A Futuristic Project: The ZIN Tower in Brussels, Featuring Inim Technology for Fire Protection
In the heart of Brussels stands an imposing building that embodies the union of modern design and advanced security.
This architectural project, known asthe “ZIN Tower,”was designed to provide a modern, elegant, and functional environment, incorporating state-of-the-art fire protection technology.
The ZIN Tower stands in one of the city’s most prestigious locations, and its bold, contemporary architecture called for an equally cutting-edge fire protection solution. That’s where Inim came in—a leader in the field of safety and fire protection—to support this international project.
Working in close collaboration with architects and engineers, Inim provided a range of customized products and systems to ensure maximum safety. From the installation of smart smoke detectors to control panels, every detail was carefully planned to protect and preserve the integrity of the structure.
The ZIN Tower is now a tangible example of how technology can be combined with security, offering reliable, intelligent, and integrated protection.
The building was created by demolishing a pre-existing structure consisting of two adjacent buildings. The existing towers were connected by a new 14-story, double-height structure. This innovative project combines various functions—living, working, and daily life—all within a single building. The ZIN Tower will always be bustling, seven days a week, thanks to the coexistence of various ways of experiencing the building.
The Need for the Project and the Solution Proposed by INIM
The renovation of the existing towers presented a unique challenge that would profoundly transform the architectural and urban fabric of the neighborhood. The need to integrate residential units, offices, and hospitality facilities into a single mixed-use complex required not only innovative architectural design but also advanced fire safety solutions.
- The complexity of the structure and the variety of its functions have led to a number of challenges that need to be addressed. The sheer size of the complex required a fire detection and alarm system with distributed intelligence—a system in which devices on different levels are managed by separate control panels but information is shared in real time.
- Another requirement was to ensure differentiated access to the system’s information and functions, given the different management structures for the various sections of the facility. The client had also defined a series of complex and differentiated evacuation procedures, requiring specific actions based on the type and source of the alert.
These factors created the need for a comprehensive and reliable fire safety solution capable of ensuring the protection of all people and property within the ZIN complex. Inim provided a solution tailored to the facility’s specific needs, designing a highly sophisticated and integrated fire detection and alarm system.
The proposed solution involved the installation of 29 fire detection control panels and 7 networked repeater units, forming a “cluster” distributed across the various buildings—an architecture in which each node manages a portion of the devices, resulting in significant benefits for the wiring, and in which all information is shared in detail, allowing for precise monitoring from any control console.
Inim took on the challenge of ensuring differentiated access to the plant’s information and functions through targeted and customized design. Thanks to the advanced features of the Previdia system, it was possible to implement complex and differentiated evacuation procedures, with specific activations based on the detected alerts.
System Configuration
The system was configured as a single cluster of Previdia control panels, managing approximately 130 loops and over 9,000 detectors, 1,000 push buttons, 2,500 sirens, 1,000 control modules, 40 SHEV modules, and 8 protected rooms equipped with 20 gas suppression systems.
The system ensures comprehensive coverage and a prompt response in the event of an emergency. Thanks to its partnership with Inim, the ZIN Tower in Brussels now benefits from a state-of-the-art fire safety system, ensuring the protection and safety of everyone who lives in or visits the building.
The Inim Product Selection
Power Plants Previdia Max
Modular fire detection and suppression control panel. It can consist of one or more networked cabinets. Additional modules allow the control panel to be expanded and customized to meet the specific needs of the system.
EC0020 Buttons
Resettable alarm button from the Enea series; it can be connected to the loop and controlled by analog addressable fire control panels. The front of the button features the activation button and an LED that indicates the device’s status.
Power Plants Previdia Compact
The addressable analog control panels of the Previdia Compact series combine the innovative features of the Previdia system with unparalleled ease of use in a compact cabinet. Programming via the display, using a clear and intuitive user interface, minimizes system commissioning and maintenance time. The Previdia Compact control panels can be networked with each other or with the more advanced models Previdia Max and Previdia Ultra.
ED100 Detectors
Based on the Tyndall effect (light scattering), it is capable of providing a rapid and effective response at the very first sign of a fire, detecting a wide range of particles generated by combustion. The chamber design, the sealed top of the detector, and the 500-micron mesh screen that prevents insects from entering ensure exceptional resistance to false alarms. The sensitivity can be adjusted to adapt the detector to different operating conditions (selectable sensitivity settings: 0.08 dB/m, 0.10 dB/m, 0.12 dB/m, 0.15 dB/m).
Loop Modules
The integration of the fire detection and alarm system with all of the building’s systems is essential for it to be effective in combating a fire. Inim offers a wide range of input/output modules that can be connected to the loop of addressable analog control panels, allowing users to control and activate external devices, monitor the status of equipment, control signaling devices, and more.
ES2000 Indicators
Volume, flashing intensity, and audio sequences can be selected from the control unit—customized according to the situation—choosing from 14 tones and 16 messages in 8 different languages for versions with voice functions—all available within the device. For models with a voice alarm function, the tones and messages can also be customized via the EDRV2000. Powered by the loop but equipped with terminals for an optional separate power supply.
Previdia C-REP Repeater
Remote keyboard with a customizable 4.3” LCD touchscreen display, keys for basic functions, and status indicators. It connects to the HORNET+ network (dual RS485 connection) or via a TCP/IP Ethernet network. It provides detailed information about the entire network.
Technical partners for this project
SmartSD, Inim's distributor for the BENELUX region, provided the logistical, technical, and commercial support necessary for the project's success.
The Belgian, the company responsible for the design, construction, and commissioning of the system—a leader in the Fire & Safety sector—has been operating for over 60 years in the Belgian market and beyond. It has been collaborating with Inim Electronics for several years and boasts extensive experience with a portfolio of prestigious installations.
Walter Tonoli – President of The Belgian – Son of the founder, Jose Tonoli, he has, over the years, successfully transformed a family-run business into one of the most successful companies in the industry
