Fire safety for the largest investment in the Finnish forest industry

The Kemi bioproduct mill of Metsä Fibre, part of Metsä Group, is a project of unprecedented scale. Once completed, the EUR 1.85 billion investment will employ 2,500 people across its entire direct value chain in Finland and produce 1.5 million tonnes of softwood and birch pulp a year. The mill’s annual income effect in Finland, as well as its effect on the value of Finnish exports, will be half a billion euros.

The mill operates entirely without fossil fuels, its electricity self-sufficiency rate is 250%, and surplus electricity is supplied to the national grid. On an annual basis, it will generate renewable electricity equivalent to 2.5% of Finland’s total electricity production.

A project made for PAP

PAP’s founder Rauno Pukarinen says that the requirements in the Kemi bioproduct mill project are extremely high. In other words, it is exactly the kind of project in which PAP can show what it does best.

“We have a lot of experience of delivering large-scale, demanding fire safety projects. Examples include the Sipoo logistics centre and the recently completed Nokia Arena in Tampere. In the Kemi bioproduct mill project, we benefit in particular from the experience we gained delivering fire safety for the Äänekoski bioproduct mill. We are the only company in Finland to have previously carried out a fire safety project on such a complete scale at a wood-processing mill.”

The Kemi bioproduct mill is also a particularly good fit for PAP because the project has made use of the company’s high-level design expertise. “This project is being delivered very much from a clean slate. The developer’s plan only specified the method of implementation for the fire safety system. Our task was to use this as the basis for designing the most reliable and smartest overall fire safety solution for the site, one that also communicates with the site’s building automation system down to individual addresses. This kind of interface integration is still new in fire safety system projects in Finland.”

Steady progress from one stage to the next

Project manager Jami Ojala leads PAP’s team on the Kemi bioproduct mill project. He is responsible for making sure that PAP’s work progresses on schedule and according to plan. “In terms of scope of delivery, this is a really extensive project. We are responsible for the design and delivery of the fire alarm system for the entire mill site of around 70 hectares.”

PAP’s work at the Kemi bioproduct mill covers everything from system design to field installation, testing and commissioning. “A vast number of different fire detectors, manual call points, fire sounders, aspirating smoke detection pipework and control panels are being installed across the mill site. We are also delivering various special systems for the site and installing eight kilometres of fibre-optic linear heat detection cable to control the sprinklers that protect the wood chip and bark conveyor lines.”

With a project of this size, several things have to be taken into account in its delivery. “One of the most important things is successful scheduling of the project as a whole. We are one of the few companies on site working across the entire mill area, in every building. Our team has to be at each location at exactly the moment that is optimal for the progress of the overall project.”

In the hands of PAP’s team of professionals, the work at the Kemi bioproduct mill has gone very smoothly. “We are delivering the project with a team of ten people, which we reinforce further where necessary. In addition to me, the team includes designers, installers, a product manager for programming and commissioning and, where necessary, our company’s management. With this line-up, we will bring the whole project to completion reliably, to a high standard and on schedule.”

Installation work on the mill site is currently in full swing, and PAP’s part will be completed by summer 2023.

Close teamwork with the customer

Risto Remonen acts as installation supervisor for the fire alarm system on behalf of Metsä Fibre. According to him, cooperation with PAP has gone smoothly. “We keep in close contact, and in our weekly site meetings we go through the progress of PAP’s work, the progress of the overall project, schedules and, for example, safety matters. We aim to find solutions to any questions that arise straight away. If we need more information to support the progress of the project, for example on process conditions, we ask the experts in that area for help. A model like this is essential at a site where a lot of different things are happening all the time and work has to keep strictly to schedule.”

Fire safety is extremely important at the bioproduct mill, and that is why the choice of partner also matters a great deal. “This project involves building a large process industry plant that includes, for example, technical, office and kitchen facilities, process areas, and conveyors both underground and above ground. During completely normal operation, these spaces may contain steam, high temperatures and dust, among other things. Unwanted fire alarms caused by the wrong technical solution are not desirable, which is why we make sure already at the design, installation, testing and commissioning stages that the system will be reliable and flawless in use. PAP was chosen as the main contractor for the system on the strength of the company’s solid professional expertise and convincing experience.”

Once completed, the Kemi bioproduct mill will be a fine addition to PAP’s portfolio of sites. “Successfully delivering this project will make PAP’s list of references even more impressive. After this, they can promise to be able to handle quite a few plants in different sectors.”

Looking to the future

According to PAP’s Rauno Pukarinen, the Kemi bioproduct mill is also an interesting project because the new experience gained during it will be useful in the future too.

“Because this project is so unique, we get to deliver completely new kinds of solutions, so in a way we are also doing our own product development as part of it. Once this site is completed, our expertise in designing and delivering massive fire safety solutions will be even more convincing and versatile. This will further strengthen our position as Finland’s leading provider of fire safety solutions.”