Case study · Retail
Making 500+ stores fire-safe at a retail giant.
After three fires traced to faulty Power Factor Correction equipment, a major South African retailer took the bold step of switching off PFC across more than 500 stores and distribution centres, accepting higher energy costs to protect people and assets. Augos surveyed every panel, guided the repairs and upgrades, and installed fire suppression, restoring both safety and efficiency.
- Three fires from faulty PFC equipment prompted a proactive estate-wide shutdown.
- Augos surveyed every PFC panel across more than 500 sites.
- Repairs, upgrades and fire suppression restored both safety and efficiency.
- The programme demonstrated compliance with the OHS Act.
A proactive stance on catastrophic risk
A retail giant and household brand in South Africa took a bold step to address a potentially catastrophic issue. Faulty Power Factor Correction (PFC) equipment in its stores had caused three separate fire incidents. In a proactive move, the business temporarily switched off PFC systems across more than 500 stores and distribution centres.
Disabling PFC came with a clear trade-off. Because PFC improves electrical efficiency, switching it off meant accepting higher monthly energy costs. Leadership understood that the risk of running faulty equipment far outweighed that immediate financial impact.
The path to safety and compliance
The first step was a comprehensive survey of every PFC panel across the stores and distribution centres, identifying where repairs and upgrades were needed to bring the equipment up to safe specification.
In parallel, the business took a proactive stance against fire risk itself, installing fire suppression systems in every operational PFC panel. That further safeguarded facilities and contained the risk of any future incident.
By upgrading the systems and installing fire suppression, the retailer did more than prevent property damage. It proactively demonstrated compliance with the South African Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) 85 of 1993, which requires employers to provide and maintain a safe working environment.
Results: safety, efficiency and peace of mind
The programme delivered on both fronts. The necessary repairs and upgrades mitigated the fire risk, while recommissioning safe PFC restored the electrical efficiency lost during the shutdown. The outcome was a safer estate, controlled energy costs and genuine peace of mind for a household brand and its customers.
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Questions
Why did the retailer switch off its PFC systems?
Three separate fires were traced to faulty Power Factor Correction equipment. Leadership chose to disable PFC across the estate temporarily, prioritising immediate safety over the higher energy cost.
What is the cost of disabling PFC?
Higher monthly energy bills, because PFC improves electrical efficiency. The retailer accepted that cost temporarily while the panels were surveyed and made safe.
How did Augos make the systems safe again?
A comprehensive survey of every PFC panel across all sites, repairs and upgrades to bring the equipment up to safe specification, and fire suppression installed in every operational panel.
Why install fire suppression in PFC panels?
PFC panels carry a genuine fire risk. Suppression contains an incident at source, protecting stock, buildings, staff and customers.
Does this help with compliance?
Yes. The upgrades and fire suppression demonstrate compliance with the South African Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) 85 of 1993, which requires employers to provide and maintain a safe working environment.
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