IFP Issue 42

An MDM PUBLICATIONIssue 42 – May 2010

www.mdmpublishing.com

THE GLOBAL VOICE FOR PASSIVE & ACTIVE FIRE PROTECTION




INTERNATIONAL FIRE PROTECTIONINTERNATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION

IFP42 OFC 17/5/10 3:29 pm Page ofc1

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INTERNATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION 1

Front cover picture courtesy ofAdvanced Electronics Ltd

PublishersMark Seton & David Staddon

Editorial ContributorsMike Troiano, Ges Wallace, AlfredThornton, Graham Collins, MatthiasEcke, Mark Froggatt, Sarah Brewer,Mike Wood, Ian Buchanan, TomCortina, Nick Grant, David Gentle,Bob Choppen

IFP is published quarterly by:MDM Publishing Ltd The Abbey Manor Business Centre,The Abbey, Preston Road, Yeovil, Somerset BA20 2ENTel: +44 (0) 1935 426 428Fax: +44 (0) 1935 426 926 Email: [email protected]: www.ifpmag.com©All rights reserved

Annual SubscriptionUK – £50.00 Europe – �60Overseas – US$70.00lSSN – 1468-3873

DISCLAIMER:

The views and opinions expressed inINTERNATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION are notnecessarily those of MDM Publishing Ltd.The magazine and publishers are in noway responsible or legally liable for anyerrors or anomalies made within theeditorial by our authors. All articles are protected by copyright and writtenpermission must be sought from thepublishers for reprinting or any form ofduplication of any of the magazinescontent. Any queries should be addressedin writing to the publishers.

Reprints of articles are available onrequest. Prices on application to thePublishers.

Page design by DorchesterTypesetting Group Ltd

Printed in the UK








May 2010 Issue 42 Contents

88-92

4-10 Profiles

12-26 Interschutz2010 Leipzig, Germany.Exhibitor guide andpreviews and essentialvisitor information

29-33 The PhaseoutThat Didn’t Happen

35-37 Modern WaterMist Technology

39-42 Detecting TheRight Technology

45-49 A case ofdouble standards…

51-55 Call pointevolution: past, presentand future

57-60 Remotemonitoring a fire pumpsystem status

62-65 A VisibleImprovement

67-68 FireSuppression

70 Removal of FireExtinguishers – is itworth the risk?

73-76 IndustrialFlame Detection – the‘pros and cons’

78-80 ProtectingElectrical Cabinets withCO2 is a high risk option

83-86 Testing times

88-92 Fire RatedDuct Enclosures

94-95 New CodeRaises The Bar On CableFire Safety

96 Advertisers’ Index

57-60

51-55

39-42

29-33

12-26

78-80

62-65

Collins to join MDM Publishing Ltd as Group Editor

Well known industry figure Graham Collins will join MDM Publishing Ltd as GroupEditor, starting in June 2010. He will take direct responsibility for all editorialmatters involving MDM’s three leading trade magazines, International Fire

Protection, International Fire Fighter and Asia Pacific Fire. When asked to comment on the appointment Collins said “I am thrilled to be joining such an exciting and dynamicorganisation as the Group Editor. MDM Publishing Ltd has established its titles as theleading business to business international journals available to fire professionals around the

world. I am looking forward to shaping new editorial features and exciting new content in the comingmonths within all three journals”.

Graham has worked and lived in the USA, Middle East, France, Germany and Japan and brings over 15 years experience in the international fire industry, particularly fire suppression, foam concentrates andhardware, detection and alarm systems and emergency response. He has been a regular contributor in firesafety and construction industry magazines including the MDM Publishing Ltd titles. He has also worked as aspecialist campaigns director for a fire industry PR company for the past 20 years. Graham is married andlists photography as one of his major interests.

P. 01 Contents 17/5/10 3:29 pm Page 1

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4 INTERNATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION

PROFILE

These highly specified detectors operate reli-ably in the harsh conditions of offshoredrilling and production platforms, FPSO ves-

sels, fuel loading and storage facilities, LNG andLPG plants and petrochemical plants throughoutthe world.

The latest SharpEye 40/40 Series flame detec-tors include the model 40/40I using the well-proven IR3 detector, offering the highest immunityto false alarms combined with a massive 65m(215ft) detection distance for hydrocarbon fireswith an enlarged cone of vision – 100º horizontaland 95º vertical.

Another majorfeature is theimproved responseto gas flames(methane, LNG,LPG etc) wheresmall gas flamescan be detected atdistances of up to30m (100ft). Animportant addition

to the series is the model 40/40M Multi IR detec-tor, which can simultaneously detect ‘invisible’hydrogen flames at 30m (100ft) and hydrocarbonfires at 65m (215ft).

The 40/40 series comprises many detectiontechniques to suit every situation including triple IR(IR3), Multi IR, combined UV/IR, single IR or UV. Thus,Spectrex can offer unbiased advice on which detec-tor is the correct solution to your detection needs.

The compact and lightweight design (only2.5kg in stainless steel) offers low-power con-sumption with a heated lens for continuedavailability in difficult environments – as well asthe reassurance of 3rd party EN54-10 /FM perfor-mance approvals and IEC 61508 – SIL2 (TUV)certification to assure reliability. All detectors are,of course, Ex approved to ATEX/IECEx/FM/CSA/GOST R/GOST K standards for Zone 1/21hazardous area location.

The 40/40 Series detectors incorporate anintegral automatic self test which checks thedevices every 15 mins to ensure correct operation.The 40/40 Series offers many interface options toensure that the detectors are compatible with allcontrol and fire detection systems – outputsinclude 0-20mA, dry relay contacts, RS-485ModBus and HART.

The certified operating temperature range hasalso been extended. The detectors will now operatereliably in temperatures from –55ºC to +75ºC (with

an option for+85ºC) allowingtheir use anywherein the world.

The 40/40 Seriesdetectors are pro-grammable allow-ing the user alterfactory default set-tings. Sensitivitylevels, responsetime, alarm delay,heated lens opera-tion etc are all able to be modified where required,either pre-delivery or after installation.

Various accessories are provided including aFlame Simulator to allow full ‘end-to-end’ prooftesting in the Ex hazardous area.

SafEye Open Path Gas Detection forCombustible Gas HazardsSpectrex’s SafEye ‘Line-of-Sight’ IR HydrocarbonGas Detectors feature unprecedented reliabilityand exceptional detection capability for flammablehydrocarbon gases/vapours in a wide range ofhazardous conditions and ambient environments

SafEye Open Path Hydrocarbon Gas Detectors,Series 700 and 200, monitor for combustiblehydrocarbon gases over an open air ‘path’ of up to 460ft (140m) and can provide alarms prior to a fire or explosion event. The normal unit ofmeasure for open-path detectors is the product ofdistance x concentration. Typical full scale is 0 – 5LEL.meters. Unit of measure is LEL.meters i.e. 1LEL.meter = 100%LEL over 1 metre (or 25%LELover 4 meters etc).

The ’flash’ type radiation source ensures immu-nity to any false alarms and the unit functionseffectively even in extreme environments, such asfog, rain, smog etc. Heated optics are also avail-able to ensure continued detection in extremes ofweather. If the ‘open-path’ is ever completelyblocked due to environmental or human interven-tion, a warning signal will be generated to allowcorrective action or investigation.

Alignment is a simple one-man operation usinga telescope – no electronic hand held deviceneeded or connecting cables between source anddetector units. The wide alignment toleranceensures that SafEye.

SafEye detectors are fully Exd approved to ATEXand UL standards with a full range of interfacesincluding mA analogue, RS485 and HART. A SIL2version is also available. IFP

Latest IndustrialFlame Detectorsfrom Spectrex SharpEye 40/40 Series Flame Detectors offer unmatched performance and reliability– including patented, IR3 (Triple IR) Multi-Spectrum detectors that enable detectionof small fires at distances up to 60m, with enhanced immunity to false alarms.

Fig 1 Ed – 40/40I detector

Fig 2 Ed – Flame Simulatorwith collimator

P. 04 Spectrex Profile 17/5/10 3:30 pm Page 4

7400 East 42nd Place • Tulsa, OK 74145-4744 USA • phone: (918) 627-1942 • fax: (918) 622-8916 • 1-888-OCV-VALV (628-8258) • [email protected] • www.controlvalves.com

In today’s business climate, we believe a company should be held accountable by more than just regulations and government entities. At OCV, we answer to you-the customer-and you expect a high standard, demand solutions that work, and insist on products of quality.

We also believe in longevity and commitment. Our Sales and Engineering teams o' er new talent combined with seasoned professionals for a sum of over 283 years of experience. With companies failing and economic conditions changing overnight, isn’t it nice to know you will get an answer every time you need help with an application?

OCV wants to be your partner for managing , uid application needs – large or small. OCV continues to develop its broad spectrum of technical expertise, turning . eld experience and problem solving knowledge into a re. ned o' ering of services and state-of-the-art product.

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OCV IFP39 p63 13/8/09 8:52 am Page 1


PROFILE

PPG Protective & Marine Coatings is a worldleader in the development and supply ofperformance coatings to protect steel and

concrete structures from fire and corrosion aroundthe world.

We work closely with the world’s leadingarchitects and engineers to enhance the use andappearance of our fire protection products acrossmany industries: construction, petrochemical,chemical processing and also for railway and roadtunnels.

Passive fire protection with thin-filmintumescent coatingsA ‘thin-film’ intumescent coating is the passive fireprotection method that enhances the visualappearance of a structure and will even add to thedesign with decorative finish and colour. Thisallows architects to show the steel constructionwhile at the same time protecting its structuralintegrity in case of fire, allowing for safe evacua-tion and enhancing the access time required forrescue workers.

Thin-film intumescent coatings are commonlyused on steel frame structures in airports, stadia,commercial, leisure, education, retail, manufactur-ing and industrial sectors. Intumescent coatings for the protection of steel from cellulosic fires are normally one-pack products – also known asthin-film intumescents. Their application is similarto painting by airless spray and results in extremelysmooth surfaces.

Structural steel members painted with fire-pro-tection intumescent coatings preserve theirappearance. This is of major importance in modernarchitecture as the steel columns and beams areoften visible and meant as a design feature inbuildings, such as airports, hotels and sportsstadia. To prove they are ‘fit for purpose’, intumes-cent coatings have to undergo a demanding firetest regime. Fire tests on several types and sizes ofsteel columns and beams are conducted usingstandardised conditions by accredited test facilities.In these tests the intumescent coating system hasto prove its ability to keep the temperature of asteel section under a certain level – this being thecritical temperature for a given time period, suchas 30, 60, 90 or 120 minutes. Raw data tablesfrom this test will identify the appropriate filmthicknesses that should be applied on each typeand size of steel section to provide protection forthe required period. In many cases these assess-ments have to be finally verified and certified by anindependent party, often a state authority.

PPG offers, under the trade name Steelguard,a complete range of intumescent coating systemsfor various grades of fire protection, climaticexposure conditions and application techniqueswhile complying with many national standards.

Fire Engineering ServiceLarge projects frequently require additional fire engi-neering in which the coatings supplier, designer andcontractor develop solutions for specific project

applications and construction solutions to meet allfire protection requirements. With an experiencedcoatings supplier like PPG Protective & Marine Coat-ings, equipped with the latest laboratory facilitiesfor formulating and fire testing, custom-madesolutions can be developed to ensure dependableand compliant fire protection. IFP

Steelguard FM 550Ferrari World – YAS Island Complex –Abu Dhabi – United Arab Emirates

Ferrari World YASIsland – Case studyPPG Protective &Marine Coatings inthe Middle Eastwas awarded thesupply of the cellu-losic intumescentfire protection sys-tem for the Coast-er Bridge Buildingson the prestigiousFerrari World – YAS Island complex incor-porating the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Circuit. Theinaugural Grand Prix was held in November2009.

Ferrari World Abu Dhabi is the world’slargest indoor theme park, sitting under a roofdesigned in the style of a classic double-curvebody shell of a Ferrari GT car. There is energy,excitement and passion for the entire family atFerrari World Abu Dhabi. With over 20 rides andattractions, including the world’s fastest roller-coaster, Ferrari World is more than a theme park– it is where Ferrari’s legendary story is unveiled.

Steelguard FM 550 was supplied for this pro-ject, protecting about 15,000 square meters ofsteel structures, protected against a 60-minutecellulosic fire. The constant professionalperserverence by the PPG team resulted in theclient selecting PPG Protective & Marine Coat-ings not only as the preferred manufacturer andsupplier of the passive fire protection system, butalso to ensure that the fast track project wouldbe completed by November 2009. In addition,the contactor for this project made productcomparisons indicating that Steelguard FM 550had the most favourable application and dryingfeatures. A polyurethane topcoat was used as adecorative and durable finish.

This project represented a key strategic mile-stone in the drive to establish the PPGSteelguard range as the leading cellulosic fireprotection product in the Middle East.

For more information pleasecontact:PPG Industries (UK)LimitedMr. Charles TaylorTel: +44 1773 837 300Email:[email protected] visit our website:www.ppgpmc.com

P. 06 PPG Profile 17/5/10 3:30 pm Page 6

Proven fire protection for civil building

• Up to 120 minutes fire protection

• National and international certification

• On-site and off-site application

• Engineering support

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Advertentie_Steelguard_A4.indd 1 15-02-10 10:30


PROFILE

Mark your calendars and plan to attendthe most important event for the fire,life safety and electrical industry. JoinNFPA and other likeminded professionalsas we gather on June 7-10, 2010 for the2010 NFPA Conference & Expo – widelyregarded as the most comprehensiveevent in the industry. The eventcombines an unrivaled educationalconference and an exhibition with morethan 300 exhibiting companies. You’llwant to take advantage of thenetworking opportunities and gain up-to-date knowledge on codes andstandards that relate to you.

The Education Conference

The education conference includes an impres-sive list of industry experts. Presentations willincluded many case studies, code updates

and results from a myriad of research projects. OnTuesday June 8, the featured presentation will begiven by the newly appointed, Administrator forthe Federal Emergency Management Agency’sUnited States Fire Administration, Kevin Cochran.The presentation – “Putting the Fire Back in theU.S. Fire Administration: Shaping the Future” – willcertainly be a huge attraction during the event.Kevin has over twenty-five years of experience inpreventing and responding to fires and emergen-cies and extensive experience in the fire serviceincluding fire fighting, emergency medical services,hazardous materials response, public educationand research and development.

The entertainment during the general session isan annual highlight. This year the general sessionwill feature Gerry McCambridge, better known as“The Mentalist”. Gerry has been amazing audi-ences for over 30 years and has headlined manyshows and appeared on countless radio and TVtalk show including, “Late Night with David Letter-man,” and “The Today Show” . McCambridge isalso the crator and executive producer of the hitprime-time television show “The Mentalist”.

The conference schedule offers more than 130education sessions within 11 conference tracks.The Society of Fire Protection Engineers is pleasedto once again sponsor the Fire Protection Engi-neering Track which will focus on the advance-ment and education of fire protection engineering.Rounding out the conference tracks are: ● Building and Life Safety – This track concen-

trates on practical information needed bydesigners, engineers, and building and fireofficials, such as plans review, inspection tech-niques, and updates on code requirements,new technologies, and best practices.

● Codes and Standards – This track focuses onproviding information to assist with code appli-cation. Includes many sessions which discussimportant code updates and changes.

● Detection and Suppression – This track con-centrates on code requirements and designissues, the application of new technologies inalarm and suppression systems, and the impactof maintenance on systems performance.

● Emergency Preparedness/Business Continu-ity – This includes information on assessingrisks and consequences, emergency prepared-ness, contingency planning, incident manage-ment, and recovery plans.

● Fire and Emergency Services – This trackfeatures current information on fire-fightingapparatus and technologies, safety and

2010 NFPA Confer

P. 08-10 NFPA Conference 17/5/10 3:30 pm Page 8

preparedness for first responders, incidentcommand strategies, and fire prevention andinspection techniques.

● Facility Fire Safety and Security – Featuresof this track will emphasize new technology inindustrial fire protection and emergencyresponse, fuel storage issues, and security ofindustrial processes.

● Electrical – This considers new electrical designissues, successful maintenance programs, andbest practices in electrical contracting, effectiveinspection techniques, and practical electricalsafety programs.

● Loss Control/Prevention – This track providesessential information on preventing propertydamage due to threats posed by fire and otherhazards. Help protect your organization andbetter understand how various hazards canaffect your day-to-day operations.

● Public Education – This track includes fire and life safety planning and strategies. Alsooffers the latest in safety education includingchallenges and creative solutions.

● Research – The research track considers thelatest information available on many timelyissues, such as video smoke and flame detec-tion systems and reliability of water mist fireprotection systems.

● NEW! Green – This in-demand track includessession with a focus on environmentally friendlyinitiatives that affect the design, maintenanceand testing for fire and life safety systems andcomponents.

The ExpoThe three-day expo will showcase many of thelatest technologies and services from more than300 of the top solution providers in the fire and life safety, and electrical industries. Knowl-edgeable representatives from these companieswill be available to answer your questions andoffer solutions to your most pressing challenges.The exposition provides attendees the ideallocation to see, touch and try products as well asmeet with a company’s technical staff. As always,the expo is free when you register in advance.

Pre-Conference Seminars While the 2010 NFPA Conference & Expo officiallybegins on June 7th, you can arrive early to attendany of the 19 comprehensive pre-conference semi-nars being offered. Some of these seminars willonly be offered in Las Vegas. Pre-conferenceseminars are priced separately from the main con-ference and are offered at a substantial discountfrom NFPA’s regular seminar pricing. Why notcome early and enrich your overall experience?The seminars include:

Five 1-Day Seminars on Saturday● NFPA 3, Standard on Commissioning and

Integrated Testing of Fire Protection and LifeSafety Systems

● Changes to NFPA 13, 2010 Edition● Designing and Installing Photovoltaic Systems● Risk Management/Property Loss● Water Mist Fire Protection Systems

Seven 2-Day Seminars on Saturday & Sunday● CFPS Primer ● NFPA 1, Fire Code● NFPA 1600, Disaster/Emergency Management

and Business Continuity Programs● NFPA 921, Fire and Explosion Investigations● Code Requirements for Maintaining Fire & Life

Safety Systems ● NFPA 72®, Alarmas y Deteccion (en español)● NFPA 70E®, Electrical Safety in the Workplace®


PROFILE

ence & Expo


Three 3-Day Seminars on Saturday – Monday● NFPA 13, Installation of Sprinkler Systems ● NFPA 72, National Fire Alarm & Signaling Code● NFPA 101, Life Safety Code Essentials

Four 1-Day Seminars on Sunday ● IAEI’s Analysis of Changes – 2011 (NEC)● Dust Explosion Hazards● Changes to NFPA 72, 2010 Edition● Aviation Fire Safety

NFPA Conference & Expo BlogStay on top of all the important details regardingthe NFPA Conference & Expo by visiting the blogsite! To view the NFPA Conference & Expo blogsite, go to: http://npfa.typepad.com/conference.Visitors to the site will find updated articles, livebroadcasts and downloadable podcasts. Give feed-back before, during, and after the conferenceregarding your experience on the conference blog.

NEW! Social MediaWhether you are looking to get a recap of sessionsand events as they happen or are interested injoining the conversation, NFPA’s social media offer-ings make it easier and more accessible than ever.

We’re Blogging!NFPA’s blog is the perfect sourcefor news and commentary:http://nfpa.typepad.com/conference/The blog is also available inSpanish:http://nfpa.typepad.com/conferencia

TwitterInterested in meeting your fellow Tweeters? Follow@NFPA to receive information on how to meetother Tweeters at our Tweet-up planned during theconference. You will also get updates on confer-ence news and details on giveaways! We hope youwill join our conversation during the conference byusing our 2010 Conference & Expo hashtag,#NFPA2010.www.twitter.com/nfpa

FacebookCheck out Facebook for NFPA’s fan page and the2010 Conference & Expo fan page for updates,photos, and general information.www.facebook.com/theNFPAwww.facebook.com/NFPAconf

LinkedInFind out what other NFPA LinkedIn users are talk-ing about and join in on the conversation bybecoming a member of our group!www.linkedin.com

NEW! NFPA Mobile ApplicationWe are excited to introduceNFPA’s new mobile applicationNFPA C&E, specificallydesigned for the 2010 NFPAConference & Expo. Virtuallyall smartphone users (Black-berry, iPhone, Android, PalmOS, Symbian, Java, WindowsMobile, etc.) have free access to the application.Access all the information you need to make themost of your conference experience in the palm of

your hand. To download NFPA C&E, you may goto the iTunes App Store, Android Market or Black-berry App World and search for NFPA C&E. If youare on any other mobile phone, you may down-load the application directly from your mobilebrowser by going to nfpa.boopsie.com. You willbe prompted to download the application for yourparticular phone, or you may use the ‘web lite’version of the application from your browser.

The Association Technical Meeting At the heart of the codes and standards develop-ment process is the Association Technical Meeting.More than 30 documents are up for review thisJune including NFPA 70, National Electrical Code,NFPA 25, Standard for the Inspection, Testing andMaintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Sys-tems and NFPA 654, Standard for the Preventionof Fire and Dust Explosions. Documents that coverflammable and combustible liquids, aircrafthangars, Class A foams, liquefied petroleum gas,explosive materials, laboratories using chemicals,and fire protection for marinas and boatyards andmore will be voted on during these sessions. Tech-nical Committee (TC) members will receive20% off conference registration prices.

Las VegasDid you know that Las Vegas offers much morethan casinos and bright lights? When you travel toLas Vegas, you enter a world that will captivateyou by its international flare, superb dining choices,and award-winning shows. You are sure to beimpressed by the unique building structures, mas-sive hotels and the countless attractions, sightsand sounds of this destination city – especially thebrand new $11 billion City Center. Depending onwhere you are traveling from, flights to Las Vegasare relatively inexpensive, couple that with endlessdining options and reasonable hotel rates, and youhave a perfect destination for any companybudget. Come to the 2010 Conference & Expo foran incomparable learning experience and be sureto explore all that Las Vegas has to offer.

Hotel Reservations/RegistrationNPFA has negotiated special rates at four LasVegas hotels close to the Mandalay Bay Conven-tion Center and easily accessible by tram:Mandalay Bay Hotel, THEhotel at Mandalay Bay,Luxor and Excalibur. Hotel reservations can bemade online at www.nfpa.org/conference or bycalling the Las Vegas Hotel Housing Authority tollfree (US) at 1-888-892-5822. Don’t delay! Registernow! IFP


PROFILE


Halon Banking IFP38 22/4/09 4:35 pm Page 1


PREVIEW

VISITOR INFORMATION

INTERSCHUTZ 2010, 7 to 12 June

At a glance

Duration: Monday, 7 June to Saturday, 12 June 2010

Opening hours: Daily from 9.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m.

Admission prices:

Advance sales and Ticket office

Single admission 18.00 EURFull-event ticket 41.00 EUR

Student’s day ticket (incl. young people in military or civilian service: ID required)11.00 EUR

Tickets can be bought in advance via the Internet(www.interschutz.de)

Free ride to and from eventYour admission ticket entitles you to ride publictransit free of charge* on the day of the event onall lines operated by the MDV transit authority(Mitteldeutscher Verkehrsverbund), valid for thefollowing regions and fare zones:

MDV fare zones*The visitor’s free ride to and from the exhibitioncenter via MDV-operated public transit lines on the

Interschutz, the world’s largest trade exhibition aimed at the fire industry willsoon be upon us. Held once every 5 years, anyone and anybody involved in thefire safety and fire fighting industry will be in Leipzig, Germany between the 7th and 12th June 2010 attending this prestigious event. IFF takes a look atsome essential information for visitors as well as exhibitors attending Interschutz.

P. 12-26 Interschutz 17/5/10 3:31 pm Page 12

day of the event is valid for the following regionsand fare zones:

LeipzigLeipzig CountyNordsachsen CountyMittelsachsen CountyBurgen CountyHalle Saale County Altenburger Land

Catalogue: €17 plus postage and packaging (availableapprox. 3 weeks before opening day of event)Internet: http://www.interschutz.de/catalogue

Visitor information: Internet: http://www.interschutz/visitorservice Email: [email protected]

Getting there: If traveling by car, simply follow the signs to theexhibition center (Messegelände) in and aroundLeipzig; the Leipzig exhibition center is well sign-posted. Our dynamic parking guidance system willpoint you to the nearest parking space.

If traveling to Leipzig by train, you can reach theexhibition center (Messegelände) from LeipzigCentral Railway Station (Hauptbahnhof) by takingthe regional train, the FlughafenExpress train, thetram or a taxi. For more information, pleaseinquire at the Service Point desk at Central RailwayStation.

Numerous airlines serve the Leipzig/Halle Air-port. There are over 300 direct flights to and fromeight German cities and 72 cities abroad.Leipzig/Halle Airport also gives you easy access tothe following major international airport hubs:Frankfurt, Munich, Paris and Vienna.

Travel and accommodations: Do you prefer a quiet’s night sleep, or would you rather be close to Leipzig’s pulsating nightlife?The Leipziger Messe company can provide youwith recommendations and reservations for anylocation or price category. Your selection ofaccommodations ranges from hotels, pensions and guesthouses with a total of 12,000 beds between them – from “shoestring budget”to luxury. For more information, visit www.inter-schutz.de/61050.

Parking: The press parking lot for journalists at LeipzigerMesse is located inside the exhibition grounds nextto the Messehaus building. The parking lot isaccessible via Messe-Allee, South 1 gate.

Range of exhibits: Vehicles and vehicle equipment, fire extinguishingappliances and systems, fire extinguishing agents, technical support and environmentalprotection, rescue, emergency, first-aid and med-ical equipment, personal protective equipment,measuring and detection apparatus, control-station and signaling technology, information andorganization, equipment for fire stations andworkshops, building and construction industry,structural and organizational fire protection,associations, organizations, service companies,technical literature, model making, fan articles,gifts,

Exhibitors: The organizers anticipate some 1,100 exhibitingenterprises, occupying more than 80,000 m2 ofnet display space.

Press Center: At the Messehaus building, open from Sunday, 5June 2009, starting at 9:00 a.m.


INTERSCHUTZ 2010 PREVIEW


CHEMGUARD

HALL 3, STAND C76, BOOTH NO. C4

Chemguard Leads with InnovativeProducts, Comprehensive SupportChemguard is a full-service ISO 9001:2008 certi-fied manufacturer of UL and FM approved firesuppression foams, equipment, and systems.

Chemguard’s Fire Suppression Division has been researching, developing, formulating, anddistributing high-quality, dependable fire-fightingfoam concentrates for more than twodecades. Our efficient and environmentally friendlyUL Listed/FM Approved foam products are usedworldwide. Chemguard performs topside andsprinkler fire tests for a wide variety of test stan-dards at our onsite Fire Test Facility. We haveobtained international approvals for Chemguardfoam concentrates, including IMO, DNV, LASTFIRE,and EN 1568.

Chemguard designs and manufactures anextensive line of fire-fighting foam hardware,including nozzles, monitors, and foam trailers.We also offer on-site product fabrication, includ-ing ASME bladder tank and custom foam skid fabrication. Our intensive quality controlprocedures ensure that equipment shipped fromChemguard reflects our reputation for excellenceand is delivered on-time at competitive prices.

Chemguard’s systems engineers provide firesuppression systems design and applicationsassistance – reviewing specifications, providingvalue-added engineering alternatives, andsupporting systems start-up. Working side by side with customers, we apply our years ofexperience designing systems for petrochemicalfacilities, hangars, flammable-liquid storage tanks,warehouses, and other challenging installations to maximize performance, efficiency, andeffectiveness.

The Chemguard Specialty Pumps Division man-ufactures a complete line of UL Listed/FMApproved positive-displacement foam concentratepumps for fire-protection systems. Based on aproven design with several unique features, thesedurable pumps are built for years of dependableoperation.

Chemguard’s research-based Specialty Chemi-cals Division produces a rapidly expanding selec-tion of fluorosurfactant and hydrocarbonsurfactant specialty chemical products for formu-lating all types of fire-fighting foam products.

Known around the world, Chemguard isrecognized for comprehensive customer support,high-quality and field-tested products, and theability to meet customer requirements throughproduct customization.

Contact details: Vice President of Sales and Marketing John Vieweger [email protected]

DESU

HALL 3, STAND NO. F19

Having been in business since early 2005 success-fully, Desu Systems BV – Special Hazard Fire Detec-tion & Suppression – continues to strengthen itsposition in the EMEA market being specialist inFlame-, Gas- and Spark detection as well as LowPressure CO2 and kitchen fire suppression systems.

During the Interschutz 2010 on the detectionside of its business, the company is pleased tointroduce its brand new line of 40/40 Flame Detec-tors ranging from UV and IR to UV/IR, IR3 andMultispectrum flame detectors, all CE marked, EN-54-10, ATEX EExde, SIL2, DNV, GOST-R andCPD approved and standard equipped with heatedwindow optics.

On the suppression side of its business, thecompany is pleased to introduce its UL-300,NFPA17A, NFPA96 approved and CE markedKitchen Mister kitchen fire suppression system forwhich it obtained the distribution rights in EMEAfrom Buckeye Fire Equipment.

For enquiries please contact RonaldVerkroost, [email protected] orvisit www.desusystems.com and come andsee us in Hall 3, F19.

DR STHAMER

HALL 5, BOOTH G74

Dr Sthamer – Hamburg, one Germany’s oldestcompanies and Europe’s leader in Fire FightingFoam Concentrate Technology, will be displayingtheir latest developments in fire fighting foamsand how they should be used utilizing severalinteractive displays.

Dr Sthamer has the full range of Fire FightingFoams to protect you assets, including the latestgeneration of Fluorine Free Alcohol ResistantFoams.

Please visit us to discuss your needs and require-ments for Industrial, Municipal, Aircraft Rescue,Marine or Wildfire Fire Fighting Foams.

Contact details: DR. STHAMER – HAMBURG Liebigstrasse 5,D22113 Hamburg, GermanyTel: +49 40 736168-0Fax: +49 40736168-60Website: www.sthamer.comCell +44 7795 101770 •[email protected]


INTERSCHUTZ 2010PREVIEW


Bavaria IFP42 p15 10/5/10 4:23 pm Page 1

DUPONT

HALL 001, STAND H10

DuPont has been a leader in fire protection and adriving force in the development of safe, cleanalternatives to commonly used fire suppressionsystems. We pioneered much of the science thatmakes clean agent fire extinguishants possible.Through the Science of Protection™, we arecommitted to protecting what matters most.

DuPont™ FM-200® is accepted and respectedworldwide, with a history of protecting some ofthe world’s most critical and irreplaceable assets. In fact, FM-200® is in use in over one hundredthousand applications, in more than 70 nations.

Many fire suppression systems can cause majordamage to – and even destroy – the very thingsthey are supposed to protect. FM-200® fire sup-pressant stops fires fast. When you consider thepotentially devastating environmental effects of anuncontrolled fire, it’s easy to see that an FM-200®

system is an important part of an environmentallyresponsible fire suppression solution.

FM-200® systems reach extinguishing levels in10 seconds or less, stopping ordinary combustible,electrical, and flammable liquid fires before theycause significant damage. That’s the fastest fireprotection available, period. When fire is extin-guished this quickly, it means less damage, lowerrepair costs, and an extra margin of safety forpeople. It also means less downtime and disruptionof business.

FM-200® fire suppressant can be safely usedwhere people are present.

In applications where space is at a premium,FM-200® fire suppression systems are the superiorchoice. The FM-200® agent is stored in cylindersas a liquid and pressurized with nitrogen, savinghuge amounts of storage space. FM-200® systemstake up to seven times less storage space thansystems based on CO2 and inert gases.

For more information, visit:www.cleanagents.dupont.com

FIRETRACE®

HALL 003, STAND B76

Firetrace® to showcase UL & FMApproved Fire ProtectionFiretrace International will be showcasing its fullrange of FIRETRACE® automatic fire detection andsuppression systems at Interschutz in Leipzig, theonly UL [Underwriters Laboratories] listed, FM [Factory Mutual] approved and CE [ConformitéEuropéene or European Conformity] marked tube-operated system in the world that is tested as an

automatic fire detection and suppression system. The ISO 9001:2008-certified company will also

be highlighting a selection of the 150,000 success-ful FIRETRACE installations completed around theworld. Today, these are protecting business-critical“micro-environments” such as electrical cabinets,machinery enclosures, fume hoods, engine com-partments, wind turbines and a host of otherapplications in the mining, pharmaceutical, manu-facturing, power generation, mass transit,telecommunication and petrochemical industries.

The tried-and-tested system is truly uniqueamong tube-operated systems. In addition to itsendorsement by UL and FM, and its CE markingthat confirms its compliance with the essentialrequirements of the relevant European health,safety and environmental protection legislation,FIRETRACE has accreditations and approvals frommore than 25 other world-renowned independentagencies. It also stands apart from its competitorsby being able to be supplied with a variety ofsuppression agents, the choice of which is tailoredto the precise fire risk.

Currently, the FIRETRACE suppression optionsinclude the latest environmentally-acceptable cleanagents such as 3M™ Novec™ 1230 Fire Suppres-sion Fluid and DuPont™ FM-200®, together withABC dry chemical agents and AFFF foam. CO2[carbon dioxide] is another FIRETRACE extinguis-hant, although the company points out thatextreme care has to be taken to ensure that it isnot used in any applications where there is a riskof thermal shock to delicate electrical equipment.

Genuine FIRETRACE is available only via Fire-trace International’s global network of authoriseddistributors. These trading partners are skilled inhazard analysis, agent and system selection, instal-lation, commissioning and support, and use onlygenuine FIRETRACE components. Details of theseauthorised distributors are available by contactingFiretrace International at [email protected].

European, Middle Eastern and African opera-tions for Firetrace International are managed fromthe company’s EMEA administration, manufactur-ing and logistics facility near Gatwick in the UK.

Further information is available on +44 (0)1293 780390, or from Firetrace Internationalheadquarters in Scottsdale, Arizona USA on+1 480 607 1218. The company’s website isat www.firetrace.com

FOGTEC

HALL 5, STAND NO. D45

FOGTEC is the leading specialist for high-pressurewater mist systems. FOGTEC systems use purewater, converting it to fine mist at a pressurearound 100 bar. These systems are not only 100%eco-friendly but are often more effective than con-ventional gas or water fire fighting equipment.The high energy binding potential and the localinerting effect allows to reduce the required wateramount to 10% of the one required by conven-tional systems.





AVK INTERNATIONAL A/SBizonvej 1, Skovby • 8464 Galten • Denmark

Tlf.: +45 87 54 21 00 • Fax: +45 87 54 21 20 www.avkvalves.com • [email protected]

P. 17 ads 17/5/10 3:31 pm Page 17

With 45 system partners FOGTEC globally offersits systems for applications like offices, hotels,museums, archives, industrial applications, ships,trains and tunnels. A team of specialised engineersare developing and designing the systems in thehead office in Cologne, in Rostock and in theAsian offices in Mumbai and Shanghai.

In the field of tunnel protection FOGTEC is themarket leader. Tunnels have been protected inMadrid, Moscow, Newcastle and along the Bren-ner motorway in Italy. FOGTEC has been awardedas part of a consortium the contract for the fireprotection system in the Eurotunnel. After success-ful full scale fire tests with fire sizes up to 200MW, an optimal protection concept includingdetection and fire fighting with water mist in fourSAFE stations of each 900 m length along the twobores of the Eurotunnel is currently in the installa-tion phase within the tunnel. The system localisesa fire on the train wagons within the tunnel andreduces the heat release and temperatures toallow personnel to safely evacuate the trains andthe fire brigade to carry out fire fighting measures.

For more details please visit us at our booth Hall5 No. D45 on the Interschutz exhibition.

Further information:FOGTEC Brandschutz GmbH & Co KGSchanzenstrasse 19 A51630 Kö[email protected]

GIELLE srl

HALL 001, STAND NO. D16

Gielle srl, the parent company of the Gielle Group,with more than 45 years of experience in the fieldof fire fighting, has become one of the leadingEuropean companies in the design and manufac-ture of automatic fire fighting systems.

Technological innovation, quality and interna-tionalization are the strong points that have madeGielle one of the most qualified companies in thisfield.

This active and dynamic company supplies itssystems all over the world and offers a level ofprofessionalism to its clients that is unsurpassed.IS0 9001, ISO 14001, BS OHSAS 18001, SA 8000,ATEX 94/9/CE and PED 97/23/CE certifications ofits integrated management system make an undis-puted statement of Gielle’s full potential.

In nearly half a century the Group has alwaysconsidered flexibility one of its major strengths.

Gielle also has an advanced R&D division whichis supported by its motivated engineering, techni-cal sales, administration, production and market-ing departments, all with a single goal in mind:customer satisfaction.

Our mission is to make the world a safer place.To do this, we develop and supply advanced firefighting products and systems, supported by firstclass service. People and businesses everywheretrust our brands and depend on our expertise toprotect what is most valuable.

Including fire detection, fire suppression and fire

control products. Our products set the benchmarkfor fire safety detection, prevention and protec-tion. We are devoted to protecting people, proper-ty and processes from everyday hazards anddanger. People trust us to do that because we areexperts in our field. And that trust is reinforced bythe quality we instill in everything we do.

Our fire suppression products include:FM_200®, Argonite®, 3M™ Novec™ 1230 FireProtection Fluid, FE-13™, WHDR wet chemical,IND dry chemical and a wide range of fire extin-guishers.

We hope that our company can be included in your vendor list and You can request anyquotations for any type of project.

BLAZEMASTER®

HALL 5, STAND NO. E13/1

It may be surprising to learn that the first firesprinkler systems were not designed with anythought of protecting human life, but wereinstalled almost exclusively for the protection ofbuildings and their contents! It was not until themiddle of the last century, following several fires inthe U.S. that resulted in large losses of life, thatauthorities realised the importance of providinglife safety systems for building occupants.

A fire sprinkler system with proven performancein protecting lives and buildings worldwide is theBlazeMaster fire sprinkler system, utilising CPVCpipes and fittings.

CPVC stands for chlorinated polyvinylchlorideand is a plastic material which was developed orig-inally in the 1950s. BlazeMaster CPVC pipes andfittings are specially designed for use in fire sprin-kler systems. BlazeMaster fire sprinkler systemshave gained world wide recognition with over 300million metres installed around the world since itsintroduction in 1984.

Today BlazeMaster fire sprinkler systems areused in a wide variety of residential and commer-cial applications such as high rise buildings, hotels,educational and healthcare facilities, and in domes-tic dwellings. BlazeMaster systems are increasing inpopularity due to the following benefits:

Durability and long service life: No corrosion!

Superior Hydraulics: Hazen Williams C-Factor of150!

Fast Installations, Easy Handling: Fast jointingprocess! Easy transport and handling on jobsite!

Light Weight: One fitter can lift, carry and installthe pipe work on his own, even for biggerdiameters!

To learn more about BlazeMaster fire sprinklersystems, please visit us at our stand E13/1 –Hall 5 at the Interschutz in Leipzig, Germany orcontact Sinikka Freidhof, Market DevelopmentManager EMEAI, Lubrizol Advanced MaterialsEurope BVBA, Chaussée de Wavre 1945, B-1160Brussels, Belgium, [email protected], Tel: +32 2 678 19 11





www.firedos.de

• No external energy required• Working flow-proportional• Easy installation and handling• Retrofitting into existing systems possible• Versions for stationary installations, or vehicles and mobile applications available,

also for use with seawater• Large flow ranges and dosing ranges covered• Not affected by changing pressure or flow rate• Suitable for all common fire-fighting liquids

Auf der Kaulbahn 6 • D-61200 Wölfersheim • GermanyTel. +49(0)6036/ 9796-0 • Fax +49(0)6036/ 9796-30 • E-Mail [email protected]

The intelligent choice for admixing systems

P. 19 ads 17/5/10 3:31 pm Page 19


Vehicles and vehicle equipmentHall 1, 2, 4 + Open-air ground 1

Fire extinguishers appliances and systems,extinguishing agents Hall 1, 5

Technical support and environmentalprotection Hall 1, 2 + Open-air ground 1

Rescue, emergency, first-aid and medicalequipment Hall 1, 2, 3 + Open-air ground 1

Personal protective equipmentHall 1 and 3

Measuring and detection apparatusHall 3

Control station and signaling technology Hall 3

Information and organization technologyHall 3

Equipment for fire stations and workshops Hall 1, 5

Building and construction industry, structural and organisational fire protection Hall 1, 5

Associations, organizations, servicesHall 1, 2, 3, 5

Trade literature, model making, gift itemsHall 1, 2, 4

Display Categories INTERSCHUTZ 2010



INTERSCHUTZ 2010 PREVIEW

The benefits ofexhibiting at theshow The No.1 event in the industry calendar With more than 120,000 visitors and over 1,200exhibitors, INTERSCHUTZ is the leading inter-national trade fair for public safety. Featuring the world’s largest array of exhibits for disasterprevention, rescue and emergency services,INTERSCHUTZ offers you a fantastic opportunity todemonstrate the competence of your companyand organization to the entire industry – with justone trade fair presentation.

Unique conceptDue to the combination of commercial and non-commercial exhibitors under the same roof youbenefit as a supplier from directfeedback from theusers of your security solutions. This puts you in anexcellent position to fine-tune your product rangeto meet changing market needs.

Efficient business platformWith over 90% of visitors classed as trade visitors,you can be certain of reaching large numbers of decision-makers and buyers. This makesINTERSCHUTZ an ideal platform for successful newproduct launches and business deals.

International audienceAt INTERSCHUTZ you’ll meet top decision-makersfrom all over the world. This gives you readyaccess to profitable new markets.

Barometer of trendsLearn about pioneering innovations and key trendswithin the industry at the conferences, symposiaand corporate lectures that accompany the show.You’ll benefit from the professional expertise ofleading experts and gather useful information forshaping the future course of your company andorganization.

Attention guaranteedAn extensive advertising campaign and an attrac-tive program of events serve to generate andmaintain the interest of visitors and the media.

Excellent facilitiesThe modern exhibition complex in Leipzig with itsfascinating steel and glass architecture providesyou with everything you need in terms of bothorganization and technical facilities.

Reasonably priced entryFor as little as Euro 5,321 (plus VAT) you can booka 20 m2 fair-package system stand, fully fitted andready to go – and enjoy all the benefits of exhibit-ing at INTERSCHUTZ.

Press CentreEntrance

EC-Cashdispensingmachine

BusinessLounge

Restaurant

Parking

Airport-City-Shuffle

Taxi

Tram line 16

Tram

Bus Stop

Station LeipzigMesse

Heliport

First aid

Fair shop

Café

Police

Customs

ForwardingAgencies

MaxicoM

(Euro-AsiaBusiness Group)


MINIMAX

HALL 5, BVFA STAND NO. F78HALL 1, VBBD STAND NO. H38

At INTERSCHUTZ, Minimax, a firm world leader in fire protection, presents new visual producthighlights of mobile fire protection: design fireextinguishers and wall hydrants. In addition tothis, innovative developments for smoke and heatexhaust venting systems will be unveiled. Concern-ing system operation, visitors at INTERSCHUTZ willbe introduced to the ‘Smart Systems’ compactsystems with easy assembly.

Functional safety, durability and the best ‘Madein Germany’ quality – Minimax Mobile Services hasdeveloped its new generation of fire extinguishersbased on this pledge. As a fire extinguisher pro-ducer with the highest rate of vertical integration,we use complex quality control procedures toguarantee standards at every production stage.

The Minimax design extinguishers not onlyensure safety, but also add stylish design touches.Thanks to the four new versions – the refinedEdition Line, the Logo Line, the unique IndividualLine and the exclusive Luxury Line – you can nowlet your creativity run free.

The design wall hydrants in the Minimax Pres-tige Line & Future are also guaranteed to be thestylish centre of attention. This individual combina-tion of reliable protection and style is currentlyonly offered by Minimax Mobile Services – thecompany has received exclusivity rights for distrib-ution in Germany.

The smoke and heat exhaust venting stairwellsystem provides effective smoke ventilation in theevent of a fire, thus ensuring vital smoke-freeescape and rescue routes. Reliable smoke removalfrom lift shafts in accordance with the valid EnEVlaw is guaranteed by the new lift shaft smokeextraction system (LiSE), which will be unveiled forthe first time at INTERSCHUTZ.

The product portfolio offered by the new Mini-max sales branch, Smart Systems Sales, consists ofpre-assembled fire protection systems with easyinstallation. Examples of this are the active extin-guishing system OneU and the MX 1230 or MX200 compact extinguishing systems. The SmartSystems can be used almost anywhere where

compact systems optimally meet fire protectionrequirements and can be installed without com-plex assembly procedures.

Unified, structured and effective – this is themotto of the new operations control for the ELSAfield staff service, which ensures that capacities areused optimally and effectively, whilst also greatlyreducing reaction times for emergency services.

Press contact:Minimax GmbH & Co. KGBusiness Unit TechnologiesMarketing: Airi LoddochTel: +49 4531 803-495Fax: +49 4531 803-500Email: [email protected]

MSA

HALL 3, STAND NO. A74

MSA has once again redefined the high perfor-mance multi-gas detector with the new ALTAIR 5.Capable of measuring up to six gases simultan-eously, the ALTAIR 5 can be fitted with a widerange of both toxic and infra-red sensors, providingthe flexibility required to meet most applications.There is even the option to have a diffusioninstrument or one with a built-in pump.

The multifunctional alarms, MotionAlert andInstantAlert, are standard on the ALTAIR 5. Whenenabled, the MotionAlert with motion detectoralerts anyone in the vicinity if the user is in distresswith audible and visual alarms. The user can alsoalert anyone nearby with a 3 second button press,activating the InstantAlert alarm. The ALTAIR 5comes with the proven high performance triplealarm system, 24 hour bump test checkmark andcomprehensive data-logging facility as standard.

On top of this ALTAIR 5 can offer the WirelessUSB option that allows the integration into thealpha Personal Network. This monitoring andalarm system consists of modular and wirelesscomponents. These can be individually integratedto enable those wearing breathing apparatus andportable gas detection equipment to be easilymonitored by sending information to a centralcontrol station. Gas readings and alarms can nowbe transmitted and displayed in real time.

Gas concentrations and other data can be seenat a glance via the full graphical monochrome dis-play or the optional high resolution colour displaywhich provides simple yet comprehensive informa-tion instantly and can be customised with acompany logo.

The rechargeable battery provides up to 15hours of continuous operation from a charge timeof up to six hours. With reliability a key factor,ALTAIR 5 has an extremely durable rubberizedhousing for water and dust ingress protection (IP65). An intuitive three button operation ensuresthe ALTAIR 5 is extremely easy to use even whenwearing gloves and the 18 pre-programmed




Head Office and Factory HamburgLiebigstrasse 5 · D-22113 HamburgPhone +49 40 736168-0Telefax +49 40 736168-60E-Mail: [email protected] · www.sthamer.com

International Sales ContactMr. Jan KnappertPhone +44 (0) 7795 101770E-mail: [email protected]

FOAMFIGHTS

FIRE

We offer a comprehensive range of high performance and environmentally friendly foams.

Synthetic Foams

• Moussol APS• Moussol FF • Sthamex AFFF• Sthamex• Sthamex class A

Protein Foams

• Fluor-Foamousse• Foamousse FFFP• Foamousse OMEGA• Foamousse

Ready To Use Foams

• Fettex• Mousseal-C• Mousseal-CF• Mousseal-ATC

Training Foams

24/7 EMERGENCYSUPPLIES +49 40 73616 80

NEW!

• • Sthamer 210x297 ENGL:_ 28.09.2009 12:26 Uhr Seite 1

Dr Sthamer - Hamburg

Fire Fighting Foams

Proven Reliability

Visit us in Hall 5Stand G74

languages further enhance its user acceptance allover the world.

The GALAXY is the ALTAIR 5’s perfect com-panion providing automated record keeping,calibration, testing and charging system.

The versatile ALTAIR 5 can be configured forindividual requirements to suit a myriad of applica-tions in and beyond the following industries: oiland gas, chemicals, steel and iron, utilities, fire ser-vice, waste water, civil engineering and contractors.

For further information please contact yourlocal MSA representative or check ourwebsite www.msa-europe.com.

NFPA

HALL 3, STAND NO. B76

NFPA is an international, private, nonprofit mem-bership organization founded in 1896 as theNational Fire Protection Association. Today, withmore than 81,000 members representing nearly100 nations and 320 employees around the world,NFPA serves as the world’s leading advocate of fireprevention and is an authoritative source on publicsafety. In fact, NFPA’s 300 codes and standardsinfluence every building, process, service, design,and installation in the United States, as well asmany of those used in other countries.

NFPA codes and standards have helped savelives and protect property around the world. Thevolunteers and staff of NFPA are dedicated to thesingle mission of continually enhancing publicsafety. That dedication can be seen in the codes and standards that are adopted – docu-ments developed through NFPA’s commitment tocreating a true consensus among those interestedin safety.

NFPA’s mission to save lives and property fromfire and other hazards isn’t limited by nationalboundaries. Over the past decade, NFPA has trans-formed itself from a national organization withinternational influence to a truly internationalorganization. We have established offices inCanada, Mexico, France and China, and many ofour codes have been translated into Spanish,French, Portuguese, Chinese and Korean. We’veestablished collaborative relationships with ourcounterparts around the world, and not a weekpasses that we don’t get visitors from other coun-tries. We also conduct seminars worldwide andhost hundreds of international visitors during ourannual member meeting NFPA’s Congress andExposition.

Further information:One Batterymarch ParkQuincy, MA 02169Tel: +1-617-770-3000www.nfpa.org

SOLBERG


Solberg Scandinavian “The Foam Experts” arerenowned for their forward thinking and activeResearch and Development program. They pridethemselves on being at the forefront of new,state-of-the-art technology and indeed are proudto be able to offer our customers the very latest inPFC free Foams.

We are now pleased to be able to add two newinnovative products.

Customers have told us that there is a need fora multi-purpose foam for use on both Class \A’and Class \B’ fires. Solberg Scandinavian’s R&Dteam got to work and has developed an additionto its PFC Free foam range, which we have called‘Re-Healing Foam MB’.

The benefits and characteristics of this newfoam is that it can be used at 0.5% on Class \A’fires, and 3% on Class \B’ hydrocarbon fires,including Bio-Fuels from E5 right up to E85. Thispseudoplastic foam concentrate can be used withmost of the existing proportioning systems and itcan be used at low, medium or high expansion(800:1). A further benefit to this new product is itsability to adhere to vertical surfaces creating athermal barrier from radiated heat and allowingconstant cooling as water ebbs from the foambubble structure. This new feature gives fire fight-ers the opportunity to seal surrounding risks whilethey extinguish the main fire.

Sealing and controlling ammonia spills isextremely difficult due to the constant boiling ofthe ammonia at ambient temperatures destroyinga conventional foam blanket. It requires a newproduct to secure and prevent any further escala-tion. Solberg Scandinavian is pleased to be able toannounce a new state-of-the-art foam concen-trate designed specifically to resolve this issue. It isan addition to the PFC Free range of foams and iscalled ‘Re-Healing Foam H+’.

‘Re-Healing Foam H+’ is specifically manufac-tured to deal with ammonia spills, allowing fire-fighters to control and secure an incident withoutcompromising safety.

For more information on these new products andto review our current range of PFC Free foams whichinclude Re-Healing Foams RF3 & RF6 for hydrocarbonfires, Re-Healing Foam RF3x6 ATC for polar solventfires, Fire Brake a USDL listed Class ‘A’ Foam and ofcourse our Solberg TF5X Training foam please visit usat the Interschutz Exhibition in Hall 5 Stand F29

Solberg with offices in Norway, UK and Australiais an innovative, forward thinking foam manufac-turer and very aware of its environmental responsi-bilities. At Interschutz, this company has decided tofocus 100% on their PFC free foam range.

Besides the Fire-Brake class A product, often justat forest fires and also suitable for tyre-fires theywould like to inform visitors also about their PFCfree Class A and B product line: Re-Healing Foam™




Eusebi IFP42 p25 13/5/10 12:59 pm Page 1

Within this group their are two new products:One, Re-Healing Foam MB, especially designed forthe municipal fire-brigades, it is suitable for extin-guishing Class A fires as well as Hydrocarbon firesincluding bio-fuels E15 up to E95. The other newproduct is Re-Healing Foam H+(+ at right top corner)which can be used to cover Ammonia-spills.

We like to welcome everybody on our Stand noF29 which you can find in Hall 5.

SPP PUMPS LTD


SPP Pumps Ltd is the world’s leading specialistmanufacturer of quality fire protection productsincluding fire pumps, pump packages, pre-fabri-cated pump houses and fire pump system remotemonitoring solutions. Unrivaled experience indesign and manufacture together with advancedtesting and accreditation ensures the utmost inequipment reliability.

SPP fire pumps are proud to comply with thedemanding requirements of the Loss PreventionCertification Board (LPCB), Factory MutualApprovals (FM), Underwriters Laboratories Inc.

(UL), APSAD, CNBOP, ZUS, PSB and ANPI.You will find SPP products in major airports, oil

and gas installations, in many of the tallest, mostprestigious buildings around the world and in thechannel tunnel between the UK and France. Infact, you will find SPP fire pumps wherever peopleand property need to be protected from thedevastation of fire.

The protection of life is not a matter for com-promise. This is particularly true for fire protectionsystems where they are only as strong as their\weakest link’. Any compromise could result inavoidable loss of life or property.

That is why SPP fire pump products aredesigned specifically for the very particular needsof fire protection and are approved by most of themajor fire protection bodies around the world.

Fire pump approvals are essential for the peace ofmind of those that build, operate or use buildings.The approval demonstrates that an independentassessment has been made of the fire pump manu-facturers’ products and processes and maintain thatthey conform to current industry standards.

See a demonstration of the latest SPP remotemonitoring capability on stand F15, in Hall 1.

VICTAULIC

HALL 1, STAND NO. J62

Victaulic, the world leader in mechanical pipe join-ing systems, is showcasing its latest fire protectionsolutions at INTERSCHUTZ. The main product onshow will be its new FireLockEZ® Style 009H RigidCoupling with its pre-assembled, no-loose-partsapproach to installation.

Based on feedback from contractors, the revolu-tionary FireLockEZ® Style 009H Rigid Coupling isdesigned as a lightweight, installation-ready cou-pling. It is a fast, simple coupling solution that is safeto install, even with hand tools, and delivers a solidperformance. It has no loose parts to drop or causeinjury, ships to the jobsite ready to install and offersthe fastest installation times currently on the market.

The Style 009H Rigid Coupling is available inDN32 – DN100/42.4 – 114.3mm sizes and is FMand VdS Approved and cULus Listed for fire protec-tion services up to 2517 kpa/365 psi. FrankLewandowsky, Fire Protection Manager for Victaulicin Germany, comments: “We have chosen to show-case the FireLockEZ® Style 009H Rigid Coupling atINTERSCHUTZ as it is central in terms of cost, timeand maintenance benefits for any consultantinvolved in the design, installation or managementof a fire protection system. With the built-in speedof installation of the FireLockEZ® Style 009H RigidCoupling, we are expecting the range to be verypopular throughout Europe and internationally.”

Victaulic fire protection products are employed insome of the world’s most prestigious building pro-jects, such as the Sony Centre in Berlin, the Alexan-dria Library in Egypt, the Grand Media Towers inIndonesia and the Shanghai World Financial Centre.

For more information, visitwww.victaulic.com



Quality Fire Resistance Testing

Quality Fire Resistance Testing

Newton Moor Industr ial Estate, Hyde, CheshireSK14 4LF, United Kingdom.

Tel: 0161 368 8419 Fax: 0161 368 3813

Fire resistance test equipment for indicative testing and certification of horizontal and vertical specimens,

including columns, beams & ducts. Suppliers to nationalcertification laboratories worldwide.

Fire resistance test equipment for indicative testing and certification of horizontal and vertical specimens,

including columns, beams & ducts. Suppliers to nationalcertification laboratories worldwide.

Meta l l u rg i ca l Hea t Trea tmen t Fu rnaces ■ K i ln s f o r Advanced Ce rami c s Non-Fe r rous Me l t i ng Fu rnaces ■ Cremato r s and In c ine ra to r s

Me ta l l u rg i ca l Hea t Trea tmen t Fu rnaces ■ K i ln s f o r Advanced Ce rami c s Non-Fe r rous Me l t i ng Fu rnaces ■ Cremato r s and In c ine ra to r s

FURNACECONSTRUCTION

CO. LTD. Email: [email protected]


FOAMS


Halon experience colors industry view

Part of the reason for the speculation about apossible phaseout of AFFF foam after the 3Mannouncement was that at the time, the fire

protection industry’s only real experience withenvironmental regulation was the phaseout ofhalons as ozone-depleting substances. Based onthis experience many people in the industryassumed that this is how environmental regulationworks; a chemical is determined to have somenegative impact and is banned from future pro-duction. In reality, however, the phaseout ofozone-depleting substances was a unique situa-tion. Most environmental regulation focuses onthe toxicity of a substance and has the goals ofreducing emissions to the environment and expo-sure to humans. Very rarely are chemicals actuallybanned from production. For ozone-depleting sub-stances, the focus was atmospheric effects and it

was determined that the only way for the ozonelayer to recover fully was to end the worldwideproduction of these chemicals.

The other reason for speculating about a pos-sible phaseout of AFFF was business related. Com-panies selling non-fluorosurfactant foams saw anopportunity to use the negative publicity surround-ing the 3M announcement as a way to enhancesales of these less effective alternatives. Unfortu-nately that practice continues today, even thoughit seems clear that global regulation of AFFF is noton the horizon. We continue to see articles in fireprotection journals from manufacturers of fluo-rine-free foams that contain misleading and insome cases false information about the environ-mental impacts and future regulation of AFFF. Thestrange thing about this situation is that many ofthese same companies also sell AFFF. If they actuallybelieve what they write in these articles, that

By Tom Cortina

Fire Fighting FoamsCoalition

The Phaseout ThatDidn’t HappenAFFF Foams Move into the FutureIt has been ten years since 3M sent a shock wave through the fire protectionindustry with their announcement that they would end production of PFOS-based AFFF foams because of environmental issues with the fluorosurfactantsthey contained. This is also about the time that many so-called “experts” saidthat all AFFF foams would be phased out of production for similar environmentalreasons. Instead, telomer-based AFFF foams continue to be the agent of choiceto protect against flammable liquid fires, and manufacturers have developedenhanced foam formulations with reduced environmental impacts that can beused well into the future. Why were the experts wrong in their predictions?

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fluorosurfactant foams are not safe for theenvironment, why do they continue to sell the products?

Focus on fluorosurfactantsHistorically, most of the environmental concernrelated to fire fighting foams has focused onaquatic toxicity and residual foaming, which canbe a concern for local waterways and sewagetreatment systems, and are common problems forall foams1. Starting about ten years ago the focusshifted to the fluorosurfactants that are a keyingredient in aqueous film-forming foams (AFFF).Fluorosurfactants provide AFFF with the requiredlow surface tension and positive spreading coeffi-cient that enables film formation on top of lighterfuels. It is this film formation capability that givesAFFF its name and its effectiveness againstflammable liquid fires. AFFF agents provide rapidextinguishment, burnback resistance, and protec-tion against vapor release.

Fluorosurfactants and related fluorochemicalpolymers are used in many applications besidesfire fighting foams including paper and packaging,textiles, leather and carpet treatment, and coat-ings. Some of these fluorochemicals and/or theirpersistent degradation products have been foundin living organisms, which has drawn the concernof environmental authorities worldwide and led toboth regulatory and non-regulatory actions toreduce emissions. The focus of these actions hasbeen on fluorochemicals that contain eight car-bons (C8) or more such as PFOS (perfluorooctanesulfonate) and PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid).

3M used a unique process to manufacture thefluorochemical surfactants contained in its firefighting foams. This process is called electrochemi-cal fluorination (ECF), and fluorochemicals pro-duced by this process both contain and degradeinto PFOS. 3M stopped the manufacture of PFOS-based foams in 2002, and regulations in theUnited States (US), Canada, and the EuropeanUnion (EU) act as a ban on new production. EPAregulations do not restrict the use of old stocks ofPFOS foam in the US. Regulations in the EU andCanada require old stocks of PFOS foam to beremoved from service in 2011 and 2013, res-pectively. Excess stocks of PFOS foam concentratecan be destroyed by high temperature incinerationat any approved hazardous waste destruction

facility for a relatively low cost.All current manufacturers in

the US and Europe use aprocess called telomerization toproduce the fluorosurfactantscontained in their fire fightingfoams. Chemicals produced bythis process are generallyreferred to as telomers. Telom-er-based foams do not containor degrade into PFOS. They arenot made with PFOA, but maycontain trace levels as a conta-minant of the manufacturingprocess. It should be noted thatthere is continued production ofPFOS-based materials for AFFFapplications in China despitethe restrictions in other regionsof the world.

Global stewardship approachRather than regulate emissions of PFOA, the USEnvironmental Protection Agency (EPA) developeda global stewardship program that has beenadopted by other countries such as Canada. Underthe program eight fluorochemical manufacturershave voluntarily agreed to reduce 95% by year-end 2010 and work to eliminate by year-end 2015both plant emissions and product content ofPFOA, PFOA precursors, and related higher homo-logue chemicals. As a result, telomer-based fluoro-chemicals that are used in fire fighting foams arelikely to transition to only six carbons (C6) or fewerin order to comply with the global stewardshipprogram. This will require some reformulation andlikely some type of re-approval of most currentAFFF, FP, and FFFP foam products between 2010and 2015. There are telomer-based AFFF agentsthat have been on the market for decades thatcontain greater than 95% C6 fluorosurfactantsand meet the world’s most challenging foamstandards, so manufacturers are confident that the new products will retain all of the same firesuppression capabilities as existing AFFF agents.

Environmental updateOver the past several years makers of telomer-based products, not surprisingly, have undertakenmore intensive study of the toxicology and envi-ronmental fate of their products. For AFFF thisresearch has focused on the predominant break-down product of the C6 fluorosurfactants theycontain, which is commonly referred to as the 6:2fluorotelomer sulfonate (6:2 FTS)2. Although therehave been articles and conference presentationsthat claim the 6:2 FTS to be a PFOS analog, thescientific data do not support this allegation. Abroad range of existing data indicate that 6:2 FTSis not similar to PFOS in either its physical or eco-toxicological properties3,4,5,6. Recent studies onAFFF fluorosurfactants likely to break down to 6:2FTS show it to be generally low in acute, sub-chronic, and aquatic toxicity, and neither a geneticnor developmental toxicant. Both the AFFF fluoro-surfactant and 6:2 FTS were significantly lowerthan PFOS when tested in biopersistence screeningstudies that provide a relative measure of bioup-take and clearance7. Aerobic biodegradation stud-ies of 6:2 FTS in activated sludge have beenconducted to better understand its environmental


THE PHASEOUT THAT DIDN’T HAPPENFOAMS

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So everyone will make it home safely tonight.

Today’s advanced AFFF agents:

Are most effective to fight flammable liquid fires.

Provide the best extinguishment and burnback performance.

Have minimal environmental impact.

Have a low toxicity and biopersistence profile.

Are approved by global regulatory agencies.

AFFF Foams . . .

www.fffc.org

Dafo Fomtec 7/3/09 10:28 am Page 1

fate. Preliminary results were reported at theReebok foam conference in July 2009 and apublication is in preparation8.

Work has also been done on a possible contam-inant that may be found in trace quantities inAFFF-type fluorosurfactants: perfluorohexanoicacid (PFHxA). Extensive data on PFHxA werepresented at an EPA PFOA Information Forum inJune 2006 that gave a very favorable initial toxi-cology (hazard) profile9,10. Additional informationwas presented in September 2007 at a major foamconference in the UK (Reebok) that further sup-ported the favorable toxicology profile of PFHxA11.Preliminary data were shared on four major toxi-cology end points: sub-chronic toxicity in rats,reproductive toxicity in rats, developmental toxicityin rats, and genetic toxicity. It was noted at thisconference that PFHxA was neither a selectivereproductive nor a selective developmental toxi-cant. In addition it was clearly shown to be neithergenotoxic nor mutagenic. Combining these datawith those presented in June 2006 provides signifi-cant evidence that this particular end product hasa low hazard profile based on current data.

Fluorine-free foamsFoam manufacturers continue to evaluate manytypes of potential products that do not containfluorosurfactants, but efforts to date have notyielded working products with fire performanceacross all fuels and in all operational circumstancesequal to film-forming foams. Some fluorine-freefoams can provide an alternative to AFFF in someapplications, but they are not currently able toprovide the same level of fire suppression capabili-ty, flexibility, and scope of usage. A recent paperfrom the University of Newcastle shows that stan-dard AFFF foam can suppress n-heptane vapor for140 minutes, while the best available fluorine-freefoam under the same conditions held for only 60minutes12.

Fluorine-free foams are often championed as“environmentally-friendly” alternatives to AFFF.Although such foams may not contain fluorine,their environmental profile related to biodegrada-tion, acute toxicity, chemical oxygen demand(COD), and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) istypically no better than fluorine-containing pro-ducts and in many cases is not as environmentallyresponsible in use as AFFF. A recent study ofcommercially available fire fighting foam agents

indicates that fluorine-free foams are at least anorder of magnitude higher in aquatic toxicity thanAFFF agents13.

Moving forwardAFFF and fluorochemical manufacturers haveworked closely with environmental authorities overthe past decade, and are currently doing theresearch and testing necessary to incorporate intotheir AFFF formulations the new fluorochemicalsthat are being developed to comply with globalstewardship programs. This work will ensure thatsafe and effective AFFF agents that meet new andchallenging environmental requirements willcontinue to be available to fight flammable liquidfires in military, aircraft, industrial, and municipalsettings.

References1 Environmental Impacts of Fire Fighting Foams byWilliam H. Rupert, Daniel P. Verdonik, and Christo-pher Hanauska of Hughes Associates, Inc. (2005)2 Quantitative Determination of FluorotelomerSulfonates in Groundwater by LC MS/MS, MelissaM. Schultz, Douglas F. Barofsky and Jennifer Field,Environmental. Sci. Technol. 2004, 38, 1828-18353 DuPont 2007a. H-27901: Static, Acute 96-HourToxicity Test with Rainbow Trout, Oncorhynchusmykiss. Unpublished report, DuPont-21909.4 DuPont 2007b. H-27901: Static, Acute 48-HourToxicity Test with Daphnia magna. Unpublishedreport, DuPont-219105 DuPont 2007c. H-27901: Static, 72-Hour GrowthInhibition Toxicity Test with the Green Alga,Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata. Unpublished report,DuPont-22048.6 DuPont 2007d. H-27901: Early Life-Stage Toxicityto the Rainbow Trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss.Unpublished report, DuPont 22219.7 Serex, T. et al, 2008. Evaluation of BiopersistencePotential Among Classes of Polyfluorinated Chemi-cals using a Mammalian Screening Method. SOT2008 Poster #9588 Aerobic biodegradation studies of 6:2 fluo-rotelomer sulfonate in activated sludge, N. Wang etal, DuPont, manuscript in preparation, 20109 Chengalis, C.P., Kirkpatrick, J.B., Radovsky, A.,Shinohara, M., 2009a A 90-day repeated dose oralgavage toxicity study of perfluorohexanoic acid(PFHxA) in rats (with functional observationalbattery and motor activity determinations). Reprod.Toxicol. 27, 342-351.10 Chengalis, C.P., Kirkpatrick, J.B., Myers, N.R.,Shinohara, M., Stetson, P.I., Sved, D.W., 2009bComparison of the toxicokinetic behavior ofperfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA) and nonafluorobu-tane -1-sulfonic acid (PFBS) in monkeys and rats.Reprod. Toxicol. 27, 400-406.11 Loveless, S.E., Slezak, B., Serex, T., Lewis, J.,Mukerji, P., O’Connor, J.C., Donner, E.M., Frame,S.R., Korzeniowski, S.H., Buck, R.C., Toxicologicalevaluation of sodium perfluorohexanoate. Toxicolo-gy 264 (2009) 32–44.12 Schaefer T.H., Dlugogorski B.Z. and Kennedy E.M., “Vapour suppression of n-heptane with firefighting foams using laboratory flux chamber”, 7thAsia-Oceania Symp. Fire Scie. Tech. (in review).13 96-hour LC50 Value in Fathead Minnows (flow-through test), Report of tests on six fire fightingfoam agents performed by Aqua Survey Inc., Flem-ington, New Jersey, USA and 96-hour LC50 Test inFingerling Rainbow Trout, Report of tests on six firefighting foams agents performed by Harris IndustrialTesting Service Ltd., Nova Scotia, Canada

IFP


THE PHASEOUT THAT DIDN’T HAPPEN FOAMS

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IWMA IFP42 p34 12/5/10 2:42 pm Page 1

WATER MISTMikado Houseequipment. Pic courtesyNovenco


Water mist technology at present hasbecome a well accepted and well estab-lished fire-fighting technique throughout

the world. However, the rather slow developmentand introduction of mandatory standards preventsthis technology from spreading even faster.

30 years ago the ban of Halon as extinguishingagent and new requirements by the InternationalMaritime Organization to install marine sprinklerson passenger ships mainly leveled the way for socalled modern water mist systems.

When the first Halon systems were replaced bywater mist systems about three decades ago, onecould find very often the perception that watermist systems have to always extinguish fires. How-ever, these systems can also be designed to controlor suppress potential fires as we usually see inapplications where conventional sprinklers arebeing installed. This is just a question of the objec-tive that is pursued.

Water mist systems are more and moredesigned as sprinkler equivalent systems where fire control or fire suppression is the required

objective. Today we find a considerable and largevariety of different applications for water mist sys-tems around the globe. However, what are theseapplications? This article intends to give someanswers and will address some real life sampleinstallations where the fire-fighting capabilities ofmodern water mist systems are actually utilized.

The Oasis of the Sea – state of the artvessel yard technology meets state ofthe art fire-fighting technologyThe International Maritime Organization has beenrevealed as one of the driving forces for modernwater mist technology. At the beginning of the90’s the IMO had to realize that new requirementsfor the safety of lives on passenger ships had to bebrought into force. The serious fire catastrophe onthe passenger ferry Scandinavian Star in April1990 is considered the key moment for the devel-opment of these new requirements. It becamerapidly obvious that conventional sprinklers are notapplicable due to the big amount of water neededand the heavy piping. Particularly high pressure

By Matthias Ecke

Secretary General,International Water MistAssociation

Modern WaterMist TechnologyThe history of modern water mist technology for fire-fighting has been discussedin detail in one of the last articles by the International Water Mist Association,and the specific advantages and efficient fire-fighting capabilities of water mistare widely known by now.

P. 35-37 Water Mist 17/5/10 3:32 pm Page 35

water mist systems are considered an excellentprotection technology onboard passenger ships.Up until now a few hundred water mist systemshave been installed on passenger vessels. One ofthe newest and most famous cruise liners carryinga water mist system is the Oasis of the Seas.

The vessel was built by Aker Yards, Turku,Finland, for Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. and wasdelivered on the 28th of October 2009. This ship iscurrently the largest passenger cruise vessel in theworld. It is 361 meters long, 47 meters wide and65 meters high. The 225.000 gross tones Oasis ofthe Seas is able to carry 5400 passengers. It pro-vides 2700 cabins to accommodate its passengers,and all cabins are protected by the high pressurewater mist system. Besides that the public and ser-vices spaces such as shopping and storage areasare equipped with the water mist system, too.Moreover, the laundry and galley ducts as well asthe deep fat fryers in the kitchen area are protectedby water mist nozzles. Finally, an additional watermist system in the machinery provides a higherlevel of safety than actually required.

Altogether roughly 15,000 high pressure watermist nozzles have been installed and approximately90 kilometers piping of different diameters hasbeen mounted into the vessel. The whole system isdivided into 126 sprinkler zones driven by twoelectric pump units.

The National Technical Library Prague –modern architecture combined withmodern fire-fighting technologyWhilst one can observe a rather steady market formarine solutions, the market for land based appli-cations is on the contrary constantly growing withgrowth rates in the two digit area. An interestingexample for a water mist installation in an impres-sive new building is the National Technical Libraryin Prague.

This building has been constructed between2006 and 2009 and was opened to the public inSeptember 2009. The building consists of 6 above-ground floors and 3 basement floors. Thecoverage for each floor is approximately 5200m2.The library accommodates on these floors book-shelves, lecture areas, exhibition areas, bookshops,a cafeteria, a night study room and other areas.

According to the architects they intended tocreate “comfortable ambience for study, mutualmeetings and relaxation” and underlined thesocial importance of such a meeting point.

The architects and the owner of the buildinghave chosen high pressure water mist for the pro-tection of this building because of a number ofreasons. First of all fire tests have proven that thesystem can effectively protect the building and theinterior by using considerably less water. Due tothat the expected water and overall damagewould be much lower. Moreover, the systemwould not endanger any visitors in the case of afire and would allow people to rather escapecontrolled. Furthermore, the small dimension andthe design of the stainless steel piping (piping isvisible) lead to the fact that this system could beintegrated harmoniously into the architecture ofthis modern library. Additionally, the significantlyless amount of water to be stored for the systemwas another reason to choose this technology.

Altogether 4000 glass bulb nozzles have beeninstalled in this building and 20 kilometers of pipework has been mounted. The objective is thecontrol of any fire incident. The fire brigade isexpected to arrive within 15 minutes.

Finally, this building provides also modern meet-ing facilities, and the next IWMA conference inPrague on November 3–4, 2010, will be heldpartly in this building. Please see www.iwma.netfor further information.

The Felbertauern tunnel – innovativesolutions put into practiceThe major fire accidents in tunnels some years agolead to a heavy discussion about appropriate safetymeasures in traffic tunnels. It can be observed thataccidents involving burning cars or trucks intunnels occurring rather often. However andfortunately, these fires do not always trigger bigcatastrophes as seen in the past. In September2008 for example a truck caught fire in theTauerntunnel. Fortunately the truck was carryingfruits and, therefore, the fire brigade was able toprevent a disaster. Even a relatively small fire, how-ever, can severely damage the tunnel infrastructure


Oasis of the Seas. Pic courtesy STX Europe

WATER MIST

Technical Library. Pic Courtesy Fogtec


since extreme temperatures are reached withinminutes. Therefore, it is very important for tunnelsto suppress potential fires immediately at its originwithout any time delay. Fixed fire-fighting systemsare able to provide this safety, and water mist sys-tems have been found to be an efficient solutionfor the safety objectives in traffic tunnels. Today anumber of water mist systems have been alreadyapplied to tunnels, and the Felbertauern tunnelshall be named as one example. This tunnel is 5.3kilometers long and is bi-directional. Due to themissing second tube that could be used for escapethe installation of a fire suppression system is ofutmost importance. The tunnel was divided into148 sections and 8000 high pressure water mistnozzles have been installed. Two diesel drivenpump units are located in the north of the tunneland two pump units are located at the south endof the tunnel. These aggregates ensure the neces-sary water supply. The detection system is able tolocate a fire with an accuracy of four meters. Theimmediate suppression of the fire at its origin pre-vents the fire from spreading to other vehicles andensures a cooling of the surrounding atmosphere.The temperatures are kept at a low level and thestructure of the tunnel, particularly the concrete, isprotected from severe temperature levels thatwould heavily damage the tunnel itself. Further-more, people are able to escape from the fireunder rather safe conditions.

Mikado House – a new office building inCopenhagenReference has been made already to the increasingnumber of land based applications, and this devel-opment does not exclusively refer to high pressurewater mist systems which normally operate around100bar. The number of buildings accommodatedwith low pressure water mist systems doesconstantly increase as well. One of the newestprojects carried out is the so called Mikado Housein Copenhagen, Denmark. The building is anoffice building with lots of open spaces and anatrium as well. The premises consist of 5 floorsand the total floor area is 32,000m2. This officebuilding is equipped with a low pressure watermist system operating at about 10bar. In this case

there is no water storage and the system is directlyconnected to the main water supply. The pressurepump will provide the necessary pressure if thesystem operates. The low pressure water mistsystem combines all the benefits that are knownby now. The system uses less water, the piping issmaller and the expected damage is consideredless. Furthermore, the system provides excellentcooling of the environment. In total 2300 nozzleshave been installed in this building.

International Water Mist Conference2010The forthcoming International Water Mist Confer-ence 2010 will take place this year in Prague,Czech Republic, on November 03–04.

The conference is open to anybody and will bean excellent opportunity for those responsible forselecting fire protection to extent the knowledgeabout water mist technology.

The conference will be held partly at a confer-ence hotel and the National TEchnical LibraryPrague which is a water mist protected buidling.Attendees, and particularly newcomers, will havethe opportunity to join a tour through the buidlingand to view the installation. Interested parties canfind more information about the conference suchas the program on the web page of IWMAwww.iwma.net. IFP


Pump unit tunnel. Pic Courtesy Aquasys

MODERN WATER MIST TECHNOLOGY WATER MIST

Mikado House. Pic courtesy Novenco



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DETECTION


It is not that long ago that fire detection was lim-ited to choosing between one or another type ofsingle-sensor device. More recently, highly effec-

tive multi-criteria, multi-sensor devises have beensuccessfully developed, aspirating smoke detectionis now a well regarded technology, and significantstrides have been made in CCTV-based videosmoke detection.

But are we as individuals, the buildings weoccupy or visit, and the assets we use better pro-tected? The reality is that today we have reached apoint where the reliability of the technologies usedfor detection are far less frequently an issue pro-viding, of course, that equipment appropriate tothe fire safety challenge has been installed. Humanbehaviour is much more likely to be the culprit if a detection installation fails to perform in anemergency or if it false alarms. In all probability an

otherwise dependable fire safety solution will befound to have been incorrectly installed, poorlymaintained or simply not to have been kept in linewith altered working practices or changes of useof the building.

The international trend away from prescriptivemeasures and towards engineered fire safety solu-tions has seen any number of impressive structuresemerge that a few decades ago would haveremained firmly in the architect’s imagination. Thishas placed a huge burden of responsibility on theshoulders of fire engineers, system designers,installers, maintenance organisations and systemusers. It has, rightly, focused attention on ensuringthat devices are selected only if they comply withthe appropriate standards and codes of practice,and has witnessed a growing requirement for theinstallation of detectors and sensors that have

By Graham Collins

Detecting TheRight TechnologyWhile great strides have been made in fire detection technologies in the pastfew decades, the guiding principles remain unchanged – it is all about savinglives and protecting property. Graham Collins explains.

P. 39-42 Detection Technology 17/5/10 3:33 pm Page 39

these quality claims underpinned by independent,third-party approval by such organisations as UL[Underwriters Laboratories], FM [Factory Mutual],LPCB [Loss Prevention Certification Board] and VdS[Vertrauen durch Sicherheit].

Irrespective of the technology that is adopted,the primary aim is to protect lives or safeguardproperty – in many cases, both – by detecting anincipient fire as quickly and reliably as possible.Certainly, there is no single solution; no one devicethat can be relied upon to operate effectively withfires that can range from slow smouldering to fast-flaming hydrocarbon fires, and environments thatcan span from cellular offices to aircraft hangers.So, let us take a brief look each of the currentoptions.

Detection optionsTraditional fire detectors are designed to detectsmoke, heat or flame and can be either “conven-tional” or “addressable”. In a “conventional” or“non-addressable” installation, these detectors arein one of two states – normal or alarm – andindividual detectors are not identified or given aspecific “address” or location. In an “addressable”installation, every sensor has its own unique“address” on the system’s control panel. Thecustom is that non-addressable devices are usuallycalled detectors, while addressable devises aremost often termed sensors.

At one time, ionisation detectors were used fordetecting smoke but, despite being very effectivefor detecting small particles of combustion pro-duced by fast-flaming fires, these are now lessacceptable in many countries due to their radia-tion content and issues surrounding their shipment

and ultimate disposal. Their place has been takenby optical or photoelectric devices where, in themajority of designs, smoke particles are detectedusing light scatter or obscuration techniques. Heatdetectors come in one of three main types: fixedheat detectors; rate-of-rise detectors; and linearheat detectors, and detect temperature changesusing a temperature-sensitive resistor called athermistor. UV and IR Flame detectors are alsoavailable but are appropriate only for certainspecific fire risks that usually involve flammableliquids or gases.

Alongside improvements in the reliability ofthese detectors, the most significant advance inthis area was probably the development of multi-sensor devices that increase the probability ofdetecting a fire. For some time, dual-sensor devis-es have been available that combine both heatand smoke detection, and heat detectors can beinstalled that offer both fixed temperature andrate-of-rise detection in a single device. A numberof manufacturers have also introduced tri-sensordevices, in which the smoke and heat detectorsare augmented by the addition of a carbonmonoxide sensor.

Most recently, dual optical technology has beenadopted by some manufacturers, notably in Gentby Honeywell’s S-Quad and Nittan’s latest Evolu-tion sensors, and dual optical smoke detectorshave been introduced alongside combined dualoptical and heat multi-detectors. In this type ofdetector, the optical chamber either contains twooptical paths at different angles, or two differentwavelengths of light. In both cases, the twosignals provide information about the nature andsize of the particles being sensed, allowing more


DETECTING THE RIGHT TECHNOLOGYDETECTION


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Hazardous areas where an explosive mixture of air and gas or vapour may be present requires electrical equipment that cannot cause an ignition – not only in normal operation but also in fault conditions. The most common method of achieving this is intrinsic safety.

orbis™ IS (Intrinsically Safe) is a range of conventional detectors which has been developed from the standard range of Orbis smoke and heat detectors, specifically for safe operation in potentially volatile environments. The range has all the benefits of the standard range and remains electrically compatible with Apollo Series 60 IS conventional detectors, but now has Marine Approval and BS EN 60079 accreditation for hazardous areas.

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accurate differentiation between products ofcombustion and non-fire particles that mightotherwise trigger a false alarm.

There are also a number of special applicationdevices, such as beam detectors, duct detectors,intrinsically-safe detectors, waterproof and marine-approved detectors manufactured by such com-panies as Apollo, System Sensor, Hochiki andNotifier by Honeywell, which has just unveiled itsnew Opal range of detectors. Radio Wirelessdetection that uses radio technology is anotheroption that is available from such companies asEMS, which has just unveiled FireCell that useswhat the company calls ”smart cluster technology”,and Cooper Fulleon, which recently launched itsRadio+ system. These systems are claimed to offerfaster and simpler installation, and lower costwhen compared with the conventional wireddetection systems.

Irrespective of the particular type of detectorthat is installed, a major consideration that needsto be taken into account is the protocol of the sys-tem being considered, as the decision can impacton the life-time cost of the detection system. Pro-tocol is the language used by electronic productsto communicate with each other and can beclassified as “open protocol” or “closed protocol”.

Open protocol systems are where the detectioncomponents are compatible with productsproduced by other manufacturers, whereas closedprotocol systems offer, as the term implies, no suchflexibility. So, specifying a closed protocol systemdoes tie the user to the manufacturer of the systemfor the lifetime of the system for any upgrading,replacement parts, servicing or modification of thesystem. An open system though enables thesystem owner to choose a different company toservice the system, or supply other components.

Air-sensing detectionAspirating smoke detectors sense microscopicsmoke particles in a sampling chamber and thesesystems have become particularly popular in appli-cations where the presence of traditional sensorsand wiring is aesthetically unacceptable.

However, while aspirating smoke detection ismost commonly associated with museums, gal-leries and religious buildings, one of the contractscurrently being highlighted by Xtralis for its VESDAaspirating smoke detection system illustrates howbroad the appeal now is for this detection tech-nology. VESDA systems are covering more than290 underground railway stations, retail shops andescalators in the Madrid Metro environment.Other global players in this sector include Wagnerand AirSense Technology.

Essentially, an aspirating smoke detection sys-tem comprises a central detection unit that drawsair through a network of pipes to detect smoke

particles suspended in air, using light scatteringtechnology. Aspirating smoke detectors are highlysensitive and can detect smoke before it is evenvisible to the human eye.

Video detectionVideo smoke detection – often abbreviated to VSD– is based on the computer analysis of videoimages provided by standard CCTV cameras. Theparticular motion pattern of smoke is automatical-ly identified and analysed in real time by applyingdigital image processing techniques to provide afast response to a potential fire. It is particularlyappropriate for voluminous areas, high ceilingbuildings, where a high airflow may be presentand for external applications. VSD systems cannow be found protecting forests, tunnels, aircrafthangers and industrial buildings and the major sys-tem suppliers in this field include D-Tec, Fike andNotifier by Honeywell.

Clearly, one of the key benefits of these systemsis their ability to use existing CCTV cameras thatwould have been installed originally for securitysurveillance. These systems generally work bylooking for small areas of change within the imageat the digitisation stage and pass only these pixelchanges to the main processor for further filtering.

The video information is passed through a series offilters that seek particular characteristics that areassociated with smoke behaviour. Further analysisis carried out on the filtered characteristics todetermine whether all the conditions have beenmet for the system to confidently predict thepresence of smoke.

Things to comePublic expectations concerning personal safety, firesafety legislation, health & safety legislation, esca-lating insurance costs and a general feeling ofinsecurity in a troubled world have undoubtedlyhelped to fuel many of the developments in firedetection in recent years. At the same time, thehigh price-tag associated with false alarms hasensured that manufacturers strive to improve exist-ing products and develop new technologies thatare ever more accurate, dependable and robust.Certainly, we have come a long way from the timewhen fire detection depended upon the diligenceof a night-watchman.

Many of these changes have been possiblethanks to the increased sophistication, reliabilityand cost effectiveness of electronics generally, dataprocessing, digital technology and the ability tohave real-time control via the Internet. The indus-try though remains, quite rightly, conservative. Sothe next steps in fire detection are likely to beevolutionary developments of current proven tech-nology rather than ground-breaking advances. Butwho knows. IFP


DETECTING THE RIGHT TECHNOLOGYDETECTION

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ALARM CODES


Companies, whose main goal is to engineerand develop fire detection systems for appli-cation in the world’s global markets, have a

major, almost insurmountable task on their hands.One of the most significant challenges they face isthe differences in fire codes and standards. Despiteattempts that have been ongoing for over a hun-dred years to agree on common fire codes andstandards, the end is still not in sight. Not only arethere differences continent to continent andregion to region, but in Europe there are differ-ences in requirements from country to country andin the US state to state and even in some instancescity to city.

To make matters more complicated, fire codesand standards effect: 1) the way the productsthemselves are designed and how they mustperform, 2) the way that the system shall beinstalled, effecting for example the wire types,location and spacing of smoke detectors, soundersand strobe devices, 3) how a system is operatedonce installed, and by whom, 4) how and when a system shall be serviced and maintained overtime, 5) the manner in which fire departments and fire brigades are notified and ultimatelyrespond to the report of a fire and 6) As the worldspeaks more than just English!, the operatinglanguage.

Two major standards dominate the worldmarket, the US National Fire Protection Association(NFPA) based UL’864’ and European EN54. Bothstandards have the best interests of fire detection,fire prevention, building and life safety at heartand have committees made up of leading fireauthorities and experts constantly searching forand seeking to improve the way that fire systemsperform.

In Europe, despite adopting the EN54 stan-dards, each country has their own uniquerequirements. For example, in Sweden and Germany, you can’t have a system installed there

without a common user interface that includes a“Fireman’s Key,” which enables control. The prin-ciple here is that they don’t want their fire fightershaving to learn every nuance about every firesystem sold in their country, so all systems sold inSweden and Germany must have common styleinterfaces designed to a specific standard for useby the fire fighters.

Today, Voice Evacuation and Fire FighterTelephone Communication Systems, although incommon use in the USA, are not widely in use in the EU. Voice Evacuation might be seen in large sports stadiums, but not typically in othercommercial, industrial and residential applications.Fire Fighter Telephone Communication Systemsremain in use today in many of the US states,although in some states there is a trend towardreplacement with high end, radio communicationssystems.

It is very common in the USA to have the statusof a fire system transmitted over phone lines, ormore recently the internet, via a stand alone or integrated Digital Alarm Communicator

By Mike Troiano

President, AdvancedFire Systems Inc.

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A case of doublestandards… In this article Mike Troiano President of Advanced Fire Systems Inc. describes thedifferences and synergies between US & European fire systems and givesexamples of future convergence.

EN54 (Germany) Penta Control Panel

P. 45-49 Alarm Codes 17/5/10 3:34 pm Page 45

Transmitter (DACT) to 3rd party Central Stations.These stations monitor 24 hours per day, and havethe responsibility to contact the fire department incase of emergency, along with the property ownerand service company. In Europe the use of DACTsis much less prevalent and it is common in certaincountries to have alarm communications direct toa municipal station or fire brigade via hard wiredrouting equipment.

In some USA states, it is common to see arequirement for a City Box interface. City Boxescame into existence in the late 1800s andalthough mechanical wheels have been replacedwith electronics, the principles remain the same.Basically a system going into alarm transmits asignal over a pair of wires that run directly fromthe facility to the City Box, then onto the firemunicipality or fire station.

When comparing two fire panels that havebeen designed toward complying with the NFPA

versus the EN standards, they are quite dissimilar.Further yet, if one were to compare one manu-facturer’s fire panel to a competitor’s fire panel inthe same market, once again one will find sharpdisparities. There is no truth to the statements: “afire panel is a fire panel” or “all fire panels are thesame.” In fact nothing could be further from the truth.

It would be impossible in such a short article to list all of the many differences and similarities,but below is a summary of some of the majorissues:

USA versus EU – Major differences AC/Mains Operating Voltage: The USA is in theminority compared with the rest of the world inthat its primary supplied voltage is nominally 120Volts, 60 Hertz. The majority of the world is 230Volts, 50 Hertz. However in all cases the AC/Mainsvoltage supplied in the various countries fluctuatesplus or minus some percentage of nominal. Inaddition, the power supplied is not always “clean”and must be filtered by the fire system or elsepower line “glitches” can cause false alarms andother problems.

Wiring Types: The quality and variety of the dif-ferent types of fire system cabling allowed by thevarious regional standards is surprising. Wires maybe thick or thin, shielded or not, mineral insulated,highly capacitive, have various levels of fire pro-tective ratings and current carrying capacity, etc.However in all cases wires carrying high voltagesand currents versus those carrying any low voltagecommunications signals must be separated withthe separation distances specified, and the circuitsthe wires connect to require different levels ofsafety protection.

Message Terminology Examples – Alarms vs.Fires, Troubles vs. Faults, Supervisory vs. N/A, AM-PM vs. 24 hour clock, Fahrenheit vs. Celsius.In the USA, when a detector goes into alarm or apull station is activated, it is viewed and reportedas an Alarm. In Europe and other parts of theworld, this same condition is viewed and reportedas a Fire. If there is a problem in a fire system suchas from a dirty smoke detector, a broken wire or alow battery for instance, USA fire systems viewand report this as a Trouble Condition, whereasothers see this as a Fault in the system. NFPA


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Codes and Standards recognize problems with amonitored Sprinkler system as a SupervisoryCondition and so is treated uniquely different thanother trouble conditions, whereas EN54 has no suchseparate recognition/distinction. In the USA, systemstime stamp events using a 12 hour clock with AMand PM designations, whereas Europe uses a 24hour clock, so for example 2:00 PM is 14:00 hours.It is common throughout the EU and much of theworld to measure temperature in degrees Celsiuswhere the USA measures in Fahrenheit.

User Display – Both US and European systemsprioritize Alarms (Fires) but present the informa-tion in different ways. For example if multiple firealarm conditions are reported, which getsdisplayed, the first or most recent event? Is thesystem allowed to scroll the messages automaticallyor manually? Is the total number of devices orzones in alarm displayed? Must the display showthe type of device in alarm, etc., etc., the stan-dards are quite prescriptive and diverse in all of

these areas. Also there is a great deal of dissimilar-ity between what must be displayed when there isa mixture of alarms (fires), troubles (faults), super-visories, and non fire events occurring at the sametime. Finally, while still complying with therequired standard, the equipment must supportand display the information in the languagerequired by the installation.

Switches/Buttons – Reset, Silence vs.Silence/Resound, Acknowledge, Mute, Fire Drill and Evac-uate. The requirements for what happens in a firesystem when a Reset switch is pressed variescountry to country and even city to city, especiallyif the system is installed in a high rise facility. Forexample in New York City, a reset switch cannotinterfere with air handling systems. The Silence/Resound button on an EN54 system allows alter-nate presses to Silence or Resound soundingand/or strobe devices, but typically, only theSilence function is presented on a USA basedsystem. Other switches of distinction are:Acknowledge (USA), Mute (EU), Fire Drill (USA)and Evacuate (EU).

ADA – In the USA, a law was passed in 1990called the “Americans with Disabilities Act” and itaffected fire systems such as requiring the synchro-nization of strobe lights and their luminous inten-sity levels as well as affecting the sound levels ofsounding appliances measured in dB (decibels). InEurope, there are equivalents (i.e. DDA – Disabili-ties Discrimination Act in the UK) standard withthe same intentions in mind, but there are differ-ences including the sound levels, spacing ofdevices, luminous intensity levels, etc., and howthese levels are measured by 3rd party approvalsagencies is different. Such differences have amajor impact on the fire panel and system designdue to the extreme differences in the voltages andcurrents, the backup battery size, system wiring,and programming options.


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Loop Power Technolo-gy – In the EU, it is com-mon to have a fire alarmsystem contain on thesame pair of wires: smokedetectors, call points (pullstations), input/outputmodules, strobes andsounder devices. All ofthese devices receive theirpower and communica-tion control signals overthe same pair of wires.Due to the combinationof their low operatingcurrents, installation andoperations standards, aswell as safety standards,such a design has largeramifications in thereduction of power con-sumption, backup batteryrequirements, wiring andlabor costs. Loop power technology has not yetbeen fully embraced by the USA, but certain for-ward thinking manufacturers of Fire detectionequipment (such as Advanced) are well on theirway to bringing this technology to the US Market.

EU Country Differences – While the EN54Harmonized Standards are accepted by the EUmember countries, it is important to note thateach country has an “options with requirements”exception to the EN54 standards that must beadhered to. No two country requirements are thesame, with France standing out as the most drasti-cally different from the others in that they requirethe system power supplies and system wiring tobe supported completely separate in a self con-tained enclosure from the User Interface – keyswitches and display.

USA Regional, State and City Differences –Some examples of different requirements acrossthe USA include the following areas: Fire Depart-ment Communications -City Box, Radio Transmis-sions, DACTs and Mesh Networks. Hi and Low Riseapplications – Smoke Control Systems, ElevatorControls, Fan and Damper Controls, Automaticand Manual Voice Evacuation, Fire FighterTelephones. Non Fire interfaces to – FacilitiesManagement Systems, Graphics Annunciation,Video Monitoring systems, Nurse Call systems, etc.

Advanced Technology is Universal – regardlessof the country, city or town and regardless of thenational and local fire codes, smarter global manu-facturers are applying advanced technology andglobal experience to the best benefit possible.

For example, the better systems provide peer topeer network topology and deliver high speed per-formance regardless of the number of panels ornodes on the network. That means that when aswitch is pressed to perform a life safety function,it always responds as it should, regardless of net-work traffic or conditions present on the system.The same goes for any message that has to be dis-played or the fast response to a fire or life safetycondition. The networked user displays on thesesystems are capable of viewing an entire systemand can be customized to suit the application.

Smarter systems include built-in intelligent volt-

age and ammeters which allow technicians toassess the voltages and currents on any wires inthe system, 24/7, regardless of the state of the sys-tem. In the more advanced type of systems, thesemeters can be turned on and viewed at a controlpanel, or from a remote location via PC basedmonitoring and control software.

IP Technology is becoming more prevalentthrough the use of secure IP Gateway technology,such that systems may be monitored locally and/orremotely as well as providing Email and textmessage alerts. Quite often not only does thisallow the maintenance company to provideenhanced service support to their installed base ofsystems, but facility managers may be givenremote access to the system in order to give thempiece of mind that their system is performingproperly every second, minute and hour of everyday.

Mike concluded that by applying their expertiseof global standards, local market requirements andtechnology the Advanced group of companieshave brought together a truly advanced range offire and life safety products which go together toprovide systems which meet and exceed thevarious market requirements not just in the US andEurope but also across the globe. IFP


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CALL POINTSA challenge formanufacturers was tosimulate break glassactivation in theresettable call point,given the deterrent glasshas proved to offer interms of reducing falsealarms


In the beginning

In the earliest devices, the simple switch waslocated inside a box, sending a signal to the fireservice when operated. In London, by 1900

some 675 fire alarm boxes were installed, signifi-cantly improving communication and reducingresponse times. By 1936 this number hadincreased to 1,732 but already it was apparentthat the issue of false alarms would need to beaddressed. Of some 9,297 calls received in 1936by the London brigade, 3,422 (or over 30%) werefalse alarms. Given the newness of the technology

and the vagaries of London’s electrical circuitry atthe time, it is perhaps not too surprising thatalmost two thirds of those were down to electricalor other malfunctions, but this still means thatover 1,300 were the result of malicious activation.

The first attempts to combat this saw manufac-turers placing the switch inside a red box. Thiswent some way towards reducing the incidents offalse alarms generated by curiosity or maliciousintent, but it took the introduction of glass tosignificantly impact on the problem and makefalse alarms more manageable. The insertion of a

By Ges Wallace

Managing Director, STI (Europe)

Call pointevolution: past,present andfutureBreak glass call points can hardly be called the new kid on the block in terms offire detection and alarms. They have been used as the means to manuallyactivate a fire alarm for decades, with their forerunner, the simple switch basedstreet fire alarm, going back as far as the turn of the 20th Century. While theintroduction of the means for people to raise the alarm in the event of a fire hasundoubtedly been a major contributor to fire safety, so it has brought with it theproblem of false alarms, a problem that prevails today and one that the fireindustry, the fire service and building owners throughout the world continue tograpple with.

P. 51-55 Call Points 17/5/10 3:34 pm Page 51

glass panel, which anybody activating the callpoint is required to break to trigger the alarm, is areal deterrent to the casual misuse of an emer-gency switch. So called ‘break glass’ call points arenow widely used for a variety of emergencyswitching applications, not just for fire alarms.

Inherent problems with glassHowever, while the introduction of glass certainlyaddressed the existing drawbacks, it brought newones of its own, some of which were specific tothe design of the early break glass call points butothers which hold true today. In the early devices,the design of many was based on the switch beingheld in the operated position, usually in the centreof the glass. The switch subsequently put the glassunder stress and, as many break glasses wereoften installed next to large exit doors, the resultwas false alarms generated by the glasses breakingwithout any human intervention other than fromthe slamming of the door. The switch also ejectedthe broken glass from the call point onto the floor,presenting another potential hazard. The glass inthese types of early devices was unprotected andone widely held theory was that call points weremanufactured in red to hide the blood fromlacerations caused during their operation!

In 1972 a revolution in call point technologywas introduced with the advent of the first breakglass call point to address the issues outlinedabove. The patented design moved the switch ofthe call point to the edge of the glass, therebyovercoming the issue of the glass being underconstant pressure. The glass was also scored andfitted with a clear plastic protective film, holdingthe broken glass largely in position rather thanejecting it onto the floor. While the glass was stillused for its very important deterrent features, it nolonger presented a hazard to the user.

This simple approach to the problem provided atruly unique concept that helped create and formthe then UK standard for call points, BS5839-2,and even now, almost 40 years later, this approachto call point design is still adopted (albeit withsome changes with the introduction of EN54-11,more of which later).

In recognising the undoubted success of thisapproach, it is important to realise that there arestill disadvantages in the use of glass as an operat-

ing element. One of the most important is that,once broken, the glass is discarded and a replace-ment is required. On many occasions I have seencall points in the field with other objects insertedinto them to maintain operation – with obviousconsequences in terms of fire safety.

Operationally the break glass concept is excel-lent. Glass offers natural deterrence from misuse.While working with such call points for manyyears I attended trade shows where we encour-aged visitors to come onto the stand and “break aglass”. The immediate reaction from most peoplewas an instant refusal. When questioned, thereasons largely revolved around not wanting todestroy the product or a fear of being injured byits operation to the extent that some visitorsremoved shoes or used other objects to activatethe alarm.

Meeting the challengeThe challenge therefore for manufacturers was toemulate the operational and psychological charac-teristics of glass but with an integral operating ele-ment that could be reused – in effect a resettablebreak glass! Hence the introduction of the ‘reset-table call point’. This proved another major stepforward in call point technology, with a number ofresettable products brought onto the market. Theresettable option prevents inappropriate ‘heathrobinson’ attempts to put the call point back intoaction without replacing the glass or, even forthose who do follow the correct procedure, elimi-nates the potential risk of inserting the wrong


Early call points usedtelegraph andtelephone signalingtechniques to alert theemergency services

CALL POINT EVOLUTION: PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURECALL POINTS

Innovative and sometimes unusual ways wereadopted to try and reduce false alarms,trapping the hand of the sender until theywere released by a policeman or firemanbeing one of the more extreme approaches



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glass in the wrong call point. There is anothermajor advantage of resettable call point devices.By eliminating the need for replacement partsafter every operation, the call point can be putback into working order and the system reset veryquickly, keeping downtime to a minimum – a veryimportant factor in what is a life safety system.Resettable call points were adopted by the LondonUnderground some years ago for this very reason.

StandardsReturning to the issue of standards, BS5839-2, theUK standard for call points, was replaced inSeptember 2003 with the European standard,EN54-11, which permits the use of resettable callpoints. This new standard, together with demandfrom the marketplace for a more user andenvironmentally friendly product which reducesmaintenance costs will, in my view, see the end ofthe use of glass in call points.

Changes in moving from BS5839-2 to EN54-11were largely an attempt to try and standardise thelook of manual call points, as well as addressingmajor advances in electronics with the inclusion ofsophisticated electronics in call points for intelli-gent fire systems. This is an important considera-tion since familiarity with the means to activate analarm, wherever you happen to be, is obviouslyvital. This provides the all important early warningto enable a safer evacuation of the building andprovides the optimum amount of time to tacklethe fire.

One major difference between BS5839-2 andEN54-11 is how the operating instructions are pre-sented on the call point. Originally these werewhite lettering against a black background, whichwas easily achieved by applying a clear label ontothe glass which was printed with the operating

instructions in white. The glass was then fittedinto a black moulding and the necessary white onblack instruction was visible, but the operatingelement still retained its glass appearance. EN54reversed this requirement and the operatinginstruction must now appear black on white. Forresettable call points this could be achieved bymoulding the operating element in a white materi-al and printing the instructions in black onto itsface. However the important operational deterrentproperties of glass will have been lost, and thiscould lead to an increase in false alarms over time.Function marking has also been addressed byEN54-11. European language differences havebeen overcome through the use of a ‘House FlameLogo’, although the option of reproducing theword ‘Fire’ or equivalent text in the appropriatelanguage is still permissible (again the logo or textmust be in white).

The ‘ReSet’One innovative solution to the problem highlightedabove regarding the black on white lettering is theSTI ‘ReSet’ call point. Its operating element ismoulded in a clear material, overprinted with therequired black legend, and assembled against awhite moulding. The plastic operating elementtakes on the appearance of glass, thus retaining itsdeterrence from misuse.

The patented operating element provides realaction on operation and simulates break glass acti-vation. An activation indicator drops into view atthe top of the window after the ‘ReSet’ has beenoperated. The unit is then simply reset with a keyand is immediately ready for reuse.This uniqueapproach eliminates glass and encompasses all thebenefits of a resettable operating element. Down-time of the fire alarm system is minimised as the


London Undergroundwas an early adopter ofresettable call points,recognising theimportance of keepingdowntime of a firealarm system to aminimum

CALL POINTS


call point can be quickly and simply reset in theevent of a false activation. It is very important thatwe retain the appearance of the use of glass in callpoints to prevent the possible trend towards asimple push button worded ‘Fire Alarm’, with theobvious consequences for false alarms. It is impor-tant to learn from history and the figures fromLondon in 1936 that we opened with in this articledemonstrate all too clearly the dangers of movingaway from an approach which features an in-builtdeterrent to misuse.

Installer benefitsTurning from the benefits to the end user to thosefor the installer. Resettable units are virtually main-tenance free, with the operating element easilyreset after activation. There are no glass elementsto break, lose or incorrectly fit during installation.Stocking requirements are reduced and there is nopossibility of fitting the wrong manufacturer’sglass element. Unlike traditional break glass units,which use a key for testing, call points like the‘ReSet’ provide a complete functional test withevery activation.

Another important point to consider is that callpoints are often delivered to site well before thebuilding is commissioned and secure. As anybodywho has worked on a construction site will testify,damage to products is an all too common prob-lem. Many of the call points will have brokenglasses prior to the fire alarm system being fullyoperational. In order to combat this waste andinconvenience, some call point manufacturersoffer call points fitted with a piece of plastic tosubstitute the glass. While this enables installation,testing and commissioning they do render the callpoint inoperable. Call point glasses are then deliv-ered to site for fitting at a later date. Unfortunatelythis practice, while effective in reducing breakglass wastage, is dangerous. Call points will oftenbe left with the glass substitute in place after com-missioning, rendering the call point inoperable.There is also the danger that the glass substituteswill be retained by the installer or end user andused as a quick-fix when glasses are broken andno replacements are available. All these problemsare avoided by using a resettable call point.

Added protectionThe use of protective covers on call points,although previously not permitted by BS5839-2,has been accepted in certain situations for morethan 20 years in the UK. EN54-11 now recognisesthis and permits the use of covers to protectagainst accidental operation, requiring that opera-tor instructions are provided or indication arrowsare placed on the cover. Protective covers also per-form a crucial deterrence in many applicationswhich are notoriously problematic in terms of falsefire alarms, schools being an excellent example.The headline figures for schools demonstrates onlytoo clearly that they remain a prime focus in firesafety terms – the latest estimates from theDepartment for Communities and Local Govern-ment show there are 1,300 school fires a year inEngland and Wales, representing a cost of £58million. What these figures do not provide is anestimated cost for false alarms, an issue in manyschools along with the extensive disruption toclasses, staff and pupils that false alarms inevitablycause through persistent evacuations of a site.

There is also the cost of the Fire Service attendinga fire call (an estimated £1,000 per call out) andthe fact that if a Brigade is at a false alarm itcannot attend a real fire – £1,000 wasted and theimpact this has in terms fire cover.

With the recent publication of the Chief FireOfficers Association (CFOA) Policy on False Alarms,the focus on reducing such alarms is now evengreater. Consequently, head teachers, along withmany others working in environments where falsealarms remain an issue, are looking for ways toaddress the problem. The challenge is to provideadded security to prevent malicious or accidentaluse of a manual call point while ensuring that itremains readily accessible. This is where covers canprove an excellent solution. The cover makes theoperation of the call point a much more deliberateact and the operator is forced to linger at the callpoint in order to operate it.

Protective covers can be integral to the callpoint itself or be a separate product that can beretrofitted to existing call point installations. Toadd even further deterrence against maliciousactivation, in certain circumstances the covers canbe fitted with a sounder that emits an ear-piercingalarm if the cover is lifted. IFP


Once a break glass callpoint has beenactivated, it is notalways a replacementglass that is used to'reactivate' the unit

CALL POINT EVOLUTION: PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE CALL POINTS


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Initially you would imagine that a system that istested and approved to stringent standards, runsfor only half an hour each week and is regularly

maintained would not be an obvious candidate toneed remote monitoring. Fire pump packages aresuch systems but it would be wrong to believethat vigilant monitoring is not required. The con-sequences to life and property are such that not todo so would be irresponsible.

The regular fire pump tests prove the system isworking at that time but can you be sure it willwork without failure if it is called into action later

on? There are many reasons why system perfor-mance may be compromised after the test and thisshort article explains the sort of circumstances thatcould cause a failure with possibly tragic con-sequences. The need to keep an eye on the firepump at all times and not only when periodicallytested is what led SPP to develop a remote moni-toring system designed specifically for fire pumpapplications.

Ultimately it is the building operator or managerthat needs to assure themselves that fire pump(s)are operational at all times. In the aftermath of

By David Gentle

Business DevelopmentManager, Industrial Fire,Northern EuropeSPP Pumps Limited

Remotemonitoring afire pumpsystem statusInitially you would imagine that a system that is tested and approved to stringentstandards, runs for only half an hour each week and is regularly maintainedwould not be an obvious candidate to need remote monitoring. Fire pumppackages are such systems but it would be wrong to believe that vigilantmonitoring is not required. The consequences to life and property are such thatnot to do so would be irresponsible.

P. 57-60 Remote Monitoring 17/5/10 3:35 pm Page 57

fire, insurance may meet the immediate costs butit has been proven that damage to a business fromfire is a multiple of the insurable risk. Such lossescould all be saved through something very simpleand avoidable.

Problems with the pump system can arise fromsimple oversight, carelessness when doing a simple(and perhaps boring) task, intentional damagecaused by a disaffected person, poor maintenanceor system misuse (e.g. car cleaning using plantequipment). Each of these is cause for concern butis also preventable using available and affordabletechnology. This technology can not only help tokeep an eye on the equipment but also to identifywhere it is used inappropriately and confirm itsreadiness to run.

In many cases faults continue to go undetected.This may result from service operatives beingunaware of the fire protection requirements, inad-equate hand-over, insufficient knowledge/trainingwhich has rendered them ignorant to equipmentservice requirements or a lack of regard for fireprotection significance generally. Operatives might

not be qualified service engineers or service-mindedat all. Alternatively, faults could be put down to alack of attention because of resource or timeconstraints. Weekly tests are sometimes carriedout by members of staff whose responsibilities lienormally with security, car park tending and recep-tion each of which can distract from the rare butserious risk from fire.

A lack of information or inexperience of thepump, driver, controller or any other componentof the pump room could lead to valves being shut,the engine being starved of coolant water, isola-tors left in the off position, batteries losing chargeor pump sets being left offline/not in automaticmode. System failures can occur because offrozen, bent or broken pipes, leaks as well as lowor empty tanks. Inaccurate instrumentation andcomponent failure prove a direct problem them-selves but have the potential to cause faultsfurther down the line as well. Pre-empting thesefaults so as not to cause others seems inarguable.

Wilful tampering by disaffected employee(s) orschool student(s) for example is often irrefutable.

The repercussions unfortu-nately cannot be denied.Remote monitoring devicescan take inputs from addi-tional pump room (intruder)alarms, valves etc and alertthe designated contact per-son(s) best placed to seedamage is minimised further.

A poor understanding orlittle regard for the impor-tance of fire protection willincur poor and inadequatemaintenance from the start.Human error sees alarmsbeing muted and wiresdamaged with no due con-sideration. Without remotemonitoring problems arelikely to persist. If nobodyknows it is broken then it isless likely to be fixed, if a


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Poor maintenance System misuseHuman error System failureWilful tampering Simple carelessness

P. 59 ads 17/5/10 3:35 pm Page 59

potential failure isn’t identified then fewermeasures will follow to prevent it. If somebody canput in less effort to complete a task (and get awaywith doing so) more often than not they will.

The reason might not be apathy. Commercialpressures too induce corners to be cut. There havebeen frequent instances of a manual log beingfilled in erroneously giving a deceptive history ofan installation and a false sense of security. Repeatdata and repeat instrumentation measurements, acolumn of identical handwriting and the same penbeing used over a long record of dates are clueswhich may rightly allude to the weekly tests beingcarried out quickly, falsely or perhaps not beingcarried out at all.

Interim and annual service contracts might haveexisted previously but ceased because of changedbuilding ownership, commercial cutbacks, struc-tural/job changes, job losses or insufficienthandover. Where service maintenance is in place,service personnel are often located in distantheadquarters remote from the multiple sites theyare responsible for.

All these are concerns that can be addressed byremote monitoring of fire pump systems. Benefitscan include the ability to recognise and promptwhen regular service intervals are due; the evi-dence to prove pump drivers have been startedeach week and what alarm was activated when(date and time); direct access to device history onthe smallest to today’s biggest (multiple pumprooms on one site) installations; alarm occurrencenotification from remote locations and low GSMsignal areas. Remote monitoring can also highlightwhere, when and how frequently the equipment isbeing used outside the operating conditions it isintended for (e.g. jockey pump starts within selectdurations).

In fire protection there is no room for shortfalls

in the processes, proce-dures or attitudes affectingmaintenance and the abil-ity of a system to do its jobas needed. There is evenless room for poor vigi-lance in the case of non-preventative, gross intentwhich gives less or nochance to manage or con-tain effects of fire devasta-tion. In such circumstanceshowever, even if the pumproom, control room, recep-tion or complete structureis lost as a result of fire,logged data on a support-ed, third party (hosted),remote web server can gosome way to be able toprovide valuable informa-tion after the event.

Whether the causes of problems are accidentalor intentional, the result can be substantial interms of financial loss as well as incalculable per-sonal, environmental, social and economic coststoo. Whether circumstances affecting the systemare common or infrequent, planned or not, ameans is required to monitor in near real timewhere such misuse, abuse and neglect is takingplace in order to prevent them.

Equipping qualified engineers with informationto put right first time or pre-empt system failures isa basic requirement. It is useful for them quicklyand easily to have the most recent system statusand alarms sent back to their mobile phonesbefore they enter the pump room. This may allow

them to evaluate and put right the issues on sitemore safely and efficiently. The nature of preventa-tive maintenance using remote monitoring reducesor can prevent unnecessary engineer call-outs. Inturn the associated mobilization costs are mini-mized or saved respectively.

All applications including warehouses, factories,schools and offices can employ and benefit fromthis concept. Controlled environments, airports,hospitals, power plants and other transmitter freesites can use the device, confident that other orintegrated building infrastructures will not beinterfered with. Being compliant to CE the productis suitable for integration both on existing/retrofitprojects as well as new fire pump installations inthe European Union and outside.

FireEye remote monitoring has been designed sothat system faults may be identified and correctedin time to prevent damage and even loss of life. Ademonstration will be available on the SPP PumpsLtd stand F15, in Hall 1 at the INTERSCHUTZinternational exhibition for rescue, fire prevention,disaster relief, safety and security from the 7th to12th of June 2010 in Leipzig, Germany. IFP


REMOTE MONITORING A FIRE PUMP SYSTEM STATUSREMOTE MONITORING

Whether the causes of problems are accidental or

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Please visitwww.sppfireeye.com orwww.spppumps.com forfurther information


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Control Logic w/p 16/2/06 12:22 pm Page 1


AUDIBLE ALARMS

By Bob Choppen

Cooper Fulleon

That may sound like a strange statement tocome from someone who works for anorganisation that provides literally millions of

alarm sounders of many different types every year,but it is I think a fair assessment.

Alarm sounders, or Audible Alarm Devices(AADs) in current parlance, have not changed intheir basic function since their conception; that isto make a noise to warn of an emergency. This isin contrast with other elements of safety systems,such as detection technology which constantlyadvances to provide earlier and more accurateanalysis of emergency conditions and has benefit-ted greatly from developments in electronics andsoftware. So why haven’t alarm sounders movedon at the same pace or in the same way? Theunderlying technology irrefutably has changed andhas brought benefits to efficiency and cost, butthe basic function remains unchanged. A 50 yearold bell would be just as effective as any currentsounder. In fact many bells Fulleon still providesare based on designs from the 1970s.

The limiting factor for audible alarms is people,the basic auditory sense is not evolving so thebasic technology is locked into providing anacoustic signal covering a small frequency range.

The observation that the effectiveness ofaudible alarms is diminishing is based on the rapidchanges in society and the built environment.

The often casual regard for alarm signals is bornout of the sheer number of alarms we endureevery day, right from the microwave “ping” to theinvariably ignored car alarm and the ever presentmobile phone. The difficulty of identifying animportant life safety alarm is compounded by thelack of a nationally recognised UK fire alarm

signal, so even critical signals can be consigned to the general morass of contemporary noise.

Mobile technology has spawned the “Podestri-an” who are estimated to be involved in as manyas 10% of minor traffic accidents (Telegraph Oct2008). The use of music players and mobile phoneseither masks the noise of approaching traffic or dis-tracts the user to the exclusion of normal safetyconsiderations. While the “Podestrian” is an essen-tially external manifestation, there are a surprisingnumber of employees using personal music sourcesto ease the boredom of repetitive jobs and arequite oblivious to their immediate surroundings.

Normal hearing is taken for granted by most ofus, but there are estimated to be nearly nine millionpeople who are deaf or hard of hearing of which700,000 are thought to be severe to profoundlydeaf. (RNID 2005). For these people sounders are oflittle use. In addition, increased concerns over healthand safety are encouraging the greater use of eardefenders in the work place and so there is a sizeablecontingent of people who work in environmentswhere any alarm sounded is unlikely to be heardover process noise and may also be rendered belowa normal hearing threshold even when the noise hasstopped because of the hearing protection in use.

Audible alarms are, however, still treated as themost effective alarm method overall; they are costeffective to install and the efficacy of the installedsystem can be easily assessed with commonlyavailable instruments, but in many situations theydo need to be supplemented.

Visual alarm devicesTo overcome the issues mentioned above commu-nication needs to be broadened to stimulate

A Visible Improve

Audibility?Audible alarms are firmly established as the warning method for fire detection aswell as many other types of safety system and yet their effectiveness has alwaysbeen limited and now appears to be decreasing further due to changes inpeople’s behaviour.

P. 62-65 Voice & Visual 17/5/10 3:35 pm Page 62

senses other than hearing alone and in 2010 thefocus is falling on visual alarms.

Visual Alarm Devices (VADs) have been used tosupplement audible alarms for many years eitheras separate units or integrated with the alarmsounders themselves. The awareness of the needto complement audible alarms has received moreattention in recent years, no doubt driven byobservance of the requirements of the DisabilitiesDiscrimination Act (DDA).

As the use of visual alarm devices has grownthere has been a consequent increase in the load-ing placed on alarm circuits and Fulleon hasresponded by producing more efficient visualalarms and also by developing versions of all of itssounders with integrated visual alarms to reducethe power and ease installation requirements.

The problem that has been faced by bothmanufacturers and users is that in Europe therehas been no standard method for the measure-ment of visual alarms or any documents to provideguidance on how to use them within a building.The lack of standards has given rise to manufac-turers rating their products in a number of ways,most choosing to use joules, the amount ofenergy discharged in the flash tube, but this hasonly a tenuous relationship to the amount of thelight produced and nothing to do with where the light goes. Now this has not really mattered asthe installers and systems designers had little ideaof how bright the visual alarms needed to be, sothe criteria for choice often boiled down to powerconsumption. Aware of the need for a moremeaningful comparison of light sources, whetherxenon flash tube or LED, Fulleon took the decisionto rate all visual alarms by light output, based ontesting to the American UL standards and werefortunate to be able to call on the facilities of their

sister company Cooper Wheelock for the measure-ments. This aided comparison between Fulleonproducts, but did little to allow comparison withcompetitors or with the decision of what to use inany particular application.

As in any market where there is a requirement,such as the DDA, without any related regulation,there has been much confusion and misinforma-tion in fire industry, some arising through the inno-cence of ignorance and some intended to exploitthat ignorance. Many systems installed with thebest intentions may well fall far below the stan-dards required.

Salvation2010 Will see the introduction of two importantdocuments to the UK. The first: EN54-23 2010 Firedetection and fire alarm systems – Part 23: Firealarm devices – Visual alarm devices, is close topublication, although at the time of writing it isnot exactly clear when. This will provide a methodof test and classification for VADs, allowing manu-facturers to rate their beacons/strobes/VADs in away that allows the system designer to compareand assess performance and suitability for anapplication. The second document being preparedis by a joint task group from BRE/LPC and the FIAand is targeted for publication as LPS 1652 Codeof Practice for Visual Alarm Devices used for FireWarning, later this year. This document will directlycomplement EN54-23 and provide guidance onhow to use the test data to give effective results intypical situations.

EN54-23 is a parallel to EN54-3 for audiblealarms, but differs in that VADs are classified intoone of three categories by their intendedapplication. Two of the categories for “Wall”mounted or “Ceiling” mounted products have


A VISIBLE IMPROVEMENT AUDIBLE ALARMS

ment

WALL MOUNTEDW-2.4-6

Cuboid shape with illumination of at least 0.4lux

VAD

Min Height2.4m

6m

6m


specific targets for light distribution patterns,whereas the third category “Open” allows themanufacturer freedom to specify particular charac-teristics which fall outside of the other twocategories.

The area of coverage determined by the testing

is based on the distance at which the “requiredillumination” is achieved, which is 0.4lumens/m2

on a surface perpendicular to the direction of thelight emitted from the VAD.

The Wall and Ceiling classes will require differ-ent light dispersion characteristics, the Wall format


AUDIBLE ALARMS

CEILING MOUNTEDC-6-6

VAD

Mounting Height6m

6m

Cylindrical shapewith illuminationof at least 0.4lux

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requiring the manufacturer to state a mountingheight on a wall, minimum 2.4m and the width ofa square room over which the VAD will providecoverage. So the data on the beacon could read W-2.4-6, ie mounted at a height of 2.4m the VAD will cover a room 6m square. The VADwill therefore be required to cover a volume;below its mounting height. Any light goingupward will be wasted as far as this categorisationis concerned.

Similarly the Ceiling format will be assessed onthe diameter of its coverage volume when mount-ed at a height of 3, 6 or 9m. The VAD in this caseneeds to radiate more or less equally all around.

The Open class will both allow existing designsto be measured, even if not optimised for wall orCeiling mounting, or permit a manufacturer todesign dispersion characteristics specifically forcertain applications, maybe to suit corridors orwhere mounting heights fall outside those pre-scribed by the standard.

LPS1652 aims to provide guidance on how thedata generated by EN54-23 can be used to plan asystem and also fills in many of the considerationsabsent from the information provided regardingvisual alarms in the fire industries bible: BS 5839-1:2002+A2:2008 Fire detection and fire alarm sys-tems for buildings. Code of practice for systemdesign, installation, commissioning and maintenance.

A key element of the work that has gone intoLPS1652 is the assessment of how effective VADsare in practical situations and how the basic datafrom EN54-24 can be adjusted to suit variations inviewing conditions within a building. This takesinto account both direct and indirect viewing ofthe light from a visual alarm as well as the effectsof ambient light levels in the locality.

An outcome of these two documents is thatVADs used with fire systems are likely to need higherlight outputs than are currently employed to meetthe requirements of the DDA. Low power deviceswhether xenon or LED based are likely to be effec-tive only in smaller spaces similar to toilet cubicles;larger areas will require higher output devices withconsequently higher power requirements

Undoubtedly this will affect the present genera-tion of visual alarms whether and will particularlytest the ingenuity of the engineers working on thenext iterations of addressable products.

Future considerationsIt should be remembered that VADs are only onesolution to supplementing audible alarms and thatthey too have many limitations on their effective-ness which will require more careful planning thanfor an audible system.

Increased costs to both manufacturers andinstallers brought by the new standard will encour-age the investigation of other alarm methods suchas portable tactile devices, mobile phones and so on.

Despite its shortcomings and the changingbehaviour of the public there appears to be littleon the horizon to displace the audible alarm fromits place as the staple for alarm systems. Voicealarm is commonly used to improve informationand understanding, but does not help where asounder is inaudible or masked by other activities.The way forward appears to be more integrationbetween different techniques and may requiresolutions tailored more specifically to individualsand locations. IFP


A VISIBLE IMPROVEMENT

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CLEAN AGENTS


The fire suppression industry has been at theforefront of adopting practices in support ofresponsible product use since the Montreal

Protocol regulations came into effect more thantwenty years ago. Industry-driven voluntary codesof practice have helped ensure that the societalbenefits of fire suppression agents are maintainedwhile environmental impact is minimized.

It is important to consider all key criteria whenchoosing a safe, effective and environmentallyresponsible fire extinguishing system. It would be amistake to focus on only one aspect of a system,such as the global warming potential or GWP ofthe extinguishing agent. The reality is that anagent’s GWP contributes to climate change only ifthe agent is released into the atmosphere. Firesuppression industry data indicate that minimalamounts of extinguishing agent are ever releasedto the atmosphere since most suppressionequipment doesn’t encounter a fire scenario.

Voluntary codes of practice within the industryhave established best practices for installing, main-taining, and servicing fire suppression systems, andthese measures have proven highly effective in con-trolling and reducing unwanted emissions. Theindustry has also been working closely with the U.S.Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to develop areporting program to track fire system emissions,the HFC Emission Estimating Program (HEEP).1

In fact, worldwide emissions from fire protection,including fire events, are estimated to representless than 0.02% of total greenhouse gas emissions

on a CO2 equivalent basis and less than 1% ofemissions from the basket of gases manufacturedfor use.

To put these volumes into further perspective,the average fire system in the U.S. contains about155 kgs of extinguishing agent, meaning an aver-age system releases about 4.5 mt CO2 equivalent.According to the U.S. EPA, this release rateequates to the same GWP impact of 9/10ths of apassenger car or [less than half] 4/10ths of yourhome’s annual energy use.2

What about the future environmental risk of anever-growing base of protected facilities? The HEEPdata shows emissions from fire systems leveling off,indicating that system emissions are not directlytied to the number of installed fire systems Systeminstallations have increased consistently every yearover the period of the HEEP data, from 2002 to2008, yet the volume of emissions from that grow-ing base remains the same. One explanation forthis non-intuitive data is that the number of fireand false discharge events is steady, no matter howmany sites are protected. Further, the industry cur-rently has a well-established maintenance, recoveryand reclamation infrastructure, providing a robustglobal market for recovering and reusing cleanagents in new fire extinguishing systems, recharg-ing existing systems after fires, and removingagents from use through conversion or destructiontechnologies. Over the years, these maintenanceand recovery programs have become more refinedand efficient proving that, with proper care and

By Alfred Thornton

DuPont FireExtinguishants

Fire SuppressionWith increasing corporate and societal attention on product stewardship andsustainability as part of achieving long-term environmental goals, many companiesare looking at ways to improve the environmental profile of their facilities andprocesses by selecting an environmentally preferred fire suppression solution.

P. 67-68 Clean Agents 17/5/10 3:36 pm Page 67

market incentives, emissions can be reduced, agentand system sustainability can be attained, andenvironmental responsibility can be realized.

Since clean agent fire systems have a lowemission impact, how should an end-user (i.e.,facility manager, building owner, and administra-tor) evaluate and make the best choice in a firesuppression system? Fire suppression systemsshould be considered as an integral complexsystem, including, but not limited to, the choice ofagent. Just as the science and politics of climatechange are complex and interrelated, so too, thechoice of the right fire suppression technology forany given application is more than a single com-ponent or even sum of components, and requirescareful decision making.

First, it is critical to ensure that the performanceof the suppression system properly matches theapplication. Protection of life and health must bethe top priority, followed by protection of propertyand the environment. Selecting a suppression sys-tem with the main focus on achieving an arbitraryGWP target not only wastes resources but mayultimately prove to be a worse choice environmen-tally as well. A high quality system from a recog-nized manufacturer, carrying an internationallyrecognized approval (such as UnderwritersLaboratory, VdS, or Factory Mutual), helps ensurethe system performs as expected, releasing onlyduring a real fire event. Proper service and routinemaintenance by trained technicians with respectedservice firms will enable the suppression system toprotect lives and property from fire.

In evaluating the environmental impact of a firesuppression system, it is important to consider thequantity of equipment required, including systemstorage space, as well as installation and servicingcosts. Achieving the same hazard protection goalswith physically larger, more complex fire systemscan increase a facilities overall environmentalimpact. Systems utilizing efficient, high performanceextinguishing agents such as DuPont™ FM-200®

reduce resource requirements, going back to the

hardware manufacturing process;they also require less floor space,thus reducing all of the attendantoperational costs associated withmanaging a highly protected riskfacility. According to a Data CenterNews article3 the operational cost ofa U.S. data center ranges from $80-$112/ft2; a large part of that costgoes to power and environmentalcontrols. Displacing functional floorspace to accommodate a less effi-cient fire system increases the oper-ational overhead requirements forthese facilities and creates an addedenvironmental impact over the life-time of the installation.

When considering the overallenvironmental performance of yourfacility, consider LEED® (Leadership inEnergy and Environmental Design)standards. The U.S. Green BuildingCouncil (USGBC), a non-profit coali-tion of building industry leaders,developed LEED® to establish a com-mon standard of measurement forenvironmentally sustainable buildingpractices. Several clean agent fire

extinguishant options contribute toward LEED®

credits in the Energy & Atmosphere category, con-tributing toward USGBC Certification. Money savedby choosing a high performance, cost-effective firesuppression system can be used to upgrade buildingmaterials or for other energy performance enhance-ments. Improvements in these other operationalareas are weighted five to ten times more heavily inthe LEED® certification process than improvementsrelated to fire systems. Focusing limited resourceson areas that provide the greatest return is bothfiscally prudent and environmentally responsible.

It is certain that “sustainability” will continue tobe a growing concern for critical facilities. Facilitymanagers, building owners, architects and designengineers will continue to review and examineoptions for improving a site’s environmental profileand fire systems are not exempt from that process.By combining a safe, effective fire suppressionsystem that offers the highest performance withan efficient use of space, energy and capital,owners can focus their resources on making a realdifference in reducing a company’s environmentalfootprint.

For nearly two decades, HFC clean agents haveclearly demonstrated they offer the best balancebetween performance, economic value, andenvironmental responsibility for the special hazardsfire protection industry. To choose a fire suppres-sion system based solely on the GWP of the agentused in the system is to fail to properly appreciatethe true impact and importance of fire extinguish-ing system in the overall protection and operationof a critical facility.

References1 Report of the HFC Emissions Estimating Program,March 2010.2 US EPA Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator;http://www.epa.gov/RDEE/energy-resources/calcula-tor.html#results3 Data Center Locations Ranked by Operating Cost,Data Center News, 25 Jul 2006. SearchData Center.com

IFP


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P. 67-68 Clean Agents 17/5/10 3:36 pm Page 68

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In some cases the removal of portable fireextinguishers appears to have been supported bythe local fire brigade at a time when fire safety

legislation in the UK has placed the responsibility forfire safety onto the shoulders of building ownersand occupiers.

The rationale behind the removal of portable fireextinguishers is the belief that they are a hazard inuntrained hands and could encourage people to tryto tackle a blaze themselves rather than leaving thebuilding. However in view of the large number offires that are safely extinguished every year usingportable extinguishers, surely it makes more senseto focus on providing training rather than removingwhat has proven to be very effective means of con-taining a small fire?

In general fire brigades believe in a “get out, stayout and call the fire service out” approach. How-ever, this advice means that the residents of a block of flats should resist any urge to extinguish aminor waste bin fire in the foyer, activate the alarm,evacuate the entire building and await the arrival ofthe fire brigade.

This approach appears to be very sensible untilyou take into account the fact that things are very different in today’s UK fire service as a result ofthe Fire and Rescue Act in 2004. This act requiresthat every brigade has an integrated RiskManagement Plan which is aimed at the complexproblem of balancing its obligations with itsresources. The outcome in some parts of thecountry is that brigades will now not respond to analarm unless there is “visual confirmation” of a fire.In other cases fire personnel in fourwheel-drivevehicle or on a motorcycle are sent to assess the firebefore committing further resources. Also, somestations now have lower manning levels during thenight.

The fact of the matter, according to a survey pub-lished by the FIA is that portable extinguishers savethe British economy alone around £500 millionevery year and extinguish completely around 66,000fires. Even these figures may underestimate the roleplayed by portable extinguishers as they aredesigned to prevent relatively minor incidentsbecoming major conflagrations, so their use oftengoes unreported.

In comparison figures from the UK government’sDepartment of Communities and Local Governmentthat show that the fire and rescue service in the UKattended 88,400 fires in buildings in the UK. Thusthe effective use of portable extinguishers is undeni-able, and adopting a widespread policy of removing

them would place extra strain on the resources ofthe fire service.

So, shouldn’t we be concentrating on the safeuse of portable extinguishers, rather than dismissingthem and leaving nothing in their place. In Englandand Wales, for example, The Regulatory Reform(Fire Safety) Order covers the common areas in suchbuildings, which means that there is a legal need toappoint a “responsible person”, to ensure thatadequate training is provided, and to ensure thatresidents are aware of the fire safety precautionsbeing implemented in the building. Training in thesafe use of portable extinguishers is readily availableand inexpensive. Many fire brigades now includeinformation on the selection, placing and use ofportable extinguishers on their websites, as well asoffering short training courses. In addition reputablesuppliers of portable extinguishers also are only toowilling to work with a building’s ‘responsibleperson’ regarding the selection of the mostappropriate extinguisher and to help ensure that thelegislative requirements are being met.

Any training provided should cover emergencyprocedures, familiarisation of the building and itsescape routes, an understanding of the differenttypes of fire and their likely causes, the differenttypes of portable extinguisher and their safe use,and when not to attempt to use a portable extin-guisher to fight a blaze. This may, at first glance,appear to be a somewhat onerous schedule, butmost training courses take between a couple ofhours for a basic portable extinguisher course, tohalf-day courses that combine both portableextinguisher training with fire awareness.

Finally the fire sector is becoming ever moreaware of the need for third-party certification as theonly reliable means of verifying that products gen-uinely comply with the standard being claimed forthem. This is certainly the case with portable fireextinguishers and end users should be encouragedto put their faith only in portables that are main-tained by installers that can prove their competenceby membership of a third party certification schemesuch as those run by BAFE and LPCB. IFP

Removal of FireExtinguishers – isit worth the risk?In recent years it has not been uncommon to see risk assessmentsrecommending that portable fire extinguishers be removed from the commonareas of blocks of flats. This seems an odd recommendation when one bears inmind that there is a plethora of statistics from the UK and Europe that show thatportable extinguishers have a life and property saving role to play.

FIA COMMENT

P. 70 FIA Comment 17/5/10 3:36 pm Page 70

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INDUSTRIAL FLAME DETECTION


Flame Detectors are the favored solution forhigh risk areas and outdoors where smoke andheat detectors are not effective. Unlike smoke

and heat detectors, the fire/products of fire(smoke/heat) do not have to reach the opticaldetector to be recognized as it can ‘sees the fire(flame) radiation from distances up to 65 meters,within a 100º ‘cone of vision’ in all directions –and raise an alarm within 5 seconds. Detection istaken to the fire rather than waiting for the fire toreach the detector.

Optical flame detectors provide the fastestdetection of a fuel fire in the early ignition stage.

About flamesFlames emit electromagnetic radiation at a widerange of wavelengths, which vary depending onthe fuel being burned and environmental condi-tions that affect the radiation transmission in theatmosphere. Optical flame detectors operate bysensing one or more of these wavelengths. (Fig. 1)

Many combustible materials include carbon,

and combustion of such hydrocarbon fuels,typically generate hot carbon dioxide (CO2) gas.Hot CO2 has a characteristic infrared (IR) emissionspectrum, with a relatively strong and well-definedpeak at wavelengths from approximately 4.2 to4.5 microns, and relatively little intensity at wave-lengths immediately on either side of the peak. Inthe presence of an actual fire, the radiationintensity in the peak band is generally high, whilelittle or no radiation is received in the side bands.Thus, high radiation intensity in the peak band ascompared to that in the non-peak side bands isused to determine whether a flame is present.

Some other combustibles lack carbon, forexample hydrogen, ammonia, metal oxides, silaneand other non-organic fuels. In their combustionprocess, they generate a lot of hot water vaporthat has a characteristic IR emission spectrum witha relatively strong peak around 2.7 microns.

One of the problems in detecting fire conditions,particularly small fires or at long range, is the poten-tial for a high false alarm rate. Such spurious radia-

By Ian Buchanan

European Manager,Spectrex Inc

Industrial FlameDetection – the‘pros and cons’Optical flame detection has progressed to meet the ever-growing demands formaximum reliability, availability and minimal false alarm events and is widelyemployed in many high risk industries, such as those in oil & gas (onshore &offshore), petrochemicals, hazardous material handling and storage, etc., toprotect both high-value plant and personnel.

P. 73-76 Industrial Flame 17/5/10 3:36 pm Page 73

tion sources might not be large enough to activateshort-range detectors, but may activate detectorswhose sensitivity has been increased to maximizetheir detection distance. A false alarm may result ina costly discharge of the fire extinguisher and itsreplacement and/or plant shutdown.

Several generations of flame detectors havebeen developed over the years to address thevarious fire and explosion hazards, particularly intoday’s high-risk industries.

Flame detection technologiesFlame Detectors usually employ several opticalsensors, working in specific spectral ranges thatdetect simultaneously the incoming radiation at the selected wavelengths. These signals areanalyzed in one or more of the following ways:

1 Comparator techniques (and-gate techniques).2 Flickering frequency analysis.3 Threshold energy signal comparison.4 Mathematical ratios and correlations between

various signals.5 Correlation to memorized spectral analysis.

Modern Flame Detectors employ several of theabove-mentioned techniques using multiple sensorsto provide enhanced reliability and accuracy. Thespectral bands selected for each type of detectordetermine the detector’s sensitivity, detection range,speed of response and immunity to false alarms.The flame radiation spectral pattern, being unique,allows several spectral ranges to be employedsimultaneously in the various detection devices.

The following, in chronological order, is a briefreview of the technologies, their limitations andthe solutions that have been developed andincorporated into modern flame detectors. All are still in use today although early types tend to be restricted to very specific applications.

UV flame detection – single sensorThe earliest flame detector utilized the UV spectralsignature of some flames which have a patternthat can be readily recognized over the back-

ground radiation. UV flame detec-tors detect flames at high speed(3-4 milliseconds) due to the high-energy UV radiation emitted byfires and explosions. However, theUV flame radiation can be attenu-ated by atmospheric pollutants. Inaddition, false alarms can resultfrom random UV radiation fromstimuli such as lighting, arc weldingand radiation, X-rays, solar radia-tion (not absorbed by the atmos-phere).

The latest generation of UVdetectors are more reliable but stillsusceptible to false alarms andlimited to approx 15m detectiondistance. They tend to be usedindoors where interfering radiationis not present and where very fast response is necessary, e.g.munitions manufacture.

IR flame detection – singlesensorIR radiation is present in mostflames. However, flames are notthe only source of IR radiation, infact, any hot surface emits IRradiation that coincides with flameIR radiation wavelengths.

Most single band IR detectors arebased on pyroelectric sensors with a4.4 micron (m) optical filter and alow frequency (1-10 Hz) electronicband pass filter. This type of detectorwill recognize a 1 sq.ft. Gasoline panfire from a distance of 15m.


40/40 plus

THE ‘PROS AND CONS’INDUSTRIAL FLAME DETECTION

Figure 1

Figure 2


Adv A4 30.09.2009 4:19 PM Page 1

Composite

C M Y CM MY CY CMY K

The new SharpEye 40/40 Series Flame Detectors are designed for long-term, reliable operation in severe,high-risk environments. All 40/40 Series detectors offer enhanced reliability and durability with a full 5-year warranty.

A heated window, fully SIL2 [TUV] certified and EN54-10, FM3260 and DNV performance approved, along with Exhazardous area approvals [ATEX, IECEx, FM, CSA] ensure your peace of mind. Interfacing is also easy - we provide achoice of relay contacts, analogue mA, RS485 Modbus and HART. All of this combined in a compact, lightweight but

rugged package makes the 40/40 Flame Detector the one to choose!The 40/40 Series includes well-known and proven technologies such as triple IR (IR3) and UV/IR, and even a new Multi

IR that allows simultaneous detection of hydrocarbon and hydrogen fires at long distances.

40/40 Series Flame Detectors

keep a SharpEyeon your safety

Headquarters NJ (USA): +1 (973) 239-8398Houston Office: +1 (281) 463-6772

Europe: +44 (141) 578-0693E-mail: [email protected]

Web: www.spectrex-inc.com

However, these IR detectors are still subject tofalse alarms caused by blackbody radiation(heaters, incandescent lamps, halogen lamps, etc.).

UV/IR flame detection – dual sensorDual spectrum UV/IR technology employs a solarblind UV sensor with a high signal-to-noise ratioand a narrow band IR sensor. The UV sensor itselfis a good fire detector but easily false alarms.Thus, the IR sensing channel was added, workingat the 2.7m or the 4.1m–4.6m spectral ranges andserve as a reliable detector for many mid-rangeapplications. (Fig. 2)

However, even this advanced technology has itslimitations, since each type of fire has its ownspecific ratio of UV to IR output. Hence, specificdual UV/IR detectors must combine both signalsand compare them to distinguish a fire signaturefrom false alarm stimuli.

To ensure reliability, a discriminating circuitcompares the UV and IR thresholds, their ratio aswell as their flickering mode. Only when allparameters satisfy the detection algorithm is a firesignal alarm confirmed. However, UV radiatingsources are sources for false alarms.

Since false alarms can affect both UV and IRchannels, certain scenarios may occur when a fireis present. Unwanted solar spikes in the UV com-bined with flickering IR sources (such as movingobjects in front of hot sources) are liable to causefalse alarms, even when a fire is not present.

Again, detection distance is limited to max 15m.

IR/IR flame detection – dual sensorMore recently, the fire’s main IR spectral character-istic feature at 4.3m–4.5m is analyzed thoroughly.This “differential spectral” approach is where twospectral ranges are analyzed: one emitted stronglyby the fire, while the second is emitted weakly bythe surroundings, thus the ratio gives a substantialmathematical tool for fire signal processing.

However, since most dual IR detectors use the 4.3m sensor as their main channel for firerecognition, they suffer from atmosphericattenuation, especially at long range detectionapplications. Again, detection distance is limited tomax 15m.

Triple infrared (IR3) flame detectionTRIPLE IR (IR3) technology is a major breakthroughin fire detection, which detects by concurrently

monitoring with three IRsensors.These signals arefurther analyzed mathemat-ically with respect to theirratios and correlations.

IR3 detectors will notfalse alarm to any continu-ous, modulated or pulsatingradiation sources other thanfire (including sources likeblack or gray body radia-tion). The high sensitivity ofthe Triple IR technology,coupled with its inherentimmunity to false alarms,enables another majorbenefit of this technology –substantially longer detec-tion ranges than previouslyobtained with standard

detectors – 65m compared to 15m for the sametest fire. (Fig. 3)

Multispectral flame detectionA major concern in optical flame detection is IRradiation with spectra, at least superficially, similarto those emitted by flames, which may be pro-duced by many non-flame sources, including warmobjects, sunlight and various forms of artificiallighting. Such IR radiation may be misinterpretedas a flame. However, simply ignoring or filtering thisradiation may result in actual flames being masked.

Analyzing multiple spectral bands, identifyingthe absence of a strong peak, eliminating spectraresembling a blackbody curve, employing wideband and narrow band filters, are some of themodern ‘tools’ in flame detection.

Multiple IR sensors is the best technology, pro-vided the selection of sensors and filters coversmost of the flammables spectra (including hydro-carbons and hydrogen flames) and eliminates allthe false alarm spectra in the monitored area.Such detectors can simultaneously detect a hydro-carbon fire at 65m and a hydrogen flame at 30m.

The increased activity in LNG and LPG process-ing and storage also requires the use of flamedetectors, and recent improvements in theeffective detection range for such gas type flames(e.g. methane, propane, etc.) means that fewerdetectors are required to properly protect anygiven area than was previously the case.

Due to the increased reliability, durability, highquality and performance, Spectrex 40/40 SeriesFlame Detectors are approved to SIL2 (TUV) forsafety integrity; performance approved to EN54-10and FM3260 as well as Ex Zone 1 hazardous area approved with a resultant extension in thewarranty period to 5 years.

SummaryFlame detection technologies have advancedsignificantly since the first UV detector, primarily‘pushed’ by the ever-growing demands of modernindustries for reliable and cost-effective detectionequipment for their expensive high-risk facilitiesand processes. Smaller in size, larger in brains,modern optical flame detectors provide enhancedflame detection reliability and longer detectionranges with minimal (or no) false alarms, backedby independent confirmation of their performanceand integrity. IFP


Figure 3

THE ‘PROS AND CONS’INDUSTRIAL FLAME DETECTION


For over 90 years, The Reliable Automatic Sprinkler Co., Inc.has manufactured fire sprinklers, valves, and fire protectionaccessories. They are also a major distributor of sprinkler sys-tem components. Reliable produces a full line of both solderelement and frangible glass bulb sprinklers for virtually everytype of protection requirements. Reliable has a complete lineof fire protection valves for controlling water flow and providingalarm signaling to include check, alarm, dry, deluge, and pre-action valves.

Reliable Fire Sprinkler Ltd.Manufacturer & Distributor of Fire Protection Equipment

www.reliablesprinkler.comWestern Europe: Berny Holden - [email protected]: Hartmut Winkler - [email protected]

UK Office: +44.1342316800Germany Office: +49.62176212223

TECHNOLOGY QUALITY SERVICE• •


PROTECTING ELECTRICAL CABINETS

For the past 100 years or so, CO2 has beensuccessfully extinguishing fires and continuesto this day to be a popular, versatile and effec-

tive fire suppression agent. Frequently, the onlydetracting consideration has been that it is notsuitable for the protection of areas where peoplemight be present, as its discharge in fireextinguishing concentrations would be lethal toroom occupants.

However, while the full-room total floodingdischarge of CO2 can be used without damagingelectrical equipment, this does not mean that CO2is suitable for every electrical environment. This isbecause the CO2 discharge nozzles in a room are typically some distance from the sensitiveelectronics. This is not the case with direct-discharge, tube-operated systems in enclosedelectrical cabinets, where the CO2 discharge maybe a matter of only a few centimetres away fromdelicate circuit boards or microchips.

This has the potential to adversely impact on avast number of businesses where electrical cabinetsand enclosures maintain and control an array of

business-critical processes – machinery controlcabinets, switchgear, substations or simple fuseboxes – and where the loss or damage of theequipment could have devastating consequences.

In these applications, the direct-discharged CO2suppressant agent is released in liquid form thattransmutes instantly into a gas, reducing thetemperature to a super-cooled –70°C. This instantlyfreezes the humidity throughout the cabinet andeffectively transforms the electrical panels into“snow boxes”. This “snow” is a mixture of frozencarbon dioxide – often called dry ice – and waterthat can also collect dust and dirt particles frominside the cabinet. This “snow” melts into waterinside the panels and then comes into contactwith the energised components. The dust particlesthat are collected within the snow are depositedon to surfaces inside the enclosure, creating anelectrically conductive substrate.

The rapid cooling from ambient temperature to–70°C can also damage sensitive electronic com-ponents through a process known as thermalshock, which can damage some – possibly all – of

By Nick Grant

EMEA Vice Presidentand General Manager ofFiretrace International

Using CO2 to protect electrical cabinets and enclosures risks doing considerableand expensive damage to the very equipment it is seeking to protect. Nick Grantexplains.

Protecting Electri cwith CO2 is a high r

P. 78-80 Protecting Elec Cabine 17/5/10 3:36 pm Page 78

the equipment in the cabinet. Also, thereare still direct-discharged CO2 systems onthe market that discharge the CO2 as agas, rather than as a liquid that thentransmutes into a gas, where on dis-charge so much frost is formed that thecylinder valve freezes up and dischargesonly a portion of the cylinder’s contents.Estimates suggest that this may be as lowas 50 percent. This serious drawback hasthough been overcome in ISO9001:2008-certified Firetrace InternationalFIRETRACE® automatic fire suppressionsystems by the innovative developmentof a modified direct/indirect valve.

However, when the CO2 transmutesfrom a liquid to a gas it expands at a rateof 500:1. This sudden expansion in vol-ume creates a significant over pressurisa-tion that can also seriously harm sealedenclosures and deform metal panels. Theresult is that, while the fire in the cabinetis suppressed, the damage caused tonearby electrical equipment by choosingto use direct-discharged CO2 is likely tobe extensive.

This might, of course, beg the ques-tion: “Is it necessary to protect electricalcabinets with this type of dedicated firesuppression?” The answer is an unequiv-ocal “yes”. Reliance on facility-wide sys-tems, even with the most sophisticatedand integrated installations, is seriouslyflawed because, by the time a ceiling-mounted smoke, heat or flame sensor ora beam detector has been activated by afire in an electrical cabinet, it is all butcertain to be extensively damaged if notdestroyed. By their very nature, enclosedmicro environments are isolated from thefacility’s main fire detection and alarm installationand firefighting facilities.

Any energised equipment – both low voltageand high voltage – can catch fire. Typically, fires inelectrical cabinets are caused by loose connectionsand faulty cables that, when power is runningthrough them, the electricity can arc. This arcedelectricity is extremely hot and can cause the cable sheathing to burn and spread to other com-ponents. It is therefore essential for the firedetection and suppression to be targeted on theconnections and components, such as switchesand transformers.

So, what suppressants are suitable for electricalcabinets? While there are any number of agentsthat can be trusted to suppress a fire, not all canbe relied upon not to damage the electricalcabinet they are endeavouring to protect. Certainlynot CO2.

Unlike CO2, properly designed systems withagents such as DuPont FM-200® and

3M™Novec™1230 Fire Protection Fluid dischargeat much higher temperatures and have proven toprovide fast and reliable suppression without thedetrimental side effects of direct-discharged CO2.Both FM-200 and Novec 1230 are non-conductive,clean suppression agents and, significantly, neitherhas either the huge temperature change fromambient, or the huge pressure change fromambient that precludes CO2 from being suitablefor these applications.

Novec 1230, for example, exists as a liquid atroom temperature. It is stored as a low-vapour-pressure fluid that, when discharged, transmutesinto a colourless and odourless gas, using a con-centration of the fluid that is well below theagent’s saturation or condensation level. Bothagents have been used extensively by FiretraceInternational in its FIRETRACE systems, of whichthere are now more than 150,000 installationsaround the world.

Both agents are also approved by UL [Under-


CO2 IS A HIGH RISK OPTION PROTECTING ELECTRICAL CABINETS

cal Cabinets risk option


writers Laboratories] and FM [Factory Mutual] andare listed in the appropriate codes and standards,such as NFPA 2001 [Standard on Clean Agent FireExtinguishing Systems] and BS EN 15004:2008[Fixed firefighting systems. Gas extinguishingsystems].

FIRETRACE provides reliable, around-the-clock,unsupervised protection; it is self-activating, whichmeans it needs neither electricity nor externalpower. It also requires neither manual activationnor monitoring, virtually no maintenance, and can be fitted as a new-build installation or

retrofitted to existing micro-environments in amatter of hours. A FIRETRACE installation does not affect the IP ingress protection rating of thecabinet or any internal enclosures, as it does notnecessitate the drilling of holes. It also does not involve the introduction of any electricallyconductive hardware.

It is the only UL [Underwriters Laboratories]listed, FM [Factory Mutual] approved and CE[Conformité Européene or European Conformity]

marked tube-operated system in the world that istested as an automatic fire detection and suppres-sion system with, globally, 150,000 successfullycompleted installations.

Briefly, the system comprises an extinguishingagent cylinder that is attached to technically-advanced proprietary Firetrace Detection Tubingvia a custom-engineered valve. This leak-resistantpolymer tubing is a linear pneumatic heat andflame detector that is designed to deliver thedesired temperature-sensitive detection and deliverycharacteristics. It can be routed throughout an

electrical cabinet and, when the tubing is exposedto heat and radiant energy from a fire, it rupturesinstantly and immediately directs the suppressionagent at the source of the fire.

In addition to FM-200 and Novec 1230, FIRE-TRACE systems also use ABC dry chemical agentsand AFFF [Aqueous Film Forming Foam] con-centrate. In appropriate cases, CO2 is the chosensuppressant, but certainly not when it comes toelectrical cabinets. IFP


CO2 IS A HIGH RISK OPTIONPROTECTING ELECTRICAL CABINETS

FIRETRACE provides reliable, around-the-clock,

unsupervised protection; it is self-activating, which

means it needs neither electricity nor external power. It

also requires neither manual activation nor monitoring,

virtually no maintenance, and can be fitted as a new-

build installation or retrofitted to existing

micro-environments in a matter of hours.

Nick Grant is EMEA VicePresident and GeneralManager of FiretraceInternational. He is based atthe company’s EMEA headoffice is in the UK and can becontacted on +44 (0) 1293780390 or via email [email protected]


Firetrace INTERNATINALv6-FSWORLD AD | bleed: 303mmx216mm trim: 296mm x 210mm live: 276mm x 194mm

Pilkington Pyrostop®

Pilkington Pyrodur®

Pilkington Pyroclear®

Pilkington Deutschland AG Haydnstraße 19 45884 Gelsenkirchen

Telephone +49 (0) 209 168 0 Fax +49 (0) 209 168 20 56

[email protected] www.pilkington.com

Three product lines – Three strong performers

The primary function of any fire-resistant glass is to consistently, reliably and uncompromisingly

protect lives and properties in various applications and situations. Pilkington offers a comprehensive

range of products for specific requirements and types of risk:

• Pilkington Pyrostop® – well-proven with its high performance providing full thermal

insulation as well as integrity (EI)

• Pilkington Pyrodur® – a barrier to smoke, flames and hot gases effectively reducing

the level of dangerous radiant heat (EW)

• Pilkington Pyroclear® – the clear choice for consistent and reliable basic integrity

performance (E)

It is the unrivalled range of fully tested and approved fire-resistant framing solutions available for

the product lines in combination with additional functional properties which contributes – to a

substantial degree – towards facilitating safer as well as space giving, brighter and cost-effective

fire safety design. Pilkington fire-resistant glass is fit for purpose – a sure choice!

Pilkington IFP42 p82 10/5/10 5:19 pm Page 1

FIRE RATED GLAZING


Product reliability and fitness for purposebecome key considerations, and manufac-turers have to give more consideration to the

reproducibility of product performance in realisticand alternative fire scenarios. A risk-basedapproach requires confidence in product perfor-mance, linked to assurance on the reliability ofproduct function. That requires more attention tothe range and validity of furnace test data asevidence for product capability in fire.

Best practice principles The successful application of fire-resistant glass isbased on three core factors: ● the development of fire-resistant glass tech-

nologies with reliable and effective function, foruse in the wide range of fire environments thatmay be possible;

● repeat furnace testing of fire-resistant glass, inas many different furnaces around the world aspossible to demonstrate consistency of behaviourand effective fire protection function; and

● testing in as wide a variety of different glazedsystem applications and framing options asfeasible to provide the maximum of specifierchoice. These best practice principles for fire-resistant

glass need to be recognized and reinforced. Inno-vations in architecture and construction continueto set challenges, and fire safety is even more inthe spotlight. Pilkington continues to be at theforefront of developments. Advances maintainreliable effective fire protection whilst expandingthe variety and capability of applications. Fires inmodern buildings can be intense and the course offire growth characteristically unpredictable. The

By Mike Wood

Head of Fire Protection(Glass & GlazingDesign), Pilkington UK

Testing timesAdvances in fire safety design now include a significant element of riskassessment as a supplement, or an alternative, to prescriptive rules. There aremajor implications as a result.

P. 83-86 Fire Rated Glazing 17/5/10 3:37 pm Page 83

underlying fire-resistant technology for glassproducts therefore has to be inherently safe andreliable, requiring a significant technical input.

Implications of riskRisk-based approaches lead to focus on scope ofapplication, product sensitivities, failure mechan-isms and limits in fire. At issue are both the leveland validation of product performance. Both arenot easily satisfied by reference to a single passedfire test, least of all by an assessment that may betenuously balanced on scanty test evidence.

Development of risk-based techniques calls fora greater focus on the depth and spread of testevidence, not less. Wider consideration of real fireconditions, in what could be a range of possiblefire scenarios and a variety of fire safety objectives,is increasing in fire safety design. The uncertaintiesand risks of fire are well known. Deduction ofexpected performance in real fire conditions is aprojection from test evidence involving an elementof uncertainty. The further the claimed perfor-mance strays from the underlying test evidence,and the weaker that evidence is, then the greaterare the potential uncertainties in predicting firebehaviour. The degree of uncertainty can effectivelybe minimized by increasing as much as possiblethe scope and range of available test evidence as atestament to product reliability, consistency andeffectiveness.

Furnace testingThe prime purpose of a standard test is to allowproduct classification according to broad functional

categories which are defined by prescriptivepass/fail criteria. A base of standard test evidenceis essential. But, the prescriptive process is notideally suited to provide the type of informationrequired by a risk-based approach to design. Thetest evidence therefore needs to be as extensive aspossible, to maximise the information content forthe designer.

Assurance on repeatability and reproducibility ofperformance can best be provided by a demon-strated track record of testing – as many tests in asmany different test furnaces and framing situationsas possible, backed up by large scale tests and realfire experience. Such considerations can hardly beanswered by a single test, or a limited scope oftest evidence. In the approval process, test failuresare not recorded, and no distinction is madebetween a product that just scrapes through byless than a minute and one that can achieve asafety margin of several minutes.

Test evidence is crucial, but the informationshould not be stretched beyond its point ofapplicability and relevance, at the risk of becomingmisleading and unrepresentative. Scrutiny of theevidence should cover applicability, scope, rele-vance and validity. The designer also has to notethe expected fire situation. There are some keypoints to be mindful of:● Fire-resistant products should only be installed

as part of an approved and tested fire-resistantsystem of matched components. There shouldbe no short cuts, such as mixing and matchingof components, or using a system based onincorrect test evidence. Different glasses made


FIRE RATED GLAZING


by different manufacturers should not bepresumed to be equivalent..

● The product tested must always be representa-tive of the routine product coming off theproduction line. And if that product changes, orvaries, in a way that could compromise thesubmitted test evidence then controls must be put in place and the product re-tested.

● There are limitations on furnace test informa-tion. A proviso included in fire resistance testreports is that a test result only relates to thebehaviour of the element of construction under the particular conditions of the standardclassification test.

● Test reports remind users that the result appliesonly to the specimen as tested, also that theresult is not intended to be the sole criteria forassessing potential fire performance of theelement in use, nor to reflect actual behaviourin fires. Time in a standard test does notnecessarily directly correlate with time in a fire,under fire conditions that may well vary signifi-cantly from those of the prescriptive test.

● The fire test evidence must be relevant andapplicable to the application and the functionof the fire-resistant glazed system. For example,a test report for overhead glazing is totallyinadequate as evidence for a fire-resistantloadbearing glass floor (on the presumptionthat any horizontal glazing test will do).

Fire resistance Applicable fire resistance classes are either integrity(i.e. holding back flames and hot gases) or insula-tion (i.e. the limitation of heat transfer by allmechanisms, plus integrity). Integrity (EN classes Eand EW) refers to the prime performance as aphysical barrier to flames, fumes and hot gases.Insulation refers to the ability of the fire-resistantsystem to act both as a physical and a heat barrier(EN class EI). The insulation function is unambig-uously evaluated by measuring the surfacetemperature of the test panel. Insulation effectivelyreduces the risk of dangerous heat transmissionfor the fire, by all transfer mechanisms.

The differences between the performancecategories must not be blurred. For example,interpretation of the European EW class (integrityradiant heat) can be ambiguous. The EW radiantheat limit – less than 15 kW/sqm at a 1m distance– is not recognised by UK regulations. Radiation isdetermined by pane size, orientation and distance,as well as the intensity of the source fire. The levelof radiant heat from a glass, even under standardtest, therefore varies according to the situation. Asa result, a single measurement cannot be taken asa characteristic material value.

Practical limitsEven relatively low levels of radiant heat can causeserious burns and smoking on the protected side,perhaps secondary ignition. Radiant heat absorp-tion by a glass can also give high surface tempera-tures on the protected side, leading throughconvection to a high temperature environment onthe protected side.

The UK’s Building Research Establishment (BRE)guide safety limit for human tenability is 2.5kW/sqm. That is within the range of insulationglass, but not integrity EW (limit 15 kW/sqm).There is a tendency to pass off the EW class, insome way, as a substitute for insulation. In prac-tice, there is no comparison. The 15kW/sqm limitrepresents a high level of intolerable heat, and it isof questionable fire safety benefit.

Insulation on the other hand provides protec-tion against all heat transfer, defined by precisetemperature criteria. Insulation performance there-fore effectively protects against the risk of seriousburns, for enhanced life safety (especially forvulnerable groups) as well as benefits in providingcontainment and limiting fire spread.

AssessmentsAssessments provide an opinion on performancewere the product to be tested. Assessments aregenerally used to support minor variations in theproduct as originally tested They should not be

used in lieu of fire tests, although this is a develop-ing trend of suspect practice which requires carefulscrutiny since the supporting test evidence can betenuous. Assessments should be withdrawn whentests show the opinion to be mistaken.

If assessments are used to support a productclaim, then it is absolutely important that they are based on valid and applicable primary testevidence which is owned by the assessment ownerand approved for use. If specific test evidence ofthis validity is not referenced then the assessmentshould be dismissed. Above all, assessments mustbe carried out by properly accredited authoritieswith experience of testing and the fire-resistantglass in consideration (e.g. a notified body accred-ited to BS EN ISO/IEC 17025:2005, General criteriafor the competence of testing and calibrationlaboratories).

Fire-resistant glass floorsThe development of fire-resistant integral loadedglass floors is one of the best examples of thecapability of intumescent fire-resistant glass basedon co-operation between manufacturers andspecialist systems developers.

Pilkington has worked closely with specialists


TESTING TIMES FIRE RATED GLAZING

Test evidence is crucial, but the information should not

be stretched beyond its point of applicability and

relevance, at the risk of becoming misleading and

unrepresentative. Scrutiny of the evidence should cover

applicability, scope, relevance and validity. The designer

also has to note the expected fire situation.


Glazeguard to develop a robust fully testedloadbearing fire-resistant glass floor system. Glaze-guard’s Triple-Lite™ Firefloor is at the forefront oftransparent building design. It is the first fire-resis-tant glass floor system to attain the CE markunder standards EN 14449 (Glass in Building:laminated and laminated safety glass) andEN1365-2:2000, (Fire resistance tests for loadbear-ing elements – Part 2: Floors and Roofs). The testload has to be appropriate for the type of activityand occupancy characteristic. In the UK, guidancecomes from standard BS 6399-1:1996, Loading forbuildings – Part 1: Code of practice for dead andimposed loads.

Triple-Lite™ has shown fire resistance insulationand integrity for over one hour for both integrityand insulation when fully loaded under test fireconditions. The floor structure has demonstratedrobust stability in several tests. Triple-Lite™ is avail-able in individual panel areas 3m by 1m standardsingle panels for construction of glazed floor areasor glazed transit air bridges. Both timber and steelframing are approved. Major applications alreadyinclude a range of situations. Major projectscompleted and in progress illustrate the valueengineering benefit of a complete approach fromdesign through to installation. Applications are ina wide range of diverse situations, including healthcare, commercial, education, and even domesticbuildings (e.g. Rolls House, a commercial andcourt building in Fetter lane, London; United

House, West St London, a commercial develop-ment; Dublin dental hospital; and private domesticinstallations in flats and houses).

The fire-resistant backbone of Triple-Lite™ isprovided by Pilkington Pyrostop® 60-101, a welltried and tested insulation with integrity fire-resis-tant glass classified for 60 minutes. Not only doesPilkington Pyrostop® 60-101 have an extensivefurnace test record around the world. It also hasdemonstrated fire performance in the majorCenter Parcs Elvedon Forest fire (2002) when theproduct had to survive severe fire exposure formore than seven hours – which it did comfortably,effectively stopping the fire in its tracks andprotecting the heart of the site.

Fitness for purposeThe current widespread application of fire-resistantglass is fundamentally dependant on the applica-tion of best practice principles in furnace testinglinked to systems development. Tragic headlinefires involving fatalities serve to remind everybodyof the risks and unpredictable nature of fire. Thecosts of fire are rising not falling. And the focus onfitness for purpose of products and constructionsis accordingly getting sharper.

Against the background of fire risks, thoseprinciples of furnace testing need to be empha-sized, rather than eroded. That is critical if the useof fire-resistant glazing is to keep in touch withadvancing design. IFP


TESTING TIMESFIRE RATED GLAZING

Pilkington Pyrostop,Pilkington Pyrodur, andPilkington Pyrodur Plus areextensively tested fire-resistant glass types basedon an established resilientintumescent interlayertechnology. They areavailable in an extensiveportfolio of framing systems,and are capable of fulfillingthe range of fire safetydemands from regulationsand risk-based design. Therecord of use includes majorbuildings across the world ina range of challengingsituations for glass. For moreinformation on Pilkingtoncall 01744 69 2000 or visit www.pilkington.co.uk/fireresistant


A complete range for all Fire Resisting Glass classifi cations!

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Fire rated enclosure ofduct located in exitpassageway, protectedwith flexible wrap

FIRE RATED DUCTING

Shaft alternatives, such as ducts protected withflexible fire rated duct wrap, provide solutionsfor better building space utilization and

physical access to air control equipment. Listedand Labeled systems verify performance whentested under duct application conditions andprovide documentation necessary for code com-pliance. The benefits of these systems can helpresolve current project issues and offer potentialfuture building design options.

ADS ducts function under operationaland emergency conditionsMulti-story commercial and residential buildingsmust utilize a variety of air distribution systems(ADS) to provide the necessary heating, cooling,and ventilating functions required to provide occu-pants with a tenable environment. These systemsmust meet minimum standards of performanceand fire safety set by the building code for both

normal operating conditions and emergency firesituations. This is accomplished through a combina-tion of code prescribed passive fire resistant build-ing construction and active smoke control systems.

Fire rated duct requirements,challenges and benefitsInnovative design, retrofit occupancy changes andthe push to achieve greater efficiencies in allaspects of building construction present challengesfor designers, installers and code officials. Thesechallenges certainly include balancing air distribu-tion system functionality with fire protectionrequirements within the shared space of structuralbuilding elements and other building service items.Requirements for fire protecting duct systems areclearly defined in the International Building Code(IBC) utilized for building construction in the UnitedStates. This code dictates duct systems that passthrough fire rated horizontal assemblies shall be

By Sarah Brewer

Group ProductManager, Unifrax I LLC

Shaft Alternative for AirDistribution Systems (ADS)Fire rated duct enclosures are increasingly being accepted as a shaft alternativefor air distribution systems (ADS) by design professionals and code officials.

Fire Rated Duct

P. 88-92 Fire Rated Ducting 17/5/10 3:37 pm Page 88

located in shafts; transfer open-ings in shafts are to be protectedwith fire or combinationfire/smoke dampers; and special-ized ventilation systems such asducts serving smokeproof enclo-sures and exit enclosures shall beenclosed in construction asrequired for shafts or ductworkenclosed by 2 Hour fire barriers.Despite these prescriptiverequirements, unique job siteconditions arise where “alterna-tives” to shafts (often referred toas fire rated duct enclosures)offer potential solutions andtherefore are given considera-tion.

These conditions can includebut are not limited to:● Insufficient space to construct

a shaft enclosure● Inadequate access to fire

dampers for maintenance,requiring the shaft enclosurebe “extended” to the new damper location

● Fire rated enclosure of ducts that pass throughexit enclosures and exit passageways

● Penetrations of shafts where steel subducts areinstalled but lack continuous vertical air flow

● Penetrations of shafts by kitchen, clothes dryer, bathroom and toilet room exhaustopenings, where steel subducts are installedbut the exhaust fan lacks continuous power inGroup B (Business) and Group R (Residential)Occupancies. For these situations and others, there are

numerous benefits to using fire rated ductenclosures including flexible duct wrap systems.The most common include:✓ Uses less space than shaft construction, thin

installed profile✓ Potential for more effective space utilization✓ Contours to fit complex configurations✓ Easy material handling✓ Lower installed cost✓ Listed and labeled systems

Existing and potential fire rated duct applica-tions that could benefit from shaft alternativesinclude:● Smoke control, including stairwell & vestibule

pressurization ducts● Exit enclosures and passageways● Bathroom and toilet exhaust● Commercial dryer exhaust● Trash & linen chutes● Hazardous ducts

Shaft alternative: approval usingalternate materials and methodsFire rated duct enclosures, including flexible firerated duct wrap systems are increasingly being uti-lized by design professionals and accepted byAuthorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJ’s) as a shaftalternative for unique job site conditions.

The building code does not define shaft alterna-tive requirements for an air distribution system(except for commercial kitchen grease ducts). There-fore, Section 104.11 of the IBC can be utilized,which permits “An alternative materials, design ormethod of construction to be approved, where thebuilding official finds the proposed design issatisfactory and complies with the intent of the pro-visions of this code, and that the material, method,or work offered, is for the purpose intended, is atleast the equivalent of that prescribed in this codein quality, strength, effectiveness, fire resistance,durability, and saftety”1 This option is furtherdefined in Chapter 7 on Fire Resistance RatedConstruction, Section 703.3 Alternate methods for determining Fire Resistance. Approvals forAlternative Materials and Methods are typicallygranted for project specific requests. Applicationsshould include supporting documentation, prefer-ably with Listed and Labeled systems tested at anIAS accredited testing lab & inspection agency,which are recognized by ICC. AccreditationListings can be found at www.iasonline.org or562-699-0541. Intertek Testing Services andUnderwriters Laboratories are examples of accred-ited companies.

Shaft alternative: performance criteriaOne guideline for defining shaft alternative perfor-mance criteria is the International MechanicalCode (IMC), Section 506.3.10 Grease Duct Enclo-sures. For this specific air distribution systemapplication, the code states, “Duct enclosures shallhave a fire resistance rating not less than that ofthe floor assembly penetrated, but need notexceed two hours.” Enclosure protection can beprovided via IBC requirements for shaft con-struction, a field-applied grease duct enclosure ora factory-built grease duct assembly. Section506.3.10.2 Field Applied Grease Duct Enclosure,


Example of duct withinsufficient space toconstruct a shaftenclosure

FIRE RATED DUCT ENCLOSURES FIRE RATED DUCTING

Enclosures


defines the criteria that must be met for it to beused as an alternate to a shaft. This includes:1 Listed and labeled material, system, product

or method of construction specifically evaluated for such purpose (as a duct enclosureconfiguration)

2 Fire tested per ASTM E2336 (under full scaleapplication conditions, including ASTM E119engulfment fire test)

3 Duct continuously covered on all sides from theorigin to the outlet terminal

4 Duct penetrations sealed with firestop systemtested per ASTM E 814 or UL 1479

5 Firestop system shall have an F and T ratingequal to the fire resistance rating of theassembly being penetrated.2

In this example, the fire rated duct enclosuredemonstrates equivalency to a shaft by limiting fire penetration and temperature rise to the nextcompartment (per ASTM E119 criteria). Bothcriteria must be met and results are reported asthe Fire Resistance Rating of the system. Meetingthe pass/fail criteria of the standard verifiesstability, integrity and insulation capabilities of theduct enclosure system and its ability to provideequivalent fire resistance to the code prescribedshaft. In addition, a through-penetration firestopsystem must be utilized to seal the duct penetra-tion opening, which shall provide fire ratings (F)

and temperature ratings (T) equal to the ductenclosure and assembly penetrated (per ASTM E814 criteria). Results are reported as F Ratings andT Ratings. Temperature rise limitations are amandatory component of ASTM E119, used todefine a shaft. Therefore, T Ratings that are equiv-alent to the F Ratings are mandatory for firestopsinstalled on grease duct enclosure systems used asshaft “alternatives”. See Table 1.

Extension of performance criteria toADS ductsIt is logical that the shaft alternative performancecriteria for grease duct enclosures defined in theIMC can be used as a model for other type airdistribution system (ADS) duct enclosures. Sincethe IBC requirements for fire protection of ducts isbased on enclosure in shafts, then a shaft alterna-tive for ADS would have the same performanceobjectives and components as grease ducts, usingan engulfment fire exposure test conditionsappropriate for ADS duct application. Using thisphilosophy, the ADS fire rated duct enclosuresystem must provide equal fire and temperatureratings to demonstrate equivalent performance toa shaft.

ISO 6944-1985 (BS 476: Part 24) “Method forDetermination of the Fire Resistance of VentilationDucts” is utilized extensively in Europe and other


Duct enclosure systembeing prepared fortesting per ISO 6944under full scale ductapplication conditions

FIRE RATED DUCT ENCLOSURESFIRE RATED DUCTING

Criteria Duct Enclosure (ASTM E119) Penetration Opening (ASTM E814)Fire Resistance Rating

Fire Penetration No collapse of duct support F Rating – no openings through firestopNo passage of flame throughout

Temperature Rise Temperature rise limit on T Rating – temperature rise limit on unexposed side of firestop

Table 1. Grease Duct Enclosure Shaft Alternative Performance Criteria


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A FyreWrap product specification in severalformats is available at www.arcat.com; search using keywords Unifrax, FyreWrap orwww.unifrax.com. For additional informationon FyreWrap Elite 1.5 or other products, certifications, code compliance, installationinstructions or drawings, contact UnifraxCorporate headquarters USA at 716-278-3800.

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FyreWrap Ad-IFP 4/20/10 11:39 AM Page 1

parts of the world to evaluate the fire resistancerating of ventilation air ducts and duct enclosuresystems. This standard evaluates full scale ductsystems under application conditions, which isrepresentative of the configuration they will beinstalled in the field. Performance per ISO 6944 isreported with the following Ratings:● Stability Rating – no duct collapse (of duct

support system)● Integrity Rating – no passage of flames

(through duct or opening)● Insulation Rating – temperature rise limit

(through duct or opening to unexposed side)Testing per this standard is conducted by North

American laboratories (including those with IASAccreditations and recognized by ICC). Listed andLabeled systems are available on line in each lab’sListing Directory. Design listings reflect the individ-ual ratings achieved for each criteria. However theequivalent fire resistance rating for the system isthe lowest rating achieved of the three. Manufac-turers of fire rated duct systems under considera-tion for approval should produce evidence of anInsulation Rating that is at least equal to the fireresistance rating of the assembly penetrated.Approvers should be cautious, as not all systemshave achieved an insulation rating that matchesthe assembly, which demonstrates equivalency toa shaft.

Acceptance by local jurisdictionsSome jurisdictions are developing acceptancecriteria for fire rated duct enclosures for ventilationair ducts or ADS. This permits broader approval ofthe systems and elimination of the need to applyfor approval of Alternate Methods and Materialson an individual project basis. Support documenta-tion typically includes Fire Resistant Duct DesignListings provided by IAS accredited labs asevidence of successful fire testing.

One example of a major metropolitan area andjurisdiction that has developed acceptance criteriafor the ADS application is the New York CityBuildings Department. Their Office of TechnicalCertification and Research (OTCR) has defined theacceptance criteria for Fire Rated Flexible DuctWrap Insulation as an Alternate Material in the2008 NYC Construction Codes under BuildingBulletin OTCR 2009-028. Fire rated duct assem-

blies (duct plus enclosure materials) shall be testedper ISO 6944, ASTM E814 and ASTM E84. Mini-mum F and T Ratings for the assembly are man-dated and defined in the bulletin. Similar criteriaare being considered for adoption by many othercities, indicating a growing trend of acceptance forADS duct shaft alternatives.

An ASTM Test Standard for fire rated ventilationducts is under development. Once published, thisstandard can then be considered for inclusion inappropriate sections of Building Codes that coverduct fire protection requirements. Testing andListing of duct enclosure systems per this newASTM standard can then be conducted at nationaltesting laboratories providing additional evidenceof compliance with shaft alternative criteria.

Evolution from project solver to designoptionThe use of fire rated duct enclosures as shaftalternatives have provided designers, installers andcode officials with solutions to unique projectconditions. There is no doubt the benefits associatedwith flexible duct wrap systems are evolving thistechnology from project solver to design option,creating the potential to value engineer solutionsas the building is being designed. The culminationof industry activities already underway aim toprovide AHJ’s with a code defined criteria for shaftalternatives beyond grease duct systems. In themeantime, existing Listed and Labeled fire resistiveduct enclosure systems are available as supportingevidence for local project submittals and accept-ance criteria.

Footnotes1. International Code Congress, 2006 InternationalBuilding Code (IBC), Section 104.11.2. International Code Congress, 2009 InternationalMechanical Code (IMC), Sections 506.3.10 and506.3.10.2

References1. International Building Code 2006, InternationalCode Council, Inc., 20062. International Mechanical Code 2009, InternationalCode Council, Inc., 20093. BS 476: Part 24 (ISO 6944-1985), British StandardsInstitution, 1987

IFP


Through-penetrationfirestop system withthermocouplesmeasuring unexposedsurface temperature ofduct enclosure andsealant to determinecompliance withrequirement for equal Fand T ratings

FIRE RATED DUCT ENCLOSURESFIRE RATED DUCTING

Sarah Brewer is a GroupProduct Manager for UnifraxI LLC with over 20 yearsexperience in variousengineering and marketingpositions supporting theNorth American passive fireprotection business. She ismember of the ASTM E05Task Group on DuctEnclosures, UL StandardsTechnical Committee onGrease Ducts and currentPresident of the InternationalFirestop Council (IFC) andChairperson of its DuctCommittee. She is also amember of the National FireProtection Association(NFPA) and Society of FireProtection Engineers (SFPE).


Copyright © 2009 Underwriters Laboratories Inc. ® BDi091029-IFP10

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FIRE RATED CABLES

BS 8519:2010 (Selection and installation offire-resistant power and control cable systemsfor life safety and fire-fighting applications.

Code of Practice) replaces BS 7346-6:2005(Components for smoke and heat control systems.Specifications for cable systems). Among otherchanges it calls for power cables – cables connect-ing a device to the power supply – to be tested inaccordance with BS 8491:2008 (Method forassessment of fire integrity of large diameterpower cables for use as components for smokeand heat control systems and certain other activefire safety systems) that itself replaced BS 7346-6:2005.

The new Standard aims to ensure that the levelof circuit integrity is not compromised by othercomponents of the whole electrical distributionsystem, including cable glands, terminations, jointsand cable support systems. It covers: the source of supply; the high and low distribution voltage;the appropriate location of the main intake enclo-sure, high-voltage and low-voltage switchrooms,

transformer rooms, generator rooms, risers, firelife-safety plant rooms and firefighting/evacuationlift motor rooms and shafts.

But what inspired the creation of a new Codeof Practice? The main drivers were the increasedsize and height of many high-rise and complexbuildings, the sophistication of the active fireprotection installed in many buildings, and theadoption of fire engineered solutions; solutionsthat demand a high level of reliable performancefrom building services, including the electrical sup-plies. In the UK at least, this change was set inmotion by the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety)Order 2005 that heralded in an entirely newapproach to fire safety. In place of being told whatthey must do in terms of fire safety in a building,designers were told what must be achieved.

This Order was followed in 2007 by ApprovedDocument B of the Building Regulations ofEngland and Wales, where certain “large orcomplex” building structures were singled out:“Where it is critical for electrical circuits to be able

By Mark Froggatt

Marketing ServicesManager, Draka UK

The publishing in February of the new BS 8519:2010 Code of Practice has led toa number of misleading claims being made for some cables, with the confusionappearing to have arisen from a misinterpretation of the different test methodsrequired for power and control cables. Mark Froggatt explains.

New Code RaisesFire Safety

P. 94-95 Fire Rated Cables 17/5/10 3:37 pm Page 94

to continue to function during a fire, protectedcircuits are needed. The potential for damage tocables forming protected circuits should be limitedby the use of sufficiently robust cables ….” Thesecables have to achieve a 120 minute rating whensubjected to integrated fire performance testing.

The main changes, when comparing BS 8519with the now withdrawn BS 7346-6 were anexpansion of content to include all life safety andfirefighting systems – not only smoke venting and firefighting cores, and the inclusion of new andrevised technical guidance relating to the selectionand installation of fire-resistant cables and systemsfor life safety and firefighting applications.

BS 8519 also makes reference to the recom-mendations identified in BS 9999 (Code ofpractice for fire safety in the design, managementand use of buildings) with regard to the designand installation of the electrical distributionsystems and the design, management and use ofbuildings to achieve acceptable levels of fire life-safety for anyone in and around buildings.

Significantly, in terms of cable selection, BS 8519 identifies three categories of circuit thatare required to maintain their integrity underdefined fire conditions for fire survival times of 30minutes, 60 minutes and 120 minutes. Appropri-ate cable tests are identified for each category,giving the relevant British Standard for the assess-ment of cable performance under fire conditionsthat might be expected in an actual incident.

Traditionally, the solution would have been touse mineral insulated cables (MICC) that incor-porate insulation of highly-compressed MgO(Magnesium Oxide). These cables are undeniably arobust and long lasting solution, but they arecostly, difficult and expensive to terminate, andthe quality of some imported mineral insulatedcables has become suspect. Supply problems arealso often cited as an additional reason for theirnot being used.

Currently though there are believed to be twocables available on the market that can justly claimto be viable alternatives to mineral insulated cablesthat meet the power cable requirements of BS8519:2010. One of these is Draka’s 600/1000VEnhanced grade FTP120 cable – until recentlycalled Firetuf Powerplus. This is an LPCB (LossPrevention Certification Board) third-partyapproved SWA (Steel Wire Armoured) power cablethat achieves BS 8491’s highest integrated-testing120-minute rating.

This demanding integrated testing regimeinvolves flame irradiation exposure, direct impactand high-pressure water spray testing for cablesthat are destined to provide a secure power supplythat will retain its integrity in the event of fire for awhole raft of fire safety systems. These include:automatic fire suppression installations; fire detec-tion and alarm systems; fire compartmentation;smoke control and ventilation; sprinklers and wet

risers; ventilation and shutters; and firefightinglifts. The test incorporates 115 minutes of directmechanical impact followed by five minutes of theapplication of water – in five-second bursts – at apressure that equates to that of a fireman’s hose.

Somewhat alarmingly, cables are being promotedas complying with the new Standard and hencesuitable for power applications that have been notratified in accordance with BS 8491. These cableshave been tested in accordance with BS EN50200:2006 (Method of test for resistance to fireof unprotected small cables for use in emergencycircuits) and are suitable only as control cables –cables that carry information as inputs and outputs. So, great care should be taken to ensurethat claims of compliance are not misleading.

Like any Code of Practice, the aim of BS8519:2010 is to encourage best practice and takesthe form of guidance and recommendations. So,any company claiming compliance with a Code isexpected to be able to justify any actions that devi-ate from the Code’s recommendations. Installing acable that has not been tested to the requiredpower cable regime is a high-risk decision thatcould have dire and expensive consequences. IFP


NEW CODE RAISES THE BAR ON CABLE FIRE SAFETY FIRE RATED CABLES

The Bar On Cable

Mark Froggatt is MarketingServices Manager at Derby-based Draka UK, He can bereached on +44 (0) 1332345431 or via email [email protected]. The company’s website canbe found atwww.drakauk.com

P. 94-95 Fire Rated Cables 17/5/10 3:37 pm Page 95


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