The Smarter Way of Fire FightingFire Fighting with Water Mist

FOGTEC offers optimalservice at all levels

FOGTEC systems use pure water, converting it to fine mist at a pressureof 80 to 200 bar. Not only are thesesystems 100% environmentallyfriend ly but they are often more effec-tive than conventional gas or waterfire fighting equipment. With 45system partners worldwide, FOGTECis the market leader for land-basedwater mist systems. At FOGTEC ourprimary aim is to continuouslyimprove the protection of personsand property.

The basis of FOGTEC systems lies inthe unique know-how of FOGTEC’spartner companies LECHLER andKAMAT. LECHLER is the largest special-ist nozzle manufacturer in Europe andhas been developing water mist systems since the 1930s. KAMAT isone of the leading manufacturers ofhigh-pressure pumping systems. As aresult FOGTEC is backed by more thana century of nozzle technology and by

three decades of high-pressure tech-nology. In its locations in Cologne,Hamburg, Rostock, Paris, Shanghaiand Mumbai, FOGTEC employs a team of specialist engineers from theareas of fire protection, mechanicalengineering, chemistry, hydraulics,electronics, do mestic technology andshipbuilding.

The cooperation between FOGTECand a network of excellent systempartner companies guarantees opti-mal service at all levels. Experiencedspecialists are available at all stages,from consulting, design, planning toinstallation and maintenance, invest-ing the same level of efficiency andreliability into the development ofsmall-sized projects as into the realisation of large-scale facilities. Customer care during coordinationwith public authorities and insurance companies is a matter of course for

FOGTEC. Training courses for usersand system partners are organized atregular intervals. FOGTEC compo-nents are manufactured to ISO 9001-2000. State of the art CNC manufac-turing systems are employed for thispurpose.

FOGTEC technology is relied on by such companies as Daimler, Honda, Lotus, Jaguar, ThyssenKrupp,BMW, Merrill Lynch, Royal Bank ofScotland, Bank of England, RTL, RAI,Esso, Shell, BP, Hewlett Packard, Daewoo, Samsung, Siemens, Bosch,Bayer, Infineon, Microsoft, IBM, Lavazza, RWE, Sanyo, Sony, BBC,Osram, Hertz, Hutchison 3G, Hüls ....

Research & Development,ApprovalsFOGTEC Technology undergoes a continuous level ofimprovement through development and testing

2 FOGTEC | The Smarter Way of Fire Fighting

In-house fire test facilities enableFOGTEC to carry out full-scale firetesting on a continuous basis. Suchtests are performed as part ofapproval procedures, research projects or user-related test series. In

addition, fire tests are carried out incooperation with some of the mostreputed scientific fire protection institutes in the world. Computer simulations and modelling are a standard element of such researchactivities.

FOGTEC uses state of the art nozzledevelopment laboratories comprisingmeasuring devices such as LaserDoppler equipment. Design work iscarried out on 3D CAD work stations.As a result of the excellent reputationin the development sector, FOGTEC is involved in some of the largestEuropean fire research projects.All development activities are carriedout on the basis of the ISO 9001-2000certification.

Fire Fighting with Water Mist | FOGTEC 3

A Team of Specialists

Fire tests carried out by FOGTEC’sspecialist engineers

Laser Doppler droplet measurement

Full scale fire testCologne head officeCNC processing Lechler mist nozzle made in 1937

Ease of installation

Locations and system partners

Service Team

Errichter-Nr.E 1805002

FOGTEC Sprinkler Low pressure Inert gases Chemical gases water mist water mist (e.g. CO2)

Cooling effect extensive / radiant small limited none noneheat attenuation

Inerting effect locally at none limited in entire volume in entire volume (oxygen displacement) fire source

Effect on people safe / none large water safe / none danger of suffocation / effect on ozon layer /and environment consumption green house effect (CO2) green house effect

Damage by negligible (pure water) extensive small negligible corrosive by-productsextinguishing agent water damage

Pre-warning times none none none essential essential

Effect on electrical small (pure water) extensive extensive small corrosive by-productscomponents

Requirement for enclosures none none none yes yes

at the fire source. This is comparableto the effect of an inert extinguishinggas, although when using such a gas,the air oxygen content has to bereduced in the whole area to be effec-tive. The larger water droplets generated by low pressure water mistsystems or other conventional waterfire fighting systems, convert tovapour at a much slower rate, andhere there is a substantial part of thedroplet that does not convert at all.

Therefore the localised oxygen displacement effect of the FOGTECsystems, operating with high pressure,is a considerable advantage.

In order to achieve optimum results infire fighting, FOGTEC adapts theamount of water used, the dropletsize distribution and the number andpositioning of nozzles to each specificapplication.

FOGTEC systems are 100% environ-mentally friendly and harmless topersonnel. Unlike many chemical-extinguishing gases, FOGTEC watermist systems neither destroy the

ozone layer nor do they contribute tothe greenhouse effect. A pre-warningtime prior to activation to protect persons normally is not necessary.

4 FOGTEC | The Smarter Way of Fire Fighting Fire Fighting with Water Mist | FOGTEC 5

The Smarter Way of Fire FightingFOGTEC water mist systems offer substantial advantages in comparison withconventional fire fighting systems

Droplet diameter Reaction surface per litre of water

1mm 2m2 (conventional technologies)0,1mm 20m2

0,01mm 200m2 (FOGTEC-water mist)

Local oxygen displacement in the flame zone

Applied water amount

Small droplets, big effect

4

T02T03T09T10

Room

temperature (°C) Temp. 01

Temp. 02

Temp. 03

Temp. 04

900

800

700

600

500

400

300

200

100

480 720 8400 960240 1200 1440 1680FOGTEC Activation Time (s)

Temperature measuring during fire testing

The key to FOGTEC’s fire fightingeffectiveness is the generation of veryfine water droplets. The size of thedroplets is classified as NFPA 750Class 1. This extremely small dropletsize makes the FOGTEC system highlyeffective and uses only small amountsof water. The key factors are the systems ability to cool and thelocalised oxygen displacement effect.

Cooling effectAs a result of the water being atom-ised at high pressure, the surface areaavailable for cooling is considerablygreater than that of conventional lowpressure systems. This means FOGTECsystems extract the energy (heat) farmore rapidly and effectively from thefire. The strong cooling effect servesnot only to fight the fire but also toprotect persons and property againstthe effects of radiated heat. Watermist shields also effectively protectconstruction elements such as walls,doorways, facades etc.

Oxygen displacement The small water droplets rapidly evap-orate at the fire source. Evaporationoccurs only where there is a hightemperature. Where there is a lowtemperature there is no steam gener-ated so these areas may be used toescape. The vaporization of the waterincreases the water volume by 1640times and the oxygen is displacedlocally at the fire source. As a result, alocalised inerting effect is generated

Fire Fighting with Water Mist | FOGTEC 7

For systems not activated via glassbulb, almost all fire detection systemscan be used. FOGTEC control panelshave state of the art PLC controlequipment and can easily be connected to fire alarm systems. Ifrequired, operator guidance can beprovided via touch screen. Remote-controlled maintenance via modem isoptionally available.

Our entire piping systems are made of stainless steel as required by international standards for watermist fire fighting equipment. Pipediameters range from 10 to 40 mm.Layout and installations are carriedout to conform to international standards.

Diesel-driven pump unit

PLC control equipment

Section valves

Perfection in detail

6 FOGTEC | The Smarter Way of Fire Fighting

Reliability asTop PriorityFOGTEC Systems

Electric pump unit

Nozzles for all applications

Cylinder system

FOGTEC systems operate at a pressureof 80 to 200 bar. The high pressure isutilized in two ways, to split the waterinto fine droplets and to createmomentum for the droplets created.If a lower pressure were used, eitherthe droplets generated would be big-ger or the momentum of the dropletswould not be sufficient.

Special water mist nozzles are theheart of every FOGTEC system. Theyare optimised for specific applicationsand have undergone extensive testing with independent testing

houses such as Factory Mutual, toensure their reliability. FOGTEC watermist nozzles are subjected to a 100 %quality test. Each individual micro-nozzle, within the main nozzle body, is furnished with an individual filter.

Open type nozzles are installed in drypipe systems, as well as closed typenozzles which are activated in a similar way to conventional sprinklersby a fast acting glass bulb. The modular nozzle design conceptallows the use of both standard application nozzles and special application nozzles for false floors,

ceiling voids, zones with particularlyhigh temperatures, areas exposed tothe wind, etc.

To supply the system with high-pres-sure water, FOGTEC pump and pressure cylinder units are used. Thepump units are comprised of individ-ual pump modules. Since FOGTECuses pump modules with flow ratesbetween 25 and 800 l/min, the total performance of a system can be optimally adapted to site requirements. The use of large numbers of small pumps is avoided to

minimize possible sources of failure.To reduce the number of moving partsto a minimum, there is one drivemotor directly connected to eachpump. No gearboxes are used. Bothelectric and diesel motors are offered.

In a FOGTEC system, filters of differentmesh sizes are used at differentpoints so that a particularly highdegree of reliability can be assured.Section valves are available for dryand wet pipe networks, for dry pressurised, and for pre-action areas.All valves can be supplied with testingdevices.

Errichter-Nr.E 1805002

IT areas and telecommunication rooms constitute amajor fire hazard because of possible short-circuitsand system overloads. Inadequate heat removal as aresult of insufficient or defective cooling systemsfurther increases the risks. A breakdown of such EDPfacilities results in major damage. A fire in an IT ortelecommunication area produces large amounts ofacidic and hazardous smoke particles as a result ofthe burning of insulation materials and plastics.This soot is deposited on all surfaces including sensitive electronic circuitry. When this occurs itdamages sensitive circuits and data media as it isextremely corrosive. Major system breakdowns mayresult. The resulting loss of data or transmission isthe worst scenario for the operator of an IT centre.

Unlike conventional gas extinguishing technology,high-pressure water mist rapidly suppresses the firewhile limiting the spread of smoke. This is achievedby the fine water droplet absorbing parts of thesmoke particles and dropping to the floor. Owing to the extremely small amounts of water used, theeffect on EDP components is negligible.

FOGTEC systems can be used for both the protection of rooms and of false floor voids and control panels. The same pump unit can be used forprotecting all areas. When different areas such asoffices, cable ducts, etc. are to be protected withinthe same building, this can be done using a singlecentral pump unit.

In public buildings high priority isgiven to the protection of human life.FOGTEC water mist has highly efficient cooling qualities and istherefore ideal for dramatically reducing the spread of heat and creat-ing better conditions for peopleescaping. FOGTEC systems thus provide optimal fire protection forthese types of buildings.

When using conventional sprinklersystems or low-pressure mist sys tems, the resulting water damageoften even exceeds the damagedirectly caused by the fire. FOGTECsystems, in contrast, use the water soefficiently that the risk of water damage is reduced to a minimum.Sensitive areas such as archives ormuseums, which have in the pastbeen left unprotected, can be protected effectively with a FOGTECsystem. Operators of hotels, hospitalsand offices appreciate the additionalbenefit of shorter interruptions. Verysmall pipe diameters mean the system can be unobtrusively fitted in existing buildings, or historicalbuildings and are ideal where modern architectural techniques havebeen employed. The central pumping unit requiresconsiderably less space than in thecase of sprinkler systems. Large waterstorage tanks are not required.

Fire Fighting with Water Mist | FOGTEC 98 FOGTEC | The Smarter Way of Fire Fighting

Offices, Hotels, Hospitals, Archivesand Museums ...

Data Centres, TelecommunicationSystems and other EDP Areas

Protection of heritage buildings Safe for electronic components

Protection of false floors

Protection of offices, glass facades and archives

Easy and space-saving nozzle installation

EDP areas and server rooms

10 FOGTEC | The Smarter Way of Fire Fighting

Production materials and lubricantsare fire hazards that are present inmost areas of industry. Their worstfeature is their ability to becomemajor fires quickly. In many full-scalefire tests as well as in real fires,FOGTEC systems have proven to beextremely effective when fightinghydrocarbon fires. This applies to firesin gas turbines, hydraulics cellars, generators, engine test stands, CNCmachines, etc. Depending on individ-ual requirements, FOGTEC systemsmay be designed as object protectionor total flooding systems. From the operator’s point of view, thenormally short shutdown times afteractivation as well as the fast and inexpensive re-commissioning of theFOGTEC system are major considera-tions. The minimal amounts of waterused in most cases result in shortinterruptions. Because water is used in the form of afine spray, normally no thermal stresses occur that could shorten the

life of the machine. This is due to thesmall droplets creating uniform surface cooling. Special protection measures againstthe effect of the water mist for staffare not required since the FOGTECmist is absolutely safe.

In the past, cable tunnels oftenremained unprotected despite thefact that they carry the importantcable infrastructures of manufacturers,

IT companies or telecommunicationsproviders. This was mainly due to thelack of a suitable fire suppression system.The risk of water damage lead compa-nies to leave these valuable resourcesunprotected. This no longer needs tobe a concern.

Our customers choose FOGTEC systems as a recognised and acceptedway of protecting cable tunnels. Theminimum amounts of water used andthe maximum effect make FOGTECthe number one choice. A fire within

a cable tunnel can rapidly reach veryhigh temperatures. FOGTEC system’simpressive cooling capability enablesfire damage to be kept to the

minimum. A single row of nozzlespositioned on the ceiling is often allthat is required to protect a tunnel.Cable trays can be positioned oneither side. With low pressure systemsit is often necessary to install multiplelevels of pipe and nozzles. This is notthe case with FOGTEC. The system isflexible and the user can easily installadditional cables. Unlike gas systemsthe FOGTEC system can be fitted intunnels with forced air ventilationand openings.

Fire Fighting with Water Mist | FOGTEC 11

© Ph. Holzmann AG

Industrial ApplicationsThere are many fire hazards in industry. FOGTEC systemsoffer a solution for almost all of them

Easy installation of nozzles on the ceiling

Effective protection forcomplex cable layouts

FOGTEC nozzle

Protection of large size premises

Nozzle installation in an engine test stand

Protection of diesel generators and gas turbines

Protection of CNC machines

Cable Tunnels,the Nervous Systemof Business EnterprisesFires in cable tunnels can causeimmense economic damage

© Henkelhausen GmbH & Co. KG

FOGTEC technology is ideal for fighting cooking oil fires. The reasonfor this success becomes obviouswhen considering the way the system works. The water mistdroplets are so fine that they are light enough not to penetrate the oilsurface. The droplets rapidly absorbthe heat of the fire and so extinguishfires rapidly while continuing to coolthe oil and effectively prevent reignition.

In the past, deep fat fryers in restaurant kitchens, canteens etc.were mostly protected with chemical-based extinguishing agents.The time consuming cleaning workrequired after discharge, and theresulting business interruptions areconsiderably reduced when usingFOGTEC systems.

Industrial large-scale deep fat fryersare often protected by CO2 systems.Here there is a risk of reignition

because the gas rapidly becomesdiluted after being discharged. This is not a problem for FOGTEC systems even in cases where the hood of the fryer is in the ‘up’ position. FOGTEC systems can be easily integrated into the design ofdeep fat fryer lines without affectingtheir operation.

The systems are activated automati-cally via a fast acting detection system. Service and maintenancecosts are substantially lower thanmost for other extinguishing systems.

12 FOGTEC | The Smarter Way of Fire Fighting

Industrial and KitchenDeep Fat FryersFighting oil fires with pure water FOGTEC wall cabinets operate on the

same principle as fixed FOGTEC systems, except that the high pressure water mist is produced by amanually operated FOGGUN. Thespray patterns of the mist being discharged can easily be adjusted tothe risk. A particularly fine mist can beused to effectively fight liquid anddust fires without splashing or disturbing the fire load. A high-energyspray can be used to fight larger fires.

FOGTEC wall cabinets are suited for awide range of applications in industry,but also in archives, museums andEDP rooms. Low water consumption,ease of use and the resulting reduction of damage, distinguish theFOGTEC wall cabinets from conven-tional systems. In industrial sites,FOGTEC wall cabinets are used tocomplement fixed fire fighting systems or to protect risks for which aprotection by fixed systems is notpracticable for technical or economicreasons.

A small diameter hose, as well as theeasily manageable FOGGUN ensuregreat flexibility, with almost no reaction force on discharge. FOGTECwall cabinets can be integrated into a pipe network of a fixed FOGTECpump system or installed as a separate system.

Fire Fighting with Water Mist | FOGTEC 13

Wall CabinetsManual fire fighting with water mist

Protection of kitchen areasand industrial deep fat fryers

FOGTEC wall cabinet for offices

FOGTEC wall cabinet

Mobile application of water mist

Industrial application

On ships and oil platforms, FOGTECsystems protect accommodationareas, engine rooms and gas turbines.High-pressure water mist is perfectlysuited for marine risks because safetystandards imposed on ships and theoffshore industry, are very high.

Fire brigades and industrial operatorscan use mobile FOGTEC systems. Theextremely compact systems arespecifically suited for installationwithin small fire fighting vehiclessuch as off-road vehicles and pick-ups.

For companies that do not have theirown in-house fire service or in largecompanies with access difficulties,mobile FOGTEC units have provedvery successful as first interventionsystems.

Clean rooms, TV studios and similarspaces with a high concentration ofdifferent risks are ideal locations tobenefit from the unique protectionfeatures of the FOGTEC system. These rooms accommodate large fire hazards such as plastics and cablematerial, which generate high temperatures and acidic smoke in the event of a fire. An example wouldbe a TV studio or broadcasting stationwhere a fire must be suppressed rapidly to avoid major damage.

Due to the excellent cooling effect,FOGTEC systems are particularly suitable for use in tunnels and underground traffic systems. Theproblems of tunnel length, air velocityand height can all be overcome with aFOGTEC system.

FOGTEC water mist curtains can beused to prevent fire spreading and toshield off radiated heat and smoke.Buildings made of steel and glass canbe protected against the effects ofheat. Wall openings for conveyor beltsand passageways can be protectedwithout recourse to expensive construction measures. This gives theoperator more freedom for logisticand architectural requirements.

Fire Fighting with Water Mist | FOGTEC 1514 FOGTEC | The Smarter Way of Fire Fighting

Further Applications FOGTEC systems have been employed to protect a largeand varied range of other risks

TV studios

Flammable liquid storage

Mobile systems for rapid intervention

FOGTEC systems on ships and oil platforms

Mobile fire fighting with the FOGGUN

Tunnel systems Virgelo Tunnel, Italy

Clean rooms and laboratories

M30 MadridFOGTEC water mist curtainMetro Budapest

Advantages ofFOGTEC Systems

Environmentally friendly

Safe for people

High cooling effect

Reduction of radiated heat

Water consumption approx. 10% of conventional sprinklers

Minimal water damage

No pre-warning time required

Easy and space-saving installation

Small storage space requirement for system technology

Activation via glass bulb or separate detection system

Alternative to gas systems and sprinklersAll photographs of referencesshown are actual risks that areprotected by FOGTEC systems.Subject to technical changes.© Copyright 2013

Cologne • Paris • Shanghai • Mumbai

FOGTEC Brandschutz GmbH & Co. KG

Schanzenstraße 19A51063 Cologne, GermanyTel.: +49 221 96223 0Fax: +49 221 96223 30contact@FOGTEC.comwww.FOGTEC.com