IFP Issue 12

The Global Voice for Passive & Active Fire Protection Systems

An MDM PUBLICATIONIssue 12 – November 2002

IFP

ON-LIN

E

www.ifpm

ag.co

m

Water Mist Round UpAnalogue Addressable F ire Panel Contro l

Coat ings For Industr ia l App l icat ionsCommodity C lass i f icat ions

a lso ins ideWater Mist Round Up

Analogue Addressable F ire Panel Contro lCoat ings For Industr ia l App l icat ions

Commodity C lass i f icat ions

IndustrialPlant Loss

Control


Control

OFC,IFC IBC,OBC 2nd 16/10/06 10:23 am Page ofc1

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INTERNATIONAL FIRE PROTECTIONwww.ifpmag.com

1

Front cover picture: Fire door testingPicture courtesy of Chiltern InternationalFire

PublishersDavid Staddon & Mark Seton

Editorial ContributorsOkay Barutcu, David Sugden, MagnusArvidson, Peter Freestone, Tom Gregory,David Hooton, Kathy A. Slack, William S.Fink, Mike Cross, Dr Dave Smith, BobChoppen, Daniel T. Gottuk, MartinWorkman, Sandi Wake

IFP is published quarterly by:MDM Publishing Ltd 18a, St James Street, South Petherton, Somerset TA13 5BWUnited KingdomTel: +44 (0) 1460 249199Fax: +44 (0) 1460 249292 e-mail: [email protected]: www.ifpmag.com

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DISCLAIMER:The views and opinions expressed in INTERNATIONALFIRE PROTECTION are not necessarily those of MDMPublishing Ltd. The magazine and publishers are in no wayresponsible or legally liable for any errors or anomaliesmade within the editorial by our authors. All articles areprotected by copyright and written permission must besought from the publishers for reprinting or any form ofduplication of any of the magazines content. Any queriesshould be addressed in writing to the publishers.

Reprints of articles are available on request. Prices onapplication to the Publishers.

Page design by Dorchester Typesetting Group LtdPrinted by The Friary Press Ltd


An MDM PUBLICATION

Issue 12 – November 2002

IFP

ON-LI

NE

www.ifpm

ag.co

m

Water Mist Round Up

Analogue Addressable F ire Panel Contro l

Coat ings For Industr ia l App l icat ions


a lso ins ide

Water Mist Round Up

Analogue Addressable F ire Panel Contro l

Coat ings For Industr ia l App l icat ions



Control


Control

Noevember 2002 Issue 123-6 Commodity Classification By

Fire testing

9-10 Halon System Removal InEurope

13-14 Sealing Penetrations in FireRated Walls & Floors

17-18 Extinguisher Classifications

20-23 Fire Doors SaveLives…..Don’t They

25-28 Analogue Addressable FirePanel Control

31-34 Water Mist Round Up

37-41 Sirens & Sounders – SoundAdvice

43-46 Industrial Plant Loss ControlSystem

49-53 Fire Protection InCommunication Centres

54-57 Video Based Fire Detection

58 IWMA News

60-61 Coatings For IndustrialApplications

62-63 Product Update

64 Advertisers Index

P. 1-35 16/10/06 10:35 am Page 1

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Fire-testing the type of commodity tobe stored can provide considerablybetter information on its fire and sup-

pressability characteristics than does ageneral examination. A Swedish researchprogramme that has recently been con-cluded was aimed at establishing limits forthe classification to be used in conjunctionwith the forthcoming European rules forsprinkler systems. The methodology, andits resulting classification limits, meansthat any particular type of commodity canbe classified with considerably better accu-racy and safety than by using simpleassessment.

THE EUROPEAN COMMODITY CLASSIFICATION SCHEMEThe European commodity classificationscheme described in Annex B of the forth-coming European Standard, prEN 12845,“Fixed fire fighting systems, Automaticsprinkler systems, Design, installation andmaintenance” [i], is based on an examina-tion of the materials (the ‘material factor’)and the storage configuration of thecommodity.

There are four main commodity cate-gories – I, II, III and IV – where category Irepresents the least hazardous and cate-gory IV the most hazardous commodity. Tocategorise the commodity, the commonmethod is first to examine the materialsinvolved, in order to determine a materialfactor, and thereafter to determine its stor-age configuration. Some type of commod-ities may fall outside the classificationscheme, and are denoted ‘Special Hazards’.These commodities require sprinkler pro-tection in excess of category IV commod-ities, and special protection requirementsare given in Annex G of prEN 12845.

The material factor must take intoaccount the product, the packaging materialand the pallet material. The material factorsand typical commodities are listed below:

Material factor 1 is defined as non-combustible products in combustible pack-aging and low or medium combustibility

products in combustible or non-combustiblepackaging. The commodity is allowed tocontain only modest amounts of plastics.The amount of unexpanded plastic orrubber content should be less than 5% (byweight), and the amount of expandedplastic or rubber content less than 5% (byvolume). Examples include metal parts withor without cardboard packaging on woodpallets, leather products, wood products andcanned food.

Material factor 2 corresponds to productswith a higher energy content than materialfactor 1 products; for example, those con-taining greater quantities of plastics.Examples include wood or metal furniturewith plastic seats, electrical equipmentwith plastic parts or packaging and syn-thetic fabrics.

Material factor 3 corresponds to productscontaining predominantly unexpanded plas-tic or materials with higher energy content.Examples include empty car batteries, plasticbriefcases, personal computers and unex-panded plastic cups and cutlery.

Material factor 4 corresponds to productscontaining predominantly expanded plastic(more than 40% by volume) or materialswith a similar energy content. Examplesinclude foam mattresses, expanded poly-styrene packaging and foam upholstery.

Figure 1 is used to determine the mater-ial factor when a commodity consists ofmixtures of materials. The commodity shallbe regarded as consisting of all packingand the material of the load pallet. Rubbershould be treated in the same way asplastic.

After the material factor has been deter-mined, the storage configuration must beevaluated using Table 1. Detailed descrip-tions of the storage configurations aregiven below the table.

The following descriptions of storageconfigurations shown above are given inAnnex B of prEN 12845:

Exposed plastic containers with non-combustible content. Applies only to plasticcontainers containing liquids or solids indirect contact with the container, and doesnot apply to metal parts in plastic storageboxes. Examples include plastic bottles of softdrinks or liquids with less than 20% alcohol.

Exposed plastic surface – expanded.Exposed, expanded plastics are generallymore severe than unexposed plastics andshould be treated as Category IV.

Exposed plastic surface – unexpanded. Thecategory should be increased to either IIIor IV when the commodity has exposedplastic surfaces comprising one or moresides or more than 25% of the surfacearea. Examples include metal parts in PVCstorage bins or shrink-wrapped tinnedfoods.


3

Commodity classification by fire-testing

for properly designedsprinkler systemsBy Magnus Arvidson, SP Swedish

National Testing and Research Institute

The fire characteristics of stored commodities in a warehouse are an impor-tant parameter when determining the design and capacity of a sprinklersystem. Unfortunately, this is a parameter that is often difficult to assess.

The fire when tested at a waterapplication rate of 10,0 mm/min.

Figure 1.Annex B ofprEN 12845specifies that thematerial factorfor a commoditythat consists ofmixtures ofmaterials shouldbe determined onthe basis of thecontent ofplastics, usingthis figure.

Commodity classification by fire-testing

for properly designedsprinkler systems

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44

Open structure. Commodities stored with,or having, a very open structure, generallypresent a higher hazard than materials witha closed structure. The high surface areatogether with high access of air encouragesrapid combustion.

Solid block materials. Materials in solidblock form usually have a low surface areato volume or mass ratio, which reduces theburning rate and permits a reduction inclassification (however, not applicable toblocks of expanded plastics, which shouldbe treated as Category IV.)

Granular or powdered materials. Granularor powdered materials that will spill outduring a fire and tend to smother the firewill be less hazardous than their basicmaterial counterparts.

No special configuration. Commoditiesthat have none of the characteristicsdescribed above, e.g. cartoned commodities.

NINE TYPES OF COMMODITIES WERE TESTED

The aim of the research programme was toestablishing limits for the classification tobe used in conjunction with prEN 12845.The following nine types of commoditieswere tested in the research programme2:

� Triple, bi-wall corrugated cardboardcartons (denoted the EUR standardClass II commodity)

� Corrugated board cartons with interiordividers.

� Corrugated board cartons with 15% (byweight) of unexpanded plastic.

� The EUR standard plastic commodity(contains 42% (by weight) of unex-panded plastic).

� Plastic (HDPE) containers.� Corrugated board cartons with 25% (by

volume) of expanded plastic.� Corrugated board cartons with 40% (by

volume) of expanded plastic.� Solid polystyrene blocks in corrugated

board cartons.� Piled wooden pallets.

The commodities were chosen such thatthey either fell clearly into one of the fourcommodity categories (I-IV) specified inprEN 12845, or such that the material fac-tor was at the boundary between two dif-ferent classes as indicated in the table

above. In addition, two of the chosencommodities were considered as ‘SpecialHazards’.

All commodities were supported on slat-ted 1200 mm by 1000 mm wooden palletsduring the tests.

THE FIRE TEST METHODOLOGYFire-testing involves arranging four palletloads of the particular commodity in a racksegment. A water applicator consisting ofa matrix of spray nozzles is arranged overthe commodity and the whole set-up ispositioned beneath a calorimeter in orderthat the heat release rate can be measured.The commodity is ignited at the centrelineof the flue space, and water is appliedwhen the fire reaches a predeterminedconvective heat release rate of 2 MW. Atthat point, the fire normally involves thewhole upper tier of the commodity. Threesuch trials are conducted for each type ofcommodity, at three different rates ofwater application. However, in some of thecases, the first two extinguishing trials arefollowed by a third free-burning trial. Thewater application rates should be either2,5, 5,0, 7,5 or 10,0 mm/min. The first testis always conducted at 5,0 mm/min and,depending on the results, a decision ismade as to whether the water applicationrate should be increased or decreased. Itshould be noted that the water applicationrates used in the tests do not have anyconnection to the design densities used inprEN 12845.

The methodology was originally3 devel-oped by FMRC for classification according

to the US commodity classificationscheme, and has been used by SP forabout ten years. However, because of thedifference in size of European pallets andUS pallets, the methodology has beenmodified, e.g. regarding the design of thewater applicator. The amount of commodi-ty used in each of the tests has also beenreduced, from the eight pallet-loads thatwere originally specified, to only four pal-let-loads. As three trials are then requiredfor each type of commodity, the totalquantity of commodity consumed isreduced from 24 to twelve pallet-loads.

TEST RESULTS

Although the test results showed significantdifferences in the fire hazard among thetested commodities, it can be concluded thatmost of the commodities (with a few excep-tions) had a hazard level that correspondedto the commodity categories given inprEN 12845. With the data obtained fromthe tests, any commercial commodity couldbe tested and classified in accordance withthe requirements of prEN 12845. Figure 2shows the total heat release rate histories fora selection of tested commodities. The testswere conducted with a water application rateof 5,0 mm/min.

One of the commodities shown to have ahazard level in excess of its classificationgiven in prEN 12845 is the EUR standardplastic commodity. According toprEN 12845, this commodity should beclassified as a Category III commodity.However, the tests indicate that the firecharacteristics are in excess of the corrugat-ed board cartons with 40% (by volume)expanded plastic, and in fact similar to thetested solid polystyrene blocks in corrugatedboard cartons. This result highlights the dif-ficulty of determining the fire characteristicsof a given commodity using simple assess-ments, whereas a commodity classificationbased on fire-testing provide considerablybetter information.

EVALUATION OF THE TEST RESULTS

Based on the heat release rate measure-ments, the following quantitative figuresare determined for each of the tests:V1 – the maximum one-minute averageconvective heat release rate. About two-thirds of the energy generated by a fire isreleased through convection. Convectionproduces the velocities and the tempera-tures in the fire plume, and since the pro-portion of penetration of water droplets

Storage configuration Material factor1 2 3 4

Exposed plastic container with non-combustible content Cat. I, II, III Cat. I, II, III Cat. I, II, III Cat. IVExposed plastic surface – expanded Cat. IV Cat. IV Cat. IV Cat. IVExposed plastic surface – unexpanded Cat. III Cat. III Cat. III Cat. IVOpen structure Cat. II Cat. II Cat. III Cat. IVSolid block materials Cat. I Cat. I Cat. II Cat. IVGranular or powdered material Cat. I Cat. II Cat. II Cat. IVNo special configuration Cat. I Cat. II Cat. III Cat. IV

Table 1. The influence of storage configuration on the classification of a commodity inaccordance with Annex B of prEN 12845.

Figure 2. Thetotal heatrelease ratehistories for aselection oftestedcommodities.The particulartests wereconductedusing a waterapplicationrate of5,0 mm/min.

HR

Rto

t [

kW

]

P. 1-35 16/10/06 10:35 am Page 4

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from a sprinkler, which penetrates the fireplume, depends on the velocities and thetemperatures, penetration depends on theconvective heat release rate.V2 – the maximum one-minute averagetotal heat release rate. The total heatrelease rate includes the energy releasedboth by convection and by radiation, aswell as the heat being conducted awayand absorbed within the storage array. Theradiation component of the total heatrelease rate accounts for approximatelyone-third of the energy generated by afire. Radiation is the primary mechanism bywhich fire spreads across aisles and otheropen spaces to adjacent combustibles. Thetotal heat release rate is therefore a mea-sure of the potential for fire spread as wellas an overall fundamental measure of fireseverity.V3 – the convective heat release rateaveraged over the most severe five-minute interval of the fire duration time.The energy convected upwards is largely

responsible for the heating of exposed steelin the ceiling and the operation of auto-matic sprinklers. The maximum value of theconvective heat release rate does help tocharacterize the severity of the fire. However,regarding the heat transfer, the durationtime is as important as magnitude.V4 – the convective energy generated dur-ing the most severe ten-minute interval ofthe fire duration time. This value is animportant measures of a fire’s maximumpotential for causing thermal damage: thehigher the convective energy, the greater thedamage potential.

CLASSIFICATION CRITERIA PROPOSEDFigure 3 shows proposed classification cri-teria for Category I, II, III and IV commodi-ties, as well as the limit for commoditiesthat have so severe fire characteristics thatthey require special protection. Those thatexceed Category IV, and which thereforerequire special fire protection measures, areclassified as a ‘Special Hazard’. It should be

noted that Figure 3 refers only to the V1parameter. Similar classification diagramhave also been developed for the V2 – V4parameters.

The methodology, and its resulting clas-sification limits, means that any particulartype of commodity can be classified withconsiderably better accuracy and safetythan by using simple assessment in accor-dance with prEN 12845.

The research programme was sponsoredby the Swedish Fire Research Board(Brandforsk).1 prEN 12845, “Fixed fire fighting systems, Auto-matic sprinkler systems, Design, installation andmaintenance”, Draft 25, December 31, 1999

2 Arvidson, Magnus and Lönnermark, Anders,“Commodity Classification Tests of Selected Ordi-nary Combustible Products, Brandforsk Project620-001”, SP Report 2002:03, Swedish NationalTesting and Research Institute, Borås, 2002 (thereport can be downloaded from www.sp.se)

3 Chicarello, Peter, J. and Troup, Joan, M. A.,”Fire Products Collector Test Procedure forDetermining the Commodity Classification ofOrdinary Combustible Products”, Factory MutualResearch Corporation, August, 1990


66

Table 2. Classification of the commodities used in the test programme according to Annex B of prEN 12845.

*Polypropylene or polyethylene storage bins shall be protected in accordance with Annex G, “Protection of Special Hazards” of prEN 12845.**Unused pallets shall be protected in accordance with Annex G, “Protection of Special Hazards” of prEN 12845.

Commodity Judgment according to Classification according toprEN 12845 prEN 12845

Material factor Storage configuration

Triple, bi-wall corrugated cardboard 1 Solid block materials Icartons (denoted the EUR standard Class II commodity)

Corrugated board cartons with 1 Open structure IIinterior dividers

Corrugated board cartons with Boundary between 2 Open structure Boundary between II and III15% (by weight) of unexpanded and 3plastic

Corrugated board cartons with Boundary between 2 Open structure Boundary between II and III25% (by volume) of expanded plastic and 3

The EUR standard plastic commodity 3 Open structure III(42% (by weight) of unexpanded plastic)

Plastic (HDPE) containers 3 Exposed plastic III*surface – unexpanded

Corrugated board cartons with Boundary between 3 Open structure Boundary between III and IV40% (by volume) of expanded plastic and 4

Solid polystyrene blocks in corrugated 4 Solid block materials IVboard cartons

Piled wooden pallets 1 Open structure II**

Magnus Arvidson is a graduate FireProtection Engineer from the Univer-sity of Lund in Sweden. He has been working at the Department ofFire Technology at SP SwedishNational Testing and Research Insti-tute since 1991, mainly responsiblefor activities related to water mistand sprinkler system testing andresearch. He can be reached attelephone +46 33 16 56 90 or e-mail [email protected]

Figure 3.Classificationlimits for V1, themaximum one-minute averageconvective heatrelease rate.Similarclassificationdiagram havealso beendeveloped forthe V2 – V4parameters.

Total

Heat

Release

P. 1-35 16/10/06 10:35 am Page 6

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quality standards; system servicing and recharging (on site if necessary); long term

halon bank management; and clean agents.

WESCO is committed to “responsible halon management” and stringently com-

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Understanding the LawThe new halon regulation affects allowners of land- or sea-based fire sup-pression systems containing halon. Itsets forth a staged approach to theultimate removal of halon systemsacross the EC.

� Newly manufactured halon cannotbe used to refill new or existing firesuppression systems effective 1October, 2000.

� Recovered, reclaimed, or recycledhalon cannot be used to refill exist-ing fire suppression systems after 31December 2002.

� All fixed and portable fire extin-guishing systems containing halon

that are not listed as critical must bedecommissioned and removed fromservice by 31 December 2003. Thehalon must be processed fordestruction or for recycling andreused by critical users.

Annex VII of EC 2037/2000 defines alimited number of “critical uses”acceptable for the placement of recycledhalon. These are predominantly aero-space, defense, commercial marine, andpetrochemical applications. A manage-ment committee representing themember states periodically reviewsthese uses. As viable alternativesbecome available, the committee mayultimately stop the use of halon inthese applications.

Note that compliance with theEuropean law is not limited solely tothe removal of suppression systemhardware: halon removed from decom-missioned systems must also bedestroyed by an environmentallyacceptable technology. As the removaland destruction of halon will ulti-mately be at a cost to the systemowner, there is a concern that thesesystems might be vented to the atmos-phere rather than remediated by anacceptable destruction technology. Thepurposeful or otherwise illicit ventingof halon to the atmosphere is strictlyprohibited under Article 21 of EC2037/2000, and would expose thesystem owner to substantial penaltiesunder the laws of each EU memberstate.

All owners of decommissioned halon systems should insist on docu-mentation from their decommissioningcontractor certifying the destruction oftheir halon or placement into anapproved critical use. The responsibilityand proof of compliance with the law lie with the owner of the halonsystem.


9

Halon SystemRemoval in Europe

The Time For Action is Now IN THE EUROPEAN UNION, the systematic phase-out of halon firesuppression systems began in October of 1990 with the enactment ofRegulation EC 2037/2000. Halon fire extinguishing systems are installedthroughout the world, protecting such valuable and irreplaceable assetsas electrical and electronic equipment, communications and missioncritical facilities, cultural property, vehicles and vessels, and many otherimportant industrial fire protection applications.

Halon SystemRemoval in Europe

P. 1-35 16/10/06 10:35 am Page 9

Complying With The Law –Choices For DestructionIn addition to the limited number ofapproved critical applications for reuse,there are two principal halon destruc-tion technologies available: ultra-hightemperature incineration and the morestate-of-the-art plasma conversiondestruction technology developed byDASCEM Europe and marketed underthe trademark Plascon™.

The DASCEM Plascon™ process isextremely efficient, and is capable ofcapturing and destroying up to99.999% of the halon contained in apressurized cylinder. Plascon™ is anessentially non-emissive process. Plas-con™ has a proven track record in Aus-tralia, where the technology has beenused to destroy more than 3,000 metrictons of halon over the past four years.

The Export Loophole Many countries around the world con-tinue to use halon in fire protectionbeyond essential use applications.Halon from decommissioned suppres-sion systems in Europe may, therefore,be exported to these countries withinthe bounds of EC law and global envi-ronmental directives. However, severalcountries have already stopped theimportation of halon and many arecurrently considering this action.Destroying halon removed from decom-missioned systems and recycling it forapproved critical uses are better, moreenvironmentally responsible solutions.

Enforcement of the LawThe legislation passed in EC 2037/2000is in the form of a regulation and isdirectly applicable to the laws of eachEU member state. The failure of anowner of a halon system to comply withthe mandatory system decommissioning

and remediation of halon is a prose-cutable offense in each country withinthe EU. The penalties for non-compliance with EC 2037/2000 willvary by country, but can include sub-stantial fines, forfeiture of property,and possible imprisonment.

The Time For Action Is NowThe deadline for compliance with Regu-lation EC 2037/2000 is fast approaching.At this time, owners of halon systemsshould begin making arrangements forremoval and remediation of halon andfor installation of systems to providecontinued protection of their criticalbusiness property and operations.

Several businesses and organizationscan help halon system owners begin thetransition to new fire protection systems.The Halon Users National Consortium(HUNC) offers a clearinghouse of infor-mation online at http://www.hunc.org,including updates concerning EC Regu-lation 2037/2000 and other guidancedocuments on halon phase-out andhalon replacement alternatives. Addition-al information on ozone depletion, regu-lations, production phaseouts, and halonalternatives can also be found on theU.S. Environmental Protection Agency(EPA) Stratospheric Ozone Protection siteat http://www.epa.gov/ozone/.


1010

HFC-227ea: Fire Protection andEnvironmental StewardshipReplacing halon in fire protection systems hasbeen occurring since the earliest days of theMontreal Protocol Treaty on Substances thatDeplete the Ozone Layer. A number of suitablealternatives to halon have been commerciallyintroduced and accepted by users. The mostwidely accepted alternative to halon worldwidehas been heptafluoropropane, known morecommonly as HFC-227ea.Great Lakes Fire Safety began developing HFC-227ea in the late 1980s specifically as areplacement for Halon 1301 and introduced itcommercially under the FM-200® brand namein 1992. Recognizing the unique benefits of thiscompound, Great Lakes dedicated extensiveresources to the development of the FM-200®

brand so that, over the years, it has become theworld’s most trusted choice in clean agent firesuppression. In 2001, DuPont Fluoroproductsintroduced its own HFC-227ea product to themarketplace under its FE-227™ trademark,owing to the overwhelming global acceptanceand future potential for this important product.The tremendous commercial success of the FM-200® product over the past decade hasestablished a sizable quantity of this extinguishingagent in the marketplace. Some FM-200® systemshave reached the end of their service life. Somedecommissioned systems are now finding theirway into the traditional recycling channelsestablished for halons.“Recycling HFC-227ea and reselling it withoutauthorization may pose several issues,” accordingto Doug Register, Business Director for GreatLakes Fire Safety Products. “Once theextinguishing agent is removed from its originalsystem container and separated from the nitrogenpropellant, it ceases to be the product sold byGreat Lakes or DuPont. HFC-227ea sold byproducers other than Great Lakes or DuPont incountries where their patents are in force mayconstitute a patent infringement. Recycled HFC-227ea is not subject to the qualitycontrol of Great Lakes or DuPont. Any recycledor reprocessed product sold or otherwiserepresented as the original extinguishing agent,such as FM-200®, without a license constitutes apotential trademark infringement.” Beyond the matter of patents or trademarks, thegreater concern is the unknown effect on systemperformance and reliability when systemsincorporate HFC-227ea extinguishing agent fromsources other than Great Lakes or DuPont, whohold patents in this area. All of the authorizedHFC-227ea suppression systems manufacturedworldwide have been tested and listed orapproved by an independent third party testinglaboratory to ensure that each and every systemis backed by sound technology, and will performas expected in the rare event of a fire. Inaddition, Great Lakes maintains a separatecomponent listing for the FM-200® extinguishingagent from Underwriters Laboratories (UL) andcomponent approval from Factory Mutual (FM)as an independent verification of the inherentquality built into the fire extinguishing agent.“We take our stewardship of this life- andproperty-saving product very seriously, “Register said. “The system and componentlistings and approvals by third parties areimportant safeguards built into the quality ofthese systems, and the peace of mind thesesafeguards offer system owners should not becompromised by utilizing extinguishing agentsthat do not meet these proven standards.”Register concluded that there is a need for anenvironmentally responsible solution for thereclamation of HFC-227ea from systems at theend of their useful service, and that Great LakesFire Safety will work closely with all owners ofdecommissioned systems to find an appropriateand environmentally responsible outlet for theirHFC-227ea product.

With little more than a year leftbefore halon systems must beremoved, owners of these systemsshould consider that the inevitableincrease in demand for halonremoval and replacement of fire sup-pression systems could leave themvulnerable in terms of both legalcompliance and protection of criticalassets. By addressing this situationnow, halon system owners assure theavailability of the options that workbest for their individual applications.

P. 1-35 16/10/06 10:35 am Page 10


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P. 1-35 16/10/06 10:35 am Page 12

WHY IS FIRESTOP REQUIRED BY CODE?

STATISTICS PROVE that 57% ofvictims killed in fires every year are not inthe room where the fire originated!Although the word “fire” tends to grab theheadlines, it is the smoke and toxic fumesof a fire that quietly steals away the livesof so many people. In fact, 75% of all firedeaths are caused by smoke inhalation.

Smoke from a fire is capable of travel-ing at upwards of 400 feet per minuteunder fire conditions. Migrating smokecan rapidly infiltrate a building from floorto floor and into routes of egress makingit next to impossible for victims alertedby smoke and fire alarms to escape fromthe building. In addition efforts to extin-guish the fire by responding firefightersare often hampered by the inability tofind the blaze due to dark smoke-filledhallways and stair towers.

Although it is unlikely we will ever beable to predict where a fire will start, wecan limit it’s ability to spread by contain-ing it in a fire-rated envelope. Many wallsand floors in buildings today aredesigned according to building code tocarry a fire resistance rating from one tofour hours. However, once a penetratingitem is placed through the fire barrier, theintegrity of the barrier is compromised.

Penetrating items passing through thefire barrier walls and floors of a buildingare manufactured from many differentmaterials and come in a range of shapesand sizes. Building services such aspiping, heating ducts, cable trays and

electric busways are common penetra-tions found in commercial buildings.

Typically you can categorize thesepenetrating items as combustible or non-combustible. A non-combustible itemsuch as a carbon steel pipe will normallysurvive a fire which allows for manyviable solutions for restoring the originalhourly rating of the fire barrier. On theother hand, a combustible item such asplastic pipe or a telephone cable bundleposes a much greater challenge.

Too often these penetrations in a firebarrier have been “sealed” using a prod-uct that is unable to stop fire and smokefrom passing through. Experience andtesting shows that building products suchas polyurethane foam, drywall mud andnon-fire rated caulks and mortars will notrestore the integrity of a fire barrier dueto shrinking, cracking and their inabilityto withstand the intense heat and pres-sure elements created in a fire.

HOW DO FIRESTOPPING PRODUCTS WORK?

By definition a firestop system is, aspecific construction consisting of a fire-rated wall or floor assembly, apenetrating item or items passingthrough an opening in the assembly, andthe materials designed to help preventthe spread of fire through the openings.

Firestop products are tested in accor-dance with ASTM E-814 (“Standard Methodof Fire Tests of Through-PenetrationFirestops”). It is also important to notethat firestop products are tested by

independent testing agencies like Under-writers Laboratories to evaluate theindividual product’s performance for aspecific application. Most penetrationsystems will require firestop to beinstalled on both sides of a fire barrierwall, since a fire could originate on eitherside. Once the system passes an intense


13

Pic courtesy of Hilti Inc.


SealingPenetrations inFire Rated Wallsand Floors By Mike Cross,

Hilti, Inc.Sr. Fire Protection SpecialistEducation Committee Chairman for

International Firestop Council

Responsible for assisting customerswith Firestopping applications. Offertraining and technical support to theHilti salesforce as well as conductfirestop seminars to design groupsand the inspection community.

SealingPenetrations inFire Rated Wallsand Floors

P. 1-35 16/10/06 10:35 am Page 13

furnace burn concluded by a mandatoryhose-stream test, the firestop system isthen designated with a specific nomen-clature defining the approved application.

There are many different types of pen-etration firestop products on the markettoday. Many of these products have intu-mescent properties. Firestop productswith this property are designed to expandunder fire conditions allowing thefirestop to take the place of combustiblepenetrating items consumed in the fire.Most intumescent products will begin toexpand at approximately 250 degreesFahrenheit and reach full expansionaround 1000 degrees Fahrenheit at whichpoint the firestop will seal off any open-ing left by the penetration.

PRODUCTS

Firestop penetration products come inmany different forms. This productcategory now includes sealants, putties,wrap strips, collars, specialized foams,mortars, blocks, pillows and boards. Thefirst step to sealing a penetration is todetermine which system is designed forthe specific application. Depending on thepenetration, an installer will typically tryto choose a product which is easilyinstalled as well as cost effective.

Firestop sealants are installed aroundpenetrations with a caulking gun and thentooled into place creating a tight seal toimpede the passage of flame, smoke, toxicfumes and water. Putties are usuallyapplied by hand and pressed into openingswhile strips are wrapped and taped aroundpenetrating items and placed into theopening between the penetration and the

rated assembly. This space is often referredto as the “annular space”.

A collar device is used most often withplastic pipe applications. A collar works byintumescing and taking the place of analready deteriorating plastic pipe duringfire conditions. Fire rated foams are oftenused to seal off difficult areas where aninstaller may not be able to access bothsides of the fire barrier. Fire foams expandas they are installed filling voids and hol-low cavities where flame and smoke tendto migrate under fire conditions. Fireblocks/pillows and boards are most oftenused in large openings such as cable trays,electrical busways and blank openings.Fire rated mortar can also be used as asolution for hard to fill openings.

DOCUMENTATION

The ability of a firestop product to performproperly under fire conditions dependsgreatly upon proper installation of the sys-tem. A firestop system directs the installerto follow specific instructions for productinstallation. Included with the instructionsis a list of parameters with which the sys-tem must comply. If the application fallsoutside of the stated parameters, there isno assurance the system will perform asintended. In such an instance, an engineer-ing judgment may be required.

Engineering judgments (EJ’s) are creat-ed when tested systems do not exist forthe application. An EJ is the manufactur-er’s opinion, based on firestopping expe-rience, product knowledge, and relatedtesting, of a system which would beexpected to pass the stated hourly ratingif it were tested. According to the Inter-national Firestop Council, EJ’s must fol-low specific fundamental guidelines when

being created. Most EJ’s are created byFire Protection Engineers by referencingexisting tested systems and fire test data.

There are many variables to considerwhen installing firestop properly in a firerated assembly. Size of opening, size ofpenetrating item, type of penetratingitem, rating and construction of the firebarrier, and backing material all play arole in choosing the correct firestop sys-tem. These many variables can be confus-ing to an untrained installer, increasingthe likelihood of a system being installedincorrectly and not performing under fireconditions. Building owners and contrac-tors alike have recognized the potentialexposure to liability associated with pooror improper firestop installation and are,as a result, turning more and moretowards professional Firestop Installers.

The industry of Firestop Specialty Con-tractors has been growing for over adecade. In some cases building owners areturning to firestop specialty contractors toperform all firestopping during the con-struction phase of a building in an effortto create uniform fire barrier seals. Addi-tionally, utilizing a firestop installationexpert helps assure proper installation andpeace of mind to building owners by pre-serving continuity within the building.

Recently, Factory Mutual has estab-lished an accreditation process for firestopinstallers. Traditionally, firestop manufac-turers would use Factory Mutual’s inde-pendent third-party testing services toobtain approval of their products. FM4991 is the first accreditation focused onthe actual firestop installer. Contractorswho strive to acquire FM 4991 accredita-tion must designate employees who arerequired to pass a series of test and obtainsix continuing education credits everythree years. In addition to written exams,each company applying for accreditationmust comply with quality control stan-dards established by Factory Mutual.

Technology in the firestop penetrationindustry is changing rapidly. Most firestopmanufacturers offer ongoing training tokeep installers informed of new productsand building code updates pertaining tofirestop. A trained installer utilizing a testedsystem significantly reduces the possibilityof improper firestop installation.


1414


Once a firestop system has beeninstalled, a visual inspection can beconducted to help determine theintegrity of the installation. The Inter-national Firestop Council has createda pocket guide called, The “FirestopInspection Manual”. This tool takesan individual through a step by stepchecklist to assure proper installationof a firestop system. The guide isavailable through www.firestop.orgor by calling, 914-332-1541.

P. 1-35 16/10/06 10:35 am Page 14


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P. 1-35 16/10/06 10:36 am Page 15


P. 1-35 16/10/06 10:36 am Page 16

FIRE EXTINGUISHERS IN THEUK have undergone some modestchanges in recent years. The latest

involves CE Marking, which has beenintroduced in 2002. We have seen anew fire classification, Class F fordeep fat fires and let’s not forget the manufacturing standards aroundEN3 in 1996 of which the most mem-orable aspect was the move fromcolour coding of extinguishers to allred in line with the rest of Europe.EN3 and Class F are relatively oldnews but before we explore CEmarking its time for a recap on thedifferent types of extinguishers andclassifications.

There are basically five different typesor classes of fire extinguishers, each ofwhich extinguishes specific types of fire.Fire extinguishers manufactured for theUK since 1996 and the introduction of

EN3 regulations use a picture/labellingsystem to designate which types of firesthey are to be used on. The extinguisherbody is red with some manufacturerschoosing to colour code 5% of thebody. Older fire extinguishers are colourcoded, cream = foam, blue = powder,black = CO2, red = water.

The different classes of equipmentare as follows:

Class A type fires involves carbon-aceous materials such as burningwood, paper, cloth etc.Water extinguishers are suitable for thisrisk. Water extinguishes by cooling thefire, so that insufficient heat remains tosustain burning and prevents glowingembers from re-kindling. Water extin-guishers usually have jet type applica-tion which produces a concentratedstream enabling the operator to fight afire from a greater distance than spraynozzle types. As an alternative theTurbo Spray is an extinguisher with a specially formulated additive that

dramatically increases water’s fire fight-ing capability. As well as the coolingeffect of water the additive provides achemical reaction creating a rapidknockdown and also reduces the risk ofre-ignition. A 3-litre Turbo Spray has a13A fire rating, which is the same per-formance as an ordinary 9-litre water,so providing a 100% weight advantage.Being smaller and lighter it is easier touse when weight is an important con-sideration. Water is still one of themost useful and cost effective of allavailable fire extinguishers.

Class B type fires involves flam-mable liquids, such as burning petrol,oil, fats, solvents and paints. Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF)extinguishers are particularly suitablefor Class B type fires, but are also theequal of water for ordinary com-bustibles. They usually have a spray/jetnozzle to ensure a good throw of foamwhich provides rapid fire knockdownand has a blanketing effect which both


17

EXTINGUISHERCLASSIFICATIONSBy PETER FREESTONE OF KIDDE

FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEMS

P. 1-35 16/10/06 10:36 am Page 17

smothers the flame and prevents re-ignition of flammable vapours by seal-ing the surface of the material.

Class C type fires involve flam-mable gases such as butane and propane.Multi-purpose Dry Power extinguishersare a safe, versatile and easily usedmedium suited to all high risk environ-ments or where the hazards are mixed.They are particularly suited to spillage’sof flammable liquids and fires involvingflammable gases such as propane andbutane. They are ideal for fires invehicles. ABC Powder is a non conduc-tor of electricity and will provide theoperator with a heat shield andextremely fast knockdown. Dry Powerextinguishers are suitable for Class A, B,C, and electrical hazards.

Class D type combustion of met-als, e.g. magnesium, lithium, sodium,potassium & their alloys etc.Specialist dry powder extinguishers areavailable for this particular risk.

Electrical Risks.CO2 gas is ideal for use in modernoffice environments covering electronicrisks such as computers, photocopiersand similar electrical equipment. CO2 isalso suitable for some Class B type fireswhich cover flammable materials suchas solvents, oils, spirits etc. The CO2provides an effective performance. Thegas is inert and non-damaging, show-ing no trace after dispersal.

Class F type fires is a recent clas-sification established in 2000(BS7937) involving flammable liq-uids specifically cooking oils and fats.Cooking oil fires, because of their highauto-ignition temperatures are difficultto extinguish. Conventional extinguish-ers are not effective for cooking oilfires, as they do not cool sufficiently ormay even cause flash back, possiblyexposing the operator to an evengreater risk. The Fryguard is a wetchemical extinguisher designed speciallyto tackle fires involving high temper-ature cooking oils and fats, whichcannot be successfully, tackled usingconventional extinguishants. The wetchemical is delivered as a fire spray viaa long lance. On contact with the oil orfat it soponifies, causing a thick im-penetrable blanket to form, rapidlyextinguishing the fire.

In summary the following can beused:Class A: Water, Water Spray,AFFF, Powder, Wet Chemical.Class B: AFFF, Powder, CO2.Class C: PowderClass D: Specialist PowderElectrical Hazard: CO2, PowderClass F: Wet Chemical


1818

CE MarkComplianceThe Pressure Equipment Directive is aEuropean law, which applies to the safetyof pressure equipment. All portableextinguishers including Co2, manufacturedfrom May 30th 2002 will have to complywith this new directive. The PressureEquipment Directive was originallypublished in 1997, being ratified by the UKparliament in 1999. It applies to allproducts that operate under pressure andconsiderable work has been needed inorder to establish its precise implicationsfor fire extinguishers. The aim of thedirective is to ensure that all such productsare safe in use and that manufacturing andtesting procedures are the same acrossEurope. In order to comply with thisdirective, manufacturers will need toconstruct a technical file for eachextinguisher, which demonstrates that theproduct’s materials and construction ensurethat it is safe for use in its intendedfunction. They will also need to introduce asystem to track materials and componentsback to the factory, so that all pressurerelated materials can be traced to theoriginal source. Quality systems will needto be updated to comply. In order to gainapproval manufacturers will have to enterinto a contract with a notified organisation,probably BSI or LCPB. They will appraiseeach technical file, witness the testing ofeach extinguisher, check the qualitysystem, and ensure that all materials usedfor the construction of each model meet therequirements of the Directive. Onceassessed and approved they will be issuedwith an EC type or design examinationcertificate. The manufacturer will then beable to imprint each extinguisher with theCE mark, a symbol of compliance, and theNotified Body number and year ofmanufacture. One of the otherrequirements relating to the CE marking ofextinguishers is that they are supplied withappropriate maintenance information. Themaintenance recommendations withinBS5306-3 are considered adequate forportable extinguishers. The new Directivedoes not have any affect on product that isalready in service.

As these regulations only apply to newproducts, fire extinguishers which wereoriginally supplied to a customer on orbefore May 29th 2002 and are not CEmarked as compliant with the requirementsof the regulations may be repaired orrefurbished and returned to use after May30th 2002. Extinguishers that are in stockand manufactured before May 29th 2002can still be sold with no time limit. The CE isnot a quality mark. It only signifies that theproduct meets essential safety requirementsin relation to its pressurisation. Therecognised quality marks including theBAFE mark, the BSI kitemark and the LPCBmark should continue to be recognised asthe appropriate quality symbols.

So in conclusion, under the pressureequipment regulations, all portable fireextinguishing products manufactured after28 May 2002 must carry a CE markcertifying their compliance with stringentsafety criteria. This enables them to bepurchased and used by customers withabsolute confidence.

P. 1-35 16/10/06 10:36 am Page 18

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No one can pre-dict how andwhen a fire

might start. And wherelives are concerned,there is no room forhalf measures. A door-set design withevidence for 30 minutes fire resistance,incorrectly installed, could mean thedifference between fire fighters gainingaccess to rescue someone – or not.

Fundamental to the design of anybuilding must be the protection ofoccupants from fire. Good design andcareful specification will maximise thechances of detection, control firespread and protect access routes, allow-ing occupants a safe means of escapeand ensuring that fire brigades haveaccess to fight the fire. There musttherefore be enough exits, wide enoughto do their job. By the same token, theroutes to and from them must be ade-quately protected.

The Building Regulations, supple-ments and supporting legislation govern

fire protection and, as a critical elementof this, the provision of fire doors. In thisregard, requirements are quite specific:

1. If an escape route is outside anaccommodation or process area and isgreater than a determined distancefrom a safe place then it must be ‘pro-tected’, i.e. a place of relative safety,bounded by fire resisting construction(usually 30 minutes).

2. Where fire compartmentation isrequired to provide further safety e.g.to split up very large areas or to sepa-rate different groups of people then60, 90 or 120 minutes fire resistancemay be needed.

3. The boundaries of protected fireescape corridors and stairways must be

made from fire resist-ing construction, ofthe appropriate perfor-mance. This includesfire resisting doors –

bearing in mind that not all fire escapedoors are necessarily fire resistingdoors.

And fire door manufacturers mustsubject their products to stringent test-ing under BS 476: Part 22: 1987 (to besuperseded in the near future by BS EN1634 – 1). The fire door being tested isbuilt into one side of the test furnace.The furnace temperature is increased ata pre-defined rate (reaching 8500°C in a30-minute test, 9500°C for 60 min-utes). Doors must prevent the passageof flames and hot gases for the relevantperiod in order to pass. Fire doors, with-out doubt, carry impressive credentials.

Fire Brigade and Building Controlshould be requesting certification evi-dence wherever possible, to minimise


2020

TOM GREGORY of Chiltern International Firetakes the view that where fire safety is anissue there is no room for error.

Fire door testing. Pic courtesy of Chiltern International Fire

Fire doors save lives .

P. 1-35 16/10/06 10:36 am Page 20

time spent checking doors and to max-imise assurance that a given door willresist fire for the time stated on thetest evidence.

In real life, sadly, this does not hap-pen. In time, perhaps, pressure can bebrought to bear on architects to takeresponsibility or on developers toemploy contractors who will be trainedin fire safety and who will take ulti-mate responsibility.

This will involve a steep learningcurve and will not happen overnight.As a stepping stone from the present tothe ideal situation, last year ChilternInternational Fire’s sister company BMTRADA Certification, launched its Q-Mark Scheme for Fire Door Installers.The speed of response from the indus-try has been gratifying. To date 13 reg-istered installers have joined as fullmembers and there is a growing list ofprovisional members from around theUK and Ireland working towards fullmembership.

A key element of the scheme is train-ing – companies will nominate one ormore members of their installationteam to undergo the training courseand take a written exam. It is the nom-inated employee who will becomeregistered under the scheme.

Fire doors are often very sophisticatedproducts, but even the simplest canrarely tolerate error in installation, saidSimon Beer, Product Certification Man-ager with BM TRADA. “If a window ispoorly installed it will soon becomeobvious when the rain leaks in or thesealed unit fails. If fire doors are badlyinstalled, one hour’s fire resistancecould easily be reduced to less than 10minutes, but you probably won’t knowuntil the worst happens.”

There are, of course, a wide variety ofregulations and Acts that require fireresistant door-sets to be manufacturedand installed. In England and Wales,Approved Document B covers fire safetyin new buildings and modifications toexisting buildings, in Scotland it is Tech-nical Standard D, in Northern IrelandTechnical Booklet E and in the IrishRepublic Technical Guidance Document

B. Approved Document B will sooninclude a ‘European Supplement’ (ES) tocover new European test standards,including those relating to fire doorsand shutter assemblies (BS EN 1634-1).

Another important piece of legisla-tion is the Fire Precautions Act 1971 –which relates to life safety only, not

property protection. Under the Act, thefire brigade has inspection duties andwill issue a ‘Fire Certificate’ whichdefines where fire resisting walls andfloors are required. The employer has alegal obligation to comply with the

conditions of the certificate and tonotify the authority of changes to howthe building is being used.

And since December 1999 mostbusiness premises have been covered bythe Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regu-lations 1997, under which the onusfalls on employers to carry out risk


21



s ...don’t they?

P. 1-35 16/10/06 10:36 am Page 21

assessment. Adequate specification andmaintenance of fire doors is a key partof this requirement.

But nowhere is fire door installationrigorously inspected at any stage.Added to this, most major projectsinvolve several different partners, noneof whom is directly responsible forchecking fire door installation – and itis all too easy to assume that checkinghas been done by someone else.

Ironically, while Part B of the Build-ing Regulations does not stipulate thirdparty certification, it strongly recom-mends it, stating: “Since the perfor-mance of a system, product componentor structure dependent upon satis-factory site installation, testing andmaintenance, independent schemes of

certification and registration ofinstallers and maintenance firms of suchwill provide confidence in the appropri-ate standard of workmanship beingprovided....Third party accreditation andregistration of installers of systems,materials, products or structures providea means of ensuring that installationshave been conducted by knowledgeablecontractors to appropriate standards,thereby increasing the reliability of theanticipated performance in fire.”

BM TRADA firmly believes that its Q-Mark scheme does exactly that. Thescheme gives independent, third-partycertification that its members are doingtheir job correctly – and the peace ofmind that goes with it. Small detailsmatter. If intumescent specification iswrong, or glazing beads badly installed,this can be easily missed by theuntrained eye. Yet this could mean adoor only resisting fire for 15 insteadof 60 minutes and jeopardising thelives of a ward of bed-ridden patients.

Under the Q-Mark scheme, the regis-tered installer’s work will be audited onsite twice a year. This means that BMTRADA will inspect installations atmembers’ customers’ premises, a factwhich has been well received by thosecustomers. “Far from considering it animposition, customers see it as a bigadvantage of the Q-Mark scheme,” saidMr Beer. “Some have been so impressedby the stringency of the audit, theyhave gone on to specify Q-Mark for allfuture projects.”

This is certainly true of one of SwiftSouthern’s major customers, a fullmember of the scheme. Their registeredinstaller Chris Moore said his companyhad joined the scheme “to prove ourcompetence as installers to our clients”.He also appreciates the fact that BMTRADA will keep him up to date onbest practice in fire technology andhelp interpret new regulations andstandards. And he particularly wel-comes the forward-looking nature ofthe scheme. “When we finish an instal-lation we provide a manual for theclient detailing precisely how the firedoors should be maintained, how theymay or not be adapted and by whom.”

After installation, fire doors may bemoved if a building is partitioned, per-haps, or its function changes. Clientsmight decide to install a vision panel ormake other modifications. It is essentialthat any changes do not compromise


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P. 1-35 16/10/06 10:36 am Page 22

performance. The manual supplied bySwift Southern will enable them to gostraight back to the installer or even themanufacturer for adaptations, to ensurethat performance is not impaired.

As with all its Q-Mark schemes, BMTRADA targets a level of performancewhich goes beyond the market average.Simon Beer said: “To create confidence,we believe the requirements of thescheme should be set to provideenhanced performance of the product.Legislative requirements must be met,but durability and standards of work-manship should go beyond the norm.”

In this way, he added, products inthe scheme can be differentiated fromrivals as better products. “Schememembership must be based solely onmeeting technical requirements. It isvital that the certification body is nottempted to lower its requirements todraw in more customers. This can onlydevalue the scheme and, in the longterm, destroy its credibility.”

Across the Q-Mark fire door manu-facturer and installer scheme there are four categories of membership,although members may fulfil thecriteria for more than one category:

� door blank supplier � door/set manufacturer � fabricator (must use Q-Mark approved

door blanks) � installer.

A series of colour-coded plugsdenotes the status of the fire doors anda unique identification number pin-points the manufacturer or installer. Top

of the range are the silver and gold-centred plugs – silver for full factoryhung door-sets and gold for door-setswhich have been fully manufacturedunder the scheme and installed by aregistered installer.

Members appreciate the quality ofthe plugs, which are “a more secureway of marking the products than thelabels employed by other manufacturerschemes. Because the plugs are discreetand of very high quality, they don’tdetract from the finished product. Theyare deliberately located at eye level onthe door/frame edge where they areeasy to see, without the need for anyspecial measures or devices.”


23


To find out more about the Q-Markscheme contact Simon Beer on 01494 569821 or [email protected].

� Timber Fire Doors Explained –Chiltern International Fire/BMTRADA run regular one-day semi-nars at High Wycombe. ContactTom Gregory for full details on01494 569812 or email [email protected].

� Chiltern International Fire willalso provide a free video explain-ing the process of fire resistancetesting – contact Tom Gregory(see above) to obtain a copy.


Burning Questions,Brilliant Solutions

Pilkington Pyrostop™

Pilkington Pyrodur™

Buildings intended to handle crowds of people call for carefulplanning when it comes to fire protection. It often takes aninnovative approach to permit prompt detection of fire andsmoke, prevent fire from spreading and provide exitwaysthat are both accessible and safe.

Over 20 years ago, we introduced high performance insula-tion and integrity fire-resistant glasses to achieve maximumlife safety and property protection, at the same time allowingbrilliant architectural solutions that feature spaciousness andtransparency. Ongoing enhancement of their fire protectionand optical properties are responsible for establishingPilkington Pyrostop™ and Pilkington Pyrodur™ as a perma-nent part of the contemporary architect’s repertoire. In closecollaboration with authorities and leading system supplierswe continue to work on it.

For further information please contact: Pilkington plc., Processing and MerchantingPrescot Road St. Helens, Merseyside WA10 3TTPhone 01744-692000 Fax 01744-613049www.pilkington.comPlease quote FD1CIR

P. 1-35 16/10/06 10:36 am Page 23

The ultra-modern Synova® fire warning system from Alarmcom reassures your customers and livens

up their sales. Because Alarmcom is one of the leading specialists in integrated system solutions for

CCTV installations, fire alarms and effective intrusion protection. Which, in combination with the

comprehensive service and fast-as-lightning deliveries, saves time, expense and nerves all around.

Alarmcom. For systematic security and fire safety.

Alarmcom. Effective in detecting fires and lights a fire under your sales.

Alarmcom AG, 8708 Männedorf, Switzerland, Phone +41 1 922 61 55. Austria, Australia, Belgium, Czech Republic, France,Germany, Great Britain, Hong Kong, Italy, Malaysia, Norway, Poland, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland. www.alarmcom.com

Enquiries: www.alarmcom.com

P. 1-35 16/10/06 10:36 am Page 24

Only a short while ago, it seems,analogue-addressable fire alarmcontrol panels were found only

in highrise buildings, large campus-style installations, and commercial/industrial complexes. The truth was,microprocessor-based intelligence wassimply too expensive for small buildingapplications. The sophisticated technol-ogy didn’t justify the expense in smallbuildings. But things have changed,especially during the past year or two,and the future of fire protection – forbuildings of all sizes – is now inex-orably tied to analogue-addressablecontrol.

While some manufacturers havedeveloped conventional products thatsupport analogue-like features, trueanalogue-addressable fire alarm sys-tems represent a significant improve-ment over conventional systems on themarket today. First, with support forintelligent addressable devices, thestate and condition of any device canbe pinpointed and checked from thefront panel. Conventional systems, onthe other hand, are typically based onzoned control, which provides informa-tion only about the group of deviceson a single wiring loop. If one detectoris dirty or causing a trouble condition,all the devices on that loop need to bechecked in the field, one at a time.

Analogue-addressable control alsoincreases system reliability and reducesthe chance of nuisance alarms. Unlike

conventional systems, which only rec-ognize when a device changes the stateof a zone (i.e.: from normal to alarm),intelligent devices process informationon a continuous basis. This means, forexample, the device can track and com-pensate for the effects of the gradualaccumulation of dirt, and will signalthe control panel if it is in need of ser-vice long before it becomes ineffectiveor issues a false alarm.

This kind of self-diagnostics isparticularly important when it comes to

meeting the testing requirements of localfire codes. In fact, more and more panel-generated diagnostic reports are acceptedin lieu of manual testing of each device.And that can save a lot of time, trouble,and expense on a regular basis.

ANALOGUE-ADDRESSABLE SYSTEMS GAINING MARKET SHARE

While analogue-addressable control hasoffered many distinct advantages overconventional fire alarm systems for


25

Conventional/Analogue-addressable Hybrid sample layout.

1 Pr.

1 Pr.1 Pr.

1 Pr.1 Pr.2 Pr.

1 Pr.

1 Pr.

F

F

CC1S

CRCR

CR

ElevatorCapture

J J

CT2

IO

I

I

I

F

F

F

Critical ProcessMonitoringwith Control

WaterflowSwitch

SprinklerSupervisorySwitch

24 Vdc1 Pr.

24 Vdc1 Pr.

R

FireDamper

CR

UM

G G G G G

G

M

GG

M

G

M

1 Pr.

1 Pr.

RM

J

J

Class A

Data Loop 1Intelligent

Intelligent Data Loop 2 (optional)

Intelligent Data Loop 3(optional)

Intelligent Data Loop 4(optional)

Initiating Device Circuit – Class A

Initiating Device Circuit – Class B

2 2 2 2 2

2 2 2 2 2

Class A NotificationAppliance Circuit

Class B Notification Appliance Circuit

Class B NotificationAppliance Circuit

Class A NotificationAppliance Circuit

AnalogueControl

ConventionalControl

Hybrid panelsoffer a choiceof eitheranalogue

or conventionalcontrol

New

Co

nstr

uctio

no

rren

ovatio

nE

xis

ting

Str

uctu

re

FS

M

UMIO CT2 CR CC1 CC1S

R2 I J

RM MM1

Horn-Strobe SignalMaster

SmokeDetector

2-WireSmokeDetector

SmokeDetector

(Relay Base)

SmokeDetector

(Isolator Base)

ManualPull

Station

JunctionBox

End-of-LineResistor

ProgrammableI/O Module

UniversalI/O Module

Dual CircuitInput Module

Control RelayModule

SignalModule

Signal Module(synchronization)

Riser MonitorModule

MonitorModule

Legend

ANALOGUE-ADDRESSABLEfire alarm control has hit itsstride among large and mid-

sized applications. Thequestion now is can the cost

and configuration barriers belowered enough to bring it to

maturity among smallbuilding applications as well?

By Okay Barutcu

No going backP. 1-35 16/10/06 10:36 am Page 25

quite some time, the trade-off in termsof expense and relatively complicatedinstallation has kept it largely in thedomain of large installations. Amonglarger systems an economy of scale hasmade the choice of an analogue-addressable system one that reaps sig-nificant benefits to both the contractorand the building owner. Until recentlysmaller installations could not justifythat leap.

Lately, however, the cost of analogue-addressable control has come downsignificantly. The price of microproces-sors is low; on-board memory is rela-tively cheap; and manufacturers haverecouped the high cost of developmentto the point where they can now offerthe technology at less of a premiumthan before.

Not long ago contractors were reluc-tant to install such systems in buildingsthat required fewer than 1,000 detectors.

Today industry insiders agree that thisthreshold has dropped to between 50and 80 detectors. Small office buildingsand lowrise residential complexes nowmake likely candidates for analogue-addressable control.

The most significant factor in thespread of analogue-addressable controlto small building applications has beencost, but technology has played an

important part as well. Sophisticatedfeatures at the high end of the scalehave led to crossover products at thelow end. Today manufacturers are ableto offer scaled-back versions of tech-nology originally developed for largeapplications. This technology is ideallysuited to smaller applications becauseit’s simpler to implement, easier toinstall, and economical.


2626

Analogue-addressable control supports the front panel display of details including thedevice type and location.

No going back

Enquiries: www.notifier.ltd.uk

Charles Avenue, Burgess Hill, West Sussex, RH15 9UF, United KingdomT: +44 (0) 1444 230 300 F: +44 (0) 1444 230 888 E: [email protected] www.notifier.ltd.uk

For further information on the new processor enhanced detection or any other world leading fire

detection products from NOTIFIER visit www.notifer.ltd.uk or call us now on: +44 (0) 1444 230 300.

•Internal Software Algorithms

•Low profile design

•Low current draw

•Wide operating voltage 8 to 30V

•Bi-colour LED detector statusindicator

•Automatic drift compensation

•Programmable sensitivity

•Addressable feature

•Advanced maintenance featuresvia remote hand-held test unit

•Range of detector bases available

•Approved to EN54

•3 Year Warranty

The Processor enhanced Detection series conventional detectors

have been produced using the latest in manufacturing and design

techniques, pushing out the boundaries of existing conventional

detector technology. With an on board microprocessor, it’s multitude

of enhanced features including drift compensation, provides the best

in conventional detection.

A degree above the restPhDprocessor

enhanceddetection

U N C O N V E N T I O N A L

P. 1-35 16/10/06 10:36 am Page 26

HYBRID SYSTEMS MAKE TRANSITION TO ANALOGUE-ADDRESSABLE EASIER AND

LESS COSTLY

Once complicated to program and con-figure, analogue-addressable systemsare now loaded with features thatstreamline installation. Those veryfeatures are making them attractive forsmall building applications.

The most notable panels gearedexpressly for small buildings are the newgeneration of hybrid analogue/conven-tional systems. These offer low-costconventional control, or cost-effectiveanalogue-addressable control, or aflexible combination of the two.

Let’s say you have a small building:new construction; twenty detectors –too small to justify an analogue-addressable system. But you know thatthe planned phase two of constructionwill quadruple its floorspace. A hybridsystem is ideal for such an installationbecause it can start out as a conven-tional panel serving the first phase ofconstruction for as long as necessary.For phase two of construction, theaddition of a loop controller at thecontrol panel will give it analogue-

addressable capability to serve intelli-gent devices installed with the newconstruction. Meanwhile, existingconventional devices can be replacedwith new intelligent devices andbrought on-line at any time after thecontrol panel has the added analogue-addressable capability. Existing fieldwiring can be reused, and the paneldoesn’t even need to be replaced. Thecost of the job meets the needs of theapplication without committing to ana-logue control before its cost is justified.The end result is an analogue systemfor the entire building at a fraction ofthe cost of replacing an outdated con-trol panel and all its connected devices.

The phased-in approach for newconstruction does away with the all-or-nothing limits of traditional ana-logue-addressable control. In retrofitsituations the cost and performancebenefits are even more significantbecause hybrid control panels offer aconvenient and cost-effective migrationpath to analogue-addressable control.

This allows aging conventional sys-tems to be replaced in stages. As areasof a building are renovated, conven-tional detectors can be replaced withintelligent devices according to atimetable that suits the owner’s budget

and renovation schedule. The change-over can occur so that it has the leastimpact on building occupants, forexample, when a tenant’s lease expires.Because there is no need to retrofit anentire fire alarm system at once, workcan even be scheduled over a numberof weekends – without any lapse in fireprotection between visits by installers.

INNOVATIONS MAKE ANALOGUE-ADDRESSABLE MORE ATTRACTIVE

TO INSTALLERS

While the convenience of hybrid con-trol panels have gained them signifi-cant headway in the market, systemsgeared for small buildings are nowloaded with features that make themeasier to install and service as well.Programming and configurationimprovements streamline the processfor installers so that they spend as littletime on-site as possible.

One of the greatest advantages ofanalogue-addressable control over con-ventional systems is the support foraddressable devices. With this support,an analogue-addressable panel can dis-play details about the location andcondition of any intelligent device on


27

Enquiries: www.notifier.ltd.uk

Charles Avenue, Burgess Hill, West Sussex, RH15 9UF, United KingdomT: +44 (0) 1444 230 300 F: +44 (0) 1444 230 888 E: [email protected] www.notifier.ltd.uk

For further information on the new processor enhanced detection or any other world leading fire

detection products from NOTIFIER visit www.notifer.ltd.uk or call us now on: +44 (0) 1444 230 300.

• Internal Software Algorithms

• Low profile design

• Low current draw

• Wide operating voltage 8 to 30V

• Bi-colour LED detector statusindicator

• Automatic drift compensation

• Programmable sensitivity

• Addressable feature

• Advanced maintenance featuresvia remote hand-held test unit

• Range of detector bases available

• Approved to EN54

• 3 Year Warranty

The Processor enhanced Detection series conventional detectors

have been produced using the latest in manufacturing and design

techniques, pushing out the boundaries of existing conventional

detector technology. With an on board microprocessor, it’s multitude

of enhanced features including drift compensation, provides the best

in conventional detection.

A degree above the restPhD processor

enhanceddetection

C O N V E N T I O N A L

P. 1-35 16/10/06 10:36 am Page 27

the system. The tricky part is registeringthe location and type of device withthe system so that it can display thesedetails when required. When theamount of time an installer spends set-ting up a system determines whether ornot analogue-addressable control is acost-effective solution, this factor takeson a great deal of importance.

Recognizing this, manufacturers havecome up with several innovative short-cuts that speed setup and installation foranalogue-addressable systems. Becauseevery installation presents different chal-lenges, look for a control panel thatsupports a range of programmingmethods, including laptop program-ming, barcode scanning, autolearning,and front panel configuration:

� Autolearning is a routine invoked bythe installer after the field devices areconnected. Much like the search fornew hardware sequence found ontoday’s plug-and-play PCs, theAutolearn routine looks for connecteddevices and registers their deviceaddresses with the control panel.Autolearn also determines whetherany hardware options are installedwith the control panel and makes surethey are working correctly. Autolearnis vital to any small building analoguecontrol panel because it provides abase upon which device-level detailscan be built. While it identifies whichdevices are connected, it remains theinstaller’s next task to associate thedevice addresses with meaningfullocation information such as “CAFETE-RIA”, “3RD FLOOR WEST”, “UTILITY ROOM”,etc. This information is displayed bythe control panel when required.

� Laptop programming is a methodthat was inherited from big analogue-addressable systems. It involvesdownloading data from the system,modifying it with a proprietary Win-dows® based software package, andthen uploading the new data to thecontrol panel. This method is usefulfor larger systems and where rela-tively complicated setup or extensivetext inputting is required. It is alsouseful for associating text detailswith devices following the Autolearnroutine. Panels that support laptopprogramming come with a port towhich a laptop serial cable may beconnected.

� Barcode scanning is an innovativealternative to laptop programmingfor associating text with deviceaddresses. Here’s how it works: eachdetector includes a unique addressrepresented by a barcode thatappears on the device itself and onthe end-flap of the box it came in.As each device is installed, theinstaller simply writes its location onthe box next to the bar code andtears off the flap. Back at the con-trol panel the autolearn sequence isrun. Then the installer scans the barcode from the box flap and inputsthe location information writtennext to it for reference. The controlpanel automatically associates thedevice address with the text infor-mation that follows. This text infor-mation may also be scanned into thesystem by means of a series ofsheets carried by the programmerthat has bar codes accompaniedwith plain language translations fortext, digits, and frequently-used

words such as “EAST”, “WEST”, “BASE-MENT”, “ROOM”, etc. Control panelsthat support barcode scanning havebuilt-in scanner ports that accept aconnection for compact pencil-stylebarcode scanners. For routine pro-gramming and setup, this optionprovides the most convenientmethod of text and numerical input.

� Front panel programming is aviable option for initial system setupand for making minor changes totext and numerical data. Text inputfor more than a handful of devices,however, can quickly become tediousand time-consuming, even amongcontrol panels that have dedicatedbuttons for each letter in the alpha-bet. Unlike barcode scanning, thereare few shortcuts for repetitive text,and unlike laptop programming,there is no familiar QWERTY-style key-board to speed text input.

INNOVATIONS DRIVE THE FUTURE

Analogue-addressable control panelsoffer the versatility and reliability ofintelligent fire alarm systems, makingbuilt space safer to occupy than everbefore. They are far better at what theydo than conventional systems withzoned control. While barriers to theuniversal acceptance and application ofanalogue-addressable systems remain,these barriers are rapidly coming down.Lower overall cost, the convenience ofhybrid systems, and innovations such asautolearning and barcode scanning areall working in favour of analogue-addressable control panels as they edgeout traditional conventional control inthe world markets today.

The future of small building fire alarmcontrol will undoubtedly reflect innova-tions and developments among ana-logue control addressable panels. As wecontinue to lower the feasibility thresh-old for analogue-addressable systemsand extend their reach into ever-smallerapplications, conventional systems willdiminish in importance. Whether ana-logue-addressable systems will eclipseconventional control altogether remainsto be seen. But one thing can be saidfor sure: once analogue-addressabletakes hold, there is no going back.


2828

Innovative control panels today support barcode scanning by means of an integratedscanner port.

Okay Barutcu is Regional Director,Europe and South Africa, for ESTInternational. He is based inArundel, UK.

P. 1-35 16/10/06 10:36 am Page 28

again EST has revolu-

tionized the industry

with a powerful new control panel that is

simplicity personified. While this product

is ideal for schools, low-rise offices, and

other small- to mid-sized buildings,

QuickStart™ raises the bar and sets the

standard by incorporating many

of the innovative technological

features found in our sophisticated EST3 control

panel systems.

With the best economics in its class, this little

genius brings upscale technology to smaller com-

mercial and institutional buildings. The built-in flexibili-

ty is so robust that even retro-fit installation is simple

and cost effective—just connect to existing wiring or

add on to your building’s conventional system. No inter-

nal wiring is required and with QuickStart’s advanced

autoprogramming fea-

tures, installation costs

are minimal. QuickStart

has ample capacity and it

can be configured with as

many as one thousand intelligent devices

(plus NAC circuits) as well as forty eight

conventional circuits.

QuickStart’s user-friendly front

screen interface will be quickly mastered by your own

maintenance personnel—no special training is required.

For more information on QuickStart and our

other state-of-the-art life safety systems or to find the

EST office in your area, please visit the EST

International Web site at: www.estinternational.com,

email us at info@estinter-

national.com, or you can fax

us at (001) 905-270-9553.

NEWcontrol system.

EASYoperation.

ONCE

QuickStartTM

.Life safety that’s easy as ABC.

The new QuickStart series of control panels offers advanced technology and design in a simplified package with easy installation, easy setup and ease of use.


P. 1-35 16/10/06 10:36 am Page 29

Enquiries: www.hi-fog.com

P. 1-35 16/10/06 10:36 am Page 30

CHEMETRON WATER MISTSYSTEMS

Chemetron Water Mist Systems pro-vide safe fire protection for occupiedspaces and critical assets. Our WaterMist fire protection systems utilize avery fine water spray and are designedto extinguish fire using a limited quan-tity of water as compared to standardsprinkler systems.

Water is an outstanding physicallyacting agent as a result of its excep-tionally high heat absorbing capacityand latent heat of vaporization. It is aclean agent suitable for a range of sen-sitive applications and where people areinvolved. The Chemetron Water Mistsystem functions as a stand alonemodular extinguishing package with:water tank, nitrogen cylinders, valves,gauges and control panel.

For more information please contact: Chemetron Fire SystemsTel: +1 708 748-1503Fax : +1 708 748 2852www.chemetron.com

FIKE FIRE SUPPRESSIONA water mist system is defined by NFPA750 as a system that produces a “waterspray” with 99% of the water dropletsdischarged having a diameter less than1.0mm. Water mist systems vary dras-tically from sprinkler systems in bothoperation and the amounts of waterrequired to extinguish a fire.

The increased interest and industryacceptance has also led to the develop-ment of Fike Corporation’s “Micromist”

water mist suppression system. TheMicromist system is a self contained,single fluid, pre-engineered water mistfire suppression system for total com-partment protection of machinery spacesand compartmentalized gas turbine gen-erators. The Micromist system employs abrass nozzle which has demonstratedexcellent performance extinguishingflammable liquid (Class B) fire scenarios.

The Micromist system uses severalprimary methods to extinguish firesincluding cooling, oxygen displacementand blocking the spread of radiant heatto nearby fuel sources (wetting).

The Factory Mutual approvedMicromist system provides cost effec-tive fire protection which is people safe

and environmentally friendly. In theevent of a fire, the Micromist systemwill ensure rapid extinguishment, easycleanup and rapid restoration to nor-mal operations.

For more information please contact: Fike CorporationTel : +1 816 229-3405Fax : +1 816 229 4615www.fike.com

FOGTEC FIRE PROTECTION

FOGTEC Fire Protection is the leadingsupplier of water mist systems for landbased applications based on severaldecades experience in water mist. A widerange of products is offered for applica-tions such as production facilities, foodprocessing, generators, turbines, hotels,offices, IT and telecom rooms, museums,tunnels, off shore and marine risks andmany others. FOGTEC’s own offices inEurope, Asia and North America givefirst class support to clients. The largestglobal network of fully trained systempartners within the water mist industryguarantee international users the bestpossible maintenance and service.

FOGTEC runs its own fire, nozzleand hydraulic test facilities for continu-ous research work and customer drivenproject research. A unique team ofgraduated engineers covering the topicsChemistry, Mechanics, Hydraulics andFire Science is the basis for FOGTEC’sengineering support and consultancywork for its clients.


31

WATER MISTRROOUUNNDD--UUPP

P. 1-35 16/10/06 10:36 am Page 31

Only high pressure systems and watermist of Class I (NFPA 750) are used forhighest efficiency. FOGTEC productsare approved by international authori-ties for land and marine applications.All products are manufactured in com-pliance with ISO 9001-2000.

For more information please contact: FOGTEC Fire ProtectionTel: +49-(0)-221-96 22 30Fax: +49-(0)-221-96 22 330www.fogtec.com

LPG AQUAFOG

Combinations of basic sets of cylindersform the LPG AQUAFOG fire suppres-sion system. A basic set comprises

50 lt. cylinders with discharge valvecontaining water at atmospheric pres-sure, nitrogen cylinder/s pressurised at200 bar with opening valve and releasesystem. The set is completed with pres-sure switch, pressure gauge, manifold,discharge hoses, non-return valves,strainer and bracket.

Systems are designed to be actuatedthrough manual/electric release ormanual/pneumatic release. The systemensures that once one of the nitrogencylinders is actuated the remainingnitrogen cylinders in the system willactuate automatically pressurising thewater cylinders.

AQUAFOG operates at working pres-sures from 200 to 50 bar producingvery tiny droplets. Nozzle heads aredesigned to discharge water as a finemist (SMDª50 microns). AQUAFOG sys-tems are designed according to NFPA750 Standard.

LPG has developed specific applica-tions for AQUAFOG water mist system

such as protection of mechanical esca-lators. This application is focused toprotect running tracks, base of tunnelarea and machinery areas giving anexcellent fire extinction performanceand providing safe conditions for evac-uation (limits temperature, limits smokelevel and doesn’t reduces oxygen level).Water mist design overcomes volumeintegrity problem that is usually a


3232

WATER MIST RROOUUNNDD--UUPP

Enquiries: www.ultrafog.com

Ultra Fog ABUltra Fog ABGåskullevägen 14, SE-44552 Surte (Göteborg), Sweden

Phone: +46-(0)31-982370 • Fax: +46-(0)31-982368e-mail: [email protected] • www.ultrafog.com

Areas to be protected by ULTRA FOAreas to be protected by ULTRA FOGG ®®

- Accommodation - Corridors - Staircases- Accommodation - Corridors - Staircases- Kitchens - Storage - Machinery Spaces- Kitchens - Storage - Machinery Spaces

- Electrical spaces - Computer rooms - a.o.- Electrical spaces - Computer rooms - a.o.

Watersupply alternatives:Watersupply alternatives:

- Pump unit system- Pump unit system- Pressurised bottle system- Pressurised bottle system

®®ULTRA FOG ABFIRE EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM

The most efficientThe most efficientHigh Pressure WaterfogHigh Pressure Waterfog

System in the marketSystem in the market

The Ideal Pump for High Pressure Water Mist SystemsNessie® pumps from Danfoss provide the water pressurerequired for high pressure water mist applications due to theircompact design and homogeneous spraying generation.

Pump advantages:• Low-weight and small-sized• High efficiency• Direct PTO/engine

connection• Stainless steel• Homogeneous spray

generation• No maintenance

Beside pumps we offer specialized ready-to-use custom-made Power-Packs as well as Valves and Jets.

For further information please contact:

Danfoss A/SDK-6430 Nordborg, Denmark

Tel.: +45 7488 3181 • Fax: +45 7445 3831

E-mail: [email protected] 3058

G1


P. 1-35 16/10/06 10:36 am Page 32

problem for gaseous agents. This appli-cation has been successfully testedunder VdS.

As water mist systems provide aquick and efficient extinguishments forflammable liquid fires, LPG has alsodeveloped a system for protection ofkitchen hoods. Protection includes thedeep fat fryers, hoods and ducts. Thissystem provides fast extinguishing offlames and cooling of hot oils to avoidre-ignition in order to guaranteeprotection.

For more information please contact:LPG Técnicas en Extinción deIncendios, S.A.Tel : +34 93 480 2933Fax : +34 93 473 7492www.lpg.es

HI-FOG WATER MIST FIREPROTECTIONMarioff is the leading supplier anddeveloper of water mist fire protectionsystems. Marioff’s HI-FOG high-pressurewater mist technology is based on rigor-ous full-scale fire testing, and hashundreds of patents and approvals byvarious authorities. It features fast sup-pression or extinguishment of the fire,radiant heat blocking to prevent firespreading, minimised water damage tobuildings and equipment, and safety forpeople and the environment. The mist isdelivered at high velocity, achieved withpressures up to 140 bar, using small-bore piping and high-pressure pumps orcharged nitrogen cylinders. Applicationspecific HI-FOG systems are currentlyavailable for computer and telecomrooms, hotels and offices, museums andheritage buildings, machinery spaces andturbine enclosures, metros and tunnels,industrial wet benches, offshore applica-tions, passenger ships and cargo vessels.

Latest applications include a conceptfor aircraft hangar fire protection.Marioff’s HI-FOG system for aircrafthangars uses a minimal amount ofplain water without any additives.

Therefore, corrosion risk is not greaterthan what arises from plain waterexposure. The system has been provenin full-scale fire tests to be ideal forextinguishing jet fuel fires. Water misthas a superior cooling effect andsuperior radiant heat blockage capabil-ities, reducing temperatures around andunder the aircraft instantly after thesystem has been discharged. Fire dam-age has been shown to be restricted tothat of the time of detection. A fire testsummary, including a test series with aF-16 aircraft mock-up, and a confirm-ing test with a real F-104 aircraft, isavailable upon request. Marioff hasalready delivered two projects toNorwegian Air Force to protect their F-16 aircraft.


33


When you need a foam or water mist pump to protect yourhigh-value assets, demand world-class fire protection!

Edwards, the world’s leading supplier of special-hazard gear pumps, delivers the quality you

need to protect your oil refinery, telecommuni-cations network, airport hangar or other

critical property. Built to perform in themost demanding environments, our

systems are the only ones inthe world that are UL-listed

and FM-approved. So when you’re looking for

the best, demand Edwards!

Tel: 503 659-4198 Fax: 503 659-4696 [email protected] www.edwardsmfg.com

Edwards UL/FM Pump Packages!

E D W A R D SE D W A R D SE D W A R D SA D I V I S I O N O F H Y P R O

Æ

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P. 1-35 16/10/06 10:36 am Page 33

Marioff has entered tunnel fire pro-tection sector by delivering a tailoredsolution to protect a car-parking tun-nel in Italy. Marioff’s tunnel conceptconsists of HI-FOG sprinklers togetherwith water mist curtains. Thanks to thethermal management capabilities ofwater mist, no detection equipment isnecessary. A HI-FOG system with openspray heads can be combined with adetection system.

For more information please contact: Marioff Corporation OyTel : +358 987 0851Fax : +358 987 085399www.hi-fog.com

SEMCO MARITIME

Water mist for offices and public areas:There are several reasons for choosingwater mist in offices, hotels and otherpublic spaces. First of all, the highpressure water mist creates one of thebest fire fighting methods by attackingthe fire both by cooling the tempera-ture and by oxygen suppression.

Further, water mist systems use a verysmall amount of water, which reduces thewater damage dramatically, and insurancecompanies in some cases are willing tocompensate the end users of the watermist installation, with lower insurancepremiums. So the installation can be agood investment in more than one way.

The installation of the water mistsystem creates a lot of advantages, forinstance less space is needed for instal-lation than say a gas suppressionsystem, this means that double ceilingsand enclosures for piping can beavoided. At SEMCO MARITIME we alsoproduce a system for installationdirectly into concrete ceilings.

The fine water mist also catches sparksand smoke particles and washes it out ofthe air avoiding damage to equipmentand the interior of the building.

How water mist functions: Water mist is water which is pressurised

at 100 bar, to create a fine mist or fogon activation. The fine water mist evap-orates very quickly and becomes steam.The steam removes oxygen, thus smoth-ering the fire. At the same time theevaporation of water creates the mostefficient cooling. In this way the fire isextinguished both by oxygen suppres-sion and cooling, and thus has theadvantages of both water – and gas-based fire suppression systems. High-pressure systems only create highpressure during extinguishing; thestand-by pressure is much lower. High-pressure systems will cool the areasaround hot metal surfaces and willevaporate before it reaches the hotmetal. Thus shock cooling and changesin metal structures can be avoided. Low-pressure water mist is also available fromSemco, but does not present any techni-cal advantage for this application.

Semco have been working with high-pressure water mist right from the start,and this new – revolutionary system –finds its way to more and more areas,offering the clients an efficient system,which is both environmentally friendlyas well as harmless to the users.

For more information please contact: Semco MaritimeTel : +45 65683800 Fax : + 45 65683830www.maritime.semco.dk

ULTRA FOG AB, SWEDENUltra Fog was one of the first com-panies in the world to be involved inintroducing high pressure based waterfog. It was one of the pioneers.

The foundation for the strongdriving force behind Ultra Fog was, andstill is, to build systems, in the firstplace to save human life, and secondlyto save property.

Ultra Fog is the only company thathas its own technique to create the fogthrough high pressure. This technique ispatented throughout the whole world.

Development and construction areand have always been the most impor-tant building stones in the companysince it opened for business in 1991.

Today Ultra Fog has 40% of its busi-ness on the landside and 60% by themarine side. Ultra Fog systems cover mostof the application spaces, machineryspaces, different kind of technical spaces.The systems can either be as a total fixedsystem or as a local protection system.

Our special designed nozzles(patented) can be placed to a height up

to 12 mtrs. (Illustration of nozzleplease study photo. Is available also asopen type nozzle)

Ultra Fog´s patented nozzles are thekey to achieving maximum water deliveryat the optimal droplet size. These nozzleshave been developed over the past 10years to achieve a balance between:

– Water mass delivered.– Number of droplets produced.– Size of droplets produced.– Speed of droplet delivery.

We have also developed our ownsection valves, for a safe reliable func-tion. The section valve can either behydraulic, mechanically operated orsolenoid operated.

Systems can be delivered either as apump station solution or a pressurisedbottle system.

The main reason that the high pres-sure waterfog system is an outstandingextinguishing product, is that the systemfights all the parameters of the famousfire triangle. (Material, Oxygen and Heat)

The system is also an environmentallyfriendly extinguishing system, which alsois harmless for the human breathing.

For more information please contact: Ultra Fog ABTel : +46 31 982 370Fax : +46 31 982 368www.ultrafog.com


3434

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Enquiries: www.chemetron.com

Fire Systems

Fire SystemsTM

Chemetron Fire Systems is the

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Chemetron Integrated Fire Suppression Systemsis the extra measure of safety for your business.

© 2001

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Phone: 708-748-1503Fax: 708-748-2847

Web: chemetron.comE-mail: [email protected]

P. 1-35 16/10/06 10:36 am Page 35

Fulleon Limited, Llantarnam Park, Cwmbran NP44 3AW, UK.

T: +44 (0)1633 628 500 F: +44 (0)1633 866 346www.fulleon.co.uk

M A K I N G T H E D I F F E R E N C E

It won’t work without it!

Small items play their part too!Fire systems may not be the first thing that comes to mindwhen you consider your next building project. But it isthe type of detail that could make the all the differencebetween total success and complete failure.

Fulleon provides the type of comprehensiveservice that leaves no part of your schemeto chance.

From overall project design, to the manufactureof individual bespoke components, as well as a completerange of industry standard products - such as theworld famous Roshni and Squashni sounders - Fulleonis your one source for all your fire system design andimplementation requirements.

And with our dedicated customer account managementsystem you can be sure that no detail is overlooked.Nothing is left out that could make your project moresuccessful, more on brief.

Get the complete package. Call Fulleon.


P. 36-64 16/10/06 11:50 am Page 36

Recognising that the standards donot offer the depth of guidancefor sounders that they do say for

detectors, does not in any way suggestthey are less important. Designing anypart of a fire detection and alarm systemis not to be undertaken lightly or with-out training and an understanding ofthe relevant standards. The location ofeach detector, manual call point andsounder has to be engineered to ensurethat it suits the purpose of the systemand the risks that may be encounteredin each area.

There is however a fundamental dif-ference when it comes to the layout ofdetectors and manual call points whencompared to alarm devices. BS 5839Part 1: Code of Practice for systemdesign installation and servicing,devotes considerably more space to

ensuring the correct layout for detec-tion devices than it does to guidanceon alarm sounders. Using the informa-tion therein the system designer canpractically work out his detection pack-age with the aid of drawings and ascale rule. For sounders all that is pro-vided is a target sound level, leavingthe problem of achievement up to thedesigner.

This difference is understandable;performance of installed sounders isrelatively easy to measure using a handheld instrument. To be too prescriptivewith installation information could becounterproductive to achieving the per-formance required. Detection systemsare difficult to assess when installedand therefore safeguards are requiredto ensure consistent performance.

For similar reasons the EN54 series

of European standards follow differentphilosophies for detection and alarmdevices. Detectors have to meet setsensitivity levels, while alarm soundersmerely have to provide an outputbetween 65dB(A) and 120dB(A).

This provides great flexibility foralarm sounder manufacturers, but con-versely makes the task of the systemsdesigner much more difficult toexecute without any uniformitybetween products.

IS THIS A PROBLEM?

While most system designers will hap-pily quote precisely how many detec-tors of each type are required for aproject, the number of sounders willusually carry a caveat that sounderquantities are subject to final measure-ments on site.

As stated earlier, designing a sounderlayout requires a range of informationthat is not always readily or accuratelyavailable, nor is there such a thing as astandard alarm sounder. The result isthat the sounder layout and predictedperformance is something of a lottery.Systems tend to be under-designedresulting in extra costs to make up theshort fall at the end of the project. Insome instances the effects can be farreaching – if the systems circuit loadings


37

Bob Choppen, Product Manager with fire protection equipmentmanufacturer Fulleon, examines some of the problems facing

system designers regarding the use of sounders and highlights theareas which need to be considered to ensure effective performance.

SOUNDERS ARE AN INTEGRAL PART of most fire detection systems yetthey are often the component that is least understood when it comes tosystem design. A degree of ambiguity can certainly be attributed to thestandards, both British and European, which are deliberately flexible intheir allowing system designers to find their own methods of achieving thetarget sound levels. Lack of quality information regarding sounder layoutalso contributes to the problem which is further exacerbated by the lack ofuniformity in the sounders available. All of these factors ensure that a sys-tem designer needs to be well aware of the various issues which affect asounder’s performance if potentially costly mistakes are not to be made.

SSoouunndd AdviceAdvice

P. 36-64 16/10/06 2:23 pm Page 37

and power supply ratings are exceeded,or extra installation work is required inan almost finished building.

THE ISSUES

How Loud?� The first piece of information

required for the design process is theambient noise level expected to bepresent when the building is com-plete and operational. This is difficultto ascertain with any accuracy andmay have to be predicted by compar-ison with similar existing buildings.(BS 5839 Pt1 20021 will include typ-ical sound levels for various types oflocation, but tolerances are wide).The level will vary considerably fromone part of the building to another,from canteen to warehouse to officearea. The designer must also takeinto account any processes or activ-ities that could produce increasednoise for a period likely to exceed 30seconds, again something that willnot be obvious from drawings.

Often forgotten is that there maybe extra noise resulting from theemergency itself – smoke controlfans, shutters etc all contribute to anincreased level of noise which candrown the output from sounders insome areas.

The requirement in the UK, recom-mended by BS5839 Part 1, is65dB(A), or 5dB(A) above any back-ground noise likely to persist forlonger than 30 seconds and 75dB(A)at the bed head of a sleeping person.

� Where background levels over 85dB(A)are encountered, consideration has tobe given to the augmentation ofaudible alarms with visual signals. Thisalso applies if people are likely to have

any form of hearing impairment, (Dis-abilities Discrimination Act) or mayroutinely use ear defenders.

Which sounder?This may sound a trivial decision, butas mentioned earlier there is no stan-dard sounder, they all perform differ-ently. In some cases the choice ispredetermined by company manufac-turing and purchasing policies.

� The choice for fire systems liesbetween electronic sounders in vari-ous formats and bells. Older types of sounder such as motor drivensirens and hooters generally take toomuch current to be compatible withmodern systems.

� Most electronic sounders have awide range of alarm tones fromwhich to choose, but not all aresuitable for fire alarm use. Countriessuch as the Netherlands, Germany

and France have standardised alarmtones, but not the same tone, never-theless a standardised signal is rec-ommended nationally. The UK hasno such standardisation; only a rec-ommendation that the frequenciesproduced by the sounder should liein the range 500Hz to 1000Hz. Thetone must be continuous for anevacuation signal, but this stillallows the use of many differenttemporal patterns, such a steadysingle tone, a two-tone (warble), asweep (whoop) or buzz.

The tone used should, of course,not be confused with any otheralarms used around the building.This can prove difficult in processindustries where similar soundersmay also be used as machine alarms.

Voice sounders, which produce aspeech message in addition to analarm tone, are a further considera-tion and may be of particular bene-fit where specific information has tobe communicated or where the gen-eral public are expected to be pre-sent. Research has proven them toelicit a more positive response fromthe public than tone only sounders.

� Frequently ignored is the fact thatsounders do not radiate sound equallyin all directions, and that this direc-tionality will vary from type to type.Figure 1 shows the pattern for twodifferent sounders each with an on-axis output of 100dB(A) at 1m andset to the same tone. The contourstrace the location where the sound


3838

Figure 1. Sounder coverage for 75dB(A)

Sound AdviceSound Advice

P. 36-64 16/10/06 11:51 am Page 38


39

Enquiries: [email protected] Enquiries: www.digisound.de

P. 36-64 16/10/06 11:51 am Page 39

level has dropped to 75dB(A).The sounder with the red tracehas much better lateral coverageat 19.8m, than the black trace at14.1m, so in situations wheremultiple sounders are required,fewer would be needed using thefist unit.

Sounders also perform differ-ently according to which tone isused – this will affect, theiroutput level and current con-sumption. This is perhaps aminor consideration with smallsystems, but on larger sitesboth the number of soundersand the power supply require-ments can be affected.

� It is inevitable that larger instal-lations will require a number ofdifferent types of sounder toprovide adequate coverage. BS5839 Pt1 recommends thatsounders should sound “similar”.This is often a point of con-tention where some authoritiesread “similar” to mean “identi-cal”. What is important is toensure that the signal is readily


4040

Pic courtesy of Fulleon Ltd

Enquiries: www.c-tec.co.uk

C-TEC is pleased to announce the launch of its new LPCB approved CFP 2-8 zone conventional fire alarm panel. Now available ex-stock, its features include:-

• Four conventional sounder circuits.• Class change and alert inputs.• Auxiliary fault, reset, remote fire and auxiliary fire outputs.

• Installer-friendly design.• Programmable delays.

• Zone test mode.• Comprehensive fault diagnostic features.

• Push button access code entry to access levels 2 and 3.• Attractive surface mountable plastic lid and enclosure.

• Intuitive user-friendly interface.• Integral 1.5A switch-mode PSU.

• Tested and approved to EN54 parts 2/4 by the LPCB.

P. 36-64 16/10/06 11:51 am Page 40

identifiable by building occupants. People can identifysound patterns relatively easily, but are much less capableof determining the pitch of the signal. It is therefore neces-sary to ensure the temporal patterns of the sounders arealike, but the absolute frequencies are much less important.

To ensure the temporal pattern is clearly distinguishablethe sounders within hearing range must operate in phase,otherwise confusion will arise as the signals overlap andinterfere.

� Because it does not respond in a linear fashion, the humanear contributes to the difficulties of measuring soundpressure and hence the need to use a logarithmic measurefor sound i.e. decibels. Note that sounder figures are ratedin dB(A), the “A” referring to a weighting used on measur-ing instruments that corresponds to the frequency charac-teristics of the human ear.

If any of the information used in designing a sounderlayout is inaccurate the consequences can be major. Anincrease in overall sound level of 3dB, probably the small-est change that most people can readily detect, requires adoubling of the power, equivalent to doubling the numberof sounders. For the sounders to appear twice as loud achange of 10dB would be needed or an increase in powerof 10 times. Adding extra sounders and power supplyupgrades is never cheap. This highlights the need foraccurate information in the early stages of a design if thesolution is going to be anywhere near correct.

CONCERNS

The points outlined above cover only the basic acoustic per-formance aspects, as they are the primary features that con-tribute to the effectiveness of the sounders in buildings, yetare probably the least well understood part of fire systemdesign. The concern is that there seems to be relatively littlepublished information to help the system designer with histask, either in terms of calculation techniques or the data onwhich to base those calculations.

Obviously sounder manufacturers can shoulder some of theblame for limited information, but at the same time thereseems to be little demand or interest to drive the need foranything better.

As mentioned earlier, voice is a powerful tool in the man-agement of emergencies and its use is growing steadily, butthis brings another level of detail to the design process.Whether using voice sounders or a public address based voicealarm system, additional skills are required of the designer.Alarm sounders require only audibility to be effective; ifpeople can hear them and know how to react then the goalhas been achieved. Voice messages have to be both heardand understood, so in addition to audibility there is the addi-tional requirement to achieve intelligibility too.

Accepting the situation is as it is, with sounders largely freeof performance constraints, yet installed systems assessedon performance, perhaps the industry should move towarda standardised presentation of information and better doc-umentation of the techniques used to predict performance.

1 The figures used are largely taken from BS5839 Part 1:1988, at thetime of writing BS5839 Part 1: 2002 is in final draft. This reviseddocument will provide some opportunity variations to the figuressuggested above.


41


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P. 36-64 16/10/06 11:52 am Page 42

The objective of this article is to providea better understanding of the overallloss control system in a process plant,

from the design phase through the plant orunit’s operational lifespan. It should be firstunderstood that there is always a need forfire detection systems, fire protection equip-ment, and systems, but the provision ofthese systems should be balancedagainst other loss control mea-sures that may have a greaterimpact on maintaining a safeprocess and preventing a releaseof material, fire, or explosion.

Process plant loss control is notjust the provision of fire protec-tion equipment and fire protectionsystems; it is a “system” in itself.This system begins very early inthe design stage of a processplant and lives throughout the lifeof the process plant. It includes avariety of inter-related sub-systemsthat work together cohesively atthe time of an incident to protectpersonnel, the public, adjacentassets, and limit any loss. Thesesub-systems can be categorized as

“passive” and “active” based upon how theyact or react during an incident.

For the purpose of this article, an“active” system is one that requires humanintervention at the time of an incident toset some actions in motion. A “passive” sys-tem includes those design items or systemsthat require no human interaction and/or

are designed to automatically take actionunder certain conditions. The figure belowlists a number of the typical passive andactive subsystems that may be employed inthe loss control system. In some instances,the sub-systems, such as fire protection sys-tems, may be passive if they are automati-cally activated, or active, if personnel mustactivate the system by opening a valve orpushing a button. A number of these sub-systems will be discussed to provide a betterunderstanding of this inter-relationship.

DECISION TIME

Early in the budgeting stage for a revamp,modernization, de-bottlenecking, or grass-roots project decisions, should be made onthe conceptual loss control measures that willbe employed in both the design and operat-ing phase of the plant. All too often these

decisions are made without regardto the operating life of the plant.

For example, with the adventof improved process control andadvanced control systems, manyduties that were once performedby plant operating personnel arenow performed by the controlsystems. As such, the manpowerthat was available to respond to aplant emergency has beenreduced considerably. To compen-sate for these changes, the use of“passive” sub-systems should beincreased.

Likewise, adjustments to the“active” sub-systems may be equallyappropriate. In other words, as the manpower is reduced, addi-tional design features should be


43

The ProcessPlant Loss

ControlSystem

By William S. Fink

HISTORICALLY, TOO MUCH EMPHASIS has been placed on the role of“active” fire protection equipment and systems as primary loss controlmeasures within a process plant. Many times, engineers and insurers havereviewed plant drawings or toured process areas and made recommen-dations for extensive fire protection systems, fire detection, and fireequipment, with little regard for the “passive” loss control provisions. Also,many designers do not fully understand the inter-relationship of thevarious sub-systems as they relate to loss control.

The ProcessPlant Loss

ControlSystem

P. 36-64 16/10/06 11:52 am Page 43

considered to provide an equivalent level ofprotection. Traditionally, the operating staffthat was needed in the process area to oper-ate the process also played a key role inrelease or fire reporting. There may now be aneed for automatic fire detection by systemssuch as combination infrared/ultraviolet firedetection equipment. The use of remotelyoperated closed circuit video cameras has alsoincreased where the control room operatorneeds to see high-fire potential areas, such aspump rows or large compressors. There maybe a need for remote isolation of high firepotential equipment such as pumps or com-pressors to rapidly isolate the source of therelease and limit the loss.

LAYOUT AND SPACING

One of the best passive techniques in limit-ing a loss is through proper layout andspacing of equipment, both inter plant andintra plant. In the days of pneumaticcontrols, increasing separation distancesbetween process plants and between indi-vidual equipment items was not feasible orcost effective due to the high cost ofinstrumentation and piping. This producedtight equipment arrays and minimized sep-aration distances between process plants.Equipment such as heat exchangers, drums,separators, fin-fan coolers have been com-monly stacked on top of each other withinstructures to minimize costs and to fit aprocess in the given space available. Tightequipment arrays impact the degree of con-finement when a vapor release occurs andmay produce higher blast overpressures.

Technology has now advanced to theextent that we can assess the impact ofequipment spacing on potential loss scenariosand make informed decisions on the amountof risk that a company can accept. Electronicdistributed controls have largely replacedpneumatic control systems. As a result, the

cost and operational impact of increasingspacing to provide better personnel access,egress, and reduce losses is not as severe.

With the current hard insurance marketand high insurance premiums, the cost ofrisk should be carefully factored into plantdesign. For example, maximum loss calcula-tions that largely determine the insurancepremium to be paid should be given criticalconsideration when making decisions on thespacing and layout of a plant. In addition,the proximity of the public to the processplant should also play an important part indeciding how much “buffer” land is neededaround the process area. Typically, lower riskfacilities such as storage tanks, utilities, orgreen belts are placed between the processareas and the property lines. To reduce themaximum loss calculations, high value highfire potential processes can be separated bylower value, lower risk processes.

The costs of utilizing noncombustible fillin cooling towers as opposed to the tradi-tional wood filled cooling towers has alsodecreased and can be offset by lower long-term maintenance costs. Limiting theamount of flammable liquid or gas in agiven process vessel also has a significantimpact of the loss control measures in aprocess. Operations personnel have tradi-tionally wanted large liquid volumes to per-mit more time for operators to respond to agiven situation. With the process controlprovided today, these inventories can inmany instances be reduced since theprocess computer reacts more quickly andefficiently to an off-norm situation.

FIREPROOFING

Fireproofing should be provided for the pro-tection of structural support and for theprotection of critical instrumentation and/orpower cables. Fireproofing is typically mea-sured via laboratory testing that indicates

the exposure time for a specificitem, such as a structural steelmember, to fail under fire condi-tions. In evaluating fireproofingratings and test results, one mustpay particular attention to thefire tests used in these ratings. In 1918, the standard time-temperature curve (ASTM E 119)was adopted for testing struc-tural components and simulatesinterior structural building fires.This test method does not corre-late well to hydrocarbon andother pool type fires.

In 1984, UnderwritersLaboratories (UL) adopted thefirst high-rise time-temperature

curve in conjunction with the oil industry(UL-1709). The high-rise time-temperaturecurve reaches a temperature of 2000°F(1093°C) in 5 minutes and is representativeof a typical hydrocarbon pool fire. As such,fireproofing used in facilities that processhydrocarbon type fuels should provide fireproofing based upon the UL 1709 orequivalent testing techniques. The attachedfigure compares the standard time-temperature curve, and the high-rise timetemperature curve.

American Petroleum Institute (API) Publi-cation 2218, Fireproofing Practices in Petro-leum and Petrochemical Processing Plants isan excellent reference document. It outlinesa systematic methodology for assessing apotential hazard within a plant, developingappropriate fire scenarios, defining the fire-scenario envelope, conducting a needsanalysis, selecting appropriate fireproofingsystems, and installing the system accordingto specifications.

The amount of fireproofing that is pro-vided should be balanced against the firepotential, the layout and spacing of build-ings, equipment and vessels, and operatingconsiderations. For example, where there isa need for operational control of valvesduring an incident, there may be a need toprovide fireproofing of these systems or inthe area adjacent to the valves for anextended period of time.

DRAINAGE

Proper drainage must be provided in theprocess areas to drain both rainwater run offand spilled process liquids from the area.When establishing the drainage patterns in aprocess area, the drainage patterns should beaway from equipment to more open areasand out from under pipe racks and cabletrays. As such, the high point of pavingshould be directly under the main pipe rack,which typically acts as the dividing line ofdrainage run off for the process area. Catchbasins for the run off should not be locatedunder equipment or pipe racks. For the pro-tection of personnel, they should also not belocated in areas where operating personnelmay need access during an incident.

The goal is to provide enough slope awayfrom the equipment to enable spilled liq-uids to drain rapidly into catch basins andnot permit the build-up of large liquid poolfires under or adjacent to critical equipmentarrays. The drainage should be properlysized to dispose of a realistic “worst-case”rainfall rate (e.g. – 2 inches in an hour),plus spilled process materials at an agreedupon rate, and firewater runoff.

Provisions to contain and dispose of con-taminated fire water run off must also beadequate for the duration of an incident toprevent the drainage system from backingup into the process area.

BLAST PROTECTION

Buildings, which house personnel and arenormally occupied, such as centralised con-trol rooms, should preferably be located outof the estimated blast zones. These blastzones can be calculated based upon scenar-ios specific to the process and related


4444

Time temperature curve. Courtesy of RJA

The Process PlantLoss Control SystemThe Process PlantLoss Control System

P. 36-64 16/10/06 11:52 am Page 44


45

Enquiries: www.matre.no


P. 36-64 16/10/06 11:53 am Page 45

materials and should be developed withinput from design and operating personnel.Where buildings will be normally occupiedand located in the blast zones, structuresshould be provided with blast resistant con-struction equal to the calculated blast over-pressure for that area of the plant.

In some cases, protective films can beused over windows to limit flying glass thatmay result from the blast wave, when thebuilding itself can withstand the blast over-pressure generated. In more severe instances,windows may need to be deleted from theside of a building that faces the processarea. In extreme cases, such as explosivesplants, the control rooms may need to beconstructed as a blast bunker with slopedwalls so that the blast wave rides up andover the building. Where critical equipmentsuch as deluge system valves are located orremote isolation valve controls, blast wallsmay be need to protect this equipment fromthe blast overpressure of an incident.

PRESSURE RELIEF & FLARES

In today’s process plants, the pressure reliefvalves for flammable liquids and gases aremore often than not routed to a closed sys-tem that provides for recovery of the materialor proper disposal in a plant flare. The flaresystem includes piping that routes materialsfrom the pressure relief valves, into a mainheader, through knock out drums where liq-uids are retained, and the remaining gas isburned in a flare. In many cases, there arevapor recovery systems that recover as muchof this waste gas as is economically feasible.

The flare should be located at a safe dis-tance from process areas, storage tanks,buildings, and other structures based uponradiant heat studies. These studies shouldinclude a detailed analysis of the timerequired for a pressure relief valve to relievematerials into the flare system, the antici-pated temperature, quantity, pressure, andcomposition of materials in order to deter-mine the maximum flare system loads.These maximum loads are used to designthe hydraulics of the system and also tocalculate the radiant heat from the flare.

The radiant heat calculations shouldresult in a protected buffer zone around theflare to ensure that the radiant heat fromthe flare does not ignite combustible mate-rials. These buffer zones should also includesome consideration for the release of burn-ing scale from the flare that may build upover long periods of use. There have been anumber of fires where storage tank pres-sure/vacuum vents or seals just outside theradiant heat buffer zone have been ignitedby burning scale carried down wind of theflare. Where this potential exists, additionalprotective measures may be required.

In some cases, the flare system may alsoinclude manually operated rapid depressur-ing valves that will quickly release pressurefrom a process vessel into the flare system.These rapid depressuring systems are typi-cally used where there is a need to relievepressure from a process vessel in a shortduration to protect the process or theequipment. Where these systems are used,they should be considered “critical” systemsand should be protected from fire exposure

for a specified period of time (usually 15-20minutes) to ensure that the system willproperly function in the initial stages of aprocess unit emergency.

MECHANICAL INTEGRITY

The mechanical integrity aspects of the losscontrol system in a process plant are far-reaching and very complicated. Themechanical integrity program at a plantbegins early in the design stage andremains active during the life of the plant.Some of the loss control contributions ofthe mechanical integrity program includethe design specification for piping, processvessel, and storage tanks, pump and com-pressor seals, flange ratings, nondestructiveinspection requirements, and many otheritems too numerous to describe here.

The potential for a release of material inany given process plant is influenced greatlyby the decisions made early in the designstage. For example, on piping systemsdesigned to handle corrosive flammable liq-uids, piping wall thickness specificationsshould include consideration of corrosionrates. The selection of piping materials isalso determined by an assessment of thetemperature, pressure, and composition ofthe materials being handled.

In some cases, the probability of a releasefrom piping systems can be reduced greatlyby using piping with a greater wall thickness.Another example would be the use of highintegrity pump seal materials and/or doubleseals with monitoring of the space betweenthe seals for leakage past the primary seal toprevent a release to the atmosphere.

The mechanical integrity program afterthe plant is operating also has a significantloss control contribution. The monitoring ofvibration on pumps and other large rotatingequipment provides data that can be usedto predict a potential failure before itoccurs. Firewater pumps should be includedin the rotating equipment monitoring pro-gram since they are expected to function ina reliable fashion.

The ongoing periodic inspection of plantpiping systems, pressure vessels, heaters, andboilers provides necessary data that can alsopredict a failure before it occurs. Pressurerelief valves should be tested periodically toensure that they are operable within accept-able limits and that process materials are notbuilding up at the inlet to the pressure reliefvalve, reducing its capacity or ability to openfully when required. Failure of a relief valvecan rapidly escalate into a major loss.

Fire protection equipment and systemsmust be included in the mechanical integrityprogram. Firewater spray and sprinkler systemsrequire periodic maintenance and must betested to verify that they remain operational.Foam systems on storage tanks also requiretesting. While it is understood that it is diffi-cult to test these systems, some provisions canusually be made to test the equipment whileit is in service. As a minimum, these systemsshould be tested when the plant is down forperiodic maintenance. National Fire Protec-tion Association, NFPA 25, Standard for theInspection, Testing, and Maintenance ofWater-Based Fire Protection Systems shouldbe consulted for more information.

FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEMSFire protection systems include fire detec-tion and alarm systems, fire suppressionsystems, foam systems, and the provision ofmanual fire fighting equipment. These pro-visions are dictated in many instances bythe local authorities and by national codes,such as the National Fire Protection Associ-ation codes. However, these provisionsshould also be balanced against the otherloss control measures provided at the facility.

For example, if it is known that thedrainage in an existing process area is inad-equate and it may take several years toobtain capital funds to improve thedrainage system, foam systems and equip-ment should be provided to suppress thevapors from spilled liquids or to control apool fire in the area. If isolation of pumpsor other equipment can only be accom-plished at the equipment itself, then waterspray or foam system protection should beprovided in that area for personnel protec-tion. Proper personal protective equipmentshould be provided in this example.

Likewise, if high fire potential equipment,such as hot oil pumps, are provided withhigh integrity seals, periodic rotating equip-ment vibration monitoring is conducted, theequipment is not located under a pipe rackor other equipment, and is provided withremotely activated shut down and isolationvalves that are fireproofed, then the need forfire water sprays over the pumps may bequestionable. In this case, the pump can beisolated during an emergency and shut offremotely with limited personnel exposureand with minimal damage to adjacent andoverhead equipment. Active protection maynot be a critical requirement in this scenario.

SUMMARY

The intent of this article is to identify someof the loss control contributions of variousplant sub-systems to the overall loss controlsystem. Some of the items included in theloss control system chart have not been dis-cussed, but may be equally if not moreimportant. As indicated, it is very difficult tototally isolate or separate the interaction ofthese sub-systems, but they should be con-sidered on a “systems” basis. If they are not,improper protection may be provided, or notprovided at all. Interrelationships betweenprotective elements may be violated, and theloss control system may not be as effectiveas is should be. Finally, capital funds may bewasted on protection that is not required.


4646

William S. Fink is a Sr. ConsultingEngineer for Rolf Jensen & Associates,Inc. Denver, Colorado office. RJA is aglobal consulting firm specializing isfire protection and security engineer-ing. Mr. Fink has over 24 years experi-ence in processing and heavy industryloss control consulting and fire protec-tion engineering. He is also a graduateof the Fire Protection and Safetyprogram at Oklahoma State University.To learn more about RJA, visit theirwebsite at www.rjagroup.com.

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47


Enquiries: www.essexind.com

UKDistributorRequired


P. 36-64 16/10/06 11:53 am Page 47

Response and sensitivity test AutroSafe SelfVerify not only tests whether a detector is capable of giving alarm, it alsoverifies on a daily basis the sensitivity ofeach individual detector using a calibratedsignal.The system ensures that eachdetector will always respond at the correctalarm level.

Optimal round-the-clock detectionThis new technology represents the safestand most reliable fire alarm system ever

developed – a system that ensures optimal detection 24 hours a day!

A new dimension infire protectionA new dimension infire protection

Time consuming inspectionsare a thing of the pastUp to now, fire alarm systems havedepended on manual inspection and testing, something which hasresulted in a variety of problems.For example, the detectors may have been out of reach; serviceengineers may not have been allowed access to certain areas; orthe detectors may not have beeninstalled in accordance with thediagram….

AutroSafe SelfVerify solves all these main-tenance problems.Time-consuming, difficult and costly manual inspections are no longernecessary.The system does the job for you.

We've called the technology "SelfVerify" because thesystem verifies itself.

AutroSafe SelfVerify -the only fire alarm system that checks itself!

Autronica Fire and Security AS N-7483 TrondheimTel. +47 73 58 25 00 – Fax +47 73 58 25 01

E-mail: [email protected] – www.autronicafire.noEnquiries: www.autronica.com

P. 36-64 16/10/06 11:53 am Page 48

The facilities them-selves house costlyhigh technology

equipment but it’s notenough simply to reducehardware loss. Lost rev-enue due to downtime is akey concern and manybusinesses now aim for99.9999% uptime. Fire hasthe potential to disruptservice at the very leastand, in extreme cases, candeal a financial blow fromwhich many businesses cannot recover.

Communications facilities typicallycontain rows of rack-mounted equip-ment. While the available hardware isbecoming smaller, there remains pres-sure to use space effectively. In fact,miniaturisation of equipment, increas-ing energy densities and growing heatoutput means that the risk of fire is

growing rather than diminishing as aresult of hardware compaction. Weface, therefore, a challenging set ofcircumstances involving a high concen-tration of fire risk.

Delivering a fire protection solutionfor these locations is essential. A riskassessment identifies the hazards, theirprobability of occurring and the poten-

tial consequences and thisis then reviewed relative tothe level of protectionsought. In communica-tions centres, an electricalfire hazard dominatesalthough this could occurwithin the racks or incabling, much of whichmay run in ceiling orunderfloor voids. Otherfactors include high airflow maintained to coolthe equipment which can

affect especially the fire detectionmethodology. Fire growth is usually quiteslow and the aim is usually to detect anyfire at an incipient stage, often electricaldevice overheat, and to curtail this eventbefore any notable combustion causesdamage due to heat, smoke and othercorrosive fire gases. In doing so, weachieve the goals of preserving life


49

Communication centre. Pic courtesy of Kidde Products

Fire Protection inCommunicationsCentres


Communications CentresUntil quite recently, the term ‘communications centre’might have applied to land-line telephone exchanges andrelatively little else. Today, with telecommunications and theinternet having experienced massive growth over recentyears, it describes a vast and widespread infrastructureon which we depend daily in our work and personallives. Included are facilities large and small owned by communications service providers as well as thoseforming part of many commercial business premises.

Dr Dave SmithBusiness

DevelopmentManager

Kidde Products

P. 36-64 16/10/06 11:54 am Page 49

safety, minimising loss or damage toequipment and ensuring service continu-ity. The latter guarantees on-going rev-enue, preserves customer confidence andguards against possibly widespread

knock-on effects of communicationsfailure. The solution is to design an inte-grated systems package which comprisessuitable detection, alarm, control andactive suppression components.

Fire Detection Options

Detectors fall primarily into three cate-gories depending on whether theyrespond to smoke, heat or flame. Thefirst type is commonly used in commu-nication centres, computer rooms andEDP facilities and itself falls into twosub-sets, those of point detectors andhigh sensitivity aspirating systems.

Optical and ionisation point detectorsmay be located in the protected areaand are allied with a suitable alarm andagent release protocol. When detectionoccurs in one zone, an initial pre-alarmsignal is raised which allows the condi-tion to be investigated and interventiveaction taken. In these ‘double knock’systems, a signal from a second inde-pendent detector is needed to initiateagent release from an automatic system.

Point detectors can detect smoke at3-5% obscuration per metre so whetherthey can identify fire at a sufficientlyearly stage can depend on their posi-tioning relative to the overheat and thedynamics of the induced air flow in theenclosure. High sensitivity aspiratingdetection offers improved performancein mission critical facilities where down


5050

The solution is to design anintegrated systems packagewhich comprises suitabledetection, alarm, control andactive suppression components.



��

Enquiries: www.thefireshop.com

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time must be minimised and where airflow presents special difficulties.

Aspirating systems are inherentlymore sensitive to smoke than conven-tional point detectors, recognising aslow as 0.005% obscuration per metre.Air is continuously drawn to the detec-tion unit [usually one per area] frompre-determined sampling locationswithin a pipe network. The HART XL is

one such system which offers excep-tional performance owing to its specialparticle counting technique. As smokepasses into the sampling chamber, asensor electrically counts the particlesand discriminates between smoke andother matter by individual setting ofthe upper and lower particle size detec-tion thresholds. These devices are,therefore, very sensitive to smoke con-centration and may be used withoutcompromising the sensitivity of thedetector. In a similar fashion to thedouble knock protocol, multiple alarmlevels are set to give pre-alarm warningbefore any automatic suppression maybe activated.

In some cases where the location isalways manned by suitably trained


51

Aspirating smoke detection system. Pic courtesy of Kidde Products

These devices are, therefore, verysensitive to smoke concentrationand may be used withoutcompromising the sensitivity ofthe detector.

Enquiries: www.thefireshop.com

P. 36-64 16/10/06 11:54 am Page 51

personnel, automatic fire suppressionmay not be selected. A thorough riskanalysis must confirm this approach,however, and very careful considerationgiven to whether this option isappropriate.

Fixed Gaseous Fire ProtectionSystemsThere are two types of ‘new generation’agent employed: liquefiable chemicalgases and non-liquefiable inert gases.These have arisen as a result of the banon Halon production from 1994 and arein ever-sharper focus owing to the recentEuropean regulation EC 2037/2000which requires all non-essential Halonsystems to be removed from service bythe end of 2003. All viable agents mustbe environmentally-acceptable, cleangases at ambient temperatures and offereffective ‘total flooding’ performancebelow defined human toxicity levels.Also, they must be recognised in currentstandards [e.g. BS ISO 14520] and beoffered in third party-approved systems.

Chemical Gas SystemsHFC227ea is the most prevalent chemi-cal gas and is commonly availableunder the trade name FM-200. Actingprimarily by heat absorption, it isdeployed at a design concentrationtypically of 7.5%, poses no asphyxia-tion threat and is non-toxic with refer-ence to its No Observable AdverseEffect Level [NOAEL] of 9.0% and Low-est Observable Adverse Effect Level[LOAEL] of 10.5%. It may be used upto the NOAEL without mandated egresstimes and up to the LOAEL providedthat personnel are exposed for nogreater than five minutes.

FM-200 is non-corrosive and elec-trically non-conductive and lends itself ideally to communications facilityprotection.

The systems themselves comprise oneor more cylinder/valve assemblies, eachof typically 5-250 L capacity, contain-ing liquid agent under 25 bar nitrogenpressure. The minimal storage require-ment of less than twice that of Halon1301 compares favourably with allother viable systems.

All gas discharges result in some pres-sure excursions in the protected area.Since FM-200 concentrations are relative-ly low, there is commonly no requirementto provide over-pressure venting.

A further advantage arises from therequirement in the standards to dis-charge within ten seconds, thus ensur-ing rapid fire extinguishment. This canbe especially important where rapid fire

growth is possible or where secondaryheat and smoke damage to sensitiveequipment must be minimised.

Inert Gas SystemsThese agents are also non-corrosiveand non-conducting but differ fromchemical agents in a number ofrespects. They are stored at high pres-sures of 150-300 bar and, while physi-cally-acting, they rely on reducing theoxygen concentration to around 14%at which combustion is prevented.

There are several gases available fea-turing argon and nitrogen, singly or incombination, while one variant alsocontains some carbon dioxide.

Design concentrations are ratherhigher than for FM-200 at around40%. They remain safe for humanexposure, however, with a NOAEL andLOAEL of 43% and 52% respectively.

Owing to the greater quantity of gasto be released, discharge times areusually one minute. The need to avoidsignificant pressure build-up in theprotected area and allow displacementof air means that dedicated venting isneeded which is calculated at thedesign stage.

Although the number of agent cylin-ders is higher relative to FM-200, inertgases flow very readily through the dis-charge manifold which enables the sys-tems to be housed perhaps hundreds of metres from the risk zone. This easeof flow also allows the engineering ofcomplex agent distribution paths formore challenging applications and, forindependent multiple zone protection,central storage systems protecting morethan one area via distribution valves.

The Fire Protection SystemSelection ProcessWhich system package is most appro-priate is derived through a case-by-caseanalysis. The fire professional will workclosely with the customer and otherrelevant authorities such as the insurer


5252

Suppression cylinders. Pic courtesy of Kidde Products

There are several gases availablefeaturing argon and nitrogen, singlyor in combination, while one variantalso contains some carbon dioxide.



��

P. 36-64 16/10/06 11:55 am Page 52

and contracted facilities managers andconsultants as appropriate. Manyrecognise the benefits of high sensitivi-ty smoke detection in particular forswift warning of a potential fire event.Of the fixed automatic total floodingsystems, both chemical and inert gassystems are capable of offering the

effective fire extinguishing performancesought for communications centres.Where floor space is strictly limited, forexample, FM-200 would prevail. Wherethe system must be placed some dis-tance from the protected area, an inertoption only would be practicable. In allcases, ventilation in the protected area

must be shut down and dampers closedprior to discharge to enable the agentconcentration to be retained for atleast ten minutes.


53

Pic courtesy of Kidde Products

Closing CommentsWith the modern global communi-cations infrastructure, no man orwoman need be an island. Similarly,fire protection systems do not com-prise individual parts but form inte-grated detection, alarm, control and suppression systems workingtogether, this then becoming part ofan overall strategy which includesgood housekeeping, safe use andmaintenance of equipment (includ-ing that of the fire protection systems)and staff awareness.

An holistic approach is importantin protecting communications facil-ities from loss and business dis-ruption by fire. As part of thisphilosophy, fire protection systemswill continue to play a pivotal rolein detecting and acting against thepotentially devastating effect of firein these environments.


P. 36-64 16/10/06 11:55 am Page 53

An alternative detection technol-ogy that provides unique advan-tages compared to the typical

fire alarm systems has now becomeavailable. Computer processing andimage analysis technologies haveimproved significantly over the courseof the past decade. This improved tech-nology has allowed the recent develop-ment of effective video-based firedetection systems. Fire protection sys-tem designers initially employed thesefor use in large facilities, outdoor loca-tions and tunnels. However, video-based detection is being investigatedand used for a broadening range of applications. For example, these

systems are currently installed for useor evaluation in electrical power plants,paper mills, document storage facilities,historic municipal buildings, nuclearresearch facilities and automotiveplants. U.S. Navy personnel have begunevaluating the use of video-based firedetection systems for operationonboard Navy ships.

For facilities – whether a ship or abuilding – that already have a videosecurity system, installers can easily adda video-based detection (VD) systemwithout the installation of additionalwiring or devices throughout the facil-ity. The image analysis and alarm algo-rithm software forms the heart of a VDsystem. This software can run on astandard PC. Or, installers can use anindustrial computer, a PC designed withspecific video application hardware andfeatures, such as automatic systemrestart upon loss of power.

Figure 1 shows a general configura-tion of a video-based fire alarm system.The images of surveillance cameras canserve as inputs to both a security sys-tem and a VD system. The fire alarmsystem then processes the video toidentify smoke or flame within theimage. The VD software evaluates mul-tiple parameters, such as contrast,brightness, size, speed of developmentand dynamic behavior of the image,before initiating an alarm. When thesystem verifies an alarm condition, itdisplays the alarm on a graphical userinterface (see Fig. 2). The system canalso output the alarm signal to othermonitoring and control systems, suchas existing fire alarm/security panels.

Over the past five years, video-basedfire detection companies have primarilyfocused on the use of smoke detectoralgorithms for fire detection. Thoughthese systems can detect very low levels


5454

Figure 1. Integration of a video-based fire detection system.

Video-based fire detection

By Daniel T. Gottuk,Ph.D., P.E.

Fire detection provides anessential component in many

fire protection system designs.Fire alarms systems initiatepublic egress, start smoke

control systems, and actuatefire suppression systems. The

majority of fire alarm systemsused today consist of various

smoke detection technologies.These technologies include

spot-type ionization andphotoelectric detectors, air

sampling smoke detectors, andlinear projected beam-type

smoke detectors. Fire alarmsystem designers also use

optical fire detectors for rapidflame detection in applications

ranging from off-shore oildrilling platforms to aircraft

hangars. All of these fire alarmtechnologies continue to

improve. One goal ofimprovement is to provide

faster responses to real firesources while eliminating

nuisance alarms. In addition,improvements include features

that reduce maintenance,testing and installation costs.

P. 36-64 16/10/06 11:55 am Page 54

of smoke, some very-low-smoke flam-ing fires can challenge the detectionsensitivity of the VD systems. However,these fire types, such as certain gaseousfires or alcohol fuel fires, do not repre-sent a large fraction of fire scenarios inmost applications. To provide a morerobust video-based detection system,manufacturers have been developingand optimizing flame detection algo-rithms for the identification of flamingfires. The integration of both smokeand flame detection algorithms shouldprovide the systems with greater sensi-tivity to a broader range of fire sources.

The ability to use the basic hardwareof the VD system (i.e., the cameras andwiring) for multiple purposes is clearlyone of the primary advantages of thistechnology. Integrating video-basedfire detection with a video surveillanceinherently minimizes certain installa-tion, maintenance and service costsand can increase system reliability. Forexample, compared to an inoperablesmoke detector, that may not be iden-tified until service personnel performan annual test, a video image used formultiple purposes will be checked morefrequently. Other than the main com-puter that operates the video-baseddetection system, the use of this systemdoes not add additional costs for thetesting or maintenance of hardwarethan would already exist for the videosurveillance system.

Routine testing of the VD system canprove relatively simple. A single personcan perform this testing at the main

computer console. Similar to address-able smoke detection systems, the VDsystem will self-monitor for abnormalconditions, such as low or exceedinglyhigh light levels, video loss, significantimage changes, or obscured cameraimages. If this self-monitoring detectsan abnormal condition, the system willgenerate a trouble signal.

Video-based fire detection systemsprovide simulation modes. These modescan generate digital alarms to verifycorrect functioning of the system dis-plays and outputs. However, the simu-lation mode does not test the alarm

algorithms. A service technician canperform a full functional test by eitherconducting a live fire/smoke test, or bysimply inputting a pre-recorded videoof a fire/smoke source, such as oneobtained during the commissioning ofthe system.

Because of the recent introduction ofthe VD technology, currently no organ-isation (e.g., ISO or NFPA), or theindustry itself, has established test pro-tocols for approving or conductingfunctional tests of video-based detec-tion systems. Therefore, these systemsare generally designed, installed andcommissioned using a performance-based engineering approach, ratherthan using prescriptive requirements.

Video-based fire detection systemsprovide unique advantages in a wide


55

Figure 2. Example of an active monitoring display of a VD system graphical userinterface. (Pic courtesy of Fastcom Technology)

Figure 3. Video-based fire detection in a power station. (Pic courtesy of Fire Sentry Corp.)

The use of thissystem does notadd additionalcosts for thetesting ormaintenance ofhardware thanwould already existfor the videosurveillance system.

P. 36-64 16/10/06 11:55 am Page 55

range of applications. One advantagethese systems offer is the ability to pro-tect a larger area, while still achievingfast detection. In many large facilitieswith excessive ceiling heights, designersfind it impractical to use conventionalsmoke detection devices. These applica-tions can result in smoke from a firebecoming diluted before it reachesspot-type or linear projected beam-typesmoke detectors. In some cases, due toventilation and thermal gradients,smoke may stratify as a suspended layerbelow the ceiling or be restricted fromreaching the specific area of detectioncoverage. In all of these cases, thevariables presented by the excessiveceiling heights can significantly impedefire detection. This will lead to largerfires and greater property damage.

Video-based fire detection systemscan cover a large area and do notrequire the smoke to reach any specificpoint location. As long as the smokeappears within the field of view of the camera, the system can detect it.Consequently, the VD system candetect smoke closer to the source. This

leads to faster response times. Figure 3shows an example of a large facilityapplication.

Further work is needed to determinewhether or not the VD systems have anadvantage in coverage and speed ofresponse over air sampling smokedetection and spot-type detectors insmaller, congested spaces, such as elec-tronics or storage spaces. The U.S. Navyhas embarked on a program to evaluateVD systems in a range of shipboardspaces. Researchers have conducted aninitial evaluation in a 10 x 10 x 3 mhigh compartment with an open areaand a congested, cabinet-filled area.This evaluation has shown that the VDsystems can generally outperform bothionization and photoelectric detectorsin their ability to detect a larger rangeof smoldering sources and to initiatedan alarm more rapidly. For flamingfires, the VD systems (using only smokedetection algorithms) performed simi-larly to photoelectric detectors andunder performed ionization detectors.

Video-based fire detection provides apractical means to protect outdoor

equipment and structuresthat are open to the weath-er and cannot be effectivelyprotected by current firedetection systems. Examplesof applications include tankfarms and train stations (see Fig. 4). The VD systemscan allow detection of thewhole camera image, asshown in Figures 3 and 4. Itcan also provide detectionfor user-defined zones with-in the image. This featureallows the system to targetareas of concern, and todisregard image areas ofpotential nuisance sources.In addition, alarms can beset up to require cross-zonedetection between zoneswithin a camera image or between zones fromdifferent cameras.

Providing fire protection for historicbuildings poses many challenges to notdisturb the historic features of thestructure. Running wire and mountingdevices of typical fire alarm systems isjust not possible in many of theseapplications for both aesthetic andpractical installation reasons. Manymuseums and historic buildings alreadyhave surveillance cameras installed,which makes the use of video-baseddetection attractive. In addition, since avideo camera can cover larger areasthan a beam or spot detector, the useof a VD system can significantly reducethe installation requirements for wiringand devices.

Another advantage of video-baseddetection systems is the ability to havelive video immediately available upondetecting a pre-alarm or an alarm con-dition. Personnel can set a value for thepre-alarm level that allows them toeasily view the space and determinewhether the alarm has come from afalse signal or an incipient fire. Havingvideo of the fire location will allowresponding personnel to have moreknowledge and, thus, arrive at thescene more adequately prepared for theevent. The video also provides continu-ous monitoring of the event. A stan-dard fire alarm system does not provideany means to assess the state of thefire after the fire is detected.

The VD systems log all alarmconditions in a history file with a digi-


5656

Figure 4. Video-based fire detection in a train station. (Pic courtesy of Fire Sentry Corp.)

Video-based fire detection systemscan cover a large area and do notrequire the smoke to reach anyspecific point location

P. 36-64 16/10/06 12:11 pm Page 56

tal photograph of each image thatcaused the alarm. The systems can alsobe designed to provide digital snap-shots associated with other events,such as pre-alarms or trouble condi-tions. These images provide a means todiagnose potential problems. In theevent that a nuisance alarm does occur,the history file with the video photocan provide the basis to make a systemadjustment. Having an image offers agreat advantage over standard firealarm logs that only report a text mes-sage and time stamp. In many cases,the source of a trouble or nuisancealarm with a standard fire alarm systemcannot be easily identified.


57

Video-based fire detection in a road tunnel. (Pic courtesy of Fire Sentry Corp.)

The systems canalso be designedto provide digitalsnapshotsassociated withother events,such as pre-alarms or troubleconditions

In an age of ever-increasing use ofvideo for surveillance and securityidentification, such as facial recog-nition, the potential to utilize thevideo images for multiple purposesis a logical step. The developmentof video-based fire detection tech-nology offers such a step. But moreimportantly, it provides a significantstep forward in fire protection sys-tems. This detection technologyprovides advantages in many appli-cations that cannot be effectivelycovered by typical fire alarm sys-tems. More manufacturers continueto improve and develop video-basedfire detection technology. As thetechnology becomes more widelyaccepted and recognized in thecodes and standards, fire protectionengineers should consider thepotential benefits of using video-based fire detection in their fireprotection system designs.

Enquiries: www.intelsec.com

P. 36-64 16/10/06 12:12 pm Page 57

New Contact InformationThe International Water Mist Associa-tion has moved into another officebuilding and therefore has a newaddress and telephone number. TheIWMA office can be reached as follows:

International Water Mist Association Biederitzer Str. 539175 Heyrothsberge, GermanyPhone: +49 (0) 3 92 92 – 690 25Fax: +49 (0) 3 92 92 – 690 26

The internet domain remains the same(www.iwma.net)

2nd Announcement3rd International Water MistConferenceTopics that will be discussed at theBarcelona conference from 9–11 April,2003, are as follows:

System ApplicationsSolutions for mass transportation sys-tems, traffic tunnels, office buildings,hotels, archives and galleries, storageand sales areas, health care facilities,industrial processes and other newapplications where water mist has been found to be a cost effectivereplacement for halon and sprinklersystems.

Regulations, Standards and CodesAssessment of currently available regu-lations, planned standards and changesto standards, including gaps in regula-tions and further needs.

Research & TestingSmall and large scale testing, suppres-sion technologies, spray characteristics,advantages/disadvantages of water mistsystems, comparison to other fire-fighting methods, CFD Modeling andresearch needs in the future.

Environmental and Health/SafetyIssuesOverview of water mist from the

standpoint of health authorities. Dis-cussions on the importance of the useof water mist as a tool in reducing the ozone layer problems posed byhalons.

Parties who are interested in attend-ing this meeting should browse theassociation’s web page for details.Attendees who would like to present apaper may submit in abstract of thepaper no later than February 2003.

Furthermore, a workshop on watermist fire suppression technology isoffered which will take place fromFebruary 25–27, 2003, in Mobile, USA.

Educational Seminars in 2003Besides the seminar on water mist firesuppression technology on May 16 inDallas, USA, which will be held in con-junction with the forthcoming NFPAcongress, another seminar will beoffered in Germany next spring. Theseminar is scheduled for 13 and 14March, 2003. Interested persons cancontact the IWMA office in order toreceive a program for the educationalsessions on both days. Due to the high demand, another seminar will beorganized for United Kingdom inAutumn, 2003. The exact date will beannounced on the next IWMA newspage.

European Guideline for Water MistA European working group is currentlypreparing a design and installationguideline for water mist systems. Thegroup started its work in 1998 and hasmet for the last time on October 16 and17 in Cologne, Germany. The results ofthis last meeting, to be summarized inDraft number 10, will be submitted tothe European Committee and will befurther distributed to the national com-mittees for assessment. The commentsmade by the national committees aregoing to be discussed in future meetingand will influence the final wording ofthe guideline. However, great progresshas been done so far and the designand installation guideline for water mistsystems is not too far away.


5858

Mobile water mist systems which enable fire fighters to extinguish fires very efficiently.Photo courtesy: Callies Fire Safety

New ContactInternational Water Mist

Association

Biederitzer Str. 539175 Heyrothsberge

Phone: +49 (0) 392 92 – 690 25Fax: 690 26

www.iwma.net, [email protected]

P. 36-64 16/10/06 12:12 pm Page 58

Enquiries: www.pattersonpumps.com

P. 36-64 16/10/06 12:12 pm Page 59

In view of the risks the fire safety ofindustrial plants of all types is anessential consideration. It is not just

petrochemical plants that have the risk,many industrial production facilitiesutilise materials and undertake processesthat would cause immense problems incase of fire and so must be protectedas well as possible. What then is theprocess that must be followed whenconsidering such installations and thesafety of both the plant and thecommunity?

THE CONSIDERATION PROCESS

The first step, as with all such situa-tions is to define the risks that existwithin the process and examine the fireload. Building regulations where theyapply will consider cellulosic fire to bethe main risk but in an industrial plantthe risk may be hydrocarbon based andthe difference in fire performance is sub-stantial as was seen in the Twin Towersdisaster. The volume of potential fuel fora fire will also be considered when deter-mining the duration requirements.

Evidence shows that many of thefires that occur in industrial plants startwith an explosion and very basic rulesare applied to petrochemical plants tominimize such risks in the first place.We need to consider however whatexplosion risk remains and allow forthat in the fire strategy. This must alsoconsider escape, fire fighting, publicsafety and a myriad of other elementsso that a final strategy can be defined.

Once this has been done the realprocess of designing the fire protectionsystems can begin and the equipmentto be protected will be defined. Thiscan include:

� Structural frames� Process equipment� Storage vessels� Services� Buildings� Transport equipment

The fire load and escape and reac-tion considerations will determine thetime periods and at this stage in theprocess the regulatory considerations

will come into effect. In the UK build-ings will in general be protectedaccording the Building Regulations butall other areas may be subject to Healthand Safety Executive rulings and in thecase of offshore plants these may bebased on the Solas regulations. Thefinal input may well be from the in-surers as public liability and businesscontinuity considerations can, in thepresent conditions cause premiums tobe extremely high and are causingmany existing companies to reconsidertheir fire strategies.

The resulting mitigation and protec-tion requirements present a major roleto the Fire Protection Industry and allconcerned have a range of productsspecifically designed to provide helpand protection for plant operators.

WHAT PROTECTION CAN BE PROVIDED?

The overall Fire Strategy will have manyelements and these will include com-prehensive systems for detection, alarmand initial reaction from the “Active”fire protection industry. In this articlewe are considering the “Passive” ele-ments of the strategy as in the overallpicture the various systems worktogether to protect the plant andpublic alike.

Having defined the fire type as eithercellulosic or hydrocarbon the selectionof materials can follow. If the risk ofexplosion is high then many materialsin this market have test data on theirresistance to blast and also have infor-mation on hydrocarbon “Jet Fire” capa-bility. Structural steel and vessels maybe protected by either intumescentcoatings or cementitious materials andLeighs Paints report that recent projectshave required test data for blasts of upto 4.0 bar overpressures that have beenmet by their Firetex M 90 epoxy intu-mescent product.

The risk of Jet Fire is a seriousconsideration if product or fuel linesare ruptured in an incident. TheSpadeadam test facility of AdvanticaTechnologies has tested many materialsfor their ability to withstand Jet Firefor periods of up to two hours and testmethods for this condition are con-


6060

THE PETROCHEMICAL INDUSTRY has a vital role in modern industri-alised countries and provides vital materials without which our dailylives and business cannot continue. The processes that refine andproduce the products are often by their nature hazardous and thematerials, particularly the intermediates can be highly inflammableand toxic when burned. The resulting fire effluent, whether in smoke,gaseous, solid or liquid form can pollute and even cause fatal effectsand long term damage. When we are concerned with these ecologi-cal affects the cost to the community as a whole of a fire can bealmost incalculable. The losses that may be sustained by the ownersof such plants in a serious fire can threaten the very existence of thecompany.

Coatings for IndustrBy David Sugden

Evidence shows that many of the firesthat occur in industrial plants start withan explosion and very basic rules areapplied to petrochemical plants tominimize such risks in the first place.

P. 36-64 16/10/06 12:12 pm Page 60

tained in report OTI 95 634 publishedby the International Jet Fire Test Work-ing Group through the HSE. The abilityof PFP materials to work under theextreme conditions that may exist inthe early moments of an incident is avital consideration in limiting the dam-age sustained. Plant operators anddesigners should seek test informationfor blast and jet fire resistance as wellas hydrocarbon fire test data for anyproduct selected.

Epoxy intumescents, cementitiousand some board systems have the capa-bility to protect steel for two hours ormore in hydrocarbon fire and offer pro-tection at varying levels of initialinvestment. Where offshore structuresand complex plants are to be protectedthe long life capability of the epoxyintumescents can be used alongsidecompatible anti corrosive paint specifi-cations that use common primers anddecorative top coats for simplicity ofspecification.

STORAGE VESSEL PROTECTION

Storage vessels, particularly LPG tanksand similar units containing highlyexplosive materials can also be protect-ed by these materials and again somespecific test evidence should be soughtfrom manufacturers offering systems.One test that is particularly relevant isconducted under German Federal Reg-ulation TRB801, appendix to NR 25 atthe BAM test facility in Berlin on LPGstorage tanks. Under this 90 minuteexternal test the internal temperaturerise within the vessel must be restrictedto less than 300°C whilst a fire runs forthis period at over 900°C. As the tank isloaded to about 75% capacity with gasduring the test the pressure safetyvalves must operate during the test tovent pressure and any failure can bespectacular. Although the time/temper-ature curve for this test is not so severeas the hydrocarbon test material manu-

facturers may have assessments tohydrocarbon temperatures.

Vessels may also require insulationfor production reasons and combina-tion systems of heat insulation and fireprotection are available. These maytake the form of mineral fibre or someother insulation overcoated with PFP.An alternative is the use of specialistmaterials such as a syntactic epoxyinsulant that would be compatible withepoxy intumescent. This latter combi-nation of insulant and PFP enableshigh performance epoxy fire protectionto be applied to vessels operating athigher temperatures. Systems of thistype can be designed to allow removalof sections for maintenance purposesand they can also be cast for use onpipe work, pumps and other complexitems that would be difficult to treatwith other materials.

CABLE PROTECTION

Fire risk from electrical and other cableruns, switchgear etcetera is anotherconcern and coatings and protectionsystems for these areas are availablefrom several sources. The use ofspecialist cable trays and boxing usingfire resistant board systems is commonbut care must be taken that adequatecable seals are used as these passthrough walls, bulkheads and decks.

The range of systems is very widebut testing of them is rather less clearthan for the structural materials. BS476 does not provide a test method forcable seals so that manufacturers offermaterials tested to ad-hoc methods butusing the cellulosic or hydrocarbon fur-nace test curves described in BS 476part 29. An alternative test method touse, especially in high hazard areas isthe IMO test to resolution A754 underthe Solas regulations. Althoughdesigned for marine use and stipulatedfor offshore plants, materials carryingcertification from this test will offer the

user excellent cable penetration sealingsystems in industrial conditions.

Compartmentation of industrialplants is essential if they contain areasof mixed hazard and fire walls mayhave to be designed to the same blaststandards as are mentioned earlier forthe structural and vessel protectionmaterials. Offshore experience in theseareas is extensive and is used bymaterial suppliers to design fire barriers and safe havens in complexplants. Hydrocarbon testing of firedoors and shutters is particularly wellestablished and these have many indus-trial uses. The quality of installation ofmechanical doors for use in fire is of the greatest importance and usuallyundertaken by the manufacturersthemselves.


61

A typical specification for steelvessel fire protection using epoxysyntactic foam as insulation wouldbe:

Blast clean to SA 2.5 as defined in BS7079: part A1, 1989Apply Epigrip M251 Phenolic Epoxyprimer to 75 micronsApply Firetex M 89 Epoxy ThermalBarrier Coating to 20mm (say)Apply Firetex M 90 EpoxyIntumescent to required dft (according to fire protectionrequirements)Decorative sealer coats may then beapplied according to requirements

This would allow the vessel tooperate at temperatures up to150°C under normal conditionsand provide fire protection shouldthis be required.

t rial Fire Protection

Whatever the requirement thequality of workmanship needs to beof the highest calibre in industrialplants as the result of fire can havefar reaching repercussions. Contin-uous risk assessment must beundertaken and changes to plantoperations fully considered for theirimpact on the fire precautions.

Plant operators and designers shouldseek test information for blast and jetfire resistance as well as hydrocarbonfire test data for any product selected.

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AMERICAN PACIFIC ANNOUNCES LANDMARK FAAAPPROVAL

American Pacific Corporation (NASDAQ: APFC)announced today the landmark Federal AviationAdministration (“FAA”) approval of a Halotron I cleanagent portable fire extinguisher to replace severe ozonedepleting halon 1211 on civilian commercial aircraft.The Halotron I extinguisher, manufactured by AmerexCorporation of Trussville, Alabama, has a net weight of5.5 lbs and was the first to successfully complete allrequired FAA and Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. (“UL”)tests. Each extinguisher has the following label: “FAAApproved. Meets the Minimum Performance Standardsfor Handheld Extinguishers as defined in ReportDOT/FAA/AR-01/37.”The standard for approval was theculmination of a nine-year process started in October1993, at the FAA Technical Center at Atlantic City, NJ.

This new Amerex Halotron I extinguisher providesan environmentally acceptable substitution for halon 1211, that is extremelylow in ozone depletion effect, as well as global warming effect. It provides,the environmentally balanced alternative that is needed for the airlineindustry. Halotron I is, the most widely used halon 1211 replacement and iscarried by four of the five major US fire extinguisher manufacturers,including Amerex, Badger, Buckeye, and Kidde.

According to the Company’s best information, there are approximately6,500 commercial passenger carrying aircraft in the US that are the size ofa Boeing 707 or larger that carry an average of five halon 1211 extinguishers.There is approximately the same amount in the rest of the developedworld. As a result of the US EPA ban on non-essential discharges of halon1211 (except on “real fires”), the airlines have been unable to conduct livefire training with the halon 1211 extinguishers now employed on these air-craft for more than seven years. Some airlines have chosen to use alternateagents for simulation, such as water.

The availability of this new Amerex Halotron I extinguisher gives airlinesthe dual advantage of transitioning to an environmentally acceptable product,as well as a product that can be used for full training programs, once again.

American Pacific Corporation is a specialty chemical company thatproduces products used primarily in space flight and defense systems,automotive airbag safety systems and fire extinguishment systems. TheCompany also designs and manufactures environmental protection prod-ucts and is involved in real estate development.

Halotron® is a registered trademark pursuant to applicable intellectualproperty laws and is the property of American Pacific Corporation or itssubsidiaries.

RADICALLY NEW FIRE SUPPRESSION TECHNOLOGYWILL MEAN RETHINKING PROCEDURESFireAde 2000 is first product to take onentire fire tetrahedronA new fire suppression technology is now available in from Fire ServicePlus, a member company of the Safety Showers group. This new technol-ogy is so radically different from anything that has gone before that it willlead to the rethinking of many time hallowed procedures used by Airportfire teams. Based on a unique system of hydrocarbon denaturing and man-agement it has been 20 years in developing and testing in the USA.

Because of this the product, known as FireAde 2000, is not just anotherfire fighting medium. Unlike water, traditional foams, or the plethora ofpowders, gels and gases used in fire fighting, its properties are such that itcan effectively attack the entire fire tetrahedron. This means, at a stroke,reducing heat, eliminating oxygen, removing fuel and interrupting the freeradical chain reaction, which keeps fires going.

It is applied by introduction into the water stream via any kind of liquidconcentrate proportioning device. If premixed at a 0.25% ratio or higher itprovides tremendous extinguishing capabilities. Any quality of water can beused with FireAde 2000, which works by reducing water surface tensionfrom, typically, 72-dynes/cm2 to 23-dynes/cm2. Put simply that means thatmixing FireAde 2000 with water enables the latter to work six times harderor, put another way, it becomes six times wetter. Water with FireAde 2000added will cover more area and penetrate deeper into the surface texture ofthe burning material. In the US this has resulted in record knock downtimes as well as reduced crew numbers at an incident.

At the same time where flammable liquids are involved FireAde 2000 actsas an emulsifier. That is to say product, water and flammable liquid mix andencapsulate hydrocarbon molecules, thus preventing ignition or re-ignition.

It’s this feature that makes the product an excellent medium for cutting anon-reignitible fire path through burning fuel to rescue casualties or prop-erty. It also makes it ideal for dealing with Hazmat incidents, where FireAde2000’s use seriously reduces the risk associated with hydrocarbon spills.

Also because FireAde 2000 makes water six times wetter it acts as adramatically effective cooling medium, enabling previously hot debris,including metal, to be cleared away by hand almost immediately after afire has been extinguished.

Although not formulated as a foaming agent FireAde 2000 will produceand maintain a foam blanket covering it and depriving it of oxygen. Theencapsulating qualities of FireAde 2000 work just as well on smoke as liq-uids. On its application dense and toxic black smoke rapidly changes to whitenon-toxic smoke. This is because the product interrupts the chain reaction offree radicals thus preventing them from coalescing and forming soot andsmoke. This in turn means improved safety and visibility for fire fighters.

In addition to its frontline qualities FireAde 2000 also addresses logisticaland environmental concerns. Easy to store and transport it has unlimitedshelf life, even after it has been mixed with water. It is also non-hazardous,non-toxic, non-corrosive and biodegradable. It is effective for use on firecategories A, B and D and European categories C, D and F.

FULLEON LAUNCH NEW SOUNDERS Fulleon have launched two new additions tothe popular Symphoni sounder range.

Certain applications require sounders to belocated externally. The Symphoni IP andSymphoni IP HO (High Output) are beingintroduced to cope with the high levelweather resistance demanded in such exposed

situations or those areas subject to more severe environmental conditions.A new robust base design has been developed to endow the Symphoni range

with a weather resistance of IP66. The square format of the base, which increas-es the sounders’ height by 10mm, allows cable entry in both top and bottomfaces, providing flexibility of cabling formats and simplifying installation.

All of the features which ensure the popularity of the standard Sym-phoni and Symphoni High Output sounders have been retained and carriedover to the IP versions.The Symphoni IP maintains its ultra low currentoperation producing 100dB(A) from just 5mA. Provisions to allow the fit-ting of sounder control boards for addressable systems are incorporated ina similar manner to the standard units.

The Symphoni High Output produces 120dB(A) and has a choice of 32tones, making it ideally suited to the coverage of larger open spaces. Evenwith the small increase in height it is still one of the most compactsounders capable of producing such high audible outputs.

In addition to sounders, Fulleon also manufacture a wide range of otherproducts for the fire industry including beacons, combined sounder/beacons, bells, callpoints and door release units.

KILSEN NEW PANELS TO MEET ANY REQUIREMENTKilsen, the Spanish manufacturer based inBarcelona, is expanding it’s range of Fire Alarmcontrol panels with the introduction of the newKSA 701/2 one/two loop analogue/addressable,the new NK-700 1-16 zone conventional and thenew 1-2 zone gas/extinguishing panels.

This places Kilsen among the leading manu-facturers in the European fire detection business.

The KSA 701 will complete the KSA 700 range (see chart) bridging thegap between analogue/addressable and larger conventional systems. It hasa capability of 100 addresses per loop, RS-232 and optional RS-485 com-munication ports from only one compact motherboard. This panel will beextremely useful for small installations where advanced technology in firedetection is major requirement.

The KSA 702 and KSA 705 will remain the standard product for largeinstallation projects that require greater flexibility using options like built-inprinter, GPS communication or networking in a peer to peer configuration.

The new NK-700 range of conventional control panels have beendesigned and manufactured to comply with European standard EN-54 andoffer a step forward in conventional panel design and operation. Two of

Product Update � Product Update � Product Update

For more information, please contact: American Pacific Corporation

Tel: +1 702 735-2200 Website: www.halotron.com

For further information, please contact:Fire Service Plus LimitedTel: +44(0)151 643 8888

Website: www.fireserviceplus.com

For more information, please contact: Fulleon Ltd

Tel: +44(0)1633 628 500 Website: www.fulleon.co.uk

P. 36-64 16/10/06 12:13 pm Page 62


63

the models in this range are designed for the control of 1 or 2 extinguish-ing zones, providing all the necessary inputs and outputs for that purpose.

Finally, the new NKB range will offer the best price/quality ratio in thefire detection market. These limited zone control panels will be suitable forsmall conventional installations where price sensitivity is important.

The performance of all these new panels is enhanced with more than 10different operational modules that fulfil every possible requirement for thecomplete protection of any premises.

With this new product range structure, Kilsen is offering its customers arange of solutions for every requirement in fire detection.

NEW WARNING SYSTEM IS PERFECT SAFETY NET New software from Klaxon Signals is set to revolu-tionise emergency warning systems in offices and factories; wherever staff have access to PCs.Safetynet enables orderly evacuations by puttingtailored instructions and exit maps in front of eachPC user exactly when they are needed, overridingwhatever is currently displayed on the screen.

Safetynet is designed to complement audible warning systems and canbe configured to warn of fire, security and other hazards. The system canalso be used to call individuals to help, such as fire or evacuation wardens.

If staff need to complete something, they can quickly clear the alert andcontinue. The program can be configured to return at fixed intervals orshortening time paths.

Safetynet is a permanently running program that is installed on a cen-tral administrator PC, and a small application on all client PCs on the net-work. This allows each user to be identified as a member of a group (firstaiders, evacuation monitors) and confirms their location (building, floor).

Today’s mobile workforce makes training all staff in evacuation proce-dures inconvenient and costly. Safetynet effectively mitigates this problemfor organisations using significant numbers of desktop computers.

Safetynet can be controlled from one PC, or linked to audible warningsystems. At one mouse click from an authorised user, or automatically inresponse to an alarm, the software can be used to instigate full (fire, floodor other immediate emergency), partial (where one area needs to beisolated) or controlled evacuations, where several floors may need to be evacuated in sequence.

Changes to evacuation procedures can be accommodated: in the eventof an unforeseen emergency, Safetynet’s ad-hoc screen allows authorisedusers to type in a couple of sentences to cover any eventuality. Nounauthorised user can send alerts, although anyone can summon first-aiders, fire officers or security staff.

The system incorporates many other features, including the ability tosend SMS messages to safety personnel for out-of-hours or out-of-officenotification of an emergency. Additionally, non-emergency informationmay be communicated across a network, for example a note sent to informusers of planned interruption for back-up. Adoption of a colour-coded sys-tem such as yellow for information and red for emergency alert will allowstaff to immediately see the difference between the two types of message.

A free CD-ROM containing a trial version of Safetynet, as well as furtherinformation about the product, is available directly from Klaxon.

MORLEY-IAS FIRE SYSTEM PROTECTSVULNERABLE PATIENTS AT BETHLEM HOSPITALBethlem Hospital is a secure hospital for mentally disturbed patients set in37 separate buildings at Beckenham, Kent. Founded in 1247, many people,including some very well known artists such as Richard Dadd, Vasilev Nijin-sky and Louis Wain, have played a part in its history. The most famous

Bethlem Hospital, known as Bedlam was notorious forthe exhibition of lunatics for public amusement and wasused by Hogarth as the setting for the final panel of hismorality tale series “The Rake’s Progress”. The currentbuildings date from 1930 and the fire protection systemsat the hospital have been installed piecemeal over theyears.

The decision was taken to install a new single, campus-wide networked system using the Morley-IAS ZXe analogueaddressable family. Its open protocol capability, networking

capabilities, expandability and user friendliness were key attributes, as was thewide choice of fire companies qualified by Morley to carry out servicing andmaintenance. The new system consists of 39 ZXe networked control panelscontrolling more than 5000 Apollo Discovery smoke and thermal detectors,configured as a report and control system with three master controllers and 38repeater panels located throughout the complex. The system protects all secureand non-secure areas and is programmed to take full advantage of the ZXepanel’s advanced features such as pre-alarm notification, staged evacuationand day/night sensitivity settings. In the secure wards, special key-operatedmanual actuators interact with the security system.

Cover has not been compromised during the installation. If a conventionalsystem is being replaced, the new system’s detectors are installed in parallelwith the old ones and soak tested for a month with the old system still opera-tional; the old system is then removed. Some buildings were already protectedby analogue addressable systems; here, the new panel temporarily takes overthe control of the old detectors by installing the appropriate interface board.The new Apollo detectors are then installed and the temporary card swappedout for the Apollo version; the loop wiring is reused wherever possible, reduc-ing the overall cost. The installation is due to be fully completed in early 2003.

VESDA LASERCOMPACT IS NOW BIGGER ANDBETTER THAN EVER

Vision Fire & Security’s VESDA LaserCOMPACT, thehighly successful aspirating smoke detection solution,has just become an even more widely applicable andmore cost-effective solution. It now has extendedaspirating – at no extra cost whatsoever.

Area coverage has now increased by as much as 60per cent – from 500 square metres to 800 squaremetres – enabling increased detection over a wider

area. The extended pipe coverage is now a standard feature and is fullyapproved by LPCB and VdS.

“The product has been enhanced in response to customer demand. Moreand more warehousing, high-bay storage facilities and cold stores are benefit-ing from VESDA Aspirating Systems. In response we have decided to increasethe capability of LaserCOMPACT to make the product more flexible andapplicable to such installations,” comments Peter Mundy, Technical Manager.

LaserCOMPACT’s increased detection over a wider area makes theproduct now ideal for environments such as large warehouses that requirecoverage of individual storage racks, or small computer rooms requiring upto 40 sampling points.

All the key benefits of LaserCOMPACT remain, and there has been nochange to the PC software for configuration and maintenance. The prod-uct is still available in two versions: one that interfaces via relays only,VLC-500 (RO), or via the relays and VESDAnet, VLC-505 (VN).

LaserCOMPACT, launched in 1999, has been specifically designed toprovide the best and most cost-effective protection of small areas, withoutcompromising the highly acclaimed VESDA early warning smoke detection(using the patented High Sensitivity VESDA laser detector).

Typical applications of LaserCOMPACT include areas where: there are highairflows; mission critical equipment is installed; suppression might beinstalled but should be a last resort; early detection is needed within aprocess cell or control cabinet; nuisance alarms need to be identified anddealt with before a full alarm is raised; or localised early detection is required.

The VESDA detection technology incorporates a unique clean air washto protect the critical optical surfaces from contamination. As such, it isable to maintain its sensitivity without resorting to drift compensation andadaptive algorithms used in inferior products.

LaserCOMPACT’s latest coverage upgrade is one example of VESDA’songoing goal to provide advanced, first-rate fire detection solutions to aneven wider number of applications.

Product Update � Product Update � Product Update

For more information, please contact: Vision Fire & Security

Tel: +44(0)1442 242 330 Website: www.vesda.com

For further information, please contact:Morley-IAS

Tel: + 44 (0)1444 235556Website: www.morley-ias.co.uk

Model/loops Addresses RS-232 RS-485 Built-in PrinterKSA701/1 100 Included Optional -KSA701/2 200 Included Optional -KSA702/1 250 Optional Optional OptionalKSA702/2 500 Optional Optional OptionalKSA705/3 750 Optional Optional OptionalKSA705/4 1000 Optional Optional OptionalKSA705/5 1250 Optional Optional Optional

For more information, please contact: Kilsen

Tel: +34 93 480 9070Website: www.kilsen.es

For more information, please contact: Klaxon Signals Inc

Tel +44 (0)161 287 5511Website: www.klaxonsignals.com

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The World’s Most Trusted Choice In Clean Agent Fire Suppression.

www.FM-200.comFM-200 is a registered trademark.FM-200 use is covered by U.S. patent 5,124,053.

©2002 Great Lakes Chemical Corporation

Now is the time to decide which system

you are going to install and when you are

going to install it.

Why Now?

• Allow enough time for a thorough evaluation

• Take control and make the conversion

on your time line, not someone else’s

• Eliminate the last minute rush when demand

for technical resources will be overloaded

and conversion costs at a premium

Why FM-200®?

• Fastest fire suppression system on the market

• Safe for people and sensitive equipment

• Environmentally safe

• Simple to install and occupies up to 7

times less space than an inert gas system

• More than 100 thousand customer

applications in over 70 countries makes

FM-200® the most widely accepted clean

agent in the world

To find out more about why an FM-200

system is ideal for Halon replacement, call

+44 (0) 161 875 3058 or visit www.FM-200.com.

Regulation EC No 2037/2000 on substances that deplete the ozonelayer. Article 4. Paragraph 4 (v) Fire protection systems containinghalon shall be decommissionedbefore 31 December 2003.

(a small number of exceptions are listed in Annex VII in the regulations).

Start thinking about replacingyour Halon systemnow, while you still have time.

www.fm-200.com

OFC,IFC IBC,OBC 2nd 16/10/06 10:24 am Page obc4

Documents

IFP Issue 12