ifp issue 19

The Global Voice for Passive & Active Fire Protection Systems

An MDM PUBLICATIONIssue 19 – August 2004

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INTERNATIONAL FIRE PROTECTIONwww.ifpmag.com

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PublishersDavid Staddon & Mark Seton

Editorial ContributorsJoseph A. Castellano, P.E. & Brian Papagni,EIT, Graham Ellicott, Douglas Pickergill,Alan Brinson, Alex Playfair, David Carter,Mike Wood, Dr Bill Allen, Cees Caspers,Jaap De Zwart & Kenneth L. Gentile P.E.

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An MDM PUBLICATION

Issue 19 – August 2004

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August 2004 Issue 193-6 Co2 fixed systems – a

resilient, viable option

9-13 Digital video smokedetection: Using CCTV forSmoke Detection

14-16 Technical Report:Intumescent-Coated CellularBeams in Fire

19-22 Fire Protection for Petro-chemical Facilities

23 Product Profile: BW Technologies Ltd.

25-26 IWMA

29-32 Detection SystemsShowcase

35-36 Floating roof tank protectionin extreme cold areas

38-40 Deluge Sprinkler Systems

43-44 Fire Pump Controllers

45-47 Fire pump packages developto meet industry needs

48-51 Misconceptions about glassand fire

53-55 Fire detection technology:are you up to the designchallenge?

56-58 Alarm Panel Showcase

59-60 Avoiding BLEVEs – What arethe options?

62-63 Product Update

64 Advertisers’ Index

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History shows there was the pre-Halon era when carbon dioxide(CO2) was the primary flooding

and streaming agent. Then with theintroduction of Halons, CO2 lost out tothat panacea of extinguishants. Nowwith halons no longer acceptable forenvironmental reasons, CO2 is enjoyingrenewed recognition and acceptanceamongst the ever-increasing plethora ofgaseous technologies and changingmarket needs.

From a fire/risk engineering stand-point, I consider CO2 to have the lowest‘prone to failure’ rating of all thepresent options.

It is worth noting that investment inR&D of CO2 system technology contin-ues today. Companies of the standing ofAnsul, Pyrozone, Kidde and Chemetronhave released enhancements to both lowpressure and high pressure programs,improvements that deliver measurablebenefits in areas of safety, remote moni-toring, (on-site) agent reinstatementand nozzle performance.

Whilst carbon dioxide is a GlobalWarming substance, as a fire extinguis-hant it rates favourably from an envi-ronmental perspective compared to the

‘manufactured’ alternatives, is clearlythe most affordable and readily availableagent and, in my opinion, the most‘predictable and forgiving’ to apply.

Greatest resistance to its use stemsfrom a concern for personal safety as atextinguishing concentration levels. Itcan be lethal!

Australian Standards, internationallyrecognised as amongst the better codesavailable in this industry, conducted areview of the CO2 standard as part ofdeveloping a new suite of standards(AS4214), released in 1995, coveringmost of the clean agents developed tofill the gap left by Halons. That reviewresulted in several new requirements forCO2 including the introduction of ‘LockOff’ valves – effectively a fail-safemeans of preventing or interrupting adischarge into any risk area. When com-bined with the improved detection, con-trol and alarm systems now available,CO2 can be delivered with levels of safe-ty to satisfy most special hazard require-ments – certainly for normallyunoccupied risks where systems can beisolated for maintenance and otherpurposes.

Another safety related issue that mustbe addressed from the outset is provid-ing for the removal of any CO2 left inthe risk or adjacent areas after a dis-charge. This particularly applies if there


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10 tonne capacity, centralised bank of (low pressure) CO2 used to protect #12 separate risks within an Electronics ManufacturingPlant in Taiwan

Co2 fixedsystems – a resilient,

viable option

Continuous ‘fault’ monitoring, includingCO2 contents, when reported to the F.I.P.and beyond, improves reliability andnegates the need for regular surveillance

AS A PARTICIPATING MEMBER of both NFPA2001 and NFPA750 CommitteesI’ve been in close touch with the emerging new clean agents and water mistsystems – in fact have used most of these technologies for our clients. However forsomeone who ‘cut their teeth’ on CO2 it still gives me considerable satisfaction tosee a well engineered CO2 fire suppression system brought on line.

By Doug Pickersgill

Co2 fixedsystems – a resilient,

viable option

P. 2-17 18/10/06 8:40 am Page 3

are basements, lift shafts or trencheswhere the heavier than air agent canaccumulate to dangerous levels. Thecombination of a portable CO2 ‘monitor’and permanent or portable air handlingequipment will usually provide aneffective solution.

It is interesting to note that by neverembracing Halons Germany has contin-ued to use CO2 protection for a widerange of applications, including occu-pied risks. Their philosophy is based onfire community acceptance of disci-plined adherence to – using only highquality ‘approved’ equipment; specificsystem design criteria, including timedelays; use of certified installers; train-ing of personnel in evacuation proce-dures; commissioning of systems beforeputting into use; and maintenance pro-grams based on quality assured practise.There is no less concern in Germany forsafety by OH&S underwriters or corpo-rates – than in other countries, but theyappear more adept at managing therisks to acceptable levels.

The British also have a fine record

with using CO2 – reflected in Section 3.2of BS5306, which states – “the historicalevidence from over 100,000 CO2 systemsinstalled in the past 50 years shows thatCO2 can be used safely”.

Australia was the first nation toembark on Halon removal during the1990s, resulting in only limited ‘essen-tial use’ installations remaining today.This government-inspired initiative gaverise to a sea change in risk evaluationand engineering solutions for specialhazard applications in particular.

Low pressure CO2 technologyemerged as a viable option for replacingmany existing Halon systems due to itspotential for re-using existing Halon1301 pipework. This feature can under-write significant cost savings by reduc-ing or even eliminating down time forwhat are by definition, fully operationalfacilities.

In Australia we saw this technologybeing widely used to replace Halons forpower generating and distributing utili-ties in particular to protect turbines,switch rooms, control rooms and

similar electrical risks in networksubstations.

With the trend away from protectingcomputers perse and toward missioncritical equipment in Internet serviceprovider, telecommunication and otherfacilities, the versatility of CO2 onceagain comes into consideration. OneAustralian manufacturer has pioneeredthe development of refrigerated mini-bulk storage of CO2 in liquid form. Thisconcept combines the best features ofthe larger bulk tanks (refilling in-situ,partial-multiple discharges, lower pres-sure) with the best aspects of traditionalhigh pressure cylinder based systems(modular design, off the shelf packages,factory QA), resulting in a more userfriendly format requiring less space andlower maintenance.

These more flexible systems are find-ing ready acceptance in IT, semi con-ductor and other high-tech industrialapplications where large centralisedstorage systems are providing protectionfor multiple, decentralised risks up to300m-400m away. No other gaseoustechnology offers this level of flexibilityand performance.

‘Thermal Shock’, once a concern withCO2, is not a threat to today’s electronicequipment, which has the ability towithstand rapid temperature change andmost other environmental demands.Also, improvements in nozzle designhave reduced potential for ‘dry ice’formation during a discharge throughclever dispersement characteristics thatprevent sublimation.

Carbon dioxide – ‘the original clean


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One manufacturer’s approach to improving safety of CO2 systems with “Manual LockOffs” – preventing a discharge under any conditions

In Australia we saw thistechnology being widely used toreplace Halons for powergenerating and distributingutilities in particular to protectturbines, switch rooms, controlrooms and similar electrical risks innetwork substations.

This new CO2 flooding nozzle fromPyrozone Manufacturing produces a‘wide angle’ delivery, without the use ofa cone, minimising ‘dry ice’ formation

P. 2-17 18/10/06 8:40 am Page 4

Ad page 5 18/10/06 8:28 am Page 1

agent’, can be discharged withoutcreating any expensive residual clean upproblems. This characteristic whencombined with its affordability and effi-cient on-site refilling, in the case of lowpressure CO2 equipment, allows the fireprofessional to conduct full scale com-missioning tests. There is no substitutefor a full-scale commissioning test –which will confirm, or otherwise, the integrity of the entire system – i.e. detection, mechanical, electrical,pipework, and the interface with airhandling equipment. I never cease to beamazed at the number of systems thatfail a preliminary test, even afterthorough preparation, leaving me in

no doubt as to the justification forrecommending (to my clients and theirunderwriters) this ‘added’ expenditure!

Whilst ‘total flooding’ represents themajority of CO2 applications, ‘localapplications’, whereby the agent istrained onto a given risk, is a highlyeffective technique. This approach iswidely used in the automotive, printingand other processing industries wherestand-alone items of equipment orprocesses are not ‘contained’ withinwalls to allow flooding techniques to beadopted.

Given there is so much informationand knowledge available on the deliveryand extinguishing performance of CO2,an experienced fire professional canemploy this proven technology to obtaina variety of outcomes. We recentlyutilised the ‘Open Pit’ design guidelinescontained in NFPA12 to protect two‘simulators’ housed in a large trainingcentre – where pressurised hydrauliccontrol lines pose a risk of fire shouldone rupture and flail fluid onto hightemperature bearings. Through carefulpositioning and direction of nozzles itwas possible to control the heavier than air agent to produce the desireddesign concentration up to a predeter-mined height – i.e. a theoretical ceilinglevel!

In addition to the applicationsreferred to so far, there are much otherClass A, B or C fires that can beaddressed with either automatic ormanual protection based on CO2. Theseinclude coal silos, quench tanks, semi-conductor wet benches, computerroom sub-floors, commercial fryers,spray booths, archives, MCC rooms,battery storage rooms, hose reelstations plus the traditional marineapplications, i.e. engine rooms, cargospaces and paint lockers. Add to this,inerting applications and you have a

truly versatile, proven extinguishant atyour disposal.

Whilst presenting this commentary onthe viability of CO2 for today’s market,we cannot overlook the importance ofongoing and regular maintenance of thecompleted installation. My consultingpractice has invested heavily in thedevelopment of detailed maintenanceprograms for our clients as, withoutsuch programs, we could not justifyrecommending their original investmentin high quality products, commissioningtests and staff training.

We recently implemented a mainte-nance program for Porgera Mines in NewGuinea providing our client with dailymaintenance schedules complete withquestion an answer/confirmation sheetsfor operators and covering every aspectof fire protection at this remote site. I’dlike to tell you more about this program,maybe in the next issue of APF!


66

CO2 protection has been recognisedthroughout the world by traditional (highpressure) cylinder based systems

There is no substitute for a full-scale commissioning test – whichwill confirm, or otherwise, theintegrity of the entire system – i.e.detection, mechanical, electrical,pipework, and the interface withair handling equipment.

Doug Pickersgill was born in StGeorge, Queensland, Australia. Hisentire working life has been spent inthe fire protection industry startingas a cadet engineer with theWormald Group in Australia. Dur-ing a career spanning 40 years, hehas lived and worked in Japan,USA, Mexico, Brazil and Englandwhere he was involved at the ‘sharpend’, developing innovative designphilosophies and technical solutionsto protect unorthodox and specialhazards.Continuous involvement with thePower Generating, Petroleum, Min-ing, Marine, Defence, Telecommuni-cation and Transport industries hasresulted in a unique understandingof risk management and loss pre-vention best practice across theseareas.Doug Pickersgill is credited withbeing one of only two non-UScitizens invited to contribute to thedevelopment of NFPA2001, themost widely used standard coveringthe introduction of new ‘cleanagents’ following the demise ofHalon gases, and NFPA750, astandard dealing with emerging‘water mist system’ technologies. Doug Pickersgill is the Principal ofFire & Safety Systems (FSS), anAustralian consultancy that attractsclients who are owners of high valueand often unusual risks needing to beprotected against fire, a challengeFSS thrive on. (www.f-ss.com.au)

P. 2-17 18/10/06 8:41 am Page 6

Ad page 7 18/10/06 8:27 am Page 1

Ad page 8 18/10/06 8:27 am Page 1

Digital video smoke detection(DVSD) is the coupling of ClosedCircuit Video Cameras (commonly

known as CCTV) with innovative,motion-sensing software to detect thepresence of smoke. The concept is quitesimple. You or I visually see smoke and;by mental processes, we recognize it assmoke and act to summon aid. In thissame manner, the CCTV camera “sees”the smoke, processes the image motion(in a dedicated computer) to recognizethe smoke; and activates an alarm.

The sections that follow provide abasic understanding of the system andits implications for potential end-usersof DVSD. A comparison of the conven-tional detection methods to DVSDoperation is followed by a description of the system equipment requirements.The current DVSD status in the codecommunity and with the listing agencies is discussed. And the final twosections explore benefits and appli-cations; and design and installationconsiderations.

BASIC PRINCIPLES: CURRENT DETECTION METHODSDVSD is different from other types ofautomatic fire detection in its methodof coverage, analysis of data and theinformation available to respondingpersonnel. Consider how it differs fromthe each of the following types ofconventional automatic detection:

■ Photo-electric and Beam■ Ionization and Cloud Chamber■ Heat (Temperature Change)■ UV and IR Flame

Photoelectric, “spot” type, smokedetectors are in common use because oftheir adjustable sensitivity, economy andhave become must less prone to nui-sance alarms due to technologicalimprovements of the past decade. Pho-toelectric Beam detectors have applica-tions in high ceiling and open areas.Both of these detectors rely on themigration of smoke into the path of alaser. In the spot detector, the lightbeam is internal to a chamber in thedetector head while the beam detectortransmits its light beam across thecoverage areas. The obstruction of the beam affects the electrical settings


9

Figure 1 Photograph courtesy of Midwest Generation-Peoria IL; and Fire Sentry-Brea, Ca

UNLIKE SOME TECHNOLOGIES that evolve gradually, automatic fire andsmoke detection mutates in a series of distinct, innovative steps. Theseinnovations continue to change the methods for sensing the presence of adeveloping fire; for analyzing data at detectors and for transmitting situationconditions to responding personnel. Examples of conventional detectingmethods include, various thermal elements (heat); photoelectric, ionization,and aspiration (smoke); and Ultra-violet/Infra-red (flame). Examples ofanalytical improvements include the development of analog thermal sensors inlieu of bi-metallic or fused element heat sensors and analog evaluation ofsmoke levels by the detectors. Transmitting conditions has improvedconsiderably with the specific device locations (addresses) and enhanced LCD(liquid crystal diode) and CRT graphic displays. Each of these innovations hasimpacted the fire alarm market, installation methods and code requirements tovarying degrees. Now another new development, digital video smokedetection, provides a radical, new option in automatic fire detection.

Digital video smokedetection

Using CCTV for Smoke Detection

Digital video smokedetection

By Kenneth L. Gentile, P.E.

P. 2-17 18/10/06 8:41 am Page 9

in the detector, the extent of the affect-ed settings is then interpreted byfirmware in the panel or detector itself.

Similarly, ionization type “spot” typesmoke detectors and cloud chamberdetectors must rely on the migration orinhalation of smoke. For these detectorsthe particles of combustion react withionized particles in an internal chamberto affect the detector’s electrical. Theresulting change in electrical settings isalso interpreted by firmware in the panelor detector itself.

Automatic heat detection can be asimple sprinkler, thermal element deviceor sophisticated analog temperaturesensor. The simpler devices havemechanical elements that change thestate of electrical contacts whendeformed by heat and the more sophis-ticated devices use temperature-sensitiveelectronics to report the temperature atthe detector. In order to activate eithertype of mechanism, heat from a firemust migrate to the detector.

Ultra-violet (UV)/Infrared detectorsare electronic sensors that pick up ener-gy with those frequencies of the photo-radio spectrum emitted by a spark or aflame. This results in rapid response asneither heat nor smoke must move tothe detector, but the detector must havea direct line-of-sight with the flame,spark or ember. The detector’s electroniclogic then provides a change of state to electrical contacts that are oftenconnected by addressable monitoringmodules to a fire alarm system.

BASIC PRINCIPLES: DVSDOne disadvantage of monitoring heatand smoke by the above methods is thatthe heat or smoke must migrate or oth-erwise be drawn to the detector. Thisresults in a delay and often the path ofthe heat or smoke can be obstructed.The UV/IR does not have the disadvan-tage waiting on the heat or smokemovement, but is unable to activate if a

flame or ember is obstructed from thesensor’s view. DVSD is not subject toeither of these disadvantages.

The basic premise of DVSD uses thesame method that you or I would use todetect smoke by sight. By “watching” anarea and then recognizing smoke by itsvisual characteristics, a camera generatesthe electronic signal of the image incovered area. If the camera is digital, thesignal is directly sent to the central pro-cessing unit (CPU). If the camera is ana-log, the signal is converted in an A/Dconverter and then received by the CPUSoftware in the CPU then looks for aspecific electrical signal pattern that isconsistent with the motion of “hot”smoke. Upon recognizing this signal, theCPU generates an alarm condition byboth electrical contacts that can bemonitored by fire alarm or other equip-ment and indicating the location of thesmoke on a visual monitor for autho-rized personnel (refer to figures 1 and 2).

The concept is the same as securitymotion detection for CCTV, but thesoftware is more specific and sophisti-cated in what it identifies. Multiplecameras can be monitored by the samesystem and the areas under surveillancecan be quite large. As can be seen infigure 1, the DVSD software providesgraphic enhancements to indicate mul-tiple zones (numbers shown along thetop of the image) in outlined “boxes” inthe camera view. Each zone can bereported as a separate alarm initiatingpoint. Upon identifying smoke, thegraphics will indicate the location of thesmoke (the red “boxes” of figure 2). Theresponse is, in fact, so specific that mostprograms that programs will identify thesmoke location before it is visible on themonitor.

As for false alarm, the programs candistinguish between smoke and steam,fog, or other vapors and only alarm onsmoke. As a digital video image, the sys-tem programming also permits “pre”and “post” event recording of images onthe CPU hard drive. The causes andperpetrators of fire events can be moreeffectively documented.

THE EQUIPMENTThe “hardware” components arestraightforward as illustrated in figure 3.A camera is required that meets a speci-fied performance. If an analog camera isused, then a signal A/D converter isrequired. The centerpiece is a processingunit that includes programming key-boards and data ports. Monitors can be


1010

Figure 2 Photograph courtesy of Fire Sentry-Brea, Ca

Digital video smoke detection Digital video smoke detection

P. 2-17 18/10/06 8:41 am Page 10

provided in almost any desired configu-ration. And finally interfaces to firealarm systems or other video or auto-matic building systems.

The software provider will typicallyprovide the industrial grade CPU andone station for operator interface. Oftenany A/D conversion is included in thisCPU. The cameras can be provided bynumerous vendors but must meet thesoftware provider’s specifications (theseare not usually onerous requirements)and sometimes the existing cameras areadequate. Similarly, the monitors shouldbe sufficient to meet the requirementsof the responding personnel and areavailable from many vendors. Devicesthat interface the CPU with the firealarm systems, wans, LANs or buildingautomation systems must communicatein the appropriate protocol. The CPUprovides an output digital video signaland “change-of-state” contacts forinterfacing.

DVSD AND THE CODESEuropean electric generating plants werethe first to seek a solution to earlydetection of smoldering fires in thelarge open structures that housed tur-bines. This use is supplemental smokedetection and is not considered an issuefor the regulatory requirements of themodel building codes used in the moreconventional occupancies. As such, con-cern with acceptance in the codes thatgovern occupancies in the United Statesand other countries were not a priorityof the developers. As interest in usingDVSD as a smoke detection methodwhere smoke detection is a regulatoryrequirement, the code and standardsbodies of the western hemisphere areconsidering listing and installationrequirements.

In the United States, only one vendorhas obtained FM Global approval. Otheragencies, such as Underwriters’ labora-tories do not, as yet, have listing meth-ods. The National Fire ProtectionAssociation, responsible for The Nation-al Fire Alarm Code (NFPA 72), ispresently considering proposals to per-mit DVSD as an acceptable smokedetection in the 2006 edition. For thepresent, however, DVSD can only beused as a substitute for recognizedautomatic and smoke detection meth-ods where specific permission is receivedfrom the local authority having jurisdic-tion. Even with the FM Global listing,pending adoption by NFPA, installationusually requires acceptance of a formalrequest for a variance or waiver.


11

Devices that interface the CPUwith the fire alarm systems, wans,LANs or building automationsystems must communicate in theappropriate protocol. The CPUprovides an output digital videosignal and “change-of-state”contacts for interfacing.

For more information regarding the most important innovation in theFire Safety Industry for decades please contact the

Sales Department either by telephone on +1 714-671-1100or by email at [email protected]

or visit our website at www.firesentry.com

593 Apollo Street, Brea, California, 92821Tel: (714) 671-1100 Fax: (714) 671-5821

Email [email protected] Web page www.firesentry.com

DVSD

P. 2-17 18/10/06 8:41 am Page 11

BENEFITS AND APPLICATIONSWith an understanding of the basic oper-ation and the equipment requirements,the number of difficult smoke detectionproblems that can be addressed by DVSDquickly grows. These include detection inspecific environments, differing lightingconditions, and occupancy types thataren’t easily covered by the conventionaldetection methods. Additionally the useof cameras that can cover large viewareas and have alternate applications insecurity systems can contribute to thecost effectiveness of the system.

As the smoke need only be in thecamera’s view, a camera can be installedin a location that is protected from thearea of coverage by glass or specialenclosures. This permits using camerasprotected from the classified, harsh, orexterior environments that require thesmoke detection. One installed applica-tion is in a coal crushing facility of apower generation plant. The systemprovides effective automatic fire detec-tion as enclosures protect the cameras;the wide view range permits coverage ofthe large open areas; and the software isnot affected by dust or fooled by thepresence of the none smoke particles.

Another critical characteristic is that thesoftware works as well with “low-light”and infrared cameras as with conventionalcameras. Because the movement of smokegenerates the same electric signal from alow light or thermal camera image, thesoftware can recognize the presence ofsmoke in these conditions. This permitsuse in areas subject to light levels thatchange as a result tasks, hours of usage,or sunlight. This has resulted in Europeanhighway systems using DVSD in tunnelsfor protection of moving vehicles.

Some occupancy types require smokedetection for which conventional detec-tion is not well suited. Consider a largeexhibition hall. As an assembly occu-pancy, some jurisdictions require smoke

management systems to be initiated byautomatic smoke or fire detection. Thepreferred method is to install photoelec-tric beam detection. Many of the con-ventions and exhibitions, however,install banners, hanging and floormounted displays and a variety of floorarrangements that can interfere withboth the line of the detector beam andthe migration of smoke to the beam. Ifthe hall is large, the large number ofspot type smoke detectors requiredwould be expensive and possibly aes-thetically displeasing. DVSD cameras canbe placed to cover the entire hall andspot the smoke movement no matterwhat path it takes around obstructions.

In all of the above-described loca-tions, and in most other possible usesfor DVSD, the use of cameras for securi-ty is increasingly a necessity. Nothingprevents the DVSD camera system fromperforming double-duty as securitycameras. The proposals under considera-tion by NFPA will, if adopted, willrequire specific installation methods andmonitoring, but the images can still be

used for both security and life safetypurposes. The digital video output fromthe CPU (including the camera number,zone, and alarm graphics) can be trans-mitted just the same as any other digitalvideo signal. The images, while still per-forming the life safety system functions,can be transmitted to building automa-tion reporting systems, area networkinfrastructures and by wireless technolo-gies to responding personnel.

DESIGN AND INSTALLATIONMany questions should be answeredprior to procuring a DVSD system. Theseinclude, but are not limited to:

■ Is DVSD the most appropriate tech-nology for my application?

■ Is the Facility suitable for DVSDinstallation?

■ How will my staff use and maintainthe DVSD system?

■ What systems can benefit frominterconnection with the DVSD?

■ Do I need to address code or listingissues with regulators?

A detailed engineering assessmentshould be performed to address theseand other concerns before any design orpurchases. It is during this assessment,that code and standards issues shouldbe broached with the authority havingjurisdiction for life safety.

The design of the system requiresexpertise in fire initiating device coverageand digital video system specification.The camera placement must provide ade-quate view areas. Placement of the CPU,interfacing system connections, circuits,and other components should complywith standardized supervision and surviv-


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Figure 3

Digital video smoke detection Digital video smoke detection

P. 2-17 18/10/06 8:42 am Page 12

ability practices. And the specification ofequipment must not only be suitable forthe software vendor, but must also per-form reliable for the duty and environ-ment of the intended application.

As for procurement, selection of thesoftware vendor is presently limited toonly a few providers (of which only oneis known to the author to have obtaineda listing acceptable to most U.S. author-ities). The providers of the componentsand installation, however, should belimited to only qualified digital videocontractors and manufacturers. In thewide-open arena of video installation,there are shoddy equipment vendors andtrunk-slamming contractors who offerinstallations “too good to be true”. Con-struction documents should provideenforceable specifications and layouts,as well as qualification requirements forinstalling contractors.

Finally, as a new technology, design-ers should work with the installers toprovide a detailed and workable preven-tive maintenance program. If used apart of the life safety building systems,compliant testing and inspection proce-dures should also be developed.

FUTURE CONSIDERATIONSDVSD is a technology that offers solu-tions to a continually growing numberof challenges stemming from the needfor pervasive digital video in point-of-sale, surveillance, access control, assetprotection and other applications. Sincedigital video often competes for thesame resources as do the life safetysystems, DVSD is uniquely suited as amulti-task tool. Also, the TwentiethCentury analog video systems are rapidlybeing replaced by digital video. The new systems must be engineered to

accommodate enhancements, such asDVSD, to minimize rapid obsolescenceand to reduce system life-cycle costs.Finally, the images and information thatDVSD can transmit, improves the abilityto remotely evaluate an incident and toremotely reconnoiter a facility in crisis.That we must provide detailed informa-tion to our responding personnel, beforethey enter a site, is one of the first, andmost painful lessons learned for lifesafety in the Twenty-first Century.


13

Kenneth Gentile is a ProfessionalEngineer and Senior Consultant inthe Houston Office of Rolf Jensen &Associates. Mr. Gentile can bereached at [email protected].

As a new technology, designersshould work with the installers toprovide a detailed and workablepreventive maintenance program.If used a part of the life safetybuilding systems, complianttesting and inspection proceduresshould also be developed.

P. 2-17 18/10/06 8:42 am Page 13

This parameter is known as sectionfactor or HpA, which is the heat-ed perimeter of a steel section

divided by it’s cross sectional area. In anutshell the smaller this value then theheavier is the steel section, which thustakes longer to heat up in a fire.

The Building Regulations for Eng-land and Wales, Approved Document B(AD-B), states “The building shall bedesigned and constructed such that, in

the event of a fire, it will maintain itsstability for a reasonable period”.Reasonable periods are also defined inAD-B, and depend on the buildingheight and its end use.

In order to remain stable for thesefire resistance periods, structural steelrequires the use of insulating materialto reduce the rate of heating of thesteel in a fire. One of the more aestheti-cally desirable forms of insulation is

Intumescent Coating, because it appearsto be a traditional decorative coatingunder normal conditions. However, in afire the material reacts and swells toform an insulating char providing fireprotection to the structural steel.

CELLULAR BEAMS

In recent years it has become commonengineering practise to use beams withopenings in the web to allow thepassage of services through the sectionrather than underneath. There aremany advantages in using what arecommonly known as cellular beams,which do not need to be discussed inrelation to this report.

I would ask the reader to consider,that common sense rather than greatengineering expertise dictates, if holesare cut into a web then both thestructural strength and the mass ofsteel are reduced. Therefore it is rea-sonable to assume that the beam withholes in the web will require more fireprotection than a similar beam with noholes, to maintain the same level of fireprotection.

Historically, guidance for the fireprotection of cellular beams has beengiven in both BS5950 Part 8, and inthe ASFP (Association for Specialist FireProtection) ‘Yellow Book’, Fire protec-tion for structural steel in buildings.


1414

Pic courtesy Leighs Paints

IT REQUIRES LITTLE ENGINEERING skills to understand that the structuralstrength of a steel beam is directly related to its mass and dimensions.

Steel also rapidly begins to lose its structural strength when it reachestemperatures above 400°C, and by the time it reaches 550°C it will have lostabout 40% of it’s load bearing capacity. The larger the steel mass, inproportion to it’s perimeter exposed to heat, then the longer it will take toreach high temperatures in a fire.

I would ask the reader to consider,that common sense rather thangreat engineering expertisedictates, if holes are cut into a webthen both the structural strengthand the mass of steel are reduced.

Intumescent-Coated Cellular

Beams in Fire

Technical Report

Intumescent-Coated Cellular

Beams in FireBy Dr Bill AllenDirector of Innovation

Technical Report

P. 2-17 18/10/06 8:42 am Page 14

The guidance in the ‘Yellow Book’has however only been in relation tothe use of other passive fire protectionmaterials such as sprayed insulation orinsulating boards. This gives an empiri-cal rule for calculating the passive fireprotection thickness to be applied tocastellated or cellular beams by takingthe thickness required for the parentbeam with no holes and increasing itby 20%.

The SCI Guidance Note P160 andBS5950 Part 8 has in the past referredto the ‘20% Rule’ being applied tointumescent coatings. Part 8 did notsay that the 20% rule could be appliedto intumescents, but also did not saythat it couldn’t. The new Part 8 isexplicitly relevant to passive protectionsystems only.

The fire protection industry had byinference applied this same rule whenusing intumescent coatings for cellularbeams without any actual fire testevidence to support this.

This practise had however becomeaccepted by all industry parties, i.e. manufacturers, contractors andengineers.

FIRETEX FB120

Leigh’s Paints were invited to developand supply intumescent coatings aspart of a joint venture company FabsecLtd. The aim was specifically to developa material that would provide up to 2hours’ fire resistance on beams withholes in the web. The material wouldbe quick drying and applied in-shop ina single coat.

The end product was Firetex FB120,which is a solvent based single packthin film intumescent coating designedspecifically for the fire protection offabricated plate girders with openingsin the web. These intumescent-coatedbeams are known as Firebeam.

A series of loaded and unloaded firetests were designed by the UK SteelConstruction Institute (SCI), which werethen carried out at Warrington FireResearch (WFRC). WFRC, SCI and Coruswitnessed these tests.

The design software (FBEAM) forFirebeam required very detailed temper-ature mapping on all flanges, webs,around holes and on stiffeners. In orderto provide this information many morethermocouples were installed than are

normally required by BS476 Part 21 FireTesting.

In total 7 loaded beam tests werecarried out and also dozens of small-scale sections were fire tested to therequirements of BS 476 Part 21.

Over the range of tests the steelthickness ranged from 10-45mm in theflanges and 5-15mm in the webs. Theintumescent was applied and tested atthickness ranging from 0.2 to 2.2mm.

Beams were tested with both circularand rectangular holes in the web, with and without stiffeners. In addi-tion, the effect of fire on the closenessand the diameter of the holes wereinvestigated.

The steel strength was S275 and thecomposite decking was Holorib with a

concrete topping. Shear studs fixed thedeck.

There were approximately 50 ther-mocouples attached to each loadedbeam to allow for a very detailedthermal analysis of each element of thebeam to be carried out by SCI.

The SCI thermal analysis data thenformed part of the software packageknown as FBEAM2. This softwareallows the engineer to design a beamin the cold state, and then using adatabase constructed from fire testdata, it calculates the amount of Fire-tex FB120 required to protect the steelsection for the required period of fireresistance. The complete fabricatedbeam plus fire protection is patentedand is known as Firebeam.


15


Leigh’s Paints were invited todevelop and supply intumescentcoatings as part of a joint venturecompany Fabsec Ltd. The aim wasspecifically to develop a materialthat would provide up to 2 hours’fire resistance on beams with holesin the web.

P. 2-17 18/10/06 8:42 am Page 15

RESULTS SUMMARY

All sections were coated with FiretexFB120, and there was between 2 and 4unloaded short section beams in eachtest in addition to the loaded beam.

■ Test 1 – Warres No. 116679 – Dateof Test 13/02/2001Loaded Beam, with circular openings inthe web; Load removed after 117 minutes;coating thickness was 1.84mm.

■ Test 2 – Warres No. 116680 – Dateof Test 14/03/2001Loaded Beam, with rectangularopenings in the web; Load removed after 140 minutes;coating thickness was 2.01mm.

■ Test 3 – Warres No. 116681 – Dateof Test 25/04/2001Loaded Beam, with ring stiffened,circular openings in the web; Load removed after 120 minutes;coating thickness was 1.49mm.

■ Test 4 – Warres No. 117188 – Dateof Test 15/11/2001Loaded Beam, with circular, and semi-circular openings in the web; Load removed after 57 minutes; coatingthickness was 0.58mm.

■ Test 5 – Warres No. 117189 – Dateof Test 21/11/2001Loaded Beam, with circular, and semi-circular openings in the web; Load removed after 47 minutes; coatingthickness was 0.255mm.

■ Test 6 – Warres No. 127490 – Dateof Test 03/02/2003Loaded Beam, slender, deep-web, withcircular openings in the web; Load removed after 80 minutes; coatingthickness was 1.4mm.

■ Test 7 – Warres No. 127491 – Dateof Test 06/02/2003Loaded Beam, slender, deep-web, withcircular, and square openings in theweb; Load removed after 87 minutes; coatingthickness was 1.35mm.

■ Test 8 – Warres No. 1299500 –Date of Test 03/04/20034 x 2mtr unloaded beams, with a rangeof steel thickness;Circular holes were cut into the webs.The total average coating thicknessranged from 0.83 to 1.56mm. The tests were unloaded and arrangedto provide supplementary temperaturedata only.The test was discontinued after a periodof 100 minutes.

CONCLUSIONS

These fire tests have provided the firstindependent fire test study of intumes-cent coating on cellular beams; this hasresulted in the SCI withdrawing theirsupport for the use of the 20% rule forintumescent coatings, both fromBS5950 Part 8 and its P160 GuidanceDocument. Fire testing had shown thisrule to be un-conservative in someinstances.

The fire test results have shown thatthe amount of additional fire protec-tion increases as the web openings aremore closely spaced.

Other important factors have beenthe size of the holes in relation to theweb depth and also the ratio of theweb depth and its thickness. These twofactors i.e. cell spacing and slendernessratio will therefore have great influenceon the amount of fire protectionrequired.

The SCI have now published interimguidance for the fire protection ofcellular beams with intumescent coat-ings in AD269, and a detailed technicalexplanation is given in RT983.


1616


Leigh’s position is now quite clear,we believe that we have a duty ofcare to acknowledge that the 20%rule can no longer be universallyapplied to intumescents. We are currently using Leigh’sProduct Calculator to providecellular beam loadings for all ourintumescent coatings, based onAD269.To support this further Leigh’s arealso working with other intumescentmanufacturers, and interested par-ties within the ASFP, to devise astandard fire test package for thefire protection of cellular beams.

Intumescent-Coated CellularBeams in Fire

Intumescent-Coated CellularBeams in Fire

P. 2-17 18/10/06 8:42 am Page 16


17

the Answer

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How can I calculate intumescent loadings for cellular beams ?

Leigh’s Paints

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For further information contact the Firetex Product Calculator dept on

Tel: +44 (0)1204 521771

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THE NEED FOR RISK ASSESSMENTS

No one would dispute that thepetrochemical industry hasinherent risks of fire and

explosion. The processing, storage and transportation of large volumes offlammable and combustible liquids ishazardous and those involved have afiscal, moral and legal obligation tomitigate the potential threat of a majorincident. In the UK, the Fire SafetyOrder of the Fire Services Act, whichwill come into effect early in 2005,places emphasis not only on preventingfires and reducing risks but also of mit-igating the effects of a fire by preven-tion and containment. It also requires

employers, owners or occupiers ofbuildings to ensure the safety of every-one who uses the premises and toprotect people in proximity. The needfor risk assessment is not new but theethos of risk assessment should not berestricted to an occasional paperworkexercise. Indeed, it must be a dynamicprocess and a key component of work-place best practise especially whenconsidering changes to processes andfacilities. Changes will often alter riskprofiles and this might negate theeffectiveness of existing fire protectionsystems, which by design must be riskspecific. Risk assessment, therefore, isan ongoing process and must be keptunder constant review.

A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO FIRE PROTECTION

It must be acknowledged that risks canbe minimised by following appropriatedesign guidelines. For example, proper-ly constructed, correctly installed andwell-maintained storage tanks areessential. As are the appropriate use ofcontainment techniques and passivefire protection measures. It is not theintention of this article to discuss suchmeasures merely to recognize theimportance of a holistic approach tofire protection.

Everyday, Tyco Fire & Securityencounters numerous applicationswithin the Petrochemical industry andhas become the market leader indesign, manufacture, supply, install,maintain and commission of fireprotection products – worldwide.

Design of fire protection systemsrequires expertise and experience inidentifying the risks associated withhazardous materials and processes.Each application could warrant adifferent fire protection solutiondependant upon the type of liquidinvolved and the systems designer must


19

Pic courtesy TSP

Fire Protectionfor Petro-

chemicalFacilities

FIRE PROTECTION REPRESENTS AN expensive investment to operators ofpetrochemical facilities but it is an investment. In times of economic andpolitical uncertainty it is vital that businesses continue to make investments toprotect business critical assets and processes from the threat of fire. For fireprotection specialists, the challenges posed by the oil and petrochemicalindustries are diverse and it is necessary to gain a full understanding of theclients business and processes before making recommendations. This articleexplores some of the issues affecting systems design and provides an overviewof the merits of fire protection strategies and foam agents currently availableto specialists and end users in this sector.

Fire Protectionfor Petro-

chemicalFacilities

By Cees Caspers, Technical/Product Manager,Tyco Safety Product – Foam Products

P. 19-42 18/10/06 8:48 am Page 19

consider the flash point, boiling pointand determine if the liquid is ahydrocarbon or a polar solvent (water-soluble) fuel. This information enablesthe designer to classify the liquid,which is the first part of the designprocess and this establishes the type offoam concentrate to be used, theapplication rate and the discharge

time. To assist the designer, theNational Fire Protection Association has developed a taxonomy for flamma-ble and combustible liquids, whichassists designers in developing appro-priate fire protection tactics. Forexample, volatile liquids have a highvapour pressure and are easy to ignite. Products with a high vapourpressure and low flash point are moredifficult to extinguish than productswith a low vapour pressure and highflash point.

TYPES OF FIRE FIGHTING FOAM AGENTS

In recent years there have been manyadvancements in the field of foam con-centrates. Suppliers have been vocifer-ous in promoting their own type ofgeneric product depending upon themanufacturing capability.

Foam is, simply stated, a stable massof small, air-filled bubbles with a lowerdensity than oil, petroleum, or water. Itcomprises foam concentrate, water and


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Generic Type Properties

Protein foam ● Stable mechanical foam● Good expansion properties● Excellent heat & burnback

resistance● High fluidity● Low fuel tolerance

Fluoroprotein foam ● Inherent stability of protein base● Faster flame knockdown ● Fuel tolerance● Greater fluidity● Hydrocarbon vapour suppression

Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) ● High quality foam● Low or medium expansion● Compatible with wide range of

equipment● Good shelf life● Concentrated agents available for

1% induction

Film Forming Fluoroprotein Foam ● High stability foam● Rapid knockdown

Alcohol Resistant Concentrates ● Synthetic or fluoroprotein● Highly versatile● Fast knockdown● Good burnback resistance● Fuel tolerant – used on

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Fire Protection forPetrochemicalFacilities

Fire Protection forPetrochemicalFacilities

Pic courtesy TSP

P. 19-42 18/10/06 8:48 am Page 20

air. Because of the products lowdensity, it readily floats on a fuel sur-face to extinguish a flammable liquidfire by separating the fuel from oxygen– it effectively smothers the fire. Itshigh water content provides effectivecooling. A well formulated foamapplied correctly will exhibit a range of properties including stability,cohesion, rapid fire knockdown, heatresistance and vapour suppression thatwill ensure that a fire is extinguishedefficiently and securely to preventreignition.

The fire protection industry producesa wide range of foam concentrates. Abrief summary of the varying typesappears on page 20.

Good quality of the apposite foamconcentrate and an appropriate deliverymechanism is essential to provide effec-tive fire protection at petrochemicalfacilities.

APPLICATIONS IN THE PETROCHEMICAL INDUSTRY

The petrochemical industry uses a vari-ety of storage tanks for its products,each with a marginally different riskprofile:

● Cone Roof Tanks (Fixed RoofTanks)

● Open Top Floating Roof Tanks● Covered Floating Roof Tanks● Horizontal Tanks

Usually, tanks will be affordedprimary protection by means of a fixedfire protection systems with secondaryprotection achieved through the use ofmonitors. Foam generators used infixed systems have proved very success-ful in many installations and can pro-vide a cost effective and reliablesolution to fire protection problems.However, any damage to the tankstructure could limit the foam genera-tors efficacy and this together withmaintenance issues have lead to thewidespread use of subsurface injectionsystems assuming sufficient water pres-sure is available to use them. Subsur-face injection of foam into a storagetank is, as the name infers, where thefoam is injected into the bottom of atank and floats to the surface to spreadand extinguish a fire. However, thismethod is not suitable for use with

polar solvents even where alcohol resis-tant concentrates are used because thefoam is destroyed by the fuel. Caremust be exercised so that it is not usedon potential gasoline blends containingalcohol or other polar solvent additivesas oxygenates. Further, sub-surfaceinjection cannot be used on cone rooftanks with internal floaters per NFPA11. To overcome this problem, semi-subsurface injection provides thebenefits of subsurface injection for alltypes of fuels. The use of a flexiblehose, which floats to the surface uponactuation, delivers the foam to thesurface.

Fixed Monitors are a cost effectivemethod of protecting relatively small


21

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P. 19-42 18/10/06 8:48 am Page 21

storage tanks and associatedspill/ground fires. Remote operationcan be accomplished through electricalor hydraulic control systems ensuringthat fire fighters are kept at a safe dis-tance from the incident. Althoughmonitors streams have successfullybeen used for extinguishing fires inlarger diameter tank fires using high-flow devices and large diameterfire hose, monitors should not beconsidered as primary protection forlarger cone roof tanks with diameters in excess 18m, in accordance withNFPA 11.

Fixed systems can also be used forfloating roof tanks and foam pourersare used to protect the rim seal areawith the foam being contained by a

dam. Good foam fluidity is essential to ensure that rapid coverage isachieved. Some oil companies haveadopted a belt and braces approachand installed foam pourers and subsur-face systems on covered floating rooftanks.

Horizontal tanks have been knownto rupture following an explosion andit is necessary to ensure that the bundarea is adequately protected. Fixed low or medium expansion generatorscan be used to create an effective foam blanket even on larger bund areasin major tank farms. Any residual fuel in the tank can be protected usinga monitor. In reality, monitors can be used to protect the bund area butthis results in much higher foamconsumption. At least two monitors are recommended to protect largerbunds to ensure full coverage and/oraccess to devices under varied windconditions.

Truck loading racks require specialattention as a fire in this situation canescalate and threaten life safety. Foamcan provide a quick knockdown withthe added advantage of vapour sup-pression and containment to preventreignition prior to the cleaning upprocess. Foam is delivered through a combination of an overheadfoam/water deluge sprinklers supple-mented by low-level ground sweepnozzles. Additional protection is pro-vided against radiant heat andstructural cooling is beneficial toprevent further damage. Monitors canprovide cost effective protection butcoverage remains an issue and thedesigner must be certain that his strat-egy will deliver the fire protectionobjectives.


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CONCLUSIONSLarge storage tank fires are notori-ous and challenge all but the mostprofessional and experienced firefighting specialists. However, riskscan be minimised through the care-ful design of fire protection systemsfollowing a detailed risk assess-ment. Technology combined withthe common sense guidelines pro-vided by NFPA 11 should beapplied to mitigate the effects offire and protect life and property.

P. 19-42 18/10/06 8:49 am Page 22


23

BW Technologies Ltd. is one of theworld’s largest makers of gas-detec-tion equipment. Headquartered in

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Confined space gas detector users havenot been shy when it comes to expressingtheir wishes. The state-of-the-art GasAlertMicro is adirect reflection of thesecustomer requirements. TheGasAlertMicro offers cut-ting-edge features andcapabilities at a fraction ofthe cost of previous generationsof instruments. In many cases, the$695.00 USD cost of a brand new four-channel GasAlertMicro is less than thecost of replacing the sensors and batterypack in an existing instrument boughtonly two or three years previously.

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The GasAlertMicro’s features includehigh-output audible/visual/vibrator alarms;low, high, TWA and STEL alarm settings;a large, alphanumeric LCD with built-inbacklight; two LEL measuring ranges (0-100% LEL and 0-5% by volumemethane); a built-in concussion-proofboot; and optional data-logging capabili-ties. Datalogging GasAlertMicro detectorsstore monitoring data on a multi-media

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The GasAlertMicro is only one part ofthe BW approach to simplifying andreducing the costs of gas detectioninstrument ownership. Regulatory agen-cies and national performance standardsare putting increasing emphasis on peri-odic testing, calibration, and documenta-tion to ensure gas detection instrumentsare properly maintained. The BWMicroDock Test and Calibration Systemautomatically tests and documents prop-er performance. Simply slip the GasAlert-Micro into the MicroDock, and push the“Test” button. The MicroDock administerstest gas to the instrument, verifies theproper performance of the sensors andalarms, updates this information to theinstrument’s on-board memory, andstores the results in a separate, down-loadable archive on an MMC card in theMicroDock Base Station.

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Ad page 24 18/10/06 8:29 am Page 1

IWMA Conference 2004The conference will offer an opportuni-ty for those responsible for selectingfire protection in government, industri-al and commercial facilities to beupdated on the current state of watermist technology for fire suppressionsystems.

The conference will be held from 6–8October, 2004, in Rome, Italy. The con-ference hotel is going to be the GrandHotel Palatino which is located in thecity center of Rome. The world famousColiseum for example is within walkingdistance.

Detailed information such as hoteladdress, registration form, call forpapers and the like can be viewed onour home page www.iwma.net.

Potential authors are invited to sub-mit interesting abstracts for this event.In addition to the regular sessions onresearch & testing and regulations, thefocus of this conference will be onapplications and actual solutions wherewater mist technology has been proven.

Member Meeting 2004As being a tradition in the past, themember meeting 2004 will be heldagain in conjunction with the IWMAconference in order to save travel costsfor all parties.

A separate invitation together with the agenda is going to be sent to all

members a few weeks before the meet-ing. The meeting date will be the 8th ofOctober, 2004.

European Standard for WaterMist Systems The CEN working group on water mistsystems has finished the draft of theguideline for water mist systems. Thisdraft was submitted to the chairman,Mr. Everard Briers, of WG 5 (WorkingGroup 5) of CEN 191 for further con-sideration. IWMA was informed by Mr.Briers that now the EU member coun-tries will get the opportunity to makecomments on the current draft. Thesecountries will have approximately timeuntil December 2004 to submit theircomments. After that the water mistgroup will come together again and

discuss the comments being received,and will work them in if appropriate. Afinal vote on the guideline for watermist systems can be expected for theend of 2005 if no unanticipated delayswill occur. The IWMA will establish itsown working group in order to assessthe current draft standard. On the basisof the draft text, the working groupwill formulate its comments and turnin these comments to the CEN chair-man through one of the EU membercountries.

FP 48 meeting in LondonThe Fire Protection Sub-Committee ofthe International Maritime Organizationhas held its 48th session from Jan12–16, 2004, in London.

The working group on performancetesting and approval standards for firesafety systems, under the chairmanshipof Mr. Randall Eberly, considered anumber of tasks where water mist tech-nology is involved. One major step for-ward is that it has been agreed todevelop a test protocol for machineryspaces (MSC 668/728) larger than3000m2. Experts, all of them IWMAmembers, sat together in a small groupin order to sketch a first outline of thisnew standard.

The established correspondencegroup will work further on this subject.

Furthermore, it was with respect toMSC 913 for example also agreed toallow besides the vertically downward


25

The IWMA will establish its ownworking group in order to assessthe current draft standard. On thebasis of the draft text, the workinggroup will formulate its commentsand turn in these comments to theCEN chairman through one of theEU member countries.

P. 19-42 18/10/06 8:49 am Page 25

positioning of nozzles the installationof nozzles at an inclined angle.

A member of the IWMA board, Mr.Robert Wickham, has written a compre-hensive report on the work being doneand the work to be done. This reportcan be downloaded from our web pageunder news & acts.www.iwma.net/files/acts.html

New SC MemberAfter Bert Yu of FM Global hadreplaced Richard Ferron last year, PetterAune of SINTEF in Norway has beenappointed by the board. Petter can lookback on extensive scientific work con-cerning water mist technology. TheIWMA is pleased to have him onboard.

Scientific Council works onA.800 test planDuring the IMO meeting week at thebeginning of last year, the Sub-Com-mittee had revealed controversialstandpoints on the interpretation of aparticular paragraph which is 3.22 ofresolution A.800(19) on revised guide-lines for approval of sprinkler systemsequivalent to that referred to in SOLAS.This guideline was written for theinstallation of water mist systems inaccommodation areas on board ships.This special paragraph requires pumpsand alternative supply components besized so as to be capable of maintain-ing the required flow to the hydrauli-cally most demanding area of not lessthan 280m2.

The term “required flow” led basical-ly to two different interpretations. Onethat the calculation of the requiredflow rate should be based on the maxi-mum operating pressure during fire-testing.

The other favoured a performance-based approach with declining pressureduring fire-testing.

FP 47 has shown that this subjectmatter, assigned by the Sub-Committeeto the working group, could not besolved without comparative fire testingdata. Now The IWMA offered at FP 48

to set up a research program to pro-duce this necessary fire testing data.

That technical data, describing theperformance of water mist systems atmaximum operating pressure as well asdeclining system pressure during fire-testing with reference to A.800(19)testing conditions, would certainly helpto resolve the controversy.

The IWMA Scientific Council begunin April, 2004, to develop a detailedtest program how to carry out aninvestigation and assessment of theperformance of water mist systems atmaximum system pressure on the onehand and declining system pressure onthe other hand.

It is therefore the intention of theIWMA Scientific Council to conduct atest series by involving manufacturers,test laboratories and approval bodies,to test water mist systems of differentmanufacturers under test conditionsrequired by A 800(19). Hence, the same tests will be first carried out atmaximum operating pressure and atdeclining pressure afterwards.

It is the objective to obtain validtechnical data about the system perfor-mance under both pressure conditions.

It is planned to finish this test seriesbefore the dead line for IMO submis-sions in October so that the results canbe presented at the next IMO meetingin 2005.

Seminar in GermanyThe next IWMA seminar will be held inGermany on 21/22 October, 2004.Approximately 100 people from Ger-many, Austria and Switzerland willmeet at IWMA headquarters to discussthis subject matter for two days.Further seminars are planned for Spain,Italy, France and Great Britain. Pleasecheck our web page regularly for datesand locations.


2626

Contact

International Water Mist Association

Biederitzer Str. 539175 Heyrothsberge

Phone: +49 (0) 392 92 - 690 25Fax: +49 (0) 392 92 - 690 26www.iwma.net, [email protected]

Sumutuli sprinkler – Marioff Oy

P. 19-42 18/10/06 8:49 am Page 26

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CONTROL LOGICIR FLAME DETECTOR

the fastest and most effective fire alarm devicefor industrial applications

BETTER TO KNOW IT BEFOREEye is faster than nose.

In the event of live fire the IR FLAME DETECTOR

responds immediately

Also forRS485 two-wire serial line

Sparks flyat high speed.

They travel at a hundred kilometresper hour along the ducts of the dustcollection system and reach the silo

in less than three seconds

The CONTROL LOGICSPARK DETECTOR

is faster thanthe sparks themselves.

It detects them with its highlysensitive infrared sensor,

intercepts and extinguishesthem in a flash.

It needs no periodic inspection.

The CONTROL LOGIC system is designed for “total supervision”.

It verifies that sparks have been extinguished, gives prompt warning of

any malfunction and, if needed, cuts off the duct and stops the fan.

CONTROL LOGICSparkdetector

designed fordust collectionsystemsto protectstorage silosfrom the riskof fire.

20137 Milano - Via Ennio, 25 - ItalyTel.: + 39 02 5410 0818 - Fax + 39 02 5410 0764E-mail: [email protected] - Web: www.controllogic.it CONTROL LOGIC s.r.l.

ISO 9001

20137 Milano - Via Ennio, 25 - ItalyTel.: + 39 02 5410 0818 - Fax + 39 02 5410 0764E-mail: [email protected] - Web: www.controllogic.it CONTROL LOGIC s.r.l.

ISO 9001

IR FLAME DETECTORRIV-601/FAEXPLOSIONPROOFENCLOSURE

For industrial applications indoorsor outdoors where is a risk of explosionand where the explosionproof protection is required.One detector can monitor a vast areaand responds immediately to the fire, yet of small size.

Ad page 27 18/10/06 8:30 am Page 1


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GAS DETECTION

THE NEW GASALERT EXTREME SINGLE GAS MONITOR FROM

BW TECHNOLOGIES

BW Technologies has set a new industrybenchmark for a rugged, weatherproofsingle gas monitor in the new GasAlertExtreme. The detector provides protectionfrom H2S, SO2, Cl2, CO, HCN, NO2, O2,NH3 or PH3. Ultra-compact and durable,the GasAlert Extreme with an IP66/67rating offers the most advanced featuresof any single gas detector on the markettoday.

GasAlert Extreme features: high-out-put audible/visual/vibrator alarms; low,high, TWA and STEL alarm settings; alarge, alphanumeric LCD with real-timedisplay; auto backlight: “run silent mode”and a built-in concussion-proof boot.

Field-selectable user options enableGasAlert Extreme to be customized tovirtually any environment. Calibrationdue-dates and alarm settings can beconfigured to meet specific industryrequirements. The pass code protectfunction ensures tamper-proof operationby preventing unauthorized users fromaccessing calibration options.

Optional data logging, event loggingand multiple language options providesmore enhanced flexibility. BW Technolo-gies’ MicroDock calibration and test sta-tion, currently available for GasAlertMicromulti-gas detectors, will soon be compat-ible with the GasAlert Extreme forautomated calibration, bump testing andrecord storage.

The GasAlert Extreme delivers cutting-edge protection and is ideally suited to awide range of applications and environ-

ments including hazardous materialresponse, marine and shipping, searchand rescue, and post-inspection fire safety.At just 87 grams, the GasAlert Extreme istruly is more for less.

For more information please contactBW TechnologiesTel: 1-403-248-9226email [email protected]

ULTRASONIC GAS LEAK DETECTION AT THE SPEED OF SOUND!

Within the petrochemical industry hydro-carbon gas leaks have been extensively infocus due to the potential catastrophicnature of gas leaks.

Fixed Ultrasonic Gas Leak Detection isnow accepted by major oil and gas pro-ducers as one of the most effective waysto instantly detect hydrocarbon gas leaks.And ultrasonic technology is now a wide-ly used alternative to traditional fixed gasdetection systems (point detectors andopen path detectors) in plant environ-ment. The reason for that may be:According to the latest update on theHSE website traditional gas detection sys-tems only detect 65% of all flammablegas releases in the UK offshore industry.

Innova Gassonic’s Ultrasonic Gas Leak Detector MM0100 detects small(0.1 kg/sec) or large gas leaks at thespeed of sound, in distances of 5-10meters from the leak, regardless ofchanging wind directions or fast dilutionof the gas cloud. Conditions that maycause traditional technologies to miss outon essential gas leaks.

To ensure maximum reliability and

optimal performance by the ultrasonicgas leak detection system after installa-tion, Innova Gassonic also offers onsitepre-installation mapping as well as onsitecommissioning of the ultrasonic gas leakdetection system to verify the perfor-mance of the system by using REALSIMULATED GAS LEAKS.

Innova Gassonic has installed more than1500 Ultrasonic Gas Leak Detectors forfast detection of hydrocarbon gas leaksboth offshore and onshore. Worldwideinstallations include most major oil andgas producers in locations such as NorthSea as well as major installations in Hol-land, the USA, Africa and the Middle East.

For a detailed reference list of existingusers, please visit our website: www.gas-sonic.com or contact us directly at:[email protected]

RAE SYSTEMS

The MultiRAE Plus combines a PID (Pho-toionization Detector) with the standardfour gases of a confined space monitor(O2, LEL, and two toxic gas sensors) inone compact monitor with samplingpump. Like the LeathermanTM tool, theMultiRAE Plus gets the job done in morecircumstances than any other gas detec-tor. With more than 10,000 units in thefield today, its versatility makes it the gasmeter of choice for some of the highestprofile HazMat/WMD teams in the UnitedStates. The MultiRAE Plus is quickly andeasily changed from a sophisticated tech-nician instrument to a simple text-onlymonitor. The same monitor can be usedas a personal monitor, a hand-heldsniffer, or as a continuous operationalarea monitor.

The MultiRAE Plus detector can bemade wireless with the use of RAELink.This allows real-time monitoring infor-mation from the detector to be integrat-ed into an existing AreaRAE system. Awireless, RF (radio frequency) modem


29

Within this article we are showcasing Gas, Heat & Smoke Detection equipment. We have compiledinformation from the world’s leading manufacturers of detection equipment. Please read the showcase and

keep it to refer back to when needed. This guide will also appear on our website www.ifpmag.com

DETECTION SYSTEMS SHOWCASE

P. 19-42 18/10/06 8:50 am Page 29

allows detectors equipped with Firmwareversion 1.20 or higher to communicateand transmit readings and other informa-tion on a real-time basis with a remotelylocated AreaRAE base controller up totwo miles away.

For more information please contactRAE SystemsTel: +1 877 723 2878www.raesystems.com

ZELLWEGER ANALYTICS

Zellweger Analytics hasannounced a majorupgrade to its MDA Sci-entific Vertex™ system –the leading multi-pointtoxic gas monitoringsystem for semiconduc-tor fabrication. Part ofthe company’s continu-ous product improve-ment programme, andbased on direct feedbackfrom customers, theupgrades make Vertex™even more reliable, moresecure and easier to use.

Vertex™ provides con-tinuous monitoring of highly toxic gasessuch as the mineral acids and hydridesgasses used in semiconductor fabricationmanufacture. It consists of a network ofup to 72 fixed point Chemcassette® col-orimetric sensors and a powerful butcompact computer-based touch-screencontrol unit. The system provides highsensitivity, virtually cross-interference-free detection and clear physical proof ofan event. Improvements in the new ver-sion include a twin-drive high-speed con-trol computer, upgrades to the air flowsampling system and a new design of theinnovative radio frequency identification(RFID) tags for fool-proof identificationof Chemcassette® tapes.

The new Vertex™ double hard-drivecomputer system provides a completemirror of the interactive operating systemand data-logging capability for up to 72separate zones, for complete redundancy.In the event of a drive failure, the systemswitches seamlessly to the back-up drive,with no loss of data or operating settings.For maintenance purposes, the drives are‘hot-swappable’, ensuring continuoussystem availability, protected by keyaccess. Microprocessor speed has beenincreased from 700MHz to 2.6GHz in thenew version.

New diagnostics and hardware havebeen incorporated for monitoring redun-dant system power supplies, ensuringcontinuous availability of the installedback-up. New diagnostics have also beenadded to the pneumatic system for theidentification of any problems in the siteexhaust lines.

Gas detection performance has beenenhanced with the addition of a system

vacuum valve for more stable airflow andbuilt-in pump monitoring for reducedmaintenance. Pyrolyzers – used to detectcomplex species such as nitrogen trifluo-ride (NF3) – have a more efficient heatingelement for faster warm-up times and animproved system power factor.

Zellweger Analytics’ unique RFIDChemcassette® tags have been furtherdeveloped and simplified with a new self-alignment system for even betterreliability. This fool-proof method ensuresmaximum safety and confidence in the availability of critical monitoringapplications.

The preferred gas detection system forthe semiconductor industry, Vertex™ has an installed base of more than 300systems world-wide. Existing users canaccess all upgrades through an attractiveservice upgrade package.

For more information please contactZellweger AnalyticsTelephone: +44 1202 675900Email: [email protected]

HEAT DETECTION

LINEAR HEAT DETECTOR WITH ATEX CERTIFICATE

Since 1 July 2003 all products in Europeto be used in areas subject to explosionhazards must be certified in conformitywith European standard ATEX 100a. Themanufacturer Securiton has now receivedthe EC Conformity Declaration for its lin-ear heat detector SecuriSens ADW 511Ex-II ATEX. The device detects hazardousfire criteria rapidly and reliably based onthe physical principle of pressure changesof gases at constant volume when tem-perature changes occur. The evaluatingprocessor unit continuously checks theambient temperature via copper sensortubing. If the measured pressure increaseexceeds the programmed value, an alarmis triggered.

This tried and proven alarming princi-ple is virtually immune to electrical,thermal and mechanical disturbances. Atregular intervals a precisely defined over-pressure is created in the sensor tubing todetect faults. In the event of a detectedleak or crushing, the detector signals a“Fault”.

The heat detector can be used in Exzones 2 (gas) and 22 (dust).

Fully electronic measuring cells andmicroprocessor-controlled evaluationallow response behaviour to be adjustedprecisely to the specific requirements ofthe deployment location. The measuredvalues can be graphically displayed andrecorded using PC software. The evaluat-ing processor unit can be installed directlyin the Ex zone.

The SecuriSens ADW 511 Ex-II ATEX iscurrently the only heat detector that ful-fils Class A1 requirements in compliancewith EN 54-5 and can also be used withhigh ambient temperatures. It is also VdScertified.

For more information please contactSecuriton AGTel : +41 31910 1122www.securiton.ch

SMOKE DETECTION

SMOKE PROTECTION IN HAZARDOUS AREAS

In hazardous areas such as oil rigs, refiner-ies and petrochemical plants, protectionagainst fire is routinely provided by opticalflame detectors. However, while well ableto respond to “straight” fuel fires where aclean flame is quickly seen, these devicesreact more slowly to smouldering, smokingfires where other materials are involved. To combat this problem, wide-area,explosion-proof smoke detectors can beinstalled as a complementary measure.

Beam detectors are already widely usedin open-plan areas like churches and sta-diums. The principle is simple: when aninfrared beam is sent from a transmittermounted high on a wall to a receiveropposite, the strength of the signalreceived is reduced by the presence ofsmoke in the space between. To adaptthis system for hazardous areas, ATEX-certified housings are used to encloseboth parts of the detector.

Once correct alignment has beenachieved, a small remote controllerhoused in a safe area can then be used toadjust alarm levels and test functionality.Crucially, if the detector heads themselvesdo not contain control electronics, there


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Ad page 31 18/10/06 8:29 am Page 1

should be no need to return to themother than for occasional cleaning andalignment checking.

A beam detector installation can covera surprisingly wide area. With the twocomponents installed 100 m apart, a sin-gle set can cover up to 1500 m2. In com-parison, around 15 standard “point”smoke detectors would be needed tocover the same area, greatly increasingboth hardware and cabling costs.

Good beam detectors come withinbuilt drift compensation. This softwarefeature automatically compensates forany gradual decrease in signal strengthcaused by the accumulation of dust orthe slight movement of the building, sopreventing an unwanted alarm. An align-ment aid is another essential, the simplestand most intuitive being a pair of flash-ing LEDs directing the installing engineerto the optimum alignment of transmitterand receiver.

For more information please contactFire Fighting Enterprises LimitedTel: +44 (0) 1438 317216,Email: [email protected]

KIDDE FIRE PROTECTION HART MINI

Kidde Fire Protection’s Hart Mini HighSensitivity Smoke Detector (HSSD) pro-vides cost effective, very early warningsmoke detection for small areas (up to800 sq metres ). Using a laser particlecounter, Hart Mini detects small amountsof smoke from overheating or smoulder-ing equipment before the smoke is visi-ble. This very early warning allows timefor the event to be investigated, and forcritical decisions to be made, which mayinclude shutting down protected equip-ment, preventing the progression of thefire.

Hart Mini can be configured to meetspecific requirements when responding toan emergency situation, depending onthe amount of smoke detected. Pre-Alarm initiates an immediate investiga-tion of the problem, whilst when greateramounts of smoke are detected, an Alarminitiates automatic shut down. The detec-tor sensitivity is programmable over awide range, so Pre-Alarm and Alarm

levels can be set to match the specificcharacteristics of individual applications.

Hart Mini is an aspirating smoke detec-tor (ASD). Unlike a passive conventionalsmoke detector, Hart Mini incorporates afan to continuously draw air from theprotected area, through a pipe networkand into the laser particle counter foranalysis. The presence and concentrationof smoke is determined by counting thenumber of discrete particles in a giventime period. Hart Mini’s particle size dis-crimination technology allows only parti-cles in the range of 0.1 to 10 microns tobe counted as products of combustion.Particles outside this range are ignoredand do not contribute to the smoke levelcalculation. Because Hart Mini’s particlesize discrimination is performed electroni-cally, no filters are required.

For more information please contactKidde Fire Protection Tel: 01844 214545www.kfp.co.uk

SYSTEM SENSOR EUROPE

System Sensor Europe’s new Vision fam-ily of conventional detectors has theunique feature of being testable fromground level using its laser-based remotetest unit. During commissioning or rou-tine maintenance, the engineer canremotely set the detector into alarm fromthe ground, doing away with the needfor cumbersome long poles or steplad-ders, thereby reducing the on-site timerequired.

Vision is designed for smaller, lesscomplex installations such as offices,retail units, bars, restaurants, schools,nursing homes, small hotels and othersimilar commercial premises. The range iscomprehensive, with a multi-criteriaphoto-thermal detector, a photoelectricdetector, a rate of rise thermal detectorand 58°C and 78°C fixed temperaturedetectors; standard low profile and deepsurface mount bases complete the family.The photoelectric and photo-thermaldetectors feature automatic drift com-pensation, a feature, previously foundonly in addressable sensors, that offsetschanges in sensitivity that would other-wise arise from the build up of dustduring use. A highly integrated design,on-board digital signal processing and anew optical chamber design results in anexceptionally stable and sensitive smokedetector. The multi-criteria unit is an

environmentally safe replacement for ion-isation detectors, responding rapidly tofast flaming fires without the problems oftransportation, storage and end of lifedisposal of radioactive material. All mod-els draw around 50µA quiescent current,minimising the load on the control panel.

Vision is third party approved to EN54part5/part7 (2000) and it is compatiblewith the great majority of conventionalcontrol panels on the market, enabling itto be specified in both new installationsand when existing systems are beingextended.

For more information please contactGlen CollinsSystem Sensor Europe Tel: + 44 (0)1403 891920 www.systemsensoreurope.com

VESDA LASERFOCUS

VESDA LaserFOCUS is the NEW offeringfrom Vision Fire & Security – extendingthe product range by offering VESDAdetection performance for smaller criticalareas. The VESDA LaserFOCUS is designedto be a good solution for the protectionof smaller spaces that if affected by firewould have a significant business impact,for example; tier 3 telecommunicationfacilities, distribution and control hubs inutility and transport industries, electricalsub-stations and railway carriages.Benefits include:

● Earliest possible warning of a potentialfire, ensuring the most reliable protec-tion of assets and property.

● The world’s most reliable early warn-ing smoke detection system, avoidingthe occurrence of nuisance alarms

● Simplified or advanced set-up features● Seamless interface to ALL existing fire

protection and alarm systems ● Worldwide Approvals ● Ease of installation, commissioning,

and maintenance● Expansion capability to provide addi-

tional relays, VESDAnet connectivity,remote displays and a variety of com-munication formats

For more information please contactVision Fire & SecurityTel: +44 (0) 1442 242 330www.vesda.com


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P. 19-42 18/10/06 8:50 am Page 32

www.gasmonitors.com

Fire and smoke aren’t the only Fire and smoke aren’t the only

deadly threats in this photo.deadly threats in this photo.

Fire and smoke aren’t the only

deadly threats in this photo.

GasAlertMicro MicroDock Multi-gas Detector Automatic Test and Calibration Station• simultaneous display of H2S, CO, O2 and LEL • fully portable• compact - only 211 g (7.4 oz) • fully automatic calibration• triple alarms (audible, visual and vibrating) • stores and updates calibration records• integral concussion-proof boot • expandable to 10 modules• GA MicroBatt slip-in cradle charger available • no computer requiredstarting at starting at

$695USD $1,995USD

For more information email: [email protected] or call:Europe +44 (0) 1869 233004 Middle East +971-4-88-71766 Australia +61-7-3393-6437China +011-852-2974-1783 Canada 1-800-663-4164 USA 1-888-749-8878 SE Asia +65-9737-2005 Int’l Direct +1-403-248-9226

Toxic gases, oxygen deficiency and unignited combustible vapors are invisible, but very deadly hazards. You can’t see them… but the GasAlertMicro can. And with the MicroDock—Automatic Test and Calibration Station—using it is easier and simpler than ever.

FireSmoke.ai 8/16/2004 4:17:08 PMAd page 33 18/10/06 8:29 am Page 1


3434

C F I F L O A T I N G R O O F T A N K P R O T E C T I O N

SAVAL BVP.O.BOX 1004840 AC PRINSENBEEKTHE NETHERLANDSTEL.: +31 76 5487000FAX.: +31 76 5417922WEB: www.saval.nlE MAIL: [email protected]

R I M S E A L F I R E D E T E C T I O N A N D E X T I N G U I S H M E N T

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P. 19-42 18/10/06 8:51 am Page 34

Low temperatures down to –50°Care common during the winterseason and this requires a lot of

attention with regard to the design andinstallation of firewater and foamsystems. Even when the wet part of afirewater system is entirely freeze pro-tected, freezing of water during fillingof dry above ground piping can hardlybe avoided.

Fire fighting under low temperatureconditions is always a very difficult task.

It is well known that rim seal firesmay start very small and can easily beextinguished in the beginning. Onlyafter some time the seal material willburn away, the seal plates deform andthe intensity of the fire increases.

So it is clear that the damage can bekept to a minimum if the existence of a

fire is detected as early as possible andan automatic freeze proof extinguish-ment facility is available.

Gaseous extinguishing systems forfloating roof tank protection have beenused with great success for more than40 years now. The reliability of a welldesigned system using corrosion resis-tant materials and materials that canwithstand climatic conditions like UVradiation has proven to be very high.

The main advantage of a gaseousextinguishing agent is the fact that thecloud of the gas with a high specific


35

THE FIRE PROTECTION of floating roof storage tanks in the hydrocarbonprocessing industry located in extreme cold areas is of major concern.New oil fields are being developed in Sachalin, Kazakhstan, Siberia,where weather conditions can be harsh.Fixed foam systems are often used as a standard solution for the protectionof the rim seal areas of these floating roof storage tanks and offer a highprotection level due to the possibility of extended application times.

•••••••••••••

•••••••••••••

Hole in primary seal

Floating roof tank protection in extreme cold areas

By Jaap de Zwart, Saval BV

Floating roof tank protection in extreme cold areas

It is well known that rim seal firesmay start very small and can easilybe extinguished in the beginning.Only after some time the sealmaterial will burn away, the sealplates deform and the intensity ofthe fire increases.

P. 19-42 18/10/06 8:51 am Page 35

vapor density is immediately actingthree dimensionally whilst foam needstime to fill an area between the tankwall and the foam dam.

Vapour from the stored product iscollected in the vapour space above theliquid level between the floating roofand the tank shell.

Although modern seal constructionsare well designed, especially withregard to vapour escape to atmosphere,an analysis of fire risks shall be basedon a worst case situation. This meansthat mechanical damage or damage bywear never can be excluded. This dam-age can lead to a dangerous mixture ofvapour and air in the space above thesingle primary seal or in the spaceabove the secondary seal.

Shunts between the floating roof andthe tank shell, provided for prevention ofelectric potential differences, can mal-function due to a layer of wax or driedresidue from the stored product on the

inside of the tank shell or due tomechanical failure. Electric potential dif-ference between the floating roof andthe tank shell caused by the energy of alightning strike or by static charge of thetank during product transfer can lead toexplosion. Such an explosion in turn willcause more damage to the seal construc-tion and/or weather shields if present.

Based on above mentioned causes offire and the three main constructions ofseals one can distinguish three mainfire scenarios:

● primary seal damage● secondary and primary seal damage● shoe plate damage

Combustion processes can only bemaintained in presence of the threebasic ingredients: fuel, oxygen andheat. It is obvious that the location offlames will be in the area where theoxygen is available.

Experience on rim seal fires haslearned that flames will be presentabove a primary seal, above the sec-ondary seal in case of double seals andin the space between the upper sealand weather shields if present.

The space below a single seal andthe space between a double seal do notcontain enough oxygen in order tosupport the combustion of the fuel.

At the time of the development ofthis type of systems, Halon 1211 (BCF)was used as an extinguishing agent.

Many Halon alternatives have beenevaluated since the Montreal protocolhas dictated the ban of CFC’s for fireprotection like the Halon 1211 andHalon 1301. Halons were well knownbecause of their very powerful firefighting capabilities based on chemicalinhibiting action on molecular level. Ofall the alternatives mentioned in theNational Fire Protection Associationstandard NFPA 2001, CF3I has the bestperformance; even better than Halon1211 on most of the common fuels.

From the environmental point ofview CF3I is also an excellent candidatewith its zero ozone depletion potential,an almost zero greenhouse warmingpotential and an atmospheric lifetimeof 1.25 days.

The excellent fire fighting capabilities,the very good environmental behaviourand the acceptance of CF3I as one of thebest alternative fire fighting agents for

protection of engine nacelles of aircrafthave been the key elements in the deci-sion to promote this agent as the bestalternative for the Halon 1211, applied infloating roof tank protection systems onmore than 4000 tanks world-wide.

The toxicological profile of CF3I hasbeen studied and a comparison withHalon 1211 shows that the two firefighting agents are very similar. Twosituations can be considered withregard to exposure to CF3I; the expo-sure caused by leakage during filling ordraining of the floating roof tank pro-tection system on the tank roof andthe exposure during a discharge in afire situation where in both cases themaximum spill of CF3I is limited to afull contents of a storage container ora transport container being 20 kgs.


3636

Shoe gap

Damaged primary and secondary seal

The fire protection system consistsof a container, filled with CF3I anda supply line, permanently connect-ed to and pressurized by the con-tainer. This supply line is runningalong the rim seal and has dis-charge nozzles with built-in glassbulb detectors every two meters ofcircumference. The CF3I is super-pressurized in order to provide theproper expelling force also underlow temperature conditions.

Of course the fire protection systemitself shall be designed and con-structed in order to withstand theseextreme low temperatures.

So whenever the heat is on, be itunder tropical or arctic conditions,CFI will do its extinguishing job.

Floating roof tankprotection in extreme cold areas

Floating roof tankprotection in extreme cold areas

P. 19-42 18/10/06 8:51 am Page 36

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Ad page 37 18/10/06 8:28 am Page 1

Deluge sprinkler systems are oper-ated by a detection system. Thiscan be an electrical detection

system, reacting to one of or a combi-nation of products of combustion,smoke particles, heat or flame. Alterna-tively it can be an additional array ofclosed sprinklers, sometimes called pilotor detection sprinklers, connected bysmall diameter pipe. The pipe is filledwith water or with air in zones at riskof frost. A sprinkler detection line hasthe advantage of simplicity, robustnessand the resistance to false alarms ofautomatic sprinkler systems, while anelectrical detection system can reactfaster to very rapid fire development orallow incorporation of a system releasedelay if other actions must be takenfirst.

The hydraulic design methodologyfor deluge sprinkler systems is the sameas for automatic sprinkler systems. Theaim is to cover a design area with water

at a near uniform application rate(flow-rate per square metre expressedas mm/min). The same sprinkler headsare used but the bulb or other fusibleelement, together with the water seal,is removed. Instead of a wet alarmvalve the system has a deluge valve,which is opened by the detectionsystem and allows water to flow to allthe open sprinklers.

There are many types of deluge valveon the market to fulfil specialistfunctions:

● Straight-through valves whichrelease water to a vertical riser

● Angle valves to send water horizon-tally through a wall into a protectedarea

● Slow-opening valves which opengradually to prevent water hammer

● Quick-action valves where speed isessential, such as in munitions stores

● On-off valves for large sites for aremote test of valve function eachweek or to allow a system to beturned off to minimise the release ofwater or additives

● Bronze, stainless steel or titaniumvalves for corrosive environments

● Large diameter (10�) valves for largeflow rates and areas

● Small diameter (1�-2�) valves forsmall risks such as escalators. Theseare also known as multiple-jetcontrols and operate when anintegral glass bulb shatters at its settemperature.

Another important differencebetween wet pipe automatic sprinklersystems and deluge sprinkler systems isthe need to use galvanised pipe to pre-vent internal corrosion in the air-filledpipe, which is exposed to atmospherichumidity.

The decision to opt for a delugesprinkler system is one of judgement.The European sprinkler system designstandard, EN 12845, does not coverdeluge sprinkler systems except to statethat High Hazard Process Group 4 haz-ards, an example being firework manu-facture, are usually protected by delugesprinkler systems. NFPA 13, the U.S.standard for the installation of sprinklersystems, gives a few very specific exam-ples of where a deluge sprinkler systemis required. These examples help toillustrate when a deluge sprinklersystem is appropriate:

STAGES 8.14.15.2

“Where proscenium opening protectionis required, a deluge system shall beprovided with open sprinklers locatedat not more than 0.9m away from thestage side of the proscenium arch andspaced up to a maximum of 1.8m oncenter.” The appendix to this section ofthe standard explains that a delugesprinkler system may be allowed incombination with a non-combustiblecurtain instead of a fire resistant


3838

Deluge Spri

By Alan Brinson of the European Sprinkler Network

DELUGE SPRINKLER SYSTEMS are the type preferred by film-makers. Thesesystems are designed to spray water from every sprinkler or pre-determinedgroup of sprinklers at the same time. They look dramatic on camera butrepresent less than 10% of water-based fire suppression systems and an evensmaller proportion of sprinkler systems. They are generally used to protectareas where there is a risk that fire could develop very rapidly or where thereis a need to delay the release of water while other processes are shut down.An example of an application that requires a delay is a tunnel sprinklersystem, where traffic must be stopped before the system begins to spray water.During the delay the fire will spread. Therefore as soon as it is safe to releasewater it is essential to cover a larger area, including surfaces beyond the fire,so as to prevent further fire spread.

Deluge SpriP. 19-42 18/10/06 8:51 am Page 38

proscenium curtain. The deluge sprin-kler system “shall be located on theauditorium side of the prosceniumopening and shall be arranged so thatthe entire face of the curtain will bewetted. The system shall be activatedby a combination of rate-of-rise andfixed-temperature detectors located onthe ceiling of the stage.”

CLASS A HYPERBARIC CHAMBERS 13.18.1.1

“In chambers that consist of more thanone chamber compartment (lock), thedesign of the deluge system shallensure adequate operation when thechamber compartments are at differentdepths (pressures).”

This section then goes into greatdetail about the system design, includ-ing the required application density,water distribution, water delivery timeand water supplies.

CROSS-FLOW WATER COOLING TOWERS13.21.1.1.2

Cooling towers often contain woodenpacking which quickly dries out whenthe tower is out of service. It can thenburn and fire spread is likely to berapid. The standard gives extensiveguidance on how to design systems toprotect cooling towers. Aside from therisk of rapid fire development, delugesystems are preferred because theyavoid the risk of freezing in water-filledpipes.

AIRCRAFT ENGINE TEST FACILITIES 13.26

Here the standard recommends adeluge sprinkler system, although anautomatic sprinkler system can also beused in small test cells of less than56m2 where all the sprinklers wouldfuse at once and so effectively work asa deluge system. The water applicationdensity is 20.4mm/min for a minimumof 30 minutes.

CLASS 4 OXIDIZERS 13.27.1.6

“Sprinkler protection for Class 4 oxidiz-ers shall be installed on a deluge

sprinkler system to provide waterdensity of 14.3mm/min over the entirestorage area.”

DETACHED STORAGE OF CLASS I ORGANIC PEROXIDE FORMULATIONS 13.28.1.4

“Sprinkler protection for Class I organicperoxide formulations in quantitiesexceeding 908kg in detached storageshall be of the deluge type.

CABLE TUNNELS 13.29.1.3

Here the designer can choose either anautomatic sprinkler system to protectthe most remote 30.5m and 232m2 oftunnel, or a deluge system that dividesthe cable tunnel into zones and iscapable of applying the design densitythroughout any two adjacent zones.Often the automatic sprinkler systemwill be a lower-cost option.

ATRIA

Some designers recommend delugesystems for atria, where the sprinklersmay be so far from the floor that thedesigner cannot assume that heat will

rise vertically to the sprinkler above thefire. A combination of electrical detec-tion and a deluge system covering theentire atrium offers a more reliablemeans to control fire in such a large,high-ceilinged space.

SOLVENT EXTRACTION PROCESSES

Another hazard that is commonly pro-tected by a deluge sprinkler system issolvent extraction process equipment or


39

rinkler Systemsrinkler SystemsP. 19-42 18/10/06 8:51 am Page 39

structures. For this risk NFPA 13 recom-mends an application density of10.2mm/min but this can be reduced to6.5mm/min if a foam additive is addedto the water.

Aside from deluge sprinkler systemsthere are deluge water spray systems.These are the same as deluge sprinklersystems except that they are fitted withdirectional nozzles instead of sprinklers.The nozzles are designed to spray waterat an object or surface rather thansprinkle it over an area. Water spraysystems are used for:

● Extinguishment of fire● Control of burning● Exposure protection● Prevention of fire

Water spray nozzles achieve thesegoals by spraying water at objects andvertical surfaces. To do so they require ahigher nozzle pressure than the mini-mum standard spray sprinkler pressureof 0.5bar. Medium velocity, MV, sprayerstypically operate above 1.5bar and use a

deflector to disperse thewater stream into a coni-cal discharge. Aside fromthe directional characterof the discharge, thewater droplets are finerthan from sprinklers. Thismakes them better atabsorbing radiant heat toprevent fire spread. MVsprayers are used in mostwater spray systems.High Velocity, HV,

sprayers usually spin the water at over2bar inside the nozzle so that itemerges as a solid cone jet. They areused where the nozzle cannot be closeenough to the hazard for MV sprayersto protect it; where there is a risk thathigh wind could blow away MV spray;or where there is a need for a very nar-row cone angle. They are also used toproduce an emulsification effect on thesurface of burning oil to prevent therelease of further combustible vapours.For this application the minimumnozzle pressure is 3.5bar.

CEN has not yet completed thedrafting of a European water spray sys-tem design standard so most designersturn to NFPA 15. It is not the intentionof this article to cover water spraysystems in any more detail.

Another type of deluge sprinklersystem is the deluge foam sprinklersystem. Foam concentrate such asaqueous film-forming foam, AFFF, isadded to the sprinkler system waterwhen the deluge valve is activated. The

surfactants in AFFF concentrate reducewater surface tension so that it easilyfoams. The mechanical agitation as thesolution passes through a sprinkler andstrikes a deflector plate is then suffi-cient to form low expansion foam.AFFF also enables water to form a filmon insoluble flammable liquids (AlcoholResistant Concentrates, particularly thenew hydrophobic types, allow the sameeffect on water-soluble flammable liq-uids). This film carries the insulatingfoam over the liquid surface, where itprevents the release of more com-bustible vapours and starves the fire offuel. Foam also insulates the flammableliquid from external heat sources sothat it does not reignite.

Since plain water is denser than mostflammable liquids it sinks beneath thesurface and is not efficient on thesetypes of fire. With the addition of foamconcentrate, water becomes much moreeffective so its application rate canoften be greatly reduced, as for solventextraction processes in NFPA 13.

Although CEN has produced stan-dards for foam concentrates it has notyet produced a design standard forfoam sprinkler systems, so designersuse NFPA 16. Some designers add foamto deluge sprinkler systems in processplant so that the solution with its lowsurface tension will spread better overgreasy surfaces and run down themwithout channelling. Others use foamto allow better penetration of solid(Class A) materials.

A common application of delugefoam sprinkler systems is to protect air-craft hangars, in particular the aircraftthey house which are worth more thanthe hangar. NFPA 409 is the inter-nationally recognised design standardfor aircraft hangar fixed fire protectionsystems.


4040

This article has given an overviewof deluge sprinkler systems andbrief details of other deluge systemswhich are not, strictly speaking,sprinkler systems. While the variousdesign standards mentioned in thearticle give some guidance onwhen to use each type of system,the selection is usually a matter ofengineering judgement based upona risk analysis and experience.

P. 19-42 18/10/06 8:52 am Page 40


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P. 19-42 18/10/06 8:52 am Page 42

DIESEL ENGINE DRIVEN FIRE PUMP CONTROLLERS

The fire pump standard NFPA20specifies in detail the correctoperation of the fire pump sys-

tem and in particular the controllerfunctions. On a diesel set, there are twoengine start batteries fitted, both areeither a 12v or 24v. It is the diesel con-trollers’ function to ensure that thesebatteries are fully charged and ready tocrank the engine in an emergency.NFPA20 specifies that the batterycharger must be able to completely re-charge these batteries from a fully dis-charged state within 24 hours. NFPA20also calls upon an Under Writers Labo-ratory standard, UL1236 for furtherfunctions of the batter charger. In par-ticular the following further functionsare required of the battery charger:

● The charge rate should automaticallybe reduced to less than 500mAwhen the batteries are fully charged.

● The battery charger will provide acharger fault alarm.

● The battery charger should be ableto limit the output current in theevent of sudden voltage dips. (Ascaused by the engine cranking byemergency means)

● The battery charger should providethe necessary degree of protectionagainst electric shock, fire and injury.

● The battery charger should be ableto withstand a dielectric test equalto 2U+1000 volts, where U is 240v.

● The battery charger should operate,at the maximum output, with noaccessible parts exceeding thefollowing temperatures:

parts to be grasped or held:metallic 25EC – non metallic 35EC

parts that can be touched:metallic 35EC – non metallic 35

● The output transformer of thebattery charger should be capable ofsustaining a short circuit

The above features make the batterycharger of a diesel engine fire pumpcontroller very special, and hence astandard industrial unit cannot beused.

The controller must have facilities to manually crank the engine and to have an automatic start function via an electronic crank timer. Thestandard defines the crank timeroperation as:

■ 15 seconds crank from battery A

■ 15 seconds dwell

■ 15 seconds crank from Battery B

■ 15 seconds dwell

This sequence is repeated three timesafter which a failed to start condition isrealised. At all times, the battery volt-age is monitored. Should the voltagefall below 1⁄2 the normal float level,then that battery becomes locked outfrom further cranking.


43

UNDER THE LATEST EDITION of the NFPA 20 fire pump standard, it isthe fire pump manufacturer’s sole responsibility to guarantee theoperation of the fire pump skid set. Therefore the pump manufacturertypically assembles the skid and purchases the remainder of thecomponents from specialised manufacturers. One of these keycomponents being the fire pump controller. The pump is either poweredby a diesel engine or an electric motor. Both types obviously require adifferent type of controller, and these will be examined in more detail inthe following text.

Fire PumpControllers

By David Carter of Metron Eledyne

Fire PumpControllers

P. 43-61 18/10/06 8:59 am Page 43

Once the engine is running,it is monitored for:

■ Low oil pressure

■ High water temperature

■ Engine Overspeed

Only the engine overspeedalarm is allowed to shut theengine down. The NFPA 20rules specify that low oil pres-sure and high water tempera-ture must not shut the enginedown in a fire condition. Theengine is required to run todestruction.

The controller is usuallymonitored by a remote station,achieved by remote contactswithin the controller. Suchsignals that are monitoredinclude: engine running,engine failed to start and faulton engine or controller. Thereis also an audible alarmlocated on the controller thatmay be silenced in certainconditions.

NFPA 20 additionally speci-fies that the engine shall be startedonce a week automatically via a weeklystart timer in a test mode.

ELECTRIC MOTOR DRIVEN FIRE PUMP CONTROLLERS

An electric motor fire pump controlleris required to start the motor, by usinga variety of starting methods under fireconditions. Typical starting arrange-ments are:

■ Wye (star) delta (Using open orclosed transition)

■ Direct on line

■ Reduced voltage starts (resistor,transformer or electronic softstarter methods)

The main power components in thistype of controller are specified in detailin the NFPA20 standard:

Isolator switchSized >115% FLC (Full load current) ofmotor

ContactorsEither Direct on Line or Star Delta (horsepower rated)

Circuit breakerSized to >115% FLC of motor.Non-thermal over current sensing typeInstantaneous trip facility, must be set<20 times FLCTripping time between 8 and 12 secondsat 6 times FLCBe able to hold 300% FLC indefinitely.

The standard defined indicator lampsare named ‘power available’ and ‘phasereversal’; however, controller manufac-turers offer other functions as options.Any alarm must not prevent the motorfrom starting.

There must also be an emergencystart mechanism for starting the elec-tric motor for when the control circuithas failed.

IN EUROPE

There is a current trend in Europe forclients to specify systems that comply tothe ‘intent’ of NFPA 20, such a system isnot approved or verified for operation bya recognised body, such as FactoryMutual or U.L. In this mode, the set isreferred to as UNLISTED and is consid-ered a lower cost option. There is also a

relatively new fire pump standardthat was released by CEA that isintended for the whole ofEurope, but each of the individ-ual countries appears to be reluc-tant to take it up at this time.

FUTURE TRENDS

Due to diesel engine develop-ments, and also as a result ofrapid developments in informa-tion technology, the whole fieldof fire pump control is likely tochange dramatically over thenext few years. Already we areseeing the change to electroni-cally controlled diesel engines forindustrial applications. This hascome about due to the variousWorld standards limiting emis-sions from diesel engines, butbrings with it benefits in terms ofhigher levels of information fromthe engine systems. This whenintegrated with the advances inthe controller systems will enablefar more capability for remotemonitoring and management ofthe fire pump system. Interna-

tional Companies with operating facili-ties spread throughout the world, will beable to monitor both the operatingcharacteristics and service requirementsof their fire protection equipment fromanywhere via the internet, and receivefault notification by means of e-mail ortext message to their service personnel.Engine and Controller manufacturerswill be able to undertake remote faultanalysis from their factories, and guideon site maintenance staff to the correctrepair solution, without the need tosend specialised service engineers jettingoff to far flung corners of the world.

Technically these advances are cur-rently possible, but at this time fullyelectronic diesel engines have not beenaccepted for fire pump operationbecause of electronic module reliabilityissues and because of cost, hence themechanical governor system is currentlypreferred, but for how much longer?


4444

Author: David Carter MEng (Open)BSc(Hons) CEng MIEE. MetronEledyne, based in the UK, is adivision of TWP, LLC which includesMetron INC of Denver, USA.

P. 43-61 18/10/06 8:59 am Page 44

FIRE PUMPS FOR WAREHOUSESThe EN12845 regulations will becomethe common European standard forautomatic sprinkler installations. Theirforthcoming implementation will changethe standard flow demands of the ware-house sprinkler system when utilisingin-rack sprinklers and therefore the dutyrequirements of the fire pump. In theU.K., the current LPC (BS5306part2)rules require all levels of sprinklers in thevertical plain to be included in hydrauliccalculation as operating simultaneously.Therefore, on a typical high bay ware-house installation with 30m buildingheight, and an average vertical spacingof 2.8m, 10 levels of sprinklers would beassumed operating. Depending on islewidths and category of goods, thiscould be 3 heads on a range and 3ranges horizontally. This would give atotal number of sprinklers operating of90 (circa 11700 litres/min). With EN12845 the same risk would have a maxi-mum of only 27 heads assumed in oper-ation as 3 levels x 3 ranges x 3sprinklers (circa 3510 litres/min). There-fore all in-rack sprinkler installationsinstalled under EN 12845 will have amaximum flow requirement of circa

6500–7000 litres/min. This will obviouslyaffect the future standard flow require-ments of the fire pump.

ESFR INSTALLATIONSDevelopments in sprinkler head technol-ogy have increased the need for spe-cialised fire pumps for specialist types ofsprinkler head. ESFR sprinklers weredeveloped in the 90’s to protect manycommonly used storage arrangements.Formerly these applications would havebeen protected with in-rack sprinklersand ceiling protection but ESFR sprin-klers removed the need for in-racksprinklers and produced a solution thatcalled for ceiling protection only.Because of the nature of this head,design principles and operating charac-teristics differ from conventionalsprinkler protection. LPC developed atechnical bulletin (TB25) that specifiesthe requirements and recommendationsfor the installation of ESFR sprinklers.This technical bulletin becomes TB209in the EN12845 standards, but thepump demands are the same as speci-fied in TB25. TB25 (TB209) clearly laysout special requirements that are onlyapplied when ESFR sprinklers areutilised, specifying special selection

criteria for the pumps that are appliedonly when utilising ESFR heads. Themaximum net positive suction headrequirements of the pump reduced from5.38m on a standard hydraulically cal-culated system to just 5.0m on theESFR. This reduces the size of the usableflow range on the pump performancecurve from the standard LPC selection.The power coverage requirements of theengine driven pump sets are increasedand in addition to this, LPC also insiston a maximum running speed on theengine-driven fire pump package of2600 RPM. Generally ESFR installationscall for a higher-pressure demand at thehead than conventional sprinkler heads.Where a standard in-rack sprinklerrequires 2 bars at the sprinkler head andthe roof sprinkler 0.5 bars at the sprinklerhead, the ESFR sprinkler will need 3.5Bar,5.1Bar or 6.8Bar at the sprinkler head.This creates a demand for higher-pres-sure pumps for the ESFR applications.

FACTORY ASSEMBLED PACKAGED PUMP HOUSESPre-assembled pump house packagesare becoming commonplace with manysupermarket and D.I.Y. chains insistingon factory built pump house packages.Major industrial users are also seeing thebenefit of fabricating the package underfactory conditions and insisting on thistype of pump house construction. Thepackage requires the pumps to beinstalled within a custom built housingwith all the required pipework, valves,test lines, louvres, heating and lightingnormally supplied in a conventional


45

Pic courtesy SPP Pumps

Fire pumppackages

develop to meetindustry needs

Fire pumppackages

develop to meetindustry needs

By Alex Playfair of SPP Pumps

AS WORLD MARKETS ADVANCE and fire protection systems evolve to satisfythe new needs, fire pump technology is developing to keep pace with thedemands created by the changes. Revised regulations are also determiningthe duty demands and specification requirements of fire pump packages.Combined, this results in an ever-changing scope of package supply with newpump types required and packages developed to satisfy the needs of currentand future applications.

P. 43-61 18/10/06 8:59 am Page 45

site-constructed pump house. The pre-assembled units are designed in accor-dance with the applicable fire rules andregulations and where necessary theapplied national construction standards.With all the associated advantages, thefactory assembled and tested pumphouse has become much more conve-nient to install for both the end userand contractor. The completed unit isoffloaded directly on to a pre-castplinth and the contractor simply needs

to secure the unit to the plinth, providethe electric supply into the pump houseand pipe in the pumps’ water supply.This method of supply reduces the on-site installation time of the pump houseby around two weeks and allows thecontractor to focus on other parts ofthe installation.

OIL AND GASAlthough floating production, storageand off loading facilities (FPSO’s) have

been used in the offshore oil and gasindustries since the mid ’70s, their pop-ularity only began to boom in recentyears. As it becomes financially viable todevelop smaller pockets of crude, theFPSO has become more popular withthe industry. The unit can be mooredover a reserve of crude, harvest thepocket and move on to the next viablemooring. The FPSO utilises the same firepump duty performance and specifica-tion as supplied on conventional oil andgas applications. The package can beinstalled in a zone 2 hazardous area andsupplied to include complex monitoringfacilities required for this type of unit.Fire pumps can be installed on the FPSOin a number of ways. One method is toinstall horizontal fire pumps inside thevessel below the level of the sea chest.This will allow the pumps to operate ona flooded suction condition at any time.Another way of installing fire pumps isto utilise vertical turbine units, mount-ing the fire pumps at each corner of thevessel with the discharge head at decklevel and the hydraulic unit of the pumpsuspended below sea level, driven byline shaft (driver at deck level) or sub-mersible motor and pumping the firewater up through the suction pipe tofulfil the fire water requirements of theunit.


4646


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P. 43-61 18/10/06 8:59 am Page 46

Increased fire cover has resulted in2000m3/Hr flows becoming the normrather than the exception for oil and gasinstallations. The fire pumps shown inthe photographs are for installation onan FPSO and are of a size that isbecoming commonplace in the industry.

HIGH RISE BUILDINGSConstruction of high-rise buildings is onthe increase in big cities. The heights ofthe buildings are rising constantly asground space becomes even more pre-cious. Usually, fire pumps are mountedat ground or basement level and supplyfirewater for the sprinkler installation inthe building through riser pipes. Thesprinkler ranges take their supply fromthe risers. If only one riser were to beinstalled in a high rise building then thelower sprinkler ranges would have tofind a way to overcome the high pres-surse needed to satisfy the demands ofthe highest level that sprinklers areinstalled. High pressures are requiredfrom the pump to supply the top levelsof a high-rise building to overcome thehigh static distance to the highest sprin-kler ranges. This means that the pres-sures to the lower ranges will be higherthan the system components andsprinkler head can handle. Conventionalinstallation procedures cannot be

applied and the contractor has theoption of fitting pressure reducingvalves or zoning the area to eliminatehigh pressures on the lower ranges. Aspressure-reducing valves are not recom-mended for this purpose under LPCrules and the rules specifically state that they should only be used for thisapplication when absolutely necessary,zoning becomes the correct method of

installation, with European EN12845rules also insisting on a maximum zoneheight of 45m. The way of meetingthese requirements with an LPCapproved and listed pumps is throughutilising one single multi-stage multi-outlet pump. This pump has outlets atvarious stages of the pump, which willpump up to various levels of the build-ing through the separate risers. Forexample, if the building height is 180mone multi-stage multi-outlet pump withfour outlets will satisfy the sprinklerdemands for each stage, supplyingzones at 45m, 90m, 135m and 180m .This type of pump has a number ofstages, determined by the pressurerequired. When the stages are assembledin series, each stage is supplying thenext and the pressure is boosted withinthe pump. Outlets are taken at variousstages down the pump to supply andsatisfy the demands of each of thezoned risers. This negates the use ofindividual pumps and only requires asingle driver and control panel to supplythe total installation. The photographshows the Swiss-re building in London,which utilises this type of technology.


47

SPECIALISTS IN FIRE PUMP CONTROL SY

Eledyne

Metron Eledyne Division Tecknit Europe Ltd.Swingbridge Road, Grantham, Lincs NG31 7XT, England Tel: ++44 (0)1476 590600 Fax: ++44 (0)1476 591600E-mail:[email protected] Web: www.firepumpcontrols.co.uk

CONTROL PANELMANUFACTURERS

Diesel Engine ControllersIn a wide range of applications including Fire Pump, Industrial Pump and Gen-set.

Electric Motor ControllersFor all applications using direct on line, star delta,auto transformer and variable frequency drivestarting methods. Up to 11kV.All produced to various worldwide standardsincluding LPC, UL and FM.

After Sales ServiceWe offer a complete after salesservice including:

CommissioningMaintenance ContractsOn-site RepairsSpare Parts


Alex Playfair is Business Managerat SPP Pumps Ltd.

P. 43-61 18/10/06 9:00 am Page 47

We live in city environments thatare becoming more and morecomplex. Away from the home,

our buildings are now high performancestructures which have a complex mix ofdemands placed upon them by the needto blend functionality and robustnesswith aesthetics, style and creativity indesign. The list of multifunctional per-formance criteria is long. Building effi-ciency and effectiveness are linked withvalue for money and integrated design;occupier comfort, thermal insulation,security, safety and sound insulation allhave to be considered; and, with longerbuilding working lifetimes in mind,adaptability and flexibility of designtogether with building serviceability alsoadd to the complexity of demands. In

addition, there is the growing questionof building sustainability, to minimiseimpact on the wider environment notonly from the buildings themselves butalso from the materials used in theirconstruction. An example is the widerrecognition on the world stage of thedangers of pcb’s (polychlorinatedbiphenyls) and similar chemicals asflame retardants, because of their puta-tive impact on health and their concen-tration as toxic pollutants in the humanfood chain. Discussions are in hand in anumber of countries to ban the use ofsuch potentially hazardous chemicals.

Fire design itself is no longer just aquestion of saving lives and injuries.That is still the pre-eminent goal. But,there are a number of other factors to

take into account: not least the tremen-dous asset value of modern buildings,the costs of insurance, the expense ofmodern fittings and furnishings, thepotential impact on the wider commu-nity, potential environmental impact,and the economic consequences ofdestroyed businesses which are allsignificant where fire is concerned.

THE IMPORTANCE OF GLASS

Glass has become a very distinctive fea-ture of modern architecture essentiallybecause of its uniqueness in providingnatural light and openness in design.Glass is a very adaptable material thatcan meet many of the modern perfor-mance demands at the same time asenhancing the built environment byopening up the building interior. Theevidence is there around us in the exten-sive application of glass in a wide rangeof modern, stylish residential, commer-cial, public, and industrial buildings.

My concern is that the necessaryappreciation of the behaviour of glass infire is not sufficient to match the wide-spread use and application of glass. Ifear that there are some fundamentalmisconceptions which could underminethe basic assumptions of some firedesign concepts.

In particular, I have three mainconcerns:

● firstly, that the natural limitations ofstandard glass products in fire arenot fully appreciated, and thatunwarranted assumptions may betaken without a full evaluation;

● secondly, that the differencesbetween different fire-resistantglazed systems are not fully under-stood and that broad assumptionsare made on the equivalence of dif-ferent fire-resistance glazings, whenin fact this conclusion could befundamentally flawed; and

● thirdly, that the importance of instal-lation is frequently neglected anddiscounted when in fact it is crucial.

BEHAVIOUR OF GLASS IN FIRE

Standard annealed flat glass is notnaturally resistant against fire. Rather the


4848

Pic courtesy of Pilkington

Misconceptions aboMisconceptions abo

COMPLEXITIES OF DESIGNFire safety design is becoming increasingly less a case of just simply applyingthe rules of prescriptive regulation. Increasingly complex buildingsincreasingly call for the application of functional design for tailor-madesolutions to fit the building, its purpose, owners and users. But, it is far toosoon to contemplate casting fire protection design adrift from the anchor ofprescriptive guidelines, based as they are on accumulated wisdom. Forfunctional design approaches to be followed with confidence, there is the needto fill in significant gaps in the knowledge base and always the need torigorously validate fire design models with hard data.

By Mike Wood of Pilkington

P. 43-61 18/10/06 9:00 am Page 48

opposite. The big threat under fire con-ditions is thermal shock which will leadto cracking and failure within about 5to 12 minutes. The exact onset of crack-ing and the subsequent cracking patternare essentially unpredictable; it is fun-damentally a probabilistic process. Panesize, framing conditions, and especiallymacro and micro surface damage thatcannot be seen by eye are all importantfactors. Double glazing may delay theonset of failure of the second pane bymoderating the thermal shock on thatpane, but exactly when, and if, dependson the circumstances of the fire and thepossibility of flame impingement. A riseof temperature as little as 80oC may besufficient (and entirely possible in arange of possible fire scenarios). If thereis a risk of water impingement on hotglass (e.g. from sprinklers) then it isabsolutely critical that the coverage beentirely even over the surface of theglass – a possibility that is difficult toachieve in practical glazed situations,where fittings, furnishings and normallywide transoms, in particular, castshadows across the glass preventingeven coverage. Again assumptions maybe implicit in the design scenario whichcould turn out to be some way frompractical reality.

Glasses produced for impact safetyare also problematic under fire condi-tions. Such glasses are widely used inmodern building environments. Theyinclude thermally toughened glass andlaminated glass for both impact andsecurity applications.

Toughened glass is susceptible tounpredictable, catastrophic failure underthermal shock, when a temperature riseor a gradient as little as 200°C may besufficient to cause failure. Localisedheating is a threat to glass integrity.Sensitivity to framing and surface qualityis particularly high. In addition, if theglass should survive the initial shockthen the thermal conditions in a firecause the nature of the glass to changeas stress relaxation takes place. Evenmodified toughened glass for fire resis-tance has to be used under very carefullycontrolled conditions to minimise therisk and probability of catastrophicbehaviour, which may never be entirelydiscounted even if stipulations onmaximum edge cover are observed.

Glass laminated with a plastic inter-layer designed for impact and securityproperties also has limited fire resistancebehaviour. The interlayer is organic andunder fire conditions it becomes fluidand may ignite. It can therefore burn orgive off copious amounts of smoke. Justbecause the product is laminated andhas good impact performance does notmean that the plastic interlayer providesgood fire resistance performance. In afire test, such products deterioratemarkedly in 5 to 8 minutes. Failure istypically fast, caused by glass crackingand flaming of the interlayer.

FIRE-RESISTANT GLASS PRODUCTS

Producing a fire-resistant glass capableof standing up to the full range of

possible fire conditions, including themost arduous, requires a technologyspecifically designed for this job. Fire-resistant glass can only functionsatisfactorily when used within a fire-resistant glazed system also designed forthis purpose. This includes framing,materials and fixings. So, a range offire-resistant framing solutions isneeded, developed by specialists in suchsystems. Focused attention to detail andquality is also needed embracingtechnology, product testing, manufac-turing, and quality control as well asinstallation.

There are a number of fire-resistantglass products now available. But, itwould be a fundamental mistake toassume that they are all alike. In fact


49


bout glass and firebout glass and fire

Fire-resistant glass can onlyfunction satisfactorily when usedwithin a fire-resistant glazedsystem also designed for thispurpose. This includes framing,materials and fixings.

P. 43-61 18/10/06 9:00 am Page 49

there are commonly quite majordifferences in important points of detailbetween the different commercial prod-ucts, even if the glasses may have atface value the same performance classi-fication. These differences are related tothe robustness of the underlying glasstechnologies used as a basis for theproducts. Some fire-resistant glasses are

simply more tolerant than others of therange of possible fire conditions,because of fundamental differences intechnology. The technologies can besignificantly different – which is appar-ent not only in the relative levels andrange of performance, the range ofglass pane sizes, and the number offramed systems and applications thatare approved. There can be significantdifferences between individual fire-resis-tant glasses in the relative reliabilitiesand consistencies of fire performance.One of the key criteria is the ability ofthe products to give a repeat perfor-mance and guaranteed function undervaried fire conditions. In this respect asingle or a relatively small number ofstandard furnace test results in isolation,and especially assessments in lieu of firetest results, may not be sufficient toanswer such reliability and consistencyquestions.

Above all, what is achievable with onefire-resistant glass may not be achiev-able with another. Tested approvalsapply to particular configurations, glaz-ing sizes, aspect ratios and materialcombinations. Mixing and matching ofindividual components between differ-ent systems can be dangerous, as theymay not be compatible under fire con-ditions. Unauthorised changes are notallowed; even what appear to be quite

minor changes have been found tomake a difference, and the effects onperformance can be surprisingly unex-pected. Different fire-resistant glassescannot be automatically substituted onefor another. Some may not function aseffectively as others in the same fire-resistant framing system.

The highest quality of performanceand reliability comes from the use of aspecial intumescent interlayer betweenglass sheets in a sandwich laminatestructure. In the event of fire, the inter-layer turns opaque, absorbs heat, insu-lates with integrity, cuts down radiantheat to tolerable levels and holds thewhole structure together as a resilientbarrier.

THE CRUCIAL IMPORTANCE OF INSTALLATION

Fire-resistant glass functions within asystem, which includes the glass togeth-er with the beads, the bead fixings, theglazing materials, the frame and theframe fixings. It is the whole system thathas to function as a fire-resistant entity,not just the glass. But, it cannot beassumed that the defined performancewill be automatically achieved. The finalstep, that of installation, is fundamen-tally important. And yet, it is this aspectthat may be neglected.

Any fire-resistant glazed system must


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S U B S C R I B EN O W ! !

P. 43-61 18/10/06 9:00 am Page 50

be assembled and installed as tested andapproved. It is simply counter to recom-mended best practice to make changeson site, for example to substitute glaz-ing materials if the approved one hap-pens to be unavailable. Standard glazingmaterials could produce disastrousresults in a fire. Any replacements afterinstallation must be made according tothe original fire-resistant glazed systemspecification. And, if that is not entirelyclear then the whole system should bereplaced.

To be confident of sound installation,it is preferable to use a installer who candemonstrate the necessary knowledgeand core competencies required in the

installation of fire-resistant glazed sys-tems. One way is to chose a certificatedinstaller under a third party installerscheme, such as FIRAS. The use of suchan installer will also provide anincreased level of security for the maincontractor who may be concerned tolimit his potential liability exposure insuch a specialist area as fire protection.

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE

The complexity of modern buildings andthe unpredictability of fire, both itsoccurrence and intensity, mean thatreliance on a single fire protectionsystem, or one design paradigm to fit all situations, may not be enough.

Balanced integrated design is thereforethe key. Fire-resistant glazed systemswill have a major part to play, becauseof the central role that glass plays inmodern transparent architecture. Thatrole will be in providing compartmenta-tion and fire separation, in protectingescape or access corridors, in fire doorsand in glazed facades designed to limitexternal fire spread from floor to flooror from building to building.

The growth in functional design carriessignificant implications. Implicit withinthe functional approach is the need totake a value judgment on the risk of fireoccurrence, the nature of the fire hazard,and the potential extent of damage andloss of life should fire occur. Predictingwith confidence how the structure is like-ly to behave, based as much as possibleon fact, is therefore critical.


51


It is crucially important to be awareof the main factors that govern glassbehaviour in a fire, and equallyimportant to recognise and dispelthe associated misconceptions.Otherwise the levels of fire protectionmay not be entirely as anticipated,and the fire design models may notdeliver building fire performanceentirely as simulated.

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Ad page 52 18/10/06 8:28 am Page 1

Adesigner of such systems has the responsibility to choose from a wide range of system types to

provide early warning of a fire event. Anunderstanding of the basic operatingprinciples of each system type is essen-tial to not only selecting a system butproviding a cost-effective design foryour client. Advancements in technologycontinue to provide the designer withmore options to consider and a greaterlevel of responsibility in keeping up with the latest technology. Simplystated, it is no longer acceptable to relyon the means and methods of previous(similar) designs when technology mayoffer added benefits over the previousdesign.

This article will provide an in depthexamination of three basic types ofdetection technology including smoke,flame and heat detection. The basicoperating principles of each detectiontype will be reviewed, along with typical applications and advancementsin technology of each system type.

SMOKE DETECTION

Smoke detection can be accomplishedthrough multiple means. These meansinclude ionization detection, photoelec-tric detection and linear beam detec-tion. Which type of detection is right foryour application and what advantagesdoes each type of detection provide toyou?

Ionization and photoelectric spot typesmoke detectors are a common sourceof smoke detection in many facilities.Ionization detection uses small amountsradioactive material to monitor smokeand photoelectric detection uses thelight scattering of a beam to detectsmoke. Both detection techniques workhowever they have their downfalls. Pho-toelectric detection is not as effective ofsmoldering fires and ionization detec-tion is not as effective at detectingflaming fires. Therefore fuel load andfire scenarios must be evaluated beforechoosing a product.

Spot type photoelectric smoke detec-

tors are also used in air duct detectorsfor HVAC supply and return ducts. Theprimary function of an air duct detectoris to shut down the HVAC equipmentand supply dampers to prevent themigration of smoke throughout thefacility.

Linear Beam Detection uses a beamof light projected directly into a sensorat a preset intensity. When smoke inter-sects the path of the beam, the intensityof the light is reduced and creates analarm condition. The capability of span-ning up to 300 feet enables a singlebeam detector to take the place of upto ten spot type smoke detectors. Thismakes beam detection beneficial in longnarrow spaces such as tunnels. However,the detectors sensitivity to dust particlescan create false alarms.

So what is the best application foreach of these detectors? Which detectorwill provide the quickest response?Which detector will create the fewestfalse alarms?

These questions are easier asked thananswered. Three questions must beevaluated when choosing a type ofdetection. What is the most commonfire scenario? What is the facility geom-etry? How much can you spend?

As mentioned earlier, photoelectricsmoke detection is more effective atdetecting flaming fires and tend to havefewer false alarms than ionizationdetection. However, ionization detection


53

Fire detectiontechnology

ARE YOU UP TO THE DESIGN CHALLENGE?

By Joseph A. Castellano, P.E. and Brian Papagni, EITRolf Jensen & Associates, Inc.

FIRE DETECTION REMAINS a key component in an effective fire and lifesafety system design. The requirement for fire detection can be found inapplicable building and fire codes, fire insurance requirements and as anintegral component to a suppression releasing system. The primary objectiveof a fire detection system is to provide early warning of a fire event. In turn,this will activate facility evacuation alarms, send notification to emergencyresponse personnel, and activate integrated suppression systems.

Fire detectiontechnology

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is much less expensive than photoelec-tric detection.

Beam detection becomes useful whenprotecting unique facility geometries.Smoke detection mounted on high ceil-ings may delay detection time. Beamdetection is capable of being mountedbelow the ceiling or on a diagonal fromthe ceiling to a lower point on anopposing wall. Beam detection is alsobeneficial in long narrow spaces such astunnels. However, the detectors sensitiv-ity to dust particles can create falsealarms.

All three of the detection methodsabove have limitations. As with all tech-nology we are always looking for newand improved methods of detectingsmoke. Some of these methods includeAir Sampling, Video Imaging and Multi-sensor detection.

Air Sampling smoke detection con-sists of a series of sampling tubes thatcontinuously take samples of the air in aroom and monitor it for the presence ofsmoke. The continuous samples allowfor early detection, which can be criti-cal in areas such as computer roomsor clean rooms where downtime isnot acceptable.

Video imaging is a new tech-nique in smoke detection thathas been found to be quiteeffective in roadway tunnels.Many tunnels already havevideo monitoring for trafficand safety reasons. Some ofthese systems can also be usedfor smoke detection. The sys-tem uses image contrast todetect smoke. The introductionof smoke reduces the contrast ofthe images being viewed by thecamera. Through a series of tests,sensitivity to smoke conditions can becalibrated. Upon detection of a smokecondition a indication is sent to the

personnel monitoring the cameras. Thesystem has proved to be accurate andcost effective when able to utilizeexisting surveillance equipment.

Multi-sensor detection incorporatestwo types of detection in a single unit.Multi-sensor detection is an effectivetool to prevent false alarms. The devicesare both a smoke and heat detector.Therefore, dust cannot create an alarmcondition unless the heat sensor is alsoactivated. Multi-sensor detection isuseful for industrial applications.

As can be seen smoke detectioncomes in many shapes and sizes. Appli-cations vary from road tunnels to cleanroom to industrial facilities. Both newand old technologies are great tools forprotecting your facility from fire.

HEAT DETECTIONHeat or thermal type detection systemsare designed to detect the convective

heat energy within a fire plume. Threebasic types of thermal detection systemsconsist of fixed temperature, rate-of-riseand rate compensated type detectors.Both the fixed temperature and rate-of-rise detectors are two of the oldest typeof detection devices still in use today.These devices have been in use since theearly 1900s.

Fixed temperature detectors includeboth spot-type and linear or line-typedetectors. Spot-type is one in which thethermally sensitive element is a compactunit of small area. Spot-type detectorswork similar to a thermostat and aretypically provided with a range of fixedtemperature ratings. Line-type detectorshave a thermally sensitive element alonga continuous line. The cable incorporat-ing the line-type detector will initiate analarm upon activation of its rated tem-perature. Line-type detectors have adistinct advantage over the spot-typedetector when determining placement.Line-type detectors offer maximumflexibility to the end user in the reloca-tion of equipment, therefore minimizingthe need for future system modifica-tions where the entire area is protected.The use of line-type detectors for theprotection of aircraft hangars hasbecome the preferred detection methodfor these facilities. Fixed temperaturedetectors are extremely reliable and eas-ier to maintain.

Rate-of-rise detectors operate whenthe environment experiences a rise intemperature above a preset limit, typically7°C (15°F) per minute. These detectorsare very effective when a fast burningfire is anticipated and less effective for asmoldering or slow developing fire. Tomitigate this concern, combination fixedtemperature and rate-of-rise detectorsare available. These type of devices areavailable in either the spot or line-type

detector.Rate compensated heat detectors

provides both sensitivity to thetemperature rise and the fixedtemperature. Rate compensateddetectors reduce the delayfound in fixed temperaturedetectors and have increasedreliability due to minimal falsealarms. The rate compensatedheat detector is effective forboth slow and fast burning fires.

Current technology is showingadvancements in the area of

infrared heat detectors. While it’scurrent applications are limited, these

detectors detect heat and are not proneto false alarms. It’s current application isprimarily for industrial facilities thatprocess bulk powders and fibers. The


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infrared detector reacts to temperaturesas low as 175°C, which is well below the450°-500°C ignition temperature forpulp or wood dust clouds.

The use of heat detectors in highhazard applications continues to be agrowing market. This is especially truefor linear type detectors. Current appli-cations include aircraft hangars, freezerstorage warehouses, cooling towers,tunnels, computer rooms, cable trays,fuel distribution terminals, offshoreplatforms, tank farms, etc. Both thereliability and maintainability of theselinear type heat detection systems hasincreased their acceptance in a widevariety of applications.

FLAME DETECTIONFlame detection is critical when protect-ing fuels that are likely to combust with-out smoldering. Flammable liquid storagefacilities and fueled aircraft hangars aretwo such facilities that often use flamedetection. Flame detection can be cate-gorized into three main methods. Thethree methods are Ultraviolet (UV),Infrared (IR) and Visible. The three detec-tion methods can be used independentlyor as a combination such as UV/IR detec-tion. All three methods are based onmonitoring ranges of light frequencies.

UV detection sensitivity ranges fromfrequencies of 0.01 µm to 0.35 µm. Thisallows the detector “see” the ultravioletfrequency emitted from a fire as well asOH, CO2 and CO flame emissions. UVflame detection does have a tendency tocreate false alarms due to arc welding.This has proved detrimental in many air-craft maintenance hangars.

IR detection detects fires emittingfrequencies in the range of 0.77 µm to220 µm. The large range allows for thedetection of flame from many fuel

types. However, the sensor has to be setto a specific bandwidth. Therefore, ifthe bandwidth is set for a non-carbonbased fuel and a carbon based fuel isinvolved in the fire, the detector will notacknowledge the fire. IR detection alsohas created false alarms in the past dueto solar radiation.

Visible detection uses the frequencyrange from 0.30 µm to 0.77 µm, thevisible light range. Detection is accom-plished via video cameras and usesflame color to indicate fuel type and O2fuel ratios.

The most prominent detection is UVand IR. However, as indicated both sys-tems have certain flaws. In order toovercome false alarm issues, which attime actuate foam suppression systems,creating an unwanted, even hazardouseffect, devices have been designed toprovide multi-sensor capability.

UV/IR devices are used to increasesensitivity and decrease false alarms. Thedevices monitor radiation in both the UVand IR bandwidths. With the use of amicroprocessor the devices are able to

acclimate to a multitude of environments.IR3 detection and UV/IR3 detection

provides similar protection but on mul-tiple bandwidths. This feature monitorsup to three different bandwidths allow-ing the detection of multiple fuel fires.IR3 devices have been found effective indetecting fire and providing a low falsealarm rate.

CONCLUSIONTechnology continues to change theworld around us, including the firedetection industry. Manufacturers areputting more money into R&D to devel-op new fire alarm technologies that willgive them a competitive edge in themarket. The engineering and designcommunity working with the end users,has the challenging responsibility ofgaining a complete understanding ofhow the facility is to be used. Thisinformation will allow them to betterassess the fire hazards and make recom-mendations to the client as to the bestavailable technology and associatedcosts for the specified application.

As technology advances and ourknowledge base of fire protection grows,fire loss will decrease and life safety willincrease. The use of new technologyprovides accurate, early warning thatallows for safer facilities.


55

Mr. Joe Castellano, P.E. is theEngineering Manager for theAtlanta, GA office of Rolf Jensen &Associates, Inc. (RJA) along withMr. Brian Pagani.

Rolf Jensen & Associates, Inc. (RJA)is a professional services firmproviding fire protection and lifesafety consulting services to clientson projects around the world. Tolearn more about RJA, visit theirwebsite at www.rjainc.com

P. 43-61 18/10/06 9:01 am Page 55

AUTROSAFE FIRE ALARM CONTROL PANEL BS-310G (G2) AND

BS-320G (G2)

AutroSafe FireAlarm ControlPanel BS-310G(G2) and BS-320G (G2) arecomplete firealarm controlpanels with fulloperating capa-

bilities, specifically designed for theAutroSafe Integrated Fire and Gas System(IFG): the world’s first integrated fire andgas detection system for oil, gas andpetrochemical industry.

Both panels conform to C.E.N regula-tion EN-54 and the rigorous requirementsof the IEC 61508 approval for SafetyIntegrity Level 2 (SIL2). The system offersLoop Driver Modules (maximum 6) forfire detection loops and several types ofI/O modules for monitored outputs, opencollector outputs, galvanically isolatedinputs and monitored inputs. Each panelcan accommodate a maximum of 12modules.

All alarm handling and system featurescan be controlled and monitored fromthe panel. The panel is menu operated ona 16-line display with 40 characters perline. A built-in printer is available.

With a LON interface, the panels can communicate with other system unitson the local operating network,AUTROLON.

With the AutroFieldBus and Powerloopdrivers, 4-20mA input units, plus protocolconverters, the panels can be part of asystem providing total integration of fireand gas detection and warning, includingbeam detectors, point gas detectors,aspirating detectors, high-sensitivitysmoke detectors, heat detectors, oil-fumedetectors and flame detection based onCCTV technology, plus AutroOS (an inte-grated graphical control and monitoringsystem).

Using the ModBus Interface, the panel provides connectivity with pro-grammable logic systems, as well as SIL2-approved connectivity using ProfiBus/ProfiSafe.

For more information please contactAutronica Firewww.autronicafire.com

FIRE CONTROL INSTRUMENTS INTRODUCES NETSOLO®

BROADBAND, THE FUTURE OF DISTRIBUTED AUDIO

WESTWOOD, Mass. – Fire ControlInstruments (FCI), a part of Honeywell’s(NYSE: HON) Fire Group, is a perfor-mance and technology leader in the lifesafety systems industry for commercial,industrial and educational applicationsworldwide. FCI introduces NetSOLO®Broadband, the future of distributedaudio. Developed to meet the widest vari-ety of applications using minimumequipment, NetSOLO Broadband is thefirst product to deliver full-network con-trol and communications, digital messag-ing, live voice instructions and fire fightertelephone communications through a dis-tributed network fire alarm system – allon a single pair of wires.

Because NetSOLO incorporates existing7100 panels, the system doesn’t need tobe redesigned and can be expanded asthe user’s application grows. The systemuses powerful Boolean logic program-ming and a state-of-art Digital SignalProcessor (DSP).

NetSOLO delivers on a platform of sur-vivability, reliability and flexibility. Theproduct’s combination of speed, adapt-ability and ease-of-installation results inlowered implementation costs while pro-viding the most rugged and easy-to-usesystem in the industry today.

Fire Control Instruments (FCI), a part ofHoneywell Fire Solutions Group, is a per-formance and technology leader in thelife safety systems industry for commer-cial, industrial and educational applica-tions worldwide. Utilizing high-speednetworking and fiber optic communica-

tions, FCI combines intelligence with highreliability to produce an exceptional lineof fire alarm systems.

For more information please contactFire Control Instrumentswww.firecontrolinstruments.com

FIRE-LITE OFFERS COMPLETE LINE OF ADDRESSABLE FIRE ALARM

CONTROL PANELS

Panels Feature Advanced Auto-Programming Capabilities to Reduce

Installation Time and Overall Cost

Fire-Lite Alarms, part of Honeywell’s(NYSE: HON) Fire Group, the leadingmanufacturer of quality life safety sys-tems, offers a complete line of address-able fire alarm control panels, includingthe MS-9200, MS-9600 and MS-9200UD.All three panels feature advanced auto-programming capabilities, reducinginstallation time and overall cost. Fire-Lite’s addressable panels allow an entiresystem to be auto-programmed with thetouch of a button, which reduces pro-gramming time. Manufactured withsurface-mount technology, Fire-Lite’sMS-9200, MS-9600, and MS-9200UDpanels feature the latest in fire protectioninnovation, including automatic detectortest capability, drift compensation andmaintenance alert.

The MS-9200 is designed for smallerbuildings and supports up to 198addressable devices on one loop. The MS-9600 can support up to 318 devices onone Signaling Line Circuit (SLC) or a totalof 636 addressable points with anoptional second loop (SLC-2). Additional-ly, the MS-9600 offers an optional 14.4KBaud modem (DACT-UD) for remote site


5656

This showcase contains product information from some of the world’s leading manufacturers of Alarm Panels. Itwill make an excellent reference source. We will also publish this showcase on our website www.ifpmag.com

ALARM PANEL SHOWCASE

P. 43-61 18/10/06 9:02 am Page 56


57

Edwards Systems Technology is proud to offer the industry’s most advanced fire and security systems. Meeting international ISO 9001, FM, UL and EN54 quality standards, it’s no wonder that professionals all over the world choose and trust EST life

safety systems. For the smallest or the largest application—EST has the right solution for your building. www.estinternational.com

tel: 001.905.270.1711 fax: 001.905.270.9553 [email protected]

Fire detection

Voice alarm

Access control

Security

Nursecall

Signalling

Solutions for life.

upload/download and/or remote monitoring. The MS-9200UD isthe newest and most technologically advanced of the three panels.By crossing both the MS-9200 and MS-9600 users get a smartnew solution that is heavy on features and light on cost. The MS-9200UD features a built-in communicator, remote siteupload/download capability, and selectable strobe synchroniza-tion. The built-in communicator is compatible with 14 differentformats, including the popular Ademco Contact ID. This allowsthe reporting of addressable point or software zone statuswithout having to purchase an optional DACT (Digital AlarmCommunicator Transmitter).

For more information please contactFire-Lite Alarmswww.firelite.com

2, 4 AND 8 ZONE CONVENTIONAL FIRE CONTROL PANEL IS INSTALLER- AND USER-FRIENDLY

The new Horizon range of con-ventional fire control panelsfrom Morley-IAS providesinstallers with the same ‘out thebox, on the wall’ benefits foundin the company’s addressablepanels, while for users, the unitsincorporate many advanced fea-tures normally only found inlarger systems. Designed for usein schools, garages, retail units,community centres, doctors’surgeries, smaller hotels, guesthouses and other commercialpremises, Horizon is available in2, 4 or 8 Zone versions. It isoptimised to take full advantage

of the enhanced features available in the latest Horizon conven-tional detectors and devices from other approved manufacturers.

For the installer, an intuitive ‘Quick Start Guide’ is provided,enabling the system to be configured extremely quickly. For theend user, Horizon offers sophisticated options designed to min-imise the incidence of false alarms, such as coincidence detection,where two detectors in adjacent zones must go into alarm beforethe panel initiates the sounders. Programmable delay to allowtrained staff members to investigate the source of the indicatedfire, and compatibility with the latest multi-criteria detectors,ensures that Horizon will detect an actual fire as quickly and reli-ably as possible without frequent false alarms. As an incidentalbenefit for schools, a ‘class change’ input allows sounders to beactivated to mark the end of lesson periods.

Horizon is housed in a flame retardant ABS enclosure, 318 x356 x 96mm, fitted with top and rear cable entry knockouts. 2, 4or 8 detector zones, two sounder zones, two configurable digitalinputs and an auxiliary power output are provided. An optionalrelay output card enables fire and fault signals from Horizon tobe integrated with other systems installed in the premises.

For more information please contactMorley-IASTel: + 44 (0)1444 235556www.morley-ias.co.uk

NFS2-8 CONVENTIONAL FIRE ALARMCONTROL PANEL IS USER AND

INSTALLER FRIENDLY

Released 2 July 2004NOTIFIER Fire Systems’ new NFS2-8 conventional fire controlpanel family is designed for applications such as offices, retailunits, bars, restaurants, schools, nursing homes, small hotels and

P. 43-61 18/10/06 9:02 am Page 57

other similar commercial premises.Designed to EN54 parts 2 and 8, theNFS2-8 2, 4 and 8 zone system incor-porates much of the sophisticatedfunctionality normally provided only by larger, addressable systems, givingincreased protection for the building andits occupants.

The Day/Night mode delay switchgives trained staff time to investigate analarm when the building is occupied; asan additional safety measure, operationof a manual call point instigates animmediate alarm at any time. At night,the system can be set to initiate immedi-ately both local and remote alarms. Inmulti-building facilities, the NFS2-8 canbe inter-linked with other independentsystems to provide full campus-wide cov-erage; it can also be monitored by exist-ing systems when a facility is extended.As an additional benefit for schools, thedigital outputs can be configured toallow the sounders to be activated to markthe end of lesson periods. 72 hourbattery back up means that the fire

protection system will remain operationalif power to the premises is interrupted.For the installer, the NFS2-8 offers com-patibility with virtually all detectors avail-able on the market, making it ideal forboth new build and retrofit use. A “Walk-Test” function makes commissioning thesystem and testing the individual detec-tors a simple one man job.

For more information please contactNOTIFIER Tel: + 44 (0)1444 230300www.notifierfiresystems.co.uk

SILENT KNIGHT INTRODUCES THE 5808 127-POINT ADDRESSABLE FIRE ALARM CONTROL PANEL

New Panel Offers Built-In DigitalCommunication and Distributed

Intelligent Power With an Easy-to-Use Interface

MAPLE GROVE,Minn. – SilentKnight, part ofH o n e y w e l l ’ s

(NYSE: HON) Fire Group, offers industry-wide compatible fire alarm solutions forsmall to mid-size institutions and com-mercial sites. Silent Knight introduces itsIntelliKnight 5808 Fire Alarm ControlPanel (FACP).

The IntelliKnight 5808 FACP offers

built-in digital com-munication thatallows reporting ofall system activity toa remote monitor-ing location. The5808 supports upto 127 addressabledevices that allowthe user to pin-point which devicehas been activatedand/or needs atten-tion. It also usesdrift compensation,

maintenance alert and a distributedpower scheme to simplify installation andreduce wiring requirements.

The basic IntelliKnight 5808 systemcan be enhanced by adding modules suchas the 5860 Remote Annunciator, theModel 5824 Serial/Parallel Interface (forprinting system reports) and an intelli-gent Power Module. It also offers a built-in RS-232 interface for program-ming to a PC.

Silent Knight, part of the HoneywellFire Group, offers industry-wide compat-ible fire alarm solutions sold throughboth security equipment distributors andengineered systems distributors.

For more information please contactSilent Knight www.silentknight.com


5858

A newin fire detection systemsfrom Morley-IAS

For full information on theHorizon fire detection panelproduct range please contact:

Morley-IAS Fire Systems, Charles Avenue,

Burgess Hill, West Sussex RH15 9UF, United Kingdom

T: +44 (0)1444 235556 F: +44 (0)1444 254410

E: [email protected] www.morley-ias.co.uk

A Honeywell Company

P. 43-61 18/10/06 9:02 am Page 58

BLEVE may be a new term to you.It stands for Boiling LiquidExpanding Vapour Explosion. As

a vessel’s external temperature increas-es, vapour is generated inside causingthe internal pressure to increase rapidly.During this process, the wall tempera-ture rises in the empty part of the tankor sphere, gradually weakening itsstrength. Eventually the increasedinternal pressure exceeds the strengthof the wall. At this point the vessel willrupture releasing superheated liquidwhich expands and vaporises in sec-onds adding further fuel to the fire andresulting in a fireball that is likely tocause catastrophic damage. This canalso occur even when a pressure reliefvalve has been activated to vent thevessel.

In order to reduce the risk of aBLEVE, the vessel’s wall temperaturemust be kept at a certain level, for a set

period of time, in order to prevent rup-ture and allow the fire to be extin-guished. This protection can beachieved by the discharge of water onto the vessels at a rate sufficient tomaintain an adequate film of waterover the surface of the vessels and sup-ports. Vessels may also be protected

from radiant heat by burial, mounding,or other methods such as insulatingcoatings providing an equivalent stan-dard of protection to adequate waterdrench systems (i.e. monitors or fixedsprays) can be achieved. Where thesemethods are used, water for fire protec-tion need not be provided except forthe unprotected manholes on under-ground or mounded vessels.

Standards and codes for the pro-tection of LPG vessels include, the LPGas Association’s COP1 ‘Bulk LPGstorage at fixed installations’ and theAmerican Petroleum Institute publica-tions API 2510, API 2510A and API2218.

Work carried out by several compa-nies, together with the Health andSafety Executive, has established thatthe application of 9.8 litres, per squaremetre, per minute, of water is sufficientto protect a vessel from the effects of apool fire or the radiant heat from anearby fire. In the event of a fire, water


59

Avoiding BLEVEs– What are the options?WHEN SEALED VESSELS OF liquefied gases such as bullet tanks or spheresare accidentally exposed to and enveloped by fire, a BLEVE can occur. Theresults can be appalling and any person responsible for the fire-proofing ofany such structure should be fully aware of what standards exist and whatremedies are available.

Vessels may also be protected fromradiant heat by burial, mounding,or other methods such asinsulating coatings providing anequivalent standard of protectionto adequate water drench systems(i.e. monitors or fixed sprays) canbe achieved.

In order to reduce the risk of aBLEVE, the vessel’s walltemperature must be kept at acertain level, for a set period oftime, in order to prevent ruptureand allow the fire to beextinguished.

By The Association for Specialist FireProtection (ASFP)

Avoiding BLEVEs– What are the options?

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drench systems are activated eitherautomatically or manually and in viewof this, consideration has to be given tothe time lag between the fire breakingout and the actual activation of thesystem. In addition, water drench sys-tems consume large amounts of water,for example a 23 metre diameter spherewould require approximately 310,000litres of water per hour, excluding anyadditional water that might be requiredto protect any adjacent vessels orstructure or for fire fighting. If the fire has spread from a nearby locationthere is also the possibility that thewater drench system may have alreadybeen damaged and thus may not workeffectively when activated. Waterdrench systems require regular main-tenance to ensure that piping is ingood condition and that nozzles arenot blocked, which might lead to insuf-ficient water being applied to someareas of the vessel thus causing ‘hotspots’ and possibly premature failure inthese areas.

Burial or mounding fire protection

techniques can also be effective as thefire is unable to engulf the vessel. With this type of fire, however, protec-tion inspection and maintenance of thevessel and its ancillary systems is oftendifficult. Small leaks, in pipe-work forinstance, can prove impossible todetect. Ground water can pose prob-lems for the vessel through corrosionand ‘floating’, while earth movementmay also cause damage.

Passive fire protection products suchas slab/mat materials clad in with steelor those based on cementitious, intu-mescent technology can also be usedto protect vessels. They offer manybenefits; the main one being that thefire protection is not reliant on asystem that requires activation eitherautomatically or manually. If properlyapplied by experienced installers, pas-sive fire protection products requirelittle maintenance and thus theirthrough-life cost is low.

Passive fire protection products forvessel protection; those that follow ahydrocarbon fire time temperature

curve, are fire tested to different stan-dards to their counterparts in the com-mercial building industry. They need tobe! In hydrocarbon tests fire tempera-tures of 1100°C are reached within 5minutes, whereas in cellulosic fire tests(those used for commercial buildings)the temperature will only rise to 500-600°C in the same time period.Hydrocarbon standards/tests includeBS476: Part 20; 1987 Appendix D,Underwriters Laboratory 1709, FactoryMutual Standard ‘Fire Protection Coat-ings for LP Gas Steel Storage Vesselsand Process Structures’ and the Norwe-gian Petroleum Directorate ‘H’ ClassTest.

■ In addition to the above tests, manyof the hydrocarbon rated passivefire protection products have alsobeen successfully tested and provedto withstand torch fires. Such firesmay occur in a hydrocarbon pro-cessing facility when a gas lineruptures and causes a high intensityfire to impinge upon a very smallarea of a vessel or structure.

■ The durability of hydrocarbon ratedpassive protection products is of avery high level and has beendemonstrated both by acceleratedtesting and by actual installationsthat date back to the mid 1970s.

■ Explosion testing has proved thatthese materials will remain on thesubstrate and stay in place to with-stand any fire that may follow.


6060

Small leaks, in pipe-work forinstance, can prove impossible todetect. Ground water can poseproblems for the vessel throughcorrosion and ‘floating’, whileearth movement may also causedamage.

AvoidingBLEVEsAvoidingBLEVEs– What are the options?– What are the options?

In summary, the engineer has achoice when considering how toprovide fire protection to LPG ves-sels, with all systems having theirplusses and minuses. Provided theyare properly installed and main-tained, all systems will help toavoid a BLEVE. If in any doubt withregard to design, further adviceshould be obtained from the rele-vant Government Agency, TradeAssociation or manufacturer.

The ASFP is located at AssociationHouse, 99 West Street, Farnham,Surrey GU9 7EN. Tel: 01252739142. Fax: 01252 739140.Email: [email protected] site: www.asfp.org.uk

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6262

HIGH QUALITY HEAT EXCHANGERS FOR FIREPUMPS AND SPRINKLER SYSTEMS

Bowman is a manufacturerof high quality header tankheat exchangers for use ondiesel engine driven firepumps and water mist andsprinkler systems.

The heat exchangers areused to cool the enginewater. The mains watersupply that flows through

the tubes in the heat exchanger cools the engine water that flowsover the tubes. These heat exchangers are a superior alternative toan air cooled radiator system.

Bowman manufactures a large range of header tank heatexchangers suitable for engines from 40kW (54HP) to 1400kW(1876HP).

The heat exchangers incorporate a quite zone header tank witha special deaeration feature and a pressurised filler cap. Theremovable tube stack is held in position by ‘O’ rings and is free toexpand and contract within the cast housing, thus minimisingthermal stresses. It can easily be removed should cleaning benecessary.

Bowman manufactures heat exchangers for a variety of indus-tries including the marine, power, mining and automotiveindustries as well as the fire pump market. Bowman is alreadysupplying heat exchangers to major fire pump manufacturers inthe UK, Europe and further afield.

HIGH OUTPUT EX SPEAKER FROM MEDC30 Watts, Up to122dBA, Model DB16 ATEX Approved & ULListedMEDC, the manufacturer ofalarm, signal, control andcommunications equipmentfor potentially explosiveatmospheres and harsh

environments is pleased to announce the launch of its latestloudspeaker for hazardous areas, the DB16.

This new product has been ATEX approved and UL Listed forhazardous and ordinary locations.

With a high ingress protection rating and heavy duty construc-tion this unit is ideal for industrial applications both onshore andoffshore. Acoustically engineered to optimise output, this unitoffers ease of installation with an integral terminal chamber andfurther increases the company’s capabilities in the communicationsmarket.

Outline specifications are:

● Application Zone 1 & 2 (Gas & Dust) use.● ATEX ATEX approved Ex II 2GD (model

dependent).● UL Listed UL Listed for Class I, Div 2, Groups

A-D (model dependent)UL Listed for Class I, Zone 1 AExdeIIB/IIC T3/T110°C

● Ingress Protection IP66 & 67/NEMA 4x & 6.

● Ambient Temperature –50°C to +40°C.● Maximum Output Up to 122 dB(A) at 30 Watts at 1

metre.Up to 107 dB(A) at 1 Watt at 1 metre.

● Rated Power 30 Watts RMS.● Material Corrosion-free GRP and stainless steel

construction.● Options 100V line transformer as standard,

other values & direct (8 ohm) tappingsavailable.

LumiNova® is a class ofnewly developed phosphores-cent (glow-in-the-dark) pig-ments which are based onstrontium aluminate chem-istry. They are drastically dif-ferent from conventional ZnSbased pigments. LumiNova®pigments are in the TSCAinventory and are awarded

patents in 18 countries worldwide. With sufficient dosage and fulllight-charging, LumiNova® glows practically all night long withoutthe aid of any radioactive substances.

LumiNova® was invented and developed by Nemoto & Co., Ltd.in Japan (www.nemoto.co.jp). Nemoto has been in the luminouspigments business since 1941 and is one of the leading phospho-rescent pigments manufacturers in the world.

The main features are: ten times stronger and longer afterglow(comparison with the conventional ZnS based materials), excellentweatherability and light-fastness, and the fact that this material isfree of hazardous radioactive substances

LumiNova® can be applied by painting, printing, and plasticincorporation etc. for specific applications such as safety signs andlow level lighting escape systems, electronic instruments dial pads,home appliances, lighting apparatus and switches, aircraft andautomobile dials and instrument panels, firemen’s equipment, fish-ing equipment, military applications and many more depending onproduct designers’ imagination!

LumiNova® is sure to revolutionize the glow-in-the-dark prod-ucts’ field. Its superior light fastness combined with its high initialbrightness and long afterglow will create new opportunities forcompanies that were limited by the restrictions placed upon themby conventional phosphorescent pigments.

CLEAN AGENT INERT GAS FIRE SUPPRESSIONSYSTEMNohmi Bosai Ltd. has developed gaseous fire suppression systemcalled NN100 to satisfy consumer demands toward safety againsthuman and their property. Also it unique feature that only nitro-gen, the gas of 78% in the air, is employed as an extinguishingagent, the NN100 totally unrelated to environmental problems(Zero GWP, Zero ODP). Since launching NN100 into the market in1995, its technical advantage, safeness and Japanese quality havebeen received well by customers, which leads more than 1000installation records.

UL approved NN100 designed for total flooding protection

Product Update ● Product Update ● Product Update

For further information, please contact:EJ Bowman Ltd

Tel: 0044 (0) 121 359 5401Email: [email protected]

Website: www.ejbowman.co.uk

For more information please contact:MEDC Ltd

Tel: +44 (0)1773 864130 Email: [email protected]

For further information, please contact:Nemoto & Co. Ltd.

Email: [email protected]

P. 62-63 Product Update 18/10/06 9:05 am Page 62


63

against Class A surface burning, Class B flammable liquid andClass C fires. NN100 is also authorized by NFPA2001, EPA (Envi-ronmental Protection Agency), UNEP (United Nations EnvironmentProgram), and many local authorities from Japan, South-East Asia,and Middle East counties.

Typical applications of NN100 are computer room, telecommu-nication facility, and electrical/mechanical room where expensiveequipment located. Besides its features that the nitrogen gas caus-es neither corrosion nor condensation during discharging, nitrogenitself has an advantage that its name “nitrogen” is familiar withpublic people, which prevents panic situation when they hear theannouncement saying, “nitrogen gas will be discharged”. With thisreason, art/national museum occupied by many strangers is alsosuitable application of NN100.

Other Features of NN100● Cylinder valve having a pressure regulating function allows

NN100 to supply stable discharge pressure.● UL approved 30MPa storage cylinder realizes having fewer

cylinders and minimizing space for cylinder space.● Nitrogen gas is commonly available as it is not synthetic nor

blended gas. Refilling the nitrogen gas is easy to handle.

NN100 is available from our distributors in Thai, Indonesia,Philippines, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, China, Taiwan, Jordan,U.A.E., Kuwait, Qatar, Tunisia, Bangladesh, and India.

NO CLIMB STEPS UP MARKETINGNo Climb Products Limited, leadingmanufacturers of test and serviceequipment for fire detection sys-tems, has appointed a MarketingManager, Caryn Cooper, tostrengthen the company’s market-ing activity. Caryn, who arrives fromthe IT and Business Consultancyarena, is responsible for promotingNo Climb’s existing product lines, aswell as launching new products intothe global marketplace.

“Caryn brings with her a breadth of marketing experience in thebusiness world”, said Torben Cox, Sales and Marketing Director ofNo Climb, “which is ideally suited to the company’s extensiveinvestment into R & D and plans for growth worldwide.”

PYROZONE LOW-PRESSURE CARBON DIOXIDEFIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEMS NOW AVAILABLE INTHE MIDDLE EAST THROUGH NAFFCONational Fire Fighting Manufacturing Company FZCO (NAFFCO) haslinked up with the Australian manufacturer of Pyrozone LP-CO2Fire Suppression Systems to make this unique programme availablein the Middle East.

Pyrozone Manufacturing Pty Ltd invented/developed the under-lying LP-CO2 modular storage programme as a high-pressure CO2

replacement technology for the Australian hospitality industrywhere it is now widely used to pressurize beverage reticulationsystems in hotels and restaurants.

Following its adaption for fire-protection applications in theearly 1990’s, Pyrozone Gaseous Systems enjoy increasing levels ofacceptance in Australia and many parts of Asia, by providing flexi-ble, reliable and cost effective solutions for protecting ‘specialhazard’ industrial risks.

Pyrozone LP-CO2 systems have one of the lowest ‘Cost of Own-ership’ profiles of any fixed gaseous system technology and arebacked by Scientific Services Laboratory Listing (SSL) & FM(Component) Approval.

NAFFCO, an ISO 9001 certified company based in Dubai, UAEbacked by its in-house expertise in areas of system design, engi-neering and logistics is now the official distributor of PyrozoneLP-CO2 Systems in the Middle East Region.

LIFETIME WARRANTY FOR SOLOTM DETECTORTEST EQUIPMENT

Customers buyingSoloTM fire detector testand maintenance toolscan now benefit from aLifetime Warranty,thereby underlining theconfidence that userscan have in both theproducts and the tech-nical expertise andexperience of the com-pany behind them.

Designed in house bya dedicated team of staff with many years of experience in thefield, the innovative and carefully researched Solo products aremanufactured from the highest quality components and todemanding specifications and tolerances before being submitted torigorous finished product inspection. All under a quality manage-ment system approved to ISO 9001:2000.

It is in the field that Solo products truly show their durabilityand value. Over the years since it was first created Solo has provenitself to be the reliable and trustworthy range of detector testersthat fire professionals demand.

Torben Cox, Sales and Marketing Director of No Climb, thecompany behind Solo explains: “This Lifetime Warranty demon-strates the company’s belief in it’s products and confirms to thecustomer that Solo equipment will not let him down. More thanthat, its assures that Solo can be relied upon for many years ofdependable service. People expect these products not just to workwell, but to last. Our team is behind every aspect of the product,from concept to creation, which means that this warranty ensuresthe best product and technical support available, on top of out-standing product performance. The difference, if you like, betweenprice and value!”

Product Update ● Product Update ● Product Update

For more information, please contact:National Fire Fighting Manufacturing Company

Tel: +971 4 8815653Fax: +971 4 8816229

E-mail: [email protected]: www.naffco.com

For more information, please contact:Nohmi Bosai Ltd

Tel: +81 33265 0231 Website: www.nohmi.co.jp

For further information, please contact:No Climb Products Ltd

Tel: +44 (0) 1707 282773Fax: + 44 (0) 1707 282777

Email: [email protected]: www.noclimb.com

For more information, please contact:No Climb Products Ltd

Tel: +44 (0) 1707 282773Fax: + 44 (0) 1707 282777

Email: [email protected]: www.noclimb.com

P. 62-63 Product Update 18/10/06 9:05 am Page 63


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3M PERFORMANCE MATERIALS DIVISION . . . . . . . .OBC

AIK FLAMMADUR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

ANGUS FIRE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

BST BRANDSCHUTZTECHNIK DOPFL . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

B.W.TECHNOLOGIES LTD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33

CAFCO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61

CHEMETRON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

CONTROL LOGIC SRL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27

DANFOSS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46

DR. STHAMER HAMBURG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

EDWARDS INTERNATIONAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57

EDWARDS MANUFACTURING INC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42

E.J.BOWMAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46

FIRE FIGHTING ENTERPRISES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34

FIREPROTECT (CHESTER) LTD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50

FIRE SENTRY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

HSI FIRE & SAFETY GROUP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

KLAXON SIGNALS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41

LEIGHS PAINTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

MACRON SAFETY SYSTEMS (UK) LTD. . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

MARIOFF CORPORATION OY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

METRON ELEDYNE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47

MORLEY I.A.S. FIRE SYSTEMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58

NINGBO KAIXUAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .IBC

NO CLIMB PRODUCTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41

NOHMI BOSAI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

OCV CONTROL VALVES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61

PILKINGTON DEUTSCHLAND . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51

PYROZONE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

RAE SYSTEMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31

RELIABLE FIRE SPRINKLER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37

RIGAMONTI GHISA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

SAVAL BV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34

SECURITON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

SENSITRON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

SPP PUMPS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42

THE FIRE SHOP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

TSS ANSUL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .IFC

VETROTECH SAINT-GOBAIN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52

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