutions Chemical Processing Facility Debuts State-of-the-Art Water Wall Fire Protection System

“Safety First. Always.” is more than a guiding principle and corporate core value at the Chemical Processing facility in Fort Wayne, Indiana—it is the foundation of every operational decision made at the location.

As a vital supplier of enamels for Essex Solutions’ operations across North America and beyond, the location plays a critical role in the composition of magnet wire. Production of this critical component includes the proper storage and application of raw materials, intermediates, and finished products.

To further enhance safe operations, the facility recently added a state-of-the-art water wall fire safety system. Measuring nearly 160 feet in length, the water wall can release more than 1,400 gallons of water per minute across approximately 4,000 square feet of exterior wall. Its purpose is to create a literal wall of water, preventing fire from breaching the facility.

More critically, positioned alongside the Chemical Processing production building and warehouses, the west aboveground storage tank (AST) farm contains volatile materials. In the event of a fire, the risk of flames spreading into production areas could threaten enamel manufacturing capacity. The water wall was introduced as a proactive safeguard—its immediate purpose is to protect the Chemical Processing facility itself from such a scenario, with the added benefit of reducing the risk of a larger incident affecting neighboring operations on the Fort Wayne campus.

It recently conducted its first-ever full trip test of the water wall, activating the system as if in response to a real emergency. The test not only confirmed performance but also demonstrated the power and scale of this new safety measure.

“The water wall represents a significant safety enhancement for our facility,” said Eric Trauner, PE, Manager of Regulatory Compliance for the Chemical Processing facility. “We hope it is never needed in an actual emergency, but the test gave us tremendous confidence in its effectiveness as part of our comprehensive fire protection strategy.”

Jared Rowntree, President of Essex Solutions North America, added: “Safety First. Always. means protecting our people and the communities around us with the most advanced measures available. The water wall is a safeguard that ensures our employees are better protected while also providing an extra layer of security for our neighbors and stakeholders.”

Watch the full demonstration of the water wall in action:

With the addition of the water wall, the Chemical Processing facility reinforces its dedication to proactive safety measures—underscoring that protecting people, operations, and communities will always come first.